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6
Aug

#ElPaso #Dayton 2019

  1. Taking a break from book blogging to bring you a message that has
  2. touched me to the core.
  3. Do you want to understand what is going on in the USA?
  4. Listen to Princeton professor E.S. Glaude
  5. ….listen carefully.

 

3
Aug

#TBR 2019 list: Tin Man

  • Author: S. Winman
  • Title: Tin Man
  • Trivia: 2017 shortlist Costa book Awards
  • Trivia 2019 longlist Dublin Literary Award

 

Finished: 03.08.2019
Genre: novel
Rating: C-
Conclusion:

  1. This book is about loneliness.
  2. I found the book to be an attempt to
  3. paint loneliness with landscapes….
  4. (sunflowers fill the frame,
  5. swallows soar with heat on their wings (pg 210)
  6. and not describe
  7. the deep feeling of loneliness
  8. …like a mould growing slowly around you.
  9. Yes there are cries of the heart that evoke your emotions
  10. …but all in all the book was too lyrical, too sugar-spin sweet
  11. and just seemed to scratch the surface of the ache of loss.
  12. #Disappointed
28
Jul

Monthly Planning Update

Summer Reading

 

August:

  1. Driving Into the Sun – M. Polain – READ
  2. The Shepherd’s Hut – T. Winton – READ – Bah!

 

July:

  1. The First Casualty – Peter Greste – READ
  2. Max Havelaar – Multatuli – READ
  3. 100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write – S. Ruhl – READ
  4. These Truths – Jill Lepore – READ
  5. The Weir – Conor McPherson – READ
  6. Et Soudain, La Liberté – E. Pisier, C. Laurent – Prix Marguerite Duras 2017 – READ
  7. Fouché – E. de Waresquiel – READ
  8. Le jour d’avant – S. Chalandon – READ
  9. Retour à Killybegs – S. Chalandon – READ
  10. Je suis fou de toi – D. Bona – READ
  11. French cooking for #ParisInJuly....
  12. Mousse aux éclats de chocolat (2019)
  13. Le Grand Meaulnes – Alain-Fournier – READ
  14. Wrap-up #Paris in July
  15. Wake in Fright – K. Cook – READ
  16. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – G. Honeyman – READ ( Stunning!)

 

June 2019

  1. Glengarry Glen Ross – D. Mamet – READ 
  2. The Glass Menagerie – Tennessee Williams – READ
  3. Waiting for Godot – S. Beckett – READ
  4. Twenty-First Century American Playwrights – C. Bigsby – READ
  5. The Mueller Report – READ
  6. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom – D. Blight – READ
  7. Stamped From the Beginning – I.X. Kendi – READ
  8. The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke – J.C. Stewart READ
  9. The Arsonist – C. Hooper – READ
  10. Himself – Jess Kidd – READ
  11. James Tiptree, jr. The Double Life Alice Sheldon – J. Phillips – READ
  12. Ghosts of the Tsunami – R. L. Parry – NF – READ
  13. Indecent (play) – Paula Vogel – READ
  14. The Heart’s Invisible Furies – John Boyne – READ
  15. The Coddling of the American Mind – G. Lukianoff. J. Haidt – READ
  16. Astonished Dice – G. Cochrane (short stories) – READ
  17. We Can Make a Life – C. Henry – READ
  18. Seeing Yellow (poetry) – E. Bourke – READ shortlist Irish Times Poetry Award 2019
  19. Negroni  #Cocktail…relaxing during Negroni week (24-30 June)
  20. From a Low and Quiet Sea – Donal Ryan- READ

 

May 2019

  1. The Radio Room – Cilla McQueen (34 poems) – READ
  2. The Almighty Sometimes – Kendall Feaver (play) – READ WINNER   NSWLiteraryAward2019
  3. Tilt – Kate Lilley – READ (38 poems)  Winner Victorian Premier’s Award 2019
  4. Olio – Tyehimba Jess – READ – Pulitzer Prize 2017 for poetry (pg 231)
  5. Beyond Words: A Year with Kenneth Cook – J. Kent – READ   (memoir)
  6. The Lebs – M.M. Ahmad – READ WINNER   NSWLiteraryAwards2019
  7. This  Mortal Boy – F. Kidman – READ –  WINNER Ockham Prize for Fiction 2019
  8. Black is the New White – N. Lui – READ – WINNER NSW Lit Prize for Playwriting 2018
  9. Ritual – Maxine Beneba Clarke (poem) – READ
  10. No Friend but the Mountains – B. Boochani – READ WINNER  NSWLiteraryAwards2019
  11. Not Just Black and White – L and T Williams, mother and daughter – READ
  12. Wade in the Water – Tracy K. Smith, US Poet Laureate – READ (32 poems)
  13. The Thurber Carnival – James Thurber – READ (essays)
  14. On Poetry – Glyn Maxwell – READ (NF)
  15. Blakwork – Alison Whittaker (94 poems) – READ “Cotton On” (pg 15)
  16. August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle (13 essays) – editor S. Shannon – READ
  17. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  – E. Ablee – READ  (play)
  18. Title poem: “Blakwork” Alison Whittaker – READ  (pg 3)
  19. Noises Off – M. Frayn – READ  (play)
  20. Fences – A. Wilson – READ  (play)
  21. Streetcar Named Desire – T. Williams – READ

 

 

April 2019

  1. The Bridge – E. Gandolfo – READ #StellaPrize Shortlist 2019
  2. Too Much Lip – M. Lucashenko – READ #StellaPrize Shortlist 2019
  3. Axiomatic – M. Tumarkin – READ #StellaPrize Shortlist 2019 (essays)
  4. Little Gods – J. Ackland – not available in Netherlands! #StellaPrize Shortlist 2019
  5. The Erratics – Laveau-Harvie – not available in Netherlands!  WINNER #StellaPrize 2019
  6. Pink Mountain on Locust Island – J.M. Lau – READ #StellaPrize Shortlist 2019
  7. Monte Carlo – P. Terrin – READ #LonglistDublintLiteraryPrize2019
  8. Aunts Up the Cross – R. Dalton – READ #AWW2019
  9. Le Lambeau – P. Lançon – READ  #PrixFémina2018, #PrixRenaudot2918 (special prize)
  10. Reservoir 13 – J. McGregor -READ #ShortlistDublintLiteraryPrize2019
  11. Home Fire – K. Shamsie – READ #ShortlistDublintLiteraryPrize2019
  12. Can You Tolerate This? – A. Young – READ  #AWW2019 (essays)
  13. Small Acts of Disappearance: Essays on Hunger – F. Wright – #AWW2019 (essays)
  14. The Everlasting Sunday – R. Lukins – READ #ShortlistNSWLiteraryAward2019
  15. Boy Swallows Universe – T. Dalton – READ WINNER   NSWLiteraryAwards2019
  16. Deep Time Dreaming – B. Griffiths – READ WINNER   NSWLiteraryAwards2019
  17. Border Districts – G. Murnane – READ #ShortlistNSWLiteraryAward2019
  18. Scrublands – C. Hammer – READ #ShortlistNSWLiteraryAward2019
  19. The Cage – L. Jones – READ #ShortlistOckhamNewZealandBookAwards2019
  20. The Facts – T. Lloyd – READ (poetry) #ShortlistOckhamNewZealandBookAwards2019
  21. The New Testament – Jericho Brown (41 poems) – READ #NationalPoetryMonth2019
  22. Water & Power – G. Fanning (30 poems) – READ #NationalPoetryMonth2019
  23. #Dublin Literary Award 2019 Shortlist – read-athon
  24. #NSW Premier’s Award 2019 Shortlist – read-a-thon
  25. #Ockham New Zealand Award 2019 Shortlist – read-a-thon
  26. #Kerry Group Irish Novel of 2019 Shortlist – read-a-thon
  27. #Stella Prize 2019 Shortlist – read-a-thon

 

March 2019

  1. Shirley – C. Bronte – READ  #ClassicMasterList*  (#DNF…here is why!) (BAH!)
  2. The Goat’s Song – D. Healy – READ  #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  3. A Poet’s Dublin – Eavan Boland – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19  (35 poems)
  4. Saints and Sinners – E. O’Brien – READ  #ReadingIrelandMonth19 (short stories)
  5. Two Moons – Jennifer Johnston (Dublin, 1930) – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  6. The Wrong Country: Essays on Modern Irish Writing – G. Dawe – READ
  7. Come On Home – Phillip McMahon (play) – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  8. A Slanting of the Sun – Donal Ryan – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19 (20 stories)
  9. Memoir – John McGahern – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  10. Happy St. Patrick’s Day !
  11. Lally the Scut – Abbie Spallen (play) – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  12. When  All Is Said – Anne Griffin – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  13. Travelling In A Strange Land – D. Park – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  14. A Ladder To The Sky – John Boyne – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  15. The Cruelty Men – Emer Martin – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  16. Normal People – Sally Rooney – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  17. The Hoarder – Jess Kidd – READ #ReadingIrelandMonth19
  18. The Art of Time Travel – T. Griffiths – READ (NF)

 

