I just read a wonderful interview in New York Magazine (which you can read here) about David Mitchell's new book, The Bone Clocks.
Aside from sounding like a very good book in its own right, The Bone Clocks purportedly brings several characters from his previous books into the story.
This is known as metalepsis (a delicious word) and something I am a huge fan of.
I like connected stories. Remembering old characters, and seeing them in new situations, is fascinating and valuable. The idea that the barriers of separate novels are permeable is beautiful, and makes me think about what else in life we discount because of the many boxes and categories we create to keep things apart.
Using characters and beliefs this way encourages the reader to stay in the story long after the ending has been passed. The final page is just another boundary, after all, and the best books should continue to make you think. Should make you try to weave their perspective into your own reality and see how it changes as a result.
Reading the Dark Tower series (or any Stephen King, probably) is also a good example of this. Characters move between books with ease - and I'm pretty sure I've just read the nugget of the idea that turned into 11/22/63, one of his newest novels, all in a conversation somewhere in Calla Bryn Sturgis.
So here's to metalepsis, and books which go beyond their traditional limits - I'd love to create something that far reaching and interconnected one day.
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
Thursday, 28 August 2014
Books on location
It's not often that I read books wih locations I'm familiar with; more because I don't seek them out, not because they don't exist.
But New York is the setting for so much popular culture - I recognise things I never knew that I knew. Streets, shops, even the way people walk.
This also includes books, and especially the series I'm currently reading, The Dark Tower. Large parts of these novels are set in New York and there's a whole host of references which I know would have gone completely over my head before.
Now, I feel like I understand the story more completely, like I am sharing an inside joke with Stephen King. One of the central elements of the story is located really nearby; I walk down the same streets and it seems almost as if I could wander into the fictional universe.
This might be particularly enhanced due to King's tendency to use regional brands, slang and businesses within his fiction. Anyway it's definitely something I'll look for in the future when choosing books.
But New York is the setting for so much popular culture - I recognise things I never knew that I knew. Streets, shops, even the way people walk.
This also includes books, and especially the series I'm currently reading, The Dark Tower. Large parts of these novels are set in New York and there's a whole host of references which I know would have gone completely over my head before.
Now, I feel like I understand the story more completely, like I am sharing an inside joke with Stephen King. One of the central elements of the story is located really nearby; I walk down the same streets and it seems almost as if I could wander into the fictional universe.
This might be particularly enhanced due to King's tendency to use regional brands, slang and businesses within his fiction. Anyway it's definitely something I'll look for in the future when choosing books.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Up, up and away
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.
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.
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.
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