A thought on the fear of being left alone
“I don’t know if anyone has noticed but I only ever write about one thing: being alone. The fear of being alone, the desire to not be alone, the attempts we make to find our… Read More
Tag: Books
A thought on habits
“Curious things, habits. People themselves never knew they had them.”— Agatha Christie Composed for the short story Witness for the Prosecution (later a play, and later adapted several times for the screen), this insight from… Read More
A thought on failure, science and resisting instant gratification
“It is very well known that you learn more from failure—when things are not working well… It is very important not to focus on success—it’s so rare. If you want instant gratification, don’t be a… Read More
New on podcasts: Sharon Bala takes on international aid, Alan Doyle on chill celeb culture in St. John’s
Here’s a quick look at some podcasts that might be worthy of your ears. I’m really looking forward to reading the new novel from St. John’s writer Sharon Bala. Good Guys evidently takes a swipe… Read More
A thought on what fiction gives us
“Fortunately, there is more to life than death. There is for one thing, fiction. A thousand thousand characters to be sent marching out into the world to divert time from its forward gallop to the… Read More
The most meta thing Yogi Berra (n)ever said
“I really didn’t say everything I said.”– Yogi Berra Yogi Berra was an acclaimed catcher for the New York Yankees (a 10-time World Series champ), but he is perhaps better known for what have long… Read More
A thought on reading, and what it can do to you
“Briefing is not reading. In fact it is the antithesis of reading. Briefing is terse, factual and to the point. Reading is untidy, discursive and perpetually inviting. Briefing closes down a subject, reading opens it… Read More
A thought on waiting (maybe in vain) for lightning to strike
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”— Jack London The stroke of genius, the bolt of blue, the eureka moment: so much of our culture has various threads… Read More
A thought on how it takes all kinds
“There has been, is, and always will be every conceivable type of person.”— E.M. Forster The British novelist’s astute observation was published decades after he wrote it, in the posthumous novel Maurice, arguably his most… Read More
The Washington Post: A dream burned up, like paper in fire
There’s been such a dark cloud over billionaire Jeff Bezos and his handling of the Washington Post, and for such a long time, that it’s perhaps difficult to remember there was a much happier relationship… Read More
Some books that impressed (or at least really entertained) me over the last year
It’s been a month since New Year’s Day, and while it’s a bit late to add a chip to the pile of year-end retrospectives, I’ve been looking back at books I’ve read over the last… Read More
A thought about magazines, the gateway to something heavier
“Magazines all too frequently lead to books and should be regarded as the heavy petting of literature.”— Fran Lebowitz The quote of today comes from Fran Lebowitz’s debut book Metropolitan Life, which established her in… Read More
Some new podcasts
Looking for some company while you walk the dog, hit the gym or do the laundry? Here are three new episodes of podcasts made here in Newfoundland and Labrador. (From time to time, I’ll point… Read More