Behavioural scientist Paul Dolan in his new book Happy Ever After: Escaping the Myth of the Perfect Life by Paul Dolan (out 17 January 2019) challenges the ‘success’ indicators of modern myths as narratives and narrative traps: Myth: expectation to be ambitious, wealthy, successful and well educated, married, monogamous and have kids. These are guidelines …
REVIEW: Hong Kong Noir ed. Jason Y. Ng Susan Blumberg-Kason
Hong Kong Noir cannot be read quickly. You have to keep putting it down after every story and breathe in. This is because of the very rich, evocative and powerful storytelling. There are 14 stories in this collection, and as you know, 14 is unlucky in Chinese because it sounds like sut sei (must die). …
Island Life Sentence: Carrie Jo Howe’s Florida in 10 Never-Seen-Before Photos
“A prosthetic leg with a Willie Nelson bumper sticker washed ashore on the beach, which meant it was Florida.” – Tim Dorsey, Pineapple Grenade. Never been to Florida? There are some eye-opening and thirst-quenching treats for you in our special photo journey today. I have been to Florida in the days BC (before children). We travelled down …
SCRAPS OF WOOL by Bill Colegrave: On Memory and Experience in 5 Places
Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. – Benjamin Disraeli Memory decides our journeys long before we do. It is the narrative drive of our travels and forms the organisation of our experience. Bill Colegrave has collected and been inspired by travel books for …
Can You Learn “How to Write Like Tolstoy” from a Book?
Somerset Maugham famously said that there are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. How to Write Like Tolstoy by Richard Cohen should be read with caution. It is, like all other writing books, a How To book that is a How Not To, which means it shows …
ASIAN BOOKS BLOG: 500 words about Cry of the Flying Rhino
What were the inciting incidents which inspired Cry of the Rhino to become an award-winning novel? Asian Books Blog ran a 500 word article with answers and much more. I was also covered by the American author Robert Raymer in his insightful and entertaining blog, the Borneo Expat Writer. Robert and I interviewed each recently. You can also read the article here …
REVIEW: BBC’s “Chinese Burn” appalling script, racial stereotypes, human detritus not diversity
Did anybody catch this on the BBC over the weekend? A terrible TV film about three Chinese girls in London called CHINESE BURN. The script is so shocking and racist I can’t believe it was made. One has a permanent cleaver looking at little dogs to chop up and eat. One is an out-of-work actress who …
Lulu Allison: The Relevance of Art in Literature
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas Lulu Allison is a Brighton-based artist and writer. Before she started writing she had already been an established artist. Twice the Speed of Dark is told from the viewpoint of Caitlin, killed by violent boyfriend Ryan. Ten years on, her mother …
REVIEW: Write and Edit a Short Story Weekend Workshop 7-8 October 2017 @londonlitlab
I was very pleased to have applied for this course. It was just the thing I needed – the luxury of writing. I am not interested in posh hotel breaks or spa treats. What attracted me was the quality of the teaching staff. Zoe Gilbert and Lily Dunn are not only published writers, they are also lecturers. The venue …
REVIEW: “Monte Carlo” by Peter Terrin (hardback)
Just finished this #beautiful book #montecarlo by #peterterrin #monaco set in the #grandprix #1968. It goes well with my #vintage #things. I only picked it for the #bookcover and the inside text #font #typeface which is #goudyoldstyle #review coming. Good story, touching, short, strong characters #midcenturymodern #interiordesign #writer #writing #writersofinstagram A post shared by Satsuma …