February 2019

  1. The Twelve Caesars – Suetonius – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  2. The Heart of Darkness – J. Conrad – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  3. Hamlet – W. Shakespeare – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  4. Beowulf – Unknown – READ  #ClassicMasterList  (Translation: Seamus Heaney)
  5. The Great Gatsby – F.S. Fitzgerald – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  6. The Tale of Two Cities – C. Dickens – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  7. The Merchants of Truth – J. Abramson – DNF  read first 50 pages….. short review
  8. The Mill of the Floss – G. Eliot – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  9. Chimerica – Lucy Kirkwood – READ (play)
  10. The British Short Story – A. Maunder – READ (NF)
  11. Thick – Tressie McMillian Cottom – READ (NF)
  12. The Cambridge Introduction to The American Short Story – M. Scofield READ (NF)
  13. The Screwfly Solution – James Tiptree jr. (aka Alice Sheldon) – READ (SF novelette)
  14. Short Stories:  3 by James Tiptree jr – READ  (…not her best worik, unfortunately)
  15. Edgar Allan Poe: 28 tales – E. A. Poe – READ #ClassicMasterList
  16. The Count of Monte Cristo – A. Dumas – READ #ClassicMasterList*
  17. The Complete Essays  – M. de  Montaigne – READ #ClassicMasterList*  (BAH!)
  18. Snuff – T. Pratchett – READ  (Watch City #8;  Discworld #39/41)
  19. Valentine’s Day February 14

 

January 2019

  1. George Eliot: Selected Essays, Poems and Other Writing – READ  (NF)
  2. The Spell by Katie Ford – READ  02.01.2019
  3. Writers on Writers: Patrick White – Christos Tsiolkas – READ    (NF)
  4. The Age of Eisenhower – W. Hitchcock – READ  (NF)
  5. The New Yorker – dd  07.01.2019 – READ
  6. Trace: who killed Maria James? – R. Brown – READ  #AWW2019  (NF)
  7. Poemcrazy – S. Wooldridge – READ (NF)
  8. Blood Lyrics – K. Ford ( collection of 40 poems)  READ
  9. Boy Overboard – P. Cornelius – READ  #AWW2019
  10. Midsummer Night’s Dream – W. Shakespeare – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  11. Moby Dick – H. Melville – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  12. Othello – W. Shakespeare – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  13. A Woman’s Experiences in the Great War – L. Mack – READ #AWW2019
  14. Rebecca – D. du Maurier – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  15. Richard II – W. Shakespeare – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  16. The Awakening – K. Chopin – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  17. The Symposium – Plato – READ    #ClassicMasterList
  18. The Complete Stories  – F. O’ Connor – READ #ClassicMasterList  31/31

 

December 2018       Reading stats 2018

63 fiction
73 non-fiction
18 plays
13 posts about poems/poet
105 short stories
105 essays

READ:

  1. The History of the Church – Eusebius – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  2. Satires – Horace – READ #ClassicMasterList
  3. Moby-Dick as Philosophy – M. Anderson – READ
  4. Axiomatic – M. Tumarkin – READ  Winner of the Melbourne Prize Best Writing Award 2018
  5. Alice in Space – G. Beer (literary criticism)  – READ
  6. Downstairs No Upstairs – Brian Friel (short story) New Yorker 24.08.1963 – funny! – READ
  7. Go, Went, Gone – J. Erpenbeck – READ
  8. Literary Brian Friel Companion – M. Snodgrass – READ    #ReadIreland
  9. Essay: From Monaghan to the Grand Canal ( Dublin) – S. Heaney  – READ #ReadIreland
  10. The Pull of the Moon – Julie Paul – READ  (12 short stories)  #CanBookChallenge
  11. The Hummingbird – K. Hiekkapelto – READ  #TBR since 2015!
  12. Speaking Up – G. Triggs #AWW2018 – DNF…not my kind or writer
  13. In Extremis: War Correspondent Marie Colvin – L. Hilsum – READ  #TBRnovember2018
  14. Philadelphia , Here I Come! – Brian Friel (play)- READ  #ReadIreland
  15. Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia – editor Anita Heiss (NF) – READ  #AWW2018
  16. Indonesia etc – E. Pisani – READ #WorldFromMyArmchair
  17. The Tall Man – Chloe Hooper – READ #AWW2018  2009 Queensland Premier’s Literary Prize
  18. The Christmas Carol – C. Dickens – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  19. Sisters In Law (S. Day ‘O Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg) – L. Hirshman – READ
  20. Infinity  – Hannah Moscovitch (play) – READ #CanBookChallenge
  21. American Poetry Review – editor E. Scanlon – READ
  22. Saints and Sinners – Edna O’Brien (short stories) – READ  only  4 /10  good  #ReadIreland
  23. The New Yorker    24-31 December 2018 – READ
  24. The Evening of the Holiday – S. Hazzard – READ
  25. The Rich Brew – S. Pinsker – (NF)  READ
  26. American Poetry Review – editor E. Scanlon – READING  pg 27/44 Vol 47 Nov/Dec no. 6

 

November 2018

PRIX  LITTERAIRE FRANCAIS LONGLIST  2018

 

  1. The Aeneid – Vrigil – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  2. Mythos – Stephen Fry (audio book) – READ
  3. A Raisin in the Sun – L. Hansberry (play) – READ  Best Play 1959 NY Drama Critic’s Circle
  4. David Copperfield – C. Dickens – READ #ClassicMasterList (audio and paperback)
  5. Poets Corner – editor J. Lithgow – READ (audio book)
  6. Great Expectations – C. Dickens – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  7. Pulitzer – J. McGrath Morris ( biography) – READ
  8. Rosmersholm – Henk Ibsen (play) – READ   #ClassicMasterList
  9. The Lusiads – L. Vaz de Camões – READ (epic poem)  #ClassicMasterList
  10. Electra – Sophocles – READ #ClassicMasterList
  11. The Knights Tale – Chaucer – READ #ClassicMasterList
  12. Mrs. Dalloway – V. Woolf – READ #ClassicMasterList
  13. Evicted: Poverty and Profit – M. Desmond – READ  #NonFicNov
  14. Kilonova (poem) – A. Sometimes – READ  #AWW2018
  15. To Our Miscarried One, Age Fifty Now (poem) – S. Olds –  READ #PulitzerPrize 2013
  16. The Best Australian Science Writing 2018 – editor J. Pickrell – READ  #NonFicNov
  17. Death of a Salesman – A. Miller – READ- Pulitzer Prize Drama 1949 – #ClassicMasterList

 

October 2018

  1. Our Mutual Friend – C. Dickens – READ   #ClassicMasterList
  2. Je reste ici  – M. Balzano (longlist Prix Fémina 2018) – READ
  3. Mãn – K. Thuy – READ  #CanBookChallenge
  4. An Ordinary Day (NF) – Leigh Sales – READ  #AWW2018
  5. Christ Stopped at Eboli – Carlo Levi – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  6. The Keys of My Prison – F. Wees – READ  #CanBookChallenge
  7. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – Ann Brontë – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  8. Zolitude – Paige Cooper (14 short stories) – READ #CanBookChallenge
  9. An Ocean of Minutes – T. Lim – READ #CanBookChallenge
  10. French Exit – P. deWitt – READ #CanBookChallenge
  11. March Violets – P. Kerr (CF) – READ
  12. Looking for Lorraine – I. Perry – READ
  13. Nobel Streven  – F. van Oostrom – READ  #LibrisPrijs2018  shortlist Best Dutch History Book
  14. Thorbecke Wil Het – R. Aerts – READ – winner Prinsjesboekenprijs  (best political book)
  15. De Sigarenfabriek van Isay Rottenberg – H/S Rottenberg – READ 
  16. ….#LibrisPrijs2018  shortlist Best Dutch History Book
  17. Adieu Montaigne – J. Delacomptée – READ  ( 50%…gave up, read why!)
  18. Frankenstein – M. Shelley – READ   #RIPXIII   and #CCdare

 

September 2018

  1. The Raven – E.A. Poe – READ  #RIPXIII
  2. Dark Entries – R. Aickman (6 short stories) – READ #RIPXIII
  3. A Vindication of the Rights of Women – M. Wollstonecraft – READ
  4. Our Man in Charleston – C. Dickey (NF) – READ  #20BooksOfAutumn
  5. The Pillow Book – Sei Shonagon –  READ
  6. The Life of Johnson – J. Boswell – READ  #ClassicMasterList
  7. Hawthorne – Henry James – READ  #RIPXII
  8. A  Kim Jong-IL Production – Fischer, P. – READ  #20BooksOfAutumn
  9. The Bed-Making Competition – A. Jackson – READ #AWW2018
  10. Atomic Thunder – E. Tynan (Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2017 History) – READ #AWW2018
  11. The Enigmatic Mr. Deakin – J. Brett – READ #AWW2018  Nat Biography Award 2018
  12. Patrick Kavanagh – Irish poet poem  – READ
  13. Audition – S. Sayarfiezadeh – READ (short story) #DealMeIn2018
  14. The River in the Sky – Clive  James ( epic poem…reading it line for line) – READ
  15. Just Enough Liebling – J. Liebling (NF) – READ
  16. Washington Black – Esi  Edugyan – READ #CanBookChallenge (shortlist Man Booker)
  17. Don’t Call Us Dead – D. Smith – READ (collection of poems)
  18. Nooit Meer Slapen – W.F. Hermans- READ  Dutch – in translation Beyond Sleep
  19. James Wright: A Life in Poetry (NF) – J. Blunk – READ
  20. Pensées – B. Pascal – READ

