Ray Schaufeld's blog

The Elegance of the Hedgehog - by Muriel Barbery

First heard this on Radio 4 a few years back, now re-reading it.I love stories that give me something new and since I have never lived in a big posh Parisian apartment block... The narrators take turns. Renee the concierge was a poor farm girl. She married a local lad and they moved to town. He died young, she continued working and living in her tied flat and at 54 she has a long-term prickly view of the residents who take her for granted as a...

How Far Do I Go?

It's a writing dilemma. I know that I am able to push myself harder and there are a couple of directions where I can go. My writing strengths are non-fiction and fiction with its feet firmly embedded in fact. And thanks ABC for giving me the space to play around in all directions and come to this assessment. Now where do I go? One option is to create a collection of full-on factual memory writings. Another is to arise off my 61 year old ass and...

Dogwalking

The good thing about dogwalking, some extra time out along the estuary and on the beach and in Phear Park with its monumental 200 year old oaks. The bad thing - the dog! My best friend slipped on the estuary mud when walking Chesney, Rudy and Thor - daft name for a Jack Russell. She's mega-conscientious and she's also skint so she is carrying out her work duties with her right forearm in plaster and supported with a sling. She's my best friend...

Bloomsday 2018

There are Bloomsdays worldwide, from Montreal to Melbourne. However next year I shall see what it's all about in Dublin on June 16. It's a long time ahead but I would guess budget accomodation books up fast. It probably adds extra resonance to the day if, like myself, you know and like the writings of James Joyce. This is not compulsory and I am sure quite a few individuals sort of fall into the day by chance because they happen to be in 'dear...

Carnival!

It started on time (!) and this year the route went from the bottom end of town to the top. Our predictably surprising Exmouth Carnival. Floats, walking groups, individuals, three towns of glitz and twirl majorettes. If only majorettes had been around when I was nine. It's about rhythm, and dancy pop and baton twirling and showing off in little seaside town carnivals. It's 'we' not 'I', winning trophies as a troupe, not straining to notch up...

DH Lawrence - Letters from Phoenix

DH Lawrence 1885 - 1930. His star blazed short and bright. I studied some of his novels and poems when young and until now I never delved into his collected essays. David Herbert is always outspoken, a writer who keeps it real. When I was a student my tutor said 'you always know what his characters are feeling.' As an essayist he shares his own feelings. In his essay written in 1929 'On Funk'- funk in his day meant cowardice and fleeing from...

A horse walks into a bar by David Grossman - Booker Prize review

The Booker Prize is a prize for the best fiction book of the year(?). The judges are famous authors. They pick a book. I think they want to look like clever people. They pick a book that they don't understand and that no-one who is is famous in the literary world is likely to understand. To make themselves look clever (?). Some people buy the book in Smiths or Waterstones. A lot of us hedge our bets and reserve it from the library. A Horse...

The Tidy House by Carolyn Steedman - book review

The Tidy House first came out in 1982. It is 'differently brilliant.' The book The Tidy House is written as a group effort by Carla, Lindie and Melissa, three 8year old schoolgirls in East London who their teacher, Carolyn Steedman taped. So the story itself is written by the girls and presented by Carolyn. The girls appear to have had fun with their homespun saga of Mums, Dads, troublesome little boys, birthday treats, the family cat, Polkadot...

My Dad's Funeral and a good friend's wedding on the same day!

Marathon day on Sunday. Dad's funeral in North London in the morning followed by the family gathering immediately after. Then one of my oldest friends is getting married in the afternoon in Bournemouth! Mum knows my friend Ruth and has kindly agreed that I can get on the 16.39 from Waterloo and enjoy part of Ruth and Paul's wedding reception. Tickets and accomodation booked and I have been given time off work. Travelling from Exmouth to London...

Baby Driver (15) - Film Review

'Film Vroom Vroom', it's a genre flick. Almost non-stop car chase to a sometimes apt sound track. The characterisation, plot and backstory are sketched thin and just about believable, if you choose to believe in gangsters, mental-mad car chase and a lot of the old Bang-Pop! 'Baby', our eponymous hero, has been hoodwinked into the criminal life by a big old baddie. His passengers, a new set on every job are rough tough armed robbers. Baby's job...

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