For some time now I've felt somehow limited by this blog. Who knows why . . . I certainly don't. But I feel a fresh start, a new perspective, a new blog might just do the trick. To that end, this blog will go into retirement (though I'll keep adding to the Books read list because, well, I just really like lists) and the new blog will host my present and future ramblings, photos and links.
Do come along for the ride.
The new blog is:
Some of the Drops Sparkle
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
I Weigh In On YouTube Austen
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries continue to fascinate me. I've caught up on all the Lizzie, Lydia, Gigi, and even Maria videos and am eagerly awaiting the coming conclusion. I still have a few issues with some of the updated characterizations -- Lizzie and Darcy in particular fail to quite hit the mark for me -- but, as Trudy points out on her blog Hypergraffiti, the real gem here is Lydia Bennet. Shocking? In a way. The changes to Lydia's character and situation completely go against what Austen was writing towards in my opinion and yet the Diaries' Lydia somehow feels organic to the modernization of the story. How this was accomplished probably had a lot more to do with the actress than the writing, but however it was achieved it has certainly proven to be thought-provoking in terms of the evolution and evaluation of gender relations and realities.
To me, Pride and Prejudice is not just a love story or a socially revealing examination of class and gender inequality in the early 19th century. Though it is about all that as well. To me, Pride and Prejudice is primarily about behaviour, how we choose to behave regardless of circumstance. How what we do reveals or disguises who we are and how this complicates or eases our interaction with others. So, by changing how Lydia intends to behave (along with the obviously necessary updates to her behaviour to go along with the new social context) as well as her level of complicity in the action, key comparisons about vanity and pride within the narrow context of Austen's created society are lost. And I'm not sure I'm convinced they're made up in other areas. Lydia is a great foil against which to see the various Bennet deficiencies. The modernized Diaries extends the plot in such a way as to make Jane and Elizabeth obviously culpable in Lydia's weakness as opposed to subtly culpable in the novel. So far, so good. But a different Lydia is, ultimately, a different story.
The Diaries' Lydia Bennet is not only revealed to be a not-so-brainless, somewhat endearing young woman with principles, but she is undoubtedly a victim in this updated version of events. George Wickham manipulates and uses her to his own ends, which seem to be mostly revenge and general wickedness, and she is under the sincere if misguided belief that he truly loves her and is looking out for her best interests. She is devastated when she discovers she's been lied to. And here is where the culpability of the updated Jane and Elizabeth just doesn't sit well with me. In the novel, her sister could really have made very little difference to Lydia's fate. Lydia's potential ruination is entirely written by her own choices. That the ruination centred on Wickham is, largely, incidental to Lydia (though not to Elizabeth or Darcy or Georgiana). Here, in the Diaries, Lydia's complete foreknowledge of Wickham's deviousness would have made a difference in the world of the new Lydia. She is not unprincipled and stupid. She is immature in some ways, savvy in others. More importantly, that her family is not there for her is key in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Her sisters' disinterest in her life, their separate misunderstandings about who she is as a person, is an integral factor in her weakness as regards Wickham. And particularly Wickham. This is a Lydia who must be victimised in order for the plot to echo Austen's. And that's quite a change. Jane Austen's Lydia is insensible to the attentions of her family. As she is to much else that doesn't concern her own particular interests and emotions. This does not necessarily make me like this adaptation less, a new perspective is always useful, but it does raise a great many questions about contemporary interpretations of self-indulgence.
[Side Note: while Trudy sees the differences in the plot speaking to the advances feminism has made in society, I see it a little differently. Probably because I don't think feminism has made many material advances. Just a different look and brand for the chains. To whit . . .
Jane privileges her career over jumping into the arms of Bing, having evidently grown stronger as a person during their separation. Yet she obviously wants to be with him and struggles to work out how she can have both. That she can have both is only because he is wealthy and at liberty to privilege her needs over his own obligations. Fantasy for many of us.
