What are you reading? "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" by John Koenig

 

Source: dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com

Juan's contribution

This book is the fruit of years of work on the blog entries of “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows” created by John Koenig in 2009.

A friend recommended it to me as a result of some videos published on John Koenig's YouTube channel, where the author maintains and collects some of the words created for the dictionary. It is a compendium of words that do not exist, but that depict situations and feelings that we all experience, but that have not been described before.

I quote here John Koenig's message in which he reveals his work:

A compendium of invented words, that aims to fill holes in the language—to give a name to emotions we all feel but don't have a word for.

The author's mission is to capture the aches, demons, vibes, joys and urges that roam the wilderness of the psychological interior. Each sorrow is bagged, tagged and tranquillized, then released gently back into the subconscious.

I have been following this blog for years because I find it exciting. In fact, I keep a notebook where I wrote down some of the most interesting descriptions of it. Fortunately, the author decided to create a book where he collects all the work published on his blog, ordered and grouped by subject.

As an example, I only dare to recommend some of the many words collected in the book,  some of them have been revealing to me, and in many cases, even poetic, but it is true that almost all of them are enlightening. Please, watch any of the videos and you will be hooked!.

Zenosyne: The feeling that time is getting faster.

Silience: The Brilliant Artistry Hidden All Around You.

Onism: The Awareness of How Little of the World You'll Experience.

For all this, I recommend this new book (which fortunately can be read online) and I am sure it will surprise more than one.

I hope you enjoy it!

Other links related to the book:

> Amazon: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - (Here, you can browse the printed edition)

Zenosyne: The feeling that time is getting faster.

Onism: The Awareness of How Little of the World You'll Experience.

Deciphering the language of emotion | John Koenig | TEDxEMWS

What are you reading? "The World is Your Oyster" by Vicente Espejo

Michael Furlong : BBC - In Pictures

Michael Furlong: "Early morning at Corfe Castle, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. This picture was taken across Corfe Common from Kingston. I like the way the castle appears so large above all the other buildings."

Vicente's contribution

The World Is Your Oyster

It is you who undaunted erects up there, rising up your wondrous silhouette above the intriguing morning mist, getting on top of whatever revolves around you, showing your majesty off, who watches, who rules, who decides. Myriadatrocious, merciless events occurred inside you ……, outdoors also, by all means! They dealt with the haves and the have-nots, good and evil, the strong and the weak, luxury and misery. Could your undying surroundings speak, they would have made our hair stand on end. What a lot of injustice, suffering, and dearth, down out there; living the high life on top, nonetheless. Yet time goes by and entirely erases any trace. Certainly, castles will ever be as well as humble cottages at their feet. To a few, the impunity, delusions of grandeur; the remaining, their fate is written since they will carry the can as ever. This is it. The chilling history of mankind.

Visit BBC -In Pictures

This is a work from last year, where students had to write creative writings inspired by one of the photos on the -BBC In Pictures- web. Your pictures on the theme of 'misty mornings'

Visit Corfe Castle on Google Maps

What are you reading? "Bowie's Books: The Hundred Literary Heroes Who Changed His Life" by John O'Connell

Amazon

José's contribution

"Why am I reading this book? Last September I went to a bookshop in Manchester and I asked for some easy to read books. I’ve got this one plus two from George Orwell, Animal Farm and 1984.

By the way, 1984 is one of Bowie's books. Another one from Junot Díaz, one author chosen by Josefa this year.

Reading this book, I’m getting inspiration to discover new writers."

Amazon reference

If you want to consult the complete list of the 100 books, you can click on the following link to Bacanal.com where they publish the list. (Spanish version)

> Bacanal.com - Los 100 libros preferidos de David Bowie

What are you reading? "Driving over Lemons" by Chris Stewart

Amazon

Ana's contribution

This man was a Genesis band drummer for a short period. After travelling and working in several countries, he decided to move to the countryside near the Sierra Nevada in Granada, where he lives with his wife Ana and his daughter Chloe. The book is about his life in his farmhouse and how he makes friends with locales. It’s easy to read, keep you entertained, and have fun while you learn a lot about the countryside chores, farm animals and crops

A good friend gave it to me, encouraging me to read it, and I couldn’t leave it until its end. I like it to the point of reading the second part of his adventures.

This book took me back to my childhood when I was so happy and free of worries and problems.

You can find more information on goodreads.com: click on the picture below

goodreads