 

August 2018

  1. Pride and Prejudice – J. Austen – Re-READ
  2. Letters From a Stoic – Seneca – READ
  3. The Angel of the Odd – E.A. Poe – READ  (short story)
  4. The Birthday of the Infanta – O. Wilde – READ (short story)
  5. The Masnavi Book vol 1 –  Rūmī (poet of Sufism Islamic mysticism) – READ
  6. Myths from Mesopotamia – (Anonymous)  trans. S. Dalley – READ
  7. Nation – T. Pratchett – READ
  8. Means of Ascent – R. Caro – READ (non-fiction)
  9. The Charterhouse of Parma – Stendhal – READ  (french edition)
  10. Chateaubriand – Jean-Claude Berchet – READ  (french edition)
  11. Trois femmes puissantes – M. NDiaye – READ (french edition) Prix Goncourt 2009
  12. Le Roman de la Rose – De Lorris, G. et De Meun, J. – READ (french edition)
  13. The Revolutionary Road – L. Pryce – READ (Iran)
  14. Une Vie – G. de Maupassant – READ  (french edition)
  15. Maupassant – F. Martinez – READ  (french edition) (biography)
  16. Darkness Visible – W. Styron – READ (essay/memoir)
  17. Between Riverside and Crazy – S. Guirgis – (Pulitzer Prize 2015) (play – READ
  18. The Outrun – A. Liptrot – READ
  19. L’Éspoir – A. Malraux – READ/ DNF …here’s why!

 

July 2018

  1. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich – W. Shirer – READ ….chunkster!
  2. Berthe Morisot  –  D. Bona – READ  (french editon)
  3. Women In Love – D.H. Lawrence – READ – …intense book!
  4. The Dispossessed – U. Le Guin – READ
  5. The Sun Also Rises – E. Hemingway – READ
  6. View From the Cheap Seats – N. Gaiman – READ (essays)
  7. The Deerslayer – James Fenimore Cooper – RE–READ – classic  Fini
  8. Like a House on Fire – C. Kennedy – READ (15 short stories)
  9. Victor Hugo: Romancier de l’abîme – editor J. Hiddleston – READ (11 essays)

 

June 2018

  1. Brit(ish) – A. Hirsch – READ
  2. Jenna’s Truth – N.L. King – READ
  3. A Spy Named Orphan – R. Philipps – READ
  4. The End of Seeing – C. Collins – READ
  5. Australian A. Kissane ‘Flannel Flowers’ – READ (poem)
  6. Essays: The Australian Face (editor C. Menzies-Pike) – READ (17 essays)
  7. Pipeline – D. Morisseau – READ (play)
  8. Americanah – C.N. Adichie – READ
  9. Saga Land – R. Fidler, K. Gislason – READ
  10. How to Get There – M. Mackellar – READ
  11. Very Expensive Poison – L. Harding – READ
  12. Deep South – P. Theroux – READ
  13. Islander: Journey Around Our Archipelago – P. Barkham – READ
  14. Why Horror Seduces – M. Clasen – READ
  15. Rice – Michele Lee – READ (play)
  16. From the Edge: Australia’s Lost Histories – M. McKenna (NF) – READ
  17. The Redemption of Galen Pike – C. Davies (short stories) – READ
  18. Flowers For Algernon – D. Keyes – READ
  19. The Serious Game – H. Söderberg – READ
  20. Judge and His Hangman – F. Dürrenmatt – READ
  21. Hunting the Wild Pineapple – T. Astley – READ (8 short stories)
  22. Down These Green Streets – D. Burke – READ

 

May 2018

  1. Her Father’s Daughter – A. Pung – READ
  2. Who’s Afraid? – M. Lewis – READ
  3. Cardinal – L. Milligan – READ (non-fiction)
  4. The Drover’s Wife – L. Purcell – READ (play)
  5. Broken – M.A. Butler – READ (play)
  6. Psynode – M.J. Ward – READ (YA)
  7. Do Not Go Gentle – P. Cornelius – READ (play)
  8. The Golden Bowl – H. James – READ (classic)
  9. Closing Down – S. Abbott – READ (SF)
  10. Too Easy – J.M. Green – READ (CF)
  11. This Mortal Coil – E. Suvada – READ (YA)
  12. Aletheia – J.S. Breukelaar – READ (Horror)
  13. Enormous Changes at the Last Minute:Stories – G. Paley – READ
  14. Wounds – F. Keane – READ  winner Best Irish Non-fiction 2017
  15. Kitchen Sink Realisms – D. Chansky – READ
  16. Memories of Youghal – W. Trevor – READ (short story)

 

April 2018 

  1. The Museum of Modern Love – H. Rose – READ – Stella Prize 2017
  2. Extinctions – J. Wilson – READ – Miles Franklin Award 2017
  3. Thea Astley’s Writing: Magnetic North – Kerryn Goldsworthy – READ
  4. Feeling the Heat – J. Chandler – READ  – Chandler Best Freelanc Journalist 2017
  5. The Acolyte  – T. Astley – READ – Miles Franklin Award 1972
  6. From the Wreck – J. Rawson – READ – Aurealis Award 2018 Best SF novel
  7. Girl Reporter – T. Roberts – READ – Aurealis Award 2018 Best SF novella
  8. The Green Road – A. Enright – READ
  9. Feel Free – Z. Smith (31 essays) – READ
  10. The Fifth Season – N.K. Jemisin – READ – Hugo Award 2016
  11. Autumn – A. Smith – READ
  12. Dying in the First Person – N. Sulway – READ
  13. The Third Policeman – F. O’ Brian – READ
  14. The Trauma Cleaner – S. Krasnostein – READ – Victorian Premier’s Award 2018
  15. Locking Up Our Own   –  J. Forman jr.  – READ Pulitzer Prize 2018
  16. Joan: The Remarkable Life of Joan Leigh Fermor –  S. Fenwick – READ
  17. Fahrenheit 451 – R. Bradbury – READ
  18. The Butchering Art – L. Fitzharris – READ
  19. 1984 – G. Orwell – READ
  20. Winesburg, Ohio – S. Anderson – READ
  21. The Hate Race – M. B. Clarke – READ
  22. Dark Lies the Island – K. Barry (13 short stories) – READ
  23. Rubik – E. Tan (15 short stories) – READ
  24. Ironweed – W. Kennedy – READ
  25. Soon – L. Murphy – READ

 

March 2018:

  1. Seamus Heaney – H. Vendler – READ
  2. Simon Leys: Navigator Between Worlds – P. Paquet – READ
  3. Without America  – Quarterly Essay, vol. 68;  White, H. 16.11.2017 – READ
  4. Short story: Deer Season – K. Barry – READ  (The New Yorker)
  5. Short story: You Know How It Is – A. Spargo-Ryan – READ
  6. Short story: The Island and the Calves – Dermot Healy – READ
  7. Midwinter  Break – B. MacLaverty – READ
  8. The Weir – C. McPherson – READ
  9. Mapping Irish Theatre – C. Morash and S. Richards – READ
  10. A Long Long Way – S. Barry – READ
  11. Tracker – A. Wright – READ  abandoned…read why!
  12. Poem: Inniskeen Road: July Evening – P. Kavanagh – READ
  13. Quicksilver – N. Rothwell – READ    (6 essays)
  14. Flame Tip – K. Thompson – READ (short fictions, Tasmania)
  15. The Divine Comedy – Dante – READ 
  16. The Nightingale – K. Hannah – READ  abandoned…read why!
  17. Best Words, Best Order: Essays of Poetry – S.  Dobyns – READ
  18. Play: Two Pints – Roddy Doyle – READ
  19. Play: Alice Trilogy – T. Murphy – READ
  20. Essay:  Aussie Albert – Julian Bull – READ
  21. Essay: Dancing Lessons for Writers – Z. Smith – READ
  22. A Writing Life: Helen Garner and Her Work – B. Brennan – READ
  23. Blood in the Water – H. Thompson – READ

 

February 2018:

  1. Tartuffe – Molière – READ
  2. Girls and Boys – D. Kelly – READ
  3. The Path to Power – R. Caro – READ
  4. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze – P.  Hessler – READ
  5. Couleurs de l’incendie – P. Lemaître – READ
  6. La Prophétie de Langley – P. Pouchairet – READ
  7. Psychanalyse de Victor Hugo – C. Baudouin – READ
  8. Art Chrétien / Art Sacré – Isabelle Saint-Martin) – READ (difficult…score 1/5)
  9. Victor Hugo: 1802-1851 – J.M. Hovasse – READ – FINI !! (1159 pg) = 4 books!
  10. Border – K.  Kassabova – READ

