It has been a while since I have written about poetry. I’m exploring lots of different things at the moment. I am working on a few different projects that I will be able to mention soon so I have not been watching or reading certain things as frequently as I used to. 

I’m thinking about following a less structured approach and writing about what I gravitate towards rather than feeling like I have to watch something or read something specific. 

I will still discuss movies, books, plays, poems, and short stories, but I also want to discuss writers, writing styles, picturebooks, music and so much more so I feel like I’m going to choose my topics more spontaneously for a while. 

I have been to London and I am just home from Italy, as you will know if you keep up to date on my Instagram page @katelovesliterature. 

In London I went to Shakespeare’s Globe and I bought some beautiful books, so lately I’ve been reading lots of Shakespeare and I would love to discuss his works in more detail. Stay tuned for that. 

In Italy, we went to Florence and we visited the House of Dante. If you have not read my piece all about the trip then you should and you can if you click the link below. 

https://katelovesliterature.com/

That link will take you to my piece entitled Italy 2022 –  Four Cities, Six Days. 

In that piece, I spoke about our entire trip to Italy, including the day we spent in Florence. 

My boyfriend and I both love Dante. We’ve both studied his work at different times in our lives so going to visit the House of Dante was a stop that we were both really looking forward to. 

I would highly recommend it. I believe the entry fee was €8 each. It was beautiful. We really enjoyed walking around the house and seeing all of the history being displayed. Dante’s life and his contribution to literature was being celebrated. 

Dante was one of the most influential poets. His work The Divine Comedy is an epic poem and it is considered to be one of the greatest and most important pieces in the Italian language. 

Dante’s work was influential in many ways. Dante’s depictions of Heaven and Hell in The Divine Comedy have had a huge impact on how society today pictures Heaven and Hell because his work heavily influenced Western art. Dante’s work has been interpreted countless times. 

It truly is amazing when you think about how Dante wrote this poem in the 14th century and yet the poem’s themes will always be relevant. The work asks questions such as what is evil? 

I think about this question often in 2022. What is evil? One could look at the news and come up with a hundred different answers or more. People have clashing opinions about what is and is not evil. 

I take this question, a question that Dante put forward in the 14th century, and I bring it into context in 2022, and I think about what literature does with that question today. I feel that this question has been expanded. Now, we don’t just ask what is evil? We ask how does something or someone become evil? We ask, is evil born or is it made? We think about concepts like nature vs nurture. 

The questions and themes that exist in Dante’s work may have changed and evolved over time but the questions still stand. Dante could easily be studied alongside a contemporary work as I think it would be really interesting to examine how works from extremely different times tackle very similar questions. 

Dante is also highly influential because he insisted on writing his works in Italian rather than in Latin. While The Divine Comedy is indeed an epic poem that tackles complex questions and portrays a man’s physical and emotional journey to Hell before he finds divine love, the poem is written in an easy-to-understand style. When Dante was writing this work, Italian was the language of the people. At this time, most poetry was written in Latin, however only the most educated readers would be able to read Latin and Dante wanted his work to be more accessible so he wrote in Italian and by doing so, he established using vernacular and colloquialisms. He even uses cheeky, dirty humour in his poems. 

I think this is brilliant because even today, the arts being accessible to all is still a relevant topic. Tickets can be very expensive, academic journals can require a subscription, sometimes things are written in a style that is just too complex which means that not everyone can follow. Places are not always accessible to everyone. Being able to afford experiences and being able to attend these experiences is really important. 

It is so important to acknowledge history. There was a time when only the rich could read. 

Thankfully, over time, things continue to evolve. I have written about how I really loved the fact that theatre was live streamed during the pandemic so that theatre could be enjoyed from home and while I am delighted to be able to attend shows again, it is important to remember that not everyone can and we should not abandon other options just because we can be in an audience again. The arts being accessible is really important and shows were just one example of this. 

I think it is pretty cool that we see things written in easy, straightforward, everyday language, we can nod to Dante because he felt that was important all the way back in the 14th century and it just demonstrates the impact that someone can have. 

In the House of Dante, I bought a beautiful illustrated edition of Inferno. 

I think my plan is to read it and then write about it in sections as it is a big work. 

I look forward to writing more about it. 

Have you read any of Dante’s works? Let me know. 

Kate xo.

When I started planning my trip to Italy, I did not envision visiting four cities in six days; however that is exactly what happened. It was one of the best holidays, I did so much, and I fell in love with Italy.

I’m going to talk about each place we visited. I am going to share snaps so keep an eye on my Instagram grid @katelovesliterature.

Italy is a beautiful place and the cities that we visited are filled with so much history, art, and literature so it was a pleasure to explore.

I already know that I want to visit Italy again and perhaps even go on a longer trip because there are places that I’d love to return to and there are places that we did not get to see this time that I would love to see in the future.