Lizzie is aiming at a career rather than marriage (the only career available to 19th century women). But she seems to be more interested in family and relationships than a career. Despite saying she wants independence,etc., her friend Charlotte points out to her that she is actually hiding behind her family, too frightened to take up her own life under a mountain of debt.
Lydia is a naive, well-meaning victim of a predator who stands up for herself and seems to have no intention of ending up with Wickham. But is this not another judgment on behalf of appearances? We're applauding Lydia before we find out more about Wickham's intentions. Will they really be the same as they were in the novel? And, if she forgives him, will there be a Rihanna/Chris Brown-like backlash? Because modern women are weak if they provide second chances?
At any rate, all of these are stereotyped behaviours as much as anything we like to ascribe to the increasingly rom-com approach to Austen's novel. And perhaps that's the point of the updates. The stereotypes have to fit regardless of historical and cultural context. But the actress portraying Lydia has given her something more. And I think that's telling.]
At any rate, this should divert my whirling thoughts.
To me, Pride and Prejudice is not just a love story or a socially revealing examination of class and gender inequality in the early 19th century. Though it is about all that as well. To me, Pride and Prejudice is primarily about behaviour, how we choose to behave regardless of circumstance. How what we do reveals or disguises who we are and how this complicates or eases our interaction with others. So, by changing how Lydia intends to behave (along with the obviously necessary updates to her behaviour to go along with the new social context) as well as her level of complicity in the action, key comparisons about vanity and pride within the narrow context of Austen's created society are lost. And I'm not sure I'm convinced they're made up in other areas. Lydia is a great foil against which to see the various Bennet deficiencies. The modernized Diaries extends the plot in such a way as to make Jane and Elizabeth obviously culpable in Lydia's weakness as opposed to subtly culpable in the novel. So far, so good. But a different Lydia is, ultimately, a different story.
The Diaries' Lydia Bennet is not only revealed to be a not-so-brainless, somewhat endearing young woman with principles, but she is undoubtedly a victim in this updated version of events. George Wickham manipulates and uses her to his own ends, which seem to be mostly revenge and general wickedness, and she is under the sincere if misguided belief that he truly loves her and is looking out for her best interests. She is devastated when she discovers she's been lied to. And here is where the culpability of the updated Jane and Elizabeth just doesn't sit well with me. In the novel, her sister could really have made very little difference to Lydia's fate. Lydia's potential ruination is entirely written by her own choices. That the ruination centred on Wickham is, largely, incidental to Lydia (though not to Elizabeth or Darcy or Georgiana). Here, in the Diaries, Lydia's complete foreknowledge of Wickham's deviousness would have made a difference in the world of the new Lydia. She is not unprincipled and stupid. She is immature in some ways, savvy in others. More importantly, that her family is not there for her is key in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Her sisters' disinterest in her life, their separate misunderstandings about who she is as a person, is an integral factor in her weakness as regards Wickham. And particularly Wickham. This is a Lydia who must be victimised in order for the plot to echo Austen's. And that's quite a change. Jane Austen's Lydia is insensible to the attentions of her family. As she is to much else that doesn't concern her own particular interests and emotions. This does not necessarily make me like this adaptation less, a new perspective is always useful, but it does raise a great many questions about contemporary interpretations of self-indulgence.
[Side Note: while Trudy sees the differences in the plot speaking to the advances feminism has made in society, I see it a little differently. Probably because I don't think feminism has made many material advances. Just a different look and brand for the chains. To whit . . .
Jane privileges her career over jumping into the arms of Bing, having evidently grown stronger as a person during their separation. Yet she obviously wants to be with him and struggles to work out how she can have both. That she can have both is only because he is wealthy and at liberty to privilege her needs over his own obligations. Fantasy for many of us.
Lizzie is aiming at a career rather than marriage (the only career available to 19th century women). But she seems to be more interested in family and relationships than a career. Despite saying she wants independence,etc., her friend Charlotte points out to her that she is actually hiding behind her family, too frightened to take up her own life under a mountain of debt.
