[null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2249105662_fc24618747.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2249105662_fc24618747.jpg", "formatted_filename": "fc"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg"}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://www.newestpress.com/catalog/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/BigRig.jpg", "src": "http://www.newestpress.com/catalog/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/BigRig.jpg", "formatted_filename": "BigRig"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Dahl"}, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/22320000/22321811.JPG", "src": "http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/22320000/22321811.JPG"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://elizabethhay.com/images/bookimages/latenightsonair_main.jpg", "src": "http://elizabethhay.com/images/bookimages/latenightsonair_main.jpg", "formatted_filename": "latenightsonair main"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Dahl"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://www.griffinpoetryprize.com/images/gpp2007/griffin2007-anthology.jpg", "src": "http://www.griffinpoetryprize.com/images/gpp2007/griffin2007-anthology.jpg", "formatted_filename": "griffin anthology"}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Dahl"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://www.tbpcontrol.co.uk/TWS/CoverImages_00/000/716/0007166567.jpg", "src": "http://www.tbpcontrol.co.uk/TWS/CoverImages_00/000/716/0007166567.jpg"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2375778986_da86e0215c.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2375778986_da86e0215c.jpg", "formatted_filename": "da e c"}, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RAT3EN8NL.jpg", "src": "http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RAT3EN8NL.jpg", "formatted_filename": "RAT EN NL"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://bp3.blogger.com/_8Z2rnA2penc/R_baPUbyhpI/AAAAAAAAAKI/4hsfdBJCpJM/S269/Bigfoot.jpg", "src": "http://bp3.blogger.com/_8Z2rnA2penc/R_baPUbyhpI/AAAAAAAAAKI/4hsfdBJCpJM/S269/Bigfoot.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Bigfoot"}, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2245904950_3229660483_o.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "src": "https://epedia.pbwiki.com/f/Dahl.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Dahl"}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2375778986_da86e0215c.jpg", "src": "http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2375778986_da86e0215c.jpg", "formatted_filename": "da e c"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyi5BPclNwM/WyBhOlLWsiI/AAAAAAAAJWs/pe6KB0gUL-c4ShiAEiQM2mKr_CySLTuZwCK4BGAYYCw/s290/12thCBC.png", "src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyi5BPclNwM/WyBhOlLWsiI/AAAAAAAAJWs/pe6KB0gUL-c4ShiAEiQM2mKr_CySLTuZwCK4BGAYYCw/s290/12thCBC.png", "formatted_filename": "thCBC", "alt_text": "The 11th Canadian Book Challenge", "rendered_width": 230, "rendered_height": 175}, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUQCBX9YBew/Ugbb3ga-w0I/AAAAAAAAA8M/HMKkvUI5g6s/s269/Obscure%2BChallenge.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUQCBX9YBew/Ugbb3ga-w0I/AAAAAAAAA8M/HMKkvUI5g6s/s269/Obscure%2BChallenge.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Obscure BChallenge", "alt_text": "The Obscure Challenge", "rendered_width": 150, "rendered_height": 175}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.bookmineset.com/2008/04/", "unformatted_src": "//lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NjRp0nSbgTU/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAA4M/Zp6o5FvhznM/s80-c/photo.jpg", "src": "http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NjRp0nSbgTU/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAA4M/Zp6o5FvhznM/s80-c/photo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "photo", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 80}, null]

The Great Wednesday Compare 2: Emily Dickinson VERSUS Charlotte Brontë The winner of last week's Great Wednesday Compare (Walt Whitman Vs. Emily Dickinson), with a final score of 12-2, was Emily Dickinson.

2 votes for Whitman?! Had I voted, I certainly would have been on the losing team this week. While I'd not classify either as a favourite, I think Whitman more than Dickinson helped change the face of poetry. Certainly both were unconventional, but to me Whitman was more experimental and didn't seem as preoccupied with death.

Anyway, while I'm surprised at Whitman's crushing defeat, I'll move on. This week's contender is one that I haven't even read.

Remember, vote simply by adding your comment below, base it on whatever merit you choose, voting does not end until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. (May 6, 2008), and please spread the word!


Emily Dickinson or Charlotte Brontë Posted by John Mutford at 4/30/2008 19 comments: Labels: Charlotte Brontë, Emily Dickinson, Parting Company


Plug Your Ears 


Reader's Diary #352- Katherine Mansfield: The Fly

Short Story Monday 

Posted by John Mutford at 4/28/2008 2 comments: 


Six Sentences #2

My latest micro-fiction can be read here.

You're a kid.

True, but I'm also a genius. 



The Elizabeth Hay blog tour!


