Cauldron trouble again

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Last updated on August 5th, 2017 at 04:00 am

Novellist Alexis Wright, rambling like a crazy woman in the SMH (no link available):

In my wildest imagination, I suspect that the ancient knowledge of fear still locked away deep in the conciousness of many non-indigenous Australians is still whispering to them but the cauldron’s magical power is malfunctioning and can cast no spell that totally works for this land. The power of wizards and witches transported from European cultures is being diluted and misused here.

The cauldron conscience improvises with the wrong ingredients and refuses to grant the vision of white supremacy as far as the eye can see.

In preceding paragraphs Wright complains about mining development and “our government’s cowardly endorsement of outsourcing torture.” Alexis Wright is the winner of the 2007 Miles Franklin Literary Award.

Posted by Tim B. on 07/01/2007 at 06:13 AM
    1. She attempting to ride the coat tails of the, soon to be released, Harry Potter book?

      Coat tail surfing is probably the wrong phrase, since the coat tails in question have yet to be available for such a ride.

      Posted by Grimmy on 2007 07 01 at 06:21 AM • permalink

 

    1. The case of the missing cauldron.

      Am I the only one that thinks this looks like a job for Detective Paco?

      Posted by MB on 2007 07 01 at 06:27 AM • permalink

 

    1. MB:

      Yep yep. Could be just the ticket.

      Posted by Grimmy on 2007 07 01 at 06:29 AM • permalink

 

    1. W.T.F.

      Posted by Quentin George on 2007 07 01 at 06:35 AM • permalink

 

    1. but the cauldron’s magical power is malfunctioning

      “Round about the cauldron go; In the poison’d entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights hast thirty-one Swelter’d venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot. Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble,”

      Posted by CO² max on 2007 07 01 at 06:37 AM • permalink

 

    1. Lol! I’ll still read the book, though.

      Posted by TimT on 2007 07 01 at 06:41 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’m confused.

      What’s her point? Witches are no longer being sent to the colony from merry old England?

      Posted by Ash_ on 2007 07 01 at 06:45 AM • permalink

 

    1. She’ll get no argument from me.

      Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 07 01 at 06:49 AM • permalink

 

    1. #6, TimT:

      If you’re meaning the new H.P. book that’s due out soon, me too. I have really enjoyed the series so far.

      Posted by Grimmy on 2007 07 01 at 06:49 AM • permalink

 

    1. The book Wright wrote is Carpenteria. The book interests me, amongst other things, because the title suggests it is based on Xavier Herbert’s classic Aussie novel, Capricornia. (and that is damned good.)

      I don’t know much about the plot, but it’s apparently set in the NT town of ‘Desperanto’ (another pun that appeals to me) and has elements of magic realism in the plot. The rant quoted here is neither better nor worse than those of many other novelists.
      It’s got the approval of many of the Australian litbloggers, although admittedly that might be because the litbloggers are almost all lefties.

      Still, might be worth reading.

      Posted by TimT on 2007 07 01 at 06:51 AM • permalink

 

    1. Ah, Grimmy, I’ll be keeping me eye out for the HP Colebatch book as well, old son! He’s a fine poet; I’ve read some excellent poems by him in the pages of Quadrant.

      Posted by TimT on 2007 07 01 at 06:52 AM • permalink

 

    1. #11:

      LOL, sorry. I meant H.P. as in Harry Potter. I dont do high brow stuff. Not enough room in the noggin for it.

      Posted by Grimmy on 2007 07 01 at 06:58 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’m hoping the magical power of the Cauldron casts another spell on the hapless losers of NSW Blues this week. Heh heh.

      Posted by C.L. on 2007 07 01 at 06:58 AM • permalink

 

    1. Alexis Wright is the winner of the 2007 Miles Franklin Literary Award

      Is there a category for “Gibberish”?

      Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 07 01 at 07:08 AM • permalink

 

    1. Aha! If I’m not mistaken there’s a cultured person commenting in this thread. How did they sneak in?

      Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 07 01 at 07:10 AM • permalink

 

    1. Thanks, Margos. Go the Maroons!

      😉

      Posted by C.L. on 2007 07 01 at 07:15 AM • permalink

 

    1. Damn you Queenslanders.

      Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 07 01 at 07:17 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’ll have a six pack of whatever it is that Alexis is on…………

      Posted by surfmaster on 2007 07 01 at 07:22 AM • permalink

 

    1. #12

      LOL, sorry. I meant H.P. as in Harry Potter. I dont do high brow stuff. Not enough room in the noggin for it.

      lol, me too, grims!

