freedom, happiness, kindness, resilience, sharing
Freed from labour camp in September 1953, following the demise of Stalin, the few survivors still standing left the camp and headed for the nearby village, where they were given a simple, spontaneous and sensitive welcome.As I was thinking this a girl between eight...
discovery, memory, sharing
The Hungarian poet Faludy gives an enticing description of his grandfather, seen through a boy’s eyes. I like how he pitches his speech appropriately for a child, consciously or not. Also the idea that his words sunk into the young mind, and were understood...
authenticity, awards, beauty, colour, enchantment, freedom, happiness, imagination, innocence, inspiration, kindness, life, resilience
Our third nominee for a Nuannaarpoq Award is: Mary Delany (1700-1788) Parameters:Â 18th century, British, real, human, female, now living elsewhere Nuannaarpoq qualities: authenticity, enchantment, imagination, innocence, kindness, resilience References:Â Molly...
discovery, freedom, happiness, life, memory, resilience
Ivan is a character, apparently based on Vasily Grossman’s brother-in-law, who survived 30 years in a gulag before being released into ‘normal’ life. He is resilient enough to be able to rediscover the existence of love and kindness, as well as...
freedom, happiness, sleep, time
One of the joys of leaving a job is the growing awareness that waking becomes a natural process, rather than an aural shock. This doesn’t necessarily mean waking late, just naturally, and I still get up as early as I ever did, about six in the winter and five...
discovery, freedom, life, resilience
This man is one who returns from the dead, from decades in a gulag in Siberia, released during one or another political thaw. He returns to ‘normal’ life, and it is interesting to see the signs of it which make him realise it had continued even as he was...
freedom, happiness, inspiration, resilience
Shirley is among the less known works of Charlotte Bronte. At a time when women had considerably fewer options in deploying their energies and talents, Shirley is a strong character with attitude and resources.  I loved the ‘Pah to all that’ feeling in...