Overall, I feel very lucky that I was able to go on such a lovely holiday. It has been a stressful few weeks, filled with changes, and I have a really busy year ahead however I know that I am doing exactly what I should be doing because putting all the stress to one side, I love what I do so I am very excited to see what this next year brings.

Let’s dive into Italy, 2022.

Naples.

I have to be honest. When we first decided to go to Naples, I was happy with the decision, but as time went on and as more people gave me their two cents, I grew a little bit anxious about this choice as I had heard mixed reviews about the city.

I have anxiety, I don’t discuss it on Katelovesliterature.com because it is unrelated to literature, but I do have anxiety and this trip was going to be my longest trip away from home after two years. I was not travelling with family this time, so I was already a little apprehensive as I really wanted the trip to go well.

I was never happier to be wrong. All of the nerves that I had were quickly put to rest when we arrived. I loved Naples, and I would 100% go back to Naples as we only had two days there which in the end just was not enough time.

It does not matter where you go, every city has some great and some not so great. You have to be careful and you have to have a head on your shoulders no matter where you go. Naples is a bustling city. It is called the city of chaos and it is easy to see why it has such a title. It is busy, it is loud, it is hot, and yes there is a lot of graffiti however, I could say the same about Dublin, aside from maybe the hot part because we all know that Irish weather is temperamental.

Naples is full of life. It was unbelievable how one street could seem busy and unremarkable, but then you would turn a corner and be faced with a sight of beauty. The buildings were beautiful, some of the architecture, and some of the statues were just incredible. The artwork that you would just stumble upon was something else and we had the best time just exploring.

We stayed in the historical district and I absolutely would stay there again. My favourite part of our brief stay in Naples was when we found a lovely little restaurant directly across from the university. It was a perfect night. It was hot, we were relaxed. We sat outside and drank wine and ate the most delicious pizza – We’ve decided that Naples did have the best pizza although I liked how crispy the pizzas are in Rome.

The university was lit up at night, the waiters were so kind, the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed. Everyone was happy to just eat, drink and relax. We sat in that square until the restaurant closed at midnight and then we stopped at a bar for a final drink before we went back to our room. The city was busy, even at night, so I did not feel in any way unsafe while we were walking back so late. I was and still am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed being in Naples.

It was a lesson for me – do not let others get in your head about where you are going. Their experience is not your experience and you have to be careful no matter where you go.

If you’re considering going to Naples and like me, you have heard many mixed opinions, I would say that you should go and see for yourself what you think.

Naples is filled with a bustling charm, it’s busy and it is indeed chaotic, but it is definitely a city that I will be visiting again and for longer next time.

Pompeii.

I am a history lover so I could not be only a short train ride away from Pompeii and not visit the ruins. From Napoli station, we got a train to the city of Pompeii and it was incredible.

It was hot, so hot that I went and bought a big straw hat because I am very fair and when you’re exploring the ruins there is very little coverage from the sun so if you’re going to explore then it is vital to have a hat, sunglasses, sun cream, and make sure to carry a bottle of water or two with you.

We landed in Naples on Sunday and the very next day we went to Pompeii for the day so we were still adapting to the heat and the fact that we were on our holidays. I had my first little cup of gelato in Pompeii. It was delicious. I opted for strawberry so it was more like a sorbet but I still really enjoyed it and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the shade and cooling off for a bit.

Walking around the ruins of Pompeii was something I’ll never forget. It was beautiful, but it was hard at times because it was so hot and the terrain is not exactly smooth. We did come close to twisting our ankles a few times so if you’re going to the ruins be sure to wear comfortable shoes. I had runners on with my little sundress and I was increasingly happy with that decision as I could not imagine doing that walk in sandals.

We opted to explore ourselves rather than go on a tour, this is a choice we made at several places throughout our trip. We chose to explore by ourselves simply because we like to move at our own pace and we had specific places saved that we wanted to see and so we searched for those and doing that allowed us to skip over places that we didn’t mind missing or if there was a place that we explored but then wanted to move on to something else, being by ourselves meant that we could just move on when we were ready to as opposed to having to wait for a guide to move us on. That being said, we did see some tours taking place and we overheard some guides speaking to their groups and everything they said sounded really interesting so if you enjoy tours or you want a more structured experience then there are some great tour options however exploring ourselves is what suits us best.

The ruins are huge. I think we definitely underestimated how big they are and how long we would spend exploring them. We were there for hours and I still don’t think we saw everything but we did see one of the most incredible views.

I found myself overwhelmed quite a few times on this trip. Being in the city of Pompeii was one of those times. There was something so surreal about exploring the ruins and walking around and seeing what was left of a place. There was a still feeling in the air that is very hard to explain. I think that feeling comes from standing in a place that is so steeped in history and the ruins are quite literally moments in time. It is so strange to think about how those ruins were once filled with life. It is almost hard to believe that a place has been there for so long. I would highly recommend exploring Pompeii.

