A little while ago I was lying in bed, having a nice daydream (probably about having a pet narwhal), when I abruptly remembered that somewhere in my boxes of ephemera I had a letter from Keri Hulme. I dug it out.
Hulme is the author of the bone people – winner of the Booker Prize in 1985. It tells the story of 3 characters, shifting perspectives and weaving their dreams, aspirations and fears together. From Amazon:“[It] explores the potential within families for both destruction and healing, as well as the great personal costs of the disintegration of individual connections to traditional communities and cultures – in this case, the indigenous Maori culture of New Zealand.”
the bone people has been a a bit of a contentious book over the years, garnering both good and bad reviews. I recently reexamined it and found while the non-traditional shape of the book is deliberate decision, it would have perhaps benefited from a thorough edit. Positively, I found the exploration of Maori spirituality and language to be absurdly refreshing. (That said, it shouldn’t be, why isn’t this expression more common in the literature of this country?)
In any case, the letter my younger self received is so nice and generous I thought I’d share (and yes, I love the astrology references):
My request was for a barely remembered school project – an illustrated calendar with a different literary figure for each month. I also found it hilarious that I had clearly said to her “I want to be a writer”. Funny how things turn out.
My mother is a big fan of ‘reaching out’ to people, so as a kid I also had correspondence with British poets, a builder based in Antarctica and other amazing people.Have you ever connected with someone you admire?
Dinner with Murakami is a 2007 documentary directed by Yan Ting Yuen about the life and work of legendary Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
“Largely structured round Murakami’s enigmatic absence, the film dramatizes Murakami’s impact on his readers and takes the camera into the hinterland to determine what is “Murakamian” in the Japanese landscape. The resulting film has a beautiful sense of form and poetic structure.” [Indie Flick Pick]
In the film everybody from groupies who hang outside Murakami’s old jazz club to schoolchildren, share their piece on the publicity shy writer. Norwegian Wood has been likened to the Nippon equivalent of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye; so it is unsurprising most Japanese people have a story to tell about their relationship with Murakami’s work.
Vogue Body and Beauty by Bronwen Meredith is my new favourite old book. I finally took the time to read this beast, and it’s fabulous. “This sumptuous yet eminently practical handbook gives the facts and possibilities about health and beauty honestly and without feeding women’s dreams and illusions.”
Great book, but I must say; seventies diets for health are outrageous… really, how many grapefruit can you eat in a week? There seems to be many copies of this floating round, so if you have the chance to get your elegant wee paws on it, do so. From the eating plans, to the DIY treatments, to the Vogue full-colour plates – it’s good in so many ways.
I love reading, and I love watching people read. Observing them drift into a state of deep concentration that sees them ignoring screaming babies, fires and once in a lifetime frisbee catches. It makes them forget that the cup of tea has gone cold and slightly soupy, and their toes are freezing despite 2 pairs of socks. They’re in another place, you can see it on their faces.
Of course, you need fuel to feed this fire. Here’s a list of alternative reading list suggestions – it could make for an interesting year…
Read all the recipients of a major literary prize, e.g. every Booker.
I am still very enthused about choosing books purely by colour. Have a red book month or for the teeth-grinders amongst you, black.
Read the top ten books from the year of your birth.
Or if you don’t like you birth year’s selection, how about 1971?
Exclusively read books set in tiny Portuguese villages.
Exclusively read novels by Alaskans.
Delve into the classic books of your country – they are waiting for you. Or another nation’s novels – France, Spain, Canada. (Thanks Mausumi!)
Find a theme that unnerves you. Grief, sexuality, loneliness. Happiness.
Ask ten of your friends for their favourite book titles. Start there.
Then ask ten people who are at least 10 years older than you.
My Form 2 teacher (that’s age 12) gave me this list he photocopied (from gawd knows where) of the supposed top 100 must read books. I made a start and have been carrying it around ever since. You can do better than me!
It’s the fourth of January. Time to wake up from that party haze, extract yourself from the food coma and dive into your New Year resolutions. (We all need a few days grace!)
If you’re anything like me, you will have put ‘read more’ on that list of things to do this year. I’m not going for any specific number or genre – although I wouldn’t mind getting through 2 novels a month. So while I’m fresh and eager, I thought I’d share ideas for a few decent books to put on our lists.
A concept for a “wall of knowledge” at the Stockholm Library, created by a team of students at the Architecture School of Paris La Seine.
The CFS New Year Reading List:
How I Live Now, Meg Rosoff. Fifteen year old Daisy thinks she knows a lot about love and life – but oh, how she’s wrong. Sent to England to spend a summer with her cousins, everything deliciously and dramatically falls apart. A short, sweet, heartache for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie. Rushdie’s 1981 novel won the Booker prize that that year, then went on to win more accolade as the best of all Bookers in 2008. It’s a charming love-song to India’s history and independence, imbued with magic-realism and magnificent noses. Fact: In 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brought an action against the book in the British courts, claiming to have been defamed by a single sentence in chapter 28, in which her son Sanjay Gandhi is said to have had a hold over his mother by him accusing her of contributing to his father’s death through her neglect.
