SubscribeYesterday was fun.
I had a visit from a university friend and her daughters (3 and 9 months). They are gorgeous. It’s strange and pleasing to be able to talk of knowing folks for over 10 (or 20) years. I feel all old but in a good way. AS and her hubby fall into the over [...]
The View from Down Here
The musings of an Aussie seeing the world from waist high.... from a wheelchair
Category: books and learning
A box in the mail
interesting insight
After reading a couple of writing related books this week including Writing from Start to Finish by Aussie author Kate Granville which advocated structure, I found this an interesting contrast. This is from Khalid Hosseini who has written two books; The Kite Runner (which I haven’t read), and A Thousand Splendid Suns, which was one [...]
on reading on writing
If I’m honest. I’ve always fancied myself as a one time writer. I have visions of filling notebooks, of sitting in a corner somewhere expressing myself in hard-fought-for phrases that somehow become morphed into sage or entertaining prose that would somehow, one day either pay the bills, or earn respect. My “vision” is as varied [...]
Austen thoughts
I’m sitting up in bed swimming pleasently in 19th century british literature.
Jane Austen has long been a favourite of mine, both in the elegant video productions and in the books, at least those I have read, largely Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I have recently bought Persuasion following watching the recent movie “The [...]
what might my MacBook say …..
this brief piece is based on a writing exercise based on getting a “Dear John” letter from my favourite piece of furniture. On the website it came from various writers penned letters from sofas and armchairs, scales, toilets and even an electric wheelchair.
Here’s my very drafty initial attempt
Dear Joanna,
Well I’ve had enough. So I’m [...]
writing stuff
Wish me luck
The day after the remains of the day — a review of sorts.
I’m not all that good at finishing books when I can’t stand the main character. This is particularly true is the same character holds the narrator role in the novel as well and its in first person. This time, I made it through and was rewarded.
Let me be clear here. I don’t have to love [...]
la vie passionnée
In one line, she challenged me.
With 6 words she made me stop and reconsider.
I have been challenged today. Challenged away from advocacy to participation. True participation. The embracing of life.. Beyond all the rhetoric I have been sprouting about living for the now.
Amazon wish list
I was browsing Amazon and Dymocks Booksellers websites for ideas for upcoming birthdays, and decided that I have a potential weakness for all book-related websites.
As a result, and as a small project that will hopefully resolve the “what can I buy you for ….?” question (mostly from family) I’m going to build a book-centric [...]
Quote of note
In oculis animus habitat
The soul dwellis in the eyes.
via Classical bookworm
The stories of our lives
Blanche D’Alpuget (aka the 2nd Mrs Bob Hawke) was recently recorded giving a quasi lecture on her literary influences and inspirations. Be warned — this is long and not the best public speaking.
It’s got me thinking; what exactly are my lifetime books of note? I will have to give it some thought because I have [...]
St Thomas said
What you bring forth out of yourself from the inside will save you. What you do not bring forth out of yourself will destroy you
