The reason it's been a little quiet here on the blog is that I've been preparing for my travels more intensely - I leave for Rio de Janeiro on the 28th of February.
I'm blogging about that here, on my new blog. At the moment I'm posting on Mondays and Thursdays, although that will probably change when I arrive.
It also explains all the Spanish! I've got a few more of my Mexican folktales to read, and then I'll probably go back to the beginning to see if my comprehension has improved.
And to get suitably inspired, I'm re-reading some of my favourite adventure memoirs. I've just read Wild again, and Love with a chance of drowning. My next read is called Kiss the Sunset Pig, by Laurie Gough and so far I am very impressed. Just the sort of sleeping-on-beaches, go-where-you-please lifestyle I will shortly be trying to emulate.
On my list is Jupiter's Travels, which is a book by a guy who motorbiked around the world. He also joins a commune in California for a while. Just sayin'.
The big question of course, is what am I going to take with me to read?! I'm only going to be taking one novel, and swapping it as often as I can, at hostels and with the people I meet. I can also buy something if I can find books in English. But it means that the original book must be really, really good. I want something I haven't read before, quite long (my flight is 12 hours), and brilliant. Current ideas include Gone Girl or an old novel of Stephen King's, but I'm open to suggestions.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Don't over-think it
Today I remembered a story, or urban legend, about the time American astronauts spent millions of dollars and many months developing a pen with ink that could work in space. The Russians, so the story goes, simply brought a pencil.
It's a good message for life, I think. Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, things are simpler than we think they are. Creating patterns out of chaos is a very human trait, but is not always useful.
Anyway. I still haven't done a wrap up of 2013 yet, and don't really feel like it yet, so we'll see. I read 36 books, which I'm pretty happy with. I also read my first ever foreign language book, even if it was only a kids book.
There will also be a review up on Insurgent shortly, the sequel to Divergent.
I started writing again in these past few days, and it feels wonderful. I think I know now exactly the kind of story I want to be writing. More and more stories like the fairytale I wrote late last year - like the ones I read and adored as a child and which are simply the most fun to write. I still think stories like that are magical.
I came across a wonderful speech about reading by Neil Gaiman, which I wanted to share here: http://readingagency.org.uk/news/blog/neil-gaiman-lecture-in-full.html. It's pretty inspiring.
That's all for now, but more soon.
It's a good message for life, I think. Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, things are simpler than we think they are. Creating patterns out of chaos is a very human trait, but is not always useful.
Anyway. I still haven't done a wrap up of 2013 yet, and don't really feel like it yet, so we'll see. I read 36 books, which I'm pretty happy with. I also read my first ever foreign language book, even if it was only a kids book.
There will also be a review up on Insurgent shortly, the sequel to Divergent.
I started writing again in these past few days, and it feels wonderful. I think I know now exactly the kind of story I want to be writing. More and more stories like the fairytale I wrote late last year - like the ones I read and adored as a child and which are simply the most fun to write. I still think stories like that are magical.
I came across a wonderful speech about reading by Neil Gaiman, which I wanted to share here: http://readingagency.org.uk/news/blog/neil-gaiman-lecture-in-full.html. It's pretty inspiring.
That's all for now, but more soon.
Friday, 10 January 2014
Mexican fun
I've been reading Historias de Mexico (Stories from Mexico) for a while now. It's split up into 16 short stories, with Spanish on one side and the English translation on the other. It's the perfect set-up for learning, as you can read as much as possible in Spanish before checking your understanding.
The stories themselves are also really funny. They're traditional legends, so there's a lot of Gods and Goddesses, talking animals, and magic. I'm certainly learning some interesting vocab - I can say 'dwarf' and 'witch' and even 'torture', but not how to get my tenses right, or ask someone for help.
I was speaking to a friend recently in Spanish (She's much, much better than me!) and she mentioned someone's boyfriend. Novio. I jumped up, recognising the word. "Sweetheart!" I cried, triumphant. Well, yes, she said. Or just 'boyfriend' if you're living in 2014. I'd read a story from the book a few nights before about two young people who are nicknamed los novios - sweethearts. In the story, after they die (nothing if not cheery), a God turns them into volcanoes so they can be together forever.
There's some other highlights; another princess is lying on the beach when a group of soldiers walks by. She sees the most handsome one, promptly falls in love, and then faints. They don't waste time in Mexico.
It's also really interesting to see how these legends compare to other myths from around the world. There's one which is basically the story behind Chinese New Year, and another which is a form of Sleeping Beauty.
If anyone is trying to learn Spanish, or any other language, try and find some bilingual stories to read. The shorter and weirder, the better.
