Tag: 2010

lets go with the flow to rome

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TITLE  PORTRAIT OF MOTHER AS A YOUNG WOMEN BY FREDRICH CHRISTIAN DELIUS

SOURCE – REVIEW COPY SENT BY MEIKE THE PUBLISHER

A book about a mother walking to a show its the war ,its rome .Oh Roma the films three coins in a fountain ,the one where she puts the hand in the mouth oh what is that film called  it escapes me ,must get a coffee and carry on reading,oh music she’s off to see ,I always wish I knew more about classic music it always seems an alien world to me oh kassell spent many a happy day they years ago ,worries of her husband ,marriage so important ,think how good it is I met my Amanda ,wonder what I would do in a war situation ,brief encounter ,imagine a black and white film and a teary farewell on a platform Amanda would really worry if i was a the frontline not that it will ever happen ,how did people get on be separate for so long   ,remember the photo of my grandfather in his tank from  the newspapers that was italy ,he and gran spent many holidays there ,who is this Delius man who wrote this ,grab another coffee and biscuit choose to fire up the laptop wiki him read some piece translated from german ,interesting life ,seems to have written book as ode to his own mother ,what a touching gesture ,back to thew book comma comma ,, we move through the wonderful Rome ,oh I wish I could go the spanish steps ,why are they called that ? oh on laptop again oh built by a french man to the old spanish embassy ,SPQR always wonder what that meant too  ,more music must try to listen to some of these composers etc mentioned ,make a playlist maybe oh that be a good idea ,will go back and note people and listen .oh shes arrived that was an amazing journey and just a short walk in reality  ,she’s  ending writing a letter to her beloved ,oh I wish I could write letters,like people used to ,a dying art and one I’ve never known how to do apart from family letters .

These are my thought as I wrote and felt them what actions I did the evening I read portrait of the mother as a young man by Fredrich Christian Delius ,I love this book it has a simple flow and ebb it is like being stuck on a boat drifting down a stream on a dreamy afternoon you enter the head of a young women so completely .Another triumph from  Meike and peirene press .

I ve chosen this style of review as a tribute to the book and my sad effort at stream of conciousness ,If you want a better example read this book .

book food a spanish meal -want join in ? for the Don

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As you all know I m doing a Don Quixote readalong ,well when I was starting the read along one of my good friends from twitter Rachel who lived in Spain for nearly 20 years said she want to join in with readalong ,when I ask about the food of the time in spain ,she kindly said she do some research and provide a recipe for us to do well she has and now is doing a cook along via twitter making the traditional spanish dish escabeche (escabetx in Catalan) a chicken dish , which would have been round in Cervantes time so I ll include a link to here to Rachel’s page ,where you can find out about her and maybe want join one of her catalan cooking class .so even if your not doing the readalong you may enjoy cooking and following how everyone gets along via twitter full details of Rachel’s twitter account and a # hashtag for the night .hope some of you choose to join in or follow us for the night .

Best European Fiction 2010 Bosnia

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best european fiction 2010

Now it has been a while and I really should get through the rest of the stories and novel snippets ,especially as the 2011 one is due in a few weeks ,so have got rest of this book cleared before starting this

TITLE – AT THE SARAJEVO MARKET BY IGOR STIKS

This short story focuses on a couple going round the market during the war in Bosnia ,we see old books being sold for a bargain of 1 Deutschmarks a piece rare german translation ,Shakespeare ,then they find a watch and tell the story of the previous owners in the end leaving the market empty-handed .The writer was nominated for the Impac in 2006 for the translation in to english of his novel A castle in Romagna ,he currently lives in Edinburgh ,his second novel won the Croatian book of the year .

OLD MEN RIVER

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TITLE – RIVER OF SHADOWS BY VALERIO VARESI

SOURCE – REVIEW COPY SENT TO ME

This is the first translation from  highly succesful series in its native italy ,Valerio Varesi he was born in Turin and grew up in Emilia ,he studied philosophy and became a journalist ending up working in Bologna on the republic in 1998 he published the first commissario Soneri novel there have been a number of follow-up books the series has been made into a wonderful tv series in its native italy called mist and crimes (Nebbie e delitti) ,I watch a few clips on you tube the man character is a beard guy in his late 40’s it looks to be a dark crime show ,so it gave me a feel of the book to start with .Now the book itself is a wonderfully presented book eerie black white sepia picture on cover and a wonderful marble like set of endpapers inside .Now the novel is set round the River po that cuts across northern italy and the bargemen that work on the river ,it opens as two elderly brothers one dies and the other vanishes with in a short period of time ,this is when Commissario Soneri appears to find out what has happened ,as he untangle the story ,which at times is hampered by the fact that these bargemen are a tightly knit secretive community ,but he sees the light bit by bit .Who is Kite and what happened near the end of the second world war to lead to the events that have just happened well to find that out you’ll have to read the book ..

