In my recent trip to Inverness, I finished "Celebrating Bosman: A Centenary Selection of Herman Charles Bosman's Stories". I love short stories, as they are well suited to travel, and this collection was particularly satisfying.
The collection begins with a handful of pieces centered around Bosman's life and times, including edited selections from "Cold Stone Jug", which I read less than a month ago. The edited selections most notably omit the hallucinatory elements of the work, but are a good introduction to the material. I would still recommend taking the time to read the entire work. There are additional autobiographical pieces that give us a nice sense of Bosman's character, his willingness to seek out interesting people and circumstances both to amuse himself and to have a story to tell afterward.
The time spent seeking out grizzled old characters and listening to their stories was not wasted. In the bulk of the collection, Bosman demonstrates a deep love of South Africa, the landscape, its people, their culture, but also of storytelling itself, the skill and nuance that go into a good story.
The stories are rich and touch on love, war, family, loss, nature, and all with a uniquely South African perspective. It would be unfair not to mention the racism that pervades the culture in which Bosman's most famous character (Oom Schank Laurens) tells his stories. The best of the Oom Schank Laurens stories are those in which the divide between the races is most clearly highlighted, explored, challenged even. Here are a few of my favorites:
- "Sold Down the River"
- "Unto Dust"
- "Funeral Earth"
- "Makapan's Cave"
Sunday, 18 November 2007
Monday, 12 November 2007
Travel: Copenhagen
Elaine and I are finally putting up our photos from our recent trip to Copenhagen, so I thought I'd take a minute to write a little bit about it. You can see our photos from Copenhagen and a bunch of new panoramas in our space on Flickr.
We stayed in Copenhagen for about a week. Our hotel was a very modest place called the Cab Inn Hotel, which was relatively inexpensive, but fit the bill well enough. On our first day (a Sunday), many of the museums were open, so we ventured out and saw the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, which has a great collection of sculpture. After that, we visited the ruins under Christiansborg Palace. We also visited the Museum of Erotica, which was reasonably entertaining. We finished up the day with a tour and a 3D IMAX movie at the Tycho Brahe Planetarium.
On the second day, we went to Den Hirschsprungske Samling, a small museum of Danish art from the 19th century. We also did a fair amount of shopping, including a visit to my favorite knife shop (Henkels).
On the third day, we went to the Carlsberg Brewery in the morning, and then met up with my Aunt Evalin and cousin Lauren. We went on a canal tour together in the afternoon, and then walked up to the Rund Tarne, where I managed to shoot a pretty ambitious panorama.
On the fourth day, we went to the Cathedral and Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. While we were at the cathedral, we were delighted to witness a crew carefully hauling a coffin out of a crypt for restoration, which was a fitting Halloween occurrence. While we were at the Viking Ship Museum, we got to dress up as Vikings and pose on a Viking ship, which was even better. We finished up the night by attending a live Jazz performance.
On the fifth day, we went to the Lousiana Art museum, the highlights of which were the Lucian Freud exhibit and the Islamic book illustrations. We then went to "Hamlet's Castle" in Helsingore. We finished up the day with a tour of Helsingborg, Sweden, where we had a nice dinner (fondue, yes it's Swiss, but it was good).
On the sixth and last full day, we met at Lauren's favorite bakery and sampled the local pastries. After that, we took the bus to the Assistens Kirkegaard, a large cemetary in Copenhagen. We saw Niels Bohr's grave as well as Hans Christian Andersen's grave, and took a number of photos of the scenery and statuary there. Before and after, we did a bit of shopping here and there, as Christmas is coming up. We had a final meal as a full group, and then said our goodbyes to Aunt Evalin and Lauren over coffee and very nice seasonal beer.
We stayed in Copenhagen for about a week. Our hotel was a very modest place called the Cab Inn Hotel, which was relatively inexpensive, but fit the bill well enough. On our first day (a Sunday), many of the museums were open, so we ventured out and saw the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, which has a great collection of sculpture. After that, we visited the ruins under Christiansborg Palace. We also visited the Museum of Erotica, which was reasonably entertaining. We finished up the day with a tour and a 3D IMAX movie at the Tycho Brahe Planetarium.
On the second day, we went to Den Hirschsprungske Samling, a small museum of Danish art from the 19th century. We also did a fair amount of shopping, including a visit to my favorite knife shop (Henkels).
On the third day, we went to the Carlsberg Brewery in the morning, and then met up with my Aunt Evalin and cousin Lauren. We went on a canal tour together in the afternoon, and then walked up to the Rund Tarne, where I managed to shoot a pretty ambitious panorama.
On the fourth day, we went to the Cathedral and Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. While we were at the cathedral, we were delighted to witness a crew carefully hauling a coffin out of a crypt for restoration, which was a fitting Halloween occurrence. While we were at the Viking Ship Museum, we got to dress up as Vikings and pose on a Viking ship, which was even better. We finished up the night by attending a live Jazz performance.
