The Future of the Book

"What is the future of the book? Authors Margaret Atwood, Andrew O'Hagan and Erica Wagner [also reviews ed. of the Sunday Times] and publisher Stephen Page, Chief Executive of Faber & Faber, discuss the brave new world of authors, readers and publishers in the age of new technology." -- Queen Elizabeth Hall, 17.04.07, 19:30

( muddled but interesting )

On Ambiguous Loss

Here's an interesting review: Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live With Unresolved Grief. By Pauline Boss. Harvard University Press, 155 pp., $22.

The author identifies two flavours of ambiguous loss -- when the person is physically present but psychologically absent (e.g. Alzheimer's, dementia); and when the person is psychologically present but physically absent. The examples given for the latter on the website include kidnapping, loss in natural / manmade disasters, adoption, absence of divorced parents ... but I wonder if it could be applied to the loss of friends / loved ones whom are known online but not in 'real' life. For example, the death of someone you've never met but have corresponded with, or whose LJ you've read.

That sly bold Reynardine

Me: *relaxes on Verandah after I-love-my-job-BUT day at werk*
Me: *with medicinal Cider*
Cats: It's dinner time you haven't fed us you are IGNORING us you don't love us any more can we use your mobile to call RSPCA?
Fox: *saunters round corner of house*
Fox: *sniffs around patio furniture*
Me: *deadstill*
Cats: WTF? What is THAT? It is worse than THE HISSY THING OF TONBRIDGE.
Fox: *wanders unhurriedly up steps to upper garden*
Cats: AAARGH HELP EMERGENCY WILD ANIMAL LOOSE IN GARDEN
Fox: *notices me*
Fox: 'sokay, she doesn't scare me
Fox: *saunters across garden, stopping frequently to gaze curiously at Human*
Fox: *disappears into hedge*
Cats: OMG WTF dinner time, did we mention?