The Professor and the Madman: a Tale of murder, insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

The Professor and the Madman : a Tale of murder, insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester

The creation of the Oxford English Dictionary containing 414,825 definitions was begun in 1857 and took 70 years to complete.  The first edition of the OED was given to President Coolidge and is in the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum at Forbes Library.  The "Professor" is  James Murray, a former schoolmaster and bank clerk, and the editor and leader of the OED project. The "madman" is Dr. W. C. Minor, a retired American Civil War surgeon who was the largest contributor with over 10,000 entries to the OED project. Minor was an extraordinary contributor but he was also a murderer, clinically insane, and incarcerated in  Broadmoor, England's asylum for criminal lunatics. Winchester tells the history of the dictionary as well as the biographies of Murray and Minor.  While parts are long-winded, the story of the dictionary appeals to those who love words, books and libraries.  The biography of Minor appeals to those interested in the mind, behavior and psychology.  Readers who enjoy psychological fiction and are looking for a non-fiction book might also enjoy this.  

F for Fake [DVD]

F for Fake a film by Orson Welles

Join Orson Welles in a one of a kind cinematic experience that examines many shades of the truth. 1973's F for Fake is presented as an essay film; most definitely the first of its kind. Welles narrates the documentary often on camera with the appearance of a worldly travel host. While delivering literary quotations in a Brechtian style, interviewing subjects and delivering personal tales in his larger than life/life of the party personality, he incorporates a wide range of footage (including bit-lits from his recently abandoned projects) and edits various film formats in dramatic fashion.

At the heart of the movie, Welles discusses the parallels between notorious art forger Elmyr de Hory and the biographer Clifford Irving. Irving who settled in Ibiza working on the de Hory tale, later went on to create a fake of his own: a false biography of Hollywood tycoon Howard Hughes. The director weaves these and other scandals and also shines the light on his infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

Though the content in F for Fake is presented as fact, the masterful Welles, a fan of the slight of hand, cannot resist the urge to play with his audience.

Headquarters [CD]

Headquarters by the Monkees

To earn the Monkees the right to play on their own records, Michael Nesmith's fist had punch a wall accompanied with the threat "that could've been your face".  Thankfully the powers that be relented because Headquarters, the band's third release, is possibly their  most unified, spirited effort.  

And now a bit about the personnel... Nesmith handles much of the guitar duties, the classically trained Peter Tork plays keyboards, guitars, basses and banjos, Mickey Dolenz sits behind the drum kit and dabbles on the guitar and Davy Jones shakes a mean tambourine and maraca.  All four sing.  Producer Chip Talyor plays the occasional bass.

Michael Nesmith, asserting himself as the band's most prolific songwriter, contributes the twangiest of tunes including "Sunny Girlfriend" and "You Just May Be the One". Peter Tork writes "For Pete's Sake", the groovy number that became the track which rolled over the end credits of the band's television program.  Davy tackles the Hildebrand/Keller number "Early Morning Blues and Green" replete with Wurlitzer electric piano and a wild, distorted organ.  Mickey Dolenz sings and writes the psychedelic "Randy Scouse Git" (included on most Monkees "best of" compilations), a song that was inspired by the band's trip to London and hanging out with the original Fab Four.

Headquarters sounds like a band working together trying to find their sound.  It's garage, it's pop, it's joyful.  

How Music Works

How Music Works by David Byrne

"I think I managed to give a sense that the world of music is wider than my personal experience, but my experience figures in here too", David Byrne writes about his recent book How Music Works, and this statement gives you a very good idea of what you will find in this very enjoyable book. How Music Works explores the world of music through the experience of one musician's experiences and wide ranging thoughts. As a result, it is neither a comprehensive book on the nature of music nor a complete biography of its author, though it combines elements of both. Byrne explores the history of music and musical thought, the influence of technology and economics on music, the role of music in society, and the future of the music industry. Along the way we learn much of Byrne's career, his own approach to music, art, and performance in general.

Byrne is an excellent writer, and a man with wide ranging and interesting ideas. Reading How Music Works is a pleasure, and left me with an increased urge not only to explore more of his music and to read more of his writing (Forbes Library also owns his Bicylce Diaries), but most of all, to make more music of my own. It is, above all, David Byrne's unending enthusiasm for everyday creativity and for the participation of everyday people in the world of music that will make the greatest impression on you. A great book which will be enjoyed by music lovers of all types.

