Tidy Tidbits: Memoirs and Movies

READING MEMOIRS  As my regular readers know, I am fond of reading memoirs.  I am also fascinated by the dynamics within a marriage and intrigued by the nuances and tensions within romantic relationships in general.  Here are two new memoirs touching on these and other issues. The Victorian and the Romantic:  A Memoir, a Love …

The Literary Life

  TIMELY FILM—The Wife I read Meg Wolitzer’s novel of the same name, but I think the film version of The Wife is better. Glenn Close gives a stellar performance as Joan Castleman, the dutiful, somewhat subservient wife of literary rockstar and new Nobelist, Joe Castleman. With just the slightest change in expression, Close portrays a …

My Summer Reading

SUMMER READING ROUND-UP  Following the lead of another blogger (The Book Stop), who got it from another blog, I set myself the personal challenge of reading 20 books between June 1 and Sept. 1.  In my June 3rd blog post, I listed ten of the twenty books I intended to read.  How did I do?  …

Re-Entry: Maine to Florida

LEAVING MAINE Our last day in Maine we spent in Portland.  We had a lovely time at Petit Jacqueline over lunch of quiches and crepes with my cousin and his wife, re-visited the local independent bookstores, walked around Munjoy Hill, and then had dinner at Drifters Wife. Foodies, and others, will know that this restaurant …