Arcadia Discussion Zone

Pilrug,

ooo da 'ell is Chubby Brown, Uncle wotzits + da uvva dudes?

jake

an English comedian, who is, to put it mildly, "risque". His gigs are advertised with the warning " if easily offended - stay away ! "

http://www.chubbybrown.biz/index.htm

Old Uncle Tom Cobley you mean ?

Fram a Devon folk song called Widecombe Fair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom_Cobley

Chubby?

http://tv.cream.org/specialassignments/films/hallpics/brambell.jpg

[quote="TCJ"][/quote]

cjthompson

I would prefer Mr. Clifford James Thompson.

Thanks in advance.

Nope that's the late Wilfred Bramble, an actor best known for his performances as Albert Steptoe.

"Chubby?" used as a questioning adjective. My visualization of a certain Mean Mr. Mustard was always like McCartneys troublesome Grandfather in Hard Days Night.

" "

Haven't got round to round to Happy Hour yet, City of Secrets I have difficulty regarding it anything other than a novel. Sorry Patrice ! But at least she gets her directions right. In a genuine novel (and a good one) - Sepulchre - Kate Mosse has RLB situated WEST of Couiza - whoops ! where was the proof reader !

I spent the week-end reading City of Secrets.
I had such difficulty following her write. It was all over the place and inconsistent (in that some of it was really bad writing and other parts were more coherent). Is it just me?

Her message was lost in the discordant confusion. In fact, the energies were highly 'discordant' and left me rather upset. I will refrain from reading any more from her. Sorry Patrice...

just me,
Paula

I don't know about "discordant" energies, but I do know what you mean about the lack of narrative coherence. It would appear that this confusion stems from CoS being a compilation of material, some of which is based upon Patrice's personal experience, and some of which she was fed / led to / encouraged to include, in some way. Because the book is about Girona, and matters pertaining to Girona and thereabouts, and not other locations, the time shifts can be confusing as well, as Patrice makes several return visits to the city over a long period of time, and we (the reader) get little sense of what was going on between times.

But there are some real nuggets of interest in there, and I certainly wouldn't describe her as a bad writer. She's very good at drawing characters, and her some of her descriptions of the city of Girona are very vividly written.

Rather than refraining from reading any more, I would recommend reading Happy Hour, which I thought was much better - as a book - being more of a straightforward memoir. Although there is less in there of direct relevance to RLC, etc., it did help me to get more of a handle on her, the person. You also see the depth and intensity of her love for Jose/Luis/the Spaniard, which seems to have informed her whole life, pretty much, ever since she first met him.

So I'd say it's worth reading, for all the disappointment you have encountered reading CoS, to help understand this latter book a little more, if nothing else, and provide greater context. That said, I may have been swayed by her all of her detailed and loving descriptions of French-Catalan food and wine, which greatly appealed to me, and the way in which she describes the town she lives in and its surrounding landscape.

Hi Richard

I would not say that she is a bad writer...no. I agree that there are "nuggets" within the read.

By discordant energies, I mean that I could feel that this information that you say she was being encouraged to include, was not coming from a ah, "good intention" (not on her part...i think that she is lovely)...this is my intuition. I do not know why this information "needs" to be expressed to all except to say that in some way, it is for power's sake. Those encouraging her to disclose information that she herself does not understand, are using her. No?

She was not ready to receive all of this...she did not escort her love to his destiny. Her love is real and so is her fear.

It is difficult to express in language what transcends words. I could feel for her throughout and hence, within her, she felt that discordance..."good or bad?"

just me,
Paula

"City of Secrets" is devoid of any plot or purpose, it is an intricate labyrinthe into a void of multitudinous possibilities totally absent of any outcome. Ah, the thrill of the chase, but let's not catch the prey, it would spoil everything.

What is the Prey?
I agree with some of what you state. However, I feel that you have an idea as to what the Prey is...?

Paula

Also, Mr. Norton...

You mention a "labyrinthe" as a metaphor. A labyrinthe, does have a focal point...a centre (if you will). It is not a maze. Many who walk the Labyrinthe are not able to finish...but there is an non-void centre.

Paula

There's nothing more exciting to the esoterically-minded than a labyrinth without a centre - no centre, no prey, no minotaur to slay.

this though, is beyond the esoteric...

in the universe, even voids are non-voids...

the patterns of existence are mirrored here, on earth for us to witness.

you know this. you are one of the most intelligent people i have ever exchanged words with...

you do your best to create that void...but it doesn't exist.

me

Yes, that's closer to City of Secrets than reading it as a historically reliable book.

I do not read anything as being historically valid. Not even history books! However, there are Truths that are hidden within truths...Here, on this planet...Truth is mirrorred. Now, who owns the "knowledge" that is the correct image of the Truth?

me

Yes, elliptic obfuscation plays a central part in this process.

you are part of this process...and are dancing your ellipical dance beautifully!

me

Yes, City of Secrets is chasing shadows and nothing else.

Shadows...
yes, hence the discordant feelings I received.

me