Waking Sleeping Beauty [DVD]

Waking Sleeping Beauty a film by Don Hahn

In Waking Sleeping Beauty, we go behind the doors of the Disney animation building and see an equal display of creative brilliance and management melodrama.  As the 1970's drew to a close, the legendary animation studio was producing anemic box office returns (by Disney standards) and those in charge of the purse strings viewed its limping continuation simply as a tribute to Walt's legacy.  Shifts in corporate leadership created new challenges to the once easy going, hippie-ish department and as a result, the company reached a range of highs and lows.

This film features interviews with animators, directors, composers and executives.  In addition, the curtain is lifted and we're granted access to all sorts of behind the scenes footage.  We see the animators at work and goofing around, early film cuts and cells, actors recording voice-overs, corporate lectures, between take banter of Michael Eisner's television introductions and even funeral speeches.  Waking Sleeping Beauty is a film for anyone who is interested in the history of the Disney empire and ever wondered how the magic is really created.  

The Eyre Affair [Book on CD]

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

The first title in the Thursday Next series, takes us to a slightly different version of Great Britain, around 1985, where time travel is routine, and people have cloned dodo birds has pets. Thursday is a member of Special Operations 27, the literary detective division. Her father is a member of the Chronoguard, and her uncle invents all kinds of interesting devices. Thursday is involved when original manuscripts get stolen, and the story line starts changing. Jane Eyre is kidnapped and Thursday has to enter the novel to try to track down the villain before any lasting harm occurs to the storyline. A love of literature and some acquaintance with Jane Eyre suggested. Surreal and funny with wonderful characters.

Susan Duerden was an engaging reader. 10 discs, 12 hours 15 minutes

Bobby Charles [Music CD]

 Bobby Charles by Bobby Charles

No album better represents the sound of a bunch of guys hanging out, having good times and recording music than Bobby Charles's  self-titled album.  Charles, celebrated for writing "See You Later Alligator" for Bill Haley and "Walking To New Orleans" for Fats Domino, found himself relaxing with The Band in Woodstock, New York in '71.  The circumstances for his east coast residence have something to do with a divorce and hiding out from a Nashville marijuana bust.

The Band (with Dr. John in tow) back Charles through a set of lazy melodies with New Orleans influence and a loose, country bounce.  With this all-star line-up, it's really not a shocker that the backing is as cool as can be.  However, it's Charles's voice that shines brightest.  There is a exceptional fullness and soul in each word that Charles projects and yet he sometimes gives the listener the impression that he's singing softly, almost narrating a local tale.  

The feeling of living out in the country, slowing down and finding peace are intertwining themes throughout Bobby Charles.  On "Small Town Talk", after a whistled intro, Charles croons "and it's small town talk, you know how people are/they can't stand to see someone else doing what they want to".  "Tennessee Blues", the album's closer, is also no exception to this sensibility.  The song is so perfect and timeless, one might imagine Charles ripped it from a book of standards at least 25 years earlier.  With one of my all time favorite vocal performances (Doug Sahm's version is definitely worth hearing as well), Charles sings:

Find me a spot on some mountain top

With lakes all around me

With valley and streams and birds in the trees

And lakes that surround me

A place I feel loose

A place I could lose these Tennessee Blues

The long earth

The long earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

As a longtime Pratchett fan, I was looking forward to a fantasy full of humor and parody.  This isn't it, but I've been drawn in and am still reading.  Stephen Baxter is known for his prolific science fiction novels.  The Long Earth posits an infinite number of other worlds just like ours, each in its own universe--except they are completely undeveloped by humans.  In the very near future, a reclusive scientist develops a way to step between worlds by building a "stepping" box so simple any teenager can make one.  Large numbers of people begin popping back and forth, creating complex consequences and changing the world(s) in ways that no one can keep up with.  I'm enjoying interesting characters such as 13-year-old Joshua, who is more comfortable in the primordial forest of other Earths than in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, and a computer in the shape of a vending machine named Lobsang who claims to be a reincarnated Tibetan motorcycle repairman.