Posted by John Mutford at 4/26/2008 2 comments: 


Spring, Schming Today's BTT question:

I've had a similar conversation with someone before regarding summer reads. And as I said then, I read pretty much the same choices that I would year round. I'm currently reading Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing because I was in the mood for one of his comedies. But this has more to do with the fact I recently completed his King Henry the Sixth plays and wanted a lighter fare, than any change in the weather.

By the way, spring is relative. Here on Baffin Island it's marked by balmier temperatures. Today it's -12 degrees Celsius.
Posted by John Mutford at 4/24/2008 11 comments: 


The Great Wednesday Compare 2: Walt Whitman VERSUS Emily Dickinson 


Walt Whitman or Emily Dickinson Posted by John Mutford at 4/23/2008 16 comments: 

Posted by John Mutford at 4/21/2008 3 comments: 

Sad Lorca
(a parody by John Mutford)

frogs croak with
silver voices, daggers
in the hearts of

the moon nailed to
the cypress
taunts the wind.
Posted by John Mutford at 4/18/2008 2 comments: 

Perhaps it has. 

The Great Wednesday Compare 2: Roald Dahl VERSUS Walt Whitman The winner of last week's Great Wednesday Compare (Roald Dahl Vs. Rudyard Kipling), with a final score of 7- 2, was Roald Dahl.

Not such a great turn out last week. Rudyard Kipling didn't seem to inspire a great deal of votes either for or against. Like Dahl, I'm more familiar with Kipling movies (or movie) than books. I have, however, read poetry by Kipling and I'd give him the point over Dahl for that except I don't remember if I liked it or not. Speaking of poetry, we move on to this week's contender: Walt Whitman.

Remember, vote simply by adding your comment below, base it on whatever merit you choose, voting does not end until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. (April 22, 2008), and please spread the word!


Roald Dahl or Walt Whitman Posted by John Mutford at 4/15/2008 17 comments: Labels: Roald Dahl, The Great Wednesday Compare 2, Walt Whitman


Poetry Friday/ Reader's Diary #345- Karen Solie (Editor): The 2007 Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology As I've been back and forth the country a lot lately, I've gone through more than a few books at 30,000 feet. I've also come to realize that poetry books make the most excellent travel companions. I find that it's easier to put those books aside between poems and perhaps ponder them in the process-- your head's already in the clouds anyway.

The 2007 Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology was a recent purchase from Yellowknife. Having two cancelled flights, I'd already gone through the two books that I'd taken with me and was desperate for more. I was drawn to this one as I figured it promised to be a way to keep up with contemporary poets.

This anthology is essentially a sampler, offering 5-10 poems by those shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2007 (Don McKay was the Canadian winner, while Charles Wright was the International winner). It's a pretty good way to get a taste for each poet's work and decide which, if any, to explore further. This book has poems by Ken Babstock (the only one I had previously read), Paul Farley, Rodney Jones, Don McKay, Frederick Seidel, Priscila Uppal and Charles Wright.
At first I was a little put off with the book, published by Anansi Press. Splattered all over the jacket flap are praises, not for the poets themselves, but for the prize. Of course, the $50,000 award given annually to a Canadian and an International poet is surely coveted by most poets, but something about the blurbs didn't sit well with me. It was as if the awards people were trying too hard to convince us of their relevance. Was it really necessary, for instance, to quote MacLean's in calling it "The world's premier international poetry prize" ?
That small contentious issue aside, I'm pleased to say I enjoyed the poems. Personal favourites were Paul Farley's "Tramp in Flames," Rodney Jones's "TV" and Priscila Uppal's "Poodle in the Painting." I also enjoyed the introductions to each poet that preceded their work, though at times I found them too hyperbolic. I can't deny that all of these are quite fine poets, but statements like "there can be few poets whose work is so memorable" and "he is a poet of great originality" do a disservice to them, not to mention making us question how they are able to come up with such a rare list year after year. While I do think, as with any good poet, these people make us think at the world differently, if even for a brief moment, I didn't see too much in the way of experimentation with form. But just as with musicians, there's something to be said for those that constantly reinvent themselves and play with different genres, and there's something to be said for those that constantly aim for perfection within a specific genre.

Tramp in Flames
by Paul Farley

Some similes act like heat shields for re-entry
to reality: a tramp in flames on the floor.
We can say Flame on! to invoke the Human Torch
from the Fantastic Four. We can switch to art
and imagine Dali at this latitude
doing CCTV surrealism.

(Read the rest here.)

Posted by John Mutford at 4/11/2008 5 comments: Labels: Griffin Poetry Prize, Poetry Friday


On a personal note... 