Lydia is a naive, well-meaning victim of a predator who stands up for herself and seems to have no intention of ending up with Wickham. But is this not another judgment on behalf of appearances? We're applauding Lydia before we find out more about Wickham's intentions. Will they really be the same as they were in the novel? And, if she forgives him, will there be a Rihanna/Chris Brown-like backlash? Because modern women are weak if they provide second chances?
At any rate, all of these are stereotyped behaviours as much as anything we like to ascribe to the increasingly rom-com approach to Austen's novel. And perhaps that's the point of the updates. The stereotypes have to fit regardless of historical and cultural context. But the actress portraying Lydia has given her something more. And I think that's telling.]
At any rate, this should divert my whirling thoughts.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Wherein I Gush About Poetry Again
Absorbing poetry can be rather rare. You know the kind I mean. The kind that pulls you in, regardless of subject or style, and refuses to let you go. Poetry of the can't-put-down variety. So rare. And I've just read two (TWO!) collections that meet those rare criteria. Two!
The first was undoubtedly the most engaging of the two (for me): The Truth of Houses by Ann Scowcroft. At first glance, it didn't seem to be the kind of collection that would appeal to me. A little too prosey, perhaps. I feared the dreaded confessional. But I needn't have worried. This collection drew me in, effortlessly it seemed, and held me spellbound until the last line had been read. Sometimes personal without ever being irrelevant, always emotionally absorbing, and undeniably moving. The kind of poetry that makes you put the book down every so often when you reach a line that just pounces.
The second of the two, I see my love more clearly from a distance by Nora Gould, I loved despite an initial lack of interest in what I thought the collection was about. Although the title is absolutely wonderful, it took me a couple of tries -- a few poems in -- to really respond to this collection of prairie poems. But once I did, well, I was hanging on every line. There's a definite narrative line to this collection and I wanted to follow the story. Find out what happened. I had a stake in the emotional outcome. The imagery -- gleaned from prairie life -- evokes so much feeling. I felt like I was listening to the music of a life unfolding. It was all those cliched (but deep-down-meaningful) words like beautiful, poignant, stirring.
I'm not going to quote any lines from any of the poems because Brick Books has a great site with lots of goodies if you're interested in seeing/hearing some of the poems:
For Nora Gould's collection.
For Ann Scowcroft's.
* Much thanks, again and again, to Brick Books for the review copies.
The second of the two, I see my love more clearly from a distance by Nora Gould, I loved despite an initial lack of interest in what I thought the collection was about. Although the title is absolutely wonderful, it took me a couple of tries -- a few poems in -- to really respond to this collection of prairie poems. But once I did, well, I was hanging on every line. There's a definite narrative line to this collection and I wanted to follow the story. Find out what happened. I had a stake in the emotional outcome. The imagery -- gleaned from prairie life -- evokes so much feeling. I felt like I was listening to the music of a life unfolding. It was all those cliched (but deep-down-meaningful) words like beautiful, poignant, stirring.
I'm not going to quote any lines from any of the poems because Brick Books has a great site with lots of goodies if you're interested in seeing/hearing some of the poems:
For Nora Gould's collection.
For Ann Scowcroft's.
* Much thanks, again and again, to Brick Books for the review copies.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Pride & Prejudice, YouTube Style
So I've been laid up with a cold this week. And when one is under the weather one turns to YouTube for distraction from running noses and coughs and sneezes, right? Thought so. In between the music videos I've been catching up on and the clips of various Oscar snafus, I've been paying a great deal of mucus-ridden attention to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
Trudy at Hypergraffiti put me on to these faux vlogs and I have to say I'm definitely hooked. I'm not sure I'm completely sold on the updated Lizzie, but Jane and Lydia are both more than convincing with Lydia being by far the most entertaining updated character. But then, Lydia would adapt to modern sensibilities far more easily than the other Bennet sisters.
What I like about these episodes is their energy and the attention to and respect for the story being modernized and adapted. I'm not sure about the energy being sustainable for much longer without a good look at Darcy, though. I'm on episode 57 and I've yet to see even the merest glimpse apart from Lizzie's 're-enactments.' However, I look forward to seeing where this goes . . .
