Tiah Beautement's Blog, page 177

Writers' blogging blogs blog

Reading / writing / author blogs that I've been reading or have been recommended to me since starting this blog*: A striped armchair (Book reviews) Jennifer Weiner (An author that sells) Ghost Word (Literary Blog) Not-so-terrible-after-all (This author once taught me. Her books sound like a brilliant choice for tween girls.) White Readers Meet Black Authors (An author's blog that highlights African-American authors) 1st Books (Blog focuses on first books / how an author got his or her start) ...

Should I blog about...

I am borrowing today's post format from another blog who, funnily enough, has strayed from said format for the last few posts: Not That You Asked 1. I have just verbally spewed on one of my writing bffs via email. I feel better. Not sure if she will. 2. I was very pleased to note that a South African-born author is on the Booker short-list. 3. I do not understand why Blog keeps trying to make all typeface Arial in size minute, instead of something more readable and larger. Blog and I are cons...

A taste of what's to come...

I've tried to be a big girl about it all, but I am frustrated. I have very rough rough-drafts littering my desk and not many people who have time to help me edit. I am the worst editor of my own work. The typos hide behind my rose-coloured glasses and my brain refuses to consider other ways to budge the story. Thankfully, a few pointed words seems to kick my brain out of its set-in-stone mindset and then I bush whack it to pieces until the piece may actually be readable. But I need the pointe...

Hey, it's a pleasure (or, you're welcome)

Oh my heavens, the sky is falling and boy oh boy do we NEED the rain. Cape Town may have been having rubbish weather, but we were in shorts last week, and water restrictions have become tight. But (there is always a but) I think it did something to the kids. To be fair, I was late, although the teachers did know I would be. My little girl cannot have a ball smash her in the face this week or we'll end up doing that whole merry-stitch thing again. I can't do that again. So I asked Debra to ple...

Bitches' Brew

Yes, the immature side of me used the title of the book for the title of this post rather than the author's name - take that how you will. Bitches' Brew by Fred Khumalo. US, UK and SA. Jazz fans will recognise the title of the book as a piece by Miles Davis. The book seems to try to echo jazz in the writing, both in sound, theme and texture. The narrative bounces between ex-lovers in an engaging fashion, making me crave for more. That is my only beef with this book, and a review on goodreads ...

Need another hammock day

My husband and I have a mixed marriage: he grew up in the Methodist tradition, I the Catholic. We have solved this in various ways depending on where we live and what is on offer. When we moved to our new town I spotted the main Catholic Church right away, located in what looked to be smack in the middle of the township. Oh. So for the past year while attending the local Methodist church I have been asking everyone from Debra to the previous tenants, "Would it be safe for us to go?" Nobody th...

Hapiness is...

Moving to South Africa was a wee bit hectic. As it is, I am one of those people who - well...even when I am sitting still my mind tends to do this: Need to find a dentist...eye doctor...boy's school needs me to bring...passports to renew...next step on visa is...laundry...daughter's birthday plans...haven't reworked that story...laundry...when is that pdf coming on that story...read that book...laundry...when are you going to start working on writing...pay UIF...take son to...laundry...haven'...

Race knocking on the nursery door

People who follow me on facebook and family will have noted a wee bit of a verbal spew of outrage when I heard more supporting evidence that the main local English speaking nursery school pretty much runs via a "whites-only" policy. I have never been there. So it could be rumours. Small towns do have this problem. Then again, I have spoken to all these white mothers who say, "Yes, it is true, all the children are white." I have heard that light skinned coloured children are "okay" but black i...

Brussels and the great google library

Another article, another opinion piece, another side of the debate on The Great Google Library issue: Brussels' Copyright IssuesI am still not sure where I stand. I don't want a knee jerk reaction, more of an informative one. And while we all now know that I am personally not a fan of the Kindle, I am not against them or others using them if that is what it takes to get people to read. So a digital library, per se, especially if writers get paid if it is their due under copyright, could be a ...

Ceridwen Dovey

Written by a South African while she was in South Africa, but the book is not set in South Africa: Blood Kin, by Ceridwen Dovey US, UK and SA Bloody Brilliant. A symbolic insight into the corruption of government and people's tendency to flirt with power. Will you like this book? If you enjoy history and / or politics, yes. If you need your characters to have names and for the book to actually be set in a named city / country, no. If you enjoy realism, yes. If your stories must always have a sun