Book Reviews

M Train
Written by Patti Smith

I bought this book after hearing it was about loss and consolation. The book does touch on these subjects in a somewhat non-linear way, leading the reader through a narrative that, at times, felt like a dreamscape of random sequences. While it may not have been as direct as I had hoped, 'M Train' did evoke the inescapable desire to wander (physically and mentally) that is felt after the death of a loved one. From a purely aesthetic point of view, I loved the paper used in the book and appreciated the design notes at the back pertaining to its construction. Nothing can replicate the tactile quality of a greatly crafted piece. 

Favourite line: "It's not so easy writing about nothing."

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H is for Hawk
Written by Helen Macdonald

This book is also about loss but the subject is secondary to an appreciation of nature and all its wild majesty explored through the relationship between author and 'Mabel', a hawk she aims to tame through the art of falconry. Like 'M Train', I felt the narrative of this book was dense on detail and nuance to the point where it detracted from the content. I am in the minority though; this book was on numerous "best of" lists for the annum 2015. 

Favorite line: "Memory and love and magic. What happened over the years of my expeditions as a child was a slow transformation of my landscape over time into what naturalists call a local patch, glowing with memory and meaning."

Bowie

I've written about it before. Such a huge part of my life has been spent driving around Winnipeg, rather aimlessly, while listening to classic rock. Despite lack of apparent purpose, it was never wasted time though. In retrospect, it is those seemingly unexceptional moments, with friends or just my thoughts, that I now reflect upon wistfully. There's magic in the mundane. The quiet hours contain the essence of what life is all about. 

David Bowie was a massive part of the soundtrack for those moments. I first heard about him when I was a wee kid growing up in the eighties. My mother was in love with him (as she should have been; he was quite regal) and would often blast "Let's Dance" while tackling housework. I would be on the floor, creating yet another mess with my toys, fully cognizant at that young age that the song was really good, at least from an instrumental perspective. I was too young to understand the lyrical content. 

Bowie wasn't really part of my high school experience. Classmates seeking an icon to emulate flocked to Jim Morrison, while I bopped to the Spice Girls. But my college and post-college life were filled with his genius. A close friend with much more cred and much less embarrassing titles in his music library introduced me to musicians that went beyond the ego of pop culture and embraced genuine artistry. Bowie, of course, lived this. It was eye-opening for me. The depth of verse. The primal desire to create. The willingness to expose and be exposed. To innovate. To try. Bowie did all of these things. His legend was mesmerizing when he was alive. And now he becomes one of those figureheads of history that we feel privileged to have witnessed in real time. Those long drives down Portage Avenue, through Transcona and beyond listening to his vast catalogue were not wasted hours but a study of this philosophy. 

It is rare the artist a generation grows with; even rarer the artist that several generations can claim to be influenced by and share our lives in symmetry with. 

Some people are just born to be. 

True North no.1

I often create artwork based on my travels, but have failed to capture the spirit of the place that runs through my DNA – my home and native land, Canada. Over the course of the upcoming year, I plan to share my interpretation of the beauty and wonder of this majestic nation in a series titled "True North". 

True North no.1 (©Deborah Clague)

Throwback

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. 

My favourite things of the year:

It's the season for year-end lists. And as I'm too busy/not motivated enough to write something more original, I will simply detail my favourite things of the year. Enjoy. 

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CITY: Seoul
I travelled to Korea last Spring, somewhat on a whim, after becoming fascinated with the culture. I didn't know what to expect upon arrival though. Certainly I didn't anticipate falling as deeply in love with its capital as I did. At this time, Seoul doesn't seem to be on a lot of traveller's radars but it should be: in my opinion, it is the most fascinating place in Asia offering a mix of history, both past and modern, technology, trend, and nature that is unrivalled on earth. To view a gallery of images of Korea, click here. 

RUNNER UP: Paris.
Because, Paris. 

BOOK: Nothing to Envy, Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
The author focused less on politics and the autocratic regime, and more on the everyday lives of average North Korean citizens crafting a tale that is universally relatable in its yearning for love and freedom. 'Nothing to Envy' remains one of the best books I've ever read. 

RUNNER UP: The Man Without a Face by Masha Gessen
I still can't believe Vladimir Putin's life isn't a work of fiction. 

ALBUM: Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd
His lyrics are questionable but I can't get enough of The Weeknd's voice (or this awesome bass line): 

RUNNER UP: '1989', Taylor Swift
'Style' is the perfect pop song. 

FACE: Paul Maurice
A friend has gotten me hooked on watching Winnipeg Jets games. I admit that half of my fandom has to do with hometown pride and the other half has to do with watching head coach Paul Maurice's face from the sidelines. I don't think I've ever seen him smile. 

RUNNER UP: I may be a bit biased. 

EMOJI: :I
I recall reading somewhere that Canadians deploy the "poo" emoji more than any other nation on earth. I'm not sure why that is. I certainly went through a phase with it. But the emoji I most often use mirrors the way I'm feeling. Perhaps this is why I'm so fascinated with Paul Maurice.  
 

😑

RUNNER UP: 

👫

News Story: #WHOOPS
A lot of bad news comes out of Winnipeg. An invisible darkness seems to permeate the city, resulting in crimes so brutal that the rest of the country is left in shock while citizens, used to (and perhaps, at times, numb to) the headlines, continue to treat their reality as routine. I chose #WHOOPS as my news story of the year because it countered this. It was a tale so completely ridiculous – and hilarious – that even thinking about it now causes me to break out in laughter.

#WHOOPS, the perfectly astute hashtag used to document the event as it unfolded, is about three City of Winnipeg police officers discussing the pitfalls of oral sex with someone who is, uh … er, not that familiar with waxing. While this would normally be a private conversation, it was broadcast to half the city when someone in the WPS Air 1 helicopter accidentally hit the loudspeaker transmitting it to everyone down below.

I'm not sure what type of disciplinary action – if any – was used. But I think the sheer embarrassment of being involved, and the international headlines and fodder that followed, is punishment enough. 

RUNNER UP: Syrian refugees
On a more serious note, I'm proud to see Canada open its doors to people who truly need help and hope. 

MOMENT: July 13

RUNNER UP: October 16

Featured Work

Very proud to have a project I collaborated on with a colleague featured as a successful case study in a newly released post-secondary textbook. Public Relations Writing: Strategies and Structure by Doug Newsom and Jim Haynes teaches the essentials of writing with understanding and purpose. The textbook is being used by over 100 colleges and has been translated into several languages. 

The 11th edition of this educational tome will be released in January of 2016. 

Throwback

2007. Me and a panda chillin' at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China: 

To view more photos of China, visit my gallery here.

Thirty Something Vignette: no.6

It was a Sunday night. They sipped cabernet while music provided soundtrack softly in the background. The conversation flowed from such weighty topics as the terror attacks in Paris to the economic downturn and how local industry needed to diversify. There was one subject she wanted to broach … one that she desperately needed consensus for but could be perceived as controversial. She waited until the timing was just right (not-coincidentally aligning with the initial buzz of inebriation): 

"Do you think Drake is hot?" she asked her friend. 

"Pfft. Of course he's hot. What kind of question is that?"

She explained her confusion and the debate she had entered into a few days prior. She always considered herself to have impeccable taste and standards. The judgement against this was enlightening, but, alas, proved premature. 

"You know, I have an acquaintance that looks just like Drake." her friend stated. 

Carol

Sunday afternoons are occasionally good for an impromptu photoshoot. The subject for this week was my beautiful friend Carol. To view more portraits, click here. 

©Deborah Clague