Tag Archives: books

Two Inventions That Make Reading Paper Books A Completely New Experience

From electric ink to aromapoetry – the physical book is about to undergo a renaissance by being paired with some nifty new inventions. While paper epitomises the slow lane of publishing, it is anything but a static medium. Traditional analogue technologies such as ink and paper are now being developed in ways that can and inContinue reading “Two Inventions That Make Reading Paper Books A Completely New Experience”

Creepily Correct Predictions Circa 1880 About the World in the 21st Century

Albert Robida was born in 1848 and died in 1926. A French illustrator, etcher, lithographer, caricaturist, and novelist, he came up with some creepily accurate predictions about World War II and also how our world would look like in the 21st Century. He wrote a futuristic trilogy in the same vein as Jules Verne OfContinue reading “Creepily Correct Predictions Circa 1880 About the World in the 21st Century”

The Culinary and Poetic Legacy of Robert Burns in Scotland

Robert Burns is a cult figure amongst Scottish people for his celebrated poetry and folk songs from the 18th Century. He used to write in the Scots language and also English with Scots dialect. Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns has travelled far beyond Scotland, to become a universal song for New Year’s Eve. EveryContinue reading “The Culinary and Poetic Legacy of Robert Burns in Scotland”

Ask Us Anything And We Will Answer…Google Before Computers

Remember what it was like when you needed a question answered, and you consulted a book and not Google? Back in the analogue age, we consulted unweildy encyclopaedias which smelt of dusty paper and a pleasant musty ink. Or you could ask the New York Public Library? By writing on a little cue-card, which was researchedContinue reading “Ask Us Anything And We Will Answer…Google Before Computers”

Got enough books? What a stupid question!

Here are some book inspired goodies that will satisfy the avid bookworm inside of you, or inside of someone you love. Each has a great Christmas snuggle factor to them. Book Bricks Lovingly crafted in Melbourne by Light Reading, these bricks are customised to reflect your literary obsessions. They are novel enough to stand aloneContinue reading “Got enough books? What a stupid question!”

Book Review: Paul Auster’s The Book of Illusions (Plus Get The Copy Free)

Hi there friends. I recently finished the amazing The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster. It’s a truly remarkable story. If you want to read it, then simply like my page and I’ll send it to the first person who does so. The Narrative (No spoilers)  Academic David Zimmer’s life is completely devastated when hisContinue reading “Book Review: Paul Auster’s The Book of Illusions (Plus Get The Copy Free)”

50 Beautiful Words To Sprinkle Into Communications

Our digital world is swarming with recently made-up words like YOLO and SWAG, plus misappropriated words like ‘awesome’ to mean pretty much everything. This demands that literary types everywhere come out of the woodwork in protest! Here are some luscious and fulsome words to sprinkle liberally into your communications. Alternately you could wield these words as Gandalf wouldContinue reading “50 Beautiful Words To Sprinkle Into Communications”

The Purgatory of Good and Bad Choices: Vintage Criminal Portraits

These photos of Australian female criminals come from a series taken between 1910 and 1930 by the NSW police. For the benefit of the modern-day reader, a surprising amount of detail remains of the subjects’ stories. Unlike a typical mug shot, these women were allowed or perhaps even encouraged, to compose themselves or position themselves inContinue reading “The Purgatory of Good and Bad Choices: Vintage Criminal Portraits”

Book Review: A Visit From The Goon Squad

Constable & Robinson (2011).  This fictional novel by Jennifer Egan is an insight into American life from the 1960’s onwards. A kaleidoscope of relationships, strong personalities and memories all jolt back and forth in time. Themes covered in the book include family dysfunction, communication breakdown, desire and love, death and ageing. All of these grimContinue reading “Book Review: A Visit From The Goon Squad”