Maigret and the Yellow Dog

Maigret and the Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon

A wine dealer is shot and wounded via gunfire through a mail slot, traces of poison are found at the Admiral Hotel, a mysterious waitress keeps reintroducing herself as the plot thickens, the footsteps of a giant are discovered, a doctor is having a nervous breakdown behind bars, the mayor is acting rather suspicious, a customs official is shot in the leg and a large, wandering yellow dog is present at the crime scenes.  What does it all mean???

Fear not, international mystery fan.  The laconic, pipe smoking, French speaking inspector Maigret is on the case!

Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano. [DVD]

Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano

I didn't learn to play New Orleans style piano watching this DVD. You might, if you are already a competent pianist, or simply more patient than I am, but this is a rewarding movie whether you intend to become rock and roll pianist or not. Dr. John is an amazing musician; when he plays it looks easy, but just try following along at the piano!

Dr. John looks relaxed (though often worried, as if something else is on his mind). At times he hardly seems to move—but the piano keys move, quickly, and in syncopation, and the music is wonderful. He plays Frankie and Johnnie, C. C. Rider, Blueberry Hill, and others, playing each in some flavor of the New Orleans Rock and Roll, Fats Domino inspired, playing for which he is known. We are given an overhead view of the piano keyboard, as well as a more conventional angle from the side, which lets you really appreciate the fluidity with which the Doctor plays, and is invaluable if you want to try playing his licks yourself. He breaks many of the tunes down, playing the left hand or right hand parts separately, slowing down the tempo, or demonstrating alternative turn around and improvisations. He discusses what riffs are easiest when accompanying your own voice, and briefly describes the interaction between the pianist and the other members of the band.

I really enjoyed this DVD. In fact, I think I'll probably revisit it in a few months—after I've practiced the piano a bit more!

Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys

Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys: the Songs That Tell Their Story by Mark Dillon

Mark Dillon's book is an entertaining look at fifty Beach Boys tunes.  The selections are listed chronologically and an admirer (most often a musician) shares a personal memory attached to each song.  Some contributors were colleagues and spent time with the guys, others grew up listening to the records.  The surviving Beach Boys are also among the fifty selected.  In addition to the recollections, Dillon provides historical recording notes, songwriting origins and wonderful Beach Boys factoids. 

Memorable bits for me come from the Byrd's Roger McGuinn on "Don't Worry Baby", Beach Boys session player Carol Kaye "California Girls", actress/musician Zooey Deschanel on "Wouldn't It Be Nice", director Cameron Crowe on "Feel Flows" and brief-Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin's take on "Sail on Sailor".

As a bonus track, here's a clip of one my favorite Beach Boys numbers:

 

Stones for Ibarra

Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
Stones for Ibarra tells the story of Sara and Richard Everton, who have moved from California to the remote and small village of Ibarra, Mexico to reopen Richard's grandfather's copper mine. They have been lured there by photographs and the tales of older relatives: "They have experienced the terrible persuasion of a great-aunt's recollections and adopted them as their own. They have not considered that memories are like corks left out of bottles. They swell. They no longer fit." Instead of the beautiful grounds and tennis courts, they come to a house which no longer has shingles and a mine that has been flooded. They persevere, and get the mine up and running, having a large affect on the village and villagers. We learn of Sara's experience with the villagers, although they always remain slightly apart, and her experience of her husband's illness.
One of the most remarkable things about this book is that it was published when the author was 73 and won the National Book Award, which means I still have time to publish my own novel!

Walk Away Walk Away Renée/ Pretty Ballerina [CD]

Walk Away Walk Away Renée/ Pretty Ballerina by The Left Banke

Fans of The Zombies, The Free Design or The Hollies will most likely enjoy the soft, baroque sounds of The Left Banke.  Though the two hits that divide up the album's title are the obvious stand outs, the entire recording is a strong set of 1960's magic. The arrangements throughout are harmonically sophisticated and borrow heavily from classical music.

This New York quintet sounds decidedly British and I'd liken Steve Martin Caro's voice to The Zombies frontman, Colin Blunstone.  Both singers have a perfect, gentle tenor with unbelievable range.  Martin Caro and many members of the group share songwriting and lead vocal duties.  Michael Brown, then a teenager, is responsible for the hits on the record.  He managed to compose music that blends youthful angst and longing with haunting melodies. 

Other highlights include "I've Got Something On My Mind" and "Shadows Breaking Over My Head", which come close to rivaling the title tracks.