“see you tomorrow for the results of the post-mortem ”

Soneri nodded,but he was deep in consideration of the port ,almost hypnotized by the liquid in the glass in his hand .in a whirl of vintage red,he seemed to see the barge man Tonna carried along in the current until he was swallowed up b y the waters .he drank the port in one gulp and reached for the list of the caabinieri quarters in the province

soneri pondering and drink ,something he does a lot.

Well I don’t read many crime novels but when I do find one I love I can’t help but  rave about it and this is one such book Varesi seems to capture a tight-knit community so well it reminds me of the mining villages that surround Chesterfield where I live ,the are always cautious of strangers and tend to do that thing where you’re welcome ,but not really ,if you know what I mean ,well he has caught that wonderfully ,Soneri is a detective in the classic police detective mode ,brooding ,has a vice in his case seems to love visiting the bar .the plot keeps you on your toes til the last few pages ,it is a good insight into how deep wounds caused by war can run in this case it is fascists and partizans with wounds still running deep 40 plus years later .the book is published by Quercus on there Machlehose press ,and was translated by Joseph Frrell ,whohas alos translated the works of nobel laurate Dario Fo.

WINSTONS SCORE

This is like a italian rebus but the ken stott rebus not the John Hannah one ! and below is Luca Barabeschi who plays soneri for the RAI TV SERIES

desert island disc

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Well Simon and Richard have put down list for there desert island discs ,well I am a huge fan of the show having listen since roy plumleys time showing my age there lol . Over years have jot my eight records down ,but when I come to write a post that other people are going to see my mind went blank to start with ,then it was all new stuff but after a think and bearing in mind the records are meant to be with you for a peroid of time a mix of what is tried and test and maybe one or two new was the way to go .

DESERT ISLAND DISCS –

1.better together by Jack Johnson ,I first got into jack well before the wave of sucees with his first album as a fan of ben harper he had worked with jack ,but this song is “our song ” we both like it myself and my wife Amanda ,we had it for a dance at our wedding so it means a lot to me and reminds me of my darling wife .

2.Mercy seat by Nick Cave and the bad seeds – I heard this on the John peel show taped it and wore the tape out it is onw of his finest songs epic dark ,religous imagery and full on rock ,nick has mellowed over the years like I have been a tear away as a teen but this song evokes a time and places .

3.Golden lights by The smiths ,now as a teen I had the morrissey haircut glass etc ,he spoke to me then but over the years i fallen in and out of love with his music ,at moment I m in love again after a couple of great albums ,this song is funny and sums him up in a way ,he was a guide to a young man with troubles .

4.Black eyed dog by Nick Drake ,nick Drake was a wonderful guitar player and singer ,he died at a young age and this song about depression touched me at a time I had depression and of course has dog and I had a black dog at the time ,a soul searching song .

5.love will tear us apart ny Joy Divison now i grew up around north cheshire near macclesfield went college there ever since I can remember I ve love this song it was a anthem for me growing up ,both joy divison and new order have been bands Ive listen since teens and this brings back my school and first outings to pubs etc

6.Old King by Neil Young ,a song about neils dog enough said

7.razor blades ,,little pills and big pianos by James rhodes ,A collection of piano piece by James Rhodes his first album it is amzingly soothing record from a great self taught talent

8.hallelujah Jordan by hothouse flowers ,this irish band reminds me of my irish roots and the last summer at school it is a very summery album its on .

book proust in search of lost time (complete) a book I really really want to read at some point so may have time on desert island

luxury item – digital photo fram with picture of my wedding and my wife and of course winston .

well there is the 8 sure if you asked me next week sure they be different .

 

DON QUIXOTE WEEK 6 IS THIS LORD OF THE RINGS ?

