snidbits from- secret voices: a year of women's diaries edited by sarah gristwood

 

my copy in streaks of sunlight

I love reading from this collection of diaries and I love normalizing women's diary entries as literature. As an avid diary keeper and journal extraordinaire, I relish in the descriptions of typical daily thoughts and feelings and I feel like I'm connecting with these women as I read.

Truth is, I struggle with journals being made public posthumously, but this is an edited collection that I am enjoying, and I think reverencing these pages that include entries from multiple women allows for less of a voyeuristic feel and more of an exposition of how fascinating the inner lives of women have always been historically.

beautiful hardback edition

22 April

My nature is like a strong wilful ship; unless I keep it occupied it gives me endless trouble. Lately I have allowed it free play and must have a struggle with it, before I can again have peace. Can I begin this struggle bravely and instantly What is the use of drifting, unless indeed I half desire to be where the current of my own feeling will bring me? And there is the trouble. My own mind is not made up. I have been meditating over the question [a possible proposal from Joseph Chamberlain] for five months, have done little else but think about it; now I am no nearer solving it... Looking back on the whole affair, I confess to myself that my action and thought have been wanting in dignity and nicety of feeling. I have chattered about feelings which should be kept within the holy of holies. 

The only excuse has been the extraordinary nature of the man and his method and the interest which public position lends his personality. But now I can make a fresh start; force my thoughts from their dwelling-place of the last five months, and devote myself vigorously to my duties and to the nature and true development of my own nature, Amen...

                                                                                     -Beatrice Webb, 1884

a quiet fall into spring 2025

The noise in the world and in the book community has left me reflective and silent. 

It seems that people circle round and round  the exact same topics: don't count your books, read faster, read slower, read more, read less... It's inane and exhausting. I'm also a highly sensitive person so take what I say with a pinch of pink Himalayan salt. 

My point is: Do what you want. Read what you want. However much you want. As often or not as you want. 

I'm an endless re-reader and people always tell me how boring that must be... Their opinion is valid, but I don't have to listen to it, and I'd never follow it. It applies all over the book community. Focus on letting literature change you. Open you. Transform you. Forget all else. 

Here's how I've fallen into spring in a quiet and subtle way....

endlessly tabbing and journaling my multiple books

tons of commonplacing, journaling, & reflecting