The stories themselves are also really funny. They're traditional legends, so there's a lot of Gods and Goddesses, talking animals, and magic. I'm certainly learning some interesting vocab - I can say 'dwarf' and 'witch' and even 'torture', but not how to get my tenses right, or ask someone for help.
I was speaking to a friend recently in Spanish (She's much, much better than me!) and she mentioned someone's boyfriend. Novio. I jumped up, recognising the word. "Sweetheart!" I cried, triumphant. Well, yes, she said. Or just 'boyfriend' if you're living in 2014. I'd read a story from the book a few nights before about two young people who are nicknamed los novios - sweethearts. In the story, after they die (nothing if not cheery), a God turns them into volcanoes so they can be together forever.
There's some other highlights; another princess is lying on the beach when a group of soldiers walks by. She sees the most handsome one, promptly falls in love, and then faints. They don't waste time in Mexico.
It's also really interesting to see how these legends compare to other myths from around the world. There's one which is basically the story behind Chinese New Year, and another which is a form of Sleeping Beauty.
If anyone is trying to learn Spanish, or any other language, try and find some bilingual stories to read. The shorter and weirder, the better.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
Happy New Year!
And may it be filled with books! I'll be doing an end of year post soon, but in the meantime I wanted to recap the last two books I've read.
The Long Walk, a short novel by Stephen King, was pretty gripping, if in a fairly gruesome way. He manages to hold back far more of the story than I liked, which meant I read it very quickly, just to find out more. Unfortunately for me, that meant wishing for (fictional) boys to hurry up and die. Read it and see. It's good, although I didn't like the ending so much. But the thing that struck me, apart from the tension in a book that really didnt have that much going on, was how inspired it made me. There's no doubt King is a fantastic writer and I think some of that creativity rubs off. During the days I was reading, I kept noticing little things happening that I suddenly could see how to describe. Moments that turned into sentences in my head. It's one (of very many) reason (s) why I love reading so much. It makes me want to be a better writer.
The other book is An astronaut's guide to life on earth, by Chris Hadfield. I really enjoyed this. Apart from being fascinating to learn more about how one goes about becoming an astronaut, there are also some bits that really made me think. For someone who holds their own mortality in such constant view, Hadfield is incredibly optimistic. He's also clearly very capable, which is one of the qualities I most enjoy in others.
Over Christmas I did read a few more good books, including book 5 of Wheel of Time (I've not even come close to writing everything I want to write about this series, so be prepared for more!). And I have some good books waiting on my to-read pile, so 2014 is already looking rosy.
The Long Walk, a short novel by Stephen King, was pretty gripping, if in a fairly gruesome way. He manages to hold back far more of the story than I liked, which meant I read it very quickly, just to find out more. Unfortunately for me, that meant wishing for (fictional) boys to hurry up and die. Read it and see. It's good, although I didn't like the ending so much. But the thing that struck me, apart from the tension in a book that really didnt have that much going on, was how inspired it made me. There's no doubt King is a fantastic writer and I think some of that creativity rubs off. During the days I was reading, I kept noticing little things happening that I suddenly could see how to describe. Moments that turned into sentences in my head. It's one (of very many) reason (s) why I love reading so much. It makes me want to be a better writer.
The other book is An astronaut's guide to life on earth, by Chris Hadfield. I really enjoyed this. Apart from being fascinating to learn more about how one goes about becoming an astronaut, there are also some bits that really made me think. For someone who holds their own mortality in such constant view, Hadfield is incredibly optimistic. He's also clearly very capable, which is one of the qualities I most enjoy in others.
Over Christmas I did read a few more good books, including book 5 of Wheel of Time (I've not even come close to writing everything I want to write about this series, so be prepared for more!). And I have some good books waiting on my to-read pile, so 2014 is already looking rosy.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
A Little House Christmas
I finished this a while ago, but it's very fitting at this time of year. This passage actually made me cry, so I thought I'd put it up here. It also makes you think about all the stuff that everyone is out buying in a shopping panic. Enjoy!
From Mr Edwards meets Santa Claus in Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Something was shining bright in the top of Laura's stocking. She squealed and jumped out of bed. So did Mary, but Laura beat her to the fireplace. And the shining thing was a glittering new tin cup.
Mary had one exactly like it.
These new tin cups were their very own. Now they each had a cup to drink out of. Laura jumped up and down and shouted and laughed, but Mary stood still and looked with shining eyes at her own tin cup.
Then they plunged their hands into the stockings again. And they pulled out two long, long sticks of candy. It was peppermint candy, striped red and white. They looked and looked at that beautiful candy, and Laura licked her stick, just one lick. But Mary was not so greedy. She didn't take even one lick of her stick.
Those stockings weren't empty yet. Mary and Laura pulled out two small packages. They unwrapped them, and each found a little heart-shaped cake. Over their delicate brown tops was sprinkled white sugar. The sparkling grains lay like tiny drifts of snow. And the inside of that little cake was white!
