The Hay Festival is an annual literary festival in the town of books, Hay-on-Wye, in Wales. I spent 10 days at the festival this year taking in all the incredible energy. In total I attended about 20 events, each one packed with things to think about.   Day 1 mentions: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes For Ian Charleson by Ian McKellen Bibliomaniac by Robin Ince   Day 2 mentions: BBC Radio 4 Podcast You’re Dead to Me: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mdbhg  Eat Your Words - Oyster mushroom grow kits: https://superfungi.co.uk/store/p/mushroomgrowkit  Shelterbox Book club: https://shelterbox.org/book-club/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu8uyBhC6ARIsAKwBGpRda82E9BICGEGd_p49goVogFYXUloiVdnU9VXmaEpv73U-7D6uWasaAhMfEALw_wcB  Field & Found: https://www.fieldandfound.com/  Happy Maki: https://www.happymaki.co.uk/  Shepherds Ice Cream: https://www.shepherdsicecream.co.uk/ La Bonne Crepe: https://www.facebook.com/LaBonneCrepeBristol/?locale=en_GB Day 3 mentions:  Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry After Me Comes the Flood by Sarah Perry Enlightenment by Sarah Perry The Morningside by Tea Obreht Taste Tibet by Julie Kleeman and Yeshi Jampa Taste Tibet: https://tastetibet.com/ Lauren Silver Boutique: https://www.laurensilverboutique.com/ Day 4 mentions:  Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown by Anais Mitchell Oakchurch Farm Shop: https://www.oakchurch.net/  Two Farmers Hand Cooked Crisps: https://twofarmers.co.uk/  Skittery Apple Juice: https://www.jusapples.co.uk/  Cradoc's Savoury Biscuits: https://cradocssavourybiscuits.co.uk/ Why We Build the Wal by Anais Mitchelll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBGUqMyyvnI   Day 5 mentions: We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver Mania by Lionel Shriver Lionel Shriver talks to Stephanie Merritt: https://www.hayfestival.com/p-21851-lionel-shriver-talks-to-stephanie-merritt.aspx?skinid=16#:~:text=Hay%20Festival%202024%2C%20Tuesday%2028%20May%202024&text=What%20if%20calling%20someone%20stupid,qualification%20to%20be%20a%20doctor The Self-Sufficiency Garden by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben  Our Little Farm by Peter and Miriam Wohlleben   Day 6 mentions: Meat & Greek: http://www.meatandgreek.co.uk/  Coal Town Coffee: https://www.coaltowncoffee.co.uk    Day 7 mentions:  Killing for country by David Marr. Hay Cinema Bookshop: https://www.haycinemabookshop.co.uk/ The Beefy Boys: https://thebeefyboys.com/ Day 8 mentions: Eve by Cat Bohannon Womb by Leah Hazard What about Men? By Caitlin Moran My Octopus Teacher documentary: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81045007?trackId=14277281&tctx=-97%2C-97%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C81045007%2CVideo%3A81045007%2C  Amphibious Soul by Craig Foster Lola’s Fish and Chips: https://modern-amusement.com/lolas-ethical-seafood-sustainable-fish-and-chips-at-music-festivals-and-events-across-the-uk Day 9 mentions: Matrescence by Lucy Jones Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer  The Fritter Shack: https://thefrittershack.co.uk/  P&G Hats: https://www.pandghats.co.uk/    Day 10 mentions: Less by Patrick Grant Community Clothing: https://communityclothing.co.uk/  A Very Private School by Charles Spencer