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September 29, 2004
I couldn't go on reading
I couldn't go on reading the book. It's feels like a romantic Hollywood movie. Totally excruciating. Sorry babes. Romance is not my cuppa tea. Next!-grabs the next book-
Posted by lainey at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)
Fans of Dickinson
When I was 17 (or 18?), I saw an anthology of poetry titled All We Need of Hell by Rika Lessing at the long-gone (but deeply missed) Tower Books. I had to buy it immediately because it was a line from one of my favourite Dickinson's poetry.
My life closed twice before its close -
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unweil
A third event to me
So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
Rika Lessing's poetry is a very honest depiction of her struggle with the drug, Lithium, used in treatment for bipolar illness. Her words are raw, powerful and vivid. Reading her poems, one can understand why hell is preferable and desired.
Today, at the library, I chanced upon a title that caught my attention immediately. It screamed from the spine of a hardcover reminiscent of a cheesy modern American romance novel.
All We Know of Heaven
It was the other line of Dickinson that I love so well. Instead of wishing death, this writer touches on the sense of bittersweet hope of Dickinson's poetry. Apparantly, the writer writes a love story inspired by Dickinson's poetry set in a small Californian town. I usually scoff at blatant attempts to write romance, but I've got to give a fellow Dickinson fan a chance, right? Besides, I've had my own little Californian romance not too long ago, perhaps this will bring back sweet memories.
So, yea...I read for various reasons and sentimentality is one of them.
Posted by lainey at 08:55 PM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2004
Which State Do You Live In?
This is fucking hilarious...
Posted by lainey at 03:50 PM | Comments (1)
Liberation or Repression
Gender Roles are getting increasingly blurred as the world progresses. Is this a show of liberation or a more innate way of repressing gender roles and subjecting people to victims of their own constructed gender identity?
This article thinks it's the former.
Posted by lainey at 08:21 AM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2004
Why We Die
I've been outside, invited in. But I couldn't abide, went missing again," the Oscar-nominated artist sings on the posthumous album "From a Basement on the Hill
Elliot Smith's new album offers a few clues and some probable insight on the pain he felt that had driven him to drive a dagger into his heart.
Posted by lainey at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)
The Need To Write
"My life consists, and basically always has consisted, of attempts at writing, mostly unsuccessful. But when I didn't write, I was at once flat on the floor, fit for the dustbin. My energies have always been pitifully weak..."
-Franz Kafka
Posted by lainey at 09:14 PM | Comments (0)
"It seemed like a desperate
"It seemed like a desperate farewell. As I held her then I felt sad and deprived in all my being and felt from top to toe the same sadness in her."
-The Italian Girl, Iris Murdoch
I've fallen in love with Iris Murdoch. Her words are very beautiful indeed and if I had my way, I would quote her entire book. But no, I shall relish the beauty of her words and her writing in my heart and continue reading more of her words. In the meantime, I think it might be a good idea if some of you try reading her too.
There are writers, and good writers. Then, there are ethereal writers.
The world is made beautiful by writers like her.
Posted by lainey at 09:07 PM | Comments (0)
Yesterday's Smells
I've always been ignited into memory with smells.
I can still remember your smell, your natural body odour that is so nice and fuzzy - even though I know it was weird for you to have me sniffing you from time to time. But the memory of your smell remains in me.
Old Spice and cigarettes always sets me off to think about you. Actually, just old spice will do. The bizzare thing is that, even that Crabtree and Evelyn deodorant I'd wanted to buy for you but didn't get a chance to, reminds me of you. Cuz there was a time I would go down to C&E at Melbourne Central everyday, just to smell it to think of you.
Red wine, Ralph Lauren's Romance and cigarettes always remind me of my norwegian friend, Hanne. I remember us walking down the streets of Melbourne, her smell so intense and special. So nice. Her goodbye hugs and her lilting English will not be the same without the fragrance.
And of course, Calvin Klein's Eternity never fail to bring me back to those painful JC years. Wen had given me a huge bottle of it one day and I just kept using it everyday - the most painful years of my life. And even up to now, smelling it sends pain jibing right through my ribs and straight into my heart.
So yes, Smell ignites memory. It's good to know why.
Posted by lainey at 08:51 AM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2004
So it's byebye, Megawati. :)
So it's byebye, Megawati. :)
Hopefully, it's byebye Howard and Bush too.
-fingers crossed-
Posted by lainey at 01:30 AM | Comments (2)
Do you even know what
Do you even know what goes on in a heart anymore?
