In a little under a week 212 people entered the Goodreads Giveaway of Desire Lines: Stories of Love and Geography. Congratulations to Erin of Mississauga On and Kristin of Bismark, ND who were chosen by the Goodreads elves to receive the two copies available.
The books were put in the mail Monday morning, in hopes that they'll get them in time for Christmas. (Good chance for Erin, but I don't know about Kristin, given the weather conditions.)
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Christmas Reading: The Dead from James Joyce's The Dubliners
When it comes to holiday reading your thoughts might not go immediately to a story with a title like "The Dead." But this last story in James Joyce's The Dubliners is a perfect antidote to too much artificial good cheer.
The events take place one evening during the end of year holidays at a party given by two maiden aunts. There is a certain amount of holiday greeting exchanged, quite a bit of drinking on the part of the gentlemen, political discussion that nearly veers out of control, and the realization by Gabriel Conroy that his wife Greta, although she has been a good wife to him, had a love before him.
Anyone who has found family gatherings far from simple events will sympathize with the ambiguous relations among the characters. We do not always like those closest to us, even though we may love them deeply. Learning how to live with that web of emotions and expectations is very hard. Yet we do it, as Joyce understood.
The story was made into an excellent film by John Huston about 30 years ago. Worth seeing on some holiday night when you're sick of Miracle on 34th Street and The Grinch.
The events take place one evening during the end of year holidays at a party given by two maiden aunts. There is a certain amount of holiday greeting exchanged, quite a bit of drinking on the part of the gentlemen, political discussion that nearly veers out of control, and the realization by Gabriel Conroy that his wife Greta, although she has been a good wife to him, had a love before him.
Anyone who has found family gatherings far from simple events will sympathize with the ambiguous relations among the characters. We do not always like those closest to us, even though we may love them deeply. Learning how to live with that web of emotions and expectations is very hard. Yet we do it, as Joyce understood.
The story was made into an excellent film by John Huston about 30 years ago. Worth seeing on some holiday night when you're sick of Miracle on 34th Street and The Grinch.
Friday, December 13, 2013
While We Wait for Home Delivery to End: A Novel about the Postman's Raound.
Here's a delightful book that should be read while we wait for Canada post to cut out home delivery. (In case you missed, the Crown Corporation has just announcd
that it will be doing away with home mail delivery over the next five
years.) While opposition organizes to this really stupid idea: take a look at Quebec writer Denis Thériault's short novel The Postman's Rounds. It takes place a few years ago when the postman actually delivered the mail and was a part of everyone's life.
And another Canada Post-book connection. withdrawn its permanent stamps, of course, because they want to boost the price of letter mail.
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