The answer to why dogs and tiny horses can be used in therapy for PTSD and why cats rule the internet lays squarely in the pulling power of cuteness. But why do we find things cute and what are the commonly shared criteria for cuteness all over the world? According to psychologist Dr. Sandra Pimentel,Continue reading “An exploration of the aesthetics of cuteness”
Tag Archives: books
<3 The Internet: Recommend me a book
Stuck on what to read next? Hate judging books by their covers? Then the Recommend me a book app will delight you. The app takes you headlong into reading the first few pages of a book without knowing anything about the author, title or context of the book itself. This allows you to gain some traction andContinue reading “<3 The Internet: Recommend me a book”
Book Review: ‘Les Diners de Gala’ Salvadore Dali’s delectable and twisted psychedelic cook-book
Salvador Dalí isn’t generally remembered for his culinary prowess. Although he was a secret admirer of gastronomy for all of its transformative and monstrous properties. In his rare and 1973 cookbook Les Diners de Gala, just reissued by Taschen. the late iconic artist celebrates dream-like and surreal flavour combinations. Chapter titles include Prime Lilliputian malaises’ (meat)Continue reading “Book Review: ‘Les Diners de Gala’ Salvadore Dali’s delectable and twisted psychedelic cook-book”
Federico Babina: Famous fairytales reimagined as buildings
Insanely creative Italian architect and illustrator Federico Babina has immortalised artists, musicians, films and even countries as mid-century buildings, but he has turned his hand towards fairytales in this collection. The fairytale universe is reinvented to incorporate elements of timeless 50’s and 60’s building design so that it imparts personality and new dimension to theContinue reading “Federico Babina: Famous fairytales reimagined as buildings”
Book Review: Today, Tomorrow and Everyday by M.H. Clark
You know how you sometimes have those days, or even weeks or months when you feel un-moored to the shoreline and adrift in a lost world, floating aimlessly, feeling sad or morose? This is the kind of book every woman needs to feel found again. It’s that miraculous book that brings you right back toContinue reading “Book Review: Today, Tomorrow and Everyday by M.H. Clark”
Book Review: Their Lips Talk of Mischief by Alan Warner
Scottish writer Alan Warner’s novel Their Lips Talk of Mischief is a boisterous, vigorous and energetic novel about two literary wannabes (Lou and Douglas) living in a glum 80’s Thatcherite slumland in Britain. The pair share an interest in Lou’s enigmatic and sexy girlfriend Aoife. Thus develops a complex menage a trois that follows. The yearContinue reading “Book Review: Their Lips Talk of Mischief by Alan Warner”
Book Review: Winterwood by Patrick McCabe
This was an unusual little book. I think many people will be familiar with McCabe from his other incredibly popular and critically acclaimed work of literally fiction, the Butcher Boy which was published back in 1992 and subsequently turned into a film. This was the story of a confused and wayward young boy who unwittinglyContinue reading “Book Review: Winterwood by Patrick McCabe”
Book Review: The Fahrenheit Twins by Michel Faber
I had the pleasure of meeting Michel Faber at the Auckland Writers Festival this autumn. He’s a reserved, humble and softly-spoken fellow who was gobbled up by the overly bold interviewer, someone far less important, whose name escapes me. Faber brought with him onto the stage a pair of dainty red women’s shoes and onlyContinue reading “Book Review: The Fahrenheit Twins by Michel Faber”
Book Quotes that will give you an insatiable desire to read the whole thing
If you’re not already a complete recluse and homebody like I am, you will be after reading these book quotes, which are succinct, powerful, compelling and just amazing. There is no need for literary context here, each quote possesses a standalone brilliance that makes it irresistible. Light thinks it travels faster than anything but itContinue reading “Book Quotes that will give you an insatiable desire to read the whole thing”
The Soul of the World: David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace combined his phenomenal intelligence and gift for writing with a high level of self-awareness, and a deep awareness of the brutality and enormity of the world. He had an almost omnipotent ability to understand and communicate about what it means to be human in his iconic books. Like most highly sensitive peopleContinue reading “The Soul of the World: David Foster Wallace”
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