I give this Left Banke album an A+++, eighteen stars, two thumbs up and three golden tickets.

The Artist [DVD]

The Artist

I had heard great things about Michel Hazanavicius' award winning silent film The Artist. How could I not have? The film won five Oscars, three Golden Globes, and a host of other awards and critical praise. And yet, I was nervous about seeing the film. A silent film made in 2011? Was it just a gimmick? Just a superficial imitation of an earlier error?

There is no doubt that the film is intended as an homage to older films. The film is presented in black and white and everything from the acting, to the intertitles, the score, and even the aspect ratio of the screen is designed to resemble the films of the silent era. And yet, the film feels quite modern, in part, because of the self-awareness it brings to its imitation, but also because the film looks at Hollywood in the late twenties in a manner which could only be done in hindsight. In many ways The Artist has more in common with Singing in the Rain, another great film about Hollywood's transition to talkies, than it does with any silent film.

And, much as with Singing in the Rain, you don't actually have to be familiar with films of the silent era to appreciate The Artist. The film is well made, the acting is great, the period costumes are a joy. The characters are larger than life, but sympathetic and likable. They are caricatures, but this is so well done as to be an asset.

I really enjoyed The Artist. It's funny, stylish, and clever. Recommended for film lovers or anyone looking for something a little different.

Living In The Material World

Living In The Material World by Olivia Harrison

The gorgeous and painstakingly assembled Living in the Material World book is a companion to the Martin Scorsese documentary of the same name.  It's a thoughtful collection photographs and essays with the subject being the late George Harrison.

Not only do we have large color and black and white photographs of George from childhood up until his last years, the book features the musician's handwritten letters and lyrics, personal photographs and collected ephemera.  His career as a musician, childhood, family life, friendships and spiritual life are recollected.  Scorsese, Paul Theroux, Eric Clapton and Dhani Harrison are among the many contributors.  Living in the Material World works both as a engrossing read and/or a picture flipper.

Trippin' with Terry Southern

Trippin' with Terry Southern: What I Think I Remember by Gail Gerber with Tom Lisanti

Gail Gerber's memoir recalls her time spent with the famous novelist and screenwriter Terry Southern (Dr. Strangelove, the Magic Christian, Blue Movie, Candy, etc.).  Despite the title, the book is not filled with madcap, drug taking adventures.  Rather, we see an intimate portrait of a couple's life together through a thirty year period.  It also focuses on Southern's idiosyncrasies, humor and career highs and lows.

Gerber, a stage actress and ballet dancer, also shares several of her professional and personal experiences ranging from early 60's appearances in Beach Ball, The Loved One and a couple of Elvis Presley films to life as a casual farmer.  

Trippin' with Terry Southern is an interesting memoir and is certainly essential read for Southern fans.  In addition, those who enjoy reading about 1960's and 70's escapades will be really enjoy the memoir... just peak at the back index to see a list of all of the exciting characters who will pop up (there's Dennis Hopper, Rip Torn and Stanley Kubrick just to name a few)!

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale [DVD]

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale a film by Richard Shepard

Though John Cazale isn't a household name, the five feature films he appeared in during his short life are movies that are regarded as perennial American classics.  The character actor can be found in The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deer Hunter.  To many he's "the guy who played Fredo", but to those who knew him and worked alongside, Cazale was an actor unlike any.

This short documentary consists of film clips, archival photos and footage and candid interviews from co-stars Meryl Streep (Streep and Cazale were also romantically involved), Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Gene Hackman.  Directors Francis Ford Coppola and Sidney Lumet and followers Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Rockwell are also featured providing analysis and admiration of Cazale's artistry.

After watching I Knew It Was You, I feel compelled to revisit these films and look a little closer at this mysterious supporting character.

Moonstruck [DVD]

Moonstruck a film by Norman Jewison

 

Norman Jewison's Moonstruck is a film that's been on cable television throughout much of my life, sitting on the shelves of various video stores and more recently, hanging out in the Forbes Library.  The box artwork featuring Cher with her outstretched arms has always rubbed me the wrong way, perhaps signalling some sort of a cheeseball factor.

