15.11.00 : species of spaces

Wednesday 15th November

just popping in to say that: I'm still here enjoying the dialogue and exchange, To apologise for my silence which is a listening silence rather than a disinterested one and that I've been dipping into a book over the last few days which has made me think of us and this space/dialogue - wondering whether any of you have come across it? and wanting to share it with you. It's 'Species of Spaces and Other Pieces' by George Perec and it's a delight Ê

20 minutes later, I've been considering - is there a little nugget I could transcribe to give you a taste - impossible to decide I'd end up transcribing the whole book - no time for that so I'll settle for the Contents of the first section 'Species of Spaces' - I like Contents pages anyway .....

The Page
The Bed (a few other banalities)
The Bedroom (Fragments of a work in progress - minor problem - Placid small thought no 1 - placid small thought no 2)
The Apartment (a space without use - moving out - moving in - doors - staircases - walls)
The Apartment Building (Project for a novel)
The Street (Practical exercises- rough draft of a letter - places)
The Neighbourhood (neighbourhood life - death of a neighbourhood)
The Town (my town - foreign towns - on tourism - exercises)
The Countryside (Village utopia - nostalgic (and false) alternative - of movement)
The Country (Frontiers - My Country) Europe
The World Space (on straight lines - measures - playing with space - the conquest of space - M.Raymond Roussel's mobile home - St Jerome in his study - the escaped prisoner - Meetings - The unihabitable
Space (continuation and end)) Ê

------------------------------------ a memory of writing my name and address into my books as a child - just found an old cookery book which I've kept for my sons in which I wrote: This Book belongs to Kirsten Lavers, 11 Loxford Way, Caterham, Surrey, England, The World, Space, Outer Space, The Universe I don't do that anymore ........ wondering do we and how do we own our books?

back soon I hope

take care

Kirsten Lavers