Book Reviews
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Writing workshops and get together sessions for writers in the Algarve
Hello writers and dabblers, I will facilitate some Discovery Writing Workshops this spring and summer at my home on a hill near Santo Estêvão, East Algarve, Tavira. We have lots of space for inspiration. The first session will be Friday, 18 April 2025, at 2:30pm. Writing with a group can often spur writers to accomplish more than when writing alone. Why I write. From seven to twenty-eight, I drank the cool aid of a cult. My family are still believers. When I left, my life was rudderless without family connections, as shunning was what they were instructed to do. I had to find my own community. As a child, education wasn’t encouraged…
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Rob Hopkins Tour – What If?
Rob Hopkins founder of the Transition Movement is touring Portugal starting in the North and reaching Faro on the 26 October. “Transition is a movement of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world.” The tour will include interactive workshops, discussions and conversations. Central to this tour is the theme of imagination, especially in times of crisis. This tour takes place as Rob Hopkins’ book is published in Portuguese. “What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want.” Rob says: “Given the state of the world, the message of despair is pretty convincing. Things look grim. But something about that doesn’t sit quite right with…
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Sri Lanka – Galle Fort Literary Festival begins
An evening of culture, featuring an extravaganza of dance and movement opened the Galle Fort Literary Festival in Sri Lanka. Guests sat in front of an iridescent red stage, while a crowd of onlookers stood behind newly erected barriers as an orchestra played music. Dressed in traditional costumes performers from the army, airforce and navy, became acrobats, fire eaters, swans, and peacocks. The presenters thanked the main sponsor Fairway Holdings and also the founder of the festival Geoffrey Dobbs, along with the Minister for Law and Order who sent a representative to the two-hour show. The last event included numerous costumed acrobats and the appearance of a “constructed” elephant. After…
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Writing workshop – Wednesday 21st October 2015
Networking for writers and workshopWednesday 21st October 2015,10am – 12noon, Tavira LibraryAs part of the 125th anniversary celebration of Álvaro de Campos taking place in Tavira, a free writers workshop, (in English) has been arranged. Some people may not think of themselves as writers, but the urge to scribble words, tell stories in writing, or even the thought of being a writer is something that may excite. You may already be a professional writer. This workshop is for all those who want to write or are already writing. The workshop is also an opportunity to network with people who enjoy writing, whether it be as a profession or for pleasure. In…
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Waking up this blog – by telling stories
I have been neglecting this blog, which I think on reflection is a bit of a mistake. I have spent the summer of 2014 reading, writing, recording and taking photos, which is a luxury not offered to many. Not all of my writing is appropriate for the readers of this blog. But the books and some of the adventures may appeal, so with your understanding and possible patience, I will share a few books and tell a few stories and try to make some connections. It is raining heavily, so what better day to start writing a blog post. Just before it clouded over and someone’s god sanctioned the clouds to spread a grey gloom, a…
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Books, London Book Fair and Tavira reading “flash mob”
A couple of years ago a few book enthusiasts organised an event for young people at the Library in Tavira. The idea was that children of different cultures would come together and share their favourite books and read in their own language from those books. Children practiced their reading aloud to an audience and each other and on the performance day they were very excited about being heard and being able to read their treasures. This last week in Tavira, there has been a celebration of reading and young people from many of the local schools have organised themselves with the help of their teachers and the Library to read and create…
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Chris Keil and Jenny Grainer – Writers in Tavira – Follow up
Chris Keil and Jenny Grainer came to Tavira to read in the not to be missed bookshop A Lura dos Livros. Both writers have a passion for their work. Jenny writes regularly for the Algarve Resident and has written for the Portugal News. Her latest article about the recent tornado and the aftermath is here Jenny has a keen eye for what has gone on over the last 30 years as an expat and resident. What was obvious during the book reading and the workshop the following day is that Chris Keil, inhabits a world of his senses. He comes to the Algarve for the sensuality, passion, intensity of this…
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Two writers read at A Lura dos Livros
Two writers will be reading at A Lura dos Livros at 7:30pm, on Monday 3rd December 2012. I have already publicised Chris Keil, in a previous post. Chris will be reading from his third novel “Flirting at the Funeral.” The second writer is Jenny Grainer, who will be reading from her book “Portugal and the Algarve, Then and Now.” About the Author Jenny Grainer was born in Portsmouth, England. She spent much of her early life on the Island of Malta where her father, an officer in the Royal Navy was based. Jenny had a brief career in the theatre before marrying her first husband the Australian Ron Grainer who…
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Chris Keil – Author reading and workshop
Chris Keil is coming to Tavira in December! He has kindly agreed to do a reading at Lura dos Livros on Monday 3rd December. He is also going to run a writing workshop on Tuesday 4th December 10am -1pm The workshop will cover, how he writes, how to write narrative, dialogue and much much more, also lots of tips and ideas!! After the workshop people who sign up, will be able to have a 3 course lunch at 1pm at Casa Alexandra. The menu includes one of Marianne’s fabulous soups, wholefoods from the garden (also fish and meat)!!!!! Fabulous puddings! It is a great opportunity. (please see booking below for the workshop, the reading on Monday night is free) Chris Keil…
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Cleaning up my notebook after Paraty
We are now in Rio, in Santa Teresa in the Bianca guest house which overlooks Sugar Loaf mountain. From my window I can see the cable car going from one side of the mountain to another mountain. Having seen the plumbing and the electricity cables hanging precariously all over Brazil, I wonder how that cable line is maintained, never mind I want to go to the top. Brazil certainly has some problems, but its difficult to notice or even focus on them when you look at Brazil through books/ literature, the landscape and music. This post is a bit of a scrapbook of quotes and photos I did not…