Constellations turned into little polaroids in a cardboard box
And I wanted so desperately to prove
You were still breathing
But you wouldn't move
-Beth Orton, This One's Gonna Bruise
Posted by lainey at 01:01 AM | Comments (0)
September 20, 2004
Living In Denial
Intense but important article.about the spillover effects of the molestation hysteria that occurred 2 decades ago.
Gets me angry. Furiously. Ridiculously. Senselessly. Insanely. Angry.
Kinda reminds me of Mystic River.
Posted by lainey at 12:42 AM | Comments (0)
Che Impersonated?
NYT's article on my very pretty star of Motorcycle Diaries (see 2 entries down). Homeless boy? I can't wait to take him home ;)
Posted by lainey at 12:18 AM | Comments (1)
September 19, 2004
Shhshh..More Cummings...
i like my body when it is with your
body. It is so quite a new thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body. i like what it does,
i like its hows. i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,
i like,, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big Love-crumbs,
and possibly i like the thrill
of under me you quite so new
-e e cummings
Posted by lainey at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
Movies Again
And again, I note here the movies I saw because I've not found time for a pen and notebook yet.
Or perhaps it's just pure laziness.
1) The Motorcycle Diaries
-Caught this opening film at the ongoing Brazilian Film Festival. The first thing that struck me during the movie was the passion, the youth and the wonders of life that allowed the two guys in the story to go on a trip like that throughout South America. The wonderful cinematography was an absolute joy to watch and the humanizing of Che Guervera and an introductory insight on why he would become the revolutionary he was, was in the least, moving. However, I found it a lil too long but Gael García Bernal is very beautiful and a joy to watch on screen. The injustices of life was shown in too much of a fable-like manner by the director though and I thought, perhaps, the audience ought to be able to feel it on their own, and not spoon-fed.
2)A Taste of Tea
A preview of the upcoming Japanese Film Festival. I liked it for how quirky it was. However, never watch it at 9 in the morning with not enough sleep the night before. I was struggling to stay awake at some of the more draggy parts. I like how the movie dealt with the nuances of family life and brought out the less than ordinary aspects of a seemingly ordinary Japanese family. It's like a taste of tea really. Seeming bland on the surface but extremely flavourful when you sip and ponder upon it. And everyone knows I love my tea. :)
3)Breaking Up
Another movie from the Brazilian Film Fest. It strangely reminded me of Life of the Pretzel from the Israeli Film Fest last year. All that talk about relationships. I liked it enough for its conversation and constant references to Dostoevsky and Nietszche but it's just a little quirk of mine. Tended to be rambly and proved how ridiculously frivolous humans take relationships these days. The ending of perfect sweet soulmate-like love sickened me but that's just an acrimonious lainey speaking. Generally a rather good movie experience, though I wouldn't pay to watch it and I'm glad I didn't.
4)Possible Loves
I loved it! A movie of three different stories. It shows how life pans out to the unexpected. Would I rather lead my life, what would my alternatives be? Wouldn't I be curious to see what other choices I might have. The plot(s) was extremely bittersweet. A man was stood up 15 years ago by his sweetheart, Julia, and 15 years later he dreamt of her and runs into her again. But there, there were three possible lives he was leading. In one, he was stuck in a dull marriage with a good wife and has an affair with Julia after bumping into her. In another one, he had earlier married Julia but left her for his soccer buddy. In the last, he was mommy's boy who gets into disastrous relationships and finally meets Julia again, who turns out to be the love of his life.
The second story made me cry because Julia hurt so much. I like the movie alot partly because it wasn't the typical romantic love story. As much as love could be uplifting and wonderful, it can also hurt so bad and it might not necessarily turn out perfect. This movie showed that and only one ending turn out rather holly-woodish which was good for me.
Go watch it. And the Julia in the movie, an Ashley Judd- lookalike who is soooo beautiful.
5)Rosemary's Baby
A psychological thriller about a woman surrounded by Satan-worshippers and betrayed by the one closest to her. I love the movie for the New York backdrop and the marvellous pacing. It was suspenseful enough and done in a really classy manner. Polanski is one great director and I'm glad I finally plucked up the courage to watch this DVD. In fact, even my sister (who rarely have any patience for films) got engrossed in the 136-minute film and what pleased us more was the lack of any cheap-scares in the movie at all. Mia Farrow looked very pretty indeed and I can't wait to watch the other Polanski films. It was a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon
Posted by lainey at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2004
And there are, I suppose,
And there are, I suppose, always for unhappy women many good reasons for bearing the devil they know rather than seeking the other one.
