What do lizards have to do with Agnes Sparrow?
Boy, am I bad about blogging. I admit it. I get so wrapped up in novel-writing that I forget my blog for days or weeks. Or months. Not that the world waits with bated breath for my posts, but it's a good way to stay connected with people. If you stay connected, that is.
I just finished reading, or at least skimming, a ridiculous number of novels for the "comparable fiction" section of the book proposal that I'm putting together for my agent. It's work, not fun, to pick up one book after another, read a few pages, and decide this one is too chick-litty to be a good comparison, and that one is too high-falutin' literary, and the one with the cool cover art turns out to be boring, so why would I want to compare my illustrious writing (cough cough) to that? But I found enough good comparisons, I think. Now I'll let that part of the proposal cool while I tweak the rest of it.
I just finished reading The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin, not as part of the book-comparison deal but just for fun. And it was fun. Joyce lured me in with an interesting fat woman who serves her town by praying because there's nothing else she can do, and then unexpected things happened, drawing me into deep theological waters in a most entertaining way. Without preachiness. It would be a great pick for a book group to argue about. Er, I mean, discuss.
Unrelated: We're experiencing a lizard invasion. They're the cute little anole lizards, bright green with a peachy dewlap that they puff up for intimidation or courtship purposes. Somehow, they're sneaking into the sunroom, and yesterday I found one waiting expectantly at the back door in the garage. I think he would have knocked on the door if he could have. I shooed him away, for his own good. Our indoor cats would have seen him as a delightful taste of the great outdoors.
Okay, that's not totally unrelated to Agnes Sparrow, because one of the characters in the story has a cat that's always murdering smaller creatures, and that's related to the behavior of some of the human characters and those big theological questions about sin and free will. See, it's all related. Lizards, cats, fiction, theology.
Labels: Agnes Sparrow, fiction, Joyce Magnin
posted by Meg @ 5:16 AM
18 Comments:
LOL, great post, Meg. Have fun with the lizards!
You are so funny! I love to read your stuff. Keep it coming, Meg.
Chelsea reignite Remy interest after Torres exit
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Chelsea have reignited their interest in QPR forward Loic Remy following Fernando Torres' move to AC Milan.
The Blues are long-time admirers of the France international, who was earmarked as a replacement for Didier Drogba when the veteran forward picked up an injury in pre-season.
But with the knock to the Ivorian not as bad as first feared, Chelsea cooled their interest in Remy - though now they are ready to bid for the QPR frontman to strengthen an increasingly light forward line.
Although Remy has been offered a new contract at Loftus Road, he has, as revealed by Goal, been holding out for a move to a big club, preferably Chelsea, and is desperate to move to Stamford Bridge before the window closes.
With the transfer window shutting on Monday, the Blues will have to act quickly to secure the former Marseille striker, who has a buy-out clause in his contract of €10 million should a Champions League club bid for him.
Van Gaal hits out at Hodgson over Shaw
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has hit back at comments made by Roy Hodgson regarding the fitness of full-back Luke Shaw.
Van Gaal placed Shaw on an individual regime during United's pre-season tour of the US after claiming the 19-year-old had returned to training unfit.
England boss Hodgson has subsequently stated that he and physio Gary Lewin had warned Shaw to improve his fitness during the World Cup.
However, Van Gaal feels Hodgson should not be talking about the issue and suggested that Shaw had been in great shape before suffering a hamstring injury earlier in August.
"About Shaw I want to say something. I have read nasty articles about him. In the United States I said to him 'you came not fit'," the Dutchman declared.
"Roy Hodgson cannot judge him because I have never seen him here at a training session."
Mascherano: Madrid have made a mistake selling Di Maria
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano believes that Real Madrid have made a massive mistake by selling Angel Di Maria.
The European champions could pocket a grand total of €84 million from the winger's move to Old Trafford, which was completed earlier this week.
However, Mascherano believes that his fellow Argentine will be sorely missed at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"It’s not an issue that concerns me but I think they’ve lost out,” Mascherano told Mundo Deportivo.
"He’s a player I like a lot. He’s among the top 10 in the world.
