The Tragedy of Trusting Another’s Judgement
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
This week, in between discussing whether a banana could really fail a Covid test and whether conspiracy theorists truly believed the government could ever be clever enough to chip us all via a vaccine, I started reading The Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I’ve only made it to page 25 but already I’m a fan. I was intrigued by the foreword and so to Google I did go. Here’s what Wikipedia told me: Toole submitted Dunces to publisher Simon & Schuster, where it reached editor Robert Gottlieb. Gottlieb considered Toole talented but felt his comic novel was essentially pointless. Des ..read more
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The Tragedy of Trusting Another’s Judgement
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
This week, in between discussing whether a banana could really fail a Covid test and whether conspiracy theorists truly believed the government could ever be clever enough to chip us all via a vaccine, I started reading The Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I’ve only made it to page 25 but already I’m a fan. I was intrigued by the foreword and so to Google I did go. Here’s what Wikipedia told me: Toole submitted Dunces to publisher Simon & Schuster, where it reached editor Robert Gottlieb. Gottlieb considered Toole talented but felt his comic novel was essentially pointless. Des ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 20
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
With great poetry comes great responsibility? I discovered recently that the American poet Robert Frost was disappointed that his most famous poem was also the most misinterpreted. Apparently, The Road Not Taken was written merely to gently tease his indecisive English friend and fellow poet, Edward Thomas. The two used to walk in the woods chatting (I imagine) about all things life and stanza related and occasionally on their wanders they would decide to randomly pick a path. Allegedly, Edward would consistently be disappointed after they returned that they hadn’t taken a different route. The ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 19
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
How to Land a Literary Agent Part 1 (Angst-avoiding Advice) July 2nd 2020 Gazing whimsically out the window Whilst perched precariously on the shoulders of a Giant Now I’m not normally one for offering advice and if I were it would probably be along the lines of do as I dream don’t do as I do. But I’m hoping that perhaps sharing what I have learned and experienced on my literary journey will make it feel less arduous and perhaps provide some solace for others similarly engaged in the strenuous struggle for super-scribe stardom. I’ve also just pondered that it might prove cathartic to acknowled ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 18
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) Uncomfortable Questions w/c 15th June 2020 Non-essential shops opening Premier League returning Normality looming Self-Isolation was seemingly over.  And now the questions would inevitably begin. And just as the new way to say goodbye was to say “Stay safe”, maybe the new form of greeting would become “Did you have a good lockdown?” or “How was it for you?” Did you emerge like a butterfly – with a whole new persona after Corona? Had you spent the weeks and months well? Did you use the time effectively? Were you striding out from the enforced hibernati ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 17
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
June 1st 2020 A Flake, Two Sugars and a Step Toward Victory Latest UK Lockdown Rules: Getting a bit confusing. Which means it has led to many highbrow conversations along the lines of current perceived difficulties with regard to the latest easing advice and suggestion of beneficial pro-active additions to policy moving forward: I overheard one: ‘It’s a bit of a curious one when you think about it. Lovers who have been separated by lockdown can now meet up but they will still have to socially distance. ‘ ‘Yes, very bizarre. A new era short-distance relationship. In many ways that’s got to be m ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 16
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
May 24th 2020 FA Cup Final Weekend Weather: Improving Beaches: Worryingly populated R Rate: Not being mentioned as frequently Politics: Seemingly reverting to its bear-baiting default Phrase of the week: “It appears to be a classic non-denial denial” Song title from The Clash brought to mind: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Dominic had gone to Durham and now all hell was breaking out. Were the journalists and paparazzi hounding him outside his home respecting social distancing? Was irony the one true reliability in life?  And could the resumption of the Bundesliga played in front of virtual ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 15
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
Staying Alert and Staying at Home May 10th 2020 Stats: Current Official UK Covid Reproduction Rate: Somewhere between 0.5 and 0.9 75th Anniversary VE Day Commemorative Celebrations Cancelled: Numerous Professors Caught in Lockdown Pants Down Scandal: 1 Slide Updates Watched: A daily morbid fascination Sage Statements Scrutinised: 1 Laps of the Local Park: 14 Phrase of the week: “We’re moving toward getting certainty on what we can get certainty on.” Firstly, apologies for any potential confusion – the ‘sage’ statement referenced above was nothing to do with the SAGE advisory group we’ve heard ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 14
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
May 2nd 2020 Rainbow Country Curious (and Churlish?) Questions Created by Covid and its Consequent Occurrences: Is it wrong to be envious of the impressive size of Captain (now Colonel) Tom’s garden? Is it wrong to be envious of his 140,000 birthday cards when you only got 6? Weekly Lockdown Stats: Hours stressing about potential chaos caused by Mammoth Mongolian Sunflowers: 3 Generously shared ingenious short story ideas sent by text: 1 Hours spent re-arranging my fridge magnets: 2 Damp and unexpectedly moving moments: 1 The text I received was from a very good friend (cheers, Kev) who is cle ..read more
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Diary of a Booker Winner (in waiting) – 13
H. B. O’Neill
by H. B. O'Neill
3y ago
April 25th 2020 “Society is no comfort, to one not sociable” STATS: Alcohol sales up 31% Visits to A and E down 50% Increase in the record for the oldest person to have a UK Number 1 single: 45.5%   (Captain Tom Moore ousting Sir Tom Jones) Other Numbers: Dubious Disinfectant Debates: 1 Home Testing Kits available after 15 minutes of website opening: 0 Contact Tracing Apps efficiency, privacy and security debates: Numerous Latest Slogan: Test, Track, Trace New Vocabulary enjoyed: “Dosomethingitis” (Governments and others who are eager to show they are being proactive). The 23rd of April p ..read more
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