Recommended by HW patron (one who listens to books on CD); he also suggested I read Streets of Laredo, by McMurtry (after I told him we'd watched
,
Friday, July 31, 2015
Friday, March 27, 2015
Castro's secrets
12/18/14: interesting context added on 12/17/14 by Obama ordering normalizing diplomatic relations
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
House on Dream Street
http://bit.ly/1gyFMsH
The house on Dream Street : memoir of an American woman in Vietnam / by Dana Sachs. 959.7 S
found on display case at PN on 5/27/14; seems quite interesting
The house on Dream Street : memoir of an American woman in Vietnam / by Dana Sachs. 959.7 S
found on display case at PN on 5/27/14; seems quite interesting
The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
Kirkus: The novel is slow to build but eloquent and assured, with memorable characters, not least a Russian cracker-barrel philosopher who delivers a reading of God that Mordecai Richler might applaud. A standout--and well worth the wait
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
A Child of Christian Blood
'A Child of Christian Blood,' by Edmund Levin: Book Review
cf: google doc of same namehttps://docs.google.com/
|
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Jimmy P.
This demanding but highly
absorbing two-hander showcases Benicio Del Toro and Mathieu Amalric at the top
of their craft (http://bit.ly/1AmmKfr -
Hollywood Reporter)
The last rites of Joe May
Ebert: 3.5 stars out of 4
You meet guys like Joe May. They can get you a price on some merchandise that fell off the back of some truck. in the performance of his career, Dennis Farina depicts the type flawlessly in "The Last Rites of Joe May." He looks into the type and sees the man inside: proud, weary, fearful.
You meet guys like Joe May. They can get you a price on some merchandise that fell off the back of some truck. in the performance of his career, Dennis Farina depicts the type flawlessly in "The Last Rites of Joe May." He looks into the type and sees the man inside: proud, weary, fearful.
Friday, February 6, 2015
2 biographies of Rebels
Clouds of glory : the life and legend of Robert E. Lee. Michael Korda
Kirkus Reviews
A masterful biography of the beloved Civil War general. Former Simon & Schuster editor in chief and acclaimed biographer Korda (Hero: Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia, 2010) is well-acquainted with heroes of the ages and has learned to present his subjects as true human beings with foibles, faults and failures. Robert E. Lee's (1807-1870) days at West Point showed him to be a master engineer and master of maneuvers, talents borne out in the Mexican-American War and in the making of St. Louis as an important port on the Mississippi River. Those abilities came into play throughout the Civil War, as he built the defenses for Northern Virginia that protected it when all seemed lost. George Washington was Lee's idol, and during his schooling, he discovered the writings of Napoleon, which he applied throughout his life — especially the use of speed, audacity and élan to defeat an army twice the size of his forces. Lee was a member of one of Virginia's oldest families, and his devotion was to his state, family and country, in that order. He felt that secession was unmerited and that slavery should not be extended but be allowed to dwindle away. Korda's clear descriptions of Lee's battles illuminate his closest subordinates, especially Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet, his curious methods of leading and his incredible patience. The author also points out that, as a gentleman, Lee would never raise his voice in anger, and he avoided confrontation and gave his orders as "if practicable"—unfortunately, that became a way out for those who disagreed with his strategies and "knew better." It was Lee who kept the South going as his barefoot army starved and froze but followed him with unqualified devotion. Lee is a man for the ages, and Korda delivers the goods with this heart-wrenching story of the man and his state. Readers with the stamina for long biographies should follow this book with S.G. Gwynne's biography of Stonewall Jackson, Rebel Yell, to publish in September. Copyright Kirkus 2014 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.
