Kristina!
As promised, I'm giving this another shot -- an all media discussion (or emoticon) forum.
Amadou and Miriam -- Sabali
check it ooooouuuuuutttt!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
more and more
Hello there!
so, I think we need to branch out, to expand our boundaries a bit, to raise our eyes up.
from here on out, shilpitina will not only be reading, but will also be watching/listening/cooking... and sharing.
so....
if you haven't already, go watch Slumdog Millionaire. It's totally awesome.
so, I think we need to branch out, to expand our boundaries a bit, to raise our eyes up.
from here on out, shilpitina will not only be reading, but will also be watching/listening/cooking... and sharing.
so....
if you haven't already, go watch Slumdog Millionaire. It's totally awesome.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I'm in
So, just wanted to say, started Divisdero and it's amazing! the subtle meanings packed into every sentence, the atmosphere, the story --- I'm sold, and will be eating it up over the next few days. Kristina, I know you are at least a few chapters in -- what do you think?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
i am polish.
shilpi,
i am 1/4 polish by the way. so i want to relate two things in close...maybe three things in closing on travels with herodotus. maybe just two things, so first thing is:
1) China, you asked me if I related to R.'s impressions. As much as I can decades later--60 yrs. later? I will say I related to the language barrier. I was promised language courses upon arrival-- no such reality. I fumbled with Chinese co-teachers. We pantomimed and exercised jaws and faces as much as we could to pronounce words in Chinglish. I have felt no other isolation in my life than when in Jiaxing City, but also no other mission at the same time because I was teaching-- so I had a focus. In sum, I wasn't a journalist--I had another profession, but yes, I related. It rang true. Being in another nation in which you don't speak the language and are wholly other is... to say the least a challenge. I also had to contend with my hosts-- who censured every free moment I had on the earth. I had to sneak out and get lost for any autonomy... "Happy every day" splashed on billboards in the background.
2) So R. I want to say that I have immense admiration and lay at the feet of this man. He's lived a life that few have the courage to experience. But, what amazed me about his early recollections was the humility and almost--ordinariness-- of his trials. He was scared, lost, and giving himself up to strangers for direction and kindness. I was inspired. You too could be R.K., with a lot of hard work (and research) and a little luck upon arrival. He's a human. You're a human. I'm a human. Welcome to humanity.
Next selection: Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje.
This book is meant to be next. I'm entranced...its romantic and violent.
xo miss you.
kristina.
i am 1/4 polish by the way. so i want to relate two things in close...maybe three things in closing on travels with herodotus. maybe just two things, so first thing is:
1) China, you asked me if I related to R.'s impressions. As much as I can decades later--60 yrs. later? I will say I related to the language barrier. I was promised language courses upon arrival-- no such reality. I fumbled with Chinese co-teachers. We pantomimed and exercised jaws and faces as much as we could to pronounce words in Chinglish. I have felt no other isolation in my life than when in Jiaxing City, but also no other mission at the same time because I was teaching-- so I had a focus. In sum, I wasn't a journalist--I had another profession, but yes, I related. It rang true. Being in another nation in which you don't speak the language and are wholly other is... to say the least a challenge. I also had to contend with my hosts-- who censured every free moment I had on the earth. I had to sneak out and get lost for any autonomy... "Happy every day" splashed on billboards in the background.
2) So R. I want to say that I have immense admiration and lay at the feet of this man. He's lived a life that few have the courage to experience. But, what amazed me about his early recollections was the humility and almost--ordinariness-- of his trials. He was scared, lost, and giving himself up to strangers for direction and kindness. I was inspired. You too could be R.K., with a lot of hard work (and research) and a little luck upon arrival. He's a human. You're a human. I'm a human. Welcome to humanity.
Next selection: Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje.
This book is meant to be next. I'm entranced...its romantic and violent.
xo miss you.
kristina.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
hello out there
XTina --- I know you are bored with the new book. its gone. its done. im with you, girl. polski is done-zo. Pick a novel! Anything -- I'll read it. I miss you. ps, im a little drunk. as per shilpitina rules.
love,
shilpi "endless well of book and xtina love" paul
love,
shilpi "endless well of book and xtina love" paul
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Polski on the Run (bye jhumpa)
yahoo! This is just a quick post to document my joy. Welcome back, Xtina! I'm so happy we're up and running.
I really enjoyed your Jhumpa post. I think you are on target about many things: the fixedness of characters, the time passing as a major actor, the limited male characters. And you made me much more sympathetic to Sang and helped me understand her situation, her decisions. And Hema and Kushik -- they did have a chance! that sneaky "hope" feeling kept creeping up on me when i was reading those. alas, not in Jhumpa's world...
All the talk of her landscape, the orbiting (or, ahem, rubbing), the isolation helps to close out our discussion of this book and the overall sense that it leaves you with. For me, it was a very space-y "land"scape, with much distance, very gentle, subtle (from our perspective) movements. Hope (sometimes) in the tiniest glimpses. Ok. Goodbye, Jhumpa. It's now been 2 months since I last picked up the book and I feel very ready to close up the talks and put it on the shelf.
And on to Ryschzardddd Kcappuschyinksi! I'm also about halfway through and am so delighted. This feels like a much more personal book that what we just read, a journalist journalizing his own life, bringing in his history and Herodotus's Histories and world histories. He is able to draw you in so quickly, to open up and reveal vulnerabilities and allow us to see through his changing eyes. It feels very anthropology-ish to me, so much context and up front subjectivity and making of big picture connections. His descriptions are very vivid and his insights are just sweet. He talks about how he was studying how to "see" from Herodutus, the ancient times reporter/documentor/anthropologist --- I think I want to learn a bit about seeing from our Polack.
Those are my impressions -- more details to come soon. What are you feeling on this one? You've spent time in China -- did you find anything in his descriptions/experiences that rang true or untrue to you?
I really enjoyed your Jhumpa post. I think you are on target about many things: the fixedness of characters, the time passing as a major actor, the limited male characters. And you made me much more sympathetic to Sang and helped me understand her situation, her decisions. And Hema and Kushik -- they did have a chance! that sneaky "hope" feeling kept creeping up on me when i was reading those. alas, not in Jhumpa's world...
All the talk of her landscape, the orbiting (or, ahem, rubbing), the isolation helps to close out our discussion of this book and the overall sense that it leaves you with. For me, it was a very space-y "land"scape, with much distance, very gentle, subtle (from our perspective) movements. Hope (sometimes) in the tiniest glimpses. Ok. Goodbye, Jhumpa. It's now been 2 months since I last picked up the book and I feel very ready to close up the talks and put it on the shelf.
And on to Ryschzardddd Kcappuschyinksi! I'm also about halfway through and am so delighted. This feels like a much more personal book that what we just read, a journalist journalizing his own life, bringing in his history and Herodotus's Histories and world histories. He is able to draw you in so quickly, to open up and reveal vulnerabilities and allow us to see through his changing eyes. It feels very anthropology-ish to me, so much context and up front subjectivity and making of big picture connections. His descriptions are very vivid and his insights are just sweet. He talks about how he was studying how to "see" from Herodutus, the ancient times reporter/documentor/anthropologist --- I think I want to learn a bit about seeing from our Polack.
Those are my impressions -- more details to come soon. What are you feeling on this one? You've spent time in China -- did you find anything in his descriptions/experiences that rang true or untrue to you?
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