Simon Varwell's Blog, page 12
August 18, 2015
Theeb
I went to the cinema for the first time in ages last weekend to see an Arabic-language film called Theeb. Set during the 1916 Arab Revolt in the Ottoman province of Hijaz (now part of Saudi Arabia), it is, frankly, not the sort of film I would naturally be drawn to.
However, it came highly recommended by a Twitter contact, the travel writer and Middle East specialist Matthew Teller, and I am very glad I went. It’s a slow, tense, minimalist film, in whichthe widercontextbeyond the narrow horiz...
August 12, 2015
Ramblin’ Man
This is the sixth in my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though will probably never undertake. My “Books on the Horizon” are an exercise in creativity, idle whimsy and – through any reactions I get – testing the water.
Readmore about theseries in this introductory page; and see the ideathat inspired it–The Impossible Books of Keith Kahn-Harris.
TITLE
Ramblin’ Man – loose-footed travels throughthe Lemon Jelly song.
THE ELEVATOR PITC...
August 6, 2015
The Last of the Mullets
This is the fifth inmy occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. My “Books on the Horizon” are an exercise in creativity, idle whimsy and – through any reactions I get – testing the water.
Readmore about theseries in this introductory page, and see the ideathat inspired it–The Impossible Books of Keith Kahn-Harris.
TITLE
TheLast of the Mullets. Though maybe this is two books.
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
Finishing off those...
July 30, 2015
One street back
If a town or city has a river, it is defined by it.
That means its people live close to it, buildings face it, and transport fits along its contours.
If a place has a river, go to it first to get an impression of the place, to orientate yourself. That’s where you’ll find its heart, its soul, its best side.
Yet one street back is different. One street back is the rearof properties, not the attractive fronts. The places where things are ordinary, not eye-catching. The bits that are not for show...
Capital Creations
This is the fourth inmy occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. My “Books on the Horizon” are an exercise in creativity, idle whimsy and – through any reactions I get – testing the water.
Readmore about theseries in this introductory page, and see the ideathat inspired it–The Impossible Books of Keith Kahn-Harris.
TITLE
Capital Creations: Travels to the World’s Planned Seats of Government
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
Visi...
July 23, 2015
Travels with Esperanto / Vojaĝoj kun Esperanto
This isthe thirdin my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. My “Books on the Horizon” are an exercise in creativity, idle whimsy and – through any reactions I get – testing the water.
Jenasla tria enmia foja serio de “Libroj sur la Horizonto” – vojaĝoverkoj pri kiu mi revas esplori kaj skribi, sed eble neniam faros. Miaj “Libroj sur la Horizonto” estas ekzerco de kreademo, pigra mensumo kaj – per iaj ajn reago...
July 16, 2015
The Next Stop parts 2, 3, and more
This is the second inmy occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. My “Books on the Horizon” are an exercise in creativity, idle whimsy and – through any reactions I get – testing the water.
Readmore about theseries in this introductory page, and see the ideathat inspired it–The Impossible Books of Keith Kahn-Harris.
TITLE
The Next Stop part 2, The Next Stop part 3, and so on.
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
Repeating my “stop...
July 9, 2015
Not Holland
This is part of my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. My “Books on the Horizon” are an exercise in creativity, idle whimsy and – through any reactions I get – testing the water.
Readmore about theseries in this introductory page, and see the ideathat inspired it–The Impossible Books of Keith Kahn-Harris.
TITLE
Not Holland: A pedant’s journey through the Netherlands’ nether regions.
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
What I...
Books on the Horizon: an introduction
I’m proud to introduce a new, occasional series of blog posts about my travel writing.
The series is inspired by something similarby the sociologist and author Keith Kahn-Harris.I first became aware of Keith when he was trying to crowdfund a magnificent book idea called “The Best Waterskier in Luxembourg” – an attempt to meet leading figures in extremely narrow fields. It stems from his own position as an expert in the sociology of British Jews and heavy metal, and a desire to meet similar bi...
June 29, 2015
Free ebook – Up The Creek Without a Mullet
A bit of newsto update you on, dear reader, which means you have the chance of getting a free book!
I am delighted to announce that I have reissuedmy first book, Up The Creek Without a Mullet, after buying back the rights from its original publisher, Sandstone Press.
This means I am now an entirely self-published author, with all my past titles – and for the foreseeable future my forthcoming ones too – published entirely through my own efforts.
The are two main changes withthe reissued UTCWAM...