 

January  2018:              

  1. Là-bas, août est un mois d’automne – B. Pellegrino – READ
  2. Wild Kingdom – S. Moss – READ
  3. St. Joan – G.B. Shaw (play) – READ
  4. Feather Your Nest – A. O’Brien (short story) – READ
  5. In With A Chance – K. Murray (short story) – READ
  6. Bottle Party – J. Collier (short story) – READ
  7. The New Yorker  dd 01.01.2018 – READ
  8. Enemy Within – Quarterly Essay, vol. 63;  Watson, Don,  16.09.2016 – READ
  9. The Hidden Life of Trees –  P. Wohlleben – READ
  10. The Left Hand of Darkness – U. Le Guin – READ
  11. The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland’s Border – G. Carr – READ
  12. Towards Mellbreak – M. Bragg – READ
  13. The Glass Canoe – D. Ireland – READ

 

December 2017:

  1. The Best Australian Essays 2016 – (editor)  G. Williamson
  2. On Elizabeth Bishop – C. Tóibin
  3. Female Bodies on the American Stage – J. Scott-Mobley
  4. The Good Soldier – Ford Madox Ford
  5. The Mysterious Affair at Styles – A. Christie
  6. Their Brilliant Careers – R. O’Neill
  7. Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell  – L. Milligan  2017 Walkley Award
  8. Power Without Glory – F. Hardy   
  9. Why Poetry? – M. Zapruder    
  10. The Supreme Court  – R. Mac Cormaic
  11. Essay: The Poetry of  Systems by A. Levy
  12. Poem: Emotional Astronomer by B. Lovell           
  13. Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall – G. King
  14. The New Yorker Magazine – 18-25 December
  15. XMAS  Readings week 50
  16. XMAS  Readings week 51
  17. XMAS  Readings week 52
  18. 31 December 2017
  19. Goodbye….2017

November 2017:

  1. L’ orde du jour – E. Vuillard ( winner Prix Goncourt 2017)
  2. L’Art de perdre – A. Zeniter – READ
  3. My Place – S. Morgan
  4. Cloudstreet – T. Winton                                      
  5. True History of the Kelly Gang – P. Carey
  6. The Old Wives Tale – A. Bennett
  7. Cast of Characters – T. Vinciguerra
  8. Silk Road – E. Ormsby –
  9. The Grief Hole – K. Warren                             
  10. Lord of the Flies – W. Golding
  11. L’ami – G. Xingjian
  12. The Hands – S. Orr
  13. The Life and Work of C.J. Dennis – P. Butterss
  14. A Boat Load of Home Folk – T. Astley                           
  15. A Town Like Alice – N. Shute
  16. Love and Summer – W. Trevor
  17. L’Art de perdre – A. Zeniter (winner Prix Goncourt des lycéens 2017)
  18. Essay:  Why She Broke – H. Garner
  19. Position Doubtful – K. Mahood
  20. Into the Heart of Tasmania – R. Taylor
  21. Portable Curiosities – J. Koh          

 

October 2017:

  1. Salt Water – C. McLennan – READ                      
  2. A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman and Birth of Modern China – K. Peraino   –  READ
  3. Whose Body? (1923)  D. Sayers – READ
  4. The Anatomy of Fascism – R. Paxton – READ
  5. A Handful of Dust – Evelyn Waugh – READ
  6. Jan Maelwael Dutch medieval painter (1370-1415) – P. Roelofs – READ
  7. Essays Collection by E.B.White     READ
  8. Tsubaki – A. Shimazaki  –  READ (French)
  9. The Celery Stalks at Midnight – J. Howe – READ
  10. Portable Curiosities – J. Koh – READ
  11. The Dry – J. Harper – READ
  12. Famine – T. Murphy (play) – READ

 

September 2017:

  1. Seul dans Berlin  –  H. Fallada – READ (French)
  2. La Serpe – P. Jaenada – READ (French)
  3. The Persians – Aeschylus – READ
  4. Plutarch’s Lives Vol 1 – Plutarch – READ
  5. Oepidus Rex – Sophocles – READ
  6. The Union Buries Its Dead – H. Lawson – Short Story – READ
  7. Common Sense – T. Paine – READ
  8. The Slow Natives  – T. Astley (Australian writer) – READ
  9. Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life  – Ruth Franklin  (biography) – READ
  10. The General vs. The President – H.W. Brands – READ
  11. Spaceman – M. Massimino – READ
  12. Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell Is This? – M. Meade (biography) – READ
  13. Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change – E. Pao – READ
  14. East  West Street – P. Sands – READ
  15. The Sheltering Sky – P. Bowles – READ

 

August 2017:     Hug Your Dog Start Reading!

  1. Ghettoside by J. Levoy – READ
  2. Scoop – E. Waugh – READ
  3. Loving – H. Green – READ
  4. I, Claudius – R. Graves – READ
  5. The African Queen – C. S. Forester – READ
  6. Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon – L. Tye – READ
  7. The Two Towers – J.R.R. Tolkien – READ
  8. Sons and Lovers – D.H. Lawrence – READ
  9. Une femme à Berlin – M. Hillers (anonymous) – READ (French)
  10. The Way of All  Flesh – S. Butler  – READ
  11. Lincoln in the Bardo – G. Saunders – READ
  12. Une Vie – S. Veil – READ  (French)
  13. Return of the King – J.R.R. Tolkien  – READ
  14. Retour à Killybegs – Sorj Chalandon – READ  (French)
  15. Seven Plays ‘True West’ – Sam Shepard – READ
  16. Principles of Angels – Jaine Fenn – READ….stopped after 25%….bah!
  17. Shatterday and Other Stories – H. Ellison  11/11  – READ
  18. Short Story – W. Trevor  The Piano Teacher’s Pupil – READ
  19. The New Yorker Magazine – 24 July 2017

 

July 2017:     #6Degrees of Separation Meme

  1.  An American Tragedy – T. Dreiser  – READ
  2. Dear Ijeawele – C.N. Adichie – READ
  3.  The Martian – A. Weir – READ
  4.  Open and Shut – D. Rosenfelt – READ
  5.  First Degree – D. Rosenfelt – READ
  6.  Doomsday Book – C. Willis – READ
  7.  The Bloody Mary Book – E. Brown  – READ
  8.  Kennedy and King – S. Levingston – READ
  9. Coming Up Trumps:  Memoir – J. Trumpington  – READ
  10. The New Yorker Magazine  26 June 2017
  11. The New Yorker Magazine   03 July 2017
  12. The New Yorker Magazine – July 10 – 17 2017
  13. French composer Darius Milhaud…who?
  14. Les Chouans – Balzac – READ
  15. Rue des Boutiques Obscures  – P. Modiano
  16. Vaster Than Empires and More Slow – U. Le Guin  – READ
  17. The Alligators – J. Updike – READ
  18. You’ll Never Know, Dear, How Much I Love You – READ – J. Updike

 

Juni 2017:     New Reading Strategy   ‘Slow Down….’

  1. Medea – Euripides – READ
  2. Brideshead Revisited– E. Waugh  – READ
  3. Pale Fire – V. Nabokov – READ
  4. As I Lay Dying – W. Faulkner – READ
  5. The Sympathizer –  V.T. Nguyen  – READ
  6. Dear Life – Alice Munro  – READ
  7. Ragtime – E.L. Doctorow – READ
  8. Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh – J. Lahr – READ
  9. American Ulysses – R. White jr. – READ
  10. Walking the Nile – L. Wood  – READ
  11. The Death of the Heart – E. Bowen  – READ
  12. The Running Hare – J. Lewis-Stempel – READ
  13. Under the Net – I. Murdoch – READ

 

May 2017:    Book Tag

  1. Breitner’s Amsterdam (G. Breitner, Dutch artist) – K. Keijer – READ (Dutch)
  2. Mondriaan – H. Janssen – READ (Dutch)
  3.  L’ Aventure des Cathédrales – G. Denizeau – READ (French)
  4. Passagère du silence – F. Verdier – READ (French)
  5. Go Tell It on the Mountain – James Baldwin – READ
  6. The Republic – Plato – READ
  7. Les Chouans – H. Balzac – READ (French)
  8. Fellowship of the Ring – (Tolkien) – READ
  9. Angle of Repose – W. Stegner – READ
  10. Ça ira (1) Fin de Louis (play) – J. Pommerat – READ

 

April 2017    My reading was going nowhere….Mindy

  1. Essays: Michael Sweerts: Another Dimension  S. Schama (art critic) – READ
  2. Non- fiction: Medieval Christianity: A New History ( K. Madigan) – READ
  3. La baronne meurt à cinq heures (2011) – READ   (French)
  4. #CrimeFiction: The Dying Detective  L. Persson – READ
  5. The Wednesday Club  – K. Westö – READ
  6. French: Outside: Papiers d’un jour (M. Duras) – READ   (French)
  7. Monet (G. Goeffroy) – READ   (French)
  8. Immortelle randonnée (J.C. Rufin) – READ   (French)
  9.  Les petits chevaux de Tarquinia (M. Duras) – READ   (French)
  10. Les fous de Guernesey – F. Lenormand – READ   (French)
  11. Eugène Boudin L’atelier de la lumière – A. Haudiquet – READ   (French)
  12. Van Gogh, Maître de la couleur – G. Denizeau – READ  (French)
  13. Monet – G. Denizeau – READ   (French)
  14. Claude Monet, sa vie, son temps, son oeuvre – G. Geffory – READ   (French)

