tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71698456754458283512024-02-08T08:31:09.150+11:00Diane Eklund-ĀboliņšDianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.comBlogger319125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-90935118793020849562017-12-19T08:31:00.001+11:002017-12-19T08:31:32.066+11:00Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, UK, 2009<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
is an amazing book: Mantel's research is overwhelming to say the
least, and the book is filled, not only with facts and historical
characters but also with hundreds of small incidental details that
set the book well apart from many other books on the subject.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
main subject is Thomas Cromwell and the period is early sixteenth
century. The story is well known - there are few surprises in store.
The book looks at Cromwell's relationship with Henry VIII and the men
at the top of the power pinnacle. It describes Cromwell's rise to
power; it outlines his thoughts, his anxieties, his hopes; it hints
at what is likely to happen sometime in the not-too-distant future.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
book is not only well researched it is also well written. My only
comment would have to be Mantel's unusual use of the third-person
singular male subjective pronoun. She uses 'he' as a substitute for
Thomas Cromwell, and she uses it in many cases where 'he'
grammatically should be referring to another person - for example, the
person speaking or being spoken about, not necessarily Thomas
Cromwell. Initially, I found this extremely confusing; however, after
one hundred pages or more I accepted that this is possibly one of the
ways Mantel keeps Cromwell front and centre at all times. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>Wolf
Hall</i> turns many other histories of Thomas Cromwell on their head,
breaking through the wall of assumed facts to the man behind. He <i>is</i>
an ambitious man, but he is also intelligent and, in many instances,
compassionate. The unlikeable character, as portrayed in other
descriptions of the period, is not to be seen. Instead, the reader is
very aware of Cromwell's propensity to balance situations and, at all
times, to be several steps ahead of the scheming nobles surrounding
him - not unlike a game of chess. Cromwell is adept at what he does,
but even he knows that the complicated dance steps he must master may
eventually trip him up. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
book gives the reader an insight into Cromwell, the man, as well as a
more sympathetic understanding of the king himself. King Henry, the
man who cast off two wives and executed two others, was also, if we
are to believe Mantel, thoughtful, if somewhat easily led. Henry
became simply a pawn in the hands of the much more powerful nobles
all of whom were ambitiously vying for more power, more wealth and
more status. He was even an unsuspecting pawn in the hands of Anne
Boleyn, a manipulative, power-hungry woman who, in turn, was the
product of her very obnoxious family.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
the twenty-first century it is no longer possible to know with
conviction what these people from the sixteenth century were really
like and/or which version of the period contains the greatest
percentage of truth. Nevertheless, I feel that, on the whole, Mantel
has presented a number of different perspectives (historically
correct or otherwise), which manage to render the main characters in
this story more human, if not always as humane as we would like.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">Photo of Thomas Cromwell from the BBC.<span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724 irc_lth" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huntspost.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdame-hilary-mantel-brings-past-to-life-at-hinchingbrooke-school-1-4059416&psig=AOvVaw3FatalvssV1OMd4GT2lN4H&ust=1512952798350519" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huntspost.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdame-hilary-mantel-brings-past-to-life-at-hinchingbrooke-school-1-4059416&psig=AOvVaw3FatalvssV1OMd4GT2lN4H&ust=1512952798350519" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"><br /></span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=78wSmStfz_0Y9M%3A&docid=DdfT_wbOtvVvEM&bih=954&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">Photo of Hilary Mantel from <span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724 irc_lth" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huntspost.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdame-hilary-mantel-brings-past-to-life-at-hinchingbrooke-school-1-4059416&psig=AOvVaw3FatalvssV1OMd4GT2lN4H&ust=1512952798350519" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiF0P_wmv7XAhWBE7wKHQSbC2IQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huntspost.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdame-hilary-mantel-brings-past-to-life-at-hinchingbrooke-school-1-4059416&psig=AOvVaw3FatalvssV1OMd4GT2lN4H&ust=1512952798350519" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">huntspost.co.uk</span></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-7280174484779636652017-12-05T08:10:00.000+11:002017-12-05T08:10:38.092+11:00 The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum, USA, 1990<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9yu_xyWyctxMQ9B2x5yyw3u37QE1mP6kZrlBLb9r0Q5Z6aewoY_sYJXSPh5F0XDCPLjczuqDc9WRnv4-4f4RHZZyq6si4cxRDI7Oz15824lHX9dtA_2dL8CR9RJtMgFzrqUA6sIVzmbm/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9yu_xyWyctxMQ9B2x5yyw3u37QE1mP6kZrlBLb9r0Q5Z6aewoY_sYJXSPh5F0XDCPLjczuqDc9WRnv4-4f4RHZZyq6si4cxRDI7Oz15824lHX9dtA_2dL8CR9RJtMgFzrqUA6sIVzmbm/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Like
the previous two books about Jason Bourne, the third, and final, book
in this series does not disappoint. It is fast-paced, intelligent,
well researched and difficult to put down.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Bringing
the story of Jason Bourne and the Jackal to a close was no mean feat
with </span><span style="font-style: normal;">characters flung between
the United States, the Caribbean, Europe and Russia. Once again David
Webb is forced to ignore his better nature and become Jason Bourne in
order to put an end to the Jackal. Until the Jackal is dead, David
knows that neither he nor his family will have any peace.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-style: normal;">At
times I felt the story with its large number of strands and many characters </span><span style="font-style: normal;">had
a tendency to become</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> a little
convoluted, but it was simply a matter of ‘going with the flow’.
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Situations that momentarily
seemed to slip beyond my grasp usually managed to right themselves
further along, and eventually all the pieces came together. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">The
unbelievable became believable and, in the end, the story and its
resolution was all that was important.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">Ludlum
is to be commended for his political and cultural awareness but most
of all for his very great gift as a story teller.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo of Robert Ludlum from famousauthors.org </span></span></span></span></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-46540428905947789372017-11-21T08:50:00.001+11:002017-11-21T08:50:46.446+11:00Winter by Christopher Nicholson, UK, 2014<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
beautifully written novel about a few weeks in the life of the author
Thomas Hardy is a work of fiction based on fact. The story itself
concerns Hardy, his second wife, Florence, and an amateur actress,
Gertrude Bugler; the background is Dorset; and the season is winter.
The style itself is reminiscent of Hardy's own books. </span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijGNV9w_w0FXwpbsXet-DOe9U6q2O-pAe6lTr_1ggU87uQVqTsvS-alM1dK1tS8Lz1pC09wwX5IH2gSisW1Q4FC3WvUalvJh_qsEnHZVkc5Ge1-KJLlXnlq4AzBBimTkS2Hh0bXBf-nux/s1600/31MALLON-blog427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijGNV9w_w0FXwpbsXet-DOe9U6q2O-pAe6lTr_1ggU87uQVqTsvS-alM1dK1tS8Lz1pC09wwX5IH2gSisW1Q4FC3WvUalvJh_qsEnHZVkc5Ge1-KJLlXnlq4AzBBimTkS2Hh0bXBf-nux/s320/31MALLON-blog427.jpg" width="245" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">During
a cold, bleak winter in the mid-twenties, Hardy, eighty-four, is
coming to terms with his approaching death; Florence, almost forty
years younger, is wallowing in a sea of neurotic self-pity; while
Gertrude, twenty-six, happily married with a small baby, is looking
forward to playing the leading role in </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">a</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
London production of </span></span></span></span><i>Tess </i><i>o</i><i>f
</i><i>t</i><i>he </i><i>D</i><i>'Urbervilles</i><i>.</i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
The </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">construction
of the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">book
moves between the</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
thoughts</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,
dreams and anxieties of each of the</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">se</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
three characters - Hardy (in the third person) and Florence and
Gertrude (in the first person). </span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Hardy</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
is captivated by Gertrude, who is a flawless representation of the
character of Tess as he has always imagined her. He </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">may
regret</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
the age difference</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
but </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">he</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">c</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ompletely
accepts</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Shelley's
theory of the ideal woman</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
and how, during one's life, this woman can</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
reappear in numerous guises.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
Hardy is not necessarily in love with the physical Gertrude but more
with the essence of the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">girl</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
- an essence that he has experienced many times (if sometimes
fleetingly)</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsGUXmK70KSNl7oPG4DaWlnwE20DoUd8kuL44ctlFkRf8zyJtwkwGjpPH9vMAxWuoMF12cn5bcFePtD1-PUaSLCCj1Yqi1ek5reN2bmKT9qQPyerD_g35vHxlm89xa_HrwpUgxoEIbtKi/s1600/A1OUoo5y-fL._UX250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsGUXmK70KSNl7oPG4DaWlnwE20DoUd8kuL44ctlFkRf8zyJtwkwGjpPH9vMAxWuoMF12cn5bcFePtD1-PUaSLCCj1Yqi1ek5reN2bmKT9qQPyerD_g35vHxlm89xa_HrwpUgxoEIbtKi/s1600/A1OUoo5y-fL._UX250_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Florence,
however, </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is
too </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">focused
on her wasted and miserable life</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
to even begin to understand her husband's fascination. Instead she
complains about trees and cold and interminable damp </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
instigates the tragic climax of the story.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
is a wonderful book and, especially for fans of Thomas Hardy, is a
definite must-read.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
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<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo of Hardy and Florence from The New York Times.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo of Christopher Nicholson from Amazon UK </span></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-13733916188724500802017-11-07T08:06:00.000+11:002017-11-07T08:06:29.705+11:00En droppe midnatt by Jason Timbuktu Diakité, Sweden, 2016<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYB_FEYUiarNVACiqXklgACGbW_hgW05zr3717m3qxoZpGhHmfhXx8sSBPpCExMM6bSuvI9cJBJp-5VqA8yIQNOxx6Kdqi3_bnOmIOSTckJQxSh_XHDpDKmgBVc10m5zJaqwZlcH6dcTq/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYB_FEYUiarNVACiqXklgACGbW_hgW05zr3717m3qxoZpGhHmfhXx8sSBPpCExMM6bSuvI9cJBJp-5VqA8yIQNOxx6Kdqi3_bnOmIOSTckJQxSh_XHDpDKmgBVc10m5zJaqwZlcH6dcTq/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">As
it says on the front cover, this is an important book. Not only does
it look at the black/white situation in American, it also examines
the same situation in other countries, more specifically Sweden. In
translation the book could be called 'A Drop of Midnight', though I
am not sure that it has been translated into English.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">Jason
has grown up in Sweden. He is neither black nor white - his father a
black American and his mother a white European - and as he approaches
middle age, he realizes that he does not know who he is. As a child
he dreams of being white; as a young man he embraces rap and reggae
and wishes that he was black. A brown man with a foot in both white
and black worlds, he does not really know where he belongs.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">Although
the book examines his childhood and the bullying that resulted from
him not looking like everyone else, the focus of <i>En droppe midnat</i><i>t
</i>is Jason's successful search for his identity. Travelling to
America and connecting with relatives he slowly pieces together the
family tree, which has survived despite the dark shadow of slavery. He
gradually understands who he is and how he fits into the twenty-first
century in a country that is just as far from his roots in America as
from his original homeland in Africa.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuE5xNctbmEe1_3r4bnhwLPu-e8FUscp8Xqusv9ExkHlysWzCAeTH282V_jY_AXXhsX0SUcYSeX8_nWB3TYApEc5AcsY3eF0XHLe7CuAYYmQO3qLccYdog_zrqos9eUgi77gswxTadXWV/s1600/f43028dd-53bf-4616-8aa4-ee7fd6e882e6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="612" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuE5xNctbmEe1_3r4bnhwLPu-e8FUscp8Xqusv9ExkHlysWzCAeTH282V_jY_AXXhsX0SUcYSeX8_nWB3TYApEc5AcsY3eF0XHLe7CuAYYmQO3qLccYdog_zrqos9eUgi77gswxTadXWV/s320/f43028dd-53bf-4616-8aa4-ee7fd6e882e6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">At
times I felt that the book became somewhat submerged in the network
of small anecdotes about Jason's extended family, but at the same time I realized
that these were the stories that gave the book its raison d'etre. As
his aunt Juanetta says: If you constantly tell a child that he is
worthless, lazy, ugly and a thief; if you beat him and treat him
without respect, what kind of person do you think he'll become? What
do you think he'll end up doing? We are that child. Four hundred
years of abuse, pain and murder have made us what we are today.
