Tropic of Cancer
January 10, 2012
Finished reading it, but is there anything left unsaid about it?
http://www.henrymiller.info/
January 10, 2012
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An interesting and rather daunting interview with professor for philosophy Ernst Tugendhat at SignAndSight.com archive.
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To Live or Not to Live, To Die or Not to Die
January 8, 2012
Skimming through the pile of books received as an unexpected and precious gift, and coming across Colette’s books, I didn’t fail to mention that I am not a fervent consumer of stories. It turns out I advanced a false statement. True to my habit of passing hastily through the pages of the books added to my reading list before I decide the order of the attack, I commenced and soon completed both collections of stories authored by Colette Ni Reamonn Ioannidou.
Interview with Mr. Harry Mavromatis, author of Lost Edens
January 6, 2012
With the permission of Armida Publishing I am posting the interview with Mr. Harry Mavromatis, the author of Lost Edens. The interview was originally posted on Armida’s blog.
How would you describe your book to a new reader and why should somebody read it?
This is a book about Cyprus the decade before it gained its independence from Britain. The perspective is that of an adolescent who comes to the island with his parents from the United States, and consequently experiences a clash of cultures. It is worth reading partly because the author’s family had connections at the very highest levels of Greek Cypriot and Greek society, and hence the author saw and heard things at first hand and describes events that are not common knowledge. Additionally it is worth reading because it describes very candidly and graphically several of the islanders, and how life was like before Cyprus achieved a flawed independence that precipitated the Turkish invasion and occupation of its northern third.
Lost Edens
December 30, 2011
Reading Lost Edens before setting foot on the island for the first time in 2004, not anticipating that after seven years, mirroring the length of the writer’s stay I would still be living in Cyprus and learning about its culture, past and present, would have made a fine introduction to a life I would only learn to appreciate years after. Mr. Harry Mavromatis’s collection of essays is the book of my childhood nostalgia, written in another language and of a different and distinct space, but sharing the same heartfelt stories about a carefree life at the countryside where each tree is known, nurtured and cherished like a true member of the family.
But Lost Edens is more than just memoirs of an idyllic Cypriot life in the beautiful Kyrenia of the 50ties. Political essays about British occupation and the Turkish invasion of the north side abound towards the fin of the collection. Their mood is in stark contrast with one depicted in the essays on the peaceful life and the harmony of the period preceding the violent events, and while an informative lecture for a foreigner, they are possibly better suited for a local audience.
I could not finish this brief note on Lost Edens without mentioning the cover design. Emanating of loss and of solitude, preparing the reader for what awaits him.
One can enjoy a book excerpt and author interview on the publisher website, Armida Publishing here , here or here.
In Praise of Older Women
August 14, 2011
I find myself, after being uncomplimentary of the summer reading lists, rediscovering an old bookstore of which very existence I forgot about, and feverishly searching for literary works that should be relatively light, though not superficial and safe as in the author should have been receiving acclamation from trustworthy sources for his piece of work.
In Praise of Older Women fits the description and on the plus side it does hold the promise of rapturous encounters.
Shortly into the depths of the novel it does come as a surprise, and not as a disappointing one that sex is not at the center. At least not sex talk as we are accustomed to in 2011. In Praise of Older Women is more about the young man and his journeys then about the older women, but because he measures his life against the treasures each new such female encounter drops at his feet, the reader’s attention tends to block onto the next lady to enter the scene.
It is also not that much a piece of advice (as the author advertises his novel) but a belittling of young men’s risible, common choices, turning their ardurous desires to inexperienced, juvenile young ladies. Andras seems to haven’t had the pleasure of reading Lolita, a novel of immense ardor for a nymphet, an under aged girl pursued by a much older, and not so noble suitor. Andras himself, thus, proves superficial, promoting his view and his view only as the valid one.
Inevitably, the mother figure is overly present in this novel which leaves little to question regarding the events that shaped the character’s disposition for older women.
All in all, a very delightful reading on a quiet summer afternoon, sipping coffee on the veranda’s old recliner.
You can visit Stephen Vizinczey‘s blog and see what the author is ruminating on here and his website here.
Or read other reviews of the same here and here or here just to point a few.
Pantaleón y las visitadoras
July 17, 2011
Summer reads, holiday books, beach reads. Every magazine pulls up a list once summer approaches, suggesting fixes for the next seasonal reading disorders. Does such even exist?
Not to stray, going through such lists reminded me of Mario Vargas Llosa‘s novel Pantaleon y las visitadoras and how I ended up associating the excruciating hot days of Cyprus summer, and the undeniable consequence it seems to have on the libido and fertility, with Pantaleon.
A fact remains that almost all the couples moving to the island in the same period with us conceived shortly after.
A book I read while suffering from chronic ennui days after days in my cubicle years back. A book I read in two, to be precise.
Not Absent
June 11, 2011
Books on my radar, yet abandoned to a certain extent:
The Black Book of Communism – a never ending reading not because of the page count, but due to the negative state it inflicts after just a few pages. I was only eleven when the communist regime fell. Readings on this subject help me attach proper tags to my memories, but they are not very healthy. Still, I prefer to know.
Dear Theo – a poor edition. I certainly hope to be constantly drawn back to reading the book by the complexity within.
The Noonday Demon – although there is doubt on why I purchased this book. These sort of subjects are scrutinized either for the need to cement my beliefs, either for the opposite. They stand against my theories and the need to scrutinize the other side is pushing me towards such a lecture.
Report on Solitude – this one is an unfinished reading and will, most likely, stay this way.
The culture sections of The Economist, or Slate, don’t count here, do they?
I am still to form an opinion on all of the above.
It would be good to hear from you on your literary endeavors, being them reading or writing. Email me at: anca@literaryagenda.com
The Complete Flowers of Mapplethorpe
February 20, 2011
After a considerably long wait, Mapplethorpe Complete Flowers is in my hands. A highly charged and rhythmic collection of flower photographs.
One can observe the continuous search for isolating a subject, or the sudden, unexpected entrance of a flower in the focus zone, like and intruder, or an assessor of the shooting space. The flowers are actors in a drama so carefully constructed by Mapplethorpe.
Amazingly dynamic for a subject referred to as still life.
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You can preview some of the photographer’s work at The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.
Another great source on masters of photography is Photography Now. Watch here the Mapplethorpe portfolio.
Taschen 25
February 18, 2011
I have been absent not because my interest in books has faded, but due to taking advantage of Taschen’s 25th Anniversary offers on photography books.
Will be posting again soon. In the meantime you can enjoy the Mapplethorpe video. Contains nudity. If you are unconfortable with this, you might want to avoid playing it.
I am on my way to the post office to pick up Flowers.