Recently I read an interview with director Wes Anderson where he discussed his favorite New York films and to my surprise Moonstruck made the cut.  Jewison, who was a mentor to Hal Ashby, directs a delightful, modern day fairy tale filled with comedy, romance, beautiful and subtle camera work, brilliant character actor performances and just the right amount of nostalgia.  Also standing out is the pitch-perfect dialog.  John Patrick Shanley (other credits include Joe Vs. the Volcano and Doubt) creates a somewhat realistic family unit that is forever bickering with one another.  

The story: Loretta (Cher), who has recently agreed to marry Johnny (Danny Aielo), is asked to track down her fiance's estranged brother Ronny (Nicholas Cage) and invite him to their upcoming wedding.  While Johnny is in Italy tending to his ailing mother, Loretta and Ronny wind up having an intense love affair.  Chaos ensues!!!  We also have Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia and John Mahoney in memorable supporting roles.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover... and I think I'm now learning that you also shouldn't judge a film by it's DVD or VHS artwork! 

The Table Comes First

The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food by Adam Gopnik

Here comes a mini review or what we'll call an appetizer:  New Yorker mainstay Adam Gopnik meditates on all things food and dining in the delightful, The Table Comes First.  Gopnik, writing in a conversational style, interlaces history into personal anecdotes while sharing recipe favorites.  The origins of the restaurant, the evolution of cooking methods and the role food plays with family, are expounded upon here with great skill and humor.  

Bon Appétit!

Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
This emotionally laden story starts off with two alternating voices. Julia Jarmond is an American-born journalist, who has been living in Paris for 20 years, complete with a French family, and a marriage that is increasingly unstable. She is tasked with writing the story of the 1942 Vel d'Hiv Jewish roundup by the French police on the 60th anniversary of that difficult but little known episode in French history. We also see the roundup from the perspective of Sarah, a 10-year-old who is taken to the Vélodrome d'Hiver with her family, but without her younger brother. The stories of these two lives converge, with a key unlocking many long-buried secrets. This is a story that will stay with you.

Mark Twain's Autobiography, 1910-2010

Mark Twain's autobiography, 1910-2010 by Michael Kupperman

Writer/illustrator Michael Kupperman drums up a thrilling, hilarious tale of what happened after Mark Twain had staged his death in 1910.  Mark Twain is immortal.  Wait, you didn't know that?   

Illustrations and short accompanying text highlight a century of the famed author's mischief making.  Kupperman obviously takes several liberties and also writes Twain a little crankier and crass than we're used to reading, but he still manages to effectively live within the author's witty voice.   Twain's stint as a shock jock radio host, experiments with psychedelics, space travel, advice to Charles Shultz, a psychic altercation with a doughnut shop employee (see below) and general shenanigans with his buddy Albert Einstein are just some of the episodes of this adventure.

Amy and Isabelle

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
In the stifling hot summer of 1971, Amy has a summer job working in the same office as her mother, Isabelle, in the small town of Shirley Falls. We quickly learn that  something has come between them to drastically change their relationship, but what exactly that is takes longer to discover with story enfolding from the differing perspectives of both Amy and Isabelle. The troubles facing the people of this town are almost too realistically drawn; under almost every ideal roof something darker lurks. Great character development and lyrical writing. This is Strout's first novel; she later won the Pulitzer Prize for Olive Kitteridge.

Patternmaster

Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler.

Folks have been recommending that I read Octavia E. Butler for some time. I've received recommendations from friends that know I like Ursula Le Guin and have told me that I would therefore like Butler's writing as well, and I've also received recommendations from friends who have said, "Oh, you like science fiction. I don't read much science fiction, but I just read this book by Octavia E. Butler...".

I picked up my first novel by Octavia E. Butler, Patternmaster, last Thursday, and I finished reading it over the weekend. Needless to say, I enjoyed it! In this short novel, Butler introduces us to a post-apocalyptic world in which humans are divided into a complex system of social castes and warring factions based upon the powerful mental powers of some, and the disease induced mutations of others. The story, of a student who leaves school to find himself in conflict with his own power hungry brother, is relatively simple, but the detailed world in which it takes place makes it feel like part of something much bigger.

Reader's of Ursula Le Guin's fiction will recognize themes of class, gender, and sexuality in Butler's writing, as well as a similar approach to speculative fiction that is based on rigorous world building and avoids the stereotypes of the genre. The struggles depicted in Patternmaster are, however, more violent, and the cast more power hungry, than in Le Guin's writings. If you like Ursula Le Guin and don't mind the a story with some loose ends and some violent passages, you should give Patternmaster a try.

