author . historian
It was only a matter of time before a thread—or ‘category’—of this young blog ended up being dedicated to rabble-rousing, to speaking out, to rocking the boat, to marching and protesting in the demand, expectation, or hope of a better future or address of an injustice. Pursuing positive change is part of who I am,... Continue Reading →
So what is History for Tenzin? It is my Tibetan-American-Australian family memoir---many years in the making! I wrote it for my daughter. This brief excerpt, from near the story's beginning, offers a taste of the work's tone and direction: 'What you can recall, Tenzin, of those small years when you lived as a numbered child... Continue Reading →
Perhaps the most telling—and totally spoiler-free—thing that I can say about Ted Chiang’s Stories of Your Life and Others is that it affected my dreams. This is a book about ideas, about ‘what if?’s, and it is like a fizzy, caffeinated energy drink for the imagination. So, I was four stories into the collection of... Continue Reading →
Today, 21 March, is World Poetry Day. It was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1999. So why am I showing you a stack of books… and none of them poetry? Well, this is my little offering of ‘book spine poetry’. If you’ve not been introduced, book spine poetry... Continue Reading →
This evening I read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay ‘We Should All Be Feminists’, because of course we should! And it is International Women’s Day and the slim little book had been near the top of the pile on my desk for a few days now. I enjoyed it – possibly because the voice reading to... Continue Reading →
In the month since the death of American author and feminist elder Ursula K. Le Guin, there have been many tributes and people reposting, sharing, and reminding us of her best writing, her powerful speeches, her all-round literary badassery. I have enjoyed these posts and the chances to read (again) her sharp and moral words.... Continue Reading →
No doubt you have heard by now that this week, on 31 January 2018, our moon is being a bit extravagant. She will be a ‘blue moon’, meaning the second full moon in one calendar month. (She was earlier full on 2 January 2018.) She will be a ‘super moon’, meaning that she is both... Continue Reading →
“So whatcha got there, Dr Kahler, on this bright, summer’s day?” “Oh, just my first manuscript submission and my fingers crossed.” Welcome. After many years of research and writing, and double-triple-checking and revising, and writing and revising some more, I have a nonfiction book manuscript. It is a family memoir entitled History for Tenzin. I... Continue Reading →
A. L. Kahler 