Monday, March 8, 2010 at 9:30AM "I mean, what is a woman? I assure you, I do not know. I do not believe that you know. I do not believe that anybody can know until she has expressed herself in all the arts and professions open to human skill." - Professions for Women" - Virginia Woolf -
international women's day, quotation, virginia woolf in quotation Monday, March 1, 2010 at 9:44AM There is something very enjoyable about returning to an author that you have not read in a long time. It is similar to meeting an old friend with whom you have not seen for a long time. I was at the book-store with a good friend of mine and we agreed that meeting more often for coffee would be a good thing. Because the two of us seem to go months on end without meeting each other (scheduling, life, general busyness, etc.), we decided that we needed some motivation. As we were browsing the aisles of the Fiction/Literature section of the book-store, Paul paused at Timothy Findley. "I've heard good things about him, but I've never read anything from him." Done.
We've set ourselves a goal that in 1 month we'll have finished reading the same book Not Wanted on the Voyage and will then meet up to discuss. A one on one book club so to speak.
First impressions: a surreal fantastical world where common expectations of familiar Biblical stories are re-shaped. For example: Timothy has introduced a talking Unicorn into this magical-realist landscape, and yet we learn that Unicorns are only slightly larger than a dog. The characters are rich, particularly Mrs. Noyes, Noah's wife. She is a drunk who has issues when it comes to Dr. Noah Noyes religious obsession. And Yaweh is an old cantankerous curmudgeon who with his angels travels under the guise of a circus. My favourite character though would be Motyll, an elderly cat through which much of the story seems to be interpreted. An interesting choice to view the world of Noah through the eyes of various creatures and mythical beasts. Quite bizarre and delightful all at once.
Speaking of delightful things: my good friend Karen is visiting right now from New Hampshire and I am loving every second of it. We've mostly been sitting around and catching up. As I told her yesterday, we're attempting to cram everything we would be doing if we lived in the same city, into a 4 day visit: getting drunk, dinner, movies, bad-tv marathons. We only knew each other for a year but we managed to create a very strong friendship. It is nice knowing that even though we have not seen each other in two years, that we can just fall right back into a friendship and pick up where we left off. The internet and telephone help some but nothing beats sitting down next to your friend and giggling over The Golden Girls.
Alice in Wonderland later today. I am sure a review will go up shortly. Cheers.
friends, golden girls, karen, not wanted on the voyage, paul, random, timothy findley in book reviews, literature, random Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 8:36AM Things That are Good
Things That are Not so Good
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 9:02AM Joanna Newsom just released her new album Have One on Me and there is a distinct lack of vocabulary that I can employ to describe how amazing and beautiful this work is. It is a 3 disc set and I've only given it one full listen. Took me a few days (mostly driving to work in the mornings, and not a bad way to wake up). 
Joanna Newsom is an artist I struggled with early on. Her voice is something you have to grow into, (rather high on the vocal scale) someone you come to love after repeated listens. Unlike my friend Paul (thanks for turning me onto her), I found her first album The Milk-Eyed Mender to be better than her second Ys. That is not to say that Ys is a bad album, not by any stretch. I just found TMEM to be more accessible. Having listened to her new release, I would still recommend that new comers to her work start with TMEM. Ys is similar to viewing and listening to an opera, it requires an extended & repeated listening to enjoy.
If you know me and are willing or open to trying some new music, ask me for her work and I'd be more than willing to share her discography. Oh and I've recently sought out her work on-line and legally paid for her work. Some artists are worth giving their dues and she is definitely one of them.
G
have one on me, joanna newsom, music, music review, the milk-eyed mender, ys in media, music Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 12:27PM What is it about home remedies that every mother insists upon when a child becomes ill in some way? I was having trouble breathing yesterday evening and I informed my mother of this and she told me what to do. Take this foul smelling food and mash it up into a paste, and then proceed to place that paste around your throat.
