You Say It’s Your Birthday…..

Yes, yes, it’s that time of year again. Girl Living in World Devoid of Shame is here to announce HER BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW!

OK. Sorry. Can’t do the whole writing-about- self-in-third-person thing. But I’m giddy, as always, when the first of December approaches. Much debauchery planned, all of it in the highest order of good. In fact, my dear, dear friend, Blythe, and I have already launched the advance festivities by discovering a heretofore unknown love of cream sherry accompanied by late night walks through stunning downtown Franklin, Tennessee.

To kick off the official celebration, I’m starting things in the best possible manner, with a Virtual Cocktail Party to end all Virtual Cocktail Parties. With us today is Peter Stothard, editor of the Times Literary Supplement.

Now. To say I’m a tad excited about this would be ridiculous. I grew up playing amidst piles of TLS back issues; I’m not sure there could be a single publication more significant to me. Who knew that a perk of blogging would be to have the Head Honcho around on my Birthday Eve?

Did I mention that tomorrow is my birthday? : )

Let’s get down to business….

PETER: A drink, you ask. Try one part Blue Curacao to three parts Sauvignon Blanc and watch everything go green.

Does that go with Thai? If so, can someone who’s coming over tomorrow pick up the Blue Curacao?

TASHA: Is the easy access to heaps of books that comes as editor of TLS a source of overwhelming existential angst or a slice of ambrosia?

PETER: I’m going for the ambrosia. Best in the face-cream form that the goddess Athene used to spruce up the older woman - or in the scent option that could conceal even the nastier whiffs of ancient seal. But if you insist on a ’slice’ of the boring old immortal food of the immortal divinities, I’d still go for ambrosia. Some of this week’s books on the TLS table must last longer than we will, surely?

KRISTY: If you could pair up any two fictional characters, who would you choose and what would you have them do?

PETER: Moby Dick and Dick Tracy. They could play Consequences.

ELIZABETH: Is it possible to defend the fountain pen against the laptop computer?

PETER: Yes. Try writing on the back of your hand with a laptop. And if anyone ever wants written words to mean ownership and obey-me again (not all our romantic expressing-ourself-stuff) there will be a lot to be said for the fountain pen. Try tattoing someone else with a laptop.

ERIC: What book are you currently head-over-heels in love with?

PETER: I’m a very faithful book-lover. So none of this ‘currently head-over-heels’. The Odyssey is my love - including the bits about botox and fumigatory ambrosia above.

Forgive me, Peter, for picking my favorite translation to link….

BRIAN: Name a book you wish you had written

PETER: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. How wonderful to be so sure why all things happened.

JILL: Preferred weapon: Pistol or Sword?

PETER: Pistol. If someone were to kill me, I’d prefer her to be faraway. Incidentally, that’s the academic gender-neutral ‘her’ which could be a ‘him’.

BETH: Any books already available in the UK that we should look for once they cross the pond?

PETER: I didn’t think books crossed the pond any more. We just Amazon them down the virtual river from anywhere. But look out for the new Andrew Lycett biography of Conan Doyle. Great on that Holmes Watson big passion.

TASHA: What’s your favorite object in the British Museum?

PETER: I’m currently ‘head-over-heels’ for Senuna, a recently arrived Romano-British river goddess who looks like a chocolate wrapper.

I’m quite certain that we all agree Peter is a fabulous guest, and surely there is no one among us who will not add his blog to our daily surfing rituals (so much better than checking your Amazon ranking, people). A million thanks to him for joining us!

It wouldn’t be a cocktail party without some discussion, so be sure to take a minute to answer the questions he’s left for the comments:

1. Is blogging bad for my brain?

2. Is blogging bad for your brain?

3. Why do so many people believe that expressing what a book ‘did for me’ is the same as subjecting it to criticism?

4. Why don’t another ten thousand people (let’s not be too ambitious) realise that the TLS is the best way to counter all ill effects of the brain - whether from blogs or from glasses of green stuff?

