Erin Mcleod > Recent Status Updates

A reread for me. Very interesting portrait of the colonial mind in Canada, and extremely interesting in light of local abuse, given my support for indigenous rights.

So interesting! It has inspired me to try my hand at some geology-based pottery as well.

I've been taking time with this. It's just so good I want to savour it: ten years in the making warrants careful reading.

On my reading menu today:

The Spiritual History of Ice by Eric Wilson.
Intro: Great description of the intuitive experience of the sublime but... bogus (Romantic) characterization of nature as indifferent. To me, the natural world has a rich emotional life, consciousness and vast amounts of healing energy.

Poetry, so beautiful!
Hafiz, Of Course Things Like That Can Happen
Czeslaw Milosz, City Without A Name

I'm nearly done Volume One. I am so glad I am reading this. I'm finding it oddly comforting. Highlights for me were Bishop "Bienvenue," (Welcome) and his redemption of Jean Valjean. I listened to it three times and I'm still amazed. Fantine, and JV's nemesis, Javert, have also been introduced. George Guidall is a great narrator, and the trio of his voice, Hugo's story and my knitting is doing it for me right now.

I just listened to the exchange between Jean Valjean and the Bishop on the new TV adaptation of Les Mis (I’m accessing it through CBC’s Gem and this scene is in episode one) and decided not only am I in, but I also need to finally get around to reading the book. I may need to revisit the soundtrack as well :-)

"It is written I am making all things new, but the chords are a clothesline of grief. Razor-sharp gusts snap the faith of he who would flee this cruel start. Ice rain beats blossom to a glassy pulp. A curr shakes his pelt bone dry." - from The Collected Poems of Jan Wolkers

"It is written I am making all things new, but the chords are a clothesline of grief. Razor-sharp gusts snap the faith of he who would flee this cruel start. Ice rain beats blossom to a glassy pulp. A curr shakes his pelt bone dry." Rijneveld is a Dutch poet. This is her first novel. These are its opening lines.

I am loving this tale of two creatively gifted sisters and find the writing reminiscent of Elizabeth Hay’s earlier fiction, ie A Student of Weather.

I am reading this because it was recommended by Natalie Goldberg in one of her books, and it is fantastic. -the aspects of human experience she is able to put words to in relationships with others is incredible.

So far this is a very interesting read for Snowden's in-depth look at the internet surveillance culture which arose following the unfettered freedom of the nineties (sigh, I miss those days). Snowden's description of work from inside the CIA is really interesting, and he has confirmed that a) no legitimate reports of alien contact with earth have yet occurred, and yes, men really did land on the moon: lol.

I’m really enjoying this book so far. Willis has put a ton of research into it and it’s worth reading the Wiki on it. Love the cultural references sprinkled throughout, the humour, and the intent of this work. It’s a tome but well worth the investment.

This is a wonderful book so far: the writing is incredible! Groff is a careful observer and recorder of the fleeting expressions and meaningful gestures that reveal her characters inner worlds.

Well, I am about half-way through this memoir and I am waiting for the ‘educated’ part. Violent, anti-intellectual, anti-government fundamentalist family with most males exhibiting psychopathic tendencies. I’m wondering why she didn’t flee three chapters ago.

I am thoroughly enjoying this.

A beautiful volume of philosophical inquiry combined with black and white landscape photographs. Etcheto includes quotes from thinkers such as Spinoza and Marcus Aurelius to emphasize certain points, but the writing is all his own. Refreshingly accessible introduction to difficult topics. I just love the combination of text and images. Etcheto states that he meditates on the various topics while taking the photos.

Michel Faber is a genius. This is the third work of his I've read and each creation is utterly unique and well written. His story of a Christian missionary in outer space is utterly believable, very strange and, at times, very moving. I am loving it so far.

I was introduced to this beautiful book in my American Literature class in university and was thrilled to see they'd released an audio version of it. Recommended reading if you enjoy Native Literature, Silko is an absolute master.

This may be my new favourite book. Or at the very least, in my too 10. An epic of magic realism set during the Mexican Civil War, the novel starts in 1889, and chronicles the life of Theresita, a healer. This character is apparently based on one of Urrea’s own relatives. Vivid, sensuous writing detailing the magic of everyday life among the poor, THBD is making me fall in love with language all over again.

I'm surprised this novel hasn't been more popular. It's really good.

People seem to love or really not like this book. I'm in the former camp. Both well-written and researched, the story of Hild, a confident, psychic little girl who becomes advisor to the King, and later a saint, is fascinating. The book is set in 7th century Britain, and Griffith makes abundant use of insect and reptilian metaphor and simile to help you get a feel for just how dangerous a world that was.

This slim volume is packed with key information and written by respected medieval historian John Blair. I am currently reading this as research and would highly recommend to anyone looking for succinct, historically accurate reference material on the subject. An alternate title, and I suggest this with humorous intent, might be: "Anglo Saxon Society in a Nutshell for Writers."