On the fifth day, we went to the Lousiana Art museum, the highlights of which were the Lucian Freud exhibit and the Islamic book illustrations. We then went to "Hamlet's Castle" in Helsingore. We finished up the day with a tour of Helsingborg, Sweden, where we had a nice dinner (fondue, yes it's Swiss, but it was good).
On the sixth and last full day, we met at Lauren's favorite bakery and sampled the local pastries. After that, we took the bus to the Assistens Kirkegaard, a large cemetary in Copenhagen. We saw Niels Bohr's grave as well as Hans Christian Andersen's grave, and took a number of photos of the scenery and statuary there. Before and after, we did a bit of shopping here and there, as Christmas is coming up. We had a final meal as a full group, and then said our goodbyes to Aunt Evalin and Lauren over coffee and very nice seasonal beer.
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Travel: London
While preparing for our current trip to Copenhagen, I realized I hadn't put up the photos from our first trip to London, which can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elaineandtony/sets/72157602755780855/
Our first trip, we mostly hit the sights and a couple of museums. Elaine and I had wanted to visit the Tate Modern since its renovation in the 90s, it wasn't a disappointment.
We're planning another trip to see our friends in Cambridge at Thanksiving, and will have more photos from that trip soon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elaineandtony/sets/72157602755780855/
Our first trip, we mostly hit the sights and a couple of museums. Elaine and I had wanted to visit the Tate Modern since its renovation in the 90s, it wasn't a disappointment.
We're planning another trip to see our friends in Cambridge at Thanksiving, and will have more photos from that trip soon.
Review: "Significant Others" by Armistead Maupin
Hot on the heels of "Babycakes" and just finishing up the outgoing part of our trip to Copenhagen, I finished "Significant Others" last night. It had a nice structure, two groups of supposedly like-minded people getting together in their private enclaves and a third group outside both camps. There are excursions between the groups that highlight their differences and similarities. Along the way, there are many playful and serious observations about class, politics, gender, sexuality, romance, friendship. Pleasingly enough, there are a handful of new peripheral characters that are satisfying in their own right, and highlight new aspects of the core characters.
Anyway, I plan to read the rest of the series soon enough. For now, on to explore Copenhagen and perhaps break into my other two books for the trip: "Mauritius Command" (the next in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian) and a centenary collection of the short stories of Charles Herman Bosman.
Anyway, I plan to read the rest of the series soon enough. For now, on to explore Copenhagen and perhaps break into my other two books for the trip: "Mauritius Command" (the next in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian) and a centenary collection of the short stories of Charles Herman Bosman.
Friday, 26 October 2007
Review: "Babycakes" by Armistead Maupin
I picked up "Tales of the City" in the airport on my way to South Africa earlier this year, devoured it, and picked up the next two books in the series ("More Tales of the City" and "Further Tales of the City") for the trip back home to Stornoway.
I loved the dialog, especialy in the early works. I often found myself laughing out loud as I read, no matter the surroundings. The series is full of characters and situations that are great fun to read. I do get the sense that some of the characters are types rather than fully rounded, but it's the same as any good comedy, where you have a core of characters you know and then a whole host of bit players who act as foils for the core characters, allowing them new ways to express themselves. Some of the convoluted plots (the Jonestown arc, the Cannibal Cult), were a bit much, and distracted me to the point where I didn't feel the need to pick up any further books in the series for a while.
On the cusp of an upcoming trip to Copenhagen, I went by the public library to pick up some new reading material (I typically go through two or three books a trip). Browsing through the shelves, I found the fourth and fifth volumes in the series, "Babycakes" and "Significant Others". Just as half the popcorn rarely lasts me through the previews, I finished "Babycakes" before the trip even started.
What surprised me about this latest work was its change of tone. The Barbary Lane in the fourth book is a bit more somber. There's still humor and life, but the character of Mouse in particular is a bit wearier in a world that has moved into the 1980s and is now all too intimately aware of AIDS. There were also a few scene changes (Seattle, London) that allowed for a bit of good natured cultural commentary. I particularly enjoyed the several characters who found themselves traveling from the West Coast of the US to London, which resonates slightly with my own experiences a bit farther North and a few decades later.
Anyway, it's a good read, but probably is best enjoyed if you work your way through the earlier books. I have "Significant Others" with me and will likely comment on that shortly.
I loved the dialog, especialy in the early works. I often found myself laughing out loud as I read, no matter the surroundings. The series is full of characters and situations that are great fun to read. I do get the sense that some of the characters are types rather than fully rounded, but it's the same as any good comedy, where you have a core of characters you know and then a whole host of bit players who act as foils for the core characters, allowing them new ways to express themselves. Some of the convoluted plots (the Jonestown arc, the Cannibal Cult), were a bit much, and distracted me to the point where I didn't feel the need to pick up any further books in the series for a while.
On the cusp of an upcoming trip to Copenhagen, I went by the public library to pick up some new reading material (I typically go through two or three books a trip). Browsing through the shelves, I found the fourth and fifth volumes in the series, "Babycakes" and "Significant Others". Just as half the popcorn rarely lasts me through the previews, I finished "Babycakes" before the trip even started.
