Moving on …

I finished The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie while stranded on a powerless streetcar yesterday. This is significant only because I was so intent on the story that I didn’t even realize we’d stopped moving until a woman sitting near me unwrapped the biggest piece of barbequed pork rind imaginable (if one imagines such things) and started to chow down.  

Loved the story. Definitely a book I’ll pick up again and suspect I’ll have different questions after each read … Why such disdain for the girl guides? Is it significant that Teddy Lloyd has only one arm? I have to admit that knowing Sparks worked as a propagandist during WW2 may change how I approach the book next time. 

The National Library of Scotland has a quick overview of Muriel Spark’s life and work available here. 

Picked up Saturday by Iam McEwan yesterday during lunch and am 50 or so pages into the story. Have officially abandoned Ulysses. Will taunt myself with its greatness some other time. Am looking forward to reading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore, which a colleague is currently enjoying, and joining Kate’s Book Blog short story group.

Amy

Random Readings

Still (still!) reading The Accidental (Ali Smith), which I hope to finish shortly as I have two other books I’d like to start. I’m not sure why it’s taking so long to finish, but I’ve had to fight the urge to add it to my discarded without prejudice pile.

I was hoping to finish it last night but didn’t get home from The Fringe Festival until late. I tend to like the idea of The Fringe more than the actual plays, but Humans Anonymous by Kate Hewlett was wonderful.  To be honest, I haven’t gone to see a play in ages – I’m not counting Wingfield’s Inferno as it was more like a CBC Radio 1 segment coming to life before my eyes than theatrical entertainment – but if you’re planning on seeing something at the Fringe, go to Humans Anonymous.

It’s funny, well-acted and the story weaves together five unique characters in 55 minutes.  Humans Anonymous runs at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace (30 Bridgman Avenue) on Monday, July 9 (1 p.m.), Wednesday, July 12 (2:15 p.m.), Thursday, July 13 (11:30 p.m.), Friday, July 14 (noon), and Saturday, July 15 (6:15p.m.). 

Anyway, back to the book: It’s actually quite frustrating as I enjoy the cadence of Smith’s writing and she weaves four strong characters together. It’s the pages and pages of free association that throw me … I’m sure there’s deep social meaning to each, but while I find them entertaining, and an interesting way of describing the fifth character, Amber, it feels heavy-handed. I will pick up another Smith book, and may try The Accidental again as I think my appreciation of it would change with a second reading … who knows …

And finally, thank you to Kate S. for her Toronto-area bookstore suggestions. I’ve started the running list and, where possible, linked to the stores’ website.  

Amy

PR Girlz recommendation

A friend recently recommended The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger on the PR Girlz’s blog. If you haven’t read it and enjoy a story that’s a little quirky, it’s worth picking up.

I haven’t figure out (yet) how to make the comments appear as part of the main page, but I’ll move recommendations manually until I figure out how to automate the process. If you’ve submitted a suggested reading and I don’t properly credit you, feel free to send me a nasty email (spineless.blog@gmail.com). 

Terry Fallis, who’s not one of the “PR Girlz” but does head up Thornley Fallis Communications with partner Joe Thornely, and who produces the weekly podcast Inside PR with David Jones (too much information?), suggests Busted Flush by Brad Smith, a Canadian author from southwestern Ontario. I’ve not read any of his work, but Terry also recommends Smith’s earlier books, One Eyed Jacks, and All Hat. Thanks, Terry.

Working on the razzle dazzle …

As soon as I can figure out how to upload photos and include links in the posts, the jazz factor will be blinding … suggestions are welcome.

Am currently working my way through the accidental by Ali Smith and would love to hear from anyone who’s actually made it past page 73. According to the publisher, it won the Whitbread Novel Award (never heard of it), was shortlisted for the 2005 Man Booker Prize (feel like I should know that one …) and received praise from every newspaper reviewer in Britain.

Apparently, I’m too easily swayed by a good cover and third-party tributes …