The Great Wednesday Compare 2: Roald Dahl VERSUS Rudyard Kipling The winner of last week's Great Wednesday Compare (F. Scott Fitzgerald Vs. Roald Dahl), with a final score of 21.5- 5.5, was Roald Dahl.

I can honestly say I had no idea Dahl was that popular! That's the largest margin of votes we've had in some time. And though I've read very little by both, I'd have gone against Fitzgerald too. Having only read The Great Gatsby, I remember it as being boring and of a world and time I had no interest in, like watching an episode of Dallas without the nostalgia of being at my grandmother's. In Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi has her students put the book on trial for its supposed immorality. Too bad it wasn't tried for being dull. Of course, some of you seemed to have enjoyed it and so I won't continue to insult it. To each their own.

We move on...

Remember, vote simply by adding your comment below, base it on whatever merit you choose, voting does not end until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. (April 15, 2008), and please spread the word!


Roald Dahl or Rudyard Kipling Posted by John Mutford at 4/09/2008 8 comments: Labels: Roald Dahl, Rudyard Kipling, The Great Wednesday Compare 2


Reader's Diary #344- The Good News Bible: Samuel I (FINISHED) "All the king wants from you as payment for the bride are the foreskins of a hundred dead Philistines."
--Samuel I, Ch. 18, V. 25

Nine books into the Bible I'm almost desensitized to the violence. But from a literary stand point, the villains have up til now typically been portrayed as bad people (they rape, worship other gods, eat unpasteurized cheese, and so forth). So, despite the fact that I didn't usually agree with all the revenge and tactics of the Israelites, I at least knew how I was supposed to feel. This time around, it's even harder to get behind the so-called heroes when they set out to destroy the Amalekites-- "all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys"-- when their only crime seems to have been that their ancestors opposed the Israelites when they came from Egypt. Based on their seeming determination to slaughter every living thing in their path, I'm one to think perhaps they had reason. It seems as if it was assumed that by now readers should be behind the Israelites no matter what and that vilifying their enemies is no longer necessary.

I did enjoy a couple characters in the novel: Saul and David. (The title character Samuel was a bit of a dud and was almost non-existent after the first few chapters.) Of course enjoying the characters and liking them are two separate things. Starting with Saul, he is the more overtly flawed of the two. He has fits of rage, is jealous, and at his absolute worse, is murderous. However, Saul is not an unsympathetic character. His downfall followed when he did not follow God's instruction to a tee. Instead of destroying all the Amalekites and their livestock, Saul kept the best sheep and cattle for themselves (for a sacrifice to God, he claimed) and spared King Agag's life. Because of this insubordination, God not only rejected Saul but sent evil spirits to torment him, causing him fits that could only be subdued by David's harp playing. Then when God decided to protect and essentially promote David, King Saul is consumed with jealousy, despite David's unfaltering loyalty. No I don't condone Saul's spear throwing or plots to kill David, but I'd say he's been one of the most realistic and complex characters in the Bible so far.

As for David, I wasn't as taken with him as I think we were supposed to be. While his loyalty to Saul was definitely admirable, he seems to be most remembered for his bravery, especially in facing Goliath. Of course, the Biblical definition of bravery seems to be putting one's trust in God for protection, while the modern North American definition seems to be trusting in oneself and well... I guess I'm a product of the times. To me, David's actions are akin to Superman playing Russian roulette. Both know they are in no real peril, so what's the big deal? Furthermore, he infiltrates the Philistines and sneaks off everyday and "kill[s] everyone [in the neighbouring regions], men and women, so that no one could go back to Gath and report what he and his men had really done." Again, this seems like a rather antiquated definition of bravery.

Still, interesting characters, even if not likable.
Posted by John Mutford at 4/08/2008 No comments: Labels: Samuel I, The Good News Bible



A random winner was drawn from all those who answered correctly. Posted by John Mutford at 4/07/2008 1 comment: 

Reader's Diary #343- Henry James: Sir Edmund Orme
 


Reader's Diary #342- Azar Nafisi: Reading Lolita in Tehran (FINISHED) Wow. If a great book is measured by its ability to make me think, then Reading Lolita in Tehran is a great book.

My wife bought this for me a couple Christmases ago. And while just getting to it now is partly due to the ridiculous size of my TBR pile, I also wanted to read the actual Lolita first. Then recently Raidergirl blogged about Nafisi's book and she pointed out that it's actually divided up into four sections: Lolita, Gatsby, James and Austen (I'm not sure why she picked two books and two authors). Finally having read Lolita, I still wasn't sure I'd like Nafisi's book. I wasn't a great fan of either The Great Gatsby or Pride and Prejudice and I hadn't even read any James before. Fortunately, it didn't really matter much to my enjoyment, though I'm sure having read James would have enhanced the experience.