The Gathering Storm, Robert Jordan. Number 12 in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series. He’s dead but the story must go on! Hopefully one of my nerdy friends will lend it to me so I don’t have to buy it…
Piano Player, Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut’s first novel spins the chilling tale of engineer Paul Proteus, who must find a way to live in a world dominated by a super computer and run completely by machines. His rebellion is a wildly funny, darkly satirical look at modern society.
The Godwits Fly, Robin Hyde. The Godwits Fly is a New Zealand classic (I first came across it in my high school library, and er, now notice the copy I am holding now is the same one). Originally published in 1938, it concerns themes of growing up as a girl, love, heartbreak and the resulting poetry. It’s a beautiful, wistful peek into life in early-twentieth-century Wellington too.
Shoplifting from American Apparel, Tao Lin. Totes ironic Internet fave Hipster Runoff features an exclusive extract from Shoplifting From AA - this should let you know what you’re in for, right?
Dear Diary, Lesley Arfin. Arfin (who you may know as a Vice/Missbehave/Russh columnist) looks back into her personal diaries of her teenage years “with the perspective only rock bottom can give you”. I like the fact this is filed under young adult fiction at my local library. YA loves heroin addiction.
Sabbath’s Theater, Philip Roth. I am a bit loathe to recommend this to you as I know you are all lovely, upstanding people who generally enjoy tulle and kittens. Roth’s 1995 masterwork is unpalatable and not safe for work nor the bus. However it is one of the finest pieces of characterisation I have ever encountered. Do read this review for a taster of what you’ll be getting yourself into – but as it says, Sabbath’s Theater, while outlandishly filthy, contains some of the funniest, freshest writing of our time.
Everything Is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer. A humorous exploration of the fictional JSF’s journey into Jewish history of Ukraine. Translator Alex will win your heart with his ‘premium’ letters. My edition tells me Everything Is Illuminated won the Guardian First Book Award in 2002 and since has been published in 24 countries (perhaps, including Ukraine). Watch the 2005 film afterward – it stars Elijah Wood.
Happy reading. A decent starting list, non? Have you read any of the above? What’s on your agenda this year, dear bookworms?
Going West is a books festival in New Zealand, and they’re going viral with video. The result is an animation of part of Maurice Gee’s novel Going West. It’s very delicate, intricate work, and simply beautiful. My favourite parts are the native foliage – cabbage trees, ferns and windswept manuka. There may have been 1000 paper cuts in the process – everything was made by hand – but it was worth it.
This past week I have been thinking about Japan A LOT. Tokyo, most of all… Here’s a ‘Destination Japan’ reading list I wrote for Mausumi (such a sweet, refreshing blog). It’s a few must-read books that involve Japan somehow. Sigh! Where do you dream of from your armchair?
Vogue’s More Dash Than Cash by Kate Hogg was first published in 1982. Despite a vintage of almost 30 years, it’s an incredibly relevant and straightforward guide to looking good on a budget.
“Making the effort to look striking costs very little – a fresh attitude and energy are more vital than money”.
After a chipper and suitably stirring introduction, the book covers the following areas:
An Individual Style
Wardrobe Tactics
The Classics
Outside Inspirations
The Alternatives
Reading Fashion Pictures
Inside Style
Characters In Fashion
Here’s some of my favourite spreads:
Intriguingly, a lot of the looks feel like they could have been shot yesterday – think bloggers in high waisted denim cut offs and Doc Martins; or the latest lStolen Girlfriends-esque Prairie girl look. And oh! Are those some moccasins I spy? (Above in the last shot). New York was going mad for those when I was there last month. Ah, isn’t it funny how the wheels of fashion turn.
I always read that in New York you can always find something fabulous, inspiring – and often free – to do, on any night of the week. It’s true! (Read TimeOut NY for suggestions or sign up for nonsensenyc.)
One of the events I made it to was a lecture by fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo. With his wife Isabel accompanying him, Ruben spoke about Art: From Fashion to Literature at FIT (as part of their museum program) one Thursday evening in October.
In particular the conversation explored his recent work for Penguin Classics – he created the covers for the recently reissued versions of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter.
Toldeo’s Pride and Prejudice cover reflected the strong fashion siholheuttes of the time. He mentioned he thinks in shapes and form, while Isabel is more partial to colour.
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights took on a soft gothic look. Ruben mentioned he took great pleasure in drawing burning buildings as a child, and in fact Wuthering Heights encompasses one of those.