That’s it for now! I’ll do my best to crawl back here next week, assuming the Birthday Festivities don’t render me completely useless. Don’t hold your breath…

xo
Tasha

15 Responses to “You Say It’s Your Birthday…..”

1. Happy Birthday, Tasha!

   by Kate Hathway on November 30th, 2007 at 6:05 am
   
   

2. Happy Birthday, Tasha!

   by J.D. Rhoades on November 30th, 2007 at 7:17 am
   
   

3. Happy Birthday, Tasha! Try not to drink too much. Hangovers so aren’t good as after-birthday presents. Ack.

   Thanks for guesting, Peter. It was interesting to see your take on things, and to skip over to your blog.

   1. I don’t think blogging is bad for your brain.

   2. The jury’s still out on whether it’s bad for mine.

   3. I’m not familiar with the debate on whether expressing what a book did for you is the same as criticism. They sound like different animals to me, but some people will debate over anything.

   4. I’m sorry to say I’d never heard of TLS until this morning, but I promise to add it to my blogroll and drop in from time to time. =o)

   by B.E. Sanderson on November 30th, 2007 at 8:28 am
   
   

4. Thank you, thank you!

   No worries, BE. I don’t get hangovers……

   I’ll be back post-caffeine to answer Peter’s questions.

   by Tasha Alexander on November 30th, 2007 at 9:19 am
   
   

5. Happy birthday, Tasha!

   You sure you’re old enough to drink? ‘Cause you sure don’t look it.

   1. Is blogging bad for my brain?

   Depends. Are you seeing bats, yet?

   2. Is blogging bad for your brain?

   Oh, absolutely. It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for all the bats.

   3. Why do so many people believe that expressing what a book ‘did for me’ is the same as subjecting it to criticism?

   The last thing a book ‘did for me’ was be of sufficient weight to beat someone over the head with (an 1872 copy of Don Quixote with Doré prints - they knew how to make books back then).

   And I’ve never criticized a book on those grounds. Well, except Jonathan Livingston Seagull. That was useless on all sorts of levels.

   4. Why don’t another ten thousand people (let’s not be too ambitious) realize that the TLS is the best way to counter all ill effects of the brain - whether from blogs or from glasses of green stuff?

   Because you haven’t bottled it, yet. Distill it into its most potent forms and offer it up as a hangover cure in a brown bottle that smells of mothballs and you’re in like Flynn.

   by Stephen Blackmoore on November 30th, 2007 at 10:19 am
   
   

6. Happy B-day, Tasha! Hi to Peter!

   Blogging seems to be rather a good thing for you, Peter.

   For me, approaching Wednesday midnight (night before I have to have a post posted), with a blank mind and absolutely nothing interesting happening in my immediate area, blogging can be very bad for me.

   When organized and brimming with ideas, blogging is oh, so good. Week to week, you all have to be the judge, I guess.

   A book “doing something for me” is akin to “knowing what I like” when approaching art. Perhaps this approach has to be dosed - kind of like comfort food or chocolate, moderation is the key. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I need some fluffy, thoughtless reading sometimes, even if that means reading a thought-provoking book without trying to disect it. But too much of that kind of reading makes my teeth ache.

   As for TLS, Peter, just call me your new number one fan! Thanks for stopping by!

   by Regina Harvey on November 30th, 2007 at 10:26 am
   
   

7. Wow! I’ve got to run out but I’m going to come back, savor this and answer the universal questions…

   by JT Ellison on November 30th, 2007 at 10:43 am
   
   

8. 1. Is blogging bad for my brain?

   Insufficient data. What was your brain like before blogging?

   2. Is blogging bad for your brain?

   Au contraire. Blogging makes me wittier, more charming, better informed, and, for some reason, taller. Oh, wait, no. That’s alcohol.

   3. Why do so many people believe that expressing what a book ‘did for me’ is the same as subjecting it to criticism?

   Narcissism.

