Guy Portman's Blog, page 28
November 18, 2016
Famous Authors’ Bizarre Writing Habits
Many authors have writing habits/routines that could be described as bizarre. Back in 2014 I dedicated a blog post to the subject. This is the second instalment. Here are 8 authors who have/had bizarre writing habits.
Alexandre Dumas — This French writer used different coloured paper for different types of writing. Blue was his colour of choice for fiction, pink for articles, and yellow for poetry.
Ernest Hemingway — Hemingway is one of a number of famous authors who liked/like to write stand...
November 11, 2016
Bizarre Books IV
I previously stated that part 3 was to be the final instalment in my bizarre books series. I have since changed my mind. Here is part 4. There may well be further additionsin the not too distant future.As with the previous instalments, I have added pithy/fictitious comments below each.
There isa peculiar man on the front cover, but no sign of Jesus.
Read the instructions on the back of the packet, place food item in microwave, set time and pres...
November 4, 2016
20 More Quotes about Books, Reading and Writing
Back in July I devoted a post to 26 quotes about books, reading and writing. Here are 20 more:
Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators. – Stephen Fry
Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly. – Francis Bacon
The covers of this book are too far apart. – Ambrose Bierce
Think before you speak. Read before you think. – Fran Lebowitz, The Fran Lebowitz Reader
There are books of which the backs and covers are by far...
October 28, 2016
7 Books for 7 Moods (Part 2)
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog post with the title,7 Books for 7 Moods. This is part two. Here are more 7 books for 7 more moods/states of mind. Click on the links to read my reviews.
In a nostalgic mood? Then why not read a story that you are no doubt familiar with, but may not haveread:
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Intrepid English adventurer Lemuel Gulliver’s fictional memoirs were first published in 1726. Gulliver’s Travelsis a satirical work that mocks politics, non-confor...
October 21, 2016
7 Bizarre Author Deaths
Last year I dedicated a blog post to 10 bizarre author deaths. This is the second and final instalment. Here are 7 more author deaths that could be described as bizarre. They are presented in chronological order.
Euripides
(480 B.C. – 406 B.C.)
Euripides was an Ancient Greek tragedian. It was feelings of embitterment over his defeats in the Dionysia playwriting competitions that led him to move to Macedonia. There are a number of different theories as to how he met his demise there. One is th...
October 14, 2016
7 Books for 7 Moods
Our choice of book often depends on our frame of mind. My favourite genres are transgressive fiction and satire, but I am an eclectic reader, who is prone to select a given book according to my mood. Here are 7 books for 7 different moods/states of mind. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Are you are feeling Lazy? Then why not try:
Evil Twins by John Glatt
Utilising a tabloid journalistic approach,Evil Twinsis a true crime book, which is divided into 12 sections, each dedicated to a dif...
October 7, 2016
7 Works of Dark Fiction
Dark fiction is concerned with the sinister side of human nature. It is often distinguished from the mainstream horror genre in that it tends not to be fantasy-orientated. Dark fictionmay contain elements of black or satirical humour.
Here are six works of dark fiction that I have read, and one that I have written. They are presented in the order in which they were published. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Tropic of Cancerby Henry Miller
About:Sexuality, freedom and the human condit...
September 30, 2016
Bizarre Books III
This is the finalinstalment ofmy Bizarre Books Series. As with Parts 1 & 2, I have added pithy/fictitious comments below each.
For residents of Chernobyl and Fukushima.
They do?So why did my mother always tell me not to talk to them?
For those of us who spreading it on our toast is not enough.
A Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner this is not.
September 23, 2016
14 Random Book Facts
I have dedicateda number of posts to author and book-related trivia.This week sees a return to the theme. Here are 14 new book-related ‘facts’. I think they are quite interesting, and I hope you will too.
J.R.R. Tolkien typed the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy with two fingers.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is said to be the first book to have been written on a typewriter. Some disagree.
The largest book in the world is The Klencke Atlas at 1.75 metres tall and 1.90 metres wide. It is over 3...
September 16, 2016
9 Twitter Types
Back in 2012 when I was a Twitter neophyte I wrote a series of satirical posts about the tweeting habits of the various species that inhabit Twitter. Today sees a return to the subject.
Aims & Objectives: To observe and document the tweeting habits of 9 Twitter species.
#Hyperactive #Hashtagger (Perquam strennus)
Incessant tweeters who can be distinguished from other species of the voluminous variety by the ubiquitous #. Nine #’s have been recorded in a single tweet.
Convivial Communicator (A...
