The Left Hand of Darkness is not only my favourite book by Ursula K Le Guin, but also one of my favourite books period. This must be at least the fourth time I’ve read it.  On its publication The Left Hand of Darkness was received as a groundbreaking piece of science fiction, winning the Nebula Award in 1969 and the Hugo Award in 1970.  Compelling ( Read more... )

My partner posts a poem by Sylvia Townsend Warner’s lover Valentine Ackland. Posted here also because I think poor Valentine deserves more attention.

A couple of good films reviews from Bad Reputation: Source Code, which I saw last week and really liked, and Red Riding Hood which I might end up watching when it comes out on DVD.

From Tor.com, the ( Read more... )

Andy and I went to see an exhibition of Toulouse Lautrec prints today.  What an amazing artist he was. From the prints, you get this sense of the nineteenth century crumbling away into modernity.  Also, his women have such powerful physical presence.


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Andy and I went to the local art gallery today.  We came across a new artist (Well, new to us anyway) called John Piper who we really liked.   Something very atmospheric about his work.

We also got a Gwen John calender for a £1

One face looks out from all his canvases,
One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans:
We found her hidden just behind those screens,
That mirror gave back all her loveliness.
A queen in opal or in ruby dress,
A nameless girl in freshest summer-greens,
A saint, an angel - every canvas means
The same one meaning, neither more or less.
He feeds upon her face ( Read more... )