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Ms Upson Deposes
What a pleasant bit of synchronicity. Hard on the heels of my rereading of Miss Pym Disposes, I had a chance to catch up with the Nicola Upson Josephine Tey series with Two for Sorrow and what should it be loosely dancing around but the aforementioned Miss Pym.
Miss Pym Disposes is probably my second favourite Tey novel (you know, the ones actually written by her, as opposed to the ones featuring her as a character) . .. after Daughter of Time, of course. Set in a girls' school, grisly emotions are delivered in crystalline prose . . . . and the charaterizations! Tey definitely knew how to create compellingly human representations of fictional beings. The plot centres on the politics of youth, ambition, and a possessive emotion not entirely distant from love. Not love, mind you, but a close enough relation to have a feature or two in common.
Two for Sorrow is not a recreation of the aforementioned. No, when I said dance I meant it and I meant it in the most flattering way possible. Upson's novel, rather, is an intelligent and engrossing variation on a theme. She takes the theme of positive and negative aspects of a close (if not claustrophobic) female world and spins it out, examines it in different lights, and hands it back with a few new facets and angles for our thinking pleasure.
I truly enjoyed both novels equally. By far the best of Upson's Tey series to date. Tey's relationships, subtly complicating as she delves deeper into the minds and motivations behind dark deeds from women who have the trust of of other women, illuminate more about a character happy to live in the background of others' lives.
There is much about trust and deception in these novels. Especially self-deception. And I find that intriguingly rendered in Tey (the fictional character as well as the author's own work). Of interest, too, is Upson's working of 'true crime' or historical figures into her narrative while having characters questioning the morality of doing so. This is a topic Mr. Inkslinger and I find fascinating and sometimes troubling (especially as writers) . .. the morality of co-opting another's story for one's own purposes, however public or historical that 'other' might be. And whatever those purposes might be.
To sum up: Josephine Tey is a must read. As author or character!
Miss Pym Disposes is probably my second favourite Tey novel (you know, the ones actually written by her, as opposed to the ones featuring her as a character) . .. after Daughter of Time, of course. Set in a girls' school, grisly emotions are delivered in crystalline prose . . . . and the charaterizations! Tey definitely knew how to create compellingly human representations of fictional beings. The plot centres on the politics of youth, ambition, and a possessive emotion not entirely distant from love. Not love, mind you, but a close enough relation to have a feature or two in common.
Two for Sorrow is not a recreation of the aforementioned. No, when I said dance I meant it and I meant it in the most flattering way possible. Upson's novel, rather, is an intelligent and engrossing variation on a theme. She takes the theme of positive and negative aspects of a close (if not claustrophobic) female world and spins it out, examines it in different lights, and hands it back with a few new facets and angles for our thinking pleasure.
I truly enjoyed both novels equally. By far the best of Upson's Tey series to date. Tey's relationships, subtly complicating as she delves deeper into the minds and motivations behind dark deeds from women who have the trust of of other women, illuminate more about a character happy to live in the background of others' lives.
There is much about trust and deception in these novels. Especially self-deception. And I find that intriguingly rendered in Tey (the fictional character as well as the author's own work). Of interest, too, is Upson's working of 'true crime' or historical figures into her narrative while having characters questioning the morality of doing so. This is a topic Mr. Inkslinger and I find fascinating and sometimes troubling (especially as writers) . .. the morality of co-opting another's story for one's own purposes, however public or historical that 'other' might be. And whatever those purposes might be.
To sum up: Josephine Tey is a must read. As author or character!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
So I've started several posts in the last two months on books I've enjoyed, but haven't had time to polish and hit publish. This meme via Thomas at My Porch should be manageable though: ten living authors I'd confidently buy books by, no questions asked. (I'd include poets as well.)
