sv podcast – where we get a little bit book-clubby and read Faith, Hope & Carnage

We have read a book for Lent this year, oh yes, and it’s the fascinating Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan collaboration, Faith, Hope and Carnage. Listen to Holly & Darren chewing it over in this podcast … There is indeed lots of faith and hope (not quite sure about the carnage) and reflections on grief and presence.

Join in the conversation by leaving a comment on this website or get in touch on Facebook or Twitter. We really appreciate hearing from you!

This podcast was recorded on Thursday 16 March 2023. Available from Apple Podcasts , TuneIn Radio, and from your favourite podcast App. Duration: 37 minutes.
Theme music by Nicolai Heidlas.

Faith, Hope and Carnage is published by Canongate Books

Faith, Hope and Carnage is an extended conversation between Nick Cave and Observer journalist, Seán O’Hagan, who have known one another for thirty years. Created from over forty hours of intimate recordings, the book examines questions of faith, art, music, freedom, grief and love.

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Ann says:

March 27, 2023 at 11:52 am

Before I say anything, I think it’s important to admit that I don’t know Nick Cave’s music and to know that it’s the audio book that I’m reading.

Because I’m coming to it in this way, I didn’t immediately warm to the book in chapter 1. I’ve now reached the middle of chapter three with a feeling that I’m getting hooked and I’m starting to understand something of who Nick Cave is. In the early stages, I was slightly put off by a fear that this was going to be either quite pretentious or of no interest to those who haven’t listened to his music. But I’m now seeing that there is a poetry in his thinking and he does have something very valuable to say.

I will read more and come to a more rounded view. But my initial thought is of this painting (see the link below), The Light of the World. It helps me, so far, as a kind of framework for understanding what I’m hearing Nick Cave say.

While many people either don’t see or prefer to ignore the door with a handle only on the inside and the sound of knocking, Nick Cave hears the knocking very loudly. He stands behind the door, listening to the knocking, looking at the door handle and yearning to open it. And he often does open it. When he does, he sees so much there that all he can do is close it again and start yearning for the next time he opens it. We as readers, get the privilege of hearing him tell us something of what he has seen. Sometimes, it chimes with what we might have seen.

He frequently oscillates between faith and doubt – even demonstrating that in the course of one sentence. To me, it has felt like a roller-coaster: I’m thrilled by what he says and then disappointed as he veers away. Now that I’ve started equating that to the repeated opening and closing of the door, I’m coping with it much better. I understand better how he might be feeling about the door.

And I feel ready now to stay on the roller-coaster with him to the end, more than happily awaiting not only his next opening of the door but also accepting with more understanding his closing of it…

https://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/about/chapel/light-of-the-world/

Ann

Anne Elliot says:

April 25, 2023 at 4:02 pm

I really enjoyed listening to this podcast. The conversation between Holly and Darren about, not only the book”Faith, Hope ond Carnage”, but about faith and hope in general was very engaging. I look forward to more of these types of conversations. They lead me to ruminate about the role of faith and hope in my life and how to maintain faith and hope during difficult times.

smallvoice1 says:

April 25, 2023 at 4:34 pm

Hi Anne, Darren here. Thanks so much for these kind comments. It means a great deal to us that you find the conversations helpful and we’ll do our best to keep the conversations – and the faith, and the hope – going!

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