Reading: Books & More Books

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AN EXPLANATION

Some of my readers may wonder why I refer to my spouse as the Chief Penguin or C. P.  After he was a university president, Greg became the head (CEO) of a museum, the California Academy of Sciences, in San Francisco.  In an early interview with a reporter from the Chronicle, he stated that previously, he worried what the fraternity guys got up to at night.  He was relieved to forego that concern; now he just had the museum’s colony of South African penguins.  “I know where they are at night,” he quipped.  “I guess I’m the Chief Penguin.”  That was quoted, and it was adopted by many of the Academy staff as an affectionate moniker. As they say, it stuck! Now, in our home, you will find an assortment of plush penguins and even a penguin sculpture.

RECENT READING

The Magician by Colm Toibin

Author Toibin (independent.ie)

I’m a big fan of Toibin’s novels and especially enjoyed The Master about Henry James and Brooklyn.  His latest novel, The Magician, is equally wonderful.  Thomas Mann, the greatest German writer of his time and a Nobel Prize winner, is the subject along with his large family.  As a noted author, his countrymen looked to him for his views on politics, especially about the two world wars.  When Hitler came to power, Mann was slow to recognize Hitler for the danger he represented, and only belatedly, escaped from Germany to Sweden and then to the U.S.  

The father of six, Mann occasionally bore the brunt of publicity due to the activities of his relatives.  The writings of his outspoken brother Heinrich and the anti-Fascist activities of his two oldest children, Klaus and Erika, reflected negatively on him.  His public responses to the strife were more measured as he desperately wanted to hold on to his German audience and keep his books in print.

This is rich portrait of several generations of the Mann family with a focus on Thomas Mann’s creative process:   how he approached his writing, what he tried to convey in his works, and how his secret homosexual desires, detailed in his diaries, crept into his novels.   For the most part, Toibin neither applauds nor condemns Mann, but presents an immersive, fascinating take on the man and the writer. (~JWFarrington)

A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe

Karin Tanabe (goodreads.com)

I just read a review of Lost Daughter, the new film starring Olivia Colman, that posited that being a mother takes something significant away from a woman.  In A Woman of Intelligence, set in 1954, a smart married woman, who previously worked as a translator for the United Nations, finds herself tied down, constrained, and frustrated by the demands of her family.  A rising star, pediatric surgeon Tom wants Rina to be the perfect wife—solely devoted to her husband, a gracious hostess, and doting on her children.   When she is approached by the FBI to gather information on a suspect, she leaps at the chance to escape her humdrum daily life and exercise her mind.  This is a compelling novel, albeit a grim view of motherhood, that moves quickly.  Recommended light reading! (~JWFarrington)

MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2021

These fifteen titles represent the books I enjoyed the most or thought were the best written of the more than fifty books I read this past year. It’s always hard to narrow down the list, but here it is. What books did you enjoy the most? One friend already sent me her 2021 list.

NOVELS, CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

Honor by Thrity Unrigar (advance copy; 2022)

Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Murray

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

MYSTERY

Survivors by Jane Harper

BIOGRAPHIES

Eleanor by David Michaelis

The Doctors Blackwell by Janice P. Nimura

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIRS

All In by Billie Jean King

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

Both/And: A Life in Two Worlds by Huma Abedin

Inheritance by Dani Shapiro

NONFICTION

The Agitators:  Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Women’s Rights by Dorothy Wickenden

The Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

Note: The header photo of kids in book boats is a bit of whimsy. Alas, I don’t remember the source of this photo.

At Home: Bingeing on Film

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Morning Movie Madness

Time is a gift and one we should cherish, even if that time is available because you aren’t where you wanted to be or doing what you intended to do.  Our holiday preparations were long since completed, and nearly all the Christmas cards mailed out so, we had free time for reading and watching new films.  Sometime ago, the Chief Penguin dubbed watching a movie at a time we wouldn’t normally (a bit like playing hooky), “Morning Movie Madness.”  This week we are indulging in some madness.  Here are comments on some recent films that you can stream at home.

