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Thru My Looking Glass

12/27/2019

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The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation”
—-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


Last week I wrote about art, so I decided to connect it with my other love...literature. As a teacher I was determined to give each of my students a love of reading. That is not an easy task in high school, after habits have been ingrained, but my love of the written word has gotten me through so many tough times that I knew I had to pass it on to my students.

First of all I had to make them understand that reading was personal, and they didn’t have to like the same books I liked or the ones their family chose. They had to find the words that spoke to them. Those words could have been written by Shakespeare, Poe or Charles Schultz for all I cared, as long as those words spoke to the reader. It could have been in fiction, non-fiction, poetry or graphic novel format. The only rule was that it had to hit you on an emotional level and make you feel something.

Unfortunately, the very nature of our curriculum in high school English fed into the students’ fears of reading. We had to insist the students told us “what the author meant in this piece, “ or “ what would be a good title for this story.” The problem is that there is not one good title or just one interpretation of what the author means.
Let’s take one of my favorite poems, for example...

The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


As a young student I was sure Frost was happy with his choice. After all, it felt right...it has made all the difference. More recently I reread it for the millionth time and saw the words “I shall be telling this with a sigh,” and it hit me. A sigh. He regretted his choice...but wait...it could have been a sigh of contentment. Maybe I was right from the beginning. Since Robert Frost is long gone, it is difficult to really know what was in his mind when he wrote those words, but the curriculum insisted that my students pick the “correct” answer. My solution was to tell them what the teacher’s edition told me was the correct answer to put down on an exam but encourage them to think outside the box everywhere other than the test. Their creative answers during discussions were the true critical thinking moments that a teacher looks for, and no answer was ever wrong during discussion time.

The love of literature does more than entertain us. It strengthens our minds and lightens our souls. It takes us on adventures we could never experience otherwise, and it helps us to plan for those adventures that are actually within our reach. With all of the electronic competition that today’s youth is being introduced to, a simple book seems hardly worth the effort to them. They don’t realize just how much fun their imaginations can be after being spoon-fed their entertainment since their high chair days. It is time they realize the joy a book can bring.

The best way to teach your child to love literature is by example. Spend an hour reading with them instead of watching television or playing video cases. Have a family book club where you all read the same book and discuss it during family dinners. Extend their bed-times by a half hour if they spend the time reading. Buy them books, magazines, graphic novels...whatever it takes for them to wake up to the joy of reading.

Speaking of joy in reading, my review this week was a fun one. Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving by Mo Rocca was interesting and entertaining, giving us expanded information on people, places and things that we never knew we were lacking. Enjoy.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
​Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
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Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving by Mo Rocca

12/26/2019

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Genre: Non-Fiction
Click book cover for Amazon.com
Mo Rocca is an author, a corespondent, a television host and an all around funny guy. Apparently he has a podcast entitled "Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving", and he decided to use his research to write a book of the same name. It is resplendent with historical facts, tidbits of gossip and lots of laughs. Rocca’s style is easy to read, and his information is of interest to us all.

In Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving he expands the obituaries of people such as Thomas Paine, whose funeral drew a mere six mourners, while his contributions to America were boundless. He imagines what Bill Cosby’s obituary will be like, and he is apparently fascinated by Audrey Hepburn.

It is not just people who tickle his fancy. He tells us about dragons, mermaids and unicorns. We learn about sports teams and sports figures, and we are told a bit about the station wagon. Even Frankenberry cereal gets a nod in Rocca’s book. Apparently when the cereal was first introduced, the dye in it turned children’s stools strawberry ice cream pink. Children loved it, parents were horrified and General Mills had to find a new dye.

On a personal note I enjoyed the stories he told about historical figures the most, but everything he wrote was interesting, and I learned more than I thought I would when I first picked up the book. In fact, I am going to search out that podcast later today.

- Beverly
​

Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Date of Publication - November 5, 2019
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Thru My Looking Glass

12/20/2019

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Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
—-Cesar A. Cruz

Arthur and I have always loved art, and we are eclectic in our taste. I suppose if I was forced to chose, Impressionism would be my favorite, but each style is captivating in its own way. It fascinates me when five people look at the same painting, and everyone sees something totally different in it. As in most things in life, who we are interprets what we see, and this can lead to some very lively discussions around a museum offering.

Our taste in art can certainly change through the years, too. I never liked the pre-renaissance and renaissance section of any museum. I found them unbearably stuffy until I walked through the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy with a guide who truly loved his job. He made the paintings come alive and showed us what the artists were trying to convey behind the obvious fat cherubs and religious figures. While I wouldn’t chose to hang one in my home, my appreciation for Botticelli and his ilk has grown by leaps and bounds.