Florence.

From Naples we took the train to Rome, but then we went and spent the day in Florence and because we only had one day in Florence and then a few days in Rome, I’m going to talk about Florence first.

Florence is a charming city. I keep thinking about the entire trip and I go over all the places we visited and while I enjoyed each city, and while I would return to each city, I keep going back and forth between whether my favourite city was Florence or Rome.

I think one of the most stunning sights is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It is breath-taking. The gothic architecture is stunning. The level of detail and craftsmanship and art that went into these buildings is unbelievable. It seems as though I am repeating myself. I say stunning, unbelievable, beautiful, a lot but this is because it is true. I found myself lost for words so many times while I was in Italy. I found myself moved to tears more than once because I was just stunned by what I was seeing and at times I was almost in awe of where I was.

The highlight of my day in Florence was visiting the House of Dante. The house is on the sight of Dante’s birthplace and in the house, his work is displayed. For those who may not know, Dante was an Italian poet. He was also a philosopher. Dante is considered the greatest Italian poet. I would argue that his most iconic and most well-known work is his epic poem entitled The Divine Comedy. The poem is considered one of the most important pieces of literary work, and it is considered the greatest work in Italian.

I love Dante. I loved studying his work and so being in the House of Dante was a very special moment. There is a certain verse that always brings tears to my eyes whenever I read it and seeing it displayed in his birthplace brought tears to my eyes again. I never tire of his work. It does not matter how many times I read it. Being there was incredible. Seeing literature respected and remembered and celebrated was incredible. The world was and is filled with talented people and seeing where one of the most influential and important poets was from was really amazing.

Rome.

Rome was a dream. Walking through Rome was like walking through a painting. I loved Florence but I think Rome has to be my favourite. I found myself in awe so often in Rome. I found myself in very thoughtful and reflective moods. I found myself at peace and also incredibly happy.

From the Trevi Fountain to the Pantheon, from the Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican, Rome was a sight to behold.

The night we arrived, we got all dressed up and we had dinner outside, sitting directly across from the Colosseum. It is hard to find a better view than that. We sat there as the sun went down and the Colosseum became lit up. We just sat enjoying our drinks and the incredible surroundings. The food was amazing. I had a delicious ravioli and some really lovely cocktails and then we got a pizza to share. The pizza in Rome is very different to the pizza in Naples. In Naples, it is rich and doughier and the cheese is just falling off the pizza because it is so hot. In Rome, the pizza is thinner and the crust is crispier. Personally, I love a crispy crust so I really enjoyed this; however overall we decided that Naples did have the best pizza.

In Rome, I went on a tiramisu tour. I tried it in nearly every restaurant. It quickly became my favourite dessert. I had never had it before I went to Italy and it was one of the things that I was most looking forward to tasting. I loved it. Nothing beats starry nights, fairy lights, a lovely glass of wine and a plate of tiramisu. It was perfection.

One of my favourite nights was the night we went to the opera in Rome. We saw the three tenors at Saint Paul’s Within The Walls and it was utterly brilliant. The church was the most amazing backdrop. It was stunning. The high ceilings meant that the sound travelled in the most amazing way. The singers did not even need microphones. They just projected into the church. The pianist was fantastic, the other musicians played beautifully. The three tenors themselves had incredible, strong, beautiful voices and they were accompanied by the most lovely and graceful ballerina.

The songs were all in Italian naturally, but that didn’t matter because it was just so beautiful. I love a night filled with beautiful music and it was actually just incredible to hear these arias sung and performed in Italian. I had the best night.

One of my favourite finds was a lovely rooftop bar that was about a ten minute walk from where we stayed. It was beautiful. There is nothing better than looking out over a beautiful city that is all lit up and taking in the views with a cocktail in hand. I was overwhelmed when I was in the city on that terrace that was filled with candles, flowers, lamps and fairy lights. We had a perfect seat, right at the edge of the railings so we were overlooking the entire Piazza Navona. I had a cosmopolitan in hand and I was just admiring the views and I got utterly lost in thought and being there on that rooftop was one of my favourite moments. I was so happy and I was aware of how happy I was and I think that feeling is why I have to say that Rome was my favourite. I loved each moment of the trip and I had a brilliant time in each place we visited, but Rome gave me this incredible feeling that I don’t think I’ll forget for a long time. It was very special so that is why Rome, the eternal city, is absolutely my favourite.

That was my trip. Naples, Pompeii, Florence, and Rome. Four cities, six days, and memories that I will keep forever.

Kate xo.

Hello everyone. Happy New Year.

If you follow me on Instagram (@katelovesliterature) then you will have seen on my grid that yesterday I had the pleasure of going to see The Lion King at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin. The show was stunning and I can’t think of a better way to kick of a new year than a day at the theatre.