 

March 2017:      Starting over….  new blog

  1. The Fellowship of the Ring – READ  ch 1-6  – READ
  2. Eight Months on Ghazzah Street (H. Mantel) – READ
  3.  Bleak House (C. Dickens) – READ
  4.  Catherine the Great (R. Massie) – READ
  5. Dans la tête de Marine Le Pen (M. Eltchanihoff) – READ
  6. Chez Soi (M. Chollet) – READ
  7. En Attendant Bojangles (O. Bourdeaut) – READ
  8. Ça Ira (1) Fin de Louis -play ( J. Pommerat) – READ
  9. Progaganda and Counter Terroism (E. Briant) – READ
  10. The Well Dressed Explorer  (Thea Astley) – READ
  11. Israel   (D. Gordis) – READ
  12. Life and Fate (V. Grossman) – READ
  13. Escape Hatch (V. Makanin) – READ
  14. Essays: (4)
  15. What Neil Gaiman Teaches Us About Survival –  (M. Miller) – READ
  16. Remembering the Dead – (R. Long) – READ
  17. Remapping history, Reclaming memory A. Wilson play (J. H. Scott) – READ
  18. Bleak House: Dead Mother’s Property (H. Schor) – READ

 

 

 

23
Jul

#Paris In July “Le Grand Meaulnes”

Author: Alain-Fournier (1886 – 1914)
Title: Le Grand Meaulnes
Published: 1913
Contents: 200 pages (3 parts)
Language: French
Trivia: Le Grand Meaulnes was shortlisted for Prix Goncourt 1913 but lost by 1 vote.
Trivia: Today the book is nr 9 on Le Monde’s list 100 best books of 20th C.
Trivia: …and the Prix Goncourt winner “Le peuple de la mer’ has been long forgotten!

Available in English  “The Lost Estate”

Introduction:

  1. Le Grand Meaulnes is the only novel by French author Alain-Fournier.
  2. Fifteen-year-old François Seurel narrates the story of
  3. his relationship with seventeen-year-old Augustin Meaulnes
  4. as Meaulnes searches for his lost love.
  5. Impulsive, reckless and heroic,
  6. Meaulnes embodies the romantic ideal,
  7. the search for the unobtainable, and
  8. the mysterious world between childhood and adulthood.

 

ANALYSIS:

1. Explain the title. In what way is it suitable to the story?
Augustin Meaulnes, called ‘Le Grand Meaulnes’ fascinates the students with his mysterious personality.

2. What is the predominant element in the story?
Setting: (estate) The setting is the central focus of the book . The village of Sologne and its school, the mysterious ‘domain’/chateau with the surrounding paths , ponds, slopes, reeds, marshes. The characters are running away from the village school (Augustin), running away from the ‘domaine’ (Frantz), running away from village where young Yvonne waits for her new husband (Augustin).

3. Who is the single main character about. whom the story centers?
Main character is Augstin Meaulnes.
There are friendships: Augustin/François and Augustin/Frantz
There are loves: Augustin/Yvonne – Frantz/Valentine – François/Yvonne

4. What sort of conflict confronts the leading character or characters?
a. External – Augustin discovers an ‘enchanted forest’ meets a ‘princess’ (Yvonne). They part abruptly.
b. Internal – Augustin moves from childhood to adulthood, but never stops looking for his vanished beloved.

5. How is the conflict resolved?
Frantz: finds his ‘amour absolu’ (Valentine)
Augustin: finds his ‘amour libertine’ (Valentine) and ‘amour idéal’ (Yvonne)
François: finds his ‘amour impossilble’ (Yvonne)

7. Who tells the story? What point of view is used?
François is the narrator of the book. His parents are the teachers at Sainte Agathe in Sologne.

8. Where does the primary action take place?
Village of Sologne, Vierzon, Vieux-Nancay

9. How much time does the story cover?
I estimate that the story takes place over 10 years. It begins when Augustin arrives as a boarder with the Seruel family in Sologne. It ends as Augustin returns from a long trip.jaar.

10. How does the story get started? What is the initial incident?
Augustin arrives at the school. His arrival is going to change François’s calm and lonely life.

11. Briefly describe the rising action:
Augustin loses his way during a walk, discovers a beautiful estate, pre-wedding party and the love of his life.

12. What is the high point, or climax, of the story?
The writer uses language to indicate that Meaulnes and the ‘bohémien’ finally trust each other: (pg 92)

“Puis cessant d’ employer ce <vous> insolite chez des écoliers de Sainte-Agathe.”
Stop using ‘vous’ …unusual for students

The writer uses a mini-climax at the end of each part to move the story along. Part 1 gunshot in the forest; Part 2 letter from Augustin to François. The main climax in on page 104-105.
The illusions and pantomime disappear. Frantz removes the scarf. We see the scare of his attempted suicide. The tone in the book swings from an enchanted world of youth to harsh word of adulthood. “…enlève son bandeau pour être reonnu de nous.”

13. Discuss the falling action or close of the story.
François, Augustin and Frantz try to put the pieces of their ‘past youth and lost loves’ back together ‘…perhaps everything will be as in earlier times. Can the past return? Who knows! (Mais le passé peut-il renaítre? Qui sait!) (pg 159)

14. Does this story create any special mood?
Alain-Fournier creates through his atmospheric images a feeling of:
nostalgia: – tormented and cherished days ebb and flow against the rocks like waves, our adventures. (pg 11)
eeriness: – you hear the whistles and moans of the shipwrecked in the attic. (pg 164); “un vent noir et glacé soufflait dan le jardin mort” (pg 36)
enchantment: – I’m looking for something very mysterious. This passageway mentioned in books, the ancient hidden path, the one the exhausted prince was too tired to find. (pg111) (..famous quote from the book)

15. Is this story realistic or true to life?
We know that Alain-Fournier grew up far from the sea but had a life long desire to join the navy. The sea was his ideal and he used many nautical images in the book. Mysteriously he changed the little houses in the village of Sologne into ships, boats and sails. On page 57 the author describes men at the festive meal, freshly shaven who could have been ex-sailors. But he tells us they never sailed the seven seas…..only weathered rains and wind while making furrows in the fields and returning home in their carts. These are only a few nautical descriptions of the villages and people where the story takes place.

Yvonne de Quiévrecourt was born in 1885 in Paris.
In 1905 Alain Fournier was suddenly faced with the girl of his dreams.
This encounter changed Fournier’s life and provided the basis for Le Grand Meaulnes.

16. What is the structure of the book?
Part 1: (30%) Meaulnes’s arrival and departure in the village Solonge + strange adventure.
Part 2: (22%) Gypsy ‘Frantz’ – Meaulnes’s departure for Paris
Part 3: ( 37%) Wedding – Journal intime – lost happiness
The last chapter which reveals the intrigue, secret and its impact is only 3 pages!

17. What is the general theme of the story?
Adventure and discovery: Meaulnes and Yvonne after their wedding are ready to set out on an adventure. Like two passengers adrift in a boat (nautical image), in the winter wind, two lovers enclosed in happiness. (pg 170)
“Comme deux passagers dans un bateau à la dérive, ils sont dans le grand vent d’hivier, deux amants enfermés avec le bonheur.”

18. Did you identify with any of the characters?
François Seurel: Despite his unwavering loyalty to Augustin, his support of the abandoned Yvonne, his care of a nameless young child….he is left with nothing at the end. In ch1 we read of François’s sad and lonely days in the village. Augustin came and brightened his life. But after losing his best friend and the girl he had secretly fallen in love with (Yvonne) his days were again…sad and lonely.

19. Does this story contain any of the following elements?

Metaphor: sea, boats, sails, anchors, waves used to enhance the theme of an ‘adventure’.
The classroom is like a ship. (pg 23)
The village houses are boats anchored with their sails ready to be unfurled. (pg 142)
Symbol: Meaulnes is Robinson Crusoe on the brink of an adventure.
“Peut-être le gout des aventures plus fort que tout…” (pg 183)
The taste for adventure….stronger than everything.
Meaulnes reminds his young friend of Crusoe in the basket shop. (pg 22)
The title of ch 3 part 1 is a quote from Robinson Crusoe:
“Je fréquentais la boutique d’un cannier” .
Simile: Meaulnes is like a sailor keeping watch at night. (pg 36)
“comme ces marins qui n’ont pas pu se déhabituer defaire le quart…”
He is like a soldier on alert sleeping in his clothes. (pg 35)
“soldat au cantonnement d’ alerte”
All these actions increase the adventurous feeling of the book.