Then there is the abstract art of Jackson Pollack. I am still trying to get there with his designs. Don’t get me wrong, his method was fascinating. He would lay a canvas down and splash household paint onto the horizontal surface. This allowed him to view and painting from all angles. Maybe it was his color choices, but his work always looks like my counter after I attempt to polish my own fingernails with leftover polish. On the other hand, some people can stare at his work for hours.

That is the beauty of art. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, which brings me to Miami earlier this month. For art lovers, Miami is a dream city. The Art Deco style of South Beach, with its abundance of colors and architecture is an experience waiting to be explored. Meanwhile, the city of Miami offers so many little artistic enclaves where buildings act as canvases and artists express themselves for a waiting public.

Miami also attracts exhibitions several times a year, with the biggest event of all...Art Basel. For those who are unfamiliar, Art Basel presents in three locations throughout every year...Hong Kong, China, Basel, Switzerland, and Miami, Florida. According to their literature:
“In our American show, leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa show significant work from the masters of modern and contemporary art, as well as the new generation of emerging stars. Paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, films, and editioned works of the highest quality are on display in the main exhibition hall.”

While Art Basel goes on each year in Miami, another well thought of exhibition of art takes place. Art Miami is populated with the works of amazing artists whose pieces are shown in various locations throughout the area. According to their literature:
“Art Miami maintains a preeminent position in America's modern and contemporary art fair market and is globally recognized as a primary destination for the acquisition of the most important works from the 20th and 21st centuries.”

We look forward to our art adventure in Miami each December and find new artists to follow each year. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend this year, but it apparently kept its reputation of presenting the extraordinary. As much as I believe that there is value in all art, I am wondering if Marizio Cattelan's "Comedian" is perhaps “The Emperor’s New Clothing” of the Art world. This artist, who often aims for a bit of shock value, sold several editions of this piece at Art Basel. “Comedian” is simply a ripe banana duct taped to the wall. Going price...$120,000. Yikes! The fact that the banana (purchased from a grocer in Miami) needs to be replaced every few days did not seem to deter the buyers.

Before you scoff and turn away, think about it. True art is meant to evoke our thoughts and conversation. Whether it is hanging in a museum in Paris or being sold on the street corner in Manhattan, if we are reflecting on its value as an art piece, than it is an art piece. Subversive street artist Banksy, whose art pieces are valued at tens of thousands of dollars set up a stand in NYC with many of his pieces. He priced them all at $60.00 and sat an anonymous gentleman next to the stand to sell his wares. No one realized that they were passing by original Banksy’s, and by the end of the day only three had sold. These same pieces in a museum would have been extolled as amazing art pieces.

Banksy’s pieces and Cattelan’s banana are as controversial in their way as Serrano’s Piss Christ was years ago. These pieces stimulated conversation. They angered some people and made others laugh. They were on display for our enjoyment and there to make us think. What better examples of art...something to be appreciated for its beauty or emotional power. Yep...for me Van Gogh delivers beauty and Cattelan delivers emotional power, and there is room enough in my world for both.

Words deliver emotional power too, and The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will do just that for you. This is a perfect gift for the young women in your life.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
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The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

12/19/2019

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​Genre: Non-Fiction
​Click book cover for Amazon.com
One can love Hillary Clinton or one can hate her, but no one can deny that she is a gutsy woman. She has always gone after what she wants with an unbroken focus, while always protecting those she loves. She shows the same courage and resilience that the women in this book do, and generations of girls will look up to her as they reach for the stars through the now broken glass ceiling.

Hillary and Chelsea realized the importance of having someone to look up to, and they realized that there aren’t enough books featuring women who have paved the way for us, our daughters and their daughters to follow. They decided to feature some of the strongest women in The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience, and I am learning so much as I read their stories.

Nancy Drew was my first hero, and although she was fictional, she demonstrated a strength that little girls needed to see. While other girls were simpering over their boyfriends, she was telling Ned what he needed to do to help her solve the cases she undertook. She taught me a great deal about being a strong woman, and I thank the Clintons for adding her to their collection.

Anne Sullivan, and her work with the indomitable Helen Keller made me realize the difference that a patient teacher can make in the lives of his/her students, and it was Annie, as much as my own mother (a college grad and teacher when most women were housewives) who sent me down my own path. When I lost patience in the classroom, I would think of Annie Sullivan and get my own act together. The Clintons addition of Helen and Annie was a no-brainer.