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well we start again after a weeks break ,a graduate samson starts to question sancho over his master,we find out about the donkey and his return strangely,then the squire persuade his wife to let him and the Don hit the road again they travel to a new town Toboso ,in search of a lady the don wants to impress ,they are then in some woods then there are dark tales and magicians mentioned .

the end of this section again as a few times before had me recalling Tolkien ,he must have read Don Quixote dark wood and tales being told are some of the main parts of The lord of the rings . 

the song from Don Quixote musical .

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ON WEEK 6 ?

Is there a connection between don and the lord of the rings ?

Winstons coffee and muffins

~ winstonsdad ~ 14 Comments

 

Well sunday has shot round again quickly ,well no books this week but some interesting news items found around the web –

NEWS –

Susan Sontag prize for Scandinavian translations is running at moment the 2010 winner has until Oct 2010 to complete the translation they chosen  Elmer Diktonius a finnish Swedish avant grade poet .

Three percent ,told us that the website for centre for the art of translation is up and running after going under an up grade and facelift ,and is looking very slick and has  a good piece on their blog about quercus books .

booktrusts translation site has some new book review on as well

Also a lament that no translation titles we re put forward for the Green carnation prize run by Simon Savidge of Savidge reads ,hope some are next year .

BOOKS  ON RADAR

there are two books I m really looking forward to getting they are by two giants of german literature Gunter Grass with the box,a sequel for peeling onions is told by 8 children and then Bernhard Schlink of reader fame returns with the weekend ,a book about the red army faction and people connected to it

and huge new book is David Grossmans to the end of the land ,a epic spanning 50 years of israeli history as a mother struggles with her sons second tour ,and she runs away ,new from Jonathan Cape .

what happened ?

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On seeing that generation a by Douglas Coupland had made the green carnation longlist it set me thinking why I not read any of his book since 2003 I brought all his books til then ,missed getting Eleanor Rigby and like a boat that has lost its mooring he was set adrift ,after reading his previous 8 novels .I wonder why I loved ,loved ,loved his earlier books so what happened ? He isn’t the only one Anthony Burgess was a favourite in my early twenties I read a number of his books but have read one in last five years ,so why do we let some writers drift off our radar so to speak ? has this happened to you ,or is it like a waiter juggling glasses you can only have so many writers in your plate at one time ? I love finding wonderful new voice but wish to re embrace some of my old friends again let them back into my heart

Is there a writer you loved and have left to drift away ?

do we out grow some writers maybe ?

Lion for sale ?

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TITLE – Circus Bulgaria by Deyan Enev

SOURCE  – REVIEW COPY SENT AFTER REQUEST

Deyan Enev is one of a new wave of Bulgarian writers to emerge ,HE was born in Sofia ,married and has had a number of interesting jobs painter ,night nurse ,school teacher and Journalist .He has won Bulgaria’s premier literary prize .I first heard him Talk about Circus Bulgaria on the world service radio and was grab by the man and his book so ask for a review copy .The book centres mainly on people living in and around Bulgaria’s capital Sofia .The book is what may be called a collection of flash fiction pieces ranging from a couple of pages to some over ten pages .as you jump in and out of these lives you find a group of people struggling in the hard times post communism in .they range from gypsy to circus people to little boys .we meet a lion tamer forced to sell his lion to some villains ,A fighter turned hit man .and a personal favourite that made me laugh for a number of days after I read the book ,a man finds a boy wander in the grass in  the night ,ask him what he is doing hunting hedgehogs a discussion follows on the reason for hunting hedgehogs very surreal and funny .

Hi, Krum said , and managed to light a cigarette .he drew on it and tried to look casual .

hi ,the boy said .can you keep quiet ,please ?

why ? krum had already forgotten about being casual .

I ‘m hunting for hedgehogs the boy explained .on a full moon ,there are always lots of hedgehogs .I had a hedgehog at home once .He was character .he kept poking his snout in the kitchen .but you know ,it’s a lie what they say about hedgehogs that they can dance to music .

Krum finds a boy hunting hedgehogs from ,from the life of hedgehogs

The book remind me in parts of Raymond Carver’s short stories ,the characters are similar they like a drink like many of Carvers characters and also are on the fringes of society like carvers tended to be ,there is also a wonderfully surreal edge to some of them bizarre accounts and weird people .It conjures up a melting pot of a city in Sofia .If this is the first of a wave of Bulgarian writing I look forward to the others ,Deyan Enev is a fresh new voice to these shores and a welcome one ,this has to be one of the most stunning debuts I ve ever read .The book is translated by Kapka Kassbova.

