Latest Posts

by M. Bijman May 17, 2019

Best of 2018 Creative Process Review of modern fiction Review of new novel Review of translated novel

An idea that asks to be murdered – Killing Commendatore, by Haruki Murakami

by M. Bijman May 10, 2019

Best of 2018 Discussion of writing style Fairytales Review of literary fiction Review of previously published novel Review of translated novel

Luminous, mysterious and bothersome – The Taiga Syndrome, by Cristina Rivera Garza

#What is the Taiga? And what is the “Taiga Syndrome”?  The Taiga is a snowy, fir-forested region in the highContinue Reading

by M. Bijman April 30, 2019

Current events Discussion of poetry Discussion of writing style

“Don’t die, Dad – but they die.” Les Murray, The Bard of Bunyah, 17 October 1938 – 29 April 2019

The papers have been full with news of the death of Australia’s most world-famous poet, Les Murray. He died yesterdayContinue Reading

by M. Bijman April 26, 2019

Review of modern fiction Review of new book Video

John Delacourt’s “Butterfly” in one-and-a-half minutes – Video-format review

Some novels really lend themselves to being discussed in visual terms – either their subject or setting is dramatic orContinue Reading

by M. Bijman April 19, 2019

CanLit Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style List of similar books Review of Biographical Fiction Review of literary fiction Review of new book

A howl from the guts – White Out by Martine Delvaux

Before you read White Out it is best that you know that this book is written somewhat in the styleContinue Reading

by M. Bijman April 12, 2019

Backstories Discussion of writing style Review of classical fiction Review of classical novel Review of historical fiction Review of previously published novel

Two old people left behind, holding hands – The Fish Can Sing, by Halldór Laxness

A reader should approach with caution any book that has won a whole bunch of awards. A reader should alsoContinue Reading

by M. Bijman April 6, 2019

Award-winning novel List of similar books List of top books

So it won a Nobel – so what?

Every so often I discover a wonderful writer by some confluence of good fortune. In this case, I got myContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 29, 2019

Discussion of writing style Pastorale Review of modern fiction

Totally not Moomintrollish – The Summer Book, by Tove Jansson

I’m just such a sucker for a feel-good story and lovely gobs of happiness, which is why I so enjoyedContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 29, 2019

Discussion of author’s portfolio List of similar books List of top books

Does it work to pick from an author’s shortlist of favourites? – Sjón’s Top 10

Since I’m a devoted Sjón fan, I duly sat down and ordered the novels on this Top 10 list ofContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 24, 2019

Art Creative Process Current events Media and Technology Publishing technologies

I composed a bit like Bach! – Machine Learning and the joys of aspiring to great art

Computer-generated artistic text and images tend to resemble FrankenArt and FrankenFiction. Using machine learning, designers can build software programs thatContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 23, 2019

Poetry

“When Facebook Went Down”, “The Germs of Love”, and other new silly rhymes

Here are four new rhymes; about the 13th of March when Facebook crashed, about someone who can’t sing, about catchingContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 18, 2019

Review of literary fiction Video

How to squish Sjón’s 528-page “CoDex 1962” into 2.5 minutes

It took four posts to finish saying what I wanted to say about CoDex 1962, the strange but marvellous novelContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 15, 2019

Discussion of writing style Review of literary fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book

Art Crimes and War Crimes – Butterfly, by John Delacourt

John Delacourt’s novel Butterfly is hard to read, not because of his writing style, but because of the subject matterContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 10, 2019

Authors to watch Review of historical fiction Video

53-second take on Undermajordomo Minor, by Patrick deWitt

Some novels just cry out to be made into films. Undermajordomo Minor, by Patrick deWitt, is one of those. IContinue Reading

by M. Bijman March 7, 2019

Authors to watch Creative Process Discussion of writing style Review of Fantasy Review of new book

The Charm/Curse of Cliffhangers – The Hod King, by Josiah Bancroft

The Hod King, Bancroft’s third book in his Books of Babel tetralogy, is an exercise in exquisite torture through cliffhangers.Continue Reading

by M. Bijman February 22, 2019

Discussion of author’s portfolio Review of Fantasy Review of new book Review of Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Hods are revolting – but we love them anyway – The Hod King, by Josiah Bancroft

Writer Nicholas Tucker said about Richard Adams’ 50-hankie-bunny-weepie, Watership Down, “Adams … has bravely and successfully resurrected the big picaresque adventureContinue Reading

by M. Bijman February 15, 2019

Best of 2018 Discussion of writing style Review of modern fiction Review of new book Review of new novel

