The English Book Club: Stone Mattress

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The murder weapon: Stromatolites - What are they?

Antonio de los Santos' contribution

From Wikipedia, the free enciclopedia

"Stromatolites (from Ancient Greek στρῶμα (strôma), GEN στρώματος (strṓmatos) 'layer, stratum', and λίθος (líthos) 'rock') are layered sedimentary formations (microbialite) that are created mainly by photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and proteobacteria. These microorganisms produce adhesive compounds that cement sand and other rocky materials to form mineral "microbial mats". In turn, these mats build up layer by layer, growing gradually over time. A stromatolite may grow to a meter or more. Although they are rare today, fossilized stromatolites provide records of ancient life on Earth."

The real reason you procrastinate: Learn how to stop putting off important tasks ... with a little help from master procrastinator Margaret Atwood

Noelia's contribution

TED.com

Adam Grant, a renowned Organizational psychologist, organized the following TED conference on procrastination together with the writer Margaret Atwood. He says: "You procrastinate because you're lazy, right? Wrong. The truth is more complex -- and far more interesting. Learn how to stop putting off important tasks ... with a little help from master procrastinator Margaret Atwood."

> Adam Grant, Speaker - TED profile

> TED conferences. TED.com

> The real reason you procrastinate / TED

Masterclass Articles: Margaret Atwood

Antonio's contribution

Masterclass published an interesting article on Margaret Atwood dealing with the author's style. In the article, you can find several video interviews.

"click" on the links below or on the photo.

What Is Margaret Atwood’s Writing Style? Learn How Margaret Atwood Approaches Gender in Her Writing

Margaret Atwood - Masterclass

April Meeting: Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood

Wikipedia quote

Stone Mattress (The New Yorker, Dec 2011) - Verna has had several husbands, each having died of 'natural causes'. Verna then goes on a cruise to the Arctic and considers the single men among the passengers including several Bobs. But then she sees Bob Goreham who had raped her fifty-odd years ago when she was fourteen. She moved to a home for unwed mothers and the baby was taken away. But Bob does not recognise her and she plans to kill him via a 1.9 billion old stromatolite...