"He adds balance to attack and defend and has a great engine. You can use him in many positions."
Hummels: I won't leave Dortmund for more money
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels says he has no interest in a multi-million euro move abroad.
The Germany international has been repeatedly linked with Europe's top clubs, with Manchester United reportedly intent on signing the 25-year-old centre-half.
However, Hummels says that he has little desire to leave Dortmund, explaining that he is not in the least bit motivated by money.
"It's nice to hear that big clubs like that are interested in you," he told Bundesliga Magazine International. "I take that as a compliment.
"In any case, I believe that it's enough for me. If one day I start thinking about playing abroad, money won't be the reason."
PSG on par with Barcelona & Madrid, says Pastore
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore believes the Ligue 1 champions have the quality to compete with clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League.
PSG made it to the quarter-finals of European club football's elite competition in 2012-13 and 2013-14, with Barca and Chelsea respectively proving too strong, yet Pastore thinks they have what it takes to go all the way.
"I believe PSG are at the same level as Barcelona and Real Madrid," Pastore told El Mundo.
"The only way to show that you are among Europe's best is by making it to the Champions League final. We still need to take that one small step, but it's the club's goal [to enjoy success in Europe.]"
Yaya Toure is improving with every game – Pellegrini
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says Yaya Toure has endured a difficult summer but insists the midfielder is improving with every game.
Toure has so far failed to replicate the form which saw him score 24 goals from midfield in all competitions last season after a summer in which he lost his brother Ibrahim to cancer.
But the Cote d'Ivoire international scored the opening goal in City's 2-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month and Pellegrini believes his star man is slowly returning to his best form.
"Yaya has the quality to make a difference. He had a difficult summer but every game he is getting better," he told reporters.
Ronaldo '100% certain' not to rejoin Manchester United – Ancelotti
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is "100 per cent certain" that Cristiano Ronaldo will not rejoin Manchester United next summer and expects the Portuguese to retire at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The winger has been in astonishing form for Los Blancos ever since his €94 million move in 2009 but has left the door open for a return one day, with reports suggesting that the Red Devils could try to make it happen in 2015.
Ancelotti, though, believes that Ronaldo has no reason to leave Spain.
He told The Sun: "Everyone can be changed and substituted but Ronaldo is now the best in the world and it [would mean] Madrid lose the best player, which is a huge loss.
"But this won't happen - because Ronaldo will go to the end of his career at Real Madrid. I'm 100% certain he will be here next season not at Manchester United, 100%."
Four-time Ballon d'Or winner scored three Barcelona a 5-1 win over Sevilla La Liga top scorer of all time and the president said he was the best of all time
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - He praised Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu Lionel Messi as "the best player in history" after the Spaniard became the league's top scorer of all time.
Argentina has been stuck on 250 goals for a few weeks, only one behind Telmo Zarra record of 251, before the launch of a three-fire trick Sevilla last to break the old record.
Bartomeu believes that new record as typical of the players, who said he was the best we lived than ever, adding that he expects Argentina to end his career at Camp Nou.
"Leo wants to stay," he shared reporters. "Catalonia saw him as the best player in history, outside Catalonia, where people talk about things that I personally do not like.
"He is a player that is amazing, wonderful, wonderful. I ran out of this term to describe the best players in the world and in history. He has shown that he is still young and could have scored more goals.
"We have left years to enjoy watching him. We were very pleased with what he has done today. He continues to amaze us and we knelt in front of him.
Mexican forward smashed in three goals for giving the former Manchester United manager first taste of victory in the Spanish league
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Carlos Vela got a hat-trick to beat David Moyes' first in charge of Real Sociedad to win his new team Elche3-0 Friday.
Moyes government in Anoeta starts satirical 0-0 stalemate at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, but it was Villa on hand to inspire the Scottish team this week.
It took only three minutes to record the Mexican international Villa first possession Moyes, "when he met Carlos Martinez cross from the right wing head of the bullet.
In any case do Sociedad have everything their own way, though, with a high degree of Elche Brazilian striker Jonathas cause all sorts of problems for Gorka Elustondo and Ion Ansotegi at back.
