Californian artist Yumi Sakugawa‘s hit comic strip about friend love is now available as a book. A one-eyed formless protagonist reaches out to someone she feels is a perfect match as a friend in a story that is both touching and perceptive about connections in a technological age. Sakugawa, 29, says the book does come from an autobigraphical place, ‘I was a freshman in college when Facebook first came out.
The Poetry of Sex, an anthology, edited by Sophie Hannah is published by Penguin on 30 January. Not all the poems are about Daniel Craig, only two appear alongside poems by Catullus and Andrew Marvell’s 17th century plea To His Coy Mistress. Message by Wendy Cope, below, is a funny plea to her lover to hurry up and get on with it while they still have their own teeth. Pick up
Very sad to hear of the death, at 90, of the brilliant Elizabeth Jane Howard and irritated that obituaries are focusing on her lovers and marriages. The woman was a genius as anyone deeply touched by The Beautiful Visit, The Sea Change or the mighty Cazalet Chronicles will attest. Seriously – Kingsley who? RIP Ms Howard and thanks.
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year when it comes with the delightful Margaret Whiting and the original version of a great 1947 New Year’s song. Here’s hoping 2014 brings lots of good things.
There’s still time to catch the Sam Smith exhibition at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. The artist’s painted wooden toys and sculpture will be on display until 5 January 2014. Hosted by the Museum and the University of St Andrews, this is the first time his work has come to Scotland and the first showing of his work in ten years. Many of his works are toys for grown-ups
Witty little Christmas offering from Fourground Media in Canada…
It’s Friday and if this video of beautiful Levanna McLean dancing in a Bristol street doesn’t make you smile, you may need to check that you’re not already dead. Such joy and not a plastic bikini in sight.
Musician Lauren White found these snapshots taken during The Rolling Stones 1965 US Tour in a fleamarket in California. After some research she realised that they had never been seen before and certainly had never been published. The photographer still hasn’t been identified. Even for a band that is eternally youthful they look incredibly young – most are in their early 20s. The pictures have that ‘before they were famous’
No it’s not Hawaii. It’s Scotland and the surfer is Frazer Reid, riding the East Swell at St Andrews on a surfboard he made out of wood. Coals and Newcastle come to mind when Frazer explains buyers have travelled from Newquay to Fife to buy the beautiful wooden surfboards which he makes and sells. Although shipping costs proved a bit prohibitive for the enquirers from South Africa and Thailand. Reid
American artist Wendy Gold first gained notoriety decoupaging toilet seats. Always looking for new inspiration, she stumbled across a beautiful antique globe at a flea market and immediately recognised her next canvas. The globes start at £280 which is not cheap but they would make wonderful Christening or wedding presents. More affordable are her maps (bottom) which start at £85. Check out Wendy’s work here.