Monsta Reader

This is what happens when you don't use it! (Spoiler : you lose it!)

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Recently, I returned to a book that has been on my shelves for a little while; Elisabeth Smith's Fast-Track Russian, from the Teach Yourself range of educational books. I had no reason for learning some basic Russian when I bought the book, just an interest in trying something new. After buying the book, some years ago now, I went through the book once, and then it returned to my shelves and, as far as I can recall, wasn't disturbed again until a couple of weeks ago.

Elisabeth Smith's Fast-Track Russian

Elisabeth Smith has written a number of books for the Teach Yourself range. In fact, to quote the blurb on the back of my copy of Fast-Track Russian, "Elisabeth Smith has published more than 30 books, CDs and DVDs in 11 different languages. She has taught audiences all over the world."

And, in this book, the author sets out a course which, if the reader follows the structure of said course, can have the reader speaking Russian in just six weeks. Not fluent Russian, of course. But just enough that you might be able to get by in a casual conversation or two in a Russian speaking part of the world.

When I tried to learn Russian from Elisabeth Smith . . .

I decided fairly early on that I would not strictly follow the course, which was probably my first mistake. Other people's structures and designs on my time are anathema to me. And, besides, my own approach seemed to be working just fine. For a while.

I think I was about half way through the book when I realised I was losing interest. Not that I stopped. I endured. But it became much more noticeably a chore than it had been when I started the book. I kept on at the lessons and reached the end of the book, but it was more about enduring than enjoying the process by the time I reached the end. However, this had nothing to do with the book itself. I just had no opportunities to use what I was learning, you see. And so, many of the words and rules waned and faded in my mind.

The result

I can probably pluck a few disparate Russian words from my memory and construct something resembling a sentence. But someone for whom Russian is their first language may find me hard to understand. Some English speaking people find me hard to understand though, to be fair, so . . .

As I read the book, I had some successes with the tests and progress tracking exercises within. But, I'm afraid, much of that has passed from the surface of my mind down into the cellar levels. There they are, the words and rules, gathering dust like bottles racked. Perhaps I could go down there and pluck them out if I should need them. But, the problem is that I just don't have much need to use them. I fear that, unlike fine wines that improve with time, the knowledge I have acquired and bottled in my mind's cellar, may be more like milk, and if I go down there to open up a bottle after too long, I will just find a lumpy and off-putting mess.

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A Little List of Songs Book Lovers May Appreciate!

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This post is fairly straightforward. We are going to take a little look at a few songs that are either inspired by books or references them in the lyrics. So, shall we dive right in?

Queen - Bicycle Race

I don't believe in Peter Pan

Frankenstein or Superman

To get the message across that he'd rather be riding his bicycle than anything else, Queen singer, Freddie Mercury, runs through all the things in which he has no interest. At least when compared to enjoying a bicycle ride.

Fans of J. M. Barrie's creation, Mary Shelley's novel about a scientist's desire to create life, or the comic books about Kryptonite's most famous son, may be disappointed that Mr. Mercury has no time for these books. Though, to be fair, a little outdoor exercise is good for you!

https://youtu.be/gWJ8_B9BVxo

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mellowship Slinky in B Major

Being that I'm the Duke of my domain

My hat goes off to Mark Twain

Singing a song about what true men don't do

Killing another creature that's kind of blue

At the peak of their funk rock powers, on their 1991 album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, lead singer Anthony Kiedis uses this song as an opportunity to show reverence for some of his favourite things. Just after the first chorus, the lead singer references Mark Twain, Truman Capote, and Charles Bukowski, as well as some of their work.

https://youtu.be/RRQwn8rmZfo

Sergei Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet: The Dance of the Knights

This piece is taken from Prokofiev's ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, which is based on William Shakespeare's famous play about the star-crossed lovers. The piece was composed in 1935 and is well known; even if you are no fan of classical music, trust me, you have heard this piece before.

https://youtu.be/Z_hOR50u7ek

Nirvana - Scentless Apprentice

Every wet nurse refused to feed him

Electrolytes smell like semen

I promise not to sell your perfumed secrets

There are countless formulas for pressing flowers

On Nirvana's last studio album, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain paid homage to Patrick Süskind's novel, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, a novel set in 18th Century France and telling the tale of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. Jean-Baptiste is born with an incredible sense of smell but has no scent himself. He is also a murderer and unable to form healthy relationships with anyone.

The song is violent and dirty, just like the character in the book.

https://youtu.be/GyxoQIQaogE

Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy

I've come home, I'm so cold

Let me in your window

This song is inspired by Emily Brontë's novel of the same name. In the song, Bush sings from the perspective of the book's character, Catherine Earnshaw, a ghost at Heathcliff's window. As a fun fact, Kate Bush and Emily Brontë share their birthday - 30 July.

