Monday, 26 January 2009
An unexpected source of inspiration
A Thousand Words from Ted Chung on Vimeo.
Video found @ Noquedanblogs
What do you think happens after this? Is she going to call? Did she leave the camera behind on purpose? Or, is it too late and she's gone? Maybe she never intended to leave the camera and she'll never know that the guy found her. She missed her chance when she didn't say anything to him.
This makes me think of all those missed opportunities that we never learn about. Not the mistakes that become clear after a while, but the decisions we didn't take, the lives we didn't live. Do they get lived in a parallel universe, or are they lost forever?
Sunday, 18 January 2009
The Guardian on Saturday
This is one of my favourite things about living in England. Getting up on a Saturday, getting the paper, going to a nice place for breakfast (the park, weather permitted) and flick through the news, the book reviews, the TV guide (I tell you some of the recaps and opinions are hugely entertaining), I even like the Work and Money sections... Normally I'll read as much as I can on Saturday morning and leave the rest for the week ahead. It's the simple things in life, right?
Monday, 12 January 2009
More reading
OK, so I have changed my mind (again) and I'm going to do the Reading dangerously challenge (My Year of Reading Dangerously) properly. Here are the 6 other books I'm adding to my list:
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger: thanks for the suggestion, Cheryl. I read this book years ago in Spanish and I've been meaning to read it in English for a while now, so this is the perfect opportunity.
Forgotten Voices, by Max Author: I wouldn't normally read a book about war, so that's the challenge. Also, I do want to learn more about WWI as I feel there is not enough information out there about it (certainly not as much as about WWII)
Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden: I got this book as a present many years ago, and I want to read it, and then watch the film to compare them.
The Secret Story, by Donna Tartt: I have never read anything by Donna Tart, so it's a new author to try!
Also, two books that have been on my shelves for a really long time: Prozac Nation, by Elizabeth Wurtzel, and White Teeth, by Zadie Smith.
Phew, I better start on one of this soon. Not today, though. This is my first week back at work after more than a year and I'm EXHAUSTED in the evenings, so I'm reading something light and funny: Remember me? by Sophie Kinsella (of Shopaholic fame!)
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger: thanks for the suggestion, Cheryl. I read this book years ago in Spanish and I've been meaning to read it in English for a while now, so this is the perfect opportunity.
Forgotten Voices, by Max Author: I wouldn't normally read a book about war, so that's the challenge. Also, I do want to learn more about WWI as I feel there is not enough information out there about it (certainly not as much as about WWII)
Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden: I got this book as a present many years ago, and I want to read it, and then watch the film to compare them.
The Secret Story, by Donna Tartt: I have never read anything by Donna Tart, so it's a new author to try!
Also, two books that have been on my shelves for a really long time: Prozac Nation, by Elizabeth Wurtzel, and White Teeth, by Zadie Smith.
Phew, I better start on one of this soon. Not today, though. This is my first week back at work after more than a year and I'm EXHAUSTED in the evenings, so I'm reading something light and funny: Remember me? by Sophie Kinsella (of Shopaholic fame!)
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Reading
I'm joining a reading challenge, My Year of Reading Dangerously. I have to read 12 books I consider "dangerous" during 2009. These can be banned or challenged books, new genres, authors I'm afraid of or (my favourite) books that seem to have a permanent space on my shelves. I have 6 books in my list so far (any more suggestions?):
Rayuela (Hopscotch) by Julio Cortázar: Very scary, what I don´t get it?
100 años de soledad (100 years of solitude), by Gabriel García Márquez: Ive loved other García Márquez's books, but, for some reason, have always resisted reading this one.
The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova: As much as I loved Buffy on TV, vampire books are not my thing, but this one has been recommended by my sister so...
The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie: I WILL finish one of his books.
My New York Diary, Julie Doucet: I have never read a graphic novel and this one (recommended on the Dangerously challenge blog) looks great.
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote: I like "fun, light Truman", but I have always been TERRIFIED of reading this one. Thanks, Jan, for the recommendation!
Come and join us. Otherwise, you can join one of these reading challenges: Art History Reading, A to Z challenge, Childhood favourites.
Update: I'm thinking I'm going to leave my list as it is, with only 6 books. Even though the challenge says 12 (and I definitely going to read more than that number of books this year), I want to have time for other non-dangerous books.
Rayuela (Hopscotch) by Julio Cortázar: Very scary, what I don´t get it?
100 años de soledad (100 years of solitude), by Gabriel García Márquez: Ive loved other García Márquez's books, but, for some reason, have always resisted reading this one.
The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova: As much as I loved Buffy on TV, vampire books are not my thing, but this one has been recommended by my sister so...
The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie: I WILL finish one of his books.
My New York Diary, Julie Doucet: I have never read a graphic novel and this one (recommended on the Dangerously challenge blog) looks great.
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote: I like "fun, light Truman", but I have always been TERRIFIED of reading this one. Thanks, Jan, for the recommendation!
Come and join us. Otherwise, you can join one of these reading challenges: Art History Reading, A to Z challenge, Childhood favourites.
Update: I'm thinking I'm going to leave my list as it is, with only 6 books. Even though the challenge says 12 (and I definitely going to read more than that number of books this year), I want to have time for other non-dangerous books.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Thursday, 1 January 2009
New beginnings
I've said it before, I love those times of the year when you get a chance to reinvent yourself. And of course, the beginning of the new year is the most important one. This year, however, it's a bit different. I've had such an special 2008 that I didn't want it to finish. These are some of the things I did in 2008, while traveling and volunteering in South America, from Chile to Colombia, through Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador:
And so my main New Year's resolution is not to forget what I have learnt, done and seen in 2008. The feeling of freedom, the new experiences, the challenges, the experiences shared with my boyfriend, the promises to live a simpler, better life, the inspiration to help others, to help the environment, and to enjoy the small moments.
And so my main New Year's resolution is not to forget what I have learnt, done and seen in 2008. The feeling of freedom, the new experiences, the challenges, the experiences shared with my boyfriend, the promises to live a simpler, better life, the inspiration to help others, to help the environment, and to enjoy the small moments.
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