Now here’s a strange thing … just finished reading (and enjoying immensely) Peter Goldsworthy’s Three dog night – which make reference to >Avernus. About half way into Margaret Drabble’s The seven sisters, it occurs to me that there are numerous mentions of Avernus. Is there no limit to the strangeness of literature?
… to teach an old reader new genres. Or if not actually ‘teach’, then at least introduce.
From Shelly Shapiro’s essay “What is Alternate History?” (although I still maintain it should be ‘alternative’, but what would I know?): “… also known as “counterfactual history … an author takes a pivotal turning point in hisotry, spins it on its axis, and examines what path events might have taken as a result …”
Fair enough. As my newest best friend Shelley points out, any historical fiction could be classed as alternate(ive) history, in that the fictional elements never actually occurred.
Enough with the analysis, already. Dissection, discussion, and decision have been the death of many a good read. Roads not taken (ISBN 0-345-42194-9) was well worth the trip to the local public library’s Paperback Spinner, where many of the good reads seem to end up. Don’t know why that is; it’s not my library.
Although, in the interests of information dissemination I should really ask. Goodness knows, I’m sure they’ve come to expect a series of irritating queries from me. But in my own defence, I’d like to state that I know where the photocopier is, how to use the OPAC, and always carry my stationary with me. Now, if only we could train all library users to do that …
So, in the local book store, and a lady asks the clerk if they stock Spanish language books. The clerk says no, so “someone” pipes up with the information that the local library does, and that it’s free! Sigh. Advocacy is all very well, but some of us (OK, me) don’t seem to have learned the lessons about appropriate times and places …
Many thanks to the world famous, and long-time fan of Warrior Librarian, Claude Razanajao for bringing this to our attention.
Interesting, the review reads “Sept ans me séparent déjà des expériences vécues en Australie. Expériences d’un Français en terre australienne, d’un didacticien du FLE en « stage intensif » d’apprentissage de l’anglais, enfin d’un praticien du FLE à l’université de La Trobe et de Monash (Melbourne).
Ces expériences simultanées et entrecroisées, rares pour un enseignant / chercheur en FLE, méritaient un effort d’analyse et d’introspection pour rendre compte de ce que signifie « apprendre une langue étrangère ». Cet effort, il est vrai, a été facilité par le continuum de remarques et de réflexions qui caractérise certainement la vie affective et intellectuelle de tout individu vivant à l’étranger, dans un autre contexte linguistique et culturel.
Je ne chercherai donc pas à me réapproprier ces textes écrits à Melbourne, ou plutôt dans quelques-uns de ces « suburbs ». Je chercherai plutôt à utiliser les tracés laissés par ces diverses expériences pour présenter les textes qui suivent : « Traces d’apprentissage », « Théorisons un peu de vécu ! », « Le corps disant », etc.”
So it’s probably pretty good. Although it’s going to take ages to put the whole book through Babelfish …
It’s been a busy week, reading wise - 5 concurrently devoured Young Adult nominees, plus the odd bit of recreational reading thrown in for good measure.
This year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia’s nominees are The story of Tom Brennan (J. C. Bourke), Double exposure (Brian Caswell), No Worries (Bill Condon), Chasing Charlie Duskin (Cath Crowley), It’s not all about you, Calma! (Barry Jonsberg), and Lost Property (James Moloney).
Not many surprises, except for an amazing number of similarities. A few disappointments though - Lost Property was seriously well researched, but a major blunder appears on Page 8, then reoccurs throughout. There’s a challenge for you!
For some reason, I thought Bill Condon’s work would have had more humor, but there you go. Just when you think you know an author, they up and change genres. Sigh.
A word of warning, though. Don’t read Charlie Duskin in a public place - particularly towards the end. Unless, of course, you’re a stone-hearted tragic or have blocked tear ducts. Not that the Warrior Librarian would get weepy over a story or anything, you understand …