Rebel yell: the violence, passion, and redemption of Stonewall Jackson, S.C. Gwynne
{from 6/23/14}
Kirkus Reviews
A masterful biography of the beloved Civil War general. Former Simon & Schuster editor in chief and acclaimed biographer Korda (Hero: Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia, 2010) is well-acquainted with heroes of the ages and has learned to present his subjects as true human beings with foibles, faults and failures. Robert E. Lee's (1807-1870) days at West Point showed him to be a master engineer and master of maneuvers, talents borne out in the Mexican-American War and in the making of St. Louis as an important port on the Mississippi River. Those abilities came into play throughout the Civil War, as he built the defenses for Northern Virginia that protected it when all seemed lost. George Washington was Lee's idol, and during his schooling, he discovered the writings of Napoleon, which he applied throughout his life — especially the use of speed, audacity and élan to defeat an army twice the size of his forces. Lee was a member of one of Virginia's oldest families, and his devotion was to his state, family and country, in that order. He felt that secession was unmerited and that slavery should not be extended but be allowed to dwindle away. Korda's clear descriptions of Lee's battles illuminate his closest subordinates, especially Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet, his curious methods of leading and his incredible patience. The author also points out that, as a gentleman, Lee would never raise his voice in anger, and he avoided confrontation and gave his orders as "if practicable"—unfortunately, that became a way out for those who disagreed with his strategies and "knew better." It was Lee who kept the South going as his barefoot army starved and froze but followed him with unqualified devotion. Lee is a man for the ages, and Korda delivers the goods with this heart-wrenching story of the man and his state. Readers with the stamina for long biographies should follow this book with S.G. Gwynne's biography of Stonewall Jackson, Rebel Yell, to publish in September. Copyright Kirkus 2014 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.
Rebel yell: the violence, passion, and redemption of Stonewall Jackson, S.C. Gwynne
{from 6/23/14}
a Documentarian and Pioneering Journalist
William
Greaves, a producer and director who helped bring an African-American
perspective to mainstream America as a host of the groundbreaking
television news program “Black Journal” and as a documentary filmmaker,
died on Monday at his home in Manhattan. He was 87.
His daughter-in-law Bernice Green confirmed his death.
Mr.
Greaves was well known for his work as a documentarian focusing on
racial issues and black historical figures. In his later years he was
equally known for his most uncharacteristic film, “Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One.”
Made in 1968, it mixed fact and fiction in a complex film-within-a-film
structure that made it a tough sell commercially, and it waited almost
four decades for theatrical release. When it finally had one, in 2005,
it was warmly praised as ahead of its time.
The Rescue
From obit in NY Times, 26 August 2014:
Walter Mazzone Dies at 96; Directed Navy Underwater Feats
Capt. Walter F. Mazzone played a pivotal role in two underwater Navy exploits during the 20th century. In World War II, he kept a waterlogged submarine from going belly up while it was carrying 40 Americans rescued from the Philippines. Twenty years later he helped organize the first Sealab tests of human endurance at crushing ocean depths — conducting the first tests on himself — which established the deepwater diving protocols still used by military and commercial divers today.
Book: Sealab: America’s Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor
Walter Mazzone Dies at 96; Directed Navy Underwater Feats
Capt. Walter F. Mazzone played a pivotal role in two underwater Navy exploits during the 20th century. In World War II, he kept a waterlogged submarine from going belly up while it was carrying 40 Americans rescued from the Philippines. Twenty years later he helped organize the first Sealab tests of human endurance at crushing ocean depths — conducting the first tests on himself — which established the deepwater diving protocols still used by military and commercial divers today.
Book: Sealab: America’s Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
You are here
He's the astronaut that did the great version of Space Oddity
by Chris Hadfield, astronaut. Saw him on TV week 0f 11/10/14
by Chris Hadfield, astronaut. Saw him on TV week 0f 11/10/14
Story of the Jews: Schama
heard about book from Phil Ritzenberg on Sunday 3/30/14, at Susan di Sciora's retirement dinner. He said it'd been reviewed in the Sunday Times.
Also made into a film, or TV program.
Also made into a film, or TV program.
Ben Bradlee
ncludes lines:
Mr. Bradlee’s tactics were also simple: “Hire people smarter than you are” and encourage them to bloom. His energy and his mystique were infectious.
Mr. Bradlee had a notoriously short attention span. He rarely dug into the details of an issue himself, leaving that to the people he had hired. He managed The Post newsroom with a combination of viscera and intellect, often judging people by his personal reaction to them. He or she “makes me laugh” was perhaps Mr. Bradlee’s greatest compliment. He never enjoyed the minutiae of management and spent as little time on administrative work as he could get away with.
