Intro
Thank you for subscribing to the Grammaticus Newsletter! This month's issue brings you the full recap of January posts from the blog, along with a few listening tips and other items of interest.
I hope you'll find something useful. If you like this content, please share the newsletter with friends and colleagues, and don't forget to get in touch via social media (follow the links at the bottom of the page).
Books & Literature
"Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country" by Edward Parnell
Edward Parnell's “Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country” is an excellent, genre-blending book, that brings together nature and travel writing, literary and cultural history, exploration of the supernatural, plus the added element of memoir. It’s filled with the sense of love, wonder, and appreciation for England’s landscapes and the ghostly tales that quietly echo through its forests, hills and moors.
My favourite wintertime books
In this post I’ll share with you some of my favourite books with a dreamy wintertime setting. For the past few years we haven’t had much snow in my neck of the woods, but there’s plenty of it in these titles!
“Winter Trees” by William Carlos Williams
Like many other of Williams' works, this poem is wonderfully simple and minimalist. The poet uses an extremely common image only to transform it into something delightfully rich and filled with meaning.
Learning English
English words of the year 2024
If you’ve missed it in the news, here’s an overview of the words that marked the year 2024, chosen by the leading dictionary publishers from the English-speaking world.
English vocabulary: "use" vs "usage"
Confused about the difference between the nouns “use” and “usage”? Have a look at this quick explainer!
“A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
First published in 1849, shortly before Poe died, this poem is often described as dreary and melancholic, and while we can certainly feel the despair in it, we should also recognise its philosophical nature. The post contains a vocabulary exercise for English language learners.
Listening tips
Just One Thing: Read a Poem
Reading poetry can reduce stress and help give you words to express the things you're feeling. And reading a poem out loud has been shown to be a surprisingly simple way to activate your relaxation response. Hear more about it in this 15-minute episode of Just One Thing from the BBC Radio 4.
Remembering David Lynch — Producer's Cut: Wild Card with Rachel Martin
David Lynch, the visionary filmmaker behind "Mulholland Drive," "Eraserhead" and "Twin Peaks" has died. We're remembering him with a listen back to his Wild Card episode from last summer, now with an additional question about his thoughts on the afterlife.
Beyond Belief: The Religion of Detection
Why is religious detective fiction so popular in our increasingly secular society? Did the detective replace the priest as the one who looked into the mysteries of life and battled with good and evil?