Christmas Carols and Songs

One of the best things about this time of year is the music. I look forward to Dec. 1st, when I begin playing my many Christmas albums, from Celtic instrumentals with nature sounds to Burl Ives and Josh Groban. Late on Christmas Eve, I’ll turn out all the lights except for the Christmas tree, put [...]

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The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons

At this time of year, I like to suggest books that you might enjoy snuggled up by the fire, with a mug of hot chocolate and hand-knitted socks. This is just such a book. In 1938, Elise Landau is sent by her family in Vienna to work as a housemaid at Tyneford. With her she [...]

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Vivaldi and the Number 3 by Ron Butlin: from delight to disillusionment in 200 pages

In these playful vignettes, Ron Butlin looks at the lives of the great composers and philosophers from unusual but always entertaining angles. Vivaldi’s creative block is freed with God’s gift of the number 3; Mozart struggles for financial independence by becoming Salzburg’s first private eye; Haydn’s publicity benefits from an appearance on the Jerry Springer [...]

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Coming Up This Week

Lots of variety this week on VL; we have music, romance and social commentary. Plus poetry and kittens. Much food for thought on these cold winter days. Monday-Jackie finds some manga with a different twist, about, of all things, a kitten, in Chi’s Sweet Home by Konami Kanata. Tuesday-We revisit Edward Petherbridge’s poem Murder at [...]

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Waxing Lyrical about: Edinburgh City of Literature

Poems projected over the castle? Free books distributed around the city? Literature written on semi-naked persons? Mysterious snow sculptures in the shape of Bob Dylan appearing on the meadows? There are crazy things afoot in Edinburgh and most of them can be traced to one door! Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature. You might have been [...]

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Coming up on Vulpes Libris

The Foxes are looking to the heavens this week as they contemplate the really big issues: philosophy, religion, science and folk music. On Monday, Nikki wonders if philosophy really can solve your problems when she reviews Charlotte Greig’s Brighton-based A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy. On Tuesday, Kirsty reviews God’s Mechanics: How scientists and [...]

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Coming up on Vulpes Libris

Lots of verbs of action on VL this week as the Foxes interact with a very interesting, and very diverse, selection of books. On Monday, Sam devours the Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. But does it live up to expectations? On Tuesday, Hilary compares her personal response to a musical icon with Eric Siblin’s in [...]

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Sacred Hearts, by Sarah Dunant

I picked up Sarah Dunant’s ‘Sacred Hearts’ this Christmas, thinking it would be a perfect holiday read. It is the first of her novels that I have read; the reviews on the cover were a huge recommendation – they are glowing – and, the clincher, it is about nuns. The plot revolves around a young [...]

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The Soul in the Song: Words, Music, Rhythm and Performance

First of all, there’s something you should know about me.  I don’t just ramble on about Russia all day, although many would say it seems like I do.  I actually have a (not very) secret second life as a trainee Latin dance teacher and amateur soprano.  As a result, I spend a great deal of [...]

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A Rebel Among Outlaws: Kris Kristofferson

Well I think what they’ve done is well worth doing And they’re doing it the best way that they can You’re the only one that you are screwing When you put down what you don’t understand. – Kris Kristofferson, If You Don’t Like Hank Williams (You Can Kiss My Ass) I was raised on country [...]

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