Beautiful, terrifying, dysfunctional and strong. (Page 175). </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Diakité,
known as Timbuktu, is a very well known </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=She-APjsQBM"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">rapper
and reggae artist</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
in Sweden.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span>The photo of Timbuktu is from Sveriges Radio<br />
<br /></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-45378880978824134452017-10-24T08:48:00.000+11:002017-10-24T08:48:45.104+11:00The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson, UK, 2011<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">Where
does the line go between sanity, insanity and eccentricity? Is our
concept of 'normal' constant, or does it fluctuate? Is it possible to
draw up a list of characteristics that then label a person mentally
deranged or a psychopath?</span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
his book <i>The Psychopath Test</i>, Ronson begins by studying Robert
Hare's check list for psychopaths. "Superficial charm,
Pathological lying, Lack of empathy. . . '</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD6tQlGfXHpjFN9nxKltKgThbstEsnJAWA27lm_A16Kuv_Dc9pwTqi2Uk1VcZQ1X4CwE8V7Jr1606hSSUM7QgK8A16k-EvvYc-yKZZ9m9C8bY7GxEfLjQdQlUa4hXBnzVgRoTLhpUkqqQ/s1600/81iMSjb%252B3YL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD6tQlGfXHpjFN9nxKltKgThbstEsnJAWA27lm_A16Kuv_Dc9pwTqi2Uk1VcZQ1X4CwE8V7Jr1606hSSUM7QgK8A16k-EvvYc-yKZZ9m9C8bY7GxEfLjQdQlUa4hXBnzVgRoTLhpUkqqQ/s320/81iMSjb%252B3YL.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">As
he studies the twenty characteristics, he begins to fear that he is
surrounded by psychopaths even though, statistically, they account
for only 1% of the population (and yet they account for 3% of all
managerial and power positions). His research takes him from the UK
to USA to Sweden; from mental institutions, to gaols for the
criminally insane to new-age healing centres. He interviews diagnosed
psychopaths and he talks to psychiatrists - in the end he decides
that diagnosing a person on the basis of a check list can be
extremely dangerous. The list negates the person, and the person may
simply be eccentric.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">He
touches on the terrifying over-diagnosing of children with ADD,
autism and childhood bipolar disorder, and how the pharmaceutical
companies are pushing the trend. The word 'normal' has been erased
and psychiatrists seek to label (and then medicate) the naughty,
tired, eccentric, innovative child. Ronson admits that there are
children with mental problems, but they are in the minority.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM-1kQZBWrq6iWnIpSKatlz3IXjn-yBn8Gw5RP9GK5mZQthBIA7di5VLB-659r9mQ7rO1JsskWThJeT89qDRqli2YAvCB17uH1Y5wpIPCQYRiSXHzxQJcU05VU8nsGm-NlJgIvnLR8pTA/s1600/eaa7589ad922853aaddcb4a4804d4c0b11c66dd5_1600x1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM-1kQZBWrq6iWnIpSKatlz3IXjn-yBn8Gw5RP9GK5mZQthBIA7di5VLB-659r9mQ7rO1JsskWThJeT89qDRqli2YAvCB17uH1Y5wpIPCQYRiSXHzxQJcU05VU8nsGm-NlJgIvnLR8pTA/s320/eaa7589ad922853aaddcb4a4804d4c0b11c66dd5_1600x1200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
book is, as Ronson suggests, 'a journey through the madness
industry'. It is well written; there is humour and insight; and for a
non-fiction book it is difficult to put down. Ronson presents his
findings, and lets the reader make up his/her mind. I personally
found it frightening from the perspective that there are obviously so
many psychopaths in high places (and this could be an explanation for
the sorry state of the world), but I also found it disconcerting that
although psychiatrists are hell bent on diagnosing they do not always
get it right. </span></span></span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
diagnosis of mental illness can be bad enough, but a wrong diagnosis
can be life destroying.</span></span></span></div>
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Photo of Jon Ronson from <span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_04eq6MbWAhXBULwKHcyQDbcQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Ftalks%2Fjon_ronson_strange_answers_to_the_psychopath_test&psig=AFQjCNEb-4-Raq-AwJOJaqpRpghbntJf3A&ust=1506651448984389" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwj_04eq6MbWAhXBULwKHcyQDbcQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_04eq6MbWAhXBULwKHcyQDbcQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Ftalks%2Fjon_ronson_strange_answers_to_the_psychopath_test&psig=AFQjCNEb-4-Raq-AwJOJaqpRpghbntJf3A&ust=1506651448984389" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">TED.com</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwj_04eq6MbWAhXBULwKHcyQDbcQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=UePq66ht1zfFUM%3A&docid=uDoZGB3DMn2PnM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
</div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-17299138438445168032017-10-03T14:08:00.000+11:002017-10-03T14:08:49.595+11:00All that Remains by Patricia Cornwell, UK, 1992<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSnB9nx85EdKYF8DUUwcy6nI2OzM8OhA9UxIwyzh1FrVYd4IxO0dWNE2WQe3tnKr0V6Tm9AsxXoxFxeNMaS0ofjlvOpWnmxj1vfl85wLk3K2CIUQ_fwnF2Gy972Lly87TftmjqJvSHe3T/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSnB9nx85EdKYF8DUUwcy6nI2OzM8OhA9UxIwyzh1FrVYd4IxO0dWNE2WQe3tnKr0V6Tm9AsxXoxFxeNMaS0ofjlvOpWnmxj1vfl85wLk3K2CIUQ_fwnF2Gy972Lly87TftmjqJvSHe3T/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <i>All that Remains</i> is filled with many unexplained murders, intrigue and suspense, which is usually the
right combination for easy reading when entertainment, and not intellectual analysis, is the main focus. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Over
a period of several years a number of couples are found dead in
out-of-the-way locations, their cars abandoned and no clues as to the
perpetrator and/or why he/she would have done such a thing. But then
the daughter of a very powerful woman goes missing, and rumours begin
to circulate that government agencies could be involved. </span></span></span>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">At
times the storyline demands a significant leap of imagination, and at
times real life is left cowering on the edges of the pages, but this
is, after all, part of the deal (that is to say, entertainment over
and beyond everything else). </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Patricia
Cornwell has written many crime dramas where forensic science plays a
major role, and while the details can be somewhat gory the main
thrust of the story is usually logically, if somewhat
imaginatively, presented. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpvwW0yTNtTBzHPT20lVEx4LQxQAuMQgHIUwV7PjL5DZvxKeSlNu6Rdp9XBkVOEsWvpXFZlSarJ3KdYSS5WWZu57VIMQekLsxcBQLkMZkHNBu6NILqzZnp5q15wXdizSrypZmpC7orM7v/s1600/patricia-cornwell-_1522467c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="460" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpvwW0yTNtTBzHPT20lVEx4LQxQAuMQgHIUwV7PjL5DZvxKeSlNu6Rdp9XBkVOEsWvpXFZlSarJ3KdYSS5WWZu57VIMQekLsxcBQLkMZkHNBu6NILqzZnp5q15wXdizSrypZmpC7orM7v/s320/patricia-cornwell-_1522467c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> Photo of Patricia Cornwell from </span></span></span><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwipqbWh5sbWAhXFLpQKHS7oDxsQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fculture%2Fbooks%2F6560751%2FKiller-Queen-Patricia-Cornwell-Interview.html&psig=AFQjCNGE1HscjqEiuT1EWX3wTac_I7_ymw&ust=1506650896697538" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwipqbWh5sbWAhXFLpQKHS7oDxsQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwipqbWh5sbWAhXFLpQKHS7oDxsQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fculture%2Fbooks%2F6560751%2FKiller-Queen-Patricia-Cornwell-Interview.html&psig=AFQjCNGE1HscjqEiuT1EWX3wTac_I7_ymw&ust=1506650896697538" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">The Telegraph</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwipqbWh5sbWAhXFLpQKHS7oDxsQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=a4KINPK-wyrTIM%3A&docid=Q4ae9PAnsL2c6M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-79009917192517415732017-09-19T08:02:00.000+10:002017-09-19T08:02:48.550+10:00Independent People by Halldor Laxness, Iceland, 1934<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wOUgJcm6PnbwmF3-kZIdEwye7HqovJ2Lw-FzhtgpLtAVr50Dhjs8Wta5h-XHwk4DeIbcn5Q1loSst62JJmK4dI1g3VpJltNeJPR_py7MZeRfpHGZBjZiWdbcfD5_oRbxzEumlhz6gqcD/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wOUgJcm6PnbwmF3-kZIdEwye7HqovJ2Lw-FzhtgpLtAVr50Dhjs8Wta5h-XHwk4DeIbcn5Q1loSst62JJmK4dI1g3VpJltNeJPR_py7MZeRfpHGZBjZiWdbcfD5_oRbxzEumlhz6gqcD/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Covering
almost 600 pages, <i>Independent People</i> is not a book to be read
in one sitting, and, even if it were possible, to read the book in
such a way is not to be recommended. This is a book that has to be
digested slowly. Set at the beginning of the twentieth century it is
not a happy read: the abject poverty of the lower classes compared
with the relative comfort of the ruling classes was definitely not
isolated to Iceland, but in Laxness' book the hunger and the misery
is played out against a harsh, cold, unrelenting landscape.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Born
in 1902, Laxness is writing about a period he actually experienced, in
the environment where he grew up</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,
and t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">he
book exudes a </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">definite
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">feeling
of authenticity.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
I would even go so far as to guess that parts of the book are
autobiographical or, at least, semi-autobiographical. In other words,
Laxness has obviously referred to his own experiences and to those of
people he has known when writing the book.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
For example, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1955, he
mentioned his grandmother in his acceptance speech and commented on
how close she had been to him. He went on to say that she had always
stressed </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">up</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">on
him the importance of respecting those who hold a lowly position in
the world and </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">that
he should never</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
ill-treat animals. In the book Bjartur's mother-in-law says
practically the same thing to her grandson Nonni. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLZJLcdtchFycmPLoo0vNRbHkIQw25oNtgI2D3ZcI5bDxxYrdl7RcB8nhEHbhWf7gKnSYv_xntYUJ9465tB4E3JBHRBUBOvbZrKFmQobJJrTO1FrLLLiA5FMhpUC42t-FPGGM55JLCZps/s1600/Halldor.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLZJLcdtchFycmPLoo0vNRbHkIQw25oNtgI2D3ZcI5bDxxYrdl7RcB8nhEHbhWf7gKnSYv_xntYUJ9465tB4E3JBHRBUBOvbZrKFmQobJJrTO1FrLLLiA5FMhpUC42t-FPGGM55JLCZps/s1600/Halldor.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Revolving
around </span></span></span></span>Gudbjartur of Summerhouses, the
book delves into the concept of independence versus the dependence
that is the lot of the lower classes. Gudbjartur, or Bjartur as he is
called throughout the book, spends eighteen years slaving for the
landed gentry so that he might be able to buy his own piece of land
and become independent. After an introduction that gives some
historical aspects to the story the actual novel begins with
Gudbjartur, newly married with Rosa, on his way to take up ownership
of his plot of land in an isolated part of northern Iceland.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life
is not only grim, it is unbelievably awful, and Bjartur's fixation
with being independent means that he cannot, and will not, accept any
kind of help from anyone. This attitude did not endear him to me, in
fact I found him extremely irritating, and as the story proceeds it
is frustrating to see how he hurts those closest to him. Until the
very last pages of the book, he seems to be completely devoid of any
kind of emotional connection with his fellow man; though perhaps it
is to his merit that he does finally let go of his stubbornness and
