Monthly Archives: December 2011

Wol

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Pat Bowne

The best way to see owls is to go out without binoculars or camera. Well, not precisely — the best way to see owls is to go out without those things, having forgotten that going out without them is the … Continue reading →

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One More Autumn Song: Talking Trees’ Wild Mountain Thyme

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Pat Bowne

I bought a copy of the dark pagan album “All Souls Arise” shortly before its issuers, Woven Wheat Whispers, went out of business. At first I didn’t like this track as much as some of the more somber ones, but … Continue reading →

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Poetry Friday

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Pat Bowne

I’ve always loved this poem for both its physical imagery (‘nut-strewn roads,’ ‘hunch in the foc’sl,’) and its evocation of the great tension in life — freedom or perfection? Do we have to choose? Poetry of Departures Sometimes you hear, … Continue reading →

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The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Pat Bowne

I’m very happy to have read this book. When I read the first volume in the series, I ended up frustrated and gave the book to another fantasy fan with a warning that while the magic was great, the protagonist, … Continue reading →

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More Autumn Music – Westlin’ Winds

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Pat Bowne

Here’s Robert Burns’ “Westlin’ Winds,” performed by Gregor Harvey and Grant Foster. TweetFacebookLinkedInTumblrStumbleDiggDelicious

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Rules for Getting Along With me

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Pat Bowne

Every now and then lists of rules pop up on the blogosphere, sort of like mushrooms after a rain. This was my week to run across one too many. And they were all lists of rules for getting along with … Continue reading →

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Do you like your characters?

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Pat Bowne

I once read a manuscript by someone who didn’t like their own protagonist, and I’m afraid I gave the author far too much grief about it. Looking back, I realize that I’m equally perturbed by authors who like their protagonists … Continue reading →

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Poetry Friday

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Pat Bowne

This is the first substantial poem I ever memorized, and still one of my favorites. And now I have actually observed the Gnu! G stands for gnu, Whose weapons of defense Are long, sharp, curling horns, and common sense. To … Continue reading →

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Music for a rainy autumn evening

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Pat Bowne

My favorite autumn song- ‘A Leaf Must Fall,’ by Quickthorn. The album I have it on, “All Souls Arise,” says that Prydwyn and Kira are also performing, and the song is listed on Prydwyn’s myspace page. The album gives no … Continue reading →

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Feel the Meh

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Pat Bowne

Lev Grossman wrote about fantasy on his blog last week, suggesting that fantasy addresses our longing for one thing in particular: A different kind of world. A world that makes more sense – not logical sense, but psychological sense… To … Continue reading →

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