Category Archives: Books

Thanksgiving

November 28, 2016Art, Asthma, Books, Edinburgh, Holidays, MindfulnessOpen University, Reading Communities, Scottish PEN, Talbot Rice Gallery, Thanksgiving, Tony Oursler, Walter Scottricky

On Tuesday, I was invited to an event run by The Open University’s Reading Communities team in association with The Scottish Book Trust’s Book Week Scotland and the Being Human festival of the Humanities. It was called Edinburgh: A City of Readers. As well as my story Valhalla, I was asked to read an extract from an 1830 letter written by the actress, writer, and abolitionist campaigner Fanny Kemble in which she talks of breakfasting with Walter Scott and a small party of other Scottish luminaries of the time.

Apparently, she found it

strange that so varied and noble an intellect should be expressed in the features of a shrewd, kindly, but not otherwise striking countenance.

Walt gets all Teenage Fanclub — Ain’t that enough?!

[For more Walter Scott/Teenage Fanclub mash-ups, head over to the Apoplexy newsletter] Continue reading Thanksgiving →

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S-O-S

September 26, 2016Books, Movies, Politics, Sci-fiDonald Trump, High-Rise, J.G. Ballard, Portisheadricky

It’s early on Monday morning, and I’ve just seen producer Jeremy Thomas and director Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s High-Rise. Maybe that’s why I’m in a slightly shitty mood.

...and that's no a tank, either. — Ceci ce n’est pas Gratte-Ciel

Not because it’s not a good movie. It is. I think.

[I’d be happy if you’d like to extend the conversation, at the Apoplexy Tiny Letter.] Continue reading S-O-S →

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The Answer

September 19, 2016Books, Mindfulness, Sci-fiDouglas Adams, Interrobang, Judi Dench, Tattoosricky

This is the fourth birthday I’ve celebrated in the post-stroke, apoplectic.me world. And it’s a significant one. Really, any birthday after the one you forget because you’ve had a massive haemorrhagic stroke two weeks later is significant.

But specifically, Mrs Stroke Bloke has taken to referring to me during the week of 15th September 2016 as “The Answer”.

"Stroke Bloke? Or Shaq? I can never remember" — “Who’s The Answer? Eh? Oh.”

Continue reading The Answer →

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A Northern Soul

August 29, 2016Books, Edinburgh, Pop Music, ReviewsEdinburgh International Book Festival, Gerry Loves Records, Johnny Mae Matthews, Linda Jones, Northern Soul, Stuart Cosgrove, Young Soul Rebelsricky

Tonight, the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe will be over for another year. Once again, the shows I went to see for The Edinburgh Reporter were never less than interesting, and the second half of the month was no less thought-provoking.

In addition to the stuff I mentioned last week, Daniel Kitson at the Traverse was great, and AL Kennedy at the Book Festival was a masterclass on how to take an audience with you when reading off the page.

Put on a proper suit, do up your tie, and sing the Star-Spangled Banner — This year’s recommendation for the NYC apoplectic massive

Blog hero Paul Morley on Bowie didn’t translate well to the inherently conservative milieu of Charlotte Square, but perhaps the most gripping night of August was… Continue reading A Northern Soul →

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Democracy

July 4, 2016Books, Classical Music, EU Referendum, Fiction, Jazz, Mindfulness, Politics, Pop Music, ReviewsDemocracy, Kamasi Washington, Michael Frayn, Willy Brandtricky

Sometimes, it feels like the blog is being hounded by an abstract concept.

Wile E. Coyote takes a break from The Anvil Chorus — Gravity: not just a good idea – it’s the law!

The land, maybe. Or mythical creatures. Or The Onion‘s conception of Joe Biden. Right now, though, it’s something else. Maybe you can guess what?

[Get more whimsy and free gin* at the Apoplexy Tiny Letter.]

Continue reading Democracy →

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My Name is Joe – Pt. 1

May 16, 2016Books, Mental Health, Movies, Podcasts, Sci-fi, Science, Strokericky

A search of apoplectic.me for the word “memory” comes up with 50 hits – almost a quarter of the posts on the blog. Hardly surprising, when one thinks that in the weeks following The Event, I couldn’t remember my age, where I was, who the person in the chair next to my hospital bed was, or whether or not I was the Vice President of the United States.

Needs to stay clear of D.C. till some shit blows over. — “I’m in Mexico, and if anyone asks, my name is Ricky Monahan Brown. If you catch my drift.”

Eventually, memories come back. Even now, Beth notices that my memories of thirty or more years ago seem to be more readily accessible than those from this week. Maybe you find the same thing. Continue reading My Name is Joe – Pt. 1 →

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Crosstown Traffic

October 19, 2015Books, Brooklyn, Edinburgh, Rehab, TravelKermit, MTA, Muppets, New Yorkricky

People love making transatlantic comparisons. Think Sting’s Englishman in New York. Think Toby Young’s How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. Think Jeremy Clarkson’s unfortunately abortive attempt to get himself shot in The South.

Cultural DDT on wheels — Aw, c’mon Jez. It’s just a bit of fun!

[Stroke Bloke’s back from holiday. To make up for missing last week, I commend to you this post that predated Ada Lovelace Day on 13 October.]

Continue reading Crosstown Traffic →

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Monofinism

September 7, 2015Books, Composed Music, Nerd Bait, Pop MusicEdinburgh International Book Festival, Free downloads, Illicit Ink, Jura Unbound, Nerd Baitricky

This post is being simulposted at nerdbaitband.com. If you’ve not been there before – and even if you have – I’d ask you to read it there. There’s stacks of stuff to explore that isn’t here at apoplectic.me.

As intimated last week, the Festival really is over. So this week, rather than sitting shiva in Edinburgh, Beth and I are paying a quick visit to the U.S. This means that for the first time in some time I’m blogging at 35,000 feet, while I continue to reminisce about all fun I had during August.

Sian sez "LIVE FOR THE NOIZE!!!" — Stroke Bloke having fun. During August. (Photo credits: Chris Scott, @chrisdonia)

Continue reading Monofinism →

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Festival Judgement Day: Genisys

August 31, 2015Books, Dr. Who, Edinburgh, Nerd BaitCaroline Criado-Perez, EIBF, Rob Shearmanricky

As I noted last week, you can measure out an Edinburgh life in festivals if you’re so inclined. And the 2015 Festival, and Fringe, and Book Festival all come to a close today, in a blaze of sunshine (as of 10:13 am BST).

Wait. This is stamped 2013?! — Edinburgh after the Skynet Judgment Day

[As apoplectic.me returns to its usual programming, please sign up for the Apoplexy Tiny Letter.] Continue reading Festival Judgement Day: Genisys →

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Gerontocracy

August 17, 2015Books, Healthcare, Politics, ScienceAgeing, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scottish Parliamentary Electionsricky

J. Alfred Prufrock may have measured out his life in coffee spoons, but here in Edinburgh we use a different unit.

Holding out for a Wee Mermannie — “Sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown” (Image by Lucky-Cricket-33)

Incredibly, we’re already over a week into the 2015 Festival. This year Beth and I are centring our participation mostly around the book festival.

[For more of Ricky’s thoughts on this year’s Festival,
you can subscribe to the Apoplexy Tiny Letter here.] Continue reading Gerontocracy →

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Apoplectic Me

the scribblings of a bloke who had a stroke…

Category Archives: Books

Thanksgiving

S-O-S

The Answer

A Northern Soul

Democracy

My Name is Joe – Pt. 1

Crosstown Traffic

Monofinism

Festival Judgement Day: Genisys

Gerontocracy