January 8, 2007
Only Connect
Lucky Lori Lansens, whose novel is the first Canadian book selected by Richard and Judy’s book club. Britpop enters its latest golden age. On le history of chapbooks.
I just finished reading the bizarre and wonderful Never Let Me Go, and the imaginary sounds of Judy Bridgewater are playing in my mind. Next up is Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson, who is always a treat.
The basement neighbours’ screaming match is entering its 49th hour. We’ve deciphered that she quit her job, he never shows her affection, he declared her unreliable and she is no longer allowed to eat his bread. Moreover she has outstanding debt on rental cars and owes him a ton of cigarettes. It’s difficult to keep track of because they move between inside and out, and so we have to keep moving between the vent and the window to get the details. It’s all getting a bit tiresome, however. We’re hoping they kill each other before bedtime.
In literary connexions, my mom met a man at a party yesterday who is uncle to Ms. Z. Smith’s own Laird.
January 4, 2007
Looking back, and ahead
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is still ever growing. On bookish guilty pleasures. Forthcoming novels, and I’m looking forward to The Post Birthday World. The year in review so says the Star. And I thought their best of 06 seemed pretty thorough.
Quotidianly speaking, must get laundry out of washer, make shopping list and head out for groceries. We’ve got dinner guests tonight.
December 31, 2006
What is left over
Here for Archie Andrews in Vanity Fair. Heather Mallick gives us the saints and standouts of 06. On foresaking the gym for reading poetry. In the Books Blog for on the library debate. By the great Booklust, I was directed to Kimbooktu, which is a books gadget blog! And it’s fantastic. Incidentally, I finished book 172 and am getting through 173 (but it’s not very long). And now I must go and prefer for my New Years Blow Out. Which is not so much of a blow-out, you will probably realize, when I inform you that my first stage of preparation involves baking a carmelized apple cake. But still. The eve promises to be most excellent and bursting with friends.
December 30, 2006
New Goal
My new goal is to get through my life without seeing an image of SH’s corpse. I really am not sure it’s possible but I am going to try my darndest.
December 20, 2006
From here and there
The Penelopiad is being remade for the stage. And though it happened awhile back, John Steffler is Canada’s new poet laureate (and I liked his novel.)
In terms of non-fiction, I’m reading uTOpia at the moment, which is interesting in parts, but terribly obnoxious in others (one person wrote an essay about how he was connected to each of the forces of Toronto’s cultural renaissance [ie someone was his second cousin, though they’d only become acquainted recently, and he used to go to parties at so and so’s house, etc etc] which I think was supposed to have a point beyond that but I missed it).
The big news is that Bronwyn’s back in town, and showers galore are the theme of the holidays. As matron of honour, I have organized a fete for Saturday afternoon, but then I can’t say anything more because it’s a surprise. Just that it’s bookish. We’re keeping holiday gatherings to a minimum, as I’ve got a lot of work to do these days. Tomorrow night, however, I am learning how to make risotto, which is exciting. We’re getting to the end of the Christmas baking, like the gluttons we are. I realized I made it a week earlier this year, which probably wasn’t the best idea.
December 17, 2006
Because I had time to read newspapers
Zoe Heller on the film adaptation of Notes on a Scandal. Oprah brings up Heller’s favourite books (via Maud Newton). From around the world, the best fiction of 06. Fannie Flagg, whose writing has always delighted me, has a new book out. On translating Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Guardian Books Blog continues to bud. I loved Heather Mallick’s Triumph of the Eggheads. And Joan Didion’s collected nonfiction reviewed in the Globe.
December 5, 2006
Anticipation
Claire Messud, whose recent book I so enjoyed is profiled in The Globe today.
There continues to be fun at the Guardian Books Blog.
33 papers are marked and 3 paragraphs on my essay are done (I’m writing one per day), and I am absolutely exhausted but so anticipating all the reading I plan to do over Christmas. Coming up, Heartburn by Nora Ephron, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl, This is My Country, What’s Yours? by Noah Richler, Jane Eyre (I am Bronteing it up this year, on occasion of my trip to the moors in June), and of course The Sea Lady. Among others, I imagine. But at the moment it’s all quite far away.
November 26, 2006
News Fun
I was so happy I bought The Globe yesterday, and I enjoyed the feature on the marvelous Mavis Gallant, and The Globe 100 Books (which I can’t find online). Here for Guardian Books of the Year. And I loved this profile of Ursula Franklin. Now, there’s work to be done.
November 23, 2006
Fun at the Guardians Books Blog, and elsewhere.
My favourite blog Maud Newton has had a makeover! Fun stuff at the GBB- is it wrong to throw old books away? I now make a point of pruning my shelves twice a year, and any books I don’t love go to the Vic Book Sale or to someone I know who just might love it. In spite of this editing of my collection, the collection continues to grow but at a rate that is partially manageable (ie we only needed to get one new bookcase last year). On how to sell a book by its cover, namely call it after a penguin.? On favouritizing books, and oh I wouldn’t know where to start. On poetry reading misgivings. Lionel Shriver comments. Honours for Bookstart, which is the organization in the world I most want to work for.