As I said in my Instagram caption, I feel very lucky and grateful that I was able to attend the show as I know that sadly many people have to miss out due to new restrictions but I was lucky to fall into the first come, first served category. I have to take a moment to show my appreciation for the cast, the crew, and the staff at the Bord Gáis because despite all the new restrictions and all the rearranging that they have had to do, they delivered an incredible performance. The theatre was spotless as always, the staff were so kind and helpful, everything was really well organised, and I can’t say enough good things about the evening.

I am now going to take a moment to talk about the show itself. I have seen The Lion King once before, I went to see it the last time it came to the Bord Gáis in 2013. When I found out it was coming to Dublin again I bought tickets asap. We are all living through really strange times at the moment, things are changing all the time, we are living with restrictions and disruptions, and I know that at times I get anxious about everything that is going on, as I’m sure many people do, so that is why I think there was something really special about getting to see The Lion King on New Year’s Day. It was the first day of 2022 and for two and half hours there were no worries, the outside world melted away, and I was at the theatre, seeing an amazing show. It was emotional at times, it was fun, it was colourful. The show is simply an artistic masterpiece. The sets are incredible, the costumes and the makeup and the puppetry that is used is so unique and it creates the most incredible visuals onstage. I think that The Lion King is a very immersive show because of the way it is staged, the actors use their entire bodies to convey their characters. The dancing is energetic and lively, the entire ensemble looks amazing at all times because they are portraying different animals and aesthetics and at times the ensemble even add to the scenery. I think that this show is an amazing example of how creativity and artistry work to tell a beautiful story.

The cast received a standing ovation and it was well deserved. The cast, the crew, the creative team, the orchestra, everyone who is involved in bringing The Lion King to life onstage deserves every ounce of praise they receive because the show is something special and I don’t think I have seen anything else like it onstage. It had to be a challenge bringing an animated story to life onstage but they mastered the challenge. I would easily go and see this show again tomorrow if I could.

The music in the show is beautiful. Of course there are the classic songs that everyone knows and loves from the animated movie such as “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King.” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.” There are also new songs that have been created for the stage version, and they add a new layer of depth to the show. I think one of my favourite moments had to be when Nala sings “Shadowland.” because it is a beautiful, powerful song and it allowed Nala to showcase what a strong character she is.

A stand out moment has to be when “Circle of Life.” is brought to life onstage. This song is so many things, it is uplifting, it is powerful, it is joyous, and it is poignant because in the circle of life, there are highs and lows, gains and losses, happiness and grief, but we are all connected and the song combined with how it is performed onstage by the entire cast is incredibly moving.

I highly recommend going to see The Lion King if you get the chance to do so. It is a magical show, the plot is compelling, it is not “just for kids”, it is bright, colourful, energetic, heartfelt, and very moving and I guarantee that if you went to see it, you’d have an amazing time.

This has been a Theatre Trip post because as you all know, I love talking about the theatre. I am very lucky to live in Dublin as we have so many wonderful theatres here, and I am lucky to be able to go to places such as the Bord Gáis to see so many fantastic shows.

Happy New Year everyone. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2022.

Onwards and upwards we go.

Kate xo.

Hello everyone. I hope you are all keeping well. I mentioned last week on my Instagram (@katelovesliterature), that I had something really exciting coming up this week. I said that I am planning to finish out the month of November in a really fun way. Today I am sharing my news. 

I am so excited because I will be spending the weekend in Oslo. I have some family members who are currently living in Norway, and I have not seen them in nearly two years so I could not be more excited to be taking this trip. 

I have not travelled since November of 2019 so I am a little apprehensive about it, but I am mostly just extremely excited. I know that everyone has their own opinions about the situation that is going on in the world and everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I think it is important to always be courteous and polite. I am fully vaccinated, as are the family members that I am travelling with, as are the family members we are going to see. We will be following all health and safety guidelines, sanitizing, mask wearing, and generally just doing everything in the safest way possible. 

Oslo is a city that is filled with amazing connections to literature. I am hoping to go to the Ibsen Museum. I plan on taking some beautiful pictures of the city, I will be talking a lot about the works of Ibsen this week, and I have some other really cool places that I plan to visit. So keep an eye on my Instagram page because I will be sharing the highlights of my trip. 

Have you been to Norway? Do you like the works of Henrik Ibsen? If so, let me know what your favourite piece is. I’d love to know. 

Kate xo. 

Hello everyone. Here’s to a new month. I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks as I have a few exciting things planned which will be revealed soon.

If you follow my on Instagram (@katelovesliterature), then you’ll already know that November’s Book Of The Month is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This is a childhood classic and I’ve chosen it because I wanted to be nostalgic in November. Feel free to read along with me.
Kate xo.