We can dream. Reality is different. This excellent piece tells it like it is. Also shows how daft publishers can be - how could anyone, let alone 30 of them, have turned down something as utterly brilliant as Lionel Shriver's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN? Serves them right - she's sold 400,000 copies now.
UPDATE: 12 AUGUST 2008 - If you've landed here from Guardian Unlimited Books, click here to go to my most recent post.
3 comments:
hi Jessica, I did some research and found your blog. I enjoy classical music but don't really have the slightest clue how to go about finding a suitable piece for a November 11 presentation I have to create. I have been searching up "Stirring" and "Emotive" and "Inspiring" and "Despairing" classical music to accompany a mixed media presentation for Remembrance Day and can't find anything appropriate. Any suggestions? You seem to know WAY more than I do so any pointing in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks kindly, Maureen
Hi Maureen,
For Remembrance Day, I'd suggest Elgar, especially 'Nimrod' from The Enigma Variations. You'll recognise it when you hear it! Somewhere between 'emotive' and 'inspiring'... Actually, you'll probably find the other emotions you need in the Enigma Variations too: the finale is very stirring and there's some beautiful and rather sad stuff along the way. If that's not despairing enough, try the Elgar Cello Concerto. This is all rather British, though...if you want something American, try the Barber Adagio for Strings for the despairing/emotive element and Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man for stirring/inspiring. Best of luck!
Hi Maureen
You might like to try another American composer, Alan Hovhaness; his 'Aria' from the opera Haroutiun and the Prayer of St Gregory fit your bill quite well. There should be a CD available by Chris Gekker and the Manhattan CO with Richard Auldon Clark conducting. British stuff: try Holbrooke's Funeral March from the opera Bronwen.
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