his fixation on independence to be able to experience a deep
emotional connection with another human being. </span></span>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
is an amazing novel, beautifully written and wonderfully
orchestrated. The descriptions of the landscape and the climate are
so magnificent that I froze through most of the book. A subdued kind
of humour acts as a foil to the serious theme of the book while
historically it gives a very good picture of the social situation in
Iceland in the early part of the twentieth century.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Definitely
not a book to be missed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo of Halldor Laxness from Encyclopaedia Britannica </span></span></span></div>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-4803761762951239022017-09-05T08:53:00.002+10:002017-09-05T08:53:56.811+10:00The Secret River by Kate Grenville, Australia, 2005<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuxoVPDzQmfiQFPrTfNDR7XfTE8hSs73e9uNuQHMpWnfM1VH04CybCtNSiRn67IMciVryv31dtYFNxNlif-WBPAHCBhMvOPlrHVpOaftv10TH8Wo92gIHXzHrJVsd_Eumb0ndnM0H5l0o/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuxoVPDzQmfiQFPrTfNDR7XfTE8hSs73e9uNuQHMpWnfM1VH04CybCtNSiRn67IMciVryv31dtYFNxNlif-WBPAHCBhMvOPlrHVpOaftv10TH8Wo92gIHXzHrJVsd_Eumb0ndnM0H5l0o/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is a beautiful book, intelligently written. Grenville’s wonderful
attention to detail results in a myriad of small word paintings, each
of which add yet another layer to our understanding of both early
nineteenth-century London and Sydney. Not only can we see the sights,
we can also smell the smells and feel the textures. We become
immersed in the places; we become part of Grenville’s narrative.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
book centres around William Thornhill, who, after winning a reprieve
from hanging for a minor thieving offence, is sent to Sydney town
with his wife, Sal, and their small child. It is obvious that the
family feels that it has landed at the end of the earth, but William,
relieved that he is still alive, sets about to turn the situation to
his own advantage. For William, his entire focus is set on owning a
place of his own. For Sal, her focus is set on returning Home.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0l81stkYl6TzaPs4wIWdyZ1ksQBluqICzpWUwZShurfbOWU98MLlew7zWVXvt_RGEwqj05yYLwc1WUUEHUFsRwNzwC1y1sberZFCI1HzwBTlJ6ZIEiUE7mLXgsvlr6lKDNSCbZLKQXQr/s1600/GrenvilleMarco_060901120348890_wideweb__300x209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0l81stkYl6TzaPs4wIWdyZ1ksQBluqICzpWUwZShurfbOWU98MLlew7zWVXvt_RGEwqj05yYLwc1WUUEHUFsRwNzwC1y1sberZFCI1HzwBTlJ6ZIEiUE7mLXgsvlr6lKDNSCbZLKQXQr/s1600/GrenvilleMarco_060901120348890_wideweb__300x209.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo of Kate Grenville from <span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiG4-SJifHUAhVIjpQKHWVKCEoQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theage.com.au%2Fnews%2Fbook-reviews%2Fsearching-for-the-secretriver%2F2006%2F09%2F01%2F1156817081050.html&psig=AFQjCNGibQjLov3KAnTOdhjLX64s_68S0w&ust=1499307129387444" target="_blank">The
Age</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When
Thornhill lays claim to one hundred acres on the shores of the
Hawkesbury River north of Sydney, he can see his dream taking shape.
But there are others who were obviously there before him - people who
do not worry about farming the soil but who seem to manage anyway.
Thornhill and the other settlers along the banks of the Hawkesbury
want the <i>others</i> gone.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwic1-TViPHUAhUBqpQKHWZTAW4QjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwic1-TViPHUAhUBqpQKHWZTAW4QjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsplash.abc.net.au%2Fhome%23%21%2Fmedia%2F1249033%2Fnavigating-the-secret-river-&psig=AFQjCNGibQjLov3KAnTOdhjLX64s_68S0w&ust=1499307129387444" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">ABC Splash</span></a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While
it is obvious that Grenville’s sympathy is with the indigenous
people, she is simply the fact presenter, and the reader is left to
make up his/her mind. It is somewhat thought-provoking that while
Thornhill and the others suffered inhumane treatment when living in
England, once emancipated they gradually assume similar
characteristics to their earlier tormentors. Their eagerness to
finally be able to own something and, thereby, to achieve some degree
of social status, put them in direct conflict with a people where the
idea of personally owning anything, especially land, is completely
incomprehensible. With hindsight we can wonder if things might have
worked out differently had there had been less painful baggage on the
part of the ex-convicts and a more understanding, less ignorant,
attitude on the part of the people in charge. Unfortunately, we will
never know. </span></span>
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<span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwic1-TViPHUAhUBqpQKHWZTAW4QjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwic1-TViPHUAhUBqpQKHWZTAW4QjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsplash.abc.net.au%2Fhome%23%21%2Fmedia%2F1249033%2Fnavigating-the-secret-river-&psig=AFQjCNGibQjLov3KAnTOdhjLX64s_68S0w&ust=1499307129387444" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"><br /></span></a></span>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-89825374089158691612017-08-15T08:31:00.000+10:002017-08-15T08:31:42.306+10:00Provenance by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo, USA, 2009<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCelVKTxaBMbq99aAkCnnwf9-WulgtYNj6y1ItqoB44a7iSIL8fsjkI-G2gfdVWM64uZL55_YkCfw1OF1cgbDQRZK9fDuT9_D9yvCoLSwS8UjZ-4EphwitsZtEd3nNPFxvhKyVUGv-3wub/s1600/fdda1de99edad078437fec9b5efdfb82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCelVKTxaBMbq99aAkCnnwf9-WulgtYNj6y1ItqoB44a7iSIL8fsjkI-G2gfdVWM64uZL55_YkCfw1OF1cgbDQRZK9fDuT9_D9yvCoLSwS8UjZ-4EphwitsZtEd3nNPFxvhKyVUGv-3wub/s320/fdda1de99edad078437fec9b5efdfb82.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
is a true story about one of the twentieth century's biggest and
boldest art frauds. Although factual, it reads like a thriller, is
well written and is definitely to be recommended.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">John
Drewe, with a number of aliases from John Cockett to Mr Carnall, is
debonair, intelligent and well-spoken; he is also a formidable
confidence man. While amazed by his ability not only to keep several
steps ahead of the art establishment but also to keep so many balls
in the air at the same time, I often found myself regretting that he
did not turn his skills towards something positive and constructive,
something on the right side of the law. His much greater-than-average
intellectual capacity, his intimidating memory, his verbal aptitude
and his magnetic personality propel him into a line of activity where
he is motivated not so much by the prospect of monitory gain but more
by the personal satisfaction of having set out to fool people and
having succeeded.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Along
the way, his activities impact extremely negatively on many people,
both friends and strangers. For him, people are simply a means to an
end, and he does not seem to mind losing friends or ruining people's
lives. He is completely focused on himself.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionwpT2ZljwWY0oM3HD8_vQGFZ0wZzxEFrjIMTJRI-DdMXPQSdP_ceoOu5BQXHx2ZYkHMaw-550tnGlnd0s8e63LgmCdu0oNA7vDdVOqWYpXkdpMmFyI8Z1boi93BQLTqcqM-098iDiZto/s1600/thumb111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionwpT2ZljwWY0oM3HD8_vQGFZ0wZzxEFrjIMTJRI-DdMXPQSdP_ceoOu5BQXHx2ZYkHMaw-550tnGlnd0s8e63LgmCdu0oNA7vDdVOqWYpXkdpMmFyI8Z1boi93BQLTqcqM-098iDiZto/s1600/thumb111.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Among
those impacted are his art forger, John Myatt (who initially is not
aware of what Drewe is doing with the paintings), his wife, Batsheva
Goudsmid (who probably loses more than any one else) and his
childhood friend Daniel Stoakes. Art dealers, art galleries, even a
Roman Catholic monastic order, are all caught up in Drewe's web
before, thanks to a couple of sceptics and a couple of persistent
detectives, it begins to unravel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Towards
the end of the book the following question is posed: what is it that
makes an artwork a valuable work of art? Should the forger's
impeccable paintings be regarded as 'works of art' or does the fact
that they are copies negate that possibility? When we read of
Michelangelo forging several artworks and Picasso signing a work
painted by someone else, we probably have to admit that, like most
things today, the value of a work of art is dictated purely and
simply by commercial interests.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span> </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nushUa6YrVbGVAdiWGXDPDLOO0hjvmz2KAgC-GrNQxtPIH2Dq079ZVu4FpSqdwbYJWL9pzTa3MOJLGPju9Q4ShN-UP95ZqnKM42YyeX_hBhpDKFQWaaBnPxW0lCIxUTsbB_hq7iLSJ-V/s1600/thumb110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nushUa6YrVbGVAdiWGXDPDLOO0hjvmz2KAgC-GrNQxtPIH2Dq079ZVu4FpSqdwbYJWL9pzTa3MOJLGPju9Q4ShN-UP95ZqnKM42YyeX_hBhpDKFQWaaBnPxW0lCIxUTsbB_hq7iLSJ-V/s1600/thumb110.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
would be nice to think that Drewe was snubbing his nose at an art
world where money has taken precedence over motive and inspiration;
however, I doubt very much that Drewe was motivated by such high
aspirations. For him it was just a game.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Informative,
thrilling, sad and, at times, frustrating, <i>Provenance</i> leaves
us with many disparate thoughts and ideas.</span></span></div>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos of the authors are from </span></span><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjBgfyRjPHUAhXLKZQKHUvJCTIQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjBgfyRjPHUAhXLKZQKHUvJCTIQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaneysalisbury.com%2FAbouttheAuthor.html&psig=AFQjCNGnBrT-ZKkhN_d-HNTNvDFaDfbEfA&ust=1499308044886485" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Laney Salisbury</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjBgfyRjPHUAhXLKZQKHUvJCTIQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=seRu8x2ml9pUaM%3A&docid=GP6CKrr838L-6M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span></div>
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<span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjAsbnyi_HUAhWFipQKHaUVDkoQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjAsbnyi_HUAhWFipQKHaUVDkoQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaneysalisbury.com%2FAbouttheAuthor.html&psig=AFQjCNGnBrT-ZKkhN_d-HNTNvDFaDfbEfA&ust=1499308044886485" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"></span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjAsbnyi_HUAhWFipQKHaUVDkoQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=t1TxRDWFh-P1dM%3A&docid=GP6CKrr838L-6M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span></div>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-77911598804322184502017-08-01T09:43:00.000+10:002017-08-01T09:43:36.844+10:00Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, USA, 2009<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGm4lFYwkYs719T6UjxhI0NRHza_pvIYVGZiFfLGeFp9TJCt8wrx4wQAzEkR8InL7-T_LpdT604VKf3ST7vdxVit4pbT7tQZCLl8TMS7G3MXHX2Qr5d8Nyx8IQd3uKEVXb_TYwNg0Q48z/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGm4lFYwkYs719T6UjxhI0NRHza_pvIYVGZiFfLGeFp9TJCt8wrx4wQAzEkR8InL7-T_LpdT604VKf3ST7vdxVit4pbT7tQZCLl8TMS7G3MXHX2Qr5d8Nyx8IQd3uKEVXb_TYwNg0Q48z/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a>
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<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
very first chapter makes it obvious that this is going to be a
confronting book. It is the twenty-first century, and we learn that
three people were brutally murdered twenty-five years previously in a
small farmhouse in Kansas in the 1980s and that the fifteen-year-old
son, Ben, was charged with their murders. The only other survivor of
the massacre, Libby, becomes the main narrator.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Libby’s
