OK, I admit it: I missed all of last night's events. I missed Junot Diaz and David Benioff. I missed Anne Enright and Nam Le. I missed Jeffery Deaver and Ildefonso Falcones. I missed it all.
Why would I do this? Why would I miss some of the biggest draws of this year's festival? What could possibly have been more important?
It's simple. I am getting sick.
My throat is sore, my nose is becoming stuffed, and my legs are aching. I have been going all out for four days and four nights and the pace has, well, killed me. AND... I have my reading today.
I am reminded of the sage words of Geoffrey Taylor, IFOA's director, on Day One: "Andrew, the festival is not eleven days long. It is, instead, one long day."
So, it was a hard decision, but after dinner last night at Le Select Bistro (cock's crowns, lamb's neck, lemon tart), I decided to go home to bed. I am now preparing for my talk (4pm, Studio Theatre), and drinking hot drinks. I will be fine. Do not pity me. I just wanted to explain why I went AWOL last night.
~
Quote of Day Four:
"It was a Great White, and it went right under our boat."
- Julie Angus
"Would you like some of my chicken heads?"
- partner-in-crime, Samantha Francis.
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2 comments:
What an amazing reading today, Andrew. I was there, on the red road with you, experiencing the suffocation of bauxite dust and the sense of unending imminence of death by overstuffed van. Well done!
Your co-readers were amazing too.
Hope you feel better soon. Two words: chicken soup. I'll even make you some.
Jane Burfield
Andrew,
Thanks to the wonderfully accommodating IFOA media crew I had the privilege this past weekend of interviewing Anne Enright, Junot Diaz, Nam Le and many other outstanding authors for a radio program I host. Audio should be available on my site within the coming weeks. Hope you can drop by - and that you're feeling better - soon.
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