July 8, 2005
Our best?
I read something recently about the way the public mood was so misjudged after September 11th 2001. Revenge wasn’t the first word on everybody’s lips, but instead compassion, outpouring like it never had before. If America had had a different kind of leadership- more confident and less shakeable- it could have rode that wave to show those who hate what we stand for how wrong they are in their condemnation. A better world could have come of that tragedy but instead the simpler knee-jerk reaction was chosen, and here we are four years later and it’s all the same. In no way is anyone responsible for these acts but the perpetrators, but I also don’t think world leaders have done much to make us safer. Iraq had nothing to do with international terrorism until the US invaded, and now it’s a breeding ground. Their regime needed to be done away with, but it was hardly the ideal political climate in which to do so. I would feel much more confident about proclaiming the greatness of our society (and I really believe it is great) if we had taken a look at ourselves after 9/11 and ensured we had no blood on our hands. Our reputation has been sullied by irresponsible leaders who have lied to us and riled us to ignorance for their own gain- but it’s clear now that this isn’t the war they were looking for. It’s like the Russians who rolled their 19th century cannons into World War One. You can’t fight a war with “terror”; you can’t win it and you can’t land on a boat in a jumpsuit and proclaim your mission accomplished- unless your mission was to stir up a chaotic maelstrom throughout an already troubled place. Reading the Churchill quotes at Live Free or Die, it’s so clear what a dearth of good leadership we have today. Churchill says, “You do your worst and we will do our best” but for the last four years, I don’t think “we’ve” been doing our best at all. Something has to change because the road we’re on currently just isn’t going anywhere.
The Guardian has some really throughtful articles right now that I’ve enjoyed. We’re in Toronto this weekend- patio bbq last night with a view of the skyline, today we went our for breakfast, went to the Beaches, an art show in Nathan Phillips Square, looked for Miffy goods in Chinatown and bought fruit and veg in Kensington. We saw our new apartment last night, and it’s the most wonderful place I’ve ever seen. I’m in love with this city in a way I never was when I last lived here. Was ashamed by the Toronto Sun headline this morning, which my English husband really didn’t find amusing. I thought “Bastards” was brilliant, and “Go get ’em George” was classic, but todays’ headline- so distasteful that I daren’t repeat it- was simply inexcusable.
And just sad for London, which is one of the most magical places in the world. We were there just two weeks ago, which of course makes it stranger. So relieved no one I love was too affected, as selfish as that may be.
July 7, 2005
Sundry
I would really like to know how to live with stuff like this and not become an angry Daily Express reader. I am relieved to find my loved ones well and accounted for, but I am so angry and frustrated and the tirades that come out of my mouth- not worth repeating and embarrassing. The whole thing is perfectly heartbreaking.
July 6, 2005
Collect
I enjoyed reading “An English Professor’s Credo”, the Victoria College Baccalaureate Address by my former professor C. Anderson Silber. A very odd but interesting article by Lionel Shriver, whose “We Need to Talk About Kevin” I finished this afternoon. Oh my, what a book. You wouldn’t think a book that you know from the start winds up in a school massacre would be able to twist so far at the end, but it did. Lionel Shriver, politics aside, is an absolute genius. On the Things I Miss About Britain list is celebrity chefs; Zoe Williams skewers Nigella on the telly. Matt Seaton. who wrote a book about cycling that I actually enjoyed, recommends his ten best cycling books. I don’t know if I’ll go so far as to read them. AS Byatt on the still life as metaphor.
Have organised my photo albums, CDs, and am getting started on all the rest. We are streamlining my collection of collections. I had half a Dairy Queen Blizzard Yesterday for the first time in two years, and it was brilliant. We are going to Toronto from Thursday until Sunday. Canada is a very good place.