narration is a combination of her thoughts and, bit by bit, her
attempts to find out what actually happened that night when she was
only seven. She has always believed that Ben was guilty, but there
are people who believe he is innocent and would do anything at all to
have him released from prison.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Is
Ben innocent or</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is
he guilty?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-10K5BdGg6tUYGA6XHLpfOknsoIReXoaiKyQygAsrpE86cv8CnID8acckDxpXklb4FlHG8kqHQx5Gm4JREimWTqBVfX26tx6-DzwQ9smT3V8wc0laAxy0qAHZTbrxxezHIm4YaAz2EA4/s1600/SUMM_Hoffman_20140_3052376c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="460" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-10K5BdGg6tUYGA6XHLpfOknsoIReXoaiKyQygAsrpE86cv8CnID8acckDxpXklb4FlHG8kqHQx5Gm4JREimWTqBVfX26tx6-DzwQ9smT3V8wc0laAxy0qAHZTbrxxezHIm4YaAz2EA4/s320/SUMM_Hoffman_20140_3052376c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> Photo of Gillian Flynn from </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjBitKEjvHUAhVBn5QKHbPhAHYQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjBitKEjvHUAhVBn5QKHbPhAHYQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fculture%2Ffilm%2Fstarsandstories%2F11122159%2FGillian-Flynn-on-Gone-Girl-People-dont-understand-its-just-fiction.html&psig=AFQjCNFja-aiXcBdgsZEPXhBE4Iks5Bc2A&ust=1499308606296795" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">The Telegraph</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjBitKEjvHUAhVBn5QKHbPhAHYQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=JRX16MIiV_tEJM%3A&docid=JmtWnfjsxhlPAM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
story that unravels in chapters alternating between 1985 and the
present day is full of leads all seemingly pointing in different
directions. Possible scenarios are built up and then destroyed as
more information becomes available; at all times the depressing gloom
emanating from the small impoverished town and more particularly from
the family itself drips from the pages. This is definitely not a
happy book.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">It
is, however, particularly well written, and the way</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Flynn
divides the story between the past and the present is cleverly
managed. At no time is there any confusion between the two time
periods.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
the end, the reader is most probably left with a sense of despair
regarding present-day society. It is definitely a book that makes you
think about many different issues (not just murder), and a story that
will remain with you even after you have turned the last page and
closed the book. </span></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-88544880799946485842017-07-18T07:45:00.001+10:002017-07-18T07:45:29.880+10:00The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum, USA, 1986<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0GVWDBYsHlMtjmFQ3NB-S2QqblVKGQKWPdVLMFoBMAeKq3PHxxEYktrQ2cXdEbg2hX8o07oWQtBWu1-_5En5CgWGDabfhrYUh9CXVCNshh9ERATqVhkqtzKy-mHR3tRzr5NPdQlW4TpP/s1600/book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0GVWDBYsHlMtjmFQ3NB-S2QqblVKGQKWPdVLMFoBMAeKq3PHxxEYktrQ2cXdEbg2hX8o07oWQtBWu1-_5En5CgWGDabfhrYUh9CXVCNshh9ERATqVhkqtzKy-mHR3tRzr5NPdQlW4TpP/s1600/book.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This
is the second of the three books in the Bourne series, and like the
first book, <i>The Bourne Identity</i>, it is gripping for all of its
almost 700 pages.</span></span></div>
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<br />
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">David
Webb alias Jason Bourne alias Delta alias Cain is unwillingly pulled
into a complicated and deadly fight against a Chinese megalomaniac
whose eyes are firmly focused on controlling not only China and its
supposed territories but even the entire world. Whereas the setting
for <i>The Bourne Identity</i> was Europe and America, the setting
for this second book is, after a brief opening in America, Hong Kong
and China. As with the first book, where French phrases are cleverly
scattered throughout, language plays an important role in creating
atmosphere. In this case it is Mandarin, and although I do not speak
a word of Mandarin the snippets of that language did not cause any
confusion; on the contrary, it cements the story in the Far East.</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbw4YUMfrkq5BTDqMtLUUJCSj4oLW-y500yzIoUQGwD4Ip7NJviUiTsi47Jeq5i54d-KO_-DmlFh5XyKAtmRdSmrv3ufKqWaEj91rJSq6tsZdqeFV3ZLwCiifnBeDd-SalM6nJDnhsCTx/s1600/robert-ludlum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="620" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbw4YUMfrkq5BTDqMtLUUJCSj4oLW-y500yzIoUQGwD4Ip7NJviUiTsi47Jeq5i54d-KO_-DmlFh5XyKAtmRdSmrv3ufKqWaEj91rJSq6tsZdqeFV3ZLwCiifnBeDd-SalM6nJDnhsCTx/s320/robert-ludlum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.famousauthors.org/robert-ludlum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
story is fast paced and suspenseful with a mixture of characters from
the first book together with a number of new characters. At all
times, the book is intelligent and extremely well researched and well
planned. Numerous twists and turns can challenge the reader’s
mental powers in the same way a big dipper might challenge a person’s
physical and emotional stability, but when one has fastened one’s
seat belt there is really no way of jumping off the ride. </span></span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ludlum’s
understanding and interpretation of the political situation in China
(1980s) sheds light on the situation today, thirty years on. This is
a book not to be missed, but to avoid confusion it should definitely
be read after <i>The Bourne Identity</i>.</span></span></div>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-19335982594352548982017-07-04T09:53:00.000+10:002017-07-04T09:53:34.775+10:00The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K.Rowling, UK, 2008<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEq_uBkcuhQ739CXSVi4ZyOOVE1EAY5vUHBSCQjXQhWmu-CuQcehkEKfBqrtfFFobfojSyGfiz-9ckRkvRZo2R9VHmzZHmfCOh12xc1hmgNNy-e-yktiUEIOyLSR65jJ33N6GQQTsPgHE/s1600/beedle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEq_uBkcuhQ739CXSVi4ZyOOVE1EAY5vUHBSCQjXQhWmu-CuQcehkEKfBqrtfFFobfojSyGfiz-9ckRkvRZo2R9VHmzZHmfCOh12xc1hmgNNy-e-yktiUEIOyLSR65jJ33N6GQQTsPgHE/s1600/beedle.jpeg" /></a>
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<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
short work, comprising five tales for children, assumes some
acquaintance with the Harry Potter books by the same author.
Characters from these books are referred to in the tales, and it is
assumed that the reader has already made their acquaintance.
Moreover, each tale includes a critique by Professor Albus
Dumbledore, who was the headmaster of
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Mention of Professor
Dumbledore’s prowess is made in the short preface to the book;
however, for anyone unacquainted with the Harry Potter books this
would probably not mean very much.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs5CPL6aopXTEaAnNWxs_8tajfh1_OkEjuNyFDuozjczucfYhKMaR9yKyxiL36XFY64vLwixZWjY_cqhBV-PuPnv-BxcWAYPwxmvFpxn4pQdQlVLnHpFCrylMpeKqse9ai1iPMUVgOHS2/s1600/rowling.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs5CPL6aopXTEaAnNWxs_8tajfh1_OkEjuNyFDuozjczucfYhKMaR9yKyxiL36XFY64vLwixZWjY_cqhBV-PuPnv-BxcWAYPwxmvFpxn4pQdQlVLnHpFCrylMpeKqse9ai1iPMUVgOHS2/s1600/rowling.jpeg" /></a>
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<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
book is actually referred to in one of the later Harry Potter Books,
and the references and links between the tales and the actual Harry
Potter books are very cleverly managed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">I have heard that the original book (</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Tales of Beedle the Bard</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">)
– a limited edition of seven copies - was exquisitely handwritten
and hand illustrated by Rowling. Each copy was beautifully bound in
leather with silver embellishments and semiprecious stones. Six of
these copies were given to people involved with the production of the
Harry Potter series; the seventh was auctioned for charity (The
Children’s Voice) and raised US$ 3.98 million.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Written
primarily for children, this is an easily read book but still
enjoyable, especially for those who are well acquainted with the
Harry Potter books.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3BsVPdx8lcWq0VIe6jZQou5VtsrIaLdM7Vd31Lkm0pjf5GxU2DVI7pfyw3MC9CER6w7_q3J5pr2oB614lUUZr4Kq68dVcHVetw7ZfYk6hZX3T7NbYL1Y7Z3lxyWpDbgciMpgxxs6Q01p/s1600/book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3BsVPdx8lcWq0VIe6jZQou5VtsrIaLdM7Vd31Lkm0pjf5GxU2DVI7pfyw3MC9CER6w7_q3J5pr2oB614lUUZr4Kq68dVcHVetw7ZfYk6hZX3T7NbYL1Y7Z3lxyWpDbgciMpgxxs6Q01p/s1600/book.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">The photo of J.K.Rowling is from </span><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjg58DX0P3SAhUD3mMKHZLUCeUQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjg58DX0P3SAhUD3mMKHZLUCeUQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fhome%2Fbooks%2Farticle-1092217%2FFootnotes-fairy-tales-Dumbledore-THE-TALES-OF-BEEDLE-THE-BARD-J-K-Rowling.html&bvm=bv.151325232,bs.1,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNE_ktg56xrQFWeXpVJuZ5UIUfWN0A&ust=1490942696944406" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Daily Mail, </span></a><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">and the photo of the limited-edition book is from </span></span><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiczqzr0P3SAhUT7WMKHTwzBsIQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiczqzr0P3SAhUT7WMKHTwzBsIQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnewsround%2F38287900&bvm=bv.151325232,bs.1,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNE_ktg56xrQFWeXpVJuZ5UIUfWN0A&ust=1490942696944406" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">BBC</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiczqzr0P3SAhUT7WMKHTwzBsIQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=bIR63e9PZECcVM%3A&docid=3m1rOsQMOHlIIM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"></span></div>
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<span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjg58DX0P3SAhUD3mMKHZLUCeUQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=nuie0xl-gOeYoM%3A&docid=ayPP_6FYhxWDkM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
</div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-15588085399879316892017-06-20T10:24:00.001+10:002017-06-20T10:24:51.779+10:00Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey, Australia, 1988<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-KzAqjW01DhseLL5XzE2J1falp2mDXUEkKIrYJAPDTo1MpzqVixMv8AAabyfUv5Whd_H9L71yUeveAvRj8j0d004pJf0ffBMiLpjpW6pDYRUN4OJph2dsFOjiGV-oYsMFM3Wgg1EkqCf/s1600/book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-KzAqjW01DhseLL5XzE2J1falp2mDXUEkKIrYJAPDTo1MpzqVixMv8AAabyfUv5Whd_H9L71yUeveAvRj8j0d004pJf0ffBMiLpjpW6pDYRUN4OJph2dsFOjiGV-oYsMFM3Wgg1EkqCf/s1600/book.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">An
unusual and beautiful book about life and love and the things that
spur us on to do the things we do; it is also a book about the part
that chance plays in our lives. </span></span></span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
mid-nineteenth century England, Oscar, acting on his own
interpretation of signs, presents himself at the cold, inhospitable
home of the Anglican minister, seeking a new life, which he feels is
the life God has ordained for him. Later, as a minister, he travels
to Australia in spite of his paralysing fear of water. By this time,
however, he has been caught up in other games of chance – horses
and cards – and fate throws him together with Lucinda, a young
Australian heiress, who loves a game of cards and who is on her way
back to Australia after unsuccessfully looking for a husband in
England.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Their
paths in the new, bustling, rough, dirty, loud colony keep crossing,
neither of them fully aware of their attraction one for the other.