20. Does the story contain a single effect or impression for the reader?
Sadness: François is carrying Yvonne’s dead body. The only time he held her in his arms as the bridegroom he longed to be. “ Je baisse la tête sur la tête de celle que j’emporte, je respire fortement et ses cheveux blonds aspirés m’entrent dans la bouche, ces cheveux morts qui not un goût de terre.”
Translation:

I lowered my head onto the head of the one I was carrying,
I breathed deeply and inhaled her blond hairs into my mouth,
these dead hairs that have a taste of the earth.

Conclusion:

This book is more about rich images than tense action.
Because of author’s poetic style the words seem to float over the pages.
Weak point: part 2 the pantomime, band of roaming gypises….
This was diffcult to place in the narrative. I needed some help to understand why
Alain-Fournier included it. It is a mise-en-abyme, (frame story).
Pierrot struggling to grow up. (keeps falling and speaking in cries and hoots).
This parallels the struggle of the three main characters
…Francois, Augustin and Frantz – moving from youth to adulthood.
This is a very easy book to read, vocabulary is not difficult.
Strong point: I learned some beautiful words and wonderful expressions!
à la cornette! – a mock directed to a nun in reference to her headgear!

16
Jul

#Paris In July Mousse aux éclats de chocolat

  • Time for some bistro food….but this year
  • I’m NOT making a main course.
  • I have chosen to make a “to die for dessert“
  • Mousse au chocolat!
  • Cookbook: Petite Cuisine à Paris
  • Rachel Khoo
  • Crème pâtissière (pg 274)
  • Mousse au chocolat (pg 222)
  • Note: For more instructions how to share your posts go to Thyme for Tea.

 

Follow these steps: 

  1. make crème pâtissère  (let cool for one hour in fridge)
  2. make meringue au chocolat
  3. (60 gr egg whites, 1/3 c confec sugar, drops lemon juice, dash salt, 1 Tbs cacao)
  4. melt dark chocolate au bain maire (150 gr)
  5. whip heavy cream (200 ml)
  6. fold all ingredients together in a large bowl
  7. fill glasses decorated with chopped nuts
  8. cool in fridge  at least 2-4 hours
  9. Bon Appétit!

 

Ingredients:

 

Cool crème pâtissère between sheets of saran wrap...cool for 1 hour

 

A good chef …..always cleans up her own mess! (…this was the rule in my house growing up!)

Chop nuts to decorate  the glasses!

Fold together and add melted chocolate…..

Voila!

 

13
Jul

#Paris In July Retour à Killybegs

Author: S. Chaladon
Title: Return to Killybegs
Published: 2011
Language: I read it in French…but it is available in English.

 

 

Trivia:   Awarded the Grand prix du roman de l’Académie française 2011.
Le Grand Prix du Roman is a French literary award, created in 1918, and given each year by the Académie française. Along with the Prix Goncourt, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary awards in France.

 

Introduction:

Return to Killybegs is a novel about a traitor to Belfast’s Catholic community
during the war in 1970s and 1980s in Northern Ireland.
The narrative is inspired by the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson.
He was a senior Sinn Féin member who was revealed as a British secret agent.
Chalandon had befriended Donaldson while working as a journalist in Belfast.
Chalandon attempts to understand the reasons for
Donaldson’s (character: Tyrone Meehan) betrayal of the IRA.
Perhaps Chalandon wanted to give his friend a chance to explain his side of the story.

Timeline:

24 December 2006 – 04 April 2007 (narrator is now 81 years old)
” I have often returned to my father’s house
…but I came here four days ago…..to die.”

Best chapters – 18, 21, 22, 23 (suspense)

Conclusion:

The writing is remarkable, compact and to the point.
Chalandon manages a journalistic style
yet breathes life into characters that leave the reader riveted.
Suspense builds while Chalandon alternates the past with the present.
Past: childhood, WWII, entrance into IRA, prison sentences and contre-espionage
Present: visit 2006 in Belfast for a wedding and confrontation with ex-IRA members
Despite the cease-fire, peace negations, destroyed arms caches
…the IRA is still there.

8
Jul

#TBR Update 21.08.2019 FINISHED 39/39

TBR:

  1. This is what I look like when I think of my TBR.
  2. When will I ever manage to read all these books?
  3. My first plan of action:
  4. List: books bought 2019 (e-book, paper, audio)
  5. Goal: READ these books in 2019. (no new books!)
  6. Start challenge: 08 July 2019
  7. End challenge: 31 December 2019

 

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2019….  READ    39/39

  1. James Tiptree, jr. The Double Life Alice Sheldon – J. Phillips – READ
  2. Ghosts of the Tsunami – R. L. Parry – READ
  3. We Can Make a Life – C. Henry – READ
  4. The Coddling of the American Mind – G. Lukianoff, J. Haidt – READ
  5. The First Casualty – Peter Greste – READ
  6. 100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write – S. Ruhl – READ
  7. Indecent (play) – Paula Vogel – READ
  8. Astonished Dice – G. Cochrane (short stories) – READ
  9. From a Low and Quiet Sea – Donal Ryan- READ (…waste of time)
  10. The Heart’s Invisible Furies – John Boyne – READ
  11. The Best of NZ Poems – READ ( …just too many poems to reveiw…just read)

 

UPDATE: 21.08.2019

  1. Parang – Omar Musa – READ (27 poems)

Parang – with a name like this (knife)
I expected blood, gore, guts.
I got insight, openness, much humanity,
at times a palpable joy.
No ‘Hippa to Da Hoppa’ rap beat
…only the beating of a true poet’s heart.
#EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD!

UPDATE: 20.08.2019.

  1. Lemons in the Chicken Wire – READ
  3. Finished: 20.08.2019
    Genre: potry
    Rating: C-
    #TBR list 2109
    Conclusion:What can I say…poems are very personal.
    You like this one and I like that one.
    Collection: 50 poems and I like just 13 = 26%
    Blakwork ….is Whittaker’s a great, inpired collection of poems.
    Lemons in the Chicken Wire pales in comparison.
    C’est la vie.These were: very good
    Growing Soon -…loved the structure/symmetry
    Carry the One – …young girl’s thoughts at school
    AH -..young girl’s observations + “ I go by Koori time”
    Cinnamon Eggs – …young girl’s unexpected bike accidentThese were: goodEXT.INT. title = “ exterior” interior” thoughts as stage directions
    A Funeral …family around grandfather’s grave….
    Insider Knowledge …family knows more than you think!
    Preface: Another Funeral …family memories Great Nan’s death
    Whatcha glimpse in a of a young girl’s life
    The Sticking Place …time…, a limp carcass…soundless bubble
    Epilogue: A Funeral
    Do Ya?
    Chicken Wire Lemons

 

UPDATE: 19.08.2019

  1. Fast Talking PI – Selina T. Marsh (NZ poet) – READING
  2. Winner, 2010 NZSA Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry

 

UPDATE: 18.08.2019

  1. Cambridge Guide  Irish Poets – READ
  3. Finished: 19.08.2019
    Genre: non-fiction
    Rating: D
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    This book is targeted for an
    audience who has a basic knowledge of
    Irish poets and wants to know just a little bit more.
    It is NOT a book for a poetry novice ….like me.
    I struggled with some of the first 10 poets
    (Goldmith, Moore, Mangan, Yeats, Ledwidge, Clarke….)
    to find some clear basic info.
    These essays are a forest of academic jargon.
    Read this book if you feel adventurous
    …otherwise basic info is better on Wikipedia.
    This is my LAST Cambridge Companion book…ever!

 

UPDATE: 17.08.2019

  • Cane – Jean Toomer – READ
Finished: 18.08.2019
Genre: stories, poems
Rating: C
#TBR list 2019
Conclusion:Fifteen poems, (good)
Six brief prose vignettes, (very good)
Seven stories (average)
a play (…not the best part of the book…skimmed it)—all about black life in the 1920’s.
The book is divided into three parts:
Part 1 and 3 set in rural Georgia
Part 2 takes place in Chicago and in Washington, D.C.
Women, particularly in the first part, are depicted as sex objects.
They manage not only to endure
…but also to prevail.
#HarlemRenaissance

 

 

UPDATE: 17.08.2019

  1. Milkman – Anna Burns – READ
  3. Finished: 17.08.2019
    Genre: novel
    Rating: D-
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    I’m taking the high road with the author Anna Burns and her
    prize winning Milkman.
    I realize that no one really will remember
    or care what I think.
    Let me just say…it did not make my 10 best books of the year
    ….not by a long shot.
  4. This book is in a class all of its own….
    just not the class I enjoy.
    But more power to Anna Burns for writing
    an opaque yet an unique book.