This song was Bush's first single, released in 1978, and she wrote it when she was only eighteen.

https://youtu.be/-1pMMIe4hb4

I hope you enjoyed this little list post of rather bookish songs. If you did, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi, where I regularly post updates about this blog and other of my writerly efforts. All support is gratefully received - it keeps me writing! Thank you!

When books cause offence and how we work through those feelings!

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, Monsta Reader may earn a commission from the sellers, but this has no impact on the cost to the consumer and it does not influence the content of this blog.

To begin with I have to confess that, until recently, I had not heard of Kate Clanchy or her memoir. That was until I became aware of a discussion surrounding that particular work taking place on Twitter, and the reaction that it had inspired from Philip Pullman on that social media platform.

Since having heard of the author and the book, what I've heard has not made the memoir particularly attractive to me; with problematic language concerning race, people with disabilities, and class having been highlighted by writers and readers. The passages have been reported on widely now and I won't reproduce them here but, to my eye, they read more like passages from a book that might have been written fifty years ago.

Perhaps though, that is a misconception that I have the luxury of being able to labour under, because I do not see the presence of these attitudes today as much as I might if I weren't looking at the world through white and able eyes. I am fairly certain that I have said, done, and thought extremely foolish things exactly because I have sometimes been stupid enough to not consider the other point of view and the experiences of others. I hope though that I am learning better.

No, I haven't read the book at the centre of the controversy so what I can say about the work is limited by that. However, I did become aware, after the fact, of the abuses directed at writers such as Monisha Rajesh and Dara McAnulty online. And that saddens me, as it should.

I have always thought that the bookish side of Twitter was relatively unproblematic. A friendly and welcoming space. One does like to think that the bookish are a considerate and intelligent bunch. But, alas, it seems that isn't always the case.

Instances like this have the power to highlight wider problems. When the language used in the memoir was pointed out as problematic, it was a gifted opportunity for the author and readers to listen and learn. Instead, the author chose to deny and refused to engage initially. Other writers sprang to her defense and were dismissive of the issues raised. This perhaps encouraged the abuse that followed, directed at those that had highlighted the offensive passages.

According to a poll from 2017, the vast majority of the publishing industry identifies as white. A fact that is very telling. It suggests that it is the white perspective that is still very much getting represented in the literary world, and that perhaps works are passing in front of eyes that might miss offensive and problematic content because of what they do not see.

There are those that will argue the point at any hint someone is trying to censor books or dictate what can and can't be said by writers. And this is understandable; censorship and erasure of literary works has its own problematic and horrific history. However, it would seem nobody who highlighted the offensive content in this book was seeking the book be banned, taken from shelves, or pulped. Instead, they seem only to have sought to shine a light on why they had taken issue with the language of the book. They sought only to ask the questions that needed to be asked. And perhaps they hoped that by having the discussion they could draw attention to a still present problem.

However, rather than being heard and considered, their attempts were dismissed. It's a bad habit that we white readers and writers must break. After all, we are not the only readers and we are not the only ones harbouring writerly hopes and ambitions.

As I write this, I am aware that there is possibly much that I haven't touched upon, that which deserves time and consideration. I write this piece as a book lover, as someone who puts a lot of stock in those who are writerly and bookish. I have the luxury of not being directly impacted by the words and passages written in the book, because I have the luxury of never having been subjected to dehumanising language from others based on my race or a condition with which I have been diagnosed. I am also aware that I may have gotten things wrong myself. I hope that I haven't, because I wouldn't want to cause hurt to anyone reading this, but if I have, I hope that I can learn better.

If any of the preceding is written poorly, please do forgive me. I had my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday and it left me a bit more tired than usual. Still, I will take tiredness and a decline in quality of writing for the vaccination. However, if you have any criticisms then please throw them my way. If you have any praise, I will happily take that too!

Thank you for reading.

If you found any value in this piece, you can buy me a coffee over on Ko-fi; it turns out that once you reach a certain age, you don't get lolly pops for getting jabs any more, but I'll take a coffee for writing instead! All support is gratefully received; it keeps me writing, so thank you!

Seven pick up lines for the single book lover - one for every day of the week!

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I cannot promise that any of these lines are going to lead to any bookishly romantic tropes becoming apparent in your life - falling in love with a millionaire or a time traveller anyone? And, even armed with these pick up lines, you may still find that the only thing you are taking to bed is a good book.

You may find these lines mildly amusing though. So, there's that . . .

1. "I want to show you my Secret Garden." (why, uh, beat about the bush? Ahem.)

With reference to The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

2. Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou art more damn hot!

With reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet 18.

3. "Damn! If you were print, I would have to squint to read you because you are too damn fine!"