Certain misfortunes befall Oscar, which inadvertently push him closer
to Lucinda, and he becomes enamoured of the glassworks she bought
with part of her fortune. He also becomes complicit in a wonderful
scheme to build a church – not just any church but a church that
will surpass all others in the colony. A scheme that leads to the
climax of the story and to its inevitable and tragic end.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw51pwfbYpgTJRQJmcyQxrLXtbyTCRGWJpEyenMmRnTwggFdPrv_3YY9RwZ9xfv4bUFHPTKUDF8xV07WSbQiOqA-YYGaB1o2uXwmk8c3vR2zPtEeCe0vZJSmdJRk4hSRUA0eZaJaREUlDM/s1600/Peter-Carey-at-home-2009.-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw51pwfbYpgTJRQJmcyQxrLXtbyTCRGWJpEyenMmRnTwggFdPrv_3YY9RwZ9xfv4bUFHPTKUDF8xV07WSbQiOqA-YYGaB1o2uXwmk8c3vR2zPtEeCe0vZJSmdJRk4hSRUA0eZaJaREUlDM/s1600/Peter-Carey-at-home-2009.-001.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Photo of Peter Carey from </span></span><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwj58ZWwzbLUAhXHj5QKHeA3BCwQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj58ZWwzbLUAhXHj5QKHeA3BCwQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fbooks%2F1998%2Fapr%2F01%2Ffiction.petercarey&psig=AFQjCNFz3rI0qsK49we-7e3YwwAr8uTKQg&ust=1497160851241287" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">The Guardian</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Like
the main characters, the writing is colourful and it moves along at
such a breakneck pace that the reader needs occasionally to rest up
before the next onslaught. Grey, cold paintings of England and
vibrant, hot paintings from Sydney and NSW form the backdrop against
which Oscar and Lucinda become more and more entangled with each
other and with their own obsessions. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
story about the different doors that open when nothing is said or
when too much is relegated to chance. Definitely a book worth
reading.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>Oscar and Lucind</i>a was made into a film in 1997, and you can watch<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9KRbrmc-A0" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">the trailer </a>here. </span></span></span></div>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-4847348304204972882017-06-06T11:53:00.000+10:002017-06-06T11:53:08.785+10:00The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, USA, 2002<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukk0T61aG_N_1y5HdujK0EhtRQiihvE86aT7kMWfMQUj7JVaSjoHjhdTBY8mYgjo_mn6pYTDwKBzgbygLD5EtNrOxtSgwedgi9eZ25DV1ICgkgucTAp4OUhu57igUikCtjChacQvhvvce/s1600/bees.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukk0T61aG_N_1y5HdujK0EhtRQiihvE86aT7kMWfMQUj7JVaSjoHjhdTBY8mYgjo_mn6pYTDwKBzgbygLD5EtNrOxtSgwedgi9eZ25DV1ICgkgucTAp4OUhu57igUikCtjChacQvhvvce/s1600/bees.jpeg" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Set
against a background of America’s south in 1964, </span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Secret Life of Bees </span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is
a wonderful piece of feminist literature. The strongest characters in
the book are women, and it is the women who remain with us long after
we have turned the last page.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
main character is Lily, a fourteen-year-old white girl; her mother is
dead and her father is abusive and cruel. When the housekeeper
Rosaleen, a black woman, attempts to register for the vote, she is
accosted, thrown into gaol and beaten up. Lily manages to sneak her
out of the hospital, terrified that if she </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">is to <span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">be left</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> there the men who
beat her up will come back and kill her. The two women then hitchhike
to a town, the name of which Lily has seen on the back of a card
belonging to her mother. Eventually they reach the home of a </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">bee keeper</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Bees
are an important part of the story, which is basically about</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">finding
oneself and being able to accept that which one finds. There are many
references to the</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">healing
qualities of honey and how understanding and ‘letting go’ leads
to personal freedom.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimdiC7TsiFLGv1DMBqyVz8OfGlvjAxGhpWcr0trxrzv-GjSZQgS_83HjK8dKK_Y6-POaVAnMWSYzGZzSidyf3A5UZtrJann701D8InrCV2QNe7aJhqCzQXeZMdtbR9RbbOtlSK_5gedZo/s1600/sn_bees_kidd_fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimdiC7TsiFLGv1DMBqyVz8OfGlvjAxGhpWcr0trxrzv-GjSZQgS_83HjK8dKK_Y6-POaVAnMWSYzGZzSidyf3A5UZtrJann701D8InrCV2QNe7aJhqCzQXeZMdtbR9RbbOtlSK_5gedZo/s1600/sn_bees_kidd_fixed.jpg" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
queen bee, the Black Madonna, the Negro women and, of course, Lily
herself all combine to create a force that shows that although they might be
living in a man’s world, it is in fact women who have the last word. </span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Photo of Sue Monk Kidd from <span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwji1fvE0_3SAhVNHGMKHcYSBG4QjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwji1fvE0_3SAhVNHGMKHcYSBG4QjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scholastic.com%2Fbrowse%2Farticle.jsp%3Fid%3D3750640&bvm=bv.151325232,bs.1,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNFBnxvUk5Zz2341yKAhAv76XVg3jw&ust=1490943458555811" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Scholastic</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwji1fvE0_3SAhVNHGMKHcYSBG4QhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=UMp6OU6BaGcNFM%3A&docid=ntxxxd01E_sg1M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span> </span></span></span></span></i></span></span>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-78487162981562198552017-05-15T22:04:00.000+10:002017-05-15T22:04:50.880+10:00The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Korea, 2007 <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIr9VXr2XHnhyphenhyphen2Vb1oUNPYAnbPTBp4LTHbjZWSCPkNkbfbSUfJY2Y_bWdUvUpxSjCV8UtN2YWU36oqoi2q3vAK2p8Lz_H_QTQhDnOzQmGXkWfXrZVkzrzH-qJJb7in8krgpL42VXQe9gz/s1600/han.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIr9VXr2XHnhyphenhyphen2Vb1oUNPYAnbPTBp4LTHbjZWSCPkNkbfbSUfJY2Y_bWdUvUpxSjCV8UtN2YWU36oqoi2q3vAK2p8Lz_H_QTQhDnOzQmGXkWfXrZVkzrzH-qJJb7in8krgpL42VXQe9gz/s1600/han.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">When
I began this short and beautifully written novel, where strange
blood-thirsty dreams are intertwined with mundane, domestic
interactions, I thought that it may have been about the central
character’s, Yeong-hye, attempts to free herself from the
male-dominated society in which she lives. Her decision to stop
eating meat was, for me, a sign of a new independence and an
awareness of the soul-destroying relationships – husband, family –
all of which are threatening to destroy her.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">However,
as I read on, I realized that Han Kang’s book delves much deeper
than male dominance and female acquiescence. It may be about the
restrictions imposed by a male-dominated society, but I feel that it
is also about the many other restrictions that limit both men and
women. Most people are unaware of the limitations, because they are
not interested in pushing boundaries: they spend mundane, unfulfilled
lives somewhere in a safe middle zone. Han Kang herself has said that
the book is an allegory for present-day Korea, and, as such, it is
probably a description of Korea’s attempt to find herself and
realize her potential.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFTt5fT_0SFAId9Dp3ztzcRp3IW9npPaYIdGEREfpwcgwNgCIoshBXWKnMb-EJEc84IxXs0X_zm91Xd24uWOvztr1N6iLKlxLInJbfuNTv2iBx1BbEedwrUwJObYNJgyseOKriFxNUfdf/s1600/Han-Kang-Side-by-Side.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFTt5fT_0SFAId9Dp3ztzcRp3IW9npPaYIdGEREfpwcgwNgCIoshBXWKnMb-EJEc84IxXs0X_zm91Xd24uWOvztr1N6iLKlxLInJbfuNTv2iBx1BbEedwrUwJObYNJgyseOKriFxNUfdf/s320/Han-Kang-Side-by-Side.png" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Yeong-hye
knows that there is something else, but to reach this </span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">something
else</span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
she also knows that she has to extricate herself from everything that
is holding her back – first meat and eventually </span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">any</span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
kind of food: she needs to become as one with the natural environment
around her. Her brother-in-law, the artist, is subconsciously aware
of the beauty that exists beyond that point of letting-go, but he is
unable to let go, fettered, as it were, by his animal desires. At the
end of the book, Yeong-hye’s sister, In-hye, begins to understand
that Yeong-hye is not mad, and she finally understands what it is that
her sister has been trying to communicate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Like
a painting, this is a beautiful but disturbing book with many
different levels and, no doubt, many individual interpretations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo of Han Kang above from </span></span><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiHsJvwzv3SAhVFHGMKHQLCCEEQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiHsJvwzv3SAhVFHGMKHQLCCEEQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Freview%2Fwhat-we-consume-consumes-us-han-kang-and-the-tough-questions-of-the-vegetarian&bvm=bv.151325232,bs.1,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNG9BeRWW-ShxGzXi97aGzxau2rECQ&ust=1490942228408163" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Barnes & Noble</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiHsJvwzv3SAhVFHGMKHQLCCEEQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=WUcTNie5CqtmYM%3A&docid=Y47vphKaTMrTeM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-8807647701299719942017-05-02T11:05:00.000+10:002017-05-02T11:05:13.303+10:00The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, USA, 1980<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
man washed up on the coast of the Mediterranean is not only
frightfully wounded but is also suffering from amnesia. He cannot
remember why he is where he is, and he cannot remember who he is. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Over
the next 500-plus pages, the man slowly remembers snippets of his
past while all around him it is obvious that professional killers are
intent on eradicating him. Like a blindfolded man with one hand tied
behind his back he must still try to remain one step in front of
these killers, using each small piece of information gleaned to
complete the jigsaw. Who is he? Why is where he is? Why do people
want to kill him?</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
book is very well written. The pace is fast; the content is
intelligent and obviously researched. It is the type of book that
wants to be read in one long reading: in other words, it is a book
that is extremely difficult to put down. Although there are many
characters, both major and minor, and a multitude of plot twists and
turns, many provoked by the intricacies of politics and high finance,
the reader remains captivated, wanting more.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Set
mainly in Europe (Paris, Switzerland, the Mediterranean… ) it also
extends across the Atlantic to New York. The occasional use of French
phrases is handled particularly well, and at no point does it feel
forced or out of place; it helps to emphasize the European atmosphere
that is such an important part of the story.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
ending hints at a possible continuation (</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Bourne Supremacy</span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">),
and although I was disappointed that the roller coaster ride had come
to an end, I knew that there was another book, and another ride, just
around the corner. A great book; I would recommend it to anyone.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Those
of you who have seen the film by the same name (released in 2002)
should not believe that you do not have to read the book: the film
and the book are two completely different realities. The film has
grown out of several ideas in the book, but in no way does it
replicate the book, even though it has retained the name. Watching it
after I had read the book was a great disappointment, because had it
kept to the book it could have been ever so much more intelligent,
exciting and believable.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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Photo of Robert Ludlum from <span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiw8o-uzf3SAhVE52MKHVewB_gQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiw8o-uzf3SAhVE52MKHVewB_gQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fauthor%2Fshow%2F5293.Robert_Ludlum&psig=AFQjCNHIzQ33k-i4dXva2TsDsMpl810eQA&ust=1490941770391702" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Goodreads</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiw8o-uzf3SAhVE52MKHVewB_gQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=vzzb5P9ovB4mrM%3A&docid=3PK5ZTmeJjB7OM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span> </span></span></span></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-33526483692301495162017-04-18T08:23:00.002+10:002017-04-18T08:23:49.913+10:00Not to Disturb by Muriel Spark, UK, 1971<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG6hVQnGoP7yzj7F9gKioqzFvMlSsjZFqDDC2rFDgnfxiGupHy9jZm7pyqcf_hDz0l4oRJnYpaeYJMzPt4FaxnFDoFpu1vDpS0t_Ty-wFdY3XrwqxkA7rtHYoM3ZJbNZ4E3GifxAlnE8X/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG6hVQnGoP7yzj7F9gKioqzFvMlSsjZFqDDC2rFDgnfxiGupHy9jZm7pyqcf_hDz0l4oRJnYpaeYJMzPt4FaxnFDoFpu1vDpS0t_Ty-wFdY3XrwqxkA7rtHYoM3ZJbNZ4E3GifxAlnE8X/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Witty
and intelligently written, this novella is set in a upper-class home
outside Geneva</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">on
a particularly stormy and inclement night. The Baron and the Baroness
have withdrawn to the library with their secretary and have impressed
