---Helen Keller
Although I definitely have left brain tendencies, the creative right side of my brain usually wins the battle. My love of the arts encompasses all aspects of that field, and each aspect has the ability to evoke the strongest of emotions in me. Anything that awakens our emotions enriches our lives, and Arthur and I have luckily been able to instill those feelings in our children. Beth uses creativity in every aspect of her teaching, and although Mike's vocation (Psychologist) isn't necessarily creative, his avocation of film-making allows him to express that side of his personality beautifully.
I was listening to a female vocalist several days ago, and I realized that while I enjoy her music, something is missing. When I think of those who sing from their souls, I think of Barbra Streisand, and Andre Bocelli. They both bring tears to my eyes as I listen to them express themselves vocally. I get a similar emotion when listening to several violinists and Jazz saxophone players.
When I was a teenager, I would look at the paintings of big eyed children done by Margaret Keene and well up with emotion. In later years, Marc Chagall felt somewhat relatable to me, and his messages grabbed my heart. Ten years ago, when I vacationed in Italy and first laid eyes on Michelangelo's David, I was truly awestruck. I stood for longer than I should have, moved by the amazing piece of himself that the artist shared with us.
Movies have also brought me to many emotional levels. I remember watching Mikhail Baryshnikov dance in "White Nights" in 1985, and completely losing myself in each scene. For some reason, Dustin Hoffman grabbed my heart in "The Graduate", and he never let go. Of course "Terms of Endearment" got me so worked up, that Art had to lead me home because my eyes swelled shut from crying.
Since books have always been a major influence in my life, it is the written word that evokes the strongest emotions in me. Shakespeare's words never fail to tug at my heart, and Martin Luther King Jr. could certainly turn a phrase. Reading Erich Segal's best seller, Love Story when I was newly married was not smart. It took days for me to recover. My favorite authors today are the ones who make me laugh, cry or scream. It is our emotions that make our lives complete, and I will continue to hunt out the authors that touch me.
David Rosenfelt always makes me happy, and his newest Andy Carpenter book, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is no exception. Watching Andy and his gang get into (and out of) jams while solving canine involved crimes will make any reader smile.
Meanwhile, Death Penalty by Wlliam J. Coughlin kept my heart beating just a bit faster than normal as his protagonist continues fighting the good fight to see that justice prevails. Two very good books to keep you occupied this next week.
As always, full reviews of both books will follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly