Strictly narrative
Feb. 3rd, 2004 11:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
altarielTurning away from difficult issues, I'm internally debating the ethics of going to see Sylvia. It's hard not to take into account what Frieda Hughes has written:
"Now they want to make a film
For anyone lacking the ability
To imagine the body, head in oven
Orphaning children."
***
I really enjoy my offline reading group, but we decided at the outset not to read classics, in which I am woefully under-read. There should be a reading group for people hastily trying to fill the gaps in their reading. A sort of mutual support group in response to that game in that David Lodge novel, where all the English Lit academics admit to the most gaping hole in their reading.
***
And, thirdly:
"Now they want to make a film
For anyone lacking the ability
To imagine the body, head in oven
Orphaning children."
***
I really enjoy my offline reading group, but we decided at the outset not to read classics, in which I am woefully under-read. There should be a reading group for people hastily trying to fill the gaps in their reading. A sort of mutual support group in response to that game in that David Lodge novel, where all the English Lit academics admit to the most gaping hole in their reading.
***
And, thirdly:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 11:24 am (UTC)We've been discussing the BBC in class, and as much as we don't make a difference to the B.liar govenrment, we believe in them too. *thumbs up*
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:19 am (UTC)We've been discussing the BBC in class, and as much as we don't make a difference to the B.liar govenrment, we believe in them too. *thumbs up*
*thumbs up back*
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 11:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 11:38 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 11:44 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 11:49 am (UTC)(PS - how are you?)
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Date: 2004-02-03 12:06 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 05:48 pm (UTC)Oh, that does put a slightly different complexion on it...
I gave up on that film when they didn't realise only Alan Rickman could play Ted Hughes...
The potential charms of Daniel Craig were one point in its favour, but I absolutely see the Rickman-casting!
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Date: 2004-02-04 12:38 am (UTC)Is the Plath-Hughes marriage all that cinematic, anyway? Since the film-makers have been forbidden to quote from the poems at any length, we might be left with nothing but looking after babies, picking daffodils and stencilling furniture :)
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:00 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-04 10:15 am (UTC)That brings back horrible memories of Paul Anderson's bad Plath biography, Rough Magic, which describes the bar where S & T met as being 'on campus'. Clearly familiar with the place.
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:16 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-04 10:31 am (UTC)The best book on them I've read so far isn't any of the Plath biographies, but Janet Malcolm's study of the biographies, The Silent Woman. She says some interesting things both about biographical bias and the subjects themselves, and treats them common-sensically as human beings with understandable issues, rather than taking up either the 'Plath-as-victim' or 'Plath-as-self-dramatizing-fantasist' lines. That one is worth reading.
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Date: 2004-02-04 11:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 01:01 pm (UTC)You seem pretty well-read to me! Read what you want to read say I.
Love the "I believe in the BBC" logo, and the article. I always thought the Blue Peter advent crown could be turned into an offensive weapon, if it didn't set the house on fire first.
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Date: 2004-02-03 05:50 pm (UTC)So that's what Denethor used...
Re: reading - I dropped English lit at 16 and kind of regret it. And I bullshit wildly about things I haven't read (but have read other people's opinions of!).
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Date: 2004-02-03 06:23 pm (UTC)I'd really love a list of all the excellent books that I've never read (which would be a really long one) and a few months off to read them all. With intermittend trips to the pub for a rest, of course. Unfortunately, my definition of excellent also includes the pre-requisite that I enjoy the books as well as admiring the writing, and it's much harder to get someone to create a list with that particular requirement in mind!
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:02 am (UTC)You are who I think you are, aren't you? :-D *adds you to friends list*
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Date: 2004-02-11 03:26 am (UTC)I don't know if I am who you think I am - tricky to say! I probably am though ;-)
One day we really will go punting on the Cam so I can find out if I can do the jumping out of the boat and running over the top of the bridge trick!
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Date: 2004-02-11 10:39 am (UTC)One day we really will go punting on the Cam so I can find out if I can do the jumping out of the boat and running over the top of the bridge trick!
:-D Yes, you are who I think you are!
My South Park piccie isn't as nice as yours.
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Date: 2004-02-16 05:55 pm (UTC)If you know who I am you won't be surpised to learn I got lost again yesterday. On Coldham's lane. How can anyone get lost on Coldham's lane? I don't know. It's not like I don't drive down it at least twice a month.
Speaking of which, I'd love to pop in and catch up with you and "Mr Altariel" some time. There aren't enough hours in the day to catch up over email!
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Date: 2004-02-16 06:28 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-17 07:37 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-17 08:14 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-20 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 01:42 pm (UTC)Well, from my evil boyband-porn-writing perspective, I say go if you want to. Unless it sounds like it will suck. :-)
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 04:53 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 05:54 pm (UTC)I can practically guarantee it would be more fun :-)
Gratuitous link.
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Date: 2004-02-03 06:00 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 06:07 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 06:04 pm (UTC)Oh, hang on...
That's bloody hilarious!
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Date: 2004-02-03 07:23 pm (UTC)See, the trick with fishing is to make sure you reel them in sloooooooooowly. That way they don't feel the hook biting.
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Date: 2004-02-03 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 02:00 pm (UTC)The Guardian and Observer reviews (http://film.guardian.co.uk/Film_Page/0,4061,1045771,00.html) were terrible, though I've seen two other reviews that like it.
As for gaps in reading, I think you're far better-read than most people. Probably even in the 'classics'! But I know what you mean, and I think I'm some way behind you. What I find depressing is the sheer scale of the catching-up that would be needed!
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 05:37 pm (UTC)Re: reading gaps - I am good at bullshitting ;-D
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 09:32 pm (UTC)Ah, the benefits of the undergraduate supervision system (for both students and teachers ;-))
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 09:42 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 11:23 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-03 11:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 02:46 pm (UTC)If you want a say with me,
put it in better poetry.
;-p
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Date: 2004-02-03 05:21 pm (UTC):-D
If you want a say with me,
put it in better poetry.
Does it only make it worse
If I say it in not terribly good verse?
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 07:28 pm (UTC)I'd join. Is there a club time machine, so that I can fit all that reading into my otherwise rich and full (hah!) life? Or maybe a cloning machine?
I'll start with that David Lodge novel.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-03 08:04 pm (UTC)