Something about things that look, taste, & smell disgusting that mothers feel the need to apply to their children when they are under the weather. I refused treatment and suffered until I passed out. There are some things I refuse to put on my face.
home remedies, mother, random in family Friday, February 19, 2010 at 3:38PM 
I get daily comic strips e-mailed to me every day. Some times you come across one that just makes you smile. I was having a fairly crappy day/week and this particular comic made me smile. I love Peanuts.
Peanuts, charles schulz, comic strip in comics Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:41PM You know what's amazing? When you're panicking and you're worried about something, it's driving you crazy and you want to just resolve the situation and you get to that special moment....AHA! You know what you're going to write, the thesis has been set, you have ideas forming, you aren't worried and now you find yourself in the zone. You write like mad because you need to get all your thoughts down. That is what happened this morning and afternoon. Feels good to accomplish something ahead of time for a change and not to worry about it. Huzzah for me and for that AHA moment.
random, self-promotion, writing in random, self-promotion, writing Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 6:58PM I was talking on the phone with a friend earlier today and she made a comment about an opinion I held regarding a certain issue: "I think the Gaurav from a few years ago would tell the Gaurav from 2010 that he's crazy."
I could not help but laugh at myself. It is interesting how much may change in the course of a few years. I wonder what 2007 Gaurav would tell 2010 Gaurav, or maybe I should reverse that, after all hindsight is 20/20.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 9:42PM Just watched Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai directed by Jim Jarmusch one of my favorite directors. There is something wonderful about his minimalist style. If you've never seen the film, I highly recommend it. It is also a film that I recommend you view while alone. The film follows an african-american hitman played by Forrest Whitacker, who works for a New Jersey mafia-boss. Ghost Dog as he is called follows the ancient code of the samurai, to the letter. It is a film that revels in quiet moments and introspection. It is about the little things, the way he walks, how he views the world around him. The soundtrack is also an amazing work of hip-hop artistry. Well worth your time.
Watching a film by Jim Jarmusch is akin to reading a short novel in the space of 2 hours. That sounds odd but Jim Jarmusch makes it work somehow.
film, ghost dog: the way of the samurai in film reviews, media Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 8:29PM I've been listening to some great music this week.
Owen Pallett (formerly of Final Fantasy) is an amazing artist. Think of Andrew Byrd & Bright Eyes blending with TV on the Radio. A virtuoso performer who makes use of violins, piano, and synthesizers. His most recent album Heartland is something you'll find yourself humming days later.
Owen Pallett - Heartland
Beach House has been given the very appropriate label of "dream pop", ghost like, haunting melodies that wander and meander through your mind. Think of the slow songs on Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest. Their recent album Teen Dream is perfect for an afternoon sitting in your room. Close the blinds, and lay back in the semi-darkness of the eve and just let yourself drift off listening to the slow croons. Will definitely bring a smile to your face.
Beach House - Teen Dream
beach house, indie, music, owen pallett in media, music Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 7:24PM Quite possibly the greatest exposition and transition scene in film history.
black dynamite, blaxploitation films, film, humour in media Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 11:29PM Trying to figure out how to enjoy the small things in life. Here are just a few of the small things that I appreciate and make getting through this rough winter a bit easier.
Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 1:15PM This is a personal appeal, me asking you for some help...sort of. If you plan on doing any travelling anytime soon the next few months or years. Try to do so in Canada. The tourism industry is hurting, and its affecting my family in the most personal of ways. Business is slow and what's good for the industry is good for us. So please, make a trip in Canada, spend some money at a local hotel or bed and breakfast. Take that trip out west or across the country and help not only my mom and pop (heh), but others who are in the same situation. It's a lousy time for everyone in this industry. Thanks for listening. Cheers.
Monday, January 25, 2010 at 11:38AM 
I'm watching a 14 episode anime series, an adaptation of a manga series called Elfen Lied. The series focuses on the interactions between humans and a mutant species similar to humans. The Diclonius are built in the same way as humans except for two differences: tiny horns on their heads, and transparent telekinetically controlled arms that can manipulate and cut objects within a 2-4m range. Ok, nothing too bizarre, the world of anime has certainly seen worse. The story blends romances and the horror quite well.