I like the way both women contributed throughout the book. Seeing things from both perspectives made for an interesting read. They chose women from all walks of life, some famous and some not, to show the reader the strength that women display. I enjoyed the quotes they presented from various women as each was introduced to us. It is so important for young girls to see role models that they can emulate. Astronaut Sally Ride’s quote, “you can’t be what you can’t see” is true for so many young people, even though many in this book broke ceiling after ceiling in their quest to the top.

This is a well written book that is fun to read. Unfortunately politics will stop some from purchasing this book, and that is a shame. My suggestion...a great book for every teen girl on your list.

- Beverly
​

Publisher - Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition
Date of Publication - ​October 1, 2019
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Thru My Looking Glass

12/13/2019

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”Cell phones are so convenient that they’re an inconvenience.”
—- Haruki Murakami


Julia Cho wrote an article in The Atlantic that resonated with me throughout the day. The topic, "How the Loss of the Landline Is Changing Family Life" is, in fact, one that my sister, Judy, and I talk about often. When we moved into our new community, we realized that most of the homes were without landlines. Everyone depends on their cell phones to stay connected and believe us strange for having both landlines and cell phones.

In today’s world it is difficult to get people to respect your wishes to be contacted on a landline. Doctors’ offices ask for both numbers, but no matter how many times I request they use my landline, it is the cell phone that interrupts me in a restaurant to deliver test results or remind me of an upcoming appointment. Last year I anxiously awaited test results for three days until I noticed the doctor had left them in a message on my cell. Since I often miss calls (I am not always tethered to my phone) and equally often forget to check my cellphone messages, it started to become a problem. Eventually I choose to not set up voicemail on my latest iPhone. This way people know that I didn’t get a message and call back.

I am not a Luddite. I have a computer, an iPad and an iPhone, and I am constantly amazed at the information that is at my fingertips. Sometimes though, I need a break. I want to go out for a “date” with Arthur without being interrupted by a friend who wants to chat or a solicitor who has an “amazing deal” just for me. I despise robocalls and don’t want them to disturb my time with the kids. I want friends and strangers to be able to leave a non-emergency message on my landline answering machine when I am away, and feel awkward disturbing others when they might be out. This has lead me to become somewhat telephone-phobic with friends who use their cellphones exclusively. I am so afraid that I am interrupting something that I have started communicating via text most of the time. How sad is that?

It is truly sad that we are slowly losing many forms of personal connections. Hearing someone’s words and inflections bring us closer to them. Hearing my daughter laugh is so much better than reading lol on my screen. Feeling my heart race a little when I hear Arthur’s voice on the other end of the line reminds me how much I love him. Hearing the smile in my son’s voice helps me know he is okay even though he is over 1200 miles away. Text messages take the emotion out of the connection. Anyone could by typing those words, and that will never take the place of “love ya, mom” in my ears and heart.

The family landline helped me keep a connection with my children’s friends when they were younger. When I answered the phone and it was one of Mike’s friends, I would ask how they were doing and we would chat for a minute or two before I called my son to the phone. I would get the opportunity to chat with Art’s friends and he would joke around With mine. There were connections. Now people call the person they want directly. No chance to get to know anyone else’s friends. I worry that it is too isolating to build a strong family structure.

Cellphones have become too important. We rely too much on constant long range communication, and it is getting in the way of family time. Recently, I watched a family sitting in a nice restaurant with their son who looked to be about four years old. He was eating while dad was doing something on his phone and mom was speaking on hers. I flashed back on our family restaurant adventures, and remembered the great conversations we shared. I love my iPhone, but it could never replace those memories. Hopefully, those parents will realize what they are missing and put away their phones before their son gets old enough to pull out his and shut them out without a second thought.

This week I used my iPad to read/review Trace of Evil, a novel by Alice Blanchard. It is an interesting mystery written by an author I never read before and will try again.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
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Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard

12/13/2019

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Genre: Mystery
​Click book cover for Amazon.com
Trace of Evil begins with sisters Natalie and Grace visiting their sister Willow’s grave as they do each year on her "deathaversery". Willow had been murdered twenty years before by a jealous boyfriend. We learn a bit about the past and protagonist police detective Natalie’s recent break-up as the girls catch up by their sister’s grave.