It had been made of pure white flour, and sweetened with white sugar.
Laura and Mary never would have looked in their stockings again. The cups and the cakes and the candy were almost too much. They were too happy to speak. But Ma asked if they were sure the stockings were empty.
Then they put their arms down inside them, to make sure.
And in the very toe of each stocking was a shining bright, new penny!
They had never even thought of such a thing as having a penny. Think of having a whole penny for your very own. Think of having a cup and a cake and a stick of candy and a penny.
There had never been such a Christmas.
From Mr Edwards meets Santa Claus in Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Something was shining bright in the top of Laura's stocking. She squealed and jumped out of bed. So did Mary, but Laura beat her to the fireplace. And the shining thing was a glittering new tin cup.
Mary had one exactly like it.
These new tin cups were their very own. Now they each had a cup to drink out of. Laura jumped up and down and shouted and laughed, but Mary stood still and looked with shining eyes at her own tin cup.
Then they plunged their hands into the stockings again. And they pulled out two long, long sticks of candy. It was peppermint candy, striped red and white. They looked and looked at that beautiful candy, and Laura licked her stick, just one lick. But Mary was not so greedy. She didn't take even one lick of her stick.
Those stockings weren't empty yet. Mary and Laura pulled out two small packages. They unwrapped them, and each found a little heart-shaped cake. Over their delicate brown tops was sprinkled white sugar. The sparkling grains lay like tiny drifts of snow. And the inside of that little cake was white!
It had been made of pure white flour, and sweetened with white sugar.
Laura and Mary never would have looked in their stockings again. The cups and the cakes and the candy were almost too much. They were too happy to speak. But Ma asked if they were sure the stockings were empty.
Then they put their arms down inside them, to make sure.
And in the very toe of each stocking was a shining bright, new penny!
They had never even thought of such a thing as having a penny. Think of having a whole penny for your very own. Think of having a cup and a cake and a stick of candy and a penny.
There had never been such a Christmas.
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Young Adult-ness
I've just read Divergent - a book I actually saw the film trailer for a couple of weeks ago. I bought it for a long train journey, and quite enjoyed it; although it's not particularly well written, it's got some interesting ideas.
People are divided into five factions, based on their personality traits. There are those who value honesty most of all, then courage, intelligence, kindness, and selflessness. But some don't fit into these categories so neatly, and that's where the fun starts.
It got me thinking about which faction I would be in, if I lived in that world, and maybe even more difficult to decide, which one I think has its priorities right. Of course they're all good traits and I aspire to have them all, but where would I actually fit?
I like to think it would be Dauntless - the faction that honours courage above all else. The one I would like to be more like is probably Amity (kindness) or Abnegation (selflessness). The book itself has an interesting perspective on this; that in many cases, selflessness and courage are nearly interchangeable. We can be at our bravest when we are thinking of others and not ourselves. Forgetting the self can help us to act, even when we are scared.
People are divided into five factions, based on their personality traits. There are those who value honesty most of all, then courage, intelligence, kindness, and selflessness. But some don't fit into these categories so neatly, and that's where the fun starts.
It got me thinking about which faction I would be in, if I lived in that world, and maybe even more difficult to decide, which one I think has its priorities right. Of course they're all good traits and I aspire to have them all, but where would I actually fit?
I like to think it would be Dauntless - the faction that honours courage above all else. The one I would like to be more like is probably Amity (kindness) or Abnegation (selflessness). The book itself has an interesting perspective on this; that in many cases, selflessness and courage are nearly interchangeable. We can be at our bravest when we are thinking of others and not ourselves. Forgetting the self can help us to act, even when we are scared.
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
1,2,3 write!
A little while ago, Lift (a fantastic new app which helps people to build habits and hold themselves accountable for whatever they choose to commit to) asked me to create a writing coaching plan.
It's a 30-day plan; sign up and you'll get a new tip each day, based on things that have helped me get down to writing, even when I don't particularly want to, or when I don't know what to say. The tips are simple and (hopefully) fun - I'd love you all to have a look and tell me what you think. It's the first time I've ever written anything like this, but I really enjoyed it.
You can find the plan here.
I've also been tweeting a bit about my plan; if you like it, please sign up and/or share it yourselves. Happy writing!
It's a 30-day plan; sign up and you'll get a new tip each day, based on things that have helped me get down to writing, even when I don't particularly want to, or when I don't know what to say. The tips are simple and (hopefully) fun - I'd love you all to have a look and tell me what you think. It's the first time I've ever written anything like this, but I really enjoyed it.
You can find the plan here.
I've also been tweeting a bit about my plan; if you like it, please sign up and/or share it yourselves. Happy writing!
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