WINSTON’S SCORE

 Well I ve found it hard to find an image to Fit this book but this sentence may sum it up .If Robert Altman’s short cuts had been moved to eastern Europe and scripted by the team behind League of gentlemen !

Winstons round up august

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Well it was a fairly busy month at winstons towers August .I managed to get through 12 books this month ,back end of the month slowed down on my reading a bit due to family visiting and a cold so the 12 books are

circus Bulgaria by Deyan Enev

Settlement by Christoph Hein

Party going by Henry Green

House of hunger by Danbuzdo Marchera

Thumbing through Thoreau ,a book of quotes

Chapter of Hats by machado de assis

King of Tulza by Arnold Op De Haar

Tales of Dayrut by Mohamed Mustagab

The last will and … by Germano Almedia

Human love by Andrei Makine

Four walls by Vangelis Hatizyannis

The challenges

Hundred books challenge 85/100

around world in 52 books 17 /52

not read any from my 52 books list ,really must try some next month ,well plans for September are some more african fiction have 2 classics from Senagal and Lestho ,also couple great new american bookks the Salvatore Scibona and David Vann novels ,also a korean novel and a finnish estonian novel so a real rush around the world .favourite book last month Circus bulgaria a book I ll be raving about for weeks .

What your month been like ?

Any plans for September ?

winstons coffee and muffins

~ winstonsdad ~ 8 Comments

Well it is bank holiday weekend in the uk and I ve family staying .Its been a quiet week at Winston’s towers book wise I ve been busy working and sorting things for family visit ,But here are some news and new book here with me –

News –

Three percent had the shortlist for the French – American translation prize earlier in the week they have both fiction and non fiction shortlist well worth looking at the fiction shortlist is wonderfully strong here is a link to three percent ,I ve two of the books and the other three on my wish list as ever .

Quercus put me on their blogroll which was really nice ,there worth visiting there new digital  pr guy Mark Thwaite ,is writing a great blog and they publish loads of great translations also the revamped Steig Larson site is worth checking out !

#translationthurs the day people on twitter are asked to suggest a book in translation to every on is going from strength to strength many thanks to @mardixon on twitter who has really helped and got people involved ,so if you search  hashtag on Thurs you’ll always find a couple of new books to read .

THE BOOKS –

Well I ve had two parcels this week –

The first one is caribou island David Vann ,a novel; set in Alaska like his first book legend of suicide which I loved ,this book about couples and one starting on their marriage another trying to mend there’s ,sounds wonderful .won from Joe pickering penguin PR it is signed by david as well ,very cool .

Are three books from my fellow blogger and great friend Simon of inside books ,we like a lot of same books so send books to each other quiet a lot these there are –

the Luneburg variation  – Paolo Maurensig – a new italian writer a psychological book about a murder ,with fable like dark overtones

Prater violet – Christopher Isherwood  about writing a script for a film a novel deals with this ,being Isherwood should be great .

Sarajevo Marlboro – Miljenko Jergovic  – short stories about the Bosnian conflict

for a fuller review visit Simons blog where he has reviewed them all

white tiger & passport winners

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my 9 year old nice pick the number out as winston is in kennels at mo –

for white tiger she picked no 2 which was rise .

for passport she picked no 7 which was valarie

I ll e mail winners for addresses and send in the next week ,thanks all for entering shall do another give away soon

& OTHER STORIES NEW TRANSLATION PROJECT AND PUBLISHER

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Stefan from &otherstories e-mail me a while ago about their group and its project ,which includes group reads of books in the original language to pick books to be translated in to english the is a great choice of groups with books from spain ,Lithuania and Argentina ,The writers they ve choose all seem to be highly talented writers having won awards in their own country .Lithuania has a booming lit scene post communism like the other Baltic states and the chance to get to read in english will be great .please all look at their site or join the good reads group and find out what is going on in this new NON PROFIT publisher .They are also looking for volunteers to help them along the way so I m sure Stefan and the other from &other stories will be pleased to hear from you .they are also on twitter .