But Moyes men "seems counter deadly Villa scored his second goal of the game at the end of a sharp fragment after half an hour, and you're less after a great pass from captain lofted Xabi Prieto.
The Villa again proved a thorn in the flesh, the visitors in the second half, the former Arsenal player completed his hat-trick in 53 minutes with a hole through the back foot and into the bottom left corner.
The win Sociedad three points above the relegation zone of the league, while Elche remains second from bottom.
Fake Twitter account claiming that the club Daley Blind was out for six months last week and the Dutch did not leave room for mistakes with the latest injury to Luke Shaw
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - One person who you do not want to get across is Louis van Gaal, director of Manchester United got the reputation for fiery temperament during his career, but not the media team at the club itself just that last week.
United official Twitter account tweeted one that Daley Blind will miss six months due to a serious knee injury, although Van Gaal himself confirmed that he will only lose six to eight weeks.
The Dutch did not leave room for error on the eve of the match with the United Hull City at the end of this week, and confirmed that Luke Shaw will lose the "next few weeks", while a reading of Note doctor, and a lot of entertainment journalists gathered.
Media Team of the United States knows now they have no excuse in the event of such errors again, he answered "no" when asked if Shaw will miss six months after a state of uncertainty about the blind injury.
Garcia rages at goal-line officials over De Jong hand ball incident
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Rudi Garcia was left fuming after he felt his Roma side were denied a clear penalty for handball in Saturday's 0-0 draw with AC Milan.
Roma were hoping to reach Serie A's mid-season break just a point behind leaders Juventus.
However, Milan left Stadio Olimpico with a point despite playing a good chunk of the second half with 10 men after Pablo Armero was sent off in the 71st minute.
Head coach Garcia believes Roma should have had the opportunity to move ahead before half-time, though, when an apparent handball by Nigel de Jong in the penalty area went unpunished by the referee and his two assistants in the Milan half.
"It should be said that there was a pretty obvious handball in the area," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"I've said this before but if the goal-line officials don't take responsibility for things there's no point having them."
Ramos beats Ronaldo to Club World Cup Golden Ball
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Sergio Ramos has been awarded the Golden Ball for the best player at the Club World Cup, beating team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ramos's performances were good enough to see him named as the tournament's best player after the match, with Ronaldo finishing in second place. Auckland City captain Ivan Vucelich was handed the Bronze Ball; after guiding his side to a stunning victory in the third-place play-off.
Ramos, who admitted afterwards that the muscular problem he picked up in the semi-final against Cruz Azul meant he should not really have played, was delighted to see his side round off 2014 with another trophy.
"It's true, I risked my injury playing today, but I wanted to play this match," said the 28-year-old afterwards.
"I'm so proud to have helped with those goals, but this is a success for the whole squad."
Luis Enrique: It's hard to stop resurgent Pedro
Agen Bola Terpercaya Cityholidaybet Reported - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique singled out Pedro for praise after the forward's display in Saturday's 5-0 win over Cordoba.
The Spain international got Barca off to a fine start as he steered Ivan Rakitic's lofted pass beyond the helpless Juan Carlos after just 72 seconds at Camp Nou.
Pedro then claimed an assist as Luis Suarez scored his first Liga goal just after the break, with Gerard Pique and a Lionel Messi double completing the rout.
The 27-year-old has only made eight starts in the league so far this term, but after scoring a Copa del Rey hat-trick against Huesca and then netting in the Cordoba triumph, Luis Enrique believes Pedro is finding his feet again.
"He's a top performer," Luis Enrique told reporters.
"He was finding it hard to get goals early on in the season, but the Pedro we've got now is very hard to stop."
Alonso Raih Hasil Terbaik di Musim Ini
http://www.football-images.net/2015-07-28/bc94797803c98dcb2f457adccc5eb0cb.jpg
Agen Bola Terpercaya indo11.com melaporkan, Fernando Alonso berhasil meraih hasil balapan terbaik bersama McLaren saat beradu cepat seri GP Hongaria. Dia pun menyebut finis di posisi lima menjadi raihan yang luar biasa.
