Magdalena Ball's Comments

A review of The Element by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica by Magdalena Ball

May 11, 2009 | comments: 1

Magdalena Ball Jun 12, 2009, 2:51am EDT

Just wanted to mention that I'm interviewing Sir Ken next week at The Compulsive Reader Talks. Drop by to bookmark it in your own timezone (I'd tell you mine but I doubt it's the same as yours!).

A review of The Greatest Moving Abroad Tips in the world by Lorraine Mace by Magdalena Ball

Apr 25, 2009 | comments: 6

Magdalena Ball May 10, 2009, 10:12pm EDT

Just wanted to point out that I'm interviewing Lorraine Mace at www.blogtalkradio.com/compulsivereader shortly (27 or 28 May depending on your timezone) and we'll be opening up the airways for questions. If you'd like to ask your questions about moving abroad or writing (as Mace is also a writing guru), and I love the one about learning by accident -- sometimes it's fun but not always! please drop by and set yourself a reminder and then join us!

A review of Ambulances & Dreamers by Bel Schenk by Magdalena Ball

Feb 4, 2009 | comments: 4

Magdalena Ball Feb 9, 2009, 10:53pm EST

Thanks eagle eyes! Not sure how it happened, but I've fixed it. All the best. Maggie

A review of rob walker's phobiaphobia by Magdalena Ball

Jan 21, 2009 | comments: 4

Magdalena Ball Feb 1, 2009, 6:05pm EST

Hi Christine, a chapbook is a short book, generally inexpensive to publish and consequently inexpensive to purchase. It doesn't specifically denote poetry, and in the 16-19th century when they were in their hayday, they were often used for political tracts, but most modern chapbooks are poetry. The key point of a chapbook is the cost, and their use as a means to read the "common" person and share things that would normally be kept to the elite. Again, the idea of giving readers a good 'taste' of someone's style and work works quite well with poetry, and is also conducive to coming up with a theme, like this one. A chapbook is to poetry book like novella is to novel. I don't think there's any specific length that a chapbook has to be, but for a poetry chapbook, I'd say around 45-50 pages would be average. Anything above 80-90 pages would be classed as a full length poetry book, especially if it's professionally bound. Hope that helps!

A review of Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson by Magdalena Ball

Nov 17, 2008 | comments: 5

Magdalena Ball Dec 22, 2008, 4:46pm EST

Thanks for the prompt Christine, I have posted the review to Bookin'. And I've just put the turkey in the brine mixture -- it really does look, um, enticing bobbing amongst the spices and oranges...

A review of Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write by Mark David Gerson by Magdalena Ball

Oct 29, 2008 | comments: 8

Magdalena Ball Nov 13, 2008, 6:12pm EST

Just by way of an addition to the review, Mark David Gerson and I had a very interesting interview at The Compulsive Reader Talks. Mark David was a fascinating interviewee, and went into some depth about many of the topics in his book. Please do drop by for a listen if you'd like to hear more about this topic. Maggie

A review of How to Write Your Book (Guaranteed!) by Thomas A. Williams by Magdalena Ball

Oct 4, 2008 | comments: 3

Magdalena Ball Oct 5, 2008, 9:40pm EDT

Poet Power is my favourite of Tom Williams-- it's a great book on how to get poetry out of the desk and into the marketplace -- really practical, which doesn't often go hand in hand with poetry. Another that I've read and liked is Get Paid to Write. There's an almost pedestrian, engineering aspect to Williams' approach which is unusual and effective. The author sent me a review request via email and an ARC, which is how I learn about lots of books! Maggie

A review of Magisterium by Joel Deane by Magdalena Ball

Sep 17, 2008 | comments: 3

Magdalena Ball Sep 23, 2008, 6:25pm EDT

Firstly Aaron, thanks for the gorgeous comments. I'll remember them when I'm struggling. As for the book, I'm not sure it will get to Amazon (one of the problems with small Australian publishers). I think you can order a copy directly from the publisher though: http://www.scholarly.info/new.htm#magisterium
Looks like they've begun setting it up on Amazon.ca -- http://www.amazon.ca/Magisterium-Joel-Deane/dp/1740971914, but it doesn't seem to be available. I'm interviewing Deane and Karen Knight (see review just posted -- her work is good too--Aussie poetry is very hot at the moment!) tomorrow and will ask both of them about it. You might like to listen in: www.blogtalkradio.com/compulsivereader (I know you know the link!).

A review of Swimming with Crocodiles by Will Chaffey by Magdalena Ball

Jul 15, 2008 | comments: 2

Magdalena Ball Jul 16, 2008, 6:32pm EDT

Thanks Aaron, and for the little correction, which I fixed (I need to proofread the quotes too in future!). I've booked in an interview with Will Chaffey for Sunday the 3rd of August at 5pm, Los Angeles time if you want to listen in, or drop by http://www.blogtalkradio.com/compulsivereader anytime afterwards to check out the podcast. We'll be using phones rather than Skype, so worth checking out to see if the sound issues are solved.

Sleep Before Evening Book Trailer by Magdalena Ball

Aug 17, 2007 | length: 01:29 | comments: 5

Magdalena Ball Aug 19, 2007, 6:00pm EDT

Hi Aaron and flit, thanks very much for your nice comments and Aaron, or the feature in your Sat Writing Essentials--a very good article. The music piece is Chopin, Nocturne No 1. When you get into the book, you'll see that Chopin features, as does Dvorak, Rachmaninoff, Copland, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and the Grateful Dead, among others (just trying to pique your interest a wee bit more!). All the best. Maggie

Tell Us Your All-Time Favorite Mystery or Thriller Movie and Win! by The Black Dahlia

Sep 13, 2006 | comments: 156

Magdalena Ball Sep 13, 2006, 6:18pm EDT

I don't normally like thrillers, but I loved every terrifying second of Kubrick's take on Stephen King's The Shining. The mingling of nightmarishly familiar imagery with just a hint of vaudeville worked on a level I've never seen in a thriller since.

The Literary Mary Book Club: Assignment for January 2006 - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides by Literary Mary

Dec 1, 2005 | comments: 6

Magdalena Ball Dec 20, 2005, 4:13pm EST

I don't believe there are any spoilers, so if anyone wants to read my review of Middlesex, please visit:

http://tinyurl.com/buumx

I'm tempted to read it again it was so good (but for that long 'to be reviewed' pile awaiting my attention). All the best.

Maggie
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html

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Magdalena Ball
Australia

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