 

UPDATE: 17.08.2019

    1. My Name is Revenge – A. K. Blunt – READ

 

 

UPDATE: 16.08.2019

  1. Show Them a Good Time (8 short stories) – N. Flattery – READ

 

UPDATE:06.08.2019

  1. The Barracks – J. McGahern – READ
  3. Finished: 06.08.2019
    Genre: novella ( pg 232)
    Rating: D –
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    Sorry, this book was not what I expected.
    Swept away by J. McGahern’s breathtaking
    “All Will Be Well: A Memoir” (read this one!)
    ….I hoped his novel could reach the
    same level of excellence….unfortunately it did not.
    #Disappointment

 

UPDATE: 28.07.2019

  1. Wake in Fright – K. Cook – READ (…disappointment)
  2. 2019 Hip Marathon Wake in Fright index

UPDATE: 03.08.2019

  1. The Hate U Give – A. Thomas – READ
  3. Finished: 03.08.2019
    Genre: novel
    Rating: A+++
    #TBR List 2019
    Conclusion:Books may seem like small comfort.
    But in a time like this, when it’s hard to understand
    how American culture became so hate-filled,
    reading is probably the best possible option…
    …to get off the internet,
    …pick up a book, and
    …think about how the country has gotten here.
    #TheHateUGive is a good place to start!

 

UPDATE: 02.08.2019

  1. Tin Man – Sarah Winman – READ (..mèh)

Finished: 03.08.2019
Genre: novel
Rating: C –
Conclusion

This book is about loneliness.
I found the book to be an attempt to
paint loneliness with landscapes….
(sunflowers fill the frame,
swallows soar with heat on their wings (pg 210)
and not describe
the deep feeling of loneliness
…like a mould growing slowly around you.
Yes there are cries of the heart that evoke your emotions
…but all in all the book was too lyrical, too sugar-spin sweet
and just seemed to scratch the surface of the ache of loss.

I read both the winner of Costa Award 2017 and this shortlisted book for the same prize back-to-back. Then I compared the impact of both books on the subject of loneliness. The stark difference in approaching loss….probably was an big factor
that influenced my review of Tin Man.
After reading Gail Honeyman’s book “Eleanor Oliphant is Compelety Fine’ (winner Costa Award 2017)….Tin Man felt “tinny”.
#Disappointed

UPDATE: 01.08.2019

  1. Driving Into the Sun – Marcella Polain – READ

 

UPDATE: 10.08.2019

  1. Exit West – M. Hamid – READ
  3. Finished: 10.08.2019
    Genre: novella/allegory
    Rating: D-
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    Two lovers Saeed and Nadia meet in nameless Middle East City.
    They decide to leave and seek a better life.
    The couple manages to hold onto their love throughout moving to Mykonos, London, Marin California…..always hoping for salvation….always Exiting West.
    It took me a little while to realise that they were actually going from country to country by these doors. It felt very “Narnia’ -like to be honest!
    Conclusion: not an entertaining read but it’s not dark either
    …it was exhausting b/c Hamid’s writing style is characterized by long convoluted sentences.
    Sometimes I just lost interest

 

UPDATE: 04.08.2019

  1. Brother – David Chariandy  – READ
  3. Finished: 04.08.2019
    Genre: novel
    Rating: C-
    # TBR List 2019
    Conclusion:
    This is a very short read.
    Two brothers (immigrant backround) dealing
    with their place in society.
    Staying streetwise means survival.
    I never found it riveting.
    That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it
    because it does have a powerful message.
    Score is based on my personal reaction…just not for me.

 

UPDATE: 31.07.2019

  1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine  – G. Honeyman – READ  STUNNING !!
  2. 2019 Hip Marathon Eleanor Oliphant image

 

UPDATE: 01.08.2019

  1. The Shepherd’s Hut – Tim Winton – READ – Bah!
  3. Finished: 02.08.2019
    Genre: novel
    Rating: F –
    Conclusion:
    So glad to be done with this book.
    I’m amazed that it received so many 4 and 5-star ratings.To “call a spade a spade” is a figurative expression.
    It refers to calling something “as it is” without
    “beating about the bush”.
    Tim Winton can write ….read Cloudstreet for the proof.
    Tim Winton just wasted my reading time with this s**t.
    Sorry to be so blunt…but there it is!

UPDATE: 05.08.2019

  1. Aquarium – David Vann – READ  (…why in heaven’s name did I buy this book?)
  3. Finished: 06.08.2019
    Genre: novella (pg 272)
    Rating: F —
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    Blurb: Elegant? Gripping?
    Please, I’ve read a recipe for a boiled
    egg that was better than this!
    #WasteOfTime

 

  1. Red Ribbons – L. Phillips –   READ (Irish profiler/psychologist Dr. Kate Pearson #1)
  3. Finished: 10.09.2019
    Genre: CF
    Rating: F
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    Where do I start?
    I start and end with …..no comment.
    Taking the high road with this book!
    #WasteOfTime

 

  1. Crocodile Tears – M. O’ Sullivan – READ  (Irish Detective Leo Woods #1)
  3. Finished: 05.08.2019
    Genre: CF
    Rating: A+++++
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    I could NOT put this book down!
    Did not have a clue who killed Dermot Brennan
    ….and finally after 97% of the book…the reader
    gasps!
    #Excellent ‘Who dunnit?‘

 

  1. Seeing Yellow (poetry) – E. Bourke – READ  shortlist Irish Times Poetry Award 2019
  2. Stunning!!

 

UPDATE: 07.08.2019

  1. Insistence – Ailbhe Darcy – READ 18 poems (review)
  2. Wales Book of the Year Award 2019
  3. Roland Mathias Poetry Award (Wales)
  4. Pigott Poetry Prize 2019 (Ireland)
  5. Shorlist: T.S. Eliot Prize 2018
  6. Shortlist: Irish Times Poetry Award 2019
  8. Finished: 07.08.2019
    Genre: poetry
    Rating: D
    #TBR list 2019
    Conclusion:
    My thoughts are my own.
    Please take the time to read these poems
    …I’m curious what YOU think….and what I am missing.

 

UPDATE: 09.08.2019

  1. Are Friends Electric ? – H. Heath (Ockham NZ Award poetry 2019) – READ
  3. Finished: 09.08.2019
    Genre: poetry
    Rating: B
    #Winner Ockham New Zealand Award Poetry 2019
    Conclusion:
    My Thoughts

 

UPDATE: 11.08.2019

  1. The Twelve – S.Neville – READ  (Irish Noir)

  2. Finished: 011.08.2019
    Genre: CF
    Rating: D
    #TBR ist 2019
    Conclusion:
    No intrigue…no whodunnit
    …no story development
    just guns, blood, violence and some
    ’12 walking dead’.
    #IrishNoir I expected better

 

UPDATE:  12.08.2019

  1. Harbour Lights  (poetry) – D. Mahon (winner Irish Times Poetry Award 2006) – READ

 

 

UPDATE: 15.08.2019

  1. Now We Can Talk Openly about Men – Martina Evans – READ

Conclusion:
I didn’t like it…
…but I didn’t hate it either.
“dilemme cornélien”

Finished: 15.08.2019
Genre: poetry
Rating: C
#TBR list 2019

 

 

UPDATE: 15.08.2019

  1. The Boys of Bluehill – E. Ní Chuilleanáin – READ  (40 poems, Irish poet)

 

UPDATE: 13.08.2019

  1. The Radio (32 poems) – Irish poet L. Flynn (shortlist 2017 T.S. Eliot Prize) – READ

 

 

4
Jul

#Play The Weir

Playwright:  Conor McPherson (1971)
Title: The Weir (1997)
Theme: loneliness.   Setting: pub in isolated town western Ireland
Trivia: Won Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play 1997.
Trivia: Was voted one of the 100 most significant plays in 20th C
Genre: pastoral play. It gives the reader a slice of rural Irish life.

 

Analysis:

 

1. Explain the title. The Weir In what way is it suitable to the story?
a. OLD – The weir is a barrier whose function originally was a fence made of sticks or wattles built across streams or rivers that trap fish. It acts as a sieve.
b. NEW – The weir refers to a local dam built in 1951 to regulate water and generate power. c. The title is suitable as a symbol between the contrasts in the play: old vs modern; world of folklore vs contemporary life; between agricultural tradition vs 20th C modern development.

2. What is the predominant element in the story – plot, theme, character, setting?
Jack: garage owner, 50’s
Brendan: the owner of the pub 30’s (only listens, no story to tell)
Jim: garage assistant, 40’s
Finbar Mack: a local businessman late 40’s
Valerie: a Dublin woman 30.

3. Who is the single main character about whom the story centers?
Jack: is the main character. He undergoes the greatest change.
b. He is the talkative leader of the barflys, ‘old-school’ Irish,
c. devoted to the national beverage of Guinness.
d. Finbar: (foil for Jack) ‘get rich quick’ Irish real estate man, flashy, content to drink
e. the ‘last beer anyone would choose’ bottled Harp.
f. Valerie: incomer; city folk, drinks white wine; Brendan is flustered….Wine?
g. He finally finds a bottle he received as a gift.
h. When pouring her glass he fills it up as he would a pint.

4. How does the story get started?
The play opens on a stormy night in Brendan’s pub.
b. A rural Irish pub is located in an isolated town in County Leitrim.
c. Brendan, the owner of the pub, opens the bar, fills the till and checks the beer taps.
d. Jack and Jim (his regulars) are gathering for their daily pint.