      #13 CL
      I don’t think NSW will allow a clean sweep. At least I hope not.
      I might live in Qld, but my State of Origin is NSW!

      Posted by kae on 2007 07 01 at 07:23 AM • permalink

 

    1. the cat lady out of the Simpsons makes more sense then this lady….

      Posted by Junia on 2007 07 01 at 07:28 AM • permalink

 

    1. This would be classed as Fashionable Nonsense at the Butterflies and Wheels website.  I also like the word gibberish, mentioned above.  Wright is therefore a gibberer.  Shakespeare she is not.

      Posted by Stevo on 2007 07 01 at 07:40 AM • permalink

 

    1. In my wildest imagination, I suspect that maybe licking cane toads has begun to have an adverse effect…

      Posted by lotocoti on 2007 07 01 at 07:45 AM • permalink

 

    1. Why is the whole western world (including Australia) plagued with morons like this?

      In the olden times were these people simply snuffed so life could go on?

      I see no historical parallels.

      I think in times past this author would have been locked in the attic.

      Posted by Lonetown on 2007 07 01 at 08:13 AM • permalink

 

    1. Sorta O/T. Mary J Shepherd at Webdiary. The gibber-master herself, Marilyn Sheephead.

      “Howard just wants to hasten the genocide and Noel Pearson is helping him along.”

      That’s right, HoWARd and Noel Pearson are going to conduct a genocidal sweep of all the Aborigines in full view of the world’s media and every lefty half-wit in Australia. AND NO ONE WILL SEE A THING!!!

      When was the goon squad meant to pick up Lataan and Sheephead from SA again? I thought we’d done a prisoner transfer deal with Hicks on a two-for-one basis.

      Posted by CB on 2007 07 01 at 08:16 AM • permalink

 

    1. CB surely you mean Maryloon Sheephead?

      Definitely an escapee from Bedlam.

      Posted by kae on 2007 07 01 at 08:24 AM • permalink

 

    1. But the funniest thing is Margo’s reply to this: Put up or shut up

      Posted by kae on 2007 07 01 at 08:29 AM • permalink

 

    1. “Death to the evil white man”, cried Alexis from before her bubbling cauldron. “Shite”, she screached as she saw a reflection of herself in the bubbling gruel. “I’m white….!”

      Posted by Fast Eddie on 2007 07 01 at 08:31 AM • permalink

 

    1. ‘Twas a dark, cold and stormy night (hang on, that doesn’t fit the warmening project, so let’s take two:) ‘Twas was a light, hot and dry night as Witch Alexis stirred the macro-biotic, organic gruel in her cauldron. (Using, of course, a hybrid stove.) “Ha” she cackled, as the bubbles rose, “nobody would ever suspect that I found the recipe for this in Womens Weekly!”

      Posted by Fast Eddie on 2007 07 01 at 08:56 AM • permalink

 

    1. ’Twas a dark, cold and stormy night (hang on, that doesn’t fit the warmening project, so let’s take two:) ‘Twas was a light, hot and dry night as Witch Alexis stirred the macro-biotic, organic gruel in her cauldron.

      “Suddenly, a pirate ship appeared on the horizon!”

      Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 07 01 at 09:00 AM • permalink

 

    1. Pirate Ship or Pile of Shi… It may have been the Pasha….

      Posted by Fast Eddie on 2007 07 01 at 09:02 AM • permalink

 

    1. It’s a sad inditement of our civilisation that as soon as someone has some kind of award, you know you’re dealing with a wanker. It’s like a warning bell has been put around their neck, so that normal people can avoid them.

      Miles Franklin Award – Wanker
      Walkley Journalism Award – Complete Wanker
      Academy Award for Documentary – Complete & Utter Wanker
      Nobel Peace Prize – Ultimate Wanker with Oak Leaves & Crossed Swords

      Posted by Tom H on 2007 07 01 at 09:15 AM • permalink

 

    1. Witches and wizards!  Is your cauldron less than fresh these days?  White supremacy no longer cooking correctly?  Good news!  Give your malfunctioning iron pot new life with the Power Activated Cauldron Oppressorizer™, a natural alternative for the environmentally aware shopper.  Even organically grown supremism needs to be washed to eliminate contaminates from critical thinking.  100% biodegradable, and environmentally safe, PACO’s cauldron wash contains Progressive Sense Extract, a safe, non-toxic, natural compound known for its disengaging, anti-intellectual effects.  This compound was not tested on animals.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 07 01 at 10:25 AM • permalink

 

    1. Leftwing political correctness is incredibly strong in the literary community as I found at the NSW Premier’s awards for writers about three years ago. My role was to collect a special “Service to Literature” gong on behalf of a distinguished veteran writer who could not get to the event. Practically every winner made a point of abusing or lampooning Howard or Bush or both in the course of their acceptance speeches, triggering howls of anger or mirth in the assembled multitude.