Bersama McLaren, Alonso masih belum menemukan penampilan terbaik. Capaian terbaiknya barulah posisi 10 sebelum balapan di Hungaroring.
Untuk McLaren, ini merupakan kali pertama bisa finis lima besar sejak menggunakan mesin Honda. Balapan kali ini juga menempatkan Jenson Button di peringkat sembilan.
Soal keberhasilan finis di posisi lima besar ini, Alosno menyambutnya dengan antusias. Oleh karena itu, dia sampai menyebutnya sebagai hasil yang luar biasa.
"Finis di posisi kelima merupakan suatu hal yang tak bisa dipercaya. Posisi kelima merupakan hadiah untuk kami, karena pada momen ini kami tidak super kompetitif," ungkap Alonso.
Arsenal Terdepan Dapatkan Llorente
http://www.football-images.net/2015-07-28/40f3d4e9d0efed8c5e9fceaa00a1f907.jpg
Agen Bola Terpercaya indo11.com melaporkan, Arsenal diyakini masih berada di posisi terdepan untuk mendapatkan Fernando Llorente dari Juventus.
Striker Spanyol tersebut muncul di radar Gunners, yang diyakini tengah mencari penyerang anyar berkualitas, menjelang musim kompetisi anyar bulan depan.
Menurut laporan, Arsenal merupakan tim favorit untuk mendapatkan penyerang berusia 30 tahun, Llorente, yang sebelumnya juga sempat diklaim sebagai target misterius Manchester United di bursa transfer.
Dipercaya bahwa Llorente akan membuat Arsenal mengeluarkan dana hingga 8,5 juta poundsterling, namun Arsene Wenger belum lama ini mengatakan bahwa timnya tidak membutuhkan penyerang anyar, usai ia melihat Theo Walcott sebagai alternatif yang bagus untuk membantu Olivier Giroud di posisi tengah.
Becky Hammon Bisa Jadi Buka Sejarah Baru NBA
http://www.football-images.net/2015-07-28/d25461950b414fe23f3fd602a3c9afb6.jpg
Agen Bola Terpercaya indo11.com melaporkan, Dalam beberapa musim ke depan sangat mungkin ada perempuan yang menjadi pelatih kepala tim NBA. Becky Hammon membuka peluang menuliskan sejarah tersebut setelah dia memimpin San Antonio Spurs jadi juara di Summer League.
Hammon sudah dua musim terakhir jadi asisten Gregg Popovich di San Antonio Spurs. Berusia 38 tahun, dia adalah perempuan kedua yang menjadi asisten pelatih NBA, namun jadi yang pertama menjabat posisi tersebut dengan status full time.
Perempuan bernama lengkap Rebecca Hammon itu jadi perbincangan hangat media-media Amerika Serikat di sepanjang musim panas ini. Ditunjuk sebagai pelatih utama Spurs untuk Summer League, Hammon secara gemilang mengantar timnya menjadi juara. Dari sukses tersebut Hammon kemudian dijagokan akan bisa menjadi pelatih utama sebuah tim NBA di masa mendatang.
Hammon dinilai punya jam terbang yang lebih dari cukup untuk menjadi pelatih kepala NBA. Saat aktif menjadi pemain, Hammon pernah memperkuat New York Liberty serta San Antonio Stars dan mengoleksi enam cicin juara WNBA plus dua kali masuk dalam WNBA First Team.
"Anda tahu, itu menjadi (berita) besar saat kami mengontraknya dan kini semakin besar lagi karena apa yang terjadi di Summer League. Tapi kami tidak memikirkan hal itu. Kami mengontraknya bukan sebagai gimmick, tapi itu merupakan langkah menuju arah yang tepat," sahut Popovich.
Hammon mulai dekat dengan San Antonio Spurs setelah dia mengalami cedera parah dan harus menjalani penyembuhan selama satu tahun. Dalam proses rehalibitasi itu Hammon sering datang ke sesi latihan, pertemuan pelatih, dan pertandingan-pertandingan Spurs. Dia kemudian mulai sering diundang untuk memberikan pendapat.
Post a Comment
<< Home