Category Archives: books & writing

a nasty case of the vapours

25 Tuesday Mar 2008

Posted by in books & writing, health & happiness

≈ 14 Comments

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Why heroines die in classic fiction

To read classic fiction is to know that if the heroine gets wet, a swift descent into brain fever and death bed scenes is assured within a chapter or so.

But, dear reader, have you ever wondered what was actually wrong with these swooning creatures?

For, I confess, part of me has always longed to grab them and say: “You only got your slippers wet. For heaven’s sake, girl, just get a grip!”

I’ve also wondered what exactly the vapours were and why women used to swoon so much back then. Was it simply a plot device? Why do you think modern-day heroines don’t get the vapours? Is this a medical or psychological phenomenon? Or maybe a bit of both?

page 123

26 Tuesday Feb 2008

Posted by in books & writing, me-me's

≈ 15 Comments

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Aaarr, I be tagged by th’ saucy wench alejna , begad!

  1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
  2. Open the book to page 123
  3. Find the 5th sentence
  4. Post the next three sentences
  5. Tag 5 people

The nearest book is here on my bedside table – The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies, which I am presently rereading. I happen to be on page 124 at the moment so I just read this bit last night before falling asleep with the lamp on and the book in my hands. Okay here goes. . .

‘Poshrat!‘ she screamed again, and spat in my face. This was a scene we had played many times in our life together, my Mother and I, and I knew better than to try to wipe away the spittle. It was something that had to be endured, and in the end it would probably work out as I wished.

The Rebel Angels is book one of The Cornish Trilogy . An excellent read.

And now, at the risk of alejna making me walk th’ plank aaarr, rather than tagging 5 people I’ll make this a self-tagging ‘me-me’.

Let us know what’s on your page 123! f_bigeyes.gif