4. "Give me a chance and I will do what I can to meet all of your Great Expectations."

With reference to the novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.

(Unsolicited Dickens pics not advised)

5. "Dr. Jekyll on the streets, Mr. Hyde in the sheets, baby!"

Referencing The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

6. "Now and then, I do love a bit of Philip K. . . . "

Referencing the author, Philip K. Dick, whose surname is, well, you know . . .

7. "We could build a beautiful library together."

Just a play on the old, "We could make beautiful music together."

Well, there you go. As promised, a bookish pick up line for every day of the week. Again, please do not be surprised if none of these are successful. This list is purely for the lulz.

If you enjoyed this rather tongue in cheek piece, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi where I regularly post updates about this blog and other of my writerly endeavours; all support is received gratefully! It keeps me writing, so thank you!

Some Amazing Reading Challenge Ideas to Get You Out of That Reading Slump!

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You ever hit a reading slump? Well, in this piece we are going to go through some reading challenge ideas that might just get you out of that bookish malaise. Pop this page in your bookmarks and, when you're looking for something new, take some inspiration from the prompts below!

Read a book set during your teenage years

This one is all about nostalgia, and if you really want to immerse yourself in that time you might want to read a book where the protagonists are teenagers themselves. If you're a millenial, maybe you'll pick up The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, a novel that touches on many of the concerns of teenage life. If you're a member of Generation X, you might want to pick up About a Boy by Nick Hornby. Personally, I am a millenial that feels culturally more comfortable in the Gen X camp!

Read a book by an author with a name you like

This one is entirely up to you. Maybe you like the way their name rolls off your tongue when you say it aloud. Maybe you like the name because it's a name shared with a loved one. Maybe you couldn't say exactly why you like the name, you just do. If you were to ask me, I might pick up a book by Charles Bukowski; there's just something about that surname. Bukowski!

Read a book by an author you'd like to meet

Another one that's a personal choice. Which writer would you love to sit down with? Are there any books that you've read and thought, "Whoever wrote this gets me!" Or, maybe someone that you think you could converse with and walk away from that interaction slightly better off. They do say you should never meet your heroes, but maybe you'll be okay reading their books . . .

Read a book with a happy ending

Hard to gauge unless you already know what the ending is going to be. However, you might be okay if you immerse yourself between the pages of something in the Up-Lit genre. This genre may touch on some deep and profound topics, such as mental health, for example, but generally delivers an uplifting and life-affirming story. Well known authors that have written books in this genre include Matt Haig and Gail Honeyman. If you still haven't read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I very much recommend that you do.

Read a book set in a place that you love

Personally, I would pick a book set in the countryside for this category. Which means I might pick up Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee, a book that's on my shelves but that I haven't read yet. It might also mean picking up one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels, one set in the fictional village of St. Mary Mead. I do like novels set in villages that are also set in the past for some reason. However, maybe your tastes are different. But, hey, the world is your oyster, and though you might not be able to go there physically, you can let the pages of a good book take you there!

Read a book by a black author

As a white boy bibliophile, I am aware that my bookshelves could do with a little more diversity. Not because I am trying to score woke points, but because if all I ever read is straight white voices then I am at risk of viewing the world mostly from that point of view. After all, one of the reasons I love to read is that it offers me the opportunity to see things from a point of view other than my own. My shelves are not exclusively made up of white voices, but they could be better.

Read a book set during your childhood

See the prompt suggesting you read a book set during your teen years. This is like that, just set during those years before the angst and insecurities. As I said, I am an old millenial but feel more in common with the Gen X's, so I might read Douglas Coupland's Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, a novel set during the years when I was a child, but one that is not about childhood.

Read a book by an Asian author

I include this prompt for much the same reason that I include the prompt to read books by black authors. I haven't yet read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, but it is firmly fixed on my list of books I intend to purchase in the near future. Perhaps you might also like the bestselling works of Haruki Murakami. And, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong looks well worth a read.

Read a cook book

This one's a little different! One of the great things about books is that they have the power to inspire, and cook books can be as inspiring as anything else. They can be the impetus you need to change your habits to something a bit healthier, maybe they can provide you with ideas when you're on a budget, or maybe just give you the inspiration to try something new. Whatever kind of food you enjoy, or the kind of life you live, chances are that there is a book of recipes out there for you too!

Let me know if you're in a reading slump and if any of these suggestions inspired anything for you. If any of these suggestions did the opposite, let me know about that too. It's all good!

I hope you found something here you liked. If you did, consider following/supporting me over on ko-fi where I post updates on my blogging and writerly efforts. You can buy me a coffee or support in other ways. All support is gratefully received and very much appreciated! It keeps me writing!