   4. Why don’t another ten thousand people (let’s not be too ambitious) realise that the TLS is the best way to counter all ill effects of the brain - whether from blogs or from glasses of green stuff?

   Not enough viral video. You need more fat kids singing and dancing to Romanian pop songs or pretending to wield light sabers. That’ll bring the rubes in. After that, they’re yours.

   by JDRhoades on November 30th, 2007 at 10:46 am
   
   

9. Okay, I’m back at last…

   Tasha. You have Peter Stothard on your blog. You are officially the coolest woman on the planet. Not that you weren’t before, this is simply confirmation.

   Hello, Peter!

   1. Is blogging bad for my brain?

   No. Instills discipline for daily writing and forces mind to think creatively about current events and writing.

   2. Is blogging bad for your brain?

   Yes. Which is why everyone should spend all their time on my blog instead.

   3. Why do so many people believe that expressing what a book ‘did for me’ is the same as subjecting it to criticism?

   Well, what did Lolita do for me, outside of show me that there is a true faith out there if one wants to find it. What did Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants do to me other than tear out my soul and teach me the value of understatement? Combine the two reads and I was changed for life. If that’s criticism, I’ll eat my hat.

   4. Why don’t another ten thousand people (let’s not be too ambitious) realise that the TLS is the best way to counter all ill effects of the brain - whether from blogs or from glasses of green stuff?

   I’ll start spreading the word. Does TLS have a Facebook account??? (HA!)

   by JT Ellison on November 30th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
   
   

10. 1. Is blogging bad for my brain?

    Only if you’re blogging while imbibing too many glasses of green stuff.

    2. Is blogging bad for your brain?

    On days when I feel as if I have nothing significant to say, yes.

    On days when I’m brimming with ideas and (hopefully) penetrating insights, then a blog is a very good thing because I’ve found few real live people in my life are eager to discuss things like how to murder someone. Go figure.

    3. Why do so many people believe that expressing what a book ‘did for me’ is the same as subjecting it to criticism?

    I have to go with JD on this one.

    4. Why don’t another ten thousand people (let’s not be too ambitious) realize that the TLS is the best way to counter all ill effects of the brain - whether from blogs or from glasses of green stuff?

    I don’t know. Understanding the habits of blog readers is a vague and inexact science, but I do know that a blog with the word “kill” in it does draw attention.

    Thanks for stopping by, Peter.

    And Tasha, have a wonderful birthday!

    by Sara on November 30th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
    
    

11. Happy Birthday, Tash! May this year be the best yet!

    Peter, what a clever, witty, literate man you are. If it had only been The Illiad, I’d be convinced you were the man of my dreams. Not that I’m NOT convinced, but I do find vast oceans more off-putting than O. and the boys did.

    by Diana Killian on November 30th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
    
    

12. Happy Birthday, Tasha! Thanks for bringing Peter & TLS to my attention.

    Oooh, JT, now I must reread Hills Like White Elephants. Most of what I remember of it is mountains of symbolism!

    by Lynn in TX on November 30th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
    
    

13. Happy Birthday, Tasha! TLS is really cool; I can’t believe I’ve never enjoyed it before!

    I hope you have a fabulous day!

    by spyscribbler on December 1st, 2007 at 12:56 pm
    
    

14. Hope your day was awesome, Tasha!

    by Laura on December 3rd, 2007 at 12:20 am
    
    

15. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TASHA!!!! Okay… so it’s quite a few days late, but I’m racing against a deadline here and sadly had to banish myself from the internet. I hope you had a wonderful time. And great interview!

    Given his loyalty to Homer, I think Peter might really enjoy one of the history tours that the Archaeological Institute of America provides. It’s called The Journey of Odysseus. I believe the tours runs every summer, and my husband and I have already booked our spots for this summer(we’re both big fans of the Odyssey!). Although I’m not sure if they offer ambrosia…

    by Michelle Moran on December 6th, 2007 at 12:06 am
    
    

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