Death Made Beautiful – Beirut Hellfire Society, by Rawi Hage

This is one those novels that will change the way you look at death and burial methods – and Beirut.Continue Reading

by M. Bijman February 12, 2019

Poetry

Mining Lullaby and Office Blues

I work for a firm of consulting engineers in the oil & gas and mining industries (my day job, whichContinue Reading

by M. Bijman February 8, 2019

Backstories Creative Process getting published

Julian Barnes on hard work, luck and serendipity in his writing career

Here is the fascinating first-hand exposé of how Julian Barnes wrote his first novel, Metroland, and got it published inContinue Reading

by M. Bijman February 2, 2019

Backstories Current events Discussion of writing style Media and Technology Review of anthology Review of new book Review of new science fiction Review of science fiction Reviews of short stories

Science Fiction versus HARD Science Fiction – The real science behind the Twelve Tomorrows Anthology

John Scalzi’s Science Fiction (SF) novel Head On was taken a step closer to being real when, in December 2018,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman January 27, 2019

Afrikaans Author interview Backstories Review of new book

Into the mind of an author – Helena Gunter on what motivates her to write

In a previous post, I commented on Helena Gunter’s recently published anthology of short stories called Tweespoor (meaning “Double Track”).Continue Reading

by M. Bijman January 25, 2019

Current events Discussion of genre Humor Humour Video

What tickles your funny-bone? Rhett and Link caption The New Yorker’s cartoons

Here’s something entertaining: the appearance on The New Yorker magazine’s video channel of my favourite You-tubers, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman January 18, 2019

Authors to watch Discussion of writing style Review of historical fiction Review of new book

Mannered throwaway lines and very bad people – Undermajordomo Minor, by Patrick deWitt

It seems to me that Hollywood film producers keep rehashing the same subjects and plots, which is why I rarelyContinue Reading

by M. Bijman January 12, 2019

Afrikaans Discussion of writing style Review of new book Reviews of short stories

“The private, freaky sensuality of childhood” – “Tweespoor”(“Double Track”), by Helena Gunter

Helena Gunter’s skinny two-part work, with its dull brown cover featuring a faded-looking abstract drawing, looks harmless enough. What itContinue Reading

by M. Bijman January 11, 2019

Backstories Literary analysis

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your website grow? Part 2 – Quite well, actually!

The statistics for 2018 for the Seven Circumstances book blog illustrate some basics about the world of book writing, publishingContinue Reading

by M. Bijman January 4, 2019

Backstories Literary analysis

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your website grow? Growth factors in a book blog (part 1)

The statistics for 2018 for the Seven Circumstances book blog, released just before New Year, illustrate some basics about theContinue Reading

by M. Bijman December 31, 2018

Video

A Year in Books – Video of 2018 on Seven Circumstances

Readers who enjoy reading about the books they have read, and are searching for the next good book to read,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman December 25, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style Humor Humour Pastoral Literature Review of memoir Review of new book

Gentle Gallic Escapism – My Twenty-Five Years in Provence, by Peter Mayle

Recently my nose led me to a stall in down-town Vancouver where people were selling lavender products made in Provence,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman December 7, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style literary romance Review of literary fiction Review of new book

A codex of an Icelandic writer and his roots – CoDex, by Sjón (Part 4 – The nuclear fallout)

Part 4/4 of The Long Read review of Codex 1962, by Sjón (Back to part 3/4 of the review) TheContinue Reading

by M. Bijman December 5, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style Literary analysis Review of literary fiction Review of new book

A codex of an Icelandic writer and his roots – CoDex 1962, by Sjón (Part 3 – The clay child)

Back to part 2 of the review of Codex 1962, by Sjón The parts of the Trilogy The three partsContinue Reading

by M. Bijman December 3, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style Literary analysis Review of literary fiction Review of new book

A codex of an Icelandic writer and his roots – CoDex 1962, by Sjón (Part 2 – Turning people into zebras)

Part 2 of the review of CoDex 1962, by Sjón (Back to part 1) Antagonist/Protagonist Sjón comes close to directlyContinue Reading

by M. Bijman December 2, 2018

Backstories Best of 2018 Discussion of writing style Literary analysis Review of literary fiction Review of new book

A codex of an Icelandic author and his roots – CoDex 1962 by Sjón (Part 1 – Roll-call of the dead)

CoDex 1962 is Icelandic author Sjón’s first new novel since Moonstone – The Boy Who Never Was, published in translation inContinue Reading

by M. Bijman November 18, 2018

Backstories Current events List of similar books Modern fiction Published books Publishing technologies

Dismissive of mass market paperbacks? Think again.

