Latest Posts

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 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