Can you think of anything more free-ranging than a concert which includes the Inch Worm song and Blake's Tyger, Rudolph the Red-nose reindeer and a 13th century Benedictine Nun's lullaby, and much more besides? I certainly wouldn't have before we attended a concert on Friday titled A Free Range Christmas by the wonderful Song Company. The … Continue reading A free range Christmas
Author: Whispering Gums
Little treasures (that’s novellas to you)
I realised a few years ago that quite a few (though by no means all) of my favourite works of fiction are novellas. I think it's because I admire succinctness, the ability to convey an idea, feeling, impression in very few words. (By contrast, I love Big Fat Books - which I may post on another … Continue reading Little treasures (that’s novellas to you)
What gives you joy?
I've just watched Andrew Denton interviewing Clive James on his Elders program. He asked James what gives him "joy", and James replied "the Arts". James said it didn't have to be anything particular, it could be Marvin Gaye singing "I heard it through the grapevine" or the Adagio from Beethoven's Ninth Sympathy or a painting … Continue reading What gives you joy?
Bright star, or a thing of beauty?
What can ail thee knight at arms, Alone and palely loitering? The sedge has wither'd from the lake, And no birds sing. I have always loved these opening lines of John Keats' "La Belle Dame Sans Merci". The first two lines with their mystical, but also traditionally Romantic, melancholy, just roll off the tongue. You … Continue reading Bright star, or a thing of beauty?
Kazuo Ishiguro, Nocturnes: Five stories of music and nightfall
I like Kazuo Ishiguro - and have read 5 of his 6 novels - so I was looking forward to reading Nocturnes, his first published collection of short stories. Nocturnes, as the subtitle describes, comprises five short stories, each focussing in some way on music, and on a day's end. The five stories - a … Continue reading Kazuo Ishiguro, Nocturnes: Five stories of music and nightfall
Six months old today!
I started writing this blog six months ago today - and what a fun experience it's been, not only because I've enjoyed forming my thoughts into some sort of coherent (I hope ) whole, but also because it has introduced me to a vibrant, welcoming and encouraging book blogging community. I put off starting a … Continue reading Six months old today!
Kiwis have style!
Much as I, an Aussie, hate to admit it, those New Zealanders have style! Kimbofo has just posted, on her Reading Matters blog, New Zealand Book Council's current promo - take a look here. Beautiful isn't it? It springboards from Maurice Gee's novel Going west - which reminds me that I really must read the … Continue reading Kiwis have style!
The trouble with audiobooks (for me)
Once was audiobooks were used primarily by visually impaired people and travellers, but with the rapidly increasing miniaturisation of audioplayers, audiobooks are now being "read" by people going on walks, working out in the gym, doing housework, sitting on public transport, or even working at their computers. In other words, people listen to audiobooks pretty … Continue reading The trouble with audiobooks (for me)
Can the Coens be serious?
Of course they can! In fact many of their films are comic with a dark side. This is particularly so of the first film of theirs that I saw, Fargo. It is one of those films you don't forget. I don't blog about all the films I see, and when I do blog about them, … Continue reading Can the Coens be serious?
William Trevor, The woman of the house
[WARNING: SPOILERS, if you think it matters] According to Wikipedia,William Trevor's characters "are usually marginalised members of society: children, old people, single middle-aged men and women, or the unhappily married." This is certainly the case with Trevor's short story, The woman of the house, which was published last year in The New Yorker. All four … Continue reading William Trevor, The woman of the house
Whispering Gums 