What I find interesting about this series is the range of subject matter that the series tackles: social alienation, identity, revenge, child abuse, jealousy, regret, and the value of humanity. Along with this the series contains graphic nudity and violence, and I mean GRAPHIC!
The story begins when a particular Diclonius teenage girl escapes from a private facility only to leave a trail of dead bodies behind her.
I find it interesting the way graphic violence and nudity are utilized in this series. The series does not hesitate to show teenage girls from the age of 13-17 nude battling soldiers with weapons, slicing off their arms and ripping their torsos in half. Yet, in one particular episode a small puppy is brutally beaten to death by a group of children. That particular act of violence is not displayed, the camera angle shifts focus to the blunt object that is being used to beat the puppy. 
Somehow it is permissible in society to show a young girl/child at the age of 8 taking her clothes off for her paedophile and rapist father and yet the camera pans away from a puppy being beaten to death.
If you are a fan of manga or anime, then this series is definitely worth seeking out. If you know me personally, I'll be happy to burn the series for you.
The series has been criticised for being a bit on the nose when it comes to certain issues. I agree with this view, sometimes when the social commentary explores abuse or child neglect, it seems a bit obvious and over-done. The viewer knows when tears are being pulled: cue piano music, zoom in on adolescent girl with tears in her eyes. Still, despite this the series as a whole is entertaining and stimulates intelligent dialogue.
G
Finished the series and the ending is pretty disappointing. Still, there is enough going on in the rest of the series to keep you entertained and talking about some very interesting social politics.
anime, elfen lied in anime, media, sf/fantasy Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 8:22AM The past few days have been pleasant. While I am still working long hours at both university and at the hotel, the weather has made all of the difference. An individual can only take so much grey and I find the sunshine and blue skies that we've had recently has been lifting my spirits.
There is something about a blue sky that makes you pop some ear-buds and listen to some new music. I recently re-discovered the White Stripes and I find myself singing and crooning along with Jack & Meg.
Reading Jane Yolen's 12 Impossible Things Before Breakfast a collection I find myself smiling in wonder. My only other experience of Jane Yolen was in a class I took two years ago: Feminist Rewritings of Fairy Tales. I read Briar Rose a rewriting of the Sleep Beauty fairy tale blended with a story of the holocaust. While you might raise your brows and think, "That seems a rather odd combination to put together.", it somehow works. Jane Yolen has a way of taking common stories, fairy-tales, myths, and transforming them.
While many of her novels and short stories focus on young women protagonists, I find her more concerned with the ways in which we tell stories to children and young adults. Examining "traditional" fairy-tales is the perfect place to begin. Impossible Things is a great place to start if you're thinking of reading her work, a collection of short stories that take famous novels and works by other authors and transforms them into something new. What I most enjoy is how she takes a character that people are familiar with: Wendy from Peter Pan, Alice from Wonderland, or Sleeping Beauty and removes that sappy fog that surrounds those texts and creates a character that would react more naturally. It could be suggested that in making these texts more "real" that sense of fantasy and wonder are lost, but I disagree with that sentiment.
Cheers.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 3:59PM I wish I had more to say, but life has been rather dull and full of routine. I work quite a bit on the weekends so looking forward to the weekend is not as exciting as I am sure it is for some people.
I am taking a course this term that I think will be most enjoyable. "Twentieth Century Fantasy for Young People" taught by Anne Howey. The reading list is full of some amazing authors and titles that I grew up reading as a child.
The majority of these texts have been adapted into a television/film medium, so that will also be an interesting way to discuss the works. Primarily though we will be focusing on the way that these two genre work (or not) with one another, fantasy and children's literature.
I think it will be enjoyable. I have elected to present on The Changeling Sea by Patricia A. McKillip. Cheers.