      Same applied when Clive James spoke at a Gleebooks function a few weeks ago.

      Posted by Rafe on 2007 07 01 at 10:30 AM • permalink

 

    1. #2: Am I the only one that thinks this looks like a job for Detective Paco?

      He looked into it. Turned out it wasn’t a cauldron at all; it was an antique Georgian chamberpot with a nick in the handle.

      Posted by paco on 2007 07 01 at 10:42 AM • permalink

 

    1. Alexis Wright is the winner of the 2007 Miles Franklin Literary From Reality Award.

      There was a typo that needed correcting.

      Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 07 01 at 10:48 AM • permalink

 

    1.   There, all fixed.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 07 01 at 10:53 AM • permalink

 

    1. Oh bugger, that.

      Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 07 01 at 10:56 AM • permalink

 

    1. #35 Let me try that again.

      Alexis Wright is the winner of the 2007 Miles Franklin Literary From Reality Award.

      Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 07 01 at 10:57 AM • permalink

 

    1. #38: Excellent, Wimpy! And good technical work, there, Rebecca.

      Posted by paco on 2007 07 01 at 11:29 AM • permalink

 

    1. Alexis Wright is the winner of the 2007 Miles Franklin Literary Award

      Is there a category for “Gibberish”?

      Yes, the Bulwer-Lytton Prize. Alexis’ bit of turgid polemic just shot to the top of the nominees…

      Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 07 01 at 11:39 AM • permalink

 

    1. …top of the list of nominees…

      Drat.

      Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 07 01 at 11:41 AM • permalink

 

    1. Readers’ Digest condensed version:
      In my wildest imagination, white supremacy …

      Next!

      Posted by egg_ on 2007 07 01 at 11:43 AM • permalink

 

    1. #41 Yes, the Bulwer-Lytton Prize. Alexis’ bit of turgid polemic just shot to the top of the nominees…

      I dunno, SN, you created an interesting image here.  Interesting, I say, in a faintly nausea-inducing kind of way.  🙂

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 07 01 at 11:49 AM • permalink

 

    1. Alexis needs to learn about a little thing called a ‘comma.’

      (And my cauldron is working just fine, honeybunch).

      Posted by Achillea on 2007 07 01 at 03:08 PM • permalink

 

    1. Dang! Wrong Cauldron!

      Cheers

      Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 07 01 at 03:36 PM • permalink

 

    1. Cauldrons go counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.  That’s all she’s saying.  It’s no wonder they don’t work.

      Posted by rhhardin on 2007 07 01 at 03:52 PM • permalink

 

    1. Sounds like stream of unconsciousness writing to me with too many comas even if not enough commas.

      Posted by andycanuck on 2007 07 01 at 05:23 PM • permalink

 

    1. I object to the torture of Prose in this way! Nothing can justify it.

      Posted by blogstrop on 2007 07 01 at 06:01 PM • permalink

 

    1. Wright has obviously suffered permanent brain damage after the rush of blood to the head that came with the Miles Franklin award.

      It would have been kinder if the SMH had let the world read these words. The poor woman is deranged.

      Posted by Contrail on 2007 07 01 at 08:22 PM • permalink

 

    1. # 48 Hmm.  We need a UN sub-committee.

      And I thought the retarded left was struggling for column inches.

      Posted by Big Jim on 2007 07 01 at 08:46 PM • permalink

 

    1. “…our government’s cowardly endorsement of outsourcing torture.”

      She’s right, you know!  We shouldn’t be sending these high-paying positions overseas!  KEEP OUR TORTURE JOBS IN AUSTRALIA!!

      Posted by Tex Lovera on 2007 07 01 at 10:31 PM • permalink

 

    1. #29 AlburyShifton:
      Ha, a fellow Peanuts fan! I’ve always loved Snoopy the Novelist.

      Posted by Dr Alice on 2007 07 01 at 10:39 PM • permalink

 

    1. “I suspect that the ancient knowledge of fear still locked away deep in the conciousness of many non-indigenous Australians is still whispering to them…”

      Mine is whispering “Hastur hastur hastur hastur….”

      Posted by wreckage on 2007 07 02 at 06:59 AM • permalink

 

    1. PhilCo, Fisk and Flavius Josephus:

      “When shall we three meet again,
      In fire, in thunder, or in rain?”

      Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 07 02 at 08:54 PM • permalink

 

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