This is the rack of “mass market” paperbacks that I see when I stand in the queue, every time IContinue Reading

by M. Bijman November 13, 2018

Best of 2018 Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of media Review of Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Genius of Genndy Tartakovsky – “Samurai Jack” returns one last time

I’m not an anime fan. I don’t do cosplay, and I generally like Hard Science Fiction more than novels aboutContinue Reading

by M. Bijman November 5, 2018

Backstories Humor Humour Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book

This book needs no review – The Accidental Further Adventure of the Hundred-Year-old Man, by Jonas Jonasson

I have never written an easier review of a novel, than this one. Why? Because it does not need reviewingContinue Reading

by M. Bijman October 29, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style Mysteries and Thrillers Review of modern fiction Review of new book Trending

“Bond” is back, courtesy of Anthony Horowitz in “Trigger Mortis” and “Forever and a Day”

“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” – “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, said by French critic Alphonse Karr,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman October 22, 2018

crime fiction Detective fiction Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Review of new book

Homage to the Bard with Bloody-Handed Bastards and Gold Bars – Macbeth, by Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbo is a masterful writer of crime fiction. In his particular niche, he is superb. That said, it probablyContinue Reading

by M. Bijman October 15, 2018

Review of modern fiction Video

One-minute video review – The Only Story by Julian Barnes

The novel is downbeat and intense, but demonstrates that what matters is love, what keeps people going is love, andContinue Reading

by M. Bijman October 11, 2018

Constructed World Novel Discussion of writing style Review of previously published novel Review of science fiction

Want some Whuffie for that? Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom – The reprint edition

Cory Doctorow writes about the future as if it were today, as if it were about him and his buddies,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman October 4, 2018

Current events Publishing technologies

Indie author causes uproar in the French publishing industry – shrugs it off as a matter of survival

I rarely repost news articles in their entirety but this one is a real eyebrow-raiser: – an independent author’s novel,Continue Reading

by M. Bijman September 29, 2018

Author interview Backstories Discussion of writing style Literary analysis Published books

The Creative Process & Publishing III – Meet the “Four Brothers Buksalesnikov”

In previous posts on this subject, I focused on finding a publisher, finding an agent and finding your voice asContinue Reading

by M. Bijman September 21, 2018

Detective fiction detective novel Discussion of writing style Review of new book Review of science fiction

Not exactly lightheaded – Head On by John Scalzi

The last novel by John Scalzi I read, before this one, was Agent To the Stars (Tor Books, 2008), andContinue Reading

by M. Bijman September 19, 2018

Discussion of writing style Review of essay collection Video

So many superlatives to fit in – Calypso by David Sedaris (a video critique)

The more I think about David Sedaris’ writing, the more I realize I’ve been missing out on a good thingContinue Reading

by M. Bijman September 16, 2018

Author interview Backstories Discussion of writing style

The Creative Process & Publishing II – Literary Agents

Step 2: Find a literary agent In my previous post, I went into why and how writers connect with publishersContinue Reading

by M. Bijman September 7, 2018

Author interview Backstories Current events Media and Technology Publishing technologies

The Creative Process & Publishing I – How to get published

There are thousands of aspiring authors, thousands of unpublished books, and millions of readers who have not connected with particularContinue Reading

by M. Bijman September 4, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Mysteries and Thrillers Review of modern fiction Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Review of new book

A precisely-crafted Alternative History – Break in Communication, by Jon Gliddon

What is the connection between Mining Engineering and writing fiction? None. In fact, the minds of Mining Engineers often workContinue Reading

by M. Bijman August 27, 2018

Backstories Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Review of classical fiction Review of classical novel Review of new non-fiction

Are you pondering what I’m pondering? – The lost, Icelandic version of “Dracula”

This is the Icelandic version of Bram Stoker’s famous Victorian Gothic novel, Dracula. Powers of Darkness, called Makt Myrkranna, “the powerContinue Reading

by M. Bijman August 17, 2018

Discussion of writing style Review of literary fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book Review of new novel romance Romances and Love Stories

It’s not about mixed doubles at all – The Only Story, by Julian Barnes

Julian Barnes’ latest novel is called The Only Story and, despite the subject (the “scandalous” love affair between a manContinue Reading

by M. Bijman August 13, 2018

Poetry

Today’s Loose Rhymes – emails and airplanes

I’ve been putting my poems on my poem-page on this website, mostly for my own amusement. I’ve noticed that justContinue Reading

by M. Bijman October 25, 2014

Constructed World Novel Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of writing style Review of Fantasy

Death and the Flight of Birds in The Discworld – Reaper Man, by Terry Pratchett

Death is a difficult subject to write about, but particularly when it is not coincidental but core to a book’s theme orContinue Reading