1. A.S. Byatt (accompanied by exclamation marks)
2. Marilynne Robinson (ditto)
3. Anne Compton (also ditto)
4. Helen Humphreys (usually)
5. George Fetherling
6. Margaret Visser
7. Mary Stewart
8. Tom Stoppard
9. Laurie R. King
10. Pamela Dean
1. A.S. Byatt (accompanied by exclamation marks)
2. Marilynne Robinson (ditto)
3. Anne Compton (also ditto)
4. Helen Humphreys (usually)
5. George Fetherling
6. Margaret Visser
7. Mary Stewart
8. Tom Stoppard
9. Laurie R. King
10. Pamela Dean
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
So. A new reading year has arrived. Oh, the possibilities!
I finished my first book of the year yesterday. It was Josephine Tey's To Love and Be Wise. And, while not my favourite Tey, it was enjoyably diverting. (Mr. Inkslinger was thoughtful enough to give me several Teys for Christmas,so there will be more Tey to come).
To Love and Be Wise follows the fascinating Inspector Grant as he attempts to discover what happened to an American photographer (one Leslie Searle) who disappeared while visiting a quiet English village. Searle seems to have had a polarizing effect on people, lengthening the list of suspects Grant must encounter. I have to say, I do love Grant. There's something so very tangible about him.
And I've just about finished another interesting book of poetry from Brick Books: Omens In the Year of the Ox. More to come.
I finished my first book of the year yesterday. It was Josephine Tey's To Love and Be Wise. And, while not my favourite Tey, it was enjoyably diverting. (Mr. Inkslinger was thoughtful enough to give me several Teys for Christmas,so there will be more Tey to come).
To Love and Be Wise follows the fascinating Inspector Grant as he attempts to discover what happened to an American photographer (one Leslie Searle) who disappeared while visiting a quiet English village. Searle seems to have had a polarizing effect on people, lengthening the list of suspects Grant must encounter. I have to say, I do love Grant. There's something so very tangible about him.
And I've just about finished another interesting book of poetry from Brick Books: Omens In the Year of the Ox. More to come.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Reading Stats for 2012
Well, the events of this year did not afford me as much time for reading as I'm used to, but that's alright. Life has been filled with so many blessings, and I still managed to read some great books. No complaining from this reader, that's for sure.
Number of Books read: 49
Books by men: 30
Books by women: 19
Books in translation: 7
Books that were re-reads: 7
Fiction read: 39
Of the Fiction . . .
Novels (literary and otherwise): 25
Poetry: 8
Plays: 2
Short Story collections: 3
Novella: 1
Novella: 1
Nonfiction read: 10
Of the Nonfiction . . .
Essays/lectures/letters: 3
History/Biography/Memoir: 6
On Literature and/or Poetry: 1
Books By Year of Publication
21st century: 21
Second half of 20th century, 1950-1999: 14
First half of 20th century, 1900- 1950: 6
19th century: 8
TOP FIVE
This year, in a break with precedent, I'm doing only one top five list which will include fiction (poetry and prose) and nonfiction. These are, simply, my favourite reads of the year (excluding canonical/classics for poetry, because that's just not fair on contemporary poets).
In no particular order:
Perfection by Patrick Warner (poetry, 2012)
The Second Scroll by A.M. Klein (novel, 1951)
Seismographs: Selected Essays and Reviews by Liliane Welch (essays/nonfiction, 1988)
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton (short stories, 1922)
The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard (play, 1962/1968)
My reading goals for 2013? Read well, read as often as life allows.
Happy New Year, all. May you have a safe and happy evening of celebrations and a splendid year.
The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard (play, 1962/1968)
My reading goals for 2013? Read well, read as often as life allows.
Happy New Year, all. May you have a safe and happy evening of celebrations and a splendid year.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The annual fixture. My wrap-up-the-year meme -- otherwise, how would I remember what I've done all year?
1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Gave birth to a wonderful little boy. Truly learned what grateful means.
2. What countries did you visit?
The weird and wild land of no sleep.
3. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More energy. Better overall health.
4. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Giving birth with very little painkillers (wasn't time or opportunity) despite Little Inkslinger facing the wrong direction.
5. What was your biggest failure?
Not recovering fast enough.
6. What was the best thing you bought?
A little swing for our tiny man to cuddle up and go to sleep in (this is essential as he is reluctant to take his daily naps).
7. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mr. Inkslinger, always. Little Inkslinger for handling the most jam-packed year of his life (the first one) with tenacity and good humour.
8. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Those who swore affection and delivered indifference.
9. Where did most of your money go?
Undoubtedly Little Inkslinger. But we didn't mind in the least.
10. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Right before the birth of our little one, I found myself listening to Flo Rida's Good Feeling for its upbeat, helps-relieve-the-panic sound.
11. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a). Definitely happier. Having such a little sweetie around makes it hard to be unhappy. b). Fatter. Alas. The baby fat has not left. c). Richer in every way except monetary.
12. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sleep.
13. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Fretting. Borrowing trouble . . . as always.
14. What was your favourite TV program?
Who has time for tv?
15. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Still intending to keep hate out of the emotional diet.
16. What was the best book you read?
See upcoming top five post.
17. What did you want and get?
Little Inkslinger!
18. What did you want and not get?
Less anxiety.
19. Best Musical Discovery?
Who has time for music? Oh wait, I did some excellent listening this year. Jack White. Loved his Blunderbuss album.
20. What was your favourite film of this year?
We didn't do a lot of film-watching this year. We're trying to keep Little Inkslinger's exposure to things like tv, movies, internet, etc., down to a minimum until he's much older. But of the small number we watched, the following were most memorable:
Moonrise Kingdom
Super 8
The Big Year
21. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I'm not really sure what I did on my birthday.
22. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More energy.
23. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Does it still fit? Yes? Wear it!
24. What kept you sane?
Little Inkslinger.
25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Either Jack White or Adam Levine (the latter reminding me very much of Mr. Inkslinger, who is better than any celebrity in my book).
26. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics eludes me.
27. Who did you miss?
My darling little mother. Especially this year.
28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Endurance can sometimes look like failure. But it isn't.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Gave birth to a wonderful little boy. Truly learned what grateful means.
2. What countries did you visit?
The weird and wild land of no sleep.
3. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More energy. Better overall health.
4. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Giving birth with very little painkillers (wasn't time or opportunity) despite Little Inkslinger facing the wrong direction.
5. What was your biggest failure?
Not recovering fast enough.
6. What was the best thing you bought?
A little swing for our tiny man to cuddle up and go to sleep in (this is essential as he is reluctant to take his daily naps).
7. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mr. Inkslinger, always. Little Inkslinger for handling the most jam-packed year of his life (the first one) with tenacity and good humour.
8. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Those who swore affection and delivered indifference.
9. Where did most of your money go?
Undoubtedly Little Inkslinger. But we didn't mind in the least.
10. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Right before the birth of our little one, I found myself listening to Flo Rida's Good Feeling for its upbeat, helps-relieve-the-panic sound.
11. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a). Definitely happier. Having such a little sweetie around makes it hard to be unhappy. b). Fatter. Alas. The baby fat has not left. c). Richer in every way except monetary.
12. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sleep.
13. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Fretting. Borrowing trouble . . . as always.
14. What was your favourite TV program?
Who has time for tv?
15. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Still intending to keep hate out of the emotional diet.
16. What was the best book you read?
See upcoming top five post.
17. What did you want and get?
Little Inkslinger!
18. What did you want and not get?
Less anxiety.
19. Best Musical Discovery?
Who has time for music? Oh wait, I did some excellent listening this year. Jack White. Loved his Blunderbuss album.
20. What was your favourite film of this year?
We didn't do a lot of film-watching this year. We're trying to keep Little Inkslinger's exposure to things like tv, movies, internet, etc., down to a minimum until he's much older. But of the small number we watched, the following were most memorable:
Moonrise Kingdom
Super 8
The Big Year
21. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I'm not really sure what I did on my birthday.
22. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More energy.
23. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Does it still fit? Yes? Wear it!
24. What kept you sane?
Little Inkslinger.
25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Either Jack White or Adam Levine (the latter reminding me very much of Mr. Inkslinger, who is better than any celebrity in my book).
26. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics eludes me.
