Saturday, August 11, 2007

MATT MANLEY, RUMI AND ANAIS NIN


Art by Matt Manley
*****
"OPEN THE WINDOW
IN THE CENTER OF YOUR CHEST
AND LET SPIRIT FLY IN AND OUT"
Rumi
*****
I've just discovered a wonderful new collage artist named Matt Manley. As far as I know, he's only available through items produced by a company called "Brush Dance", which makes journals, address books and cards melding Manley's art with poetry by Rumi.
I first heard about this Medieval Persian poet and philosopher through a Loreena McKennitt CD. Lately, I have been seeing references to Rumi in a number of blogs. Also, I have lately been seeing a lot of references to Anais Nin. I've never read Nin but I knew that she wrote erotic literature.
I'd like to read more of their writings, but don't know where to begin. Can anyone recommend any of their works that I might find cheaply on amazon.com used books? (I'd prefer non-erotica by Nin if available.)
Thanks in advance for your help.
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7 comments:

  1. Annie JeffriesAugust 12, 2007 at 8:43 AM

    http://www.rumi.net/rumi_by_shiva.htm

    looks like a good place to start, Julie. I've been wondering about Rumi too and now that my poetry workshop is starting, this is a good time to check out his work

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  2. Kate RobertsonAugust 12, 2007 at 3:52 PM

    I have loved Rumi' poetry for some time now. i don't have a copy of any of his works though. I have also been thinking about getting some of Anais Nin's stuff to read. Gee have you been reading my mind lately. Kindred spirits I guess..

    Kate

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  3. gmaAugust 12, 2007 at 4:11 PM

    Hi here is another site
    I love this one!!!
    You can find Rumi here too.

    http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com
    /
    xx

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  4. BimbimbieAugust 13, 2007 at 3:43 AM

    I chanced upon Rumi earlier this year. Birdsong is my favourite so far and I have several Anais Nin quotes
    tucked into my "little" book *!*

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  5. Lila RostenbergAugust 14, 2007 at 2:55 PM

    I really like that collage....and the quote from Rumi! Your posts are always so interesting! (I'll have to rest a little from my trip out West before I read your next post about the "Stardust" movie..)

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  6. smilnsighAugust 16, 2007 at 8:24 AM

    I tried dipping into Anais Nin at one time. I have nothing against her writing erotica, so that didn't turn me off. I'm not sure exactly what did... Maybe I got the feeling of her being a wee bit too self-absorbed?

    I tend to this myself, so I probably *know* I ought not read a lot, of someone who's the same way. ,-)

    One thing I {think I} remember reading about her... Which can strike anyone, in whatever way they choose... was that she could sit in the same room with her husband, and journal about other man/men.

    Here again, what turned me off? Not the having lovers. Maybe because I saw her as just too brazen and self-absorbed, doing this. And............ I was jealous. ,-)

    There are some interesting quotes of hers though. And for the life of me, I can't remember any, at the moment. But then, when one is 70, "those forgets" happen a lot. -grin-

    Mari-Nanci

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  7. nonizamboniAugust 17, 2007 at 10:22 AM

    Julie--see if you can get your hands on the Illuminated Rumi
    Calendar     illustrated by Michael Green (I noticed Borders has calendars on display already). I try to find one every year.
    Rumi is definitely worth spending time reading.

    Mary Ann

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