Belfast (Apple TV $)

Buddy with his grandparents (mercurynews.com)

From the violent opening scene to the poignant ending, Belfast is simply excellent!  In some ways, it’s a simple story of a multi-generational Protestant family caught up in the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1969.  In others, it’s a heartfelt account of a cosseted childhood in the bosom of grandparents and scads of cousins.  This family is one of a few Protestant ones on a one-block street of Catholics, but these folks know each other and mostly get along.  Ten-year old Buddy is the focus, and daily life is viewed through his perspective.  His father works away in England coming home every few weeks, his mother is the linchpin holding all together, and his grandparents provide solace, words of wisdom, and sometimes questionable advice. 

It’s Kenneth Branagh’s warmhearted paean to his hometown. The cast is wonderful with Jude Hill as captivating Buddy, Caitriona Bafe as his mother, Judi Dench as Granny, and Ciaran Hinds as Pop.  The soundtrack with music by Van Morrison is memorable, especially for anyone of that era. 

Tick, Tick… BOOM! (Netflix)

Jon at the diner (theatlantic.com)

Tick, Tick… is Lin Manuel-Miranda’s debut as a director, and the film is based on Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical.  Larson, played here by Andrew Garfield, won fame for his groundbreaking musical, Rent. Feeling pressured to have a success before 30, Larson at 29 is struggling and agonizing over composing the final song for a musical he’s writing.  In the process, he neglects his friends, puts off his loyal girlfriend, and wonders if he should be doing something other than working in a diner and not making any headway.  

Even though the Chief Penguin and I saw a very fine production of Rent, I was not familiar with Larson’s history.  Overall, the film is enjoyable light fare and perfect for a gray morning.

Spencer (Amazon Prime $)

Kristen Stewart as Diana (imbd.com)

If you’re looking to be entertained, this is probably not the film for you.  If you’re curious about this psychological fable or fairy tale about Princess Diana, then be prepared for grand settings, disturbing fantasies, and a lost princess.  Celebrating Christmas at Sandringham, Diana is distraught, seeing visions of Anne Boleyn, seeking to visit her childhood home, and sympathetically treated only by her dresser.  This is Diana untethered.  

It’s an often painful film to watch and yet still absorbing.  And, the ending may well surprise you—it did me.  I found Kristen Stewart believable as Diana. Prince Charles is played by Jack Farthing with a permanent sneer on his face, for me evoking memories of him as the evil George Warleggan in Poldark.

Tomorrow is Christmas Day. May it be a joyous and healthy holiday for all who celebrate. Merry Merry Christmas!

Note: The header photo is of my mother’s Christmas tree some years ago. She loved the color red and Christmas gave her another excuse to use it liberally.

Manhattan & Covid, Dec. 2021

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MANHATTAN–THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS

Full of optimism for being able to celebrate Christmas this year in person with our son and family, we flew to New York a week ago.  The first few days were lovely—spring-like temperatures hovering around 60, dining in favorite eateries, and spending time after school with our marvelous granddaughters.  As we watched the Covid-19 case numbers climb and observed the long, around-the-corner lines at Covid testing sites, we became a bit concerned.  

We stayed off the subway, we did not go to Rockefeller Center to see the always beautiful Christmas tree, and we did not get tickets for any museums.  Instead, we restricted ourselves to eating dinner indoors, often early, at our handful of favorite restaurants.  Going early, we avoided large numbers of diners and generally got great service.  One day we walked 60 plus blocks for exercise, and on another, we strolled in a lightly populated Central Park.  We were staying in comfortable digs, so reading and watching the occasional new film kept us occupied.  

Yesterday, that changed when a family member tested positive for Covid.  More concerned, and feeling vulnerable at our ages, we made the hard decision to leave town and return to Florida. Alas, it will be another Christmas shared via Zoom.  Perhaps 2022 will be better and next Christmas, we can once more celebrate in person!  In the meantime, we prize our current good health and will do what we can to preserve it. 

COMPELLING NEW FILM

The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

Peter, Phil, George, Rose (theplaylist.net)

Jane Campion’s new film has been getting a lot of attention and mostly praise.  Set in Montana in 1925, it’s the story of two brothers, Phil and George, and George’s new wife Rose and son Peter.  George is the owner of the ranch and seemingly ineffectual while Phil is “cowboy” personified and a mean cuss.  Phil berates his brother regularly, calling him “Fatso.”  When George marries Rose, Phil turns his venom on her and initially bullies medical student and aspiring surgeon Peter.  

Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant with a commanding presence as Phil.  He seems to be the one in charge and in control of events.  Phil teaches Peter how to ride and makes him a rawhide rope in scenes with erotic undercurrents.  How the relations between these four characters play out is shown in acts like a play, and the ending will surprise you.  Only in retrospect did I appreciate the clues that were laid out from the beginning.  Peter is a much more complex individual than he appears as is Phil.  

The cinematography is gorgeous showcasing the wide-open spaces of the west and the smallness of one man against such a vast horizon.  I look forward to watching this film a second time.  Highly recommended!

NEW FICTION–SUCCESSOR TO THE MORLAND DYNASTY

The Secrets of Ashmore Castle by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Author Harrod-Eagles (goodreads.com)

For some of us, maybe Americans in particular, Harrod-Eagles’ long series, The Morland Dynasty, was a way to easily absorb the sweep of British history from the 15th to the 20th centuries.  I have read nearly all 35 novels about the successive generations of Morlands and found them fascinating.  That series seems to have ended in 1931, and now there is a first novel in a new series.

The Secrets of Ashmore Castle introduces the Tallant family and the sons and daughters of the late Earl of Stainton.  As the oldest son and the newest earl, Giles has a duty to marry and to marry well.  His father left the estate in disarray and in poor shape financially so Giles needs to find a rich bride. He meets Kitty Bayfield and her friend Nina Sanderton and becomes engaged to one of them.  The house and stable servants also have a role to play, think Upstairs Downstairs, and have dreams and aspirations of their own.  

This first novel covers the courtship and events leading up to and including Giles’ wedding from several different perspectives.  Harrod-Eagles has a keen eye for detail, and you get a real sense of the social niceties and rules governing behavior in 1900 Britain.  Recommended for fans of historical fiction. (~JWFarrington)

Note: Header photo is the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center we didn’t see (people.com).

Tidy Tidbits: The Local Scene

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CONCERT EXPERIENCE

Frisson Ensemble

We ventured to Sarasota for a Christmas musical performance in the Sarasota Opera House last Sunday evening. We felt comfortable going since the production was following the SafeArtsSarasota protocols requiring masks and either a negative Covid test or showing your Covid vaccine card.  We thought there might be a line to get in, given the document checking, and were surprised there wasn’t one.  Also, we were disappointed that such a small crowd overall was in attendance.  Plenty of empty seats and no problem with social distancing!

The performers were instrumentalists comprising an ensemble called Frisson from New York.  Violin, viola, cello, string bass, clarinet, oboe, flute, and bassoon were all represented.  Except for the leader/conductor, these were young musicians, rising stars.  I was particularly taken with the playing of David Gallant, oboist and conductor, and Remy Taghavi on bassoon.  The pieces ranged from dances from The Nutcracker to a selection of familiar and lesser-known carols.  Unfortunately, the lack of a captive audience made for a somewhat flat event despite the talent on display.  

DINING OUT

Rosemary & Thyme

It had been a while since we last dined at Rosemary & Thyme, and we were pleased to return.  This time we opted for an inside table rather than outside, but noted that their outdoor patio was full, nicely lighted, and with heat lamps against the evening’s chill.  Elias was our enthusiastic waiter, and he took good care of us.  The guys sampled specialty cocktails while J. and I had chardonnay.  Among the four of us, we ordered Caesar salads, battered mushrooms, and fish chowder followed by fried calamari, halibut, salmon, and the fresh catch which was swordfish.  The fish entrees were on a bed of mixed vegetables and risotto.  All very tasty!  The restaurant is located on Orange Street, Sarasota, in the Rosemary District and serves breakfast and lunch.

FOOTNOTE

I commented on Huma Abedin’s memoir, Both/And in an earlier post before I had finished reading it.  It is excellent!  She is one smart, savvy woman and her account of her professional life working for Hillary Clinton is impressive and fascinating.  She provides a much warmer, richer portrait of the former First Lady and Secretary of State than has often been the case.  Abedin does not stint on sharing her own mistakes and faults either.  Raised in and practicing her Muslim faith, she somewhat naively gives husband Anthony Weiner the benefit of the doubt several times as their marriage unravels. One gains an understanding of why she was initially compelled to stay with him.  It’s a long book but a rewarding one.  I look forward to watching how the rest of Abedin’s life unfolds.  Highly recommended! (~JWFarrington)

Note: Header photo is the Sarasota Opera House (hungarytoday.hu)