Just a word to the well meaning folk who think it's appropriate to acknowledge the entire history of half the human race for four weeks per year.
I finished the Tunisian crochet lace scarf and instantly put it on. Just right. It will go with a lot of outfits.
Back into Henrietta and James for reading, so much more gripping than the Patchett turned out to be. I've heard from a couple of people, one very lyrical, about how they loved it, and they're both from the region, one that exact region, and they listened to it as an audio book.
They came to it with regional knowledge, which I didn't, aside from a couple of miserable alienated years in Wisconsin. That may be it. Also some books are wonderful heard, especially with gifted performers, and don't work as well in print.
I used to find Isabel Allende slow, draggy, not very readable in print. Then I heard one of her novels on audio and it was transformed, and I realized she's an aural writer. Some writing is meant to be heard, I think. And maybe Patchett is one of those writers for me. Well, I got halfway before giving it up. That's a fair try.
And here's a battle cry from, and for, our transgender sisters and brothers.
Happy day, everyone, be strong, but find nice silly stuff too.
As Flanders, he of F and Swann said, "the work of modern art and writing is to strip away the false facade, the pretensions of society". And, Flanders added "our work is to put it all back again!"
The Tunisian scarf turned out great!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm quite pleased.
Deleteit pisses me off that those 'holier than thou' try to impose their ignorance on the rest of us with laws, both against women and trans folk.
ReplyDeleteTwas ever thus! I grew up in a country with many laws against my religion, dating from the reformation and still enforced, also customs with the force of law. There's a good reason I moved to a country with the separation of powers. At least it used to. It's getting eroded now.
DeleteLovely scarf work. Indeed it is one to wear with many outfits. I have difficulty listening to books...just listening to people talking is somewhat harder for me to absorb than reading about something. Only books I've listened to effectively were novels and mysteries...action going on kept my attention - especially in the car on long trips!
ReplyDeleteSome people can't do audio at all, much more visual, and need to see the words. And such a lot depends on the audio performer.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteThe scarf is so very pretty! I quite understand what you mean about looking around for the next project 😃... I did bring wool with me in The Grey - but haven't been still long enough to get anything started. At least today I could fire up the laptop and catch up on blogs and commenting... Yes, the audio versus read thing is interesting; I have reached the conclusion that a fair few modern writers have the idea their scripts might one day be televised, hence working better for the read aloud. YAM xx
That's an interesting thought about future television. I wonder if a lot of modern writing is spoken into the device, anyway, so it makes natural audio.
DeleteI expect you'll be deep into a project soon.
Good observation about womens month.
ReplyDeleteBitter, too!
DeleteLove the scarf. The colour is one of my favourites!
ReplyDeleteI like it a lot. It works for me.
DeleteLovely scarf and great blue color too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I think it's going to be a favorite.
DeleteThe scarf is beautiful! I know what you mean about some writers being better heard.
ReplyDeleteSpoken literature far predates the written version. Beowulf, Greek lit, theater production, all aural and adapted to the written form, not always very well.
DeleteA few days ago when Moxie and I were on the chaise, I had a sudden strong urge to be knitting - it's been a while! But this is exactly the time of year when I usually have to stop knitting, to reserve my hand-power for combing cashmere. Which, sure enough, started today.
ReplyDeleteAh, a pleasure postponed then.
DeleteMeant to say, your scarf looks perfect! I love an airy scarf :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! From as skilled a knitter as you, those are wonderful words.
DeleteBlack History Month, Woman's History month. We don't need a month, we exist day after day, like white men. My 2 cents! The scarf is loverly, very. I listened to Tom Hill and did like it. I don't think reading it would have been the same. I've listened to many of Patchett's books and do think they are well suited to audio. Why can't these sanctimonious louts mind their own business?
ReplyDeleteI may listen to the next Patchett, and test our theory. I hate special months. Our library director long ago refused to do them, despite pressure. Instead, she walked the walk, hiring women and minorities into responsible positions. She refused the performative approach, yay.
DeleteThat scarf just looks perfect on you!
ReplyDeleteAs so often happens, you have inspired me and I am now listening to the Henrietta Lacks book on audio. It is gripping. How did we have no idea? So, thank you.
I have done several silly things today and feel all the better for it.
I'm still in Henrietta Lacks and starting to see how we didn't know about her. Thanks for the nice words about the scarf.
DeleteI try to live and let live. As a woman I know how hard it is to be heard in society. So I try to always listen.
ReplyDeleteI love the audiobooks. But some readers are not as good as others.
I think In that case you have to read the book yourself
Listening is good, also hard. So is speaking up when necessary.
DeleteBeautiful scarf. The color is pretty.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally anti month for any group of folks, and the same with promoting businesses based on ethnicity. I support accepting folks for who they are, enjoying our differences, and being proud of the hardworking no matter how much they work at a job or other.
Sometimes we need to step up and right the balance for people whose opportunities have been snuffed out by majority force. But not just a tiny fraction of the year. All of it.
DeleteWomens history is indeed a lifetime but a month of focussing everyone's attention on that can't really be wasted time can it? The scarf looks great, good colour for you, very stylish. Certainly performance poetry is very different from the kind you read to yourself, so it's possible some writers hear their tale rather than imagine it in prose. The reader of an audio book can make or destroy it. I wonder if they have auditions for that and whether the author gets to pick based on how they heard it in their head.
ReplyDeleteI think the audiobook situation varies with the prestige of the writer and the performer.
DeleteLovely blue scarf. As for women's history, black rights and all the rest of the one month wonders! No, we're in it for life and are due equal rights.
ReplyDeleteYour scarf is a winner. As for the 'special' month-long celebrations of history, I'm quite solidly on the fence. On the one hand I agree that some things should be celebrated but why only during certain months. Had a discussion the other day about the fact that our upcoming election doesn't feature anyone worth voting for and the person I was wish said she didn't plan to vote at all because of that. I pointed out that women faught for the right to vote and therefore it's our duty to do so. I also pointed out that 'strategic voting' is a thing - she might not like the candidates but she needs to vote against the one she's most afraid of. At least that's my take on it - right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteThat was a good thing to put across to your friend. Voting is not deciding to marry, more like catching the bus which doesn't go all the way you want, but nearer than the other.
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