This is going to be short and sweet, because even though it's surprisingly early for a Friday night, I'm tired and going to bed.
The verdict was a general "meh" feeling. While none of us actively hated the overall books (there were moments that made us see red), we felt that there wasn't really any build up. Normally, you have an introduction, a build up, and a climax, but this book went straight from intro all the way through to the climax. As well, there were a great many cliches, such as the gruff but loveable old guy, the crazy rich guy, and the psychopath.
My feeling was that the story ended poorly. That is to say, I would have been happy if it ended badly or happily, yet this book drifted off. The narrator was wimpy all the way through, and it had a suitably wimpy ending.
This led to a discussion about Canadian lit in general, and award-winning Canadian lit in specific. That it's dull and heavy and depressing - and that's not something that Canadians are known for. Really - it's like we're a nation of agnsty teenagers: "Oh, I'm all happy and funny and laid back on the outside, but if you read my book you'll see that I'm deep and sensitive and complex!" Pshaw.
Next up: Life of Pi, by Yann Martel.
Friday, October 29, 2004
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Veiled promises
At the end of yesterday's post, I mentioned in passing that we'd be doing veil work at belly dancing. Not having a real veil, and not really knowing what they look like, I brought along a veil-like scarf I have.
It was not even close to what real veils look like. My pathetic excuse for a veil is about 30cm wide by about a meter long, while the veils we use in class are about a meter (or more) wide by 2.5-3 meters long. Holy cow! The instructor loaned me one of hers, which was nice of her.
The overall effect of a group of (mostly) middle-aged women in our brightly coloured coin belts and sweat pants and t-shirts isn't always the picture you'd imagine when someone asks you to describe what a belly dancer looks like. But, give us veils and have us twirl around to the music, and it's a whole other story. We're no match for Salome and her sisters, and we may never do the Dance of the Seven Veils, but the overall effect is rather stunning.
In a new record last evening, I managed to loose three coins from my belt, mostly from getting them caught in the veil. I found all of them, and will sew them back on once I get the right colour thread. I have two belts - one is white, and has coin-and-bead chevrons, while the other is a red ten-line (four double-rows of coins, plus a row on the bottom and rows on the edge of the belt). It's the red one I keep loosing the coins from. I just need to get some red crochet thread, and I can tie them back on. Better yet, I can just reinforce all the other coins while I'm at it.
Wait... what.... did I... what... am I... nucking futs? There has got to be over 200 coins on that thing! When the hell am I going to have time in the next month to do that?!? And since the workshop is next weekend, I'm going to have no time to do important things like sleep, eat, or practice personal hygiene between now and then!
(Speaking of short on time, I need to go finish a birthday present, write a thank-you card, and have something to eat before 6:45. It is now 5:30. GO!)
It was not even close to what real veils look like. My pathetic excuse for a veil is about 30cm wide by about a meter long, while the veils we use in class are about a meter (or more) wide by 2.5-3 meters long. Holy cow! The instructor loaned me one of hers, which was nice of her.
The overall effect of a group of (mostly) middle-aged women in our brightly coloured coin belts and sweat pants and t-shirts isn't always the picture you'd imagine when someone asks you to describe what a belly dancer looks like. But, give us veils and have us twirl around to the music, and it's a whole other story. We're no match for Salome and her sisters, and we may never do the Dance of the Seven Veils, but the overall effect is rather stunning.
In a new record last evening, I managed to loose three coins from my belt, mostly from getting them caught in the veil. I found all of them, and will sew them back on once I get the right colour thread. I have two belts - one is white, and has coin-and-bead chevrons, while the other is a red ten-line (four double-rows of coins, plus a row on the bottom and rows on the edge of the belt). It's the red one I keep loosing the coins from. I just need to get some red crochet thread, and I can tie them back on. Better yet, I can just reinforce all the other coins while I'm at it.
Wait... what.... did I... what... am I... nucking futs? There has got to be over 200 coins on that thing! When the hell am I going to have time in the next month to do that?!? And since the workshop is next weekend, I'm going to have no time to do important things like sleep, eat, or practice personal hygiene between now and then!
(Speaking of short on time, I need to go finish a birthday present, write a thank-you card, and have something to eat before 6:45. It is now 5:30. GO!)
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