Monthly Archives: April 2009

Consolations of a hangover

Posted on April 23, 2009 by acb

Well, Fishing in Utopia did win the Orwell prize. This is delicious and wonderful. I knew a couple of the judges liked it. I also knew – or at least strongly suspected – that one didn’t. I knew Tony Judt … Continue reading →

Posted in Blather, Literature, Sweden | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

undiscriminating reads

Posted on April 12, 2009 by acb

on trains in and out of London Ken MacLeod, the Night Sessions: very good and tightly imagined account of what a war on religion would actually mean; and what a secular Scotland would be like. Written with great sympathy for … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Journalism, Literature, Sweden | 8 Comments

Auden at press conferences

Posted on April 4, 2009 by acb

I don’t often go to press conferences nowadays, but whenever I do, I think that Auden had been there too, on both sides. In my edition of the Collected Shorter Poems, the pertinent observations face each other across pages 190-191. … Continue reading →

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When life gives you lemons

Posted on April 2, 2009 by acb

The fatality rate on the roads goes down. No, Honest. Science proves it. Thanks to Jeremy for the link

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