Book Review: Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen

Dependency is the third and final volume of Tove Ditlevsen’s masterful Copenhagen Trilogy, a searing work of autofiction that chronicles a life marked by artistic ambition, potent writing talent, vulnerability and addiction. #fiction #memoir #addiction #writing #novel #book #bookreview #ToveDitlevsen

Book Review: The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

Peter and Beatrice Leigh are 30-something British couple who are devoutly evangelical Christians and are living in a Britain of an imagined near future. In this imaginary Britain things look largely similar to how they are right now, except that there’s a colony of humans living on a faraway planet called Oasis. These pioneers areContinue reading “Book Review: The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 181

Blinky Bill: A delightful cultural exchange between Poland and Australia For anyone from outside of Australia, Blinky Bill is a delightful koala character created in the 20th Century who became iconic in this country and much loved by all children. His popularity led to a widespread love of koalas in general and meant that realContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 181”

Omnia tempus habent: a delightful medieval rhyming calendar

Omnia tempus habent – All things have their season. Ecclesiastes Here is a medieval rhyming calendar outlining the labours of the months in the fields, dating from 14th century England. The mis-spelling of the words reflects their Old English origins. Discovered via the fun and enjoyable book Weatherland: Writers and artists under English skies byContinue reading “Omnia tempus habent: a delightful medieval rhyming calendar”

Book Review: King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes

Virginie Despentes’ King Kong Theory is a fierce and foundational text of modern feminism, a Molotov cocktail in #book form. Part #memoir, part #punk #manifesto, it is a raw, unapologetic, and deeply personal exploration of #gender, #power, and #sexuality in our modern world. #books #bookreview #VirginieDespentes #French #feminism

The bones of native peoples

Imagine if we natives went to the cemeteries in your cities and dug up your beloved relatives, pulled off rings, watches, and clothes and called them “artefacts,” then carried the bones over to the university for study so we could understand you. Consider that there are more bones of native people in universities and museumsContinue reading “The bones of native peoples”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 180

Enjoy footage of Wilford the extra pudgy, big-pawed California Black bear yawning and dreaming What a treasure Wilford is, just rolling around, farting, urinating, stretching and dreaming about all the things wild bears dream about in California’s Angeles National Forest. Footage of him along with the forest ambient sound is incredibly chill and relaxing toContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet 180”

Poetry and music from the film ‘Wings of Desire’ (Der Himmel uber Berlin)

One of my favourite films of all time is the Wim Wenders film The Wings of Desire known in German as Der Himmel uber Berlin. It won the Best Film at Cannes in 1987. Some of the magic  of this film comes from the music (Nick Cave, U2), the acting (Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin) andContinue reading “Poetry and music from the film ‘Wings of Desire’ (Der Himmel uber Berlin)”

Book Review: Endling by Maria Reva

Maria Reva’s debut novel, Endling is immensely ambitious and credit where credit is due this is a vast, sweeping novel that rocked me to my core in its first few chapters.

Thirty great medieval epithets for people and beasts

Why do we say a gaggle of geese, a flock of sheep, a pride of lions or a swarm of bees? Well it harks back to medieval times when sportsmen grouped together collectives of beasties to refer to them in movement or attributing a quality to them – presumably while the poor creatures ran awayContinue reading “Thirty great medieval epithets for people and beasts”