upon the staff that they are not to be disturbed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">With
the three central characters off-stage in the library, the butler,
Lister, orchestrates the entire evening as though it is a play;
reality and the absurd are expertly woven together; and it is
difficult to know where the one begins and the other ends. </span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">The butler</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> and
the other members of the staff prepare for a three-way tragedy,
although why or how this should be happening remains a partial
mystery. With great flair, Lister organizes everything for the
expected onslaught by police, the media and outsiders at daybreak; he
has even given taken care of things like the Baron’s mad brother
cloistered in the attic and the inheritance of the estate. Everyone
practises the lines he or she will later repeat for the police and
others, and, like the director of a play, Lister adds a word here,
removes a sentence there, makes suggestions...</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo45CCrFOHazSNHNxMBBLMYT6AQbJ2vw6pkxJWlEtRmXtCYnUSCmo6smfHn7TC05mQs0syPRrjGRA5y0G7h6HT-vOrf7WCO_Jl-QLXFEe6w9N6oGWNGnURopgAqz4wSgq1lyJUijHhbKAY/s1600/220px-Muriel_Spark_1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo45CCrFOHazSNHNxMBBLMYT6AQbJ2vw6pkxJWlEtRmXtCYnUSCmo6smfHn7TC05mQs0syPRrjGRA5y0G7h6HT-vOrf7WCO_Jl-QLXFEe6w9N6oGWNGnURopgAqz4wSgq1lyJUijHhbKAY/s1600/220px-Muriel_Spark_1960.jpg" /></a>
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<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Not
to Disturb</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
needs to be read several times in order to appreciate the satire and
the very clever twists and turns of language. The ending leaves the
reader with many questions: how much did the staff actually know in
advance? Were they complicit in the tragedy? What happened
afterwards? . . . Perhaps one of the strengths of the novella is that there
are no definite answers to these many questions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">The photo of Muriel Spark in 1960 is from </span><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjL94u91f3SAhUO1WMKHY0KArkQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjL94u91f3SAhUO1WMKHY0KArkQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMuriel_Spark&bvm=bv.151325232,bs.1,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNFgu76kcUcKkIsZEQj291RfWVeHaw&ust=1490943979658144" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Wikipedia</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjL94u91f3SAhUO1WMKHY0KArkQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=oS334DkcSD0m7M%3A&docid=CvM1tNnSpWFC9M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-41365518106098924172017-04-04T08:17:00.000+10:002017-04-04T08:17:38.922+10:00The Good People by Hannah Kent, Australia, 2016<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Hannah
Kent’s second book follows in the footsteps of her first book,
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Burial
Rites</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,
where the story plays out against a background that is harsh, grey,
cold and unforgiving. While </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Burial
Rites</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
is set in Iceland, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Good People</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">has
the Irish winter of</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
1825/1826 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">as
its background</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
Kent’s ability to capture<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">a physical sensation of </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">cold and deprivation in her
writing is to be admired.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
is a book about the complexity of myth and superstition and the way
in which it merges with traditional
religious belief. The story, situated in an Irish rural village of
the early nineteenth century, centres on three women: N</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ό</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ra,
newly widowed and the guardian of her </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">deceased</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
daughter’s four-year-old child, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Micheál</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">;
Nance, the village </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">wise
woman; and Mary, a fourteen-year-old girl </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">hired
by </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">N</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ό</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ra</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
to help her with Micheál.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AgouW2T9mUi4pbhg7f4-zOm2CB5UvMwxnCQtnFFsKa6jR6OdMReQBvn0bdVlSo8tD94AsRn24I2rec8nsjdchqYkPH2jVA7UPAkU7iTP5oOWhNBKbnv6WIiaFAOPDHB3n6rFP-_lFRuI/s1600/kent.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AgouW2T9mUi4pbhg7f4-zOm2CB5UvMwxnCQtnFFsKa6jR6OdMReQBvn0bdVlSo8tD94AsRn24I2rec8nsjdchqYkPH2jVA7UPAkU7iTP5oOWhNBKbnv6WIiaFAOPDHB3n6rFP-_lFRuI/s1600/kent.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Micheál
is disabled, though, if we are to believe</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
N</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ό</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ra,
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">he</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">began</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> life as well and healthy as any other child. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Although she fears that her daughter and son-in-law</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">may have</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">failed to care for him and
feed him properly, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Nance </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">strongly believes that</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> he is a changeling: the real Micheál has been
taken by the fairies or the good people.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
story unwinds against a background </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">where <span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">a depressing</span> Irish winter<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"> </span>competes only with </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ignorance, h</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">erbal
remedies</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">an
unbelievable array of </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">concoctions
to ward off harm and/or bring luck. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">T</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">raditional
religious practices </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">may be</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> part of every-day life for these people<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><i>, </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">but a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">s the new priest soon realizes (much to his chagrin) his flock is
not only Christian but also pagan.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Good People</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
should appeal to most readers but especially to those who have
experienced Irish superstitions and folk lore at first hand. It is a
book that once commenced cannot be put down.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Photo of Hannah Kent from <span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjyvoDj1v3SAhUlj1QKHQ-iCuUQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjyvoDj1v3SAhUlj1QKHQ-iCuUQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Farts%2Freview%2Fthe-good-people-hannah-kent-takes-us-to-19thcentury-ireland%2Fnews-story%2F8bfcbec20fe85956dddb9ec282affdb1&bvm=bv.151325232,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNGyqTbYO-oC6ljJjNj277NAcPV1RQ&ust=1490944342903735" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">The Australian</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjyvoDj1v3SAhUlj1QKHQ-iCuUQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=iDhhDPClYB94jM%3A&docid=xFL1jg0XKzsW8M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span><br />
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></u></span></span></span></span></i></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-53377655644643845342017-03-21T08:59:00.000+11:002017-03-21T08:59:16.601+11:00On the Beach by Nevil Shute, UK, 1957<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<br />
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
first read this book many years ago when I was in my late teens, and
although I could remember the main theme I had forgotten many of the
details. This second reading added </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">many
different</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
perspective</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">s,
which </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">was</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
inevitable </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">given
the fact that</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
years </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">had
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">become
decades.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxqA7tcQbK68vcNx2rfu9Fox5Qyxu0nA4xXG7UkYVmEdNhXN45sQa8j950rAWwzLfBlFZ6SGoypHRKFAkMusKJZgeY4gMJyPHb1B0hvg8QTuFGw_bbME06_F6NuT4U3yqptM-paRy10aO/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxqA7tcQbK68vcNx2rfu9Fox5Qyxu0nA4xXG7UkYVmEdNhXN45sQa8j950rAWwzLfBlFZ6SGoypHRKFAkMusKJZgeY4gMJyPHb1B0hvg8QTuFGw_bbME06_F6NuT4U3yqptM-paRy10aO/s320/index.jpeg" width="204" /></a><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">At
the ver</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">y
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">beginning
of the book </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">i</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">t
i</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
apparent that all life has been eradicated from the northern
hemisphere after the unfortunate firing of several nuclear bombs by
the “</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Irresponsibles”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,
and th</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">at
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
nuclear cloud is ra</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">pidly</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
approaching Australia, the las</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">t
island of life on the planet.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
But it is the 1950s and, despite being swept towards s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">uch
a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
horrifying reality, people are more friendly and courteous, and things
seem simpl</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">er.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Yet,
underlying </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">all
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
polite, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
at times seemingly unnecessary,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">conventions,
people are actually in a state of disintegration: Moira is losing
herself in alcohol; Dwight (an American) clings to the impossible
belief that his family is still alive and well in America; Mary
devotes her time to her garden and other home improvements. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Peter
is one of the few characters who is able to admit to himself the
inevitability of what is about to happen, and yet he finds himself in
a situation where he is forever balancing other people’s fantasies
with </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">unavoidable
reality.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj716GBQ0gYKaf9kxJfoY_NtjEi71XAYADDSGo9dm3aBvLxYiiFugZhlouIsHG2ZXqE8y1uldeseqC-3DjFBl8TlVHWq6IWHqVyAR307IB1wZjnfomK2vRUJictxVleUHQeGrbAiex0IPZj/s1600/150px-Neville_Shute_AWW_1949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj716GBQ0gYKaf9kxJfoY_NtjEi71XAYADDSGo9dm3aBvLxYiiFugZhlouIsHG2ZXqE8y1uldeseqC-3DjFBl8TlVHWq6IWHqVyAR307IB1wZjnfomK2vRUJictxVleUHQeGrbAiex0IPZj/s1600/150px-Neville_Shute_AWW_1949.jpg" /></a><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="color: #999999;">Photo of Nevil Shute from</span> <span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjU-oX9qbvRAhWBKJQKHWSjBUgQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjU-oX9qbvRAhWBKJQKHWSjBUgQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FNevil_Shute&psig=AFQjCNFbvELDa-Xs95ORQxowXL6j79JT_g&ust=1484266515820785" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Wikipedia</span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjU-oX9qbvRAhWBKJQKHWSjBUgQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=vLZKXnNaz2VL1M%3A&docid=JltHmjrMMU9rQM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Readers
living in the twenty-first century might wonder at the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">perceived</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
apathy of the Australian people as they wait for the cloud to envelop
them; however, there are substantial differences between the 1950s
and the twenty-first century. The transport possibilities that had
been fairly basic at best were </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">made
null and void with the scarcity of petrol – bikes and horses were
not going to move many people very far, nor would it happen quickly.
