tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post6440578520691589299..comments2023-11-02T06:13:26.468-07:00Comments on Beneath the Bracken: Gwendolyn MacEwen: Mythic PoetLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-6391531234761351032011-06-03T00:31:06.395-07:002011-06-03T00:31:06.395-07:00Hi Kristin. No, I wasn't there that night, bu...Hi Kristin. No, I wasn't there that night, but I wish I had been! Sounds fantastic. (I've never seen the Rheostatics play - closest I ever got was hanging out - writing - at the same cafe in the Annex West as Dave Bidini a few times.)<br /><br />I would love to have heard Margaret Atwood's talk. There was so much pro-free-trade propaganda flying around. <br /><br />On your recommendation, I'll see if I can find that film here. I only read "The Handmaid's Tale" a few months back for the first time - having thought that I'd read it years ago. Not the case. (I posted about it here as it completely blew me away.)<br /><br />I'll think about further recommendations and let you know. Likewise, I'd love to hear any of yours! <br /><br />Oh - did you get my e-mail?Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-2964330684222145722011-06-02T14:59:14.926-07:002011-06-02T14:59:14.926-07:00Hi Lynn, Great post on a rather unknown Canadian p...Hi Lynn, Great post on a rather unknown Canadian poet... <br />As for Atwood, I read Wilderness Tips soon after seeing her speak at an anti-Free Trade Rally at the Rivoli back in '87-'88... Were you with me that night? I sorta remember The Rheostatics being there, and Jane Sibbery (with her mom!) and some other T.O. artist types. However, it was Atwood who spoke the most passionately about protecting Canada's natural resources from willy nilly import/export. And boy, was she ever in the right! <br />I also thought that "Hollywood" did a pretty good job of the film version of The Handmaid's Tale (starring Robert Duvall, and the late, great Natasha Richardson), but her "vision" about surrogates, government control and reproductive rights was, well, visionary. <br />She is truly the Aldous Huxley of our times! <br />Any other recommendations?knthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00509681591135233589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-91520353391395447592011-05-29T22:49:44.734-07:002011-05-29T22:49:44.734-07:00She's not even that well known within Canada, ...She's not even that well known within Canada, Roisin - which is a shame. A fascinating character and wonderful poetry. <br /><br />Glad you're enjoying her work, Donna!Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-42358050860249712011-05-27T22:46:04.148-07:002011-05-27T22:46:04.148-07:00Thank you for posting this, Lynn. I'd never he...Thank you for posting this, Lynn. I'd never heard of Gwendolyn MacEwen before, and it's a pleasure to explore her wonderful poems!Donna~Q~https://www.blogger.com/profile/15516927570570110567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-83535700856511118752011-05-27T13:55:28.048-07:002011-05-27T13:55:28.048-07:00I have to confess I'd never heard of MacEwan u...I have to confess I'd never heard of MacEwan until now, but I can promise you I will be looking her up. She sounds absolutely fascinating! What a life story. Thanks so much for writing this post and bringing her to our attention. I will let you know when I get a chance to acquaint myself with her work.Róisínhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17221357100369170369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-49518631594193675542011-05-26T00:01:07.054-07:002011-05-26T00:01:07.054-07:00Thank you, Valerianna. And, aren't the word v...Thank you, Valerianna. And, aren't the word verifications amazing sometimes? I've had a few which were uncanny - both the word and the context.<br /><br />Jan, thank you for looking into that. Shame some are out of print. It must be so difficult in both the publishing industry and in book shops to know what to keep printing and what to buy: there are just so many good books out there. <br /><br />I think you might be right about Gwendolyn and mental illness-drinking. It can become a chicken and egg thing, where one sets off the other and it becomes more and more extreme. Sounds like you have an understanding of what she was going through. It also sounds like you have a deep and non-judgemental insight into it. That's not always easy - takes a lot of strength and wisdom. <br /><br /><br />So glad that the poems spoke to you, Katherine. This is one thing I love about the internet and about blogs: it is so easy to share things like this.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-72308791329888398732011-05-25T10:52:19.924-07:002011-05-25T10:52:19.924-07:00Oh my god, such wonderful poems!
Thankyou...Oh my god, such wonderful poems!<br />Thankyou...Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-13398361612271418842011-05-24T14:47:46.645-07:002011-05-24T14:47:46.645-07:00As a (ahem) bookseller I see that not only don'...As a (ahem) bookseller I see that not only don't we have any of the books that you mentioned---except of course Ms. Atwood's---but that many are out of print. Sigh.<br /><br />Will no doubt check out that website that you mentioned. Ta!<br /><br />Sounds like Gwendolyn also suffered from mental illness (like her often institutionalized mother.) A lot of bipolar sufferers used alcohol before there was a steady meds treatment. I'm sure my own mother took care of her imbalances that way, thereby creating even greater swings.<br /><br />Good post Lynn!Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12879541207987895748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-74251975582728649422011-05-24T08:20:24.015-07:002011-05-24T08:20:24.015-07:00Wonderfully informative post, thanks!
Oh, and I ...Wonderfully informative post, thanks! <br /><br />Oh, and I just must share that my word verification word is "elliment".... I like that!Valeriannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02621130622153365184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-85615488738623366482011-05-24T06:05:00.539-07:002011-05-24T06:05:00.539-07:00I completely agree, Kate, it's so much more in...I completely agree, Kate, it's so much more interesting to see them as people - full and flawed and complex. (Like the rest of us!) Something that Atwood is so good at with her fictitious characters, I find.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939857316909930127.post-72960141810572496602011-05-24T03:24:37.125-07:002011-05-24T03:24:37.125-07:00I've not heard of her but will certainly now s...I've not heard of her but will certainly now seek her out. Don't you think characters are far more interesting when not idolized or victimized; it makes them seem more rounded beings somehow? Thanks for the thumbs up Lynn :-)Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01583541982504301756noreply@blogger.com