So what is this supposed to be exactly? To be honest I'm not sure - I haven't even decided yet whether I want other people to read what I'm writing or whether this is just an electronic addition to my pile of personal notebooks... I have kept notes for a few years now on library books and books borrowed from friends, as a way of remembering what I've read. While checking the name of a book recently, I stumbled across Outside of a Dog and it made me realise that a book log was a natural fit for this medium, so I decided to give it a go myself. Having decided to create a blog I first had to name it, and although I was aware I'd never find a title as apt as that one, I was determined to find something more inspiring than just calling it by my name... After a quick search I came up with this quote by Joseph Addison:
"A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation."
... and although I do not aspire to "literary criticism", this does accurately reflect my initial intention of keeping notes to remind myself of writing that had made an impression on me.
Since then I've also discovered another quote by Addison along similar lines:
"It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others."
So with that in mind I have created this as a place to record my impressions of what I read (and probably also of things I watch, hear & experience generally!)