Although he graduated from St. Mark’s School and Harvard University, the Navy left as much of a mark on Mr. Bradlee as did his early life among Boston’s WASP aristocracy. The Navy taught him to swear, as well as to respect talent wherever it appeared.
Mrs. Graham had said as much herself. In one of the end-of-year letters she and Mr. Bradlee came to exchange annually — warm, intimate notes of mutual appreciation — she wrote: “Over the years, I have been spoiled by you and I hope most of the time, it’s been reciprocated, in sharing the best, most productive, rewarding working combo that I’ve had or even know of. And best of all, it’s been fun.”
Mr. Bradlee’s tactics were also simple: “Hire people smarter than you are” and encourage them to bloom. His energy and his mystique were infectious.
Mr. Bradlee had a notoriously short attention span. He rarely dug into the details of an issue himself, leaving that to the people he had hired. He managed The Post newsroom with a combination of viscera and intellect, often judging people by his personal reaction to them. He or she “makes me laugh” was perhaps Mr. Bradlee’s greatest compliment. He never enjoyed the minutiae of management and spent as little time on administrative work as he could get away with.
Although he graduated from St. Mark’s School and Harvard University, the Navy left as much of a mark on Mr. Bradlee as did his early life among Boston’s WASP aristocracy. The Navy taught him to swear, as well as to respect talent wherever it appeared.
Mrs. Graham had said as much herself. In one of the end-of-year letters she and Mr. Bradlee came to exchange annually — warm, intimate notes of mutual appreciation — she wrote: “Over the years, I have been spoiled by you and I hope most of the time, it’s been reciprocated, in sharing the best, most productive, rewarding working combo that I’ve had or even know of. And best of all, it’s been fun.”
Sosúa
http://goo.gl/3rzLjy
* read email from Forum on Migration (http://goo.gl/a69gxT). Tried to recall whom I had contacted (just remembered: José Moya: https://barnard.edu/profiles/jose-moya).
* searched my gmail for forum, and came up with https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#label/Forum+on+Migration/127876818b889453
* mentions boom "Dominican Haven," which 2 libraries own; it has subject heading of Jews -- Dominican Republic -- Sosúa.
* and right below it is a subject heading: Jews -- Dominican Republic -- Sosúa -- Fiction. : Sidransky, A. J.
* which is this book
* read email from Forum on Migration (http://goo.gl/a69gxT). Tried to recall whom I had contacted (just remembered: José Moya: https://barnard.edu/profiles/jose-moya).
* searched my gmail for forum, and came up with https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#label/Forum+on+Migration/127876818b889453
* mentions boom "Dominican Haven," which 2 libraries own; it has subject heading of Jews -- Dominican Republic -- Sosúa.
* and right below it is a subject heading: Jews -- Dominican Republic -- Sosúa -- Fiction. : Sidransky, A. J.
* which is this book
August: Osage County
from "New Yorker" January 13, 2014 issue:
The director John Wells’s adaptation of Tracy Letts’s play sits awkwardly on the screen. Set in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in 2007, the main body of the movie takes place after Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard), a onetime poet and full-time alcoholic, has committed suicide. His widow, Violet Weston (Meryl Streep), a malevolent and witty pill-head, zonked half the time but devastating when she’s in focus, remains in the house, triumphant that she has survived her husband. Violet is joined by her three daughters—an unhappy cynic (Julia Roberts), a bland saint (Julianne Nicholson), and a ditz with dreadful taste in men (Juliette Lewis)—and a variety of husbands and children. The structural lines of the play remain clear. Boy, are they clear—virtually every scene cries, “This is a play!” The characters are boxed in by the fixed setting, by closeups and reaction shots, and by the inexorable pace of the editing; Streep, hardening her voice, shouting, and speaking some lines with whacking emphasis, gives a rare bad performance. Roberts is first-rate as the unhappy daughter who is horrified to find herself turning into her mother.—David Denby (1/6/14) (In limited release.)
