Tiah Beautement's Blog, page 87
November 28, 2013
November 27, 2013
On migration
Nothing I knew before seemed to be of consequence. Not language. Not social etiquette. - Chika Unigwe, Losing my voice
November 26, 2013
On adventure
Adventure! People talked about the idea as if it were something worthwhile, rather than a mess of bad food, no sleep and strange people inexplicably trying to stick pointed objects in bits of you. - Terry Pratchett
November 25, 2013
On Woman Unfolding
Jenna Mervis, Woman Unfolding - Before each woman / there is a girl / skipping in the margins - - I am migratory, / your geography / tattooed on my skin - - Never settled / never domesticaed / except when sleeping or fucking. / The body is their only home. - - I'm envious of the purpose to your waking - / the way you peel out of bed confident, naked. / You know where you are going: to work, - - If muscles have memory, / then what if they never forget / my failures and losses? -...
November 24, 2013
On swearing
This Sunday a rather large South African newspaper published an excerpt from something I wrote. Which was fun. Except I was misquoted. Which was hilarious. To read more about this comedy of errors, click to the BooksLive post My Family Has Never Been Prouder.
November 21, 2013
On Flat Water Tuesday
Ron Irwin, Flat Water Tuesday - Students flip pairs, you see, and drown, which is always irritating. - - 'Crappiest' won't even make it through a spell checker. - - Your problem is you're angry. You started out angry. At Channing, at Connor. Maybe you're angry with me, too. It's as if you think we want to take something from you. - - I always felt I was competing against that instinctive solitude. - - I missed that body, missed its clarity, missed not worrying about cancer and heart attacks and addiction and secondary smoke and cholesterol. - - And...
November 20, 2013
On laughter
My pain may be the reason for somebody's laugh. But my laugh must never be the reason for somebody's pain. - Charlie Chaplin
November 19, 2013
On Cat Hellisen's House of Sand & Secrets
Today I've been lucky to have Cat Hellisen drop by my blog to talk about her latest book: House of Sand and Secrets. Tell me what compelled you to write a sequel to When the Sea is Rising Red? When the Sea is Rising Red was about the third book I wrote in that universe, so although it was intended as a stand-alone, it was always part of a bigger story. I was also unsatisfied with the main character’s growth and wanted to push her a bit further. I love writing in this world so continuing her story (while still...
November 18, 2013
On caricature
As we age, we face a choice of caricatures; for women writers vis à vis younger ones, it's Cruella De Vil versus Glinda the Good. - Margaret Atwood on Doris Lessing
November 17, 2013
On The Silver Linings Playbook
Matthew Quick, The Silver Linings Playbook - When I read the actual story - how Gatsby loves Daisy so much but can't ever be with her no matter how hard he tries - I feel like ripping the book in half and calling up Fitzgerald and telling him his book is all wrong, even though I know Fitzgerald is probably deceased. - - By now, ten trees must have been cut down just to document my mental health, which Nikki will hate hearing, as she is an avid environmentalist who gave me at least one tree in the rain forest...
