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Bethany Keats: Adventures through, of, and around.

Book Review – The Return of Martin Guerre, by Natalie Zemon Davis

March 27, 2021 by Bethany Keats
Looking down at a patterned marble coffee table with the book and a cup of coffee on top of it

In 1548 Martin Guerre left his wife, left his son, and left the village of Artigat in southwest France. 12 years later, “Martin” returned. Many people may be familiar with Martin Guerre’s story from various creative works, including a film with Gerard Depardieu from 1982. For those who aren’t, it’s a fascinating story of how … [Read more…]

Posted in: Books Tagged: book review, books, France

The nouns and adjectives of adult ballet

March 16, 2021 by Bethany Keats
angled photo of four women at a ballet barre

Re-posting a blog I wrote in 2014. As adult ballet becomes more popular around the world, I’ve seen an increasing amount of gatekeeping on the word “ballerina” and a claim from some that it’s the exclusive domain of professionals. It’s not. Ballerina baləˈriːnə A female ballet dancer. Origin: late 18th century: from Italian, feminine of ballerino ‘dancing master’, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Who am I?, Wisdom Tagged: ballet

The power of pointe

February 16, 2021 by Bethany Keats
Bethany on timber floor looking at the camera, mid-tying of her pointe shoes

My pointe shoes are healing. Mindful. I take them out of their bag (pink mesh, tied with a ribbon), feeling the cool satin, and move the ribbons to each side of the shoe, smoothing them out to make sure they’re not twisted. I adjust the seam of my tights so it doesn’t cut into my … [Read more…]

Posted in: Life, the universe, and everything Tagged: ballet

Book Review – Rodham, by Curtis Sittenfeld

December 10, 2020 by Bethany Keats
Book: Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld, Snugglepot bookmark peering over the top, dark timber background

Asking the question, What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton?, Rodham speculates a future for Hillary and explores what contemporary politics in the US could look on the other side of a sliding doors moment. This is one of those rare books where if you’re not feeling it at the start, it’s worth persevering. … [Read more…]

Posted in: Books Tagged: book review, books

2020-1 Summer Reading Recommendations

November 22, 2020 by Bethany Keats
Copy of the book "Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands" on a colourful background

A “summer reading list” is a list of wishful thinking. A pipe dream of lazy summer days by the beach or the pool, or even on the couch with a cold beer. The reality? More of the same we’ve had for the rest of the year, just hotter (and in 2020, less covid lockdowns). But, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Books Tagged: book review, books

Short story: A North-South Dance

October 31, 2020 by Bethany Keats
legs of dancers in pointe, flat, and demi-pointe shoes

This is my non-entry in the Townsville City Council Short Story Competition on the theme “My life in the North”. Just because I’m not eligible to enter doesn’t mean I can’t write something. The fan whirred.  Click. Click. It’s uneven. A wobble each rotation. I can’t remember the last time I slept in silence. A … [Read more…]

Posted in: Who am I?, Writing Tagged: ballet, gardening, life, Place, short story, Writing

Book Review – The Biographer’s Lover, by Ruby J. Murray

September 17, 2020 by Bethany Keats
book "the biographer's lover" on a wooden table next to a takeaway container of pasta with a fork in it

This book deserves more attention. The concept is excellent. A fictional artist, Edna Cranmer, and her unnamed biographer, alternating time periods to tell their interwoven lives. It subtly tackles class boundaries, the status of women, and the complex relationship between memory, legacy, and truth. The way the story moves and flows and drops hints, then … [Read more…]

Posted in: Books Tagged: book review, books, Place

Lockdown: Tiny people in tiny boxes

July 24, 2020 by Bethany Keats

If you toss an unbiased coin, the chance of landing tails each time is 50%. But, if you toss an unbiased coin 12 times, the chance of landing tails every time is 0.02%. That’s a bit like what lockdown has been like for me. On a given weekend, it’s not unusual for me to spend … [Read more…]

Posted in: Life, the universe, and everything Tagged: ballet, gardening

Book Review – Too Much Lip, by Melissa Lucashenko

July 16, 2020 by Bethany Keats
Too Much Lip resting on top of an A4 notebook, next to is is a red/black/white/blue bilum, a pencil case, and a pen

It’s challenging, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s a great read. For some reason I thought it was a memoir. I have no idea why I thought that, so I was fully expecting to not like it when it was announced as the FALS Book Club book for July. (Read the blurb? Or course I didn’t read … [Read more…]

Posted in: Books Tagged: book review, books

Book Review – The Slap, by Christos Tsiolkas

July 11, 2020 by Bethany Keats
cover of The Slap, saying "international best seller" and "whose side are you on"

I was expecting a complex book with nuanced characters who made me question right and wrong. I was looking forward to being morally challenged about the ethics of hitting the child. I got none of the above. Instead, I got shallow characters obsessed with sex, drugs and being horrible to each other, who made me … [Read more…]

Posted in: Books Tagged: book review, books
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