Snockgrass [CD]

Snockgrass by Michael Hurley

Fact: Michael Hurley (a.k.a. "Snock") is a drastically, under-appreciated American folk singer.  With a voice reminiscent of Hank Williams and a songwriting style rooted in country & western, bluegrass and the blues, Hurley has been issuing stellar material since the early 1960's.  Recent years have seen a new appreciation for the musician.  Artists such as Vetiver, Lucinda Williams, Cat Power and Matloaf have cited Hurley as an influence.

1980's Snockgrass (album not pictured here due to singer's risque cover painting) is classic Michael Hurley.  There's plenty of swinging numbers, reflective waltzes, weirdo lyrics and country-fried boogies with the mood volleying from serious to sardonic to silly.  "The Midnight Rounder", "O My Stars" and "Watchin' the Show" are excellent starting places for someone just beginning their Snock obsession.

The Might Have Been

The Might Have Been by Joseph M. Schuster
Edward Everett Yates had his dream come true, he had been called up to the majors. After a decade playing in the minor leagues—years after most of his peers have given up—he's still patiently waiting for his chance at the majors. Then one day he gets called up to the St. Louis Cardinals, and finally the future he wanted unfolds before him. During an away game in Canada, Yates is having the game of his life, until he sustains a devastating knee injury, which destroys his professional career. Yates continues to hang on to baseball, and we witness the next thirty years of his life. Although this novel has baseball has a common thread throughout the story, it is really more about the choices that we make (or are made for us) as we go through life, and what different pathways that can create for us. This is about the life that we have, and the one that might have been.

The Story of English in 100 Words

The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal


The Story of English in 100 Words, by Welsh linguistics professor David Crystal, is a refreshing word book. With short easy to read chapters, it is a quick read, especially once you have caught Professor Crystal's contagious enthusiasm.

I say The Story of English in 100 Words is refreshing in part because it is an easy enjoyable read, but also because it is different from other word books. Too many word books are based on anecdote and folk etymologies. You won't many of those in The Story of English. Instead, you will find the stories of words and revealed by known facts. When did a word first appear? How was it spelled? How was it used at the time? How did its meaning change? What words were used similarly? There may be some guessing involved, but the answers to these questions are based on research, and we learn much about the English language in answering them.

Does this approach sound overly academic? Don't worry. The examples are surprising and amusing, and the text is never bogged down in details. Most of the chapters are just a couple of pages, and include many illustrative examples. The examples are drawn from throughout the history of the language, from Old English, to new Internet coinages. This is a book about the history of English, and therefore a book about how English grows and changes. A very fun read!

Map Of Ireland

Map Of Ireland by Stephanie Grant

Recently we had a display of books by Massachusetts writers and this particular book caught my attention. Set in the South Boston busing crisis of 1974, it is the story of Ann Ahern, a high school junior and her growing awareness of her surroundings as well as her personal coming out as a lesbian. Through her growing infatuation with her beautiful substitute French teacher Mademoiselle Eugenie who hails from Paris and is of African descent, she is drawn into the conflict of her times - both personal and political. An overall impressive view of a young woman caught in the struggle of identification as a Southie as well as her initial exposure to the world beyond her limited family and neighborhood.

Stay Hungry

Stay Hungry a film by Bob Rafelson

There's just something about the "New Hollywood" films of the 1970's...  The budgets were smaller, but the films seem to resonate so much more than your typical, bloated Hollywood picture.  With less resources, the directors of these movies focused on telling stories. 

Bob Rafelson's Stay Hungry tells the story of a recently orphaned grown, southern man named Craig Blake (Jeff Bridges).   The opening shot is of the beautiful Blake estate and the narration of a letter read by Craig's uncle advising his nephew to continue the family tradition and get into steel business.  The younger Blake ignores his relative's advice and teams up with a group of shady real estate sharks to buy out the businesses in a downtown building to may way for an office high-rise.

His colleagues are quickly successful in securing the property and they impatiently await Blake's seizure of the last independent establishment, a local gym.  Here Blake meets a cast of interesting characters including the beautiful, small town receptionist Mary Tate Farnsworth (Sally Field) and the zen body builder/fiddle player Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger).  After visiting on several occasions trying to get the nerve to make an offer from the manic gym's owner, Blake, a man who recently lost those close to him, finds a surrogate family with the regular gym rats and also eventually falls for Mary Tate.  

