Just read the entire book in one sitting on an airplane to London. An amazing work that feels more like a lucid dream than a novella. Came across the book in a Chris Marker documentary (gone down the Sans Soleil rabbit hole lately) but I’ve already forgotten the exact reference or relationship between him and the book.

“Invention” is definitely a very Chris Marker type book though as it deals with memory and image making / recording of life. Having zero knowledge or expectations I was really surprised by the plot twist. Albeit it got campy at times but perhaps that’s a bit of tongue in cheek on the author’s part.

Highly recommend it to the audience of this blog as we are all pursuing the same thing as Morel but in our own unique ways (for less nefarious purposes of course). It’s strange to think that the universe wanted me to read this book on the plane by removing pretty much all distractions. But hey weirder things have happened. (Watch the Rick Rubin and Malcom Gladwell YouTube video for more context here.)

It does put me in the right frame of mind though for the upcoming two weeks of European travel: London, Venice and – the “eternal city” – Rome. I’m hoping to do some Chris Marker inspired travel vlogging with my gear (iPhone 14, Sony Experia 1 VI, DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and Sony FX3). I’m also hoping that writing blog posts will contribute to some sort of script for the video as well.

Note: As I am writing these lines our plane is flying over the Caspian Sea. The route from HK to London used to be more direct over Ukraine. It’s scary to think that the already two plus years Russo-Ukraine war may engulf European countries as well. I think Sans Soleil is enough inspo without throwing in La Jete if you catch my drift.

Hope summer is finding you well!