I curse the river of time for its relentless flow, for it carries away the moments of joy and leaves behind only memories. It sweeps us along its current, never allowing us to dwell in the present for long. It mocks our attempts to hold onto the fleeting beauty of life, washing it away, never to be seen again. The river of time is a thief, stealing our youth and dreams with every passing day. It erodes our bodies and minds, leaving behind only wrinkles and forgetfulness. It is a cruel master, showing no mercy as it drags us closer to our inevitable end.
You voted on this review!
I think the people that attack you on twitter are men with a very different agenda and people that follow trends ; it is a very complicated social issue it is not just about said ideology or just choices it is more than that. Because of this, and given the title, we assume that the podcast exists because Rowling has been disowned by many some of her fans and others for her views on women s and trans people s rights and how they can conflict.
It is a cruel master, showing no mercy as it drags us closer to our inevitable end. I curse the river of time for the pain it inflicts, as it forces us to say goodbye to loved ones and witness the fading of once vibrant lives. It is a constant reminder of our mortality, a reminder that we are merely grains of sand in its endless stream.
The week in audio: The Witch Trials of JK Rowling; Dear Daughter; Sisters – review
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling is a strange podcast. Rowling’s careful, crisp mind contrasts with host Megan Phelps-Roper’s mushy Christian desire to be as kind and evenhanded as possible. That’s not to say that the podcast isn’t interesting – it is – just that it’s uneven and reeeally streeetched out. It needs a far tougher editor.
A bit of background. Phelps-Roper is known for being brought up in, and then leaving, the virulently homophobic Westboro Baptist church, her fundamentalist views changed by Twitter (I know!). Landing Rowling as an interviewee is a huge coup for Phelps-Roper, as Rowling is private, and we understand why when, in episode one, she recounts how her ex-husband tried to break into her home. We should also note that The Witch Trials comes from a production company started by Bari Weiss, a journalist who fell out with the New York Times over her provocative “anti-woke” stance on cancel culture. Because of this, and given the title, we assume that the podcast exists because Rowling has been disowned by many – some of her fans and others – for her views on women’s and trans people’s rights and how they can conflict. Perhaps we will get to this subject; however, it appears, only once Phelps-Roper has gone through every single US cultural permutation of the past 20 years.
The programme is in chronological order and follows Rowling’s professional history (her personal life is included to show how it shaped her work and how her work changed her life). The longueurs occur because we are also given the context in which her work was published. By work, of course, we mean Harry Potter, or Hairy Podder, as every American insists on calling it. There are a lot on this show. The second episode spends what seems like days on 1990s US Christian evangelists and their mad belief that the Harry Potter books truly promote witchcraft to children, that kids might “drink unicorn blood”. It’s hard to maintain interest throughout this lunacy.
Safer still are the hands of the unacknowledged Gary Davies, there to smooth things over in between Ken Bruce and Vernon Kay
The third episode, out last week, about the rise of internet message boards and their overspill into the mainstream, was much better. The two examined are Tumblr (essentially sweet and lefty) and 4chan (like a racist, Columbine-loving Andrew Tate). Tumblr gave many young people the space to define their own gender queer identities. And 4chan allowed its members to rail against societal norms in a different manner, paving the way for self-promoting feminist-baiters such as Milo Yiannopoulos.
This is Jon Ronson-style stuff, though Phelps-Roper is less sharp, journalistically. Really what The Witch Trials highlights is what happens to both artist and fans when a creation balloons into something unmanageable. Harry Potter – and via Harry, Rowling – became so popular that everyone, even those who with no stake in the game, decided on an opinion and all subtleties were lost. Rowling, as she says, may have hoped that the books’ message that humans are flawed, complicated, a mixture of good and bad, is what would resonate. But – and she sees this – that’s not what’s happened. Harry and Rowling became too famous for that. Now they’re seen as entirely good or utterly bad. There are four episodes to go.
