Footnotes to a Conversation, November 21, 2022
Pandemic Fiction
We live(d) through it. Do we want to read about it? After reading The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths, I have some doubts. I always enjoy reading about archaeologist Ruth Galloway but found this book somewhat disconcerting. The action is set within the first few months of the Covid pandemic. Lockdown, masks, hand-washing, home schooling – it was all way too familiar.
There are books of fiction that mention the Spanish flu following World War I, but how many of them really incorporate it into the plot and setting? Are there some events we would much rather simply forget? And is that wise seeing as we tend to repeat our mistakes? Why do we bury disease and not war – there are thousands of books and movies about war? If this topic interests you, I suggest looking at The Spanish flu and the fiction literature, which provides historical background, theories, and a reading list. It’s very interesting although the translation is a little rough. [National Library of Medicine]
Sit or Play, But Don’t Just Hang About
We have playgrounds for young children and park benches for older people (like me!) who want to sit and enjoy the view. But do we provide sufficient amenities for other age groups? A recent study out of UBC found that young adults are looking for safety (particularly a concern for young women), seclusion (quiet spaces that provide some privacy), and diversity (space for a mix of different activities). [Boundary Creek Times]
Basketball courts and skate parks are great, but they’re primarily used by teenage boys. How about illuminated hoop-shaped swings or round tables where girls can gather and talk face-to-face? [Bloomberg]
European parks are more active with bigger playgrounds for a wider age range and they involve more risk. [Sidewalk Talk]
The Art of Resistance
A series of murals by Banksy have appeared in Borodianka, near Kyiv, Ukraine. One shows a metal tank trap being used as a seesaw while another depicts Putin being thrown to the ground by a child in a judo match. Signs of hope on the sides of war-torn buildings. [The Guardian]
Children’s Books
I reviewed two new children’s books by Saskatchewan authors for EcoFriendly West. One imaginatively combines fantasy with science (I would love to go for a ride on the back of a dragonfly!), while the illustrations in the other are so effective – and they’re handmade from recycled paper and cardboard! [EcoFriendly West]
Photos: There is no element of play in the Littlehampton benches, but they do display creativity
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.