27. Who did you miss?
My darling little mother. Especially this year.
28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Endurance can sometimes look like failure. But it isn't.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Alright, I'll admit it. I didn't feel that Monkey Ranch, a collection of very good poems by Julie Bruck, lived up to its cover. Or its title. Winner of this year's Governor General's Award for poetry, the collection stops short of being wonderful for me. Clever, a sure hand, definitely readable. But not transformative. They're just good poems. And I wanted great. The cover, after all, kind of set me up for a different kind of collection. Something off-beat, yes, but something more, too.
Some of my favourite lines from the collection (from the poem "Once"):
Once, I wanted a particular man
to wake and touch me so badly,
I vacuumed the bedroom while he slept.
Note: Oh, and much thanks to Brick Books for the book to review.
Oh, maybe I'm just getting cranky in my old age.
Bruck gives us a wide array of poems from observations about mothers and daughters, to war, execution, mice, zoo critters . . . life, in fact. There is humour and tragedy and much of what one wants in a poetry-reading experience. But don't let the cover fool you. It's not THAT good, but it's good.
Some of my favourite lines from the collection (from the poem "Once"):
Once, I wanted a particular man
to wake and touch me so badly,
I vacuumed the bedroom while he slept.
Note: Oh, and much thanks to Brick Books for the book to review.
Friday, December 28, 2012
So much good reading -- not least my reread of Sarah Smith's Chasing Shakespeares -- but it's been a lazy week here and I can't quite summon up the energy to do full posts about it all yet. But they've been the kinds of reads that spur one on to read more. In other words, the best kind. The Smith book, for example, has me reading up on Edward de Vere and Shakespeare. So I will probably posting all about Shakespeare authorship issues in future.
I do hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as I am. There was family fun and festive feasting hereabouts on Christmas: a song sung to Little Inkslinger by his talented musician uncle; some homemade baked goods to offer one and all (the Christmas cake was less elaborate than in years past, but it didn't seem to matter); veggie roast aplenty; and presents for Little Inkslinger took over our living room and held it hostage.
I do hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as I am. There was family fun and festive feasting hereabouts on Christmas: a song sung to Little Inkslinger by his talented musician uncle; some homemade baked goods to offer one and all (the Christmas cake was less elaborate than in years past, but it didn't seem to matter); veggie roast aplenty; and presents for Little Inkslinger took over our living room and held it hostage.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Bare trees awaiting snowfall. I can't say I blame them. With Christmas right around the corner, a little dusting wouldn't be amiss. I'm in the midst of cooking and baking plans. I'm even thinking of attempting my mum's pie recipe. We'll see how that works out. Pie is not my strength.
I've been collecting recipes from interesting-looking foodie blogs. And I thought I'd share some links to the ones I'm thinking of trying this Christmas.
I can't tell you how long I've been craving a really good coconut cream pie. I think I'll give this one a try.
I usually like to have something quick and scrumptious for Christmas Eve. Baked onion rings sound like they fit the bill.
And while this recipe looks a bit ambitious for me, I'm thinking of trying a variation of it. It just looks too good to pass up.
Baked doughnuts sound like something I'd like to try as an alternative to all the rigmarole that usually accompanies my once-a-year foray into the wild and weight-inducing world of deep fried doughnuts.
Whichever recipes I choose and try, something good is bound to result. Well, hopefully. Yay for Christmas goodies!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Reading George Eliot's essays and came across this interesting bit of prescience (she was talking about how media was taking away the need/desire/habit of conversation):
"In fact, the evident tendency of things to contract personal communication within the narrowest limits makes us tremble lest some further development of the electric telegraph should reduce us to a society of mutes, or to a sort of insects communicating by ingenious antenna of our own invention."
I wonder what she would make of Facebook? Twitter?
"In fact, the evident tendency of things to contract personal communication within the narrowest limits makes us tremble lest some further development of the electric telegraph should reduce us to a society of mutes, or to a sort of insects communicating by ingenious antenna of our own invention."
I wonder what she would make of Facebook? Twitter?
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