Also, the idea of cycling in front of a cloud that would sooner or
later overtake every human on the planet </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">w</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ould
not have been very encouraging. People from that period were not tied
to information media as we are today, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">but
were this to happen today we would most probably find ourselves in a
similar position: no radio, no newspapers, no television and no
internet. Once our twenty-first-century dependence on external media
was </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">forcibly
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">removed
we would probably </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">feel
that we were</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">in
a worse position than the people from the 1950s.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
writing is typical Nevil Shute: it does not create a literary
masterpiece, but it gives us a </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">few
hours of</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
relatively fast-paced entertain</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ment.
That said, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">On
the Beach</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
is not just mindless entertainment as it paints a reality that was
extremely possible in the latter part of the 1950s and,
unfortunately, is just as possible today, sixty years further on.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-59254823555912860012017-03-07T08:02:00.000+11:002017-03-07T08:02:25.341+11:00 The Spare Room by Helen Garner, Australia, 2008<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
is a book about life and death, and about how the two are intricately
intertwined. It is a book about friendship and love, frustration and
anger and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
complex </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">connection</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">s
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">between
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">these
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">emotions</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Spare Room</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">a
book about</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
the necessity </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">of
being able to</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
let go.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-9hF9IC2LPz7nEoHzASGsyju5DsXcqOyKt3-rl4ryW75aA89cPCALTb-56EQGJBxIh8w7UGOKc7q7KbLweuRJko7JgbefknuXqHN0LiwsAsju79kXZNdxqmNnxGF0pDoISE6zv0YRct1/s1600/Spare_room_cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-9hF9IC2LPz7nEoHzASGsyju5DsXcqOyKt3-rl4ryW75aA89cPCALTb-56EQGJBxIh8w7UGOKc7q7KbLweuRJko7JgbefknuXqHN0LiwsAsju79kXZNdxqmNnxGF0pDoISE6zv0YRct1/s320/Spare_room_cover.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
‘I’ of the book, Helen, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is
in her mid-sixties and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">lives
in Melbourne. A friend, Nicole, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">who
is a stage-four cancer patient, moves in with Helen for three weeks
while she is undergoing alternative cancer treatment. Initially,
Helen is happy to be able to help her friend, but this emotion
becomes jaded as she realizes that the treatment is bogus, that
Nicole is refusing to accept the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
ineptness of the alternative therapies and her own mortality, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
that the three-week stay is likely to be extended. Indefinitely</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Moreover,
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Helen
is torn between love for her friend and frustration at having to be
complicit in Nicole’s </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">construction
of positive outcomes and happy endings.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Photo of Helen Garner from</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjXhffHq7vRAhWGGpQKHfNRARsQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjXhffHq7vRAhWGGpQKHfNRARsQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.textpublishing.com.au%2Fbooks%2Fthe-spare-room&psig=AFQjCNGsFcuoqJiJNThCcZmTMZnEmYV92w&ust=1484266960901663" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Text Publishing</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjXhffHq7vRAhWGGpQKHfNRARsQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=FrK71rqoKvA8PM%3A&docid=QnUOnbo6JAbT1M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4Xcy8nROsNOEpdkWlAT7WULZJlHBLeXLX7SmWWXKmSXKpExyApC0NhaV_WdftCm0RNnXswTPIbN3EP9GZ8_W7y7m_Xkebuk-Ef36A_7tm8-_EBME2KG-6xvR4ibgBcxdbH-ElAZlHGTa/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4Xcy8nROsNOEpdkWlAT7WULZJlHBLeXLX7SmWWXKmSXKpExyApC0NhaV_WdftCm0RNnXswTPIbN3EP9GZ8_W7y7m_Xkebuk-Ef36A_7tm8-_EBME2KG-6xvR4ibgBcxdbH-ElAZlHGTa/s320/hqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Eventually
the situation reaches a crisis point.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Through
her two main characters, Helen Garner presents the important ideas of
life, death and friendship. She </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">lays
out the facts and lets the reader make his/her own decisions. It is a
beautifully written book, and one that I definitely recommend to
others.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-532450803654577782017-02-21T08:09:00.001+11:002017-02-21T08:09:36.531+11:00The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes, UK, 2016<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Julian
Barnes writes on page 125 (</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;">edition published by</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> Jonathan Cape): </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">What
could be put up against the noise of time? Only that music which is
inside ourselves – the music of our being – which is transformed</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">by
some into real music. Which, over decades, if it is strong and true
and pure enough to drown out</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
noise of time,</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is
transformed into the whisper of history.</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkfh_ld0gWFkel67GFGIRQyAd653vnbKeHtAps8K61PFLkLNRJgk3Nu5xBU-EM1jGj1m28kNobN6-GrdcmZ5hfcZ0I0mAzLPLtnnE1oc7dV5_oqgalUKHNlaaZUFMQ-bhiMIfjP4Q4gN6/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkfh_ld0gWFkel67GFGIRQyAd653vnbKeHtAps8K61PFLkLNRJgk3Nu5xBU-EM1jGj1m28kNobN6-GrdcmZ5hfcZ0I0mAzLPLtnnE1oc7dV5_oqgalUKHNlaaZUFMQ-bhiMIfjP4Q4gN6/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
a beautiful book, beautifully researched and written. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">There
is nothing in the early part of the book that indicates that the book
is about</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
Dmitri Dmitrievich </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Shostakovich;
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">this
is information that appears piece by piece, until the reader says:
“Why, of course… ”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Drawing
upon a number of biographies of the composer, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Noise of Time</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
is not itself a biography, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">even
though it follows a rough timeline from birth to death</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
I</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">n
many ways it is a painting of Shostakovich where his emotions and his
vital essence take priority over dates and happenings. It is this
presentation that makes the book so special and so readable.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvshwHy8SlJYVHZWJOaS9md4dMNVY_2tTjCw4Gle5bXnXbSuFRvVTa1zdDrrR2FaFWK6g0mxURb9VMBrBbZq0_jttrTQC8dqdD1BQGWu5SS0wPesgRX9c9xVPLwSsSSWBTj91hQm6nvlFg/s1600/JulianBarnes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvshwHy8SlJYVHZWJOaS9md4dMNVY_2tTjCw4Gle5bXnXbSuFRvVTa1zdDrrR2FaFWK6g0mxURb9VMBrBbZq0_jttrTQC8dqdD1BQGWu5SS0wPesgRX9c9xVPLwSsSSWBTj91hQm6nvlFg/s320/JulianBarnes.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Shostakovich
is a gifted composer, for whom music is everything,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">who
is </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">caught
up in a society that has lost its soul. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">He
watches while other creative people are exiled to camps or executed,
and he awaits the knock on the door that will lead to the same fate
for himself. Bit by bit he learns that the truthful expression of his
innermost emotions will only </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">lead
to annihilation. In the end he compromises.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">It
is th</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">is</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
compromise that is the most difficult thing Shostakovich has done. He
is no longer being completely truthful to the creative force within
him, but the alternative does not bear thinking about. Some may see
him as a coward, but opting to reconcile two opposing forces – his
own creative nature and the Soviet State – Shostakovich </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">must
be given due praise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjfwKuRqLvRAhUBnZQKHVG3BkcQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjfwKuRqLvRAhUBnZQKHVG3BkcQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.headstuff.org%2F2016%2F04%2Freview-the-noise-of-time-by-julian-barnes%2F&psig=AFQjCNHGCLmsQwxfI4xxRoEK8JR1FLvPYg&ust=1484266022282990" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"><br /></span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjfwKuRqLvRAhUBnZQKHVG3BkcQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=R9WarZIGqk_kMM%3A&docid=6Tq5ScrTIVG68M&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">His
fears, his love of music, his frustration with the State and the
people administrating it weave together to give us the portrait of a
man filled with </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
boundlessness of music but also with many </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">regrets
and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">much
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">soul-searching.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Definitely
a book worth reading.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">The photo of Julian Barnes above is from </span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans condensed" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjfwKuRqLvRAhUBnZQKHVG3BkcQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjfwKuRqLvRAhUBnZQKHVG3BkcQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.headstuff.org%2F2016%2F04%2Freview-the-noise-of-time-by-julian-barnes%2F&psig=AFQjCNHGCLmsQwxfI4xxRoEK8JR1FLvPYg&ust=1484266022282990" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">HeadStuff</span></a></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-81640566886094033092017-02-07T08:14:00.000+11:002017-02-07T08:14:08.028+11:00 Argo by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio, USA, 2012 <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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November 1979, Iranian revolutionaries, many of them students,
stormed the American Embassy in Tehran and to</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">o</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">k
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">more
than sixty staff hostage. The </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">attack
was condoned by the Ayatollah </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Khomein</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">i</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
who, only months earlier, had formed a provis</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ional
government after the exile of the shah, a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">nd
although several hostages were later released the majority remained
captive for 444 days</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
Unbeknown to the revolutionaries six Embassy staff were outside of
the Embassy when it was attacked, and they managed to keep themselves
hidden until the Canadian Embassy </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">gave
them refuge. The fact that they had avoided capture and that the
Canadians were now harbouring them had to be kept secret, but
everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before the
revolutionaries would flush them out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Antonio
Mendez, working in the disguise and extrication section of the CIA,
was given the job of getting the six Americans out of Iran. He knew
that his chances of success were extremely slim, but he was prepared
to try even if it meant that he could lose his life in the process.
