June 7, 2005
We need to talk about tiaras
Lionel Shriver has won The Orange Prize. “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is never in the library, which must be a good sign but means I haven’t read it. I intend to, though I don’t know how much I will love it. Yes, it’s spurred on dialogue about women and motherhood, but that dialogue is rehashed and often counter-productive. Still doesn’t keep it from being a good read however. I will have to wait and see. Zoe Williams has a take on the claim that bibles are carrying the MRSA superbug.
Now reading “The Heart of the Matter” by Graham Greene, which is not based on the Don Henley song but might be just as good. I also got “The Best of McSweeneys” from the library. (I am currently addicted to public libraries). I am really enjoying it. I am incapable of reading works of any length online, which is why I just gloss over the stories on McSweeneys. But I reread the same stories in the book, and it was a completely different experience. I especially enjoyed the stories by Zadie Smith and Amanda Davis. And a note that “Birds of the Air” by Alice Thomas Ellis was really excellent.
Today I made a tiara for my wedding hair accessory. You can see it here at (of course) Now Doing. Who would ever have imagined I could be so crafty? In the photo, you can also see my messy room!
June 7, 2005
And Beyond…
It’s true. Yesterday we went beyond Preston! Who knew the world was so big?
June 6, 2005
A couple of things
Graydon Carter on outing Deep Throat. The Guardian’s Digested Read this week is rather hilarious- Naked Chef Jamie Oliver’s wife Jools Oliver’s new book on motherhood. I leafed through it this afternoon in WH Smith and its really not so far off the mark.
June 5, 2005
What was wrong with my love?
Songs and books can find each other by coincidence, and then be forever entwined. Whenever I hear “I’d Run Away” by the Jayhawks, I am back to Bob Geldof’s autobiography, “Is that it?,” which I read on an airplane listening to the Jayhawks on a mix tape. The book was written when he was dedicating things to Paula Yates, tragic lyrics, “what I had in mind was wrong.” I fell in love with Soviet History, studying for a first year European History exam, and listening to “Winds of Change” by Scorpions, which in my mind is the official soundtrack to the Russian Revolution. And most recently, in April I read “Eleanor Rigby” by Douglas Coupland, which was marvelous. Was listening to “Get Along With You” by Kelis at the time, which could be the saddest song I’ve ever heard, and the loneliness in both works just gelled and they’re forever related in my mind.
June 3, 2005
Dinky tweet
More on the literary gender divide, but in children’s books. An article from The Guardian on “the aggressive marketing of books for young girls as this dinky, tweety area where boys are completely unwelcome”. India Knight goes one better in the article from a few months back, on how boys are disadvantaged by being cut off from good stuff like Jacqueline Wilson, on the basis of pinkified book covers. She also sings the praises of Judy Blume, so of course we’re on her side.
I picked up Budapest by Chico Buarque from the library yesterday. I think you can tell a book by it’s title. It looks wonderful. Wedding plans are going well, though transporting twenty four people to the beach photo shoot here in the land of no-transportation is our latest hurdle. Also, bridal bouquets are extraordinarily expensive. We have reasoned that if you want to price any wedding item, take its actual value and multiply by four. Finally, today’s biggest surprise was Pickle Me This being quoted at Slate!
June 2, 2005
In the ghetto
My first response to reports like this is always anger. While women read literary-fiction by men and women both, men don’t really do the same, though as this article notes now at least they pretend to dabble in authoresses. I get uppity at such imbalances. However. My favourite book, of one of my many favourites, is Unless by Carol Shields. I think this book handles the state of being a woman and becoming a woman with such a poignant acuity, but I don’t think my boyfriend could appreciate this. He is one of the most brilliant people I know, but the storyline couldn’t hold him and he’d only be reading it out of acquiescence to me, and that doesn’t make him a bad person or a poor reader. I understand that, and I think he is not such an exception among men (in this area only of course). The same goes for my beloved Margarets Drabble and (some) Atwood. He did like Oryx and Crake- case in point. It’s a mixture of style and substance that separates the kind of books he loves from the sort I do. I think he could read them, and even admit their brilliance but that wouldn’t be fun for him, and then what’s the point of that really? There are many books that we do read together, and books that I recommend to him, knowing they have a certain Stuartness about them. Juniper Tree Burning was one of those books, about a woman and so plot-driven and furiously paced that he would have devoured it, even as so much of the story was about various states of womanness etc. A.S. Byatt bristles at “ghettoization”. I think that quality literary fiction is a ghettoised genre unto itself these days. Also, as good citizens/readers (which are often one and the same), all of us have an obligation to read important additions to the canon by men and women. But the fact is that most men are not going to pick women’s fiction up at leisure, and this is why recognition from institutions such as the Orange Prize really is important, to help get these books into the public eye.
In summation, I guess it would be good if Stuart loved “Unless”, but I understand why he doesn’t. And a man not loving a book doesn’t make it any less good.
A remaining question would be, why then are women able to read book by writers of either gender? Perhaps, is masculinity a more universal, less specialised condition, that even women can relate to to some extent? Perhaps, dare I say, there are not books being written about the state of being a man in the same volume as those about women? Or maybe there are, and I just haven’t read them, and therefore things are balanced afterall. Is there a masculine counter to “Unless” and it’s ilk? Please leave recommended titles as a comment if you think so.
June 1, 2005
News and gerberas
Lynn Crosbie reviews a new book by Melissa Bank. Deep Throat is revealed! Mike Barrenger visits Seattle. The Guardian remembers the end of Rhodesia on June 1st 1979.
In other news, the red gerbera is the official flower of Kerry and Stuart’s wedding, and all plans are going beautifully. I am over the top excited! Our venue is beautiful and there are really only fun things left to do. Plus I get to marry Stuart.
May 31, 2005
Schmedding
Did I tell you our Mini-Honeymoon is in Brighton? I’m so excited, as I’ve never been there but always wanted to. Weddings are all consuming. Check out some details and links to our fantastic photographers at Our Wedding Details Website!
May 30, 2005
Bank Holiday Monday
Bank holidays are not so exceptional when you don’t work. We spent this afternoon flying kites on the beach and it was wonderful. I am quite good with the small kite, but the power kites are too difficult for me. Stuart was dragged halfway across the beach with his. Wedding preparation in full force. We’re burning our CD party favours right now. I’m currently reading The Whistling Woman by A.S. Byatt, which is rich with knowledge and thick of plot. I still prefer Drabble, but this novel has Drabble-istic themes.
May 28, 2005
Quote of the Week
I think this is a bonafide quote of the week from a Guardian survey of French voter intentions.
Aziz, 32, Oyster opener, Le Wepler brasserie, Place de Clichy: I won’t vote because I’m not French, I’m Moroccan. But my kids are French, and for them I would vote no if I could because with this constitution people will come from abroad and take the jobs in France.
In other news, my novel is 75,000 words long since last night.