-Iris Murdoch, the italian girl
Posted by lainey at 12:31 AM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2004
Thonging Out
Frankly, I 've never been that huge a fan of a thong, wore it only when it was absolutely necessary.So, I'm glad the world is finally waking up and sending it out of fashion's door.
Yesterday, the girl in front of me in yoga class had a thong peeking out of her trackpants. Seriously speaking, contortions and a thong? Gettalife gal!!!
Tsk. :)
"Love those panties," Mr. Colbert said enthusiastically during the program. "I like something that covers a bit more than a thong does. I'm just so over the thong. And everybody wears it. And not everybody should wear it, do you know what I'm saying?"
Posted by lainey at 10:29 AM | Comments (3)
Generation X's woes
This article attempts to explain why there are so many single thirtysomethings around.
-wide grins and laughs-
● Children from divorced families are keen to avoid the errors they believe their parents made (this is particularly true for Generation X)
● They don't think couples should stay together for the sake of the children
● They believe that all relationships end eventually
● They see relationships as being about personal growth. They are there for a good time, not necessarily a long time
● Although half the participants were in relationships, they have difficulty with trust and commitment
● Both straight and gay participants expressed a strong desire for children, although only 30 per cent of the participants were parents
● They have very high emotional IQs and are very articulate emotionally. Many had sought counselling
● They think that nuclear families will die out and be replaced by organic families of related and unrelated members
Posted by lainey at 10:19 AM | Comments (2)
September 11, 2004
Heartbreaks
My heart broke when I first saw the movie, Reconstruction. The heartwrenching line of
I love you, I hope you know.
resonates in my head till this day.
Reading NYT's review of it broke my heart twice over. I don't know if it's the memory of the broken heart, or the memory of the movie, or even the realisation of the actuality of a broken heart that makes a REVIEW sadden me like that.
But it's opened in the US (finally), now we can wait patiently for the arrival of its DVD even tho I would love to watch it on a big screen again.
Posted by lainey at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)
Fishing for Therapy
The other evening, feeling low again, I invited Shan over for dinner again. This time, I found a fish head and some spices in the kitchen, and tried to put together a curry assam fish head to the best of my ability. It is, in my opinion, sour enough but just not spicy enough. Needed more curry powder but was lazy to go buy. But most importantly, I had fun cooking it and felt cheered up thereafter.
Pictures to whet the appetites of those abroad ;)
Posted by lainey at 09:42 PM | Comments (3)
September 08, 2004
These shoes arn't made for walking...
Good golly, I just realised these babies of mine exist! :)
I need to wear them like...tomorrow. :)
yeah baby. :D And the world has turned into a better place to live in again ;)
Posted by lainey at 10:00 AM | Comments (1)
Hitler Humanised
A gentler side of Hitler portrayed on film. In my opinion, there is no need to humanise him, no need for anybody to feel for him.
Posted by lainey at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)
Norway's Munch museum has enjoyed
Norway's Munch museum has enjoyed an attendance boom following the theft of two masterpieces, Edvard Munch's The Scream and Madonna, with visitors up by 1000 per week.
-The Age
Perhaps then, it's a conspiracy by the Munch Museum to increase attendance by staging their own theft? ;)
Posted by lainey at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)
September 07, 2004
Travelling through books
A fantastic essay about how reading creates memory. Wonderful and reminiscent of many of my own travels.
Posted by lainey at 04:14 PM | Comments (0)
September 06, 2004
Dinner for two
Shan was feeling down and I wasn't in the best of moods either. So when she called, I invited her over for dinner. Threw together a quick one because we were both really hungry but it turned out pretty good. Not bad for my first attempt at trying to cook angel hair pasta but she only started declaring it was a great dinner four hours after we had our meal. :)
I think I can only cook better when I cook for people. Put in some love...and attention instead of hurriedly cooking. :)
Angel pasta with shrimp, mushrooms and garlic tossed in olive oil.
Posted by lainey at 10:31 PM | Comments (2)
New Museum in Paris
A museum for indigenous art. Hmm..that's like making indigenous art a homogenous genre altogether.
Like: there are two kinds of art in the world.
Western art and non-Western art.
And anything non Western is indigenous and the same, the Other art.
Ha! Silly white colonial superiority. Pretending to respect other cultures, yet subjugating them at the same time.
Posted by lainey at 04:34 PM | Comments (0)
September 01, 2004
Caviar Banned
Wow...didn't Amazing Race just (where contestants have to eat 1kg of caviar each as a road block) waste alot of caviar?
Posted by lainey at 12:03 PM | Comments (0)