A hundred years ago, when I was in university, critical theory was beginning to influence the English curriculum. A professor introduced us to Roland Barthes’ essay on the death of the author with the memorable addition that we were welcome to attempt to argue that Milton’s Paradise Lost was about scrambled eggs, if we chose. … Continue reading Dead to me
All of the books on this list share a leaning toward magic realism. In some the realism is to the fore, and in others, it’s the magic, but in every case, the author makes effective use of either or both to illuminate their story in beautiful and devastating ways. What I love about Stardust is … Continue reading If you liked Stardust, by Neil Gaiman…
Welcome to my latest vanity project. As if I don't have enough to do. Idle hands may be the devil's playground, but an idle mind is his party place. Please forgive the lack of consistency of approach. I dabble, rather.
Three elements make up a great book, for me; A clever, compelling, or congenial plot: characters I enjoy spending time with; and beautiful writing. Now, I’ve been known to read books with less - I’ve been known to enjoy books with only two out of three of these. But a great book has all three. … Continue reading A Reader’s Dilemma
(Flash Fiction) Hello and welcome to the Gallery. As you see these are the landscapes over here. And these the portraits. Both have their interest, but I think we’ll start with the landscapes. This particular room contains the landscapes of Retreat from Physical Pain. It’s not the largest of the rooms in the Hall of … Continue reading The Gallery
It will be Remembrance Day soon. Both my grandfathers were veterans of that so-called Great War. The war to end all wars. And my father and his cousin of the next. My social media feeds are awash with images of poppies and small children saluting - of beautiful choral arrangements of I Vow to Thee, my … Continue reading Remembrance
I have been contemplating love, again. In particular, "I love <insert name here>, but..." or, "I really do love him/her/other, it's just..." This makes me wonder if love is as much an organic thing as we've been led to believe. It seems that love is much more an act of will, the result of conscious … Continue reading Un/Conditional
A woodcut of a plague doctor. PUBLIC DOMAIN I remember being told that the origin of the use of “God bless you” after a sneeze was that a sneeze was held to be a sign that you had the plague and were going to die. Our history teacher in high school was full of fun … Continue reading Gesundheit
Virtual Jazz Vespers from All Saints' Anglican Church, Westboro (Ottawa) This is the first in a series of videos I created in an attempt to keep Jazz Vespers alive in the hearts and minds of our tiny following. The videos seem to be mildly popular, often getting more views than would have attended an actual … Continue reading Jazz Vespers in an Unusual Time
Today marks 40 years since the day I probably should have died. Am I living on borrowed time? Sometimes I think so. And perhaps that's why I am so profoundly uncomfortable whenever that reading about the talents comes up in the lectionary at church. Because I can't be said to have spent that time well. … Continue reading Forty Years On
Elizabeth Knighton Brown 