November 17, 2006
Wedding Weekend
Here for five women writers revealing their inspiration. The Beatles mash themselves up. The danger of naming a character. Books banned in Iran. Etc.
This weekend I am reading The Da Vinci Code. It’s true, but only because I am going to be maniacally busy this weekend with some blocks of sitting around time and require a novel that won’t require too much concentration and that can be finished for Monday so I can read the books I have to read for school. The qualification is necessary. 8 billion readers can’t be wrong though. Or can they?
This weekend is brought to us by the Doering/Lui Nuptials, which I expect will usurp these as the wedding of the year. A three day extravaganza really, and if you’re looking for me I’ll be the one riding around in a limo wearing a floor-length gown. A floor-length gown that doesn’t exactly fit. Ah yes, my career as a bridesmaid begins this afternoon, straight through to Sunday. I’ll be back in the aftermath, probably with pictures.
November 14, 2006
What to know?
What to know? That my back aches from shelving all the books you brought back when you finished your paper on William Morris/ Charles Dickens/ Native Residential Schools/ Islam/ Urban Sprawl. That the Dog Accessory Store I pass every day has now gone out of business, which is proof to me that capitalism sometimes works. That the Bridesmaid Dress has been picked up from its second alterations and still doesn’t fit, but will do almost comfortably (and has only set me back $270. Remind me to buy a dress off the rack next time. They always fit right away). That Mr. Warbucks is proof that the American system works, and the Bolsheviks don’t want anybody to know that. That I am excited to read About Alice by Calvin Trillin when it comes out in December. I had my Scrabble Ass kicked Sunday night by Nina and Laryn, but then again I was reponsible for “rhubarb” (and I only had to cheat one tile to get it!). That it’s going to take a miracle to get done all that needs doing in the next month, and I’ll have to shake my hand once I’ve got through.
November 11, 2006
Lately
What I’ve learned lately includes Noel Gallagher, such a rockstar! Here for Hilary Mantel on Alice Munro’s new one. Though it’s quite last week, Philip Marchand thinks Toronto has no stories, or novels at least. And this wonderful obit of Alexander Graham Bell’s granddaughter, from last week’s Globe. Most significantly, and disturbingly, after four years together, my husband and I have only just learned that we know different versions of “I’m A Little Teapot”.
November 8, 2006
Kicking legs and stop the presses!
I have developed an uncontrollable urge to go see The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at The Hummingbird Centre. To be confirmed, but still, how exciting! I haven’t seen a Christmas show since the Nottingham Panto in 2003 (starring Leslie Grantham, but I didn’t know who he was then).
The Gillers tonight! I still think I have a chance of winning this year. Controversy surrounding proofreading has been interesting. The Digested Read of Posh Spice’s latest book is funny. A new publisher at Walrus.
And Holy Shit! Stop the presses because Britney has filed for divorce!
November 5, 2006
StuffRead
I loved Camilla Gibb’s piece in The Globe today, weaving together Borat, Peter McKay’s alleged dog slur, Anna Politkovskaya, and freedom of speech to say something good and profound. I also enjoyed Doug Saunders’ piece The Blueprints of Human Unrest, about the relationship between architecture and the social problems. The Giller Debate was all right, and I also appreciated Warren Clements’ attempts to understand why Fergie-Ferg is a “dutchess” instead of a “duchess”. And lovely! Something nice to say about those of us who aspire to bookwrite. Paul Auster on fiction.
November 1, 2006
Books in the News
Okay, I admit I like the Guardian Books Blog. I just hope the bloggish articles don’t come to take the place of their regular books articles. On writing that first novel: “For years I was bogged down in the paraphernalia surrounding the writing of a novel–the specially sharpened pencil, the new notebook, just the right word processor. I eagerly hovered up snippets of information about how other people wrote their books as if hoping to discover a special secret that would enable me to write mine. With hindsight it is now clear that this hopelessly naive behaviour was a form of decades-long displacement activity that was actually preventing me from writing a novel, and that the only way to write a novel is indeed to write it, one painful word after another.” On giving children books for Christmas. On what reviewers should think according to publishers. Outside of the blog, on Penguins: you know, I don’t know if I like Penguin books because I like penguins, or if I like penguins because of the books. Alice Munro in The Guardian and in The Globe. Plath sonnet discovered.
Am devastated about Reese and Ryan.
October 29, 2006
Wedding news…
Susannah, my dearest cousin/friend, is getting married! And to a boy who is wonderful no less! They announced it yesterday over deep-friend clam strips. In further nuptials news, plans for Bronwyn’s wedding on the moors are well underway. Further, tomorrow I am picking up my altered bridesmaid dress for Katie’s, and hopefully it will fit.
October 26, 2006
Stranger than Fiction
The Guardian has a books blog, which might turn out to be good. Or not. The movie Stranger than Fiction looks quite bookish, and I think I want to go see it. And I quite enjoyed the Guardian’s podcast on creative writing programs. No definitive answers, which is best really, but the exchange of some good ideas.
I’m now rereading The Diviners, one of “those” books. I will return to it again and again, and find something new every time. I am finding present-day Morag resonates with me if a way she never did when I read this book before. Pioneers, oh pioneers.
October 25, 2006
A great modifier
I’m sort of in love with the idea of a hyperbolic thesaurus. I don’t know if one exists, or what good it would really be if one did, but I want one all the same. “cold: freezing, burrr-y, 50 below zero, the North Pole, arctic, glacial, polar, Siberian; and if still at a loss, of course “fcking” always makes a great modifier. I think I would be well-qualified to write a hyperbolic thesaurus, if such a position ever became available.
In exciting news (and speaking of cold),Laura has arrived at the South Pole and her first blog entry about it is fascinating. Guardian Podcast: can creative writing be taught (blah blah blah)? I’ll give it a listen tonight o’er my knitting.
Back to work you.
October 24, 2006
Board Games
Diane Setterfield is in The Globe today. Also, The Report on Business’s Board Games is out, which is particularly exciting as some of the research from the project I worked on this summer went toward it. Remember my corporate governance warrior alter-ego?
