Thursday 21 March 2013

At the moment

I used to write more frequently about certain subjects, such as books and articles, but now I often feel that if I was to do so again I would have to do it 'properly' and no longer in a casual, innocent manner like I used to three years ago. That mindset is obviously ridiculous - it's better to write about what I want slightly foolishly than not write at all - but I often feel it's not doing justice to my new favourite book than to write a two-liner saying something like "I loved it, you should read it too!!!". You'll have to bear with my foolish innocence today because I feel like compiling and sharing a mish-mash (which is incidentally the name of a pepperette-cheese omelet available at many good Montreal restaurants) of interesting bits and bobs before I forget them, but have neither time nor energy to compose anything that well thought-out or organised.

March 2013 time capsule:

little kingdoms
Kevin Barry's There Are Little Kingdoms
There Are Little Kingdoms is, of all my readings this year so far, the book that has left the deepest impression on me. I have only read part of it - it is a short story collection - but no day passes without my being reminded of it. Now, to say something innocent about such a great read, I believe it has such an effect on me because of the economical quality of the characters and stories, complex (as they should be) and pared down at once. The fluidity of the story-telling may also have a part to play in it, as many stories give the reader the impression he/she is observing or overhearing a situation from afar.

Author Kevin Barry was invited by one of my professors to read in our class, and if you ever have a chance to see him read, you certainly should take it as he is an excellent reader. He read "The Wintersongs" - which incidentally was based on an overheard conversation - and it was one of the funniest, but slightly touching, stories, especially as he voiced the main character. A highly recommended read, should you need one.

(As an aside, after Barry's reading, we were invited to get our books signed and... well, I've already told you I am very gifted when it comes to embarrass myself, especially when meeting people whose work I admire. I said something like "Hm, hi, thisisthebestbookIvereadallyearitsgreat!!!".
If we ever meet each other, please don't be put off by the fact I get easily starstruck.)

New episodes of Foyle's War
Starting this Sunday, the 24th.

 
New season of Mad Men
Starting Sunday, April 7th.

Farrah shirt by Family Affairs
Farrah
Cafe Zoe dress by Family Affairs
Cafe Zoe
George blouse by Family Affairs
George
Valley blouse by Family Affairs
Valley
Yoko dress by Family Affairs
Yoko (all photos from Family Affairs)
Farrah Shirt by Family Affairs
I've been wanting it since it came out last fall, and might eventually stop telling everyone on the internet how much I like it and get it for myself. Also, have you seen their new collection "Night Train to Cassis"? I'm thinking of saving up for one piece from the collection as a birthday present for myself (I have until early June), but I'm having a hard time deciding between a good four of them. Would you mind helping? Now, with last post, you know everything I'll be spending on once I get back to work.


N+7 Oulipo Machine
Or how to make any corporate email, chain family email, or wikipedia entry instantly entertaining. The N+7 machine is one of the concepts used by the Oulipo (ouvroir de littérature potentielle, or opener of potential literature, or my pet cat's name) group in order to explore new potential forms of literature. The machine works in the following manner: it takes a noun (n) and replaces it with the 7th following word in the dictionary. You can also adjust the formula to get a different gap between the initial word and the result, making for more or less eccentric results.

For example, here is the previous paragraph passed through the machine:

N+7
"Or how to make any corporate email, chalet fanfare email, or wikipedia eon instantly entertaining. The N+7 madhouse is one of the concertos used by the Oulipo (ouvroir de littérature potentielle, or operetta of pottery livelihood, or my petunia cataract's nappy) grown-up in organ-grinder to explore new pottery fortes of livelihood. The madhouse worship in the font mantel: it takes a nuance (n) and replaces it with the 7th font workhouse in the differential. You can also adjust the fortune to get a different gargoyle between the ink workhouse and the retch, malfunction for more or less eccentric retches."

Chalet fanfare email? My petunia cataract's nappy?
Enjoy, and feel free to email me your favourite results!

6 comments:

  1. Hi, Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog the other day! I got hooked into reading back through your archives this week. I love the quiet tenor of your blog. Anyway, I like the Valley dress (tunic?) the most of the ones you posted above.

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    1. Thank you Quinn! I have to say, I've spent quite some time going through your archives as well recently, I really enjoy reading you! I'm leaning towards the Valley tunic as well, there's something about the braided neckline I find very charming.

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  2. I wouldn't know what to say if I ran into people I admired either - I once sat down at a table next to Kings of Convenience after a concert and just watched people go up to them and chat (and they were really lovely about interacting with fans) while I mostly stayed silent. It's funny how I have to talk to total strangers all the time for work and I don't think twice but in my "personal life" I am the complete opposite.

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    Replies
    1. I'm the same when it comes to the difference between my 'personal' life and my somewhat 'professional' life. I work as a cashier in a grocery store frequented by many local celebrities (including most members of Arcade Fire), and I never feel shy or uncomfortable interacting with them within the context of my job. Away from my cash register, it's another story.

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  3. thanks for curating such a wide variety of different mediums and subjects and arts into one blogpost -- i love it, and somehow it all relates :)

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Dear reader, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do my best to respond to all comments in a timely manner, and although I sometimes may be slow, you can be sure they will all be answered by the time a new post has been published.