The Scarlett Letter - with a bright A for adulturey entangling our protagonist. Rueben said he was really inspired by her job as a seamstress:
I was too busy looking at the couple’s work – in awe – to make extensive notes, although I wish I had! The Ruben and Isabel have such a fascinating creative relationship – they have 20 years of collaboration behind them.One cute moment I do remember was when Elda Rotor (the editorial director for Penguin Classics who moderated the discussion) charmingly confessed she used to rip Ruben’s drawings from the back of early issues of Interview magazine and keep them.
2010 will see reissues of Jane Eyre, Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Gray published by Penguin, with the artwork also to be drawn by Toledo. I can’t wait to see them.
Here is a sampling of work from the other talented photographers who feature in the frankie photo album vol. 1 – these are my favourite shots off their websites. They’re such a clever, diverse and global bunch!
Martina Gemmola – from Australia, currently freelancing in LA:
Salva Lopez takes some wonderful pictures, and her website is beautifully designed too:
Ye Rin Mok has been on my radar for years now – I’d describe her work as a telling an entire in one shot:
Yelda Yilmaz has a knack for capturing people and interiors, just so:
And the winner of the frankie photo album volume 1 is lucky number 13 (thanks to the old randomizer) – Sarah-Rose from Wellington. Congratulations!
Thank you so much to everyone else who entered, especially those of you who shared your frankie connections/memories. Super sweet. If you’re still keen on the book, you can buy it from the frankie website ❤
May I introduce you to frankie magazine’s the photo albumvolume one? It’s a delightful little volume due to be released mid October, featuring the work of over 100 amateur and professional photographers that share the aesthetics that both frankie and CFS delight in!
While at first glance it may look like a lemony cupcake with raspberry frosting (that’s Michigan photographer Jasmine Rubio’s divine photo on the cover), the book is all substance. The photographers and images featured come from all corners of the world; from Sweden’s Sandra Juto to Susannah Conway in Bath, United Kingdom (look at her beautiful image below).
In fact, frankie herself is a international girl of sorts. Published in Australia, the magazine shares its smart, funny, sarcastic, friendly, cute, rude, arty, curious and caring stories with readers all over the globe.
Every photo in the album has been selected to inspire you; whether you’re a dab hand with a camera, just starting out or are the type of person who just likes looking at pretty pictures. You’ll be able to pick up your own copy at www.frankie.com.au, or find it in selected boutiques and bookstores.
GIVEAWAY! Code For Something has a copy of Frankie’s new photo album to give to one lovely reader. All you have to do is email me – amber@codeforsomething.com – and tell me what issue of frankie magazine is currently sitting pretty on the shelves (the answer is on their site) .
Entries close October 7th, and I’ll randomly select a winner! Yay, good luck!
A week of worms – from both the death and book genera. While Farrier’s Deathworm fundraising party and all the other social events this week were marvellous, what I’ve enjoyed the most was being geeky. Winter is a great time to hunker down and catch up on reading.
On Saturday I braved the rain with Laza and went to a monster book fair – there were some glorious finds:
Vogue Body and Beauty – an AMAZING book from 1977. I found this, along with an 80’s era Vogue More Dash Than Cash. Stay thin with the enticing “Wine & Egg” diet!
Other reading material of late:
Essential Militaria, The Celestine Prophecy (borrowed from Laza), Success through a Positive Mental Attitude, small biz book (from my Mum) and Nine Winning Habits of Successful Authors ($2 at the book fair).
My pile of Voodoo. Marketing, astrology, creativity and Karen Walker. Could there be a deadlier mix?
Standard issue Murakami, Anne Lamott’s essential writing book, a guide to vintage…
Also, several well thumbed magazines; including Real Groove, and the much missed Nest & Staple titles. Yes, champagne on my desk too, that’s how I roll.
Anyway, more importantly, what are you reading at the moment? Don’t be shy!
Mark Magazine is an architecture journal that profiles interesting projects from around the world; think Spain to New Zealand* and everywhere in between. For example, you’ll find articles on the Europark II shopping centre in Salzburg, an Osaka chapel and Elquidomos, a gorgeous astronomic resort in Chile…
(*I was flipping through one and, much to my surprise & delight, found the last place I lived “at home” with my family – the Beaumont Quarter apartment complex.)
Their design treatment is pretty fresh – bold colours, full bleed images and well laid out discussions. It’s the total package; I recommend it to anyone looking for inspiration and a good read. You can pick up a copy at the Mark Magazine website, where they do have a news section, but I really stress the beauty of the print edition.
There is also a coffee table book version with several magazines in one perfect bound volume - tangible collectors editions for the win!
I am in love with these darling book dividers in the shape of animal silhouettes:
In particular, I fancy the leaping deer. It would look so cute leaping out of my collection of interior design books. They’d be fabulous for indexing a record collection too!