What surprised me about this latest work was its change of tone. The Barbary Lane in the fourth book is a bit more somber. There's still humor and life, but the character of Mouse in particular is a bit wearier in a world that has moved into the 1980s and is now all too intimately aware of AIDS. There were also a few scene changes (Seattle, London) that allowed for a bit of good natured cultural commentary. I particularly enjoyed the several characters who found themselves traveling from the West Coast of the US to London, which resonates slightly with my own experiences a bit farther North and a few decades later.
Anyway, it's a good read, but probably is best enjoyed if you work your way through the earlier books. I have "Significant Others" with me and will likely comment on that shortly.
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Review: "Cold Stone Jug" by Charles Herman Bosman
"Cold Stone Jug" by Herman Bosman was recommended to me during a trip to South Africa earlier this year. I ended up acquiring the anniversary edition, which finally came a few weeks ago. The book is in the same family as Dostoevsky's "House of the Dead", which similarly fictionalizes a real-life stint behind bars.
Like "House of the Dead", "Cold Stone Jug" describes the day-to-day prison experience. The people, the clothes, the environment, the routines, all are described in intimate detail. Like "House of the Dead", the narrator moves from a death sentence to a fixed term in prison, to release. Even the reliance on the prison infirmary as a release from the monotony of prison life is duplicated.
What makes both works enjoyable is the hopefulness, strained though it is at times. We know that somehow the narrator survives the ordeal, somehow his humor and wit survive. The anniversary edition in particular is enjoyable because it includes prefaces, etc that firmly root the work in the biography of Bosman and in the reality of the penal system he was incarcerated in.
Like any good book, this book left me wanting to read more from and about the author. Further reviews of the author's work to follow...
Like "House of the Dead", "Cold Stone Jug" describes the day-to-day prison experience. The people, the clothes, the environment, the routines, all are described in intimate detail. Like "House of the Dead", the narrator moves from a death sentence to a fixed term in prison, to release. Even the reliance on the prison infirmary as a release from the monotony of prison life is duplicated.
What makes both works enjoyable is the hopefulness, strained though it is at times. We know that somehow the narrator survives the ordeal, somehow his humor and wit survive. The anniversary edition in particular is enjoyable because it includes prefaces, etc that firmly root the work in the biography of Bosman and in the reality of the penal system he was incarcerated in.
Like any good book, this book left me wanting to read more from and about the author. Further reviews of the author's work to follow...
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Review: "Humpty Dumpty in Oakland" by Philip K. Dick
He picked up his science fiction book and dropped it flat to the desk again. "You know, these guys who write these things... these rocket ships and time-travel machines and faster-than-list drives, all that stuff. If you want the hero to be on Mars you say something like -- 'he turned on the automatic high-gain propulsion tubes.' This one isn't so bad but some of them are. They go barreling around the universe. It must be easy to write this stuff; they must bat it out"
"I see," Fergesson said, not following the man's talk.
"I'd like to meet one of these science fiction boys. I'd hire myself out as a technical consultant." Carmichael's great horse-teeth showed in irony. "Ten or fifteen percent of the price he gets. This stuff is just fake. They fake it as they go along"
Philip K. Dick, "Humpty Dumpty in Oakland"
"Humpty Dumpty in Oakland" is the first PKD book I've read since finishing "I am Alive and You are Dead", the excellent biography of Philip K. Dick by Emmanuel Carrère. Having read about Dick's feeling (or at least his second wife's feeling) that science fiction work was somehow beneath a real writer and knowing that he always wished for success in mainstream novels, the above passage is striking.
The work itself is pretty typical of Dick's mainstream novels. So many of the elements (the dynamic of salesmen and engineers in retail, health food stores, 1950s San Fransisco) are common to "Humpty Dumpty", "Voices from the Street", "In Milton Lumky Territory" and "Mary and the Giant". The narrative itself is fine. As with so many of Dick's novels, there are uncertainties to be resolved, competing views of reality that accumulate evidence until one is revealed to be if not true, then at least the view that all the characters are willing to act on. This and the general paranoia of the main character are typical Dick, and enjoyable enough. What distracts in the characterization.
There's a passage in "I am Alive and You are Dead" where Carrère compares Dick's characters to termites in a fumigated colony, coming together by reflex rather than design. Although a bit harsh, there's a kernel of truth that stayed with me as I read "Humpty Dumpty". It's not that the characters are entirely unsympathetic or their situations unbelievable. It's just that they are seemingly creatures of intellect and whim with a few "tics" thrown in rather than consistent, emotionally mature, living creations. By way of comparison, I finally got around to reading "The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula Leguin a while back. The central conceits of "Lathe" (altering reality by subconscious thought) seemed very Phildickian to me, but the characters in LeGuin's work have a more believable emotional center.
Characterization not withstanding, "Humpty Dumpty" is not bad, but is perhaps best left for those who enjoy Dick's mainstream writing well enough to seek it out.
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