Arts For Old Pharts

That isn't as mean as it sounds 'coz I know he is getting good constructive criticism from others more qualified. I just provide the kudos!Anyone capable of going through the book writing process has my support and awe.

It is very hard to give positive feedback when what you're reading is cr*p Mary! Another friend asked me to say what i thought of his children's novel, as it had been rejected numerous times (and he could not understand why). I tried to point out that I was not the best person to ask as my kids had past that particular age-group and I was not au fait with what kids were reading at the time - apart from HP - which is the market he was basically up against - not easy at the best of times. Like you - I take my hat off to anyone who commits to book writing...there are more disappointments than celebrations...

* passed

Did you see that Germaine Greer has written a book about Anne Hathaway? Interesting to see what she has to say!

Billy, Thanks for recommending The Diving Bell....it doesn't disappoint, and indeed touches the heart....If one doesn't appreciate the gift of movement after reading this...not much will. In many ways it is reminiscent of Tuesdays With Morrie, both are powerful testimony on lessons of life.

Anyone wanting to read an Aussie novel of wit and wisdom: "Salvation Creek" by Susan Duncan. Story is located around Melbourne, Sydney and Pittwater.

Hey Dino - I'm pretty sure we've got it in our bookclub pool - but as per usual I haven't had time to pick this one up...but I will try...

I saw Alan Bennett's Talking Heads monologues with Brnda Blethyn and Sigrid Thornton last night. Brenda's monologue "Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet" was wonderful, so wonderful that it totally eclipsed Sigrid's "Her Big Chance " - which was amateurish in its delivery - I don't think Sigrid had a good night and had to resort to her prompt twice...the audience were very forgiving.
I haven't been to a play in ages and felt a desire last night to visit London's westend again...

Brenda (Secrets and Lies and Clubland)

Another book that is riveting and I highly recommend is: They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky. Its the true story of three of the Lost Boys from Sudan. It is such a wonderfully well written book that makes you realize just how hard some work just to live. Oh, I can't say enough about this book. If you have alreadyreadit I'd love to hear howyou experienced it.

Saw "the Greatest woman in the World" - a play about Maria Montessori. Naff title but good play.
Both my girls went to Montessori school, so it held some relevance...

Reading Titus Andronicus at the moment, never knew about this play until now and it is quite an eye-opener, terribly gruesome...

Hey Billy, saw that comedy with all Shakespeare's plays in 128 min and the bits of TA were hilarious...ever seen a pie talk?

OMG - Titus! this play is incredible - didn't know whether to laugh at the last scene when there were was one killing after another after Tamora had just eaten her sons in the pies! not to mention the heads, hands and tongues being lopped off. Tarantino would have a field day with this one...

It was filmed in 1999 as Titus with Anthony Hopkins in the lead role. It was a 'modern' take and not surprisingly it had an R rating.

Re-read Atonement, skimmed it more like as I didn't have time to read it thoroughly before seeing the film, the book still 'gets' to me as it is so beautifully written. Had to review the book/film on radio today and i couldn't believe how nervous I was, especially knowing that friends at work would be rolling around cacking themselves...and watching me on the webcam...
really enjoyed the experience and a small debate issued as to whether it's a consummated love story or not? any takers...Mary?

Sorry Billy, too long ago. Will re-read the book in the next few weeks as am going to see the movie in the xmas-new year hols. Glad you had a great time...a new career in the offing?

I did like the ABC studios Mary, had a nice 'feel' to it, café served a worthy hot choccie...may see what jobs they have on offer...
Reading Jodi Picoult's "Nineteen Minutes" at the mo and finding it quite gripping. Have about 10 novels for my christmas reading to get thru before bookclub resumes in Feb - just hoping I find the time to read them all!

Hey, with reading, studying, a family and social life....I think the job has to go!!!

you're right Mary - work is seriously impeding my life...may have to re-evaluate, but it is a means to an end - for without it how can I afford to visit Ticketek? some great line-ups coming to Perth including the West Coast Blues festival in Freo next year...Jools holland, John Fog(g)erty, Sinead o'Conner et al...so far I have tix for the Police, Jack Johnson, John Butler trio/The waifs, the cricket and the rugby...life is tough.

Ah, ticketek! and then there's the FoP

I have a great contact for the FoP, lots of comp tix!! although i missed out on the chasers...:((

finally finished "19 minutes" by jodi picoult, first one of hers I've read. Interesting subject matter - school bullying culminating in a mass shooting.

Just about to start "A Spot of Bother" by Mark Haddon (Curious Incident of the Dog...)

