Aye Write: The Aftermath

Jonathan Coe cancelled Aye Write, he bloody well did. I had even brought along my hardback copy of The Rain Before It Falls (not my favourite, but my nicest copy of a Coe book) and a big bucket of courage so I could ask him to sign my book. Boo.

Still, I went to see Andrew Crumey (now offically a favourite author of mine) yesterday which was all sorts of interesting. He read an unpublished short story as did Gavin Esler (unsurprisingly punchy and smooth) and Rodge Glass (as always self-deprecating and humourous). Esler's story was the easiest to follow, Glass's story got the most instictive gasps from audience and Crumey ..  well, I think he confused a few people there. Listening to him, I noticed that although he was an engaging reader, his prose is the sort which needs to be read in order to be fully unpacked. I continue to be intrigued.

IM IN UR WASTELAND

It is times like these that I wished I smoked. Tough decisions to make and it is (unsurprisingly) tough to make them. I knit to relax and (again, unsurprisingly) I have finished a hat within two days. So, let's distract myself with interesting links. It usually works..

+ Unusual Architecture does what it says on the tin. I rather like Poland's Crooked House and am in love with the Kansas City Public Library.

+ A Map of the Galaxy's Most-Travelled Space Port Stations. As someone points out in the comments: "A word of advice: do not use the restroom at the Eagle Nebula station. I know it means you'll just have to hold it for 30,000 years until you reach Carina, but trust me, you'll be glad you did."

+ A really interesting grid: Human Variation - The Height/Weight Photographic Grid. I'm particularly intrigued to see how I'd look if I followed my doctor's advice..

+ Libraries' surprising Special Collections.

+ And, finally, a soul-destroying link: The Waste Land .. LOLCat-style. I don't even find it funny, but if you are of a less serious disposition than me you might find some sort of enjoyment in "fonician in teh whirlpoolz,  spinny/ spinny fortunes’ wheel. / in teh fonician, ponder ur fate!" Grrr..

+ Finally, finally: foxes on trampolines. Just because.

But .. I Don't Observe Lent!

Due to Certain Health Issues, I have embarked on a lactose-free, low-caffeine diet. This is very difficult for this milky-tea and Diet Coke devotee. I allow myself one cup of glorious caffeinated coffee every morning, but it's not any fun having to put soy milk in it. Oy. I have also been googling lactose-free rice pudding and custard recipes because I refuse to give up my comfort food. You say there's caffeine in chocolate? La la la la .. I cannot hear you! (You'd be forgiven for thinking I was Catholic as I have also given up buying wool)

I'm about two-thirds through Junot Diaz's The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao. I'm torn between absolutely loving it and finding it woefully uneven. Perhaps it's just that one of the narrative voices is so compelling that whenever he disappears from the book, I become very impatient. I'll probably finish it tonight or tomorrow and then need to mull over my reaction to it. I like it when a book demands a proper response.

Free Books? Free Typefaces Too.

Thanks to Kim, I discovered BookMooch yesterday (I'm slow sometimes). The basic idea is that you compile a list of books you like to give away, people who have that book on their wishlist are then given the option to request the book, you send the book to them and you are given points you can spend on your own requests or "mooches". I signed up around 7.30pm and by 8pm I had already given away my first book. Two hours later another book had been claimed. I'm struggling a bit to find books I want to put on my wishlist - mostly because I have some fantastic secondhand bookshops here - but I'm sure I will cope. It's a great idea and you can even donate towards charity.

If you are on BookMooch too, my username is (unsurprisingly) karie bookish. Get in touch.

Two typeface links:

• what font are you? I'm Times New Roman - "timesless and classy", apparently, although I prefer my own interpretation of "designed in the 1930s".
• My arty friends Gabi and Phil have set up a blog where they are giving away self-designed typefaces once a week. You might also want to check out Gabi's homepage. She does some very cool stuff (and we are very chuffed to have some of her artwork in our home).

For This I Am Thankful

“His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their latter end, upon all the living and the dead.”

It is snowing outside (again!) and I am reminded of James Joyce's wonderful short story "The Dead" (found in Dubliners and made into a beautiful film by John Huston). Even if you are the sort who shudder at the thought of James Joyce, give "The Dead" a chance. It is exquisite - and also the snowiest story I can imagine (something which may sound nonsensical but if you read it, you'll understand).

Earlier this week I was given my first birthday present. I do not write much about what it was like moving from Denmark to Scotland - but it was an uneasy transition and I found it somewhat difficult to build up a new network of friends. So, when I was given an unexpected birthday present by my Glasgow circle of friends, this act of friendship felt particularly poignant. The present? All the wool I need to make Flyte. It feels slightly overwhelming, if in a good way.

(Related: I am trying to find buttons for my Forecast cardigan (which is knitting up nicely, hence much radio silence). I went to John Lewis and discovered that ten buttons would cost me almost as much as all the wool for the cardi. That's not an option. I have looked at Textile Garden, eBay, Etsy, Bedecked, Pavi Yarns and Ribbon Moon. Any other places I should look?)

Finally, I have found yet another t-shirt I feel I should own, I pity this poor dog (although I'm also slightly amused by the Poodle Ninja Turtle-Leonardoodle), and I'm keeping a close eye on Academic Earth in case anything fun turns up. And, of course, CityPoem Copenhagen..

Aye Write '09

The Aye Write literary festival lineup is pretty good - and for the first time since I moved to "Glasga", I can actually go! I have booked tickets to see Jonathan Coe and Andrew Crumey in conversations with Rodge Glass and I'm rather excited. You must understand that I've been used to the Copenhagen Book Fair where we got celebrity chefs and D-list reality stars flogging their books (with the occasional AS Byatt thrown in for good measure). Aye Write! is considerably more my thing. Coe is one of my favourite contemporary authors and I'm in the process of becoming a Crumey convert.

Also, a big thank you to some of my Glasgow friends who floored me the other day with their kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. You guys rock. You really do.