Tuesday 30 December 2008

Here be angels...



Here's a piece I wrote about angels, inspired by a new book by an American professor of divinity, for the First Post. I've been fascinated by the subject for years (ever since childhood, despite a resolutely secular upbringing by atheist parents); which might explain why I also love those stories of flight (Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Five Children and It). Anyway, happy new year, and may all your dreams take wing and soar...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy NY to you too Justine - I just posted a pic of an angel that sits on a table in my house, a left over christening bonboniere, but I can't seem to throw it out, the way the light shaft hit it as I woke up, made me feel as you do in your article.

May 2009 be filled with happy and productive writing!

Justine Picardie said...

Thanks so much for your lovely message. I'm wishing for happy writing, too!

Lou said...

Thankyou for posting your article about angels,Justine.I have always been fascinated by angels too.Probably something to do with my catholic upbringing ,but more likely to do with being told that my mother was an angel(she died when I was six of breast cancer).I remember a lot of my childhood being obsessed with "angel sightings".
I have also just reread Daphne(in one sitting).It is truly a masterpiece ,Justine.I look forward to your next work!

Justine Picardie said...

Lou -- thanks for your lovely message; just what I needed to brighten up a dark Sunday in early January. Did you know my sister died of breast cancer, too? Her children had just turned two. It must have been terrible for you, losing your mother when you were six.

Lou said...

Dear Justine-I think the hardest and saddest part about losing a loved one so early in your life is when you stop to think about all the things they have missed out on.Being a mother now myself I think how sad it is for people like your sister and my mother to miss out on seeing their children grow up.I read Before I Say Goodbye several years ago and some parts of that book will always stay with me;especially Ruth's letters to her children.In Australia(and I'm sure it is no different in the U.K) we continue to lose too many YOUNG women to this awful disease.Yesterday was Jane McGrath day at the test match between Aust.and South Africa.Jane died earlier in the year ,leaving behind two beautiful children.(Jane was English)We also lost Kerryn McCann(Australia's answer to Paula Radcliffe),last month.She left behind three little children.Sorry to take up so much of your blog with things that are not bookish ,but I find this time of year in particular,my thoughts often turn to the families that are spending another christmas without their mother,sister or wife.Lets hope that one day we will find a cure.Love Louisa.

Justine Picardie said...

Dear Louisa, thanks for your message -- and please don't think this blog is just about books; I've written about my sister in earlier posts, because she inhabits most of my books (as well as my memories, of course). Like you, it makes me sad to think of what she, and others like her, have missed by dying young. But I find comfort from remembering that hers was a life well lived...

Lou said...

Thanks for replying Justine.I will try to remember your idea of "a life well lived" whenever I get too depressed.On a brighter note, I am packing to go to the beach.It is summer holidays here.I have bought new copies of Rebecca and Jane Eyre after being all inspired by reading "Daphne"...

Anonymous said...

no kidding, i have been obsessed with the angel subject since childhood too. i just love reading about them.

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