a dictionary of spectral curiosities
Today I need something a bit more uplifting and inspiring, so as a writer myself, I thought: what better theme for day 7 than "fooling around with words"? I have to admit, it wasn't easy finding works from 3 different categories that would fit this theme, since there are many films about writers, but not …
Continue reading "‘Stuck at home’ day 7: Fooling around with words"
I find that, when I'm stuck in one place with nowhere to go, immersing myself in a puzzle of some sort is really effective in taking my brain for a good, lengthy walk. So for day 6 I have chosen "riddle me this" as my overarching theme. Today, you're getting a book, a film, and a …
To make sens of the world as it stands right now, we must look at it slantways, sideways, and upside down, I think. And what better way to achieve that than by immersing ourselves in the most bizarre representations of the world? It also just so happens that these bizarre representations are post-apocalyptic, as well. …
On this the fourth day of our enforced isolation, I am given to queer musings, so I have chosen an equally queer theme. Thus, I give you... Day 4: Wicked dreams. Book: Catherynne M. Valente, Palimpsest This novel, originally published in 2009, tells the story of those whose one heartfelt desire is to reach and live in Palimpsest, …
It's looking increasingly like dystopia from where I'm standing, so I will honour this mood by marking my theme for day 3: dystopia. Today, I'm sticking with yesterday's book, film, and computer game combo, and I'll bring you an amalgam of scenarios of how things can – and, historically, have – gone wrong. Book: Yevgeny Zamyatin, We …
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I love the sea, and I also happen to live by the sea, so all of my suggestions for today revolve around the seaside. Perhaps this is also due to the fact that I'm currently reading another book in which the sea is a central figure: Death and the Seaside by Alison Moore. (So far …
Continue reading "‘Stuck at home’ suggestions day 2: Dreaming of the sea"
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold, and I'm stuck at home for the most part, like most people hereabouts. Cabin fever threatens to take over, so I've decided that, for as long as I'm able, I will try to contribute something positive by starting a series of "daily culture suggestions". How this works: every …
Continue reading "‘Stuck at home’ suggestions day 1: Modern Gothic"
I can't believe that I have almost reached the end of this year's poetry-writing challenge! Tomorrow, I'll have to find a way to celebrate, but for now, here's my next-to-last poem of the month! Once more, I followed the daily prompt, which suggested that we write a meditative poem. Mine is inspired by my uneasy …
Playing catch-up again, because this is my life. 😀 Sometimes it feels like a juggler walking a thin rope through fog. Anyway, here's my "debt" of four poems! For day 25, I wrote a poem about stained glass, for which I have a very healthy (I do assure you!) obsession. Stained Glass Whom do these …
Today, the optional prompt suggested that we get inspired by an encyclopaedia in writing our poems. And since this is the very Encyclopaedia Vanitatum – the encyclopaedia of worthless, transient things – the prompt fit like a glove. And so today's poem was written sub specie aeternitatis – considering timelessness. Sub Specie Aeternitatis Gromphadorhina portentosa Dionaea muscipula Achatina …
Encyclopaedia Vanitatum 