Saving skeptics from sarcasm

I love it when a novelist explains their inspirations and reasons for composing a particular piece; often, the background can be just as engaging as the story that results from the inspiration. This is exactly the case with Tan's latest book, inspired during a rainstorm shelter at a library collection of automatic writings, where she encounters some references to Bibi Chen. When I further learned that this inspiration was entirely false, I had a good laugh at myself. Kudos to Tan for pulling one over on me.

Saving Fish from Drowning is a wonderful tale entwined with mysticism, human idiosyncrasy, adventure and even a bit of schadenfreude. If you've never read Tan's books, I wouldn't start here (instead try The Bonesetter's Daughter first).

The NPR Interview about the book with Amy Tan: 'Saving Fish From Drowning': A New Direction for Tan

Wikipedia on Automatic Writing

P.S. Apologies for the delay in posts; I was thrown for a loop by a problem with integrating google code into the blogger template, and that took time. Anything that takes time nowadays eats into my blogging time. I hope to get back to a more regular schedule soon.

Cool gadget recommendation for June gift giving

A new acquaintance Imet showed me a very cool gadget Thursday: Brookstone digital photo keychain Neat-o! I love gadgets. (oh, and to answer some questions I got: yes, Virginia, it does work with a Mac!)

IndyPaws | Where Pets Connect

IndyPaws | Where Pets Connect. My dear Perlie made it to the big time - the newspaper. Both dogs were featured in a recent full-page ad promoting the IndyPaws site. Hoorah! Also look for her best pal and nemesis, Beauregard.

And, if you like dogs and are in the Indy Area, check out the Indy Humane Society's available dogs listing.

Fruits for sale!

"For there is no friend like a sister,
In calm or stormy weather,
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray,
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen whilst one stands."

Goblin market by Christina Rossetti is a lovely little primer with whimsical and delicate imagery and delightful wordplays and usages. After struggling to make it through a tedious introduction by Germaine Greer in the 1975 edition I obtained, I finally skipped ahead to the actual poetry and enjoyed it well.

The poem moves jauntily through a plot of a gormless sister driven by her desires to commerce with the goblins, and her sister's beatific and careful efforts to redeem her. To my dear friends and their daughters - take a chance with this book, have you the chance to do so.

For beautifully colored imaghes and further analysis, see
Rates of (Ex)Change: The Goblin Market and Voodoo Accounting by Helen Pilinovsky