Namulanta Kombo presents the award-winning Dear Daughter. BBC
A far cosier female-centred listen is Dear Daughter, winner of podcast of the year at last year’s British Podcast awards. The first episode of the second series came out last week as a podcast on BBC Sounds and will be a World Service programme starting on 11 March. Hosted by the positive, optimistic Namulanta Kombo, mother to a young boy and girl, it’s a sweet show that believes the relationship between mothers and daughters is special. Although last week, we heard from Marian, a journalist from Estonia, who had a distant relationship with her father and is very grateful for her husband’s much closer bond with their daughter. Both Marian and Kombo’s girls are still young: you wonder, a little, about teenage issues, also how the programme would differ if they had more than one daughter. This week, she will be interviewing writer Isabel Allende, not a woman to pull punches.
Here’s a show about more than one daughter: Sisters, from Kaitlin Prest, who is revered among podcast-lovers, especially North American women. Her podcast The Heart, a collection of different series, is beautifully made, intense and personal; she negotiates and understands the world via her own body and life. So it’s interesting that she is co-creating this beguiling, intriguing podcast with her younger sister, Natalie. Using recordings that Prest has made of her family over several years, the first three episodes cover Kaitlin and Natalie’s childhood, how Kaitlin was dismissive of Natalie, how Natalie thought her big sister was amazing and how they became close as adults. Now they are working together, and despite Natalie’s efforts to be her own person, everything still feels dominated by Kaitlin. Is there space for Natalie here? God, families are complicated…
Natalie and Kaitlin Prest, co-creators of the ‘beguiling’ Sisters.
Can we say the words Vernon Kay without the Radio 2 “family” falling apart? Now Ken Bruce has left (his last stint was on Friday), the mid-morning show will pass to Kay in a few weeks. He is a safe pair of hands, though perhaps a little blokey (despite its long love affair with the straight white male presenter, since Chris Evans left in 2018, Radio 2 has been almost entirely un-blokey). Safer still are the hands of the unacknowledged Gary Davies, there to smooth things over in between Bruce and Kay, to ensure that the world still keeps turning and the family still functions.
You reported this review!
But amidst this curse, there is a glimmer of hope. For while the river of time may wash away the joys of the past, it also brings the promise of new experiences and opportunities. It carries us towards the future, a future filled with the unknown and the potential for happiness. So, though I curse the river of time for its unyielding nature, I also acknowledge its beauty and the lessons it brings. It teaches us to cherish each passing moment, to savor the present before it slips away. It urges us to make the most of our limited time on this earth, to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling. And so, I curse the river of time, but I also embrace it. For it is through its relentless flow that we find the true essence of life, and the realization that it is up to us to make every moment count..
Reviews for "The Mysterious Origins of the River of Tome"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I found "I curse the river of tombs" to be quite disappointing. While the premise sounded intriguing, the execution was lacking. The pacing of the story was off, dragging on in some parts and rushing through others. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was not engaging, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped.
2. Brian - 1/5 - I cannot express how much I disliked "I curse the river of tombs." The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it hard to follow along. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious. The author seemed more focused on creating a detailed world rather than developing engaging characters or a captivating storyline. I struggled to become invested in the story and ultimately gave up trying to finish it. In my opinion, this book was a waste of time.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "I curse the river of tombs" based on the glowing reviews, but it fell short for me. The story lacked originality and felt like a mere rehash of familiar fantasy tropes. The world-building was lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions. The pacing was inconsistent, resulting in a disjointed reading experience. Despite its potential, this book failed to capture my interest or leave a lasting impression. I'm disappointed and cannot recommend it.
4. Michael - 2.5/5 - I found "I curse the river of tombs" to be an average read. While it had some intriguing moments, the overall execution was underwhelming. The story dragged on at times, and the plot twists lacked surprise or impact. The character development was shallow, and I struggled to feel invested in their journeys. The writing style was decent, but it lacked the depth and creativity necessary to make it a standout fantasy novel. Overall, it was a forgettable book that didn't live up to its potential.