Wordle, a one word conversation starter
26 February 2022
In a time where there are perhaps few safe, neutral, topics of small talk — even the weather is off bounds in some circles — it’s reassuring to know that Wordle is something we converse about in most situations, says Amelia Lester, writing for The Sydney Morning Herald. Provided of course whoever we’re talking to is familiar with the word game.
That leaves one subject to carry us all forward through parties and get-togethers with people we’ve never met before, or whose names we can’t quite remember, or friends of friends we’re not sure whether we like. That subject is Wordle. The world hasn’t been so united since late March of 2020, when Tiger King gripped the globe. Why is Wordle entrancing? The reason must surely be: it makes us feel smart. It’s easier than a crossword, but scratches the same itch.
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A few ways to help the people of Ukraine
26 February 2022
The invasion in Ukraine is upsetting and unsettling. Even though some of us may be at a great distance from the hostilities, there are still things we can do to assist. Mateo Szlapek-Sewillo, of Simple Speaker, has put together a list of suggestions.
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The Film Adaptation Test of a book
25 February 2022
Telling an author you read their book is the greatest compliment they can receive, according to American poet Lee Ballentine. Anyone taking five to six hours out of their time to read a book cover-to-cover must have — in most cases — thought highly of it. The title evaded the did not finish pile: that’s saying a lot.
As an additional compliment, you could tell the author you’ll read their novel again. But with so many books in the world, who has the time to repeat read a title? Instead it might be better to say their book should be made into a film. It’s a way of saying your novel is so good, more people need to experience it, so let’s get it into cinemas. For most authors that’s probably an affirmation; it’s my guess many quietly hope their work will result in a movie.
It’s more than a commendation though. It’s an endorsement that discharges a reader from the obligation to pick up the book again. But it also makes for a useful metric in assessing a novel. If a book is worthy of being adapted for the big screen, it’s probably a good story. It’s something that should be put before a wider audience. And if not, perhaps you could settle for telling the author you read their book, and leave it at that.
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Bacon butties, the perfect reading companion
25 February 2022
If the fillings of the sandwiches we have for lunch are our only concern, we do indeed live in the lucky country.
While bacon and egg rolls have long been a favourite Australian snack, bacon butties — or, you prefer, sarnies — sandwiches filled with little more than bacon and butter, are apparently becoming more popular in Sydney cafes.
The bacon sarnie (or “butty” if you’re in Northern England) has long been sidelined in Australia in favour of the bacon and egg roll despite massive popularity in the UK. English truck drivers scoff bacon sarnies by the side of the road; Prince Harry once ordered a plate load for a post-wedding party.
I’ll probably stick to my regular coffee-only order in the morning, but for bacon buttie aficionados this sounds like good news.
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Elvis, a film by Baz Luhrmann
23 February 2022
Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann brings the life of late American singer Elvis Presley to film, in Elvis, trailer. Luhrmann’s movies are always worth looking forward to.
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The rules of writing for writers by writers
23 February 2022
Ten rules for writing, put together by The Guardian, part one and part two, with insights from writers including Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Moorcock, Zadie Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Sarah Waters, and Will Self.
There’s a lot of good stuff here, such as this idea from Hilary Mantel:
Write a book you’d like to read. If you wouldn’t read it, why would anybody else? Don’t write for a perceived audience or market. It may well have vanished by the time your book’s ready.
Particularly relevant for someone like me who writes at a glacial pace. And then this nugget from British poet Andrew Motion:
Decide when in the day (or night) it best suits you to write, and organise your life accordingly.
Thank you. I’ll go for later in the day. This coming from someone not of the school of thought you must wake at 4AM to achieve anything.
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The Bluffs by Kyle Perry optioned for TV series
23 February 2022
Hot on the heels of news that Australian author Liane Moriarty’s 2013 novel The Husband’s Secret will be made into a film directed by Kat Coiro, comes word Tasmanian novelist Kyle Perry’s 2020 debut book The Bluffs, has been optioned by Australian entertainment company First Option Pictures for a limited TV series.
What a great week for Australian fiction.
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Australian writing, Kyle Perry
The definition of being a single parent
23 February 2022
Dani Vee, Sydney based host of literary podcast Words and Nerds, writes about being a single parent at Ramona Magazine. If you only read one paragraph of the article, make sure it’s this one:
The next time you hear anyone talking about single mothers, start by replacing words like lonely, stressed, frazzled, broke and struggling with ‘you mean that independent-solution-focused-resilient-kick ass woman with the electric lawnmower?’
Also lookout for her debut picture book My EXTRAordinary Mum, featuring illustrations by Alexandra Colombo.
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Impossible by Sarah Lotz
21 February 2022
What would you do if an email intended for another person, made its way to your inbox? Would you delete it forthwith? Or would you, without blinking at it, inform the sender by return, of their error? Or might you feel that’d be tantamount to admitting you’d read the message? Might you think you were therefore exposing yourself to possible retribution, by making yourself known to the sender?
Or might you be like Bee, a London dress maker, who having received, and read, an incorrectly addressed email, decides to send a considered reply to the sender, because she found the contents intriguing? And would you believe for a second that such a response could be the beginning of a friendship, or perhaps something more?
This is exactly what happens in Impossible (published by HarperCollins Publishers, March 2022), by Sarah Lotz, the eighth novel by the British novelist and screenwriter. Nick, who is struggling personally and professionally, is surprised when Bee, a stranger, replies to his misdirected rant, but is delighted as their correspondence becomes regular and more intimate.
After all, who doesn’t like a meeting a new friend? But when Bee and Nick realise there is more to their exchanges than cordial banter, they decide to take the next step. Nick jumps on a train from Leeds, while Bee makes her way to London’s Euston station to meet him. But is it that simple? Can something come of what they have? Could it? Or is there too much they don’t know about each other to make that possible?
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Megan Albany speaks with Dora Papas
21 February 2022
Megan Albany, whose debut novel The Very Last List of Vivian Walker, I wrote about the week before last, will be in conversation with Dora Papas, editor of Better Homes and Gardens, as part of the Books & Bubbles series of virtual events, this Wednesday, 23 February 2022, at 6:30PM (ADST).
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