Natalie has been assigned a cold case involving a number of transients who disappeared years ago in upstate New York. At the same time she is assigned a new case involving the murder of the wife of a fellow detective, Daisy. She was a friend of Natalie’s, and the murderer seems to have been someone Daisy knew. Natalie sifts through possible suspects looking for answers. Could it be Daisy’s detective husband or one of her high school students?

I found the town itself, and it’s Wicca culture an interesting draw to the tale.  The story got a bit convoluted at times for me, and that slowed it down a bit, but for the most part I enjoyed the interweaving of characters and the ultimate conclusion.
​

This was my first Alice Blanchard mystery, and I will definitely try another.

Beverly
​

Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - December 3, 2019
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Thru My Looking Glass

12/6/2019

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"If you’re lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet, call them. Don’t text. Don’t email. Call them on the phone. Tell them you love them and listen to them for as long as they want to talk to you.”
—-J. k. Simmons

Thanksgiving is sadly in the rear view mirror as everyone prepares for the December holidays. During most years the week of Thanksgiving is my favorite week of the year. Son Michael comes for an amazing ten days and we re-explore all of the fun that South Florida has to offer. If you are planning a trip to my neck of the woods this winter, you shouldn’t miss Morikami Japanese gardens and Lion Country Safari.

Morikami offers about a one mile walk through the most beautifully manicured landscape you will ever experience. The hike is punctuated with waterfalls, peaceful zen gardens, several museums and a much loved Japanese restaurant. Tourists and locals alike explore the area in a respectful manner. Rarely do you see a person on a cell phone or a person littering, and the children seem to realize that this is a place for their inside voices.

Lion Country Safari, on the other hand, is a child’s fantasy. The first part is a slow drive ( (approximately 45-70 minutes) through the various African habitats that house an amazing collection of freely roaming animals. From zebras and wildebeest to rhinos the animals graze and wander about with no fear. The antelopes frolic in large herds and the lions (the only truly gated animals) are given lots of room to roam but generally prefer sunning themselves as cars drive by.

When the drive is over their is a walking area with miniature golf, boat rides, a small water park, giraffe feeding and smaller animals on display. The gift shop and restaurant help keep the kids satisfied, and rarely do you see an unhappy child. Although Lion Country is definitely child oriented, adults love it too. Arthur and I get yearly passes and drive through every few months. It is so much better then a zoo...no cages and much larger groups of the animals that live there.

This was a bittersweet Thanksgiving for our family. My dad, 95 years old and quite ill, died on November 22. He was a very vibrant senior citizen for most of his later life, taking full advantage of the activities offered to him in his senior life care community, but the last few months have been rough. Although his death was not a surprise, it is never easy to lose a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or friend, and his empty seat at Thanksgiving made it a difficult day. It would be nice to believe that he spent the day with my mom after being apart for seven years, but he was missed here.

That is why J. K. Simmons’ quote had a great deal of meaning for me this week. I can’t tell you how many times over the last few weeks I went to call my dad to check on him before remembering he was gone . Even though we talked almost every day, I still think of the days I skipped calling and wish I had them back. Our lives are busy, and it is easy to put off those phone calls or visits to those we love, because we believe there will always be another day. Forget any grudges or annoyances and enjoy your loved ones while you can. The holiday season is a great time to connect or reconnect.

It is also a great time to read. Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I highly recommend it as a gift for a friend or for yourself.

As always, a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
​Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
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Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey

12/6/2019

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Genre: Thriller
​Click book cover for Amazon.com
Morgan’s life changed forever when her husband took his own life. Nicole’s life forever changed years before, when the child she was babysitting died while Nicole napped.  While they never met, their lives would forever be linked and changed again on a subway platform, when Nicole throws her baby into Morgan’s arms and says “Keep her safe. Love her for me, Morgan,” and then jumps in front of a moving train.

Morgan is in shock as people run to her and the baby. How did this woman even know her name? Things happen quickly from this point on, and I had trouble putting the book down. Woman on the Edge alternates chapters between Nicole before the incident and Morgan after the incident, and author Bailey does a good job building the characters of these two women.

Although I figured out who the “bad guy” was pretty quickly, there were several strong possibilities along the way that kept me guessing if I was correct until the very end. Both characters are being blamed for things  they had no control over and have difficulty moving on with their lives. Bailey gives us a window into the dark paths of mental illness, and while it was often uncomfortable for the reader, it did bring an important reality to the story.

Although some of the situations and their conclusions seemed a bit preposterous, Bailey did an excellent job capturing her audience with a thrilling first chapter and then holding our interest throughout. Hopefully. we will see many more books from this talented writer.

- Beverly


Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Date of Publication - November 26, 2019
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