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A History of Books
If the reader prefers, this book may be regarded as fiction. But there is always the chance that such a book of fiction may throw some light on what has been written as fact. – Ernest Hemingway, A...
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Reading
The best moments in reading are when you come across something—a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things—which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by...
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Out of the Dark
Everything disappears his books seem to tell us, and also—in small but omnipresent echoes—everything somehow stays. – Jordan Stump in the introduction to Out of the DarkIn his introduction to Out of...
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The Artist of Disappearance
Ravi was too crushed by the school day to take the risk of any other failure, and heaved his school bag onto his back to slink home with the hope of going unnoticed—which he mostly was. – Anita Desai,...
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The Bell Jar
I felt very still and empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel, moving dully along in the middle of the surrounding hullabaloo – Sylvia Plath, The Bell JarOf all the mental illnesses that we’ve...
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Commentary on commentaries
Never explain what you do. It speaks for itself. You only muddle it by talking about it. – Shel SilversteinI’ve mixed feelings about commentaries. I’ve said before that a poem which needs notes to...
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Half Life
Vanishing twin syndrome usually occurs in the womb. In our case it came about considerably later in the developmental process. – Shelley Jackson, Half LifeIf, as I did, you struggled with this book...
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The Awakening
I would give up the unessential; I would give up my money, I would give up my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself. I can't make it more clear; it's only something I am beginning to...
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Falling Out of Time
[T]here is no there, of course there isn’t, but what if you go there? –David Grossman, Falling Out of TimeThe blurb describes this book as follows: “Part prose, part play, and pure poetry, David...
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A Little Lumpen Novelita
I had to do things and not die – Roberto Bolaño, A Little Lumpen NovelitaWhen starting a new book it’s tempting to hurry through the first few pages. You want to get into the meat of the book and I...
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The Buddha in the Attic
Haruko left a tiny laughing brass Buddha up high, in a corner of the attic, where he is still laughing to this day – Julie Otsuka, The Buddha in the Attic The last time my wife went back to the States...
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All change
This is my last weekly blog for 2014 so I’d just like to wish everyone reading it a Happy New Year when it comes and let’s hope 2015’s a little kinder to the world than 2014’s been. Next year I’m...
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2014 in books
There are three points of view from which a writer can be considered: he may be considered as a storyteller, as a teacher, and as an enchanter. A major writer combines these three—storyteller, teacher,...
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StrayYou can't always tell adog by the personpulling its lead; some dogs arestray: they don't wear collars, and answer no one'scall save that of the Wind. They're searching for spacein...
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Family LifeLittle boy sat on his own, headphones on: jamming his mind full of Bowieto drown out his screaming parents. Sister’s putting on her war paint: Friday Night…Alex Harvey concert at The Apollo....
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#464
ChainsReclining in the squalor of his own body, The Fatman; Morose and self-indulgent. flaccid flesh-fantasies. erotic hamburgers; a numb pubic lust ... A Wimpy whorehouselies in a corner andstrips...
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In Real Life
Real life is sometimes boring, rarely conclusive and boy, does the dialogue need work. ― Sarah Rees Brennan“Hope and Michael are a married couple in their thirties, living in Philadelphia, and...
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#485
The VenereologistHow sad to see the Venereologist, with his mistress tucked carefullyunder his arm, emerging fromthe doorway of her flat –a rectangular orificeexhaling ash and smoke. The car door opens...
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#495
The PathologistIt was a strange meeting –between Jonesand his successor... one that neither could haveprepared for: the old Doctor categorizedby his injuries and numbered. No longer the processorbut...
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#465
England Expects…dead flowerssoldiersopium wordsincensed like lambsthey to war goacting outpubic farmgirlsinnate tensionsclinging corpseshold guns like dollsdirty bandagesbloody bits of menbone white...
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