5. Briefly describe the rising action of the story.
The action in the play is very subtle. The arrival of a stranger from Dublin city, a beautiful woman (Valerie). She has just rented an old house in the area.
The barflys want to impress her or perhaps scare her off (?) …with eerie stories about souls past, spirits present, ghosts and …half-haunted encounters. It is an authentic night drinking with locals who have the gift of blarney.

6. What is the high point, or climax, of the story?
a. 4: Valerie’s true story…(read the play and discover this for yourself!)

7. Discuss the falling action or close of the story.
After Valerie’s story the mood changes.
Jack’s talk with Brendan and Valerie is the last…..it is a confession.
McPherson bookends the play.
Brendan closes the bar.

 

Conclusion:

  1. This was my first one-act play.
  2. It should be tightly compressed, short,
  3. …with playing time max forty-five minutes.
  4. A single setting (pub) should be a ‘pressure-cooker play’.
  5. The energy should build up, ready to blow off the pan’s cover.
  6. This play is ninety minutes long on stage.
  7. The play felt like it was quietly simmering on the back-burner.

 

a. Weak point….but not really!

  1. No real conflict. But I’ve learned that play writing is NOT all about conflict.
  2. The power of the play derives from the
  3. power of argument in the dialogue.
  4. The story  about transition….people realize that their
  5. beloved village, rural life is becoming the thing of the past.

b. Weak point…but not really!

  1. I was looking for the ‘lilt of Irish humor, the
  2. …capacity to make rapid and irresistible remarks.
  3. In this play I only chuckled twice:
  4. at the beginning (defect beer tap) and
  5. at the end (who are the Germans, really?)
  6. Perhaps McPherson choses to embed the humor in gestures
  7. …..intonation of the voice that is impossible to relate to while reading a play.

c. Weak point….really!

  1. The play contains 3 ghost stories barflys tell each other
  2. …that were not scary.

 

Last thoughts:

  1. This play does not come to life on paper.
  2. It….MUST have actors to relate the emotions in the dialogue.
  3. I read the play twice before making a conclusion.
  4. I want to see if I missed something

 

  1. The only way to really enjoy the play is to see a stage performance.
  2. Playwright’s task is to create stories that generate emotional responses.
  3. The rhythm of the language is as important as the words themselves.
  4. Conor McPherson uses the smallness of a tiny Irish village
  5. …in the service of bigness.
  6. He illustrates the difference between fading rural life
  7. …and the encroaching urban lifestyle.
1
Jul

#Classic Max Havelaar

  •  Author: Eduard Douwes Dekker (Multatuli) (1820 – 1887)
  •  Genre: novel (satire)
  • Title: Max Havelaar ( Language: Dutch)
  • Published: 1860
  • Table of Contents: 20 chapters, 315
  • Timeline: 1842 ( Sumatra). 1856 (Lebak) 1860 (Amsterdam)
  • Setting: Dutch East Indies
  • Trivia: E. Douwes Dekker was one of Sigmund Freud’s favorite writers.
  • List of Challenges 2019
  • Monthly reading plan

 

Introduction:

  1. Eduard Douwes Dekker is better known by his pen name Multatuli.
  2. It is from latin ‘multa tuli’ meaning I have suffered much.
  3. This is a satire denouncing  the abuses
  4. …of  colonialism in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
  5. 1838 Douwes Dekker became a civil servant in Java.
  6. All the secrets of Dutch administration were known to him.
  7. Disgusted with the actions of the Dutch in Java,
  8. …he had begun to about the abuses.
  9. Threatened with dismissal from
  10. …his office for his openness of speech.
  11. Dekker resigned his appointment.
  12. He returned to the Netherlands and wrote this
  13. scathing criticism of Dutch colonialism.
  14. In 2002 the Society of Dutch Literature proclaimed
  15. ….Multatuli the most important Dutch writer of all time

 

Quickscan:

  • This is a  grim depiction of life in a European colony, namely Indonesia.
  • The description of web of hypocrisy of church-going Dutch.
  • …and the repression of the natives under their rule endure.
  • The Dutch derived benefits from others misery.
  • Max Havelaar was  beacon of hope.
  • He was in a position of unquestionable power, Assistant-Resident.
  • Havelaar struggled with the colonial government  leaders ….to no avail.

 

Theme:  exploitation;  colonialism

 

Title:  Dubble  title “Max Havelaar or Coffee Auctions Dutch Trade Company”

  1. I had to research this information
  2. …..it would never have caught my eye!
  3. Irony: the title tells  Mr. Droogstoppel that this book contains
  4. …information that  he would be interested in: coffee auctions.
  5. He agrees to  finance the  rewriting of a final draft and publication of the book
  6. But it appears that there is nothing in the book about coffee or the Dutch Trade Company!

 

  1. The author  misled Droogstoppel  and the reading public!
  2. In 1860 coffee and trade were in the news.
  3. Multatuli wanted to have his book read. (pg 57)
  4. “Mijn boek moet de wereld in!”
  5. He was probably the  first Dutch “whistleblower” !
  6. He used this  ‘clever piece of irony’
  7. …to capture the public’s  interest.
  8. Multatuli  TRICKED  the readers with a dubble title.
  9. He lured them to buy the book and
  10. …revealed the abuses he thought must be made public.

 

Narrators:  3 characters

  • Droogstoppel:  coffee broker at Last & Co.
  • Stern:  assistant Last & Co.  ( = author  Multatuli)
  • Sjaalman: is thecharacter of Max Havelaar incognito in Amsterdam.

 

Structure: frame  story (stories-within-stories)

  1. Story:  Commentary in journals of Max Havelaar who abhors the exploitation of the  Dutch East Indies natives.
  2. Story:  Havelaar returns to Amsterdam with his exposé in rough draft and wants it to be published.
  3. Story: In the last chapter:
  • Multatuli, the author himself,  takes over the narrative.
  • Droogstoppel is written ‘out of the book’.
  • Multatuli writes what he wants to achieve.
  • He wants the readers to share his outrage.

 

Breaking the 4th wall

  • Multatuli speaks directly to the reader and ‘confronts’ him.
  • Speaking to the reader acknowledges that this is a book or a story.

 

Unreliable narrator

  • Mr. Droogstoppel  coffee broker  is characterized by exaggeration and bragging.
  • Multatuli satirizes the coffee merchant, Droogstoppel, by simply letting him speak!

 

Irony:  

  • The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning.
  • Droogstoppel tells the reader ( pg 18)  that the Dutch are successful because:
  • …they  conduct business honorably and maintain exemplary Christian beliefs.
  • Irony: Mutatuli reveals that the Dutch say one thing in public and act differently in business!
  • Droogstoppel gossips about other business partner’s family. (pg 25)
  • Irony: But reminds us that he  would never knowingly slander anybody!

 

Humor:

  • There are some great examples of humor in Multatuli’s writing:
  • The repetition in Droogstoppel’s  emphatic dialogue
  • reminding the reader that he always speaks the truth
  • ” heus de zuivere waarheid” (pg 24)  and
  • conducts himself at all times with civility
  • ” fatsoen gaat voor mijn boven alles” ( pg 31).
  • In a bouncing carriage over a hobbley road  Multatuli brings the choppy conversation
  • before our eyes with one-word sentences.  You can just hear it!
  • I. Did. Not. Dare.To. Agree.
  • ” Ik. Durfde. Het. Haar. Niet. Toezeggen.” ! (pg 101)

 

Conclusion:

  1. Weak point:
  2. This book was complicated with its intricate narrative structure.
  3. There is no chronological order, many flashbacks and 3 narrators.
  4. Weak point:
  5. Many pages of out-of-date  style of dialogue which  makes the reading difficult.
  6. Strong point:
  7. The shock effect caused by the author  in chapter 20.
  8. This was his pulpit. It would be his  chance to send a message to the Dutch and the world.
  9. Multatuli refers to the barbaric division in American society on pg 103.
  10. He must have read Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852, H.B. Stowe) that exposed the abuse in USA.
  11. Multatuli shares Stowe’s social realism in his writing of Max Havelaar.

 

Last thoughts:

  1. I could relate to this book because
  2. of my knowledge of the ‘Dutch mentality’.
  3. I wonder if this book would appeal to
  4. a wider audience outside The Netherlands.
  5. I read the book in Dutch
  6. I liked the book but a recommendation to read it
  7. …..that’s a hard call.
  8. Dutch is the 7th most spoken language in Europe..
  9. The study of foreign languages
  10. …is simply the gift that keeps on giving.

 

 

28
Jun

#Cocktail Negroni

It is NEGRONI  WEEK 24-30 June

  1. One of the world’s most iconic classic cocktails…
  2. the Negroni was invented at Caffè Casoni in Florence, Italy.
  3. Count Camillo asked for a bolder retelling of the Americano
  4. …with gin replacing soda water.
  5. With equal parts Campari, gin and sweet vermouth…

 

Ingredients:

1 oz. gin – (2 TBS)
1 oz. Campari – (2 TBS)
1 oz. sweet vermouth – (2 TBS)
Tools: mixing glass, barspoon, strainer
Glass: cocktail or double rocks
Garnish: orange twist

Salut!

 

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