30 November 2006

Thirty Words

"Imagine you're given just thirty words in which to persuade someone you've never met that you may be the perfect partner they've always been looking for."

That's the premise underlying They Call Me Naughty Lola, a collection of "Lonely Hearts" advertisements from the London Review of Books. David Rose, the editor of the Lola compilation, was interviewed on yesterday's "Outlook" program on BBC World Service radio (starting at 0:27:30). The Beeb's heartfelt readings of some of the ads, together with a melancholy piano accompaniment, are not to be missed.

Considering my recent struggle to write six words of fiction, I'm especially grateful that I don't need to attempt thirty words of (mostly) non-fiction. (Thanks, Honey!)

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