Tiah Beautement's Blog, page 164

Max du Preez

Today we have quirky South African History. Of Warriors, Lovers and Prophets, by Max du Preez. Which is followed by the sequel: Of Tricksters, Tyrants and Turncoats USA, UK, RSA Max du Preez's collections of historical antidotes are easy to read. The book is broken up into short little stories, making it a perfect choice for people who only manage to read in "snatches" of free moments. The book also expands the idea of South Africa's historical legacy. That South Africa's history goes beyond ...

Gloomy ebook publishing op/ed

Henry Porter makes yesterday's op/ed look positively sunny in comparison. Regardless of where you sit on the debate, the article does show an interesting glimpse in how money in publishing is made - or not made as the case may be. The authors...yeah...not much there for them. As I start to write...

Nostalgia for print

A very interesting opinion piece on the marketing impact of the ebook. Nostalgia vs hard cold cash, if you will. Say goodbye to those violent intimacies

My heart breaks

The memory is still so vivid. I must have been seven, as the first of my brothers was just a babe. My father came to pick us up from the child-minder. He scooped up my brother who shot the sitter a sour look. "He's thinking, 'Fuck you," I offered helpfully. "Excuse me?" my father asked. "Um, he's thinking, 'Fuck you," I repeated, already knowing that somehow I'd gotten wrong. How my poor father got us out of there without melting into the floor, I do not know. But I still remember the lecture...

It's when I start to believe I'm two people you need to worry

Ah, editing. How I love and loath you. Let me count the ways... It is both my favourite and my most dreaded time. I adore it, because this is where the story comes alive. The crap gets the big fat delete key, wandering paragraphs find direction, and characters stop having 1 voice, acquiring their own. I feel like I made my play-dough, and now I am sculpting it into a lovely statue. Except during my four years of high school art class I never managed to sculpt a darn thing. My teacher gave my ...

But bringing my dirty laundry to my in-laws seemed a bit much

Off we went to Cape Town to renew my son's US passport. Because he is not allowed to travel to the US on any of his other legal passports. Because of terrorism, you see. I learnt this little tid-bit just before he turned 3 months old. Worried I would not have his US passport in time for our trip to the USA, I asked what they would do if I dared to have him travel on his UK passport - you know, the passport issued from the country he was born in. "We would deport you both on the next...

Antjie Krog: Body Bereft

Stretching a bit further past my normal reading, today's book is a collection of poetry: Body Bereft by Antjie Krog USA, UK, RSA I do not dip into poetry often enough to proclaim if this work is a stroke of genesis or your average prose. But I enjoyed it. It is an approachable collection that people who shun poetry due to dislike for overly abstract may enjoy. The collection invokes a plethora of emotions, honest lamenting of the ageing process, the confusion of mixed messages, the anger at b...

Speaking English

I have ordered a "Learn to" kit in Xhosa. I hear you say: Wait a second. You did what? Have you looked at your track record lately? One: You are rubbish in English. You can't spell. Your grammar is equally appalling. Two: In high school you tried to take French for two years. Did you know your teacher LEFT TOWN?!!? Three: You have owned your "Learn to" kit in Afrikaans for a year now and...how's that going? I hear everybody laughs the instant you try to say anything. Even if it is only "good ...

Saying no = GUILT

Ugh. I don't like being mean. I'm going to be mean. I spoke with some people who know me and love me and pointed out a few things: 1. I've got a wee bit going on in my life. I know, everybody does. But being realistic about how busy you are is not a bad thing. 2. I am a bit grouchy when my already busy life gets insane. And we do insane a lot around here as it is. Some people thrive on insanity. I have a certain point and then - I lose it. If I don't leave...

How many?

School year has started! Parents had their meeting! Professional program gave their spiel and we all waited for the Great Sign Up. Then the scheduling. School now has a music teacher - which is fantastic. So between that and the pros, I needed to see what mornings were free and... Wednesdays it is! Again. Okay, fine, fine...and...oh...do you know how many kids I've got? The teacher smiles and tells me she is so thrilled that 14 of her children signed up for the pros. Yes! 10 children or less....