monday links (street musicians, tears, line breaks, hogwarts)

I must say, my finds this week are spectacular. Honestly though. I'm so excited about all of these.

(Also: I'm on a huge book binge right now, after a self-imposed dry spell due to all that studying. Currently I'm halfway through Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and accompanying that with Vladimir Nabokov's lectures on the novel. Also on my bedside table are Alain de Botton's Status Anxiety and Chuck Palahniuk's Choke. I'm also rereading Keats's letters to Fanny Brawne because they are undoubtedly the greatest love letters ever written. )



And after this geeky display, on we go with the links.


Julie Lansom's photography is simply stunning.

The upcoming documentary about the  making of the final Harry Potter films seems set to make us all cry. 

An amazing article about a street musician, expanding into a meditation of what art really means these days and how it should be presented.

Weekend, a new film by Andrew Haigh.

(This. Just. You know?)

Sometimes a poem comes along that makes me physically ill, the words hitting my lungs like punches. 

So read this. At least for the truly excellent demonstration of a line break, 

so good it would make the most solid prosaist cry and dig out their hidden lyrical endeavours for a review. 

James Franco on Gus Van Sant, youth and death.

monday links (shakespeare, skeletons, nostalgia)

I'm feeling a bit blue and waiting desperately for snow this week. Thank goodness for all the glorious distractions, such as friends, tea and Jane Austen. And short films, essays, jazz. Here's for a week better than the one gone by.

Mourir auprès de toi is a beautiful animated short film by Spike Jonze, featuring a lovesick skeleton, a brave young lady and a certain bookshop in Paris. 

Recently I've been reading a lot of the Paris Review. Two of my favourite things this week: O. and I, a study in adulation, jealousy and growing up, and Francesca Mari on homesickness.

In case you're already in the mood for Christmas, there's this. 

How well do you know your friends?

And finally: the new film Anonymous explores the theory of Shakespeare not being the true author of his works. If you, like me, burst a vein every time somebody brings up these far-fetched and frankly quite boring theories,  here's an excellent article to fatten up your arguments: Wouldn't It Be Cool if Shakespeare Wasn't Shakespeare? by Stephen Marche.

monday links (history, love stories, marilyn)

So I'm thinking of making this linky-post thing a Monday regular. Since the internet is a minefield of amazingly interesting/beautiful/astonishing things.

Case in point, for all you history nerds: Norma Clarke on the role of British women during WWII. Or you could have a peek at these beautiful and beautifully rebellious posters from the Paris protests in 1968.

A love story in literature. (Stunning. I'll say no more.)

In one of my absolute favourite TED Talks to date, Isabel Allende speaks of feminism, passion and writing. Amazingly funny, spunky, wise. The best TED Talks make you laugh and cry, they cling to the folds of your brain long enough to maybe eventually change you for good. This, for me, is one of those talks. 

My Week With Marilyn is a film I can't wait to see.

Last week I mentioned the new online quarterly, The Junket. It's so ridiculously good I can't help bringing it up again. For the latest edition, Carrie Plitt wrote an exquisitely crafted essay on running and success. It's called 'The Wall', or, What I Talk About When I Talk About the 400 Metres and you really should read it.

things that are nice

Peonies. 

This song, and this one too. (And okay, one more for the road.)

Books that are so sublime I can't bear to watch the films made of them, because the book would never be the same for me again. (The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje is a prime example. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close will probably be another.)

Things that we owe to Shakespeare.

Stephen Fry on language. (I've recently discovered Stephen Fry's podcasts, which make me wish my trips to and from school were longer. They're still available for download on iTunes, if you're interested.)

This quote.

an education

An Education is one of my favourite films, ever. Carey Mulligan is my absolute favourite young actor. And, really, combining the 1960's with Paris and university and falling in love, what's not to adore?

favourite film posters: amélie

 

I love Amélie and this poster is the most beautiful one I've seen. The things I'd do for a room like hers! (The things I'd do for any kind of room in Paris, come to think of it.)

favourite film posters: one day

I'm not going to lie, I literally cannot wait for this film. I adored the novel by David Nicholls and everything I've heard so far about the movie sounds perfect. Lone Scherfig is one of my favourite directors.

This poster is something I'd love to have on my wall. Too often film posters are simply ugly, with garish colours and fonts. This one looks more like a book cover.

I'm a bit of a film poster freak, so I'm considering in making a little series of my favourite posters. Yes/no?

oscar night

I know which film I'll be rooting for. 

(Also, guess what I love about time zones? The red carpet starts at midnight, the ceremony at three a.m. and it's over by seven in the morning, when I have to catch my train to go to school. Perfect.

Oh well, it's obviously worth it.)