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone likes it better: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/august-osage-county-20131224
The director John Wells’s adaptation of Tracy Letts’s play sits awkwardly on the screen. Set in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in 2007, the main body of the movie takes place after Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard), a onetime poet and full-time alcoholic, has committed suicide. His widow, Violet Weston (Meryl Streep), a malevolent and witty pill-head, zonked half the time but devastating when she’s in focus, remains in the house, triumphant that she has survived her husband. Violet is joined by her three daughters—an unhappy cynic (Julia Roberts), a bland saint (Julianne Nicholson), and a ditz with dreadful taste in men (Juliette Lewis)—and a variety of husbands and children. The structural lines of the play remain clear. Boy, are they clear—virtually every scene cries, “This is a play!” The characters are boxed in by the fixed setting, by closeups and reaction shots, and by the inexorable pace of the editing; Streep, hardening her voice, shouting, and speaking some lines with whacking emphasis, gives a rare bad performance. Roberts is first-rate as the unhappy daughter who is horrified to find herself turning into her mother.—David Denby (1/6/14) (In limited release.)
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone likes it better: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/august-osage-county-20131224
Berlin: Portrait of a City Through the Centuries
from https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=cm&pli=1#inbox/14aa9d9b1b912dca
All the Light in the Sky
Still not in OPAC. The name Swanberg suddenly popped out at me: I saw an interview with him an his wife, also an indie film maker, recently on TV. He does have other foms that are in the system.
Richard Brody New Yorker review, 23 & 30 December 2013 issue:
The director Joe Swanberg draws magic from a magical location—an oceanfront enclave of homes perched alluringly above the lapping waters of the Pacific and doomed by erosion. There, Marie (Jane Adams), a forty-five-year-old actress, serenely floats on the passing time as she does, in a wetsuit, on the shimmering sea below. Awaiting roles that have more or less stopped coming, dreaming of love that never clicks, she hosts her niece from New York, Faye (Sophia Takal), a young actress. In flowing days and evenings of lunches and parties with friends and neighbors, Marie and Faye talk through and play out shudderingly big questions—the prospect of marriage and children, the artistic calling, the weight of family history. Adams (one of the secret heroines of the recent cinema) and Takal—aided by nimble cohorts, including Larry Fessenden, Kent Osborne, Lindsay Burdge, and Ti West—bring a calm, focussed urgency to every chat and tussle. With his solar measurements and celestial allusions, the real-life environmental entrepreneur David Siskind gives the drama a cosmic context, and Swanberg, who is also the cinematographer, makes luminous images to match.—Richard Brody (In limited release and video on demand.)
/Nowhere to be found:/ 4/17/14.
Richard Brody New Yorker review, 23 & 30 December 2013 issue:
The director Joe Swanberg draws magic from a magical location—an oceanfront enclave of homes perched alluringly above the lapping waters of the Pacific and doomed by erosion. There, Marie (Jane Adams), a forty-five-year-old actress, serenely floats on the passing time as she does, in a wetsuit, on the shimmering sea below. Awaiting roles that have more or less stopped coming, dreaming of love that never clicks, she hosts her niece from New York, Faye (Sophia Takal), a young actress. In flowing days and evenings of lunches and parties with friends and neighbors, Marie and Faye talk through and play out shudderingly big questions—the prospect of marriage and children, the artistic calling, the weight of family history. Adams (one of the secret heroines of the recent cinema) and Takal—aided by nimble cohorts, including Larry Fessenden, Kent Osborne, Lindsay Burdge, and Ti West—bring a calm, focussed urgency to every chat and tussle. With his solar measurements and celestial allusions, the real-life environmental entrepreneur David Siskind gives the drama a cosmic context, and Swanberg, who is also the cinematographer, makes luminous images to match.—Richard Brody (In limited release and video on demand.)
/Nowhere to be found:/ 4/17/14.
Visible City
Kirkus: This dark, witty, if slightly overstructured comedy about deceptive appearances evolves into a moving examination of intimacy's limitations
Friday, January 23, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
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