The Establishment : And how they get away with it by Owen Jones - a book review and analysis

Disclaimer: should you make any purchases through links in this blog, Monsta Reader may earn a commission from the sellers, but that has no impact on the cost to you as consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

When I take to Twitter there's an almost fifty-fifty chance that I will find the name of Owen Jones trending. More likely than not it will be because he is being called out as a misogynist and a liar by people running right-wing and conservative accounts. However, the only reasons I found for anyone calling him a misogynist is because he advocates for trans rights and trans activists, and because in the past he has mentioned his desire, as a gay man, to have children with a surrogate mother. That's it. And, as for being a liar, I couldn't see that anyone backed up those claims, and they often read more as, "He said something I don't like, if I call him a liar though that sounds better!"

If anything, from reading The Establishment, it seems as though it is the rich white Oxbridge boys living in The City that Jones has his critical eye on (though he his self aware and transparent enough to admit that he is one of those Oxbridge white boys), and not without good reason it seems. Here Jones makes a good case for how our political leaders, big corporation, and our media has been letting us all down, and is interested in serving only itself - The Establishment. His conclusion is that corporate interests are taking priority over the interests of the citizenry and national interest. The real bummer? This book was published about six years ago and, uh, well, have you turned on the news recently? Checked out Twitter? Yeah . . .

However, Jones suggests a solution; a democratic revolution. This consists, essentially, of those of us that would rather see the state working in the interests of its people, not giving up, to keep fighting the good fight. Because, without resistance, the establishment has nothing to stop it sliding towards outright corruption and exploitation.

It can be quite a hard slog, this book, and it probably ought to be, to read about all the ways in which the chips are stacked against you. One of the saddest paragraphs I read in this book concerned a local-council officer being surprised at the lack of objection from low-paid workers and unemployed people at cuts to their council-tax benefit; that the poorer in society were not angry at such treatment, whilst wealthy tax dodgers get away free, but instead resigned to quiet malaise and struggle is what happens when citizens get worn down. But, Jones says, it's exactly in times like these that the fight is very much worth fighting.

This is a book to take your time over, to take note from. I read it over the course of days, and I took notes. If you're reading this a few years after publication, as I have, and you're not up to speed on the political landscape, you might want to take a break now and then and check up on what's going on out there (don't get your hopes up . . .).

When I have finished writing up this post, I will share it through my platforms on social media and maybe I will check to see whether or not Mr. Jones is trending today. If he isn't, I can be pretty certain that I will find outriders, media figures/outlets, politicians, and corporate figures there, clogging up the timeline. Indeed, the platforms themselves (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) are really only using us to keep the money flowing. It might do us well to remember that.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would.

It shouldn't really be such a radical thing to suggest that society ought to be ordered in such a way that it serves the people rather than corporate interests and that, when that society finds itself demonising the lowest paid and most vulnerable members whilst it bails out the richest and writes of what's owed by the tax dodging wealthy, it might be time for a little self analysis and restructuring. But, it seems, that's the world we are living in now. After reading this book, however you feel about it, the question worth asking might be, what do you want to do about it?

If you want to purchase a copy of The Establishment : And how they get away with it by Owen Jones, follow this link.

Please, consider following/supporting me over at ko-fi where I regularly update about my blogging and other of my writerly endeavours. All support is gratefully received and very much appreciated; it keeps me writing after all! Thank you!

1. Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud - a book review and analysis

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the sellers, but that has no impact on the cost to you as the consumer, nor does it influence the content of this blog.

If you are looking for an introduction to psychoanalysis and Freud, you can do worse than picking up his Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis. I mean, it's the man himself, in his own words, covering the topic.

Within this volume, the reader will find twenty-eight lectures spread into three parts. The first part covers slips of the tongue, the second part covers dreams, and the third part covers neuroses. Almost everything that Freud is well known for - has become a bit of a pop figure for really - is within these pages, Freudian slips; dream interpretation; and, sex and the libido!

And, I think those were my favourite parts of the book. Those parts where a little flesh was added to the bones of my knowledge regarding Freud's work.

If you are looking for a truly in-depth exploration of Freud's work and theories though, you might wish to look else where. Freud himself said that this book was for the laymen, "for the multitude". Indeed, Freud's work here is written in an almost conversational manner; he even asks questions that he anticipates the reader (or listener) might ask of this lecturer.

Reading this book was a bit of a slow burn for me. It is an interesting read, but it was the sort of material I need a break from for a while before returning to for another go. Having said that, when I did read, I read a number of chapters at a go before I needed a break.

This is the first book I have read by Freud. Would I read another? Honest answer, I don't know. I might, but I'm not itching to add one to my ever growing "to be read" pile. Perhaps I am just not a big enough fan of Freud and psychoanalysis. I am generally curious, but not greatly so.

If you would like to purchase your own copy of Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud, follow the link here

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