July 2, 2005
Booknews
Interesting things I observed during my eight hours as a bookseller today: everyone secretly wanted to buy Monica Lewinsky’s biography but no one would admit it, the first books sold were all my Beatles stuff left over from my adoloscent obsession, at every lawn sale someone comes along and asks to buy the furniture the stuff is sat upon, everyone loves Ramona Quimby, if you tell certain people that certain books are “Women’s Studies Books” they will buy them without question, the woman who sang me songs from her native healing circle for no particular reason, a lot of people want to buy your vinyl, people really like Russian history and no one wants my 17th century lit anthology (including myself), there is a woman who spends every Saturday cruising yard sales to find books by Belva Plain, the old lady who wanted to know if we had Stephen King, no one wants Life’s Little Instruction Book. The unsold books I took back for myself were The Summer Book by Tove Jansen, Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing by May Sarton, Nightwood by Djuna Barnes and Stuart took Brave New World because he hasn’t read it. In other book news, I bought a magazine called Geist today. In my new poor student incarnation, I am allowed only one magazine a month IF it is under $5.00. I also received George and Rue by George Elliott Clarke from my parents.
July 2, 2005
Long Weekend
Why do I have wireless internet on my front lawn? I don’t know, but I’ll take it as it comes. We have jet-lag and as a result were up at 6:00 this morning, which was fine as we had our book sale ready to go at 7:00. We sold more than half the books and made over $100. It was a splendid way to spend the day too, talking to lots of people and reading The Globe and Mail for the first time in over a year. It’s a real shame their free internet content is next to nothing. or I would be doing some mad linking. There were really great stories today and I still have three sections left to read. We are enjoying Canada, and I think between Tom Cochrane, beers on patios, fire works, twee parades and a yard sale, we’ve had the ultimate experience. Even unemployed, Saturdays are special.
July 2, 2005
Massive Book Sale
Massive Book Sale tomorrow! Everything for one dollar or best offer. Fiction, biography, YA and childrens, plus lots of non-fiction (history texts, and a great collection of feminist works). At my house on Water Street beside the Red Cross building. Get there early!
July 1, 2005
Happy Canada Day
Here I am at the top of my mom’s house, and there is wireless internet. We don’t know how or for how long, but we’ll enjoy it while it lasts. And there are just way too many things to do, boxes to sort and people to see for me to know which way to turn, so I think we’ll lay low for a few days. The flight yesterday was alright, and it was good to be home but strange. I’ve been away for three years, and it’s as though I’ve moved to an entirely new place and I’m worried I won’t like it. I’ve just hyped it up a bit and don’t want Stuart to be disappointed. We spent a glorious while opening wedding presents yesterday. I am going to have such lovely things in my kitchen. My Hello Kitty in a kimono made it here in one piece, losing just a ribbon from her garb and I will glue it back on. “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is brilliant but controversial, provocative. I look forward to formulating my opinion on it. I look forward to reading The Globe tomorrow. And to being less scattered. Here’s to Canada then! Happy Day.
June 28, 2005
Fire Risk
I signed up for my graduate courses! I am taking Virginia Woolf Essays and Short Fiction, Literature and the Environment, Theories of Modernist Canadian Fiction and Authors and their Institutions. They sound wonderful, and I read over the information about the program again, and I am so excited.
Now reading The Seven Sisters by my beloved Margaret Drabble, which takes place in Bronwyn’s neighbourhood (and Candida even goes to Bronwyn’s gym!). It’s wonderful. I found it in Brighton for £3.50 unmarked. My amazon bumper crop arrived this morning- four new wonderful books. And yesterday, I went to a charity shop to retrieve two books that had I had donated in a moment of weakness and bought them back. One even had my name in it. That was a bit strange. I am concerned about taking stock of my book collection once I get home. I have sent tons home over the past year, and there are hundred stored there already. We will have to cut down, and give away at least a third. I will give away all the books I own but don’t like but have on my shelf so I look clever. But then again, shouldn’t I own a copy of Ulysses just in case I one day want to read it?
The “I’ve been reading too much Heat magazine” problem continues. You can imagine what I initially thought when I read, Jordan bans Saddam novel.
June 28, 2005
Oh Canada
My weekend is all booked up. On Friday, we are going to see Tom Cochrane at the Festival of Lights, and then we are going to The Mustang Drive-In on Saturday night. What a perfect way to arrive in Canada, and on a long weekend no less. We hope to be in Toronto the next week finances providing. (The only thing that would be better would be Kim Mitchell live at The Pines in Bridgenorth).
June 27, 2005
Recommended buy
“Unplayed Piano” by Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan. It’s a beautiful song and all proceeds go toward Campaign for Burma