I really appreciated how Nafisi made me think about the role of literature. When I first went to university I was the cliched confused freshman. I had just dropped out of nursing school and had no idea who I was, let alone what I wanted to do with my life. So like every other confused university student, I got a degree in psychology. When I realized that didn't work, I got a degree in education. Now, 7 years later, I'm working for an airline. Not to worry, despite the various paths I think I know a little more about who I am now, and after reading Nafisi's book, I have a little more insight on where that knowledge comes from: books. In the little blurb at the top of this blog, I've written "My travelling can be done through books." I've usually looked at books that way: a cheap, and sometimes unique way, of travelling. I've not only been able to gain some insight into what life is like in Saskatchewan, Georgia or Iran, I've also been on the moon, visited the 1700s, toured the planet of Trafalmadore and found myself in the mind of a young Jewish girl. What I haven't acknowledged or considered before was how much I've found out about myself in the process.

In perhaps my favourite section of the book, Nafisi discusses the monster that was Lolita's Humbert Humbert. Despite all his wit and poetics, she declares that "he fails to completely seduce the reader." I reflected a lot over a few troublesome lines that I wrote in my review of Lolita a short while ago; "saying 'I liked Lolita, except for all the paedophilia' is like saying you like pizza without the dough, sauce, pepperoni and cheese. What else is there?" and later, "I respect Lolita. I respect Nabakov. It was a brilliant book. He was a brilliant author. But...I didn't like the book-- it was about paedophilia afterall."

Was I playing with semantics? Is there much of a distinction between respect and like? I've decided that in this particular case, yes. I still think Nabakov wrote a brilliant story (Nafisi does an excellent job explaining why) but I still don't like it. It made me uncomfortable from beginning to end, and surpassed my coping threshold. Handmaid's Tale made me uncomfortable. So did Cocksure. Like Lolita, those books were meant to make us squirm. But unlike Lolita, I could deal with those other books and still liked them in the end. Perhaps I was a different stage in my life in terms of my sensitivities, perhaps the issues were sufficiently different, perhaps it was something about the writing itself. The point is, my personality and identity was solidified a little more by reading Lolita, and perhaps by every book I've ever attended to. When a character makes any decision, it's next to impossible not to think, "I wouldn't have done that" or "That's exactly what I'd do." Each time we do that we reinforce, or sometimes even challenge, who we are.

Among the many other things Nafisi made me consider, perhaps indirectly, was the truth about fiction. At times she uses Nabokov's description of a good novel being a fairy tale, and talks about the fantasies of Austen. She mirrors that with discussions on history, especially the way dictators rewrite it. It's not long before I got all tangled up with the philosophy of that whole idea: if a novel is lifelike because it's fiction, isn't that paradoxical? Not necessarily when you look at the flip-side: the lie about non-fiction. Reading Lolita in Tehran has a lot of lies. Starting with the obvious up-front ones, Nafisi acknowledges she has changed the names, and altered identities somewhat, to protect the characters at stake. Then there's the obvious disclaimer that every memoir implores: it's only as true as one's memory. And you don't need a psych degree to know how imperfect that is. Not only are facts sometimes wrong, but details are left out, new values are being placed on past actions, and so forth. None of this is to say Nafisi should be judged by her untruths. She's telling her version of it, and we have to believe she's not lying maliciously (unlike James Frey). Nor is she doing anything she can help. Words, as much as I love them, are but symbols of reality.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I'm making sense anymore. I hope it suffices to say, Nafisi turned my brain inside out for a while and I appreciate it.

The Soundtrack:
1. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)- The Doors
2. Preacher and The Slave (Joe Hill cover)- Shannon Murray
3. Children of the Revolution- T. Rex
4. Everyday I Write The Book- Elvis Costello
5. I Ran- Flock of Seagulls
Posted by John Mutford at 4/05/2008 1 comment: Labels: Azar Nafisi, Reading Reading Lolita in Tehran in Yellowknife
 Posted by John Mutford at 4/05/2008 8 comments: 


F. Scott Fitzgerald or Roald Dahl Posted by John Mutford at 4/02/2008 30 comments: 


The Canadian Book Challenge- 6th Update 

Here are the standings so far:

The Canada Geese (12 Books)

The Snowy Owls (11 Books)

The Green Loons (10 Books)

The Polar Bears (7 Books)

The Coats of Arms (5 Books)

The Caribou (4 Books)

The Bluenoses (3 Books)

The Beavers (2 Books)

The Maple Leaves (1 Book)

- A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry*

-Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

-Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery Labels: 6th Update, The Canadian Book Challenge

