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A Tolstoyian project May 21, 2009

Posted by Nathan Hobby in Leo Tolstoy, link.
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Following on from last week’s review of War and Peace, I stumbled upon a wonderful blog reviewing a chapter a day of War and Peace – http://relentlesspursuit.wordpress.com. Matthew from Sydney is the dogged reviewer, and he’s nearly finished. It’s the sort of quixiotic project that delights me.

Some blogs May 12, 2009

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I’ve updated my links at the sidebar.

A friend of mine, the editor, theologian and writer Christopher Walker has been quietly keeping an excellent and eclectic blog for quite a while now – but such is his modesty that I only just discovered it! (What do you think of  people who relentlessly promote their blogs? Do great blogs sell themselves? Not always, I guess.)

Another friend of mine keeps a blog reflecting on sexuality and cultural history which often challenges me as a christian (when he actually posts!) http://theschoolofmines.blogspot.com.

And I’ve mentioned before neglectedbooks.com. What a wonderful project! To remember forgotten books! An act of recovery, of resurrection, of beauty.

Neglected Books November 4, 2008

Posted by Nathan Hobby in books, link.
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A blog I’ve started following is the superb Neglected Books. Its tagline says it perfectly – ‘where forgotten books are remembered’.

I find forgotten books so poignant. My wife thinks it’s because of my own fear of being forgotten. Maybe she’s right. But it’s so sad to see books which authors have poured their soul into lie unread and unloved in library stacks or dusty book exchanges, and even then only the sentimental kind that don’t throw out books which haven’t sold in a year.

A book seems such a declaration of hope, a pleading to be remembered. At the time of its publication, it is the newest thing; as far as it – the object, the text, the cover, the advertisements for other books in the back – are concerned, nothing has come after it. And this is how old books have a poignancy for me – as a snapshot of their date of publication, as an object that has come down through those years and into my hands.

I hate the way authors are so quickly forgotten in the cult of the new. One of my favourite writers, John Christopher, wrote on a discussion board how when you’re not in, you’re not in. His last novel, published at age 81 in 2003, sold badly. Where are all the people who grew up on his brilliant books? Why are they neglecting him now?

We can only remember so many, I guess. But I’ll keep devoting time to remembering some, at least. I want to discover the hidden treasures of neglected authors, and the Forgotten Books blog is an ally. (There is nothing quite like the smug aloneness of loving an author no-one else knows about. You become the author’s champion and friend.)

A street called wall October 24, 2008

Posted by Nathan Hobby in authors, link.
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My wife Nicole has entered the ABC National Poetry Slam Competition. It’s an excellent political poem called ‘A street called wall’. You can view it online here: http://contribute.abc.net.au/kickapps/_A-street-called-wall/video/372060/32422.html .

I like the interweaving of so many texts in the poem – nursery rhymes, Lewis Carroll, the Beatles, Don McLean, advertisements. For me it captures the milieu of the moment. And I’m in admiration of her rhyme and rhythm.

But I’m biased; judge for yourself.

Gen Y literary blog, Angela Myers October 21, 2008

Posted by Nathan Hobby in books, link, writing.
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A new blog I’m following is Literary Minded, Angela Myers’ excellent blog of all things literary from an Australian perspective at http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/. I’m overwhelmed by her energy and prolificy, and feel appropriately old and tired. She’s keeping up with everything!

She describes herself as a Gen Y writer and I realise I’m not sure I can call myself this. Not that it wouldn’t be good to be the voice of a generation (until Gen Z comes along and you’re yesterday’s news). But that I feel a perpetual outsider status to be necessary to my sense of self. I guess I’m disloyal to my generation. There’s a lot I don’t like about it.  (But I don’t think it’s as bad or as monolothic as commercial media makes out, either.) Maybe I need to find more of a sense of generation as part of my identity.

(Part of the problem is that I’m on the cusp of Gen Y and Gen X and so I don’t belong in either. )

A penchant for dissatisfaction and Lionel Shriver’s brilliance July 1, 2008

Posted by Nathan Hobby in authors, life, link, reading report, writing.
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I will need to elaborate on Lionel Shriver’s brilliance at some time. She’s about the most quotable writer I’ve ever read. After being very impressed by We need to talk about Kevin, Post-birthday world has lines on almost every page that I feel like writing down. She has this acute insight into the details of life, and it’s this which can truly set a writer apart.

Not just the details either – an ability to observe and describe emotional states. To see what we all experience but don’t realise.

A couple of weeks ago she wrote an excellent column about her father for the Guardian where she talks of their mutual penchant for dissatisfaction – ‘great when you’re young; at 80, it’s self-destructive’. How true. How disturbing. (Maybe it’s half my problem. I need to get over the dissatisfaction that drove me through my teens and early twenties. Because IT DOESN’T WORK when you hit late twenties.)

I wonder how her father feels about her writing so candidly about him while he’s still alive. Ten years ago I would have written with this openness. Maybe even five years ago. But I’ve become much more guarded the last few years.

I don’t think she’s candid out of naivety, like I was. I genuinely thought that if I was open and honest to the world, they’d repay me with my kindness. Then I met some formidable people who taught me otherwise.

I’m fascinated by Lionel Shriver’s father because he’s a theology scholar. One of these few places where my polarity of interests – theology and literature – meet, besides in me.

Guy Salvidge’s blog June 3, 2008

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Western Australian writer and reader and old friend of mine Guy Salvidge started a great blog this year. It’s got lengthy reviews of several Western Australian novels, including Julienne Van Loon and Bruce Russell (both Curtin creative writing staff) as well as some interesting reflections on Philip K. Dick. I always used to show off about how much of a Dick fan I was till I met Guy, and he has some great reflections on Dick’s work and his own relationship to it.

While I was content having read about twenty-five of Dick’s books, Guy  went and found copies of all thirty-eight, or whatever the number is.