Have read Picoult's 'My Sister's Keeper'. This was about the increasingly common proceedure of 'producing'a child to 'save' an older sibling with a terminal illness. It was told from the point of view of the second child. Raised some interesting questions.
Loved 'Curious Incident'...tell me what you think of the latter book

Been listening to the promos of the tv adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst's novel, The Line of Beauty(winner of the 2004 Man Booker Prize)showing on ABC on Sunday night at 8.30pm in 3 instalments. I read the book when it first came out and although well written the characters in it annoyed the pip out of me - couldn't warm to any of them, but not sure we were supposed to.
As one critic wrote, "It's a beautiful book about ugly people."
Anyhoo, I'll have a looksee on Sunday when i figure out how to use my remote clicker thingo.

billy guess what I'm reading A Spot of Bother too!! We must stop this.. uncannyish behaviour or at least share a chocolaté en marshmallow over the internet via webcam... I'll wear clothes

ok - i'll wear clothes too...need to as it's suddenly turned very cold in my house...I'm over halfway thru the book (too freakish to contemplate how we're both reading the same book)- need to finish it this w/end as i promised bec i would read HP.
We cab skype if you like - I have webcam and I'll dress for the occasion and have nibbles/drinks at the ready so I don't have to leave for fear of starvation/dehydration...x

Finished ASOB on the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. I love Haddon's sense of humour and it's not often I laugh out loud whilst reading a book. He engages with the reader so well by articulating in words all the little idiosyncracies we can recognise within ourselves...
Started HP and have given myself a week to read it in, bec says I could read it in 10 hours straight if I was a tru HP fan...

Just read Suite Francais by Irene Nemirovsky, the first part of a series of novels contemporaneously dealing with the fall of France in WW2. Lovely characterizations and a work capturing the feel of a time of great upheaval. The outlines for her later books are included at the end, as she was killed at Auschwitz before she could complete them.

Mary - we have the book in our bookclub and a few of the girls who have read the book said they loved it...I shall eventually get around to reading it...

Just got back from The Waifs/John Butler Trio concert at the Freo Art's Centre...what a great venue, a beautiful balmy night and such fantastic music - and home in 10 mins! Ears are buzzing a bit and I think I'm going to be achey tomorrow from all the dancing - no pulled muscle this time :))

Billy, Fire in the Blood by the same author is a brilliant novella. It packs a real punch.
FAC is a lovely venue, and what a perfect night for a concert

Miz T, As promised, I'm posting both Pillars of the Earth, and its sequel, World Without End, by Ken Follett for you here as an introduction so to speak, to our book discussion page or any other interesting cultural experiences...as Billy so aptly described in her introductory paragraph....You can add the books that Chris recommended here if you will, or at least the author...since I've forgotten to check before coming here. What a non-retentive brain I seem to have now a days...lol

Saw The Police on friday night and although I wasn't a huge fan of the group (oh so many years ago)I couldn't pass up the opportunity of seeing Sting. What an absolute ripper of a concert! They sound so much better now then they did way back when...nearly lost my voice as all the song words came flooding back...sneaked my way to within 20 metres of Sting but he didn't hear my offer a lamb roast dinner...which is probably a good thing as it's too bloody hot to turn on my oven. My first time at Member's Equity Stadium for a concert -it's a good venue, looking forward to seeing Jack Johnson there in March.

Roxanne, you dont have to put on the red light....

billy I saw Jack Johnson perform here last year or was the year before? anyway, he was so laid back singing in bare feet! Watch out for the crowds all dressed in surfer gear, get out your fab dab shorts and be part of the crowd. I felt he would have been better playing to a smaller crowd in a smaller venue. Superb nonetheless.

Picked up some blurb on the upcoming movie of the book "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"...will be very interesting how it translates onto the screen when so much of it is 'thought'.

Its an excellent book and I too saw a preview of it on Sunday on a film review, it got good mentions... lets hope it does the book justice.

oh hello - how nice to find an arty page on here! I'm on the sequel to Pillars of the Earth at the mo, World without end - must say it's not a patch on the first one, but a fairly enjoyable read all the same. Billy - re the Diving Bell..I read a scathing article regarding the journalist who 'wrote' the book in the Times the other day; the reporter/interviewer was most doubtful as to just how much 'truth' was in the book and how much was pure speculation on the 'writer's' part. It seems the 'writer' was not too cooperative with her answers!

hey Fiona I guess the reader, like myself, trusted the 'author' implicitly to write what was conveyed to them. It was something I never doubted - the honesty of the book, that is, it would be a shame to know that it had been fabricated as it truly is a very moving story.

well,ummmm, er....
:)...
the book I read has got nothing to do with art!!??..
do I still qualify to make/post here??

My recent acquaintance is with a book titled "blink",author being,Malcom Gladwell.
It speaks about the power of thinking without thinking..
It deals with the different way the brain act in various situation, and why sometimes we aint able to explain certain of our decisions, which may be the best..Blink is sure to change the way you understand the decisions you make and perhaps you may never think,about thinking in the same way.

and this post is just to finish this page...
and some of you art guys make a visit to the math page and keep it alive...
cheers.