Saturday, July 28, 2007

What I'm Doing 5:

What I'm reading:
Fiction: HALLUCINATING FOUCAULT by Patricia Duncker and
Non-fiction: THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS by Thomas S Kuhn
(have decided that I am going to try and and have a fiction and a non-fiction book 'on the go' at the same time).

What I watched last:
MYSTIC RIVER from a novel by Dennis Lehane.
(The film was good but unremarkable in my view - more like a film-for-TV than a movie that tried to do anything exciting. But it was well acted and interesting and I'd recommend it for an evening's distraction (although there is a bit of violence). However just been 'looking inside' the novel (courtesy of Amazon.com) and the original book looks really good with excellent writing - just from reading the first couple of pages I know more about the characters than I ever gleaned from the film - which is usually the case, I guess).

What I'm writing:
Still nothing very much.

What I'm hoping to accomplish tomorrow:
The start of general clear-out beginning with my study.

What I'm wearing:
A little blue dress in celebration - because, for most of today, the sun shone (rather tepidly, but still it shone)!

What I'm listening to:
VAMPIRES ARE ALIVE by D J Bobo (which you can hear by clicking here)
(Which tragically missed the final of the Eurovision song contest).

What I'm dreaming about:
Dancing at my university reunion in September.

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to admit that I tried Mystic River years ago and failed to get into it, even though Lehane has such a marvellous reputation. He later brought out Shutter Island, lauded by many. I did read this one. But ah, I thought the final twist was a cheat on the reader, while others thought the novel brilliant.
Mystic River the movie was also lauded and grabbed a few awards, I believe. I'm still yet to see it. One day perhaps...
Right now I have a stash of Daniel Craig movies to watch. Having seen Casino Royale, I want to see more of this wonderful actor.

Sun Jul 29, 01:44:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CFR: Ah yes, of course - it is crime fiction, isn't it? I hadn't heard of this author before but I was impressed just from this glance in the book. The ending of this one is unusual (if the film is like the book) and unconventional so I appreciated that.

I haven't seen Casino Royale but I do like the look of Daniel Craig - who is Chester born and bred so I hear.

Sun Jul 29, 02:47:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I forgot to say earlier that you never cease to amaze me Clare. This time it's your choice of music and the fact it missed the Eurovision Song Contest. You have such eclectic tastes! ;-)

Sun Jul 29, 06:37:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CFR: Yup I'll listen to anything. My sons are frequently disgusted when I come home with my little treasures -Shakira, Avril Lavigne, then Paul Ellis, Antje Duvecot, and then Handel, Bach, Vaughen Williams, Britten...I love it all.

Sun Jul 29, 07:23:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh you're far too on the ball than me! I've heard of Shakira and Avril Lavigne from the modern world, but the other two - no.
Handel, Bach, Vaughan Williams, Britten I'm familiar with and you shame me here. Not listened to any of them for years. I must do better.
At the moment I'm still obsessed with Damien Rice. His first album "O" is all I play in the car when driving to and from work and other places. I love it!
One song has taken on new meaning though and it's quite poignant for me. "Cold Water" has a line "and all I've got is your hand". Before my father died there was a period when touch was the only way to communicate. It was the only way he knew someone was there and I'm not even sure he knew who it was. That song will never leave me. It's beautiful to listen to and I thoroughly recommend the song and the album. There's also a power house of a track hidden later in the 10th track, about 7+ minutes in - wonderfully powerful and energising. The second half of track 9 is wonderfully liberating. Dear God, could I enthuse more?

Sun Jul 29, 08:00:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

'All I've got is your hand' -that's so poignant CFR. Think I'll go off to itunes this minute...thanks for the recommendation.

Sun Jul 29, 09:51:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Writing that had me in tears, as it does now. But all I had, for a few short days, was my father's hand. That was the only mode of communication. Touch.

I believe the song is about a daughter drowning.

But all I hear and listen to is the lyric of having that hand.
He gripped my fingers; may those last moments we had in synch be my lasting memory.

There was a time when I clutched to him - I have the pics - later in life, he clutched to me, perhaps.

It's so hard to let go, even if you see the end coming...

Music helps.

Prose helps.

We all find an outlet in loss. Wherever it may be...

But at the end of the day nothing helps. We still feel lonely, desolate, adrift.

But life can move on...

Sun Jul 29, 10:25:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CFR: I now have the album downloaded onto my ipod. You're right - there's something about the songs on this album...But it's so sad what your write. Things will get better CFR. Guaranteed. I'll continue this elsewhere...

Mon Jul 30, 02:23:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ah, your university reunion - you're a fellow Durham alumnus, i believe. i'll be in Durham myself some time in September, visiting friends, though i don't go to reunions for fear of encountering old enemies and being shot dead, like in a Western.

Mon Jul 30, 06:41:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, I noticed on your blog that you are a member of a select band. What a shame you're not going - it's fun to meet other bloggers. I don't think I'll know anyone there - I've sent a couple of emails to people but there has been no response yet. So it looks like I'll be on my own - not that I mind at all. I'm looking forward to having a look at the old departments and seeing what they're doing there - and Bill Bryson might be good too.

Mon Jul 30, 06:59:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The songs on this (Damien Rice)album ("O") have such diverse and wide ranging qualities. I hadn't expected to be listening to it now. I thought I'd have moved on. I caught the latest album "9" and was disappointed initially, but then caught the drift. I could even accept a lyric of "Fuck you, fuck you" in the end ("Rootless Tree"). But every time, I'm returning to "O" and the power of the lyrics; the power of the music.

Every song evokes a unique emotion.

In life and in death. But we continue to hear in life only.

If you do have a heartbeat and are able to post a comment on here, I suggest you give Damien Rice a try. Fantastic lyrics and wonderful music.

So pleased to hear that Clare has seen/(heard ?) its benefits too. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, Clare.

Energising and reflective over time. All lovely when it comes to the end.

Mon Jul 30, 10:26:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you were a Chemist, i believe? One of my oldest friends did Chemistry at Durham (we were both at John's), i used him as a character in my bildungsroman & had him using his knowledge of 'bunsen' to wreak much chemical havok. There's a choice scene where his coat (which he uses to mop up spills in the lab) is ignited by a votary candle in the cathedral, with pyrotechnical results. We had great fun deciding what chemicals would result in multi-coloured flames.

Mon Jul 30, 10:37:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes CFR - I think it grows on you...

Elberry: yes I was a chemist. Your idea for generating coloured flames is a great one - one of my favourite experiments when I was teaching A level were the flame tests. My favourite was calcium.

Tue Jul 31, 09:44:00 am  

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