He came up with th</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e
i</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">d</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ea
of a film company producing a film ‘Argo’, and the six Americans
were to be Canadian film crew checking possible </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">locations
for the film. Mendez hoped that the airport immigration authority
would accept the story – evident from all the forged paperwork –
that the Americans had only been in the country for a few days and
were now on their way elsewhere.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white;">Photo of Antonio Mendez from </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiK1bjPoLvRAhWCHpQKHcr-CjAQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiK1bjPoLvRAhWCHpQKHcr-CjAQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquick-book-review.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F03%2Fargo-by-antonio-mendez-and-matt-baglio.html&psig=AFQjCNFe_XirtjN8tXQ5EOD2r-GYLPSSXA&ust=1484264010909476" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Quick Book Reviews</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiK1bjPoLvRAhWCHpQKHcr-CjAQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=2CMq1jlFWw2RvM%3A&docid=F8uRt5O0H9cLHM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
amount of background work that went into building up this story is
amazing, and from this point of view the book is extremely
interesting. However, e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">x</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">cludin</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">g
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
f</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">i</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">nal
chapt</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">r
wh</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">r</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">there
are some nail-biting scene</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">s,
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">boo</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">k
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">fails
to i</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">mpart
the te</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ns</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">io</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">n
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
the s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">u</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">spe</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e
t</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">hat
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">w</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ou</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ld
h</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">av</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e
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</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">t</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">h</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e
fi</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">lm,
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thankfully it does</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">m</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ge</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
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and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">w</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">at</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">r
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inf</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">o</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">rm</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ati</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">on
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<br /></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-77108881003690318322017-01-17T10:24:00.000+11:002017-01-17T10:24:15.844+11:00The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, USA, 1892<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9k7p4rZ2uFciL3QHYy4X7BYnvMebII0ot3L8ws9qgwJDw5a9kh93WIEsk8Bn6Whzc43L55QzHmhujIy0LN_DWFWX4XkQHWX-7dvbaqILfBQrJD5OHPuMNHe6XwpTitq-On4XwaAphA9L/s1600/2012-04-08-20-43-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9k7p4rZ2uFciL3QHYy4X7BYnvMebII0ot3L8ws9qgwJDw5a9kh93WIEsk8Bn6Whzc43L55QzHmhujIy0LN_DWFWX4XkQHWX-7dvbaqILfBQrJD5OHPuMNHe6XwpTitq-On4XwaAphA9L/s320/2012-04-08-20-43-06.jpg" width="192" /></a><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
found this short story especially interesting. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">As
an early piece of feminist writing, it</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
looks at </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">attitudes
towards women, both generally and from the point of view of mental
health</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
A </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">woman
who stridently presented legitimate views could easily be called
hysterical, while</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
a woman who was </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">demure
and silent – on the verge of being in some kind of vegetative state
– was considered </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">normal</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
depressive, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Perkins
Gi</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">lm</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">an</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
spent a lot of time </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">being
treated by doctors and</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
psychiatrists, and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">as
a result </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">she</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
would doubtlessly have </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;">been well acquainted with the subject about which she was writing</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo of Charlotte Perkins Gilman from <span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjDs5iCm7vRAhUCGJQKHUelCEsQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjDs5iCm7vRAhUCGJQKHUelCEsQjB0IBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoems-and-poets%2Fpoets%2Fdetail%2Fcharlotte-anna-perkins-gilman&bvm=bv.143423383,d.dGo&psig=AFQjCNGa5x5SPx2oz-lwl0NehJNF0InaOw&ust=1484262512741046" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Poetry Foundation</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"> </span></span></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjDs5iCm7vRAhUCGJQKHUelCEsQhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=7PLTYKqLh-cT_M%3A&docid=FrkJ5m_bVLAlNM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
story tells of a woman, the ‘I’ in the story, who has been
brought to a house in the country by her physician husband. As the
story unfolds it </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">becomes
evident that</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
the woman is </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">possibly
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">suffering
from post-natal depression, but </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">nothing
is</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
stated outright. The </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">husband
is certain that the only way for his wife to be cured is by rest,
with no distractions of any kind. She is not allowed to leave the
house, read </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">or</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
write. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">I</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">n
fact, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">she
is not permitted to </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">do
anything. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Under
no circumstances is </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">she
to experience</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
any kind of mental or sensory stimulation. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
desperation </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
woman</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
turns her attention to the yellow wallpaper in the room where she has
been placed, and bit by bit she conjures up a completely new world,
which is often </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">quite
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">terrifying.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Gradually
any line</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
between what is reality and what is merely in her imagination </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">becomes
completely erased</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Whether
the woman </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">finally
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">sinks
completely into a state of madness or whether she finally conquers
her husband is something that only the reader can decide.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
</div>
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<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Illustration of the yellow wallpaper from <span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjj-P_RmrvRAhUQv5QKHU55Cx0QjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjj-P_RmrvRAhUQv5QKHU55Cx0QjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kozah.com%2Fessay%2Fon-yellow-wallpaper%2F&psig=AFQjCNHub2YtooNzZ7gHuCZK0Tml3q4CMw&ust=1484262347148524" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr">Kozah</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="_r3"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">As
a writer, Perkins Gilm</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">an</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
was aware that writing was one way in which she could break free of
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">men’s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
stifling expectations, but she also knew that many men were
frightened of what this could lead to – they preferred women to do
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">womanly</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
things that did not in any way threaten or compete with men.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="_r3"><a class="_ZR irc_hol i3724" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjj-P_RmrvRAhUQv5QKHU55Cx0QjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjj-P_RmrvRAhUQv5QKHU55Cx0QjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kozah.com%2Fessay%2Fon-yellow-wallpaper%2F&psig=AFQjCNHub2YtooNzZ7gHuCZK0Tml3q4CMw&ust=1484262347148524" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"><br /></span></a></span><span class="_r3 irc_msc"><a class="_ZR irc_msl i3591" data-i="1" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwjj-P_RmrvRAhUQv5QKHU55Cx0QhxwICA" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=simg%3Am00&tbnid=2hZ6VSCWDSWM8M%3A&docid=l5V_HHo70hRBpM&bih=959&biw=1918&tbm=isch" tabindex="0"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Yellow Wallpaper</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,
Perkins Gilmore cleverly balances the wife’s </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">learned
submissiveness (her husband was so kind; he was only trying to help
her) with the wife’s awareness of her own pressing needs. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">She
knew only too well that the ‘rest cure’ did more harm than good.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">valuable
piece of feminist writing, w</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">hich
is not outdated, not even after more than one hundred years.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-92215970978645205922017-01-03T14:58:00.000+11:002017-01-03T14:58:27.650+11:00The Shiralee by D'Arcy Niland, Australia, 1955<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }</style>
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<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0uuimTeYd2rMOcR4OlhULmKfZ_P9FPYoaWKZcyHXYQoHhdrglN40o7e56phZ8MKfAa4GbSYF69EWrr6SmuoHL-KpVCqiJtaAUieESDCFwxF1KPmbJpyl9ZgwmK_1yLhE9b0uEf_p4wLS/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0uuimTeYd2rMOcR4OlhULmKfZ_P9FPYoaWKZcyHXYQoHhdrglN40o7e56phZ8MKfAa4GbSYF69EWrr6SmuoHL-KpVCqiJtaAUieESDCFwxF1KPmbJpyl9ZgwmK_1yLhE9b0uEf_p4wLS/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
loved this book. Telling the story of a father, Macauley, traipsing
around the outback of north-west NSW</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">in
the 1950s with his four-year-old daughter, Buster, in tow, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Shiralee</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">(an
Aboriginal word meaning </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">burden</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">)
not only gives an unsentimental picture of the relationship between a
father and daughter but also a wonderful insight into the outback
itself and the people who inhabit it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_tStAdRcWs-a86MZesvI_mT0M8Om2DnRHKeTanF4ZRXjtiiBOgUHr5-4yfULZvpn7WnfCTjWtZ4G8rMtE2yULur9xYd9k4pmCi4h_HT6ILzxk0Z-HCpUsADuDqqPpOMqCjAnYUQQfZND/s1600/DarcN4-r03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_tStAdRcWs-a86MZesvI_mT0M8Om2DnRHKeTanF4ZRXjtiiBOgUHr5-4yfULZvpn7WnfCTjWtZ4G8rMtE2yULur9xYd9k4pmCi4h_HT6ILzxk0Z-HCpUsADuDqqPpOMqCjAnYUQQfZND/s320/DarcN4-r03.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Macauley
has fled</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">not only </span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
city </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">but also</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> his wife after </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">he found</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">her in bed with another man. Now in
the far corner of the state, walking from place to place in search of
odd jobs, occasionally picking up a lift and all the time</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">camping
rough,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">he
swings between mild irritation at </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">having to</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span>take care of Buster, and a very possessive and deep love of the
child - a love which he is not always able to articulate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Though
written in the vernacular, it is in no way forced or artificial but
manages to beautifully capture a period of Australia's past</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">that
possibly</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">no
longer exists. The many characters Macauley meets</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">are</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">nuanced
and realistic, blending<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">well</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">with<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">observant</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> descriptions of the
Australian outback.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> Definitely a book worth reading. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">In
1957, the book was made into a successful film with Peter Finch in
the lead role.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
</div>
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169845675445828351.post-38536812227724675292016-12-20T08:50:00.000+11:002016-12-20T08:50:19.256+11:00The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan, Australia, 2013<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }</style>
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
would have to be one of the best (if not the best) book I have read
this year. The writing is, as with all Flanagan’s books,
superb. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Although
the main part of the book deals with Australian prisoners of war and
the building of the Burmese railway </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">(and
is, consequently, extremely confronting), it does not merely dwell on
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">atrocities
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">of
war</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">,
but </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">gives
a balanced two-sided view as to why such things may have happened. It
makes no excuses, but it does </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6f9-AsRjML_cQQCik1Nf4WCyB62vaT8w5BbjqJdO29nHSDYNNNzFInTgkAzjJB7dMYjswEkwTY1oNqwRtLyZ4PzIbMGIRWiA9KJjtcFbRVCt0eFA-0EbyJX465Ia460kdk6qcUgaqbqp/s1600/index.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6f9-AsRjML_cQQCik1Nf4WCyB62vaT8w5BbjqJdO29nHSDYNNNzFInTgkAzjJB7dMYjswEkwTY1oNqwRtLyZ4PzIbMGIRWiA9KJjtcFbRVCt0eFA-0EbyJX465Ia460kdk6qcUgaqbqp/s1600/index.jpeg" /></a></span></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">give
explanations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
book follows the life o</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">f
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Dorrigo
Eva</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ns
f</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">rom
his beginning in Tasmania, through a career in medicine punctuated
by several yea</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">rs
of</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
military service, to his end on the mainland of Australia. Woven into
his life is his love for Amy (his uncle’s young wife), and his
less-than-satisfactor</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">y
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">marriage
with Ell</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">a.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
is a book that stays with you long after the last paragraph has been
read and the book closed. There are definitely many images that
refuse to go away, but there are also thoughts and perspectives that
smuggle their way into your subconscious and, hopefully, shed some
light on all the bigger questions: why are we here? What is life?
What is death? What is love?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sCyEO_UHXdxVDn-lUwm-Itmp69R3FplQJdc-Kehv9kSfvTetxMgI57nvyknoVRbSM86sZYhBGy_6Nf-Ce2XCBR3xq1l88ZhHNpuRW4XnSPtnP8-MUZYrVDo5XLu6FfgYmXhSWQCQEsg4/s1600/5814734-3x2-700x467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sCyEO_UHXdxVDn-lUwm-Itmp69R3FplQJdc-Kehv9kSfvTetxMgI57nvyknoVRbSM86sZYhBGy_6Nf-Ce2XCBR3xq1l88ZhHNpuRW4XnSPtnP8-MUZYrVDo5XLu6FfgYmXhSWQCQEsg4/s320/5814734-3x2-700x467.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Days
and months are travellers of eternity. So too the years that pass by</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">(From
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Basho’s
travel journal </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
Narrow Road to the Deep North</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">)</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
edition I read (by Vintage) has 467 pages, so it is definitely not a
one-evening read (and, even if it were possible, I do not think that
most people would be able to absorb so much in such a short space of
time). Apart from the fact that it was awarded the Man Booker Prize
in 2014, it is definitely a book I would recommend.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The photo of Flanagan receiving the Man Booker Award is from the ABC. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu" serif "condensed" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
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Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892633139515625176noreply@blogger.com0