David Suchet narrates: "A Little Girl and a Poor Frail Lady"

Posted via web from jsb

Pietà

Pietà by William Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905), painted in 1876, goes on sale at Christies today in NYC. It is estimated to sell for anywhere between $1.5 and $2.5 million. If it is sold to a private collector this may be the last chance to see it.

It hangs at the end of a long corridor--as you turn the corner you catch your breath.  The two halos are embossed gold, serving to flatten and at the same time separate the two central figures. So that they appear to float free of the space. The angels writhe in agony and wonder at such love, creating at the same time this incredibly beautiful frame around Mary and Jesus.The body of Christ almost glows. Mary's hands that won't let go. And the face of Mary looking out of the picture--as if into the future and us--seems to see the full horror of what has just happened. What our sins have done. Grief too great to bear.            


It is one of the most moving paintings I have ever seen.

More information here

invisible words

"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible." Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977)

There's a humility in this view point. And it seem to me to be the true one: the view of writer as the servant of the story--whose job is to discover as much as create. To listen and transcribe. The writer basically as scribe. 

It's about the story, not about you the writer.

Do you ever have the feeling that if you don't show up and get those words visible--QUICK--they might just give up on you and go somewhere else to someone who will?

That's motivation to keep showing up. Being available, there, to listen to whatever's happening that day. To whatever your characters are talking about. 

As one editor told me once "Put your characters in a room and listen to what they say."

It's like a show going on in your computer every day. Why would you want to miss that? 

kid with aspergers interviews his mom

This is animation set to a real interview: a 12-year old boy with Aspergers interviews his mom. What a great conversation. What thoughtful questions. What a mom!

Posted via email from s@lly l-j

progress

"The fatal metaphor of progress, which means leaving things behind us, has utterly obscured the real idea of growth, which means leaving things inside us." 

G K Chesteron

wow. what, I wonder, would he have to say to us today about what we're up to?

maybe that all this busy connecting on twitter, facebook etc--if not kept in check--is in danger of leaving us more disconnected?

that all this "socializing" leaves us less social?

that all these "conversations" leaves us less able to communicate?

that listening to all the chatter leaves us less able to hear anything?

that calling our thousands of connections "friends" devalues friendship which is one of the most rare and precious gifts we are given?

Posted via email from s@lly l-j

David Suchet narrates: "Let's Go!"

Do U love Teachers? Do U love kids?

Have you seen the trailer for WAITING FOR SUPERMAN? 

YES and YES and YES!

Posted via email from s@lly l-j

Beatle activated corgi

How did he decide it was only a Liverpudlian accent that would do? (Also: loving the one ear up one down look)

Posted via email from s@lly l-j