Book Nerd Humour: The Lisa Simpson Book Club
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Tag Archives: Literature
Writer Food From A To Z
Writer Food From A To Z, courtesy of THE AWL.
A Reading List a Mile Long: Bas Bleu Autumn 2012 Edition
The temperature remains high, at least where I live, but autumn is sneaking around the corner. Although I find scant joy in the companions of cold weather-believing that you should visit ice and snow if the fancy strikes, and not the other way around-there are some compensations that arrive with this particular changing of the seasons, among them: hot mulled cider, hot chocolate, gingerbread cake, holiday cookies, ice skating, scarves, boots, crackling fires, the ability to watch Miracle on 34th Street ten times without being judged (too harshly), silly parades, a changing landscape and, of course, the built-in excuse to hunker down and read as many books as possible. That last one is the best. The Autumn 2012 edition of Bas Bleu is crammed with enough delicious books and literary-related goodies to last the next two seasons. Check out my jumble bag of favourites below, complete with handy links. Continue reading
Shopping for the Bookworm: Truman Capote Edition
I love Truman Capote. He makes me giddy. His writing-when he was at his best, when he cared enough to really try-is sublime. I could listen to his voice all day long. No, I could listen to his voice all the live long day. Enjoy these Capote-themed goodies from Etsy.
Truman Capote Necklace by Art History Nerd-$25.00
I adore the photograph embedded in this necklace. It’s probably my favourite of Capote. If I wore this piece, I’d spend too much time fiddling with it like a toy.
Truman Capote Quote by hendersweet-$3.00
A nice little card with a quote from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Truman Capote Print by Senioritis-$15.00
Colourful, kitschy print (11×17).
Vintage 1970s Cosmo featuring Truman Capote Article from Shop Buy Love-$24.99
This July, 1972 edition of Cosmopolitan features the article Truman Capote by Truman Capote.
House of Flowers Soundtrack from The Vinyl Frontier-$25.00
This is the soundtrack to the Truman Capote/Harold Arlen musical, House of Flowers. Starring Pearl Bailey, it was recorded in 1954.
The Grass Harp by Truman Capote from Bound By Books-$10.00
A Penguin Books edition of The Grass Harp.
A Year in Books/Day 201: George Eliot A Life
- Title: George Eliot A Life
- Author: Rosemary Ashton
- Year Published: 1996 (Penguin Books)
- Year Purchased: 2007
- Source: A discount bookstore in New York.
- About: I have a lot of nice things to say about this biography, but the words refuse to line up in the right order. If I wrote down what I was thinking, it wouldn’t make any sense to you. Actually, I tried. About five times, and it didn’t make any sense to me, either. In an effort to get my point across in a straightforward way, and not drive myself crazy whilst doing so, I’m going to toss some descriptive and applicable words at you: Thoughtful. Intelligent. Careful. Illuminating. Human. Measured. Absorbing. Interesting. Appropriate. Subtle. George Eliot is one of my favourite English-language novelists of the 19th century. Her books bear reading and stand up to repeated visits. So does Ashton’s biography.
- Motivation: I like George Eliot’s work. I love biographies to the point of near obsession.
- Times Read: 2
- Random Excerpt/Page 72: “Her isolated position high up in her foreign attic, poised between a past life of much frustration and under-achievement and an unknown future, encouraged her penchant for thorough analysis and turned it inward. Sara had worried about her state of mind and her ability to cope alone. Mary Ann replied that she did quite enough worrying on her own account. Solicitude which expressed itself in criticism was not helpful.”
- Happiness Scale: 9
English: George Eliot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
[Intermezzo] Five Minutes
After I fall in love with a book, whether it happens with the opening sentence or mid-way through chapter five, in an effort to finish it I operate at one of two speeds: molasses-slow or maniacally fast. The process is involuntary, organic: I don’t choose the rate, it chooses me. Whether I’m pulling apart paragraphs sentence by sentence, and sentences word by word, or running through chapters to the rhythm of a hummingbird’s beating wings, one thing is true: I’m savoring every moment, every thought, every element. The paths are different, but the enjoyment is similarly intense.
Reading is ritualistic, with individual ceremonies developing around each book: fugitive but nourishing, their ordered peculiarities decorate the mosaic of my days. Continue reading
A Year in Books/Day 193: Elegy for Iris
- Title: Elegy for Iris
- Author: John Bayley
- Year Published: 1999 (St. Martin’s Press)
- Year Purchased: 2001?
- Source: Barnes & Noble clearance rack
- About: I get it, I really do: Iris Murdoch is one of those love them or hate them writers. The Sea, The Sea is one of my favourite novels of the later years of the 20th century, but I understand why her work isn’t for everyone. I don’t care where you stand on the subject of Iris-as-writer, if you aren’t affected to the point of tears whilst reading her husband’s memoir it can mean only one thing. You are dead inside. Continue reading
[News] Gore Vidal is Dead
“Many writers who choose to be active in the world lose not virtue but time, and that stillness without which literature cannot be made.”-Gore Vidal (1925-2012)
One day, I hope that the deaths of famous authors is considered new worthy in this country. Oh, who am I kidding? Suri Cruise visiting Disney World is, and will remain, way more important. Carry on.
Alternative Muse of the Month News-Katherine Mansfield Edition
Four Katherine Mansfield short stories were recently discovered by a college student, along with several photographs. All were previously unknown. This is fantastic news for fans of Katherine Mansfield and students of the short story. If you are pleased or titillated by this news, thank Chris Mourant. Kudos, sir!
[Intermezzo] A Ball of Light*
We crossed the river, yesterday. We skimmed impatient hands across jewelry, postcards, record albums, tin canisters emblazoned with long-dead logos, crockery. My eye was momentarily entrapped by these shiny things, distractions all. The sun riveted its heat into my flesh, dribbles of sweat danced down my arms before diving off of my jagged fingernails to land in the grassy unknown, spent. My eyes, shaded, landed on a pile of ink and ideas cobbled together with old leather and faith. This fellow was on top… Continue reading
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 