The struggle to seize the gym, a conflict between the various classes of wealth depicted, an upcoming Mr. Universe pageant, the sometimes troubled romance of Craig and Mary Tate and an exceptionally strange and lengthy fight sequence, make Stay Hungry a wonderful comedy/drama piece.  The principle actors all give some of the best performances of their careers and the film is full of unforgettable featured players. 

The Rook

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
The body you are wearing used to be mine. 
So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.  Set in an alternate London, Myfanwy discovers that her former self was/is a high-ranking officer of the secret organization, the Chequy, which battles supernatural forces in Britain. She quickly scrambles to (re)learn her job, while trying to figure out who in the organization wants to kill her. The character of Myfanwy is wonderful, and she handles her unusual situation with a wry wit.

Sita's Ramayana

Sita's Ramayana text by Samhita Arni; art by Moyna Chitrakar.

Moyna Chitrakar is an artist from the Patua scroll painting tradition. The paintings in this book have been adapted fit the page, but they are rendered in a style that wasn't meant to be confined to such a small space—Patua scrolls are large and complex. Significantly, the Patua artist traditionally tells the story through song while unrolling the scroll and gesturing to images. Keep this in mind as you read Sita's Ramayana. The images sometimes feel cramped on the page, and the juxtaposition between text and image is often awkward, but remembering the traditional manner of presenting these paintings will help you see past these small annoyances to appreciate the elgeance of Chitrakar's art.

Sita's Ramayana presents the Hindu epic the Ramayana from the perspective of Rama's wife, Sita. In this version Rama's noble character is taken as a given—even when Sita suffers as a result of Rama's actions her love for him does not falter. Samhita Arni's Sita does not tell us why she loves Rama. Instead she tells what happened, and how she felt about it. She tells us about her doubts and fears, and about the suffering she saw on both sides as Rama's army made war on Lanka.

Sita's Ramayana's is a quick retelling of the Ramayana, and differs from the classic version in ways that may make you eager to explore this famous story's many variations. Moyna Chitrakar's art is beautiful, and while more care might have been taken in the page design, lovers of traditional art and myth will find something to appreciate in this book.

Tabloid

Tabloid a film by Errol Morris

This documentary feature recalls the strange adventures Joyce McKinney, a former Wyoming beauty queen.  Using interviews with the woman herself, a pilot, an ex-Mormon, a British tabloid reporter, a photographer and a scientist in the field of cloning, we learn learn the bizarre history of McKinney.  While mostly relying on these talking head interviews in front of a greyish background with archival footage and cut and paste animation, Morris creates a riveting, suspenseful film.

It recalls a period in the late 1970's when Joyce McKinney became a British tabloid star after flying to the U.K. with a small crew to "rescue" her estranged Mormon missionary boyfriend.  She claims he was brainwashed by members of the church and so she took him to an inn for three days to deprogram his brain.  His story differs.  Kirk Anderson (who did not wish to be interviewed for the documentary) had claimed that he was kidnapped at gunpoint, tied up and then raped by McKinney.  After the news broke, tabloid papers looked into the beauty queen's history and produced several scandalous pieces.   

While viewing Tabloid, a particular scene from the film Head seemed rather poignant.  The Swami tells Monkee Peter Tork, "all belief possibly could be said to be the result of some conditioning. Thus, the study of history is simply the study of one system of beliefs deposing another, and so on and so on and so on..."  How will the story of Joyce McKinney's life ultimately be documented?  

The Sandman

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

Ten years ago a friend lent me The Sandman: Brief Lives. I had not read many comics, but I was hooked, and I quickly read each of the ten trade paperbacks that make up The Sandman. (Brief Lives is actually the seventh volume in the series, but it was a good place to start, as it better reflects the character of the series as a whole than does the dark and brooding Preludes and Nocturnes. If you know you are going to read the whole series, start at the beginning, but if you are unsure, starting with Brief Lives is not a bad idea.)

Although nominally set in the universe of DC Comics, no past comic reading experience is required. More important is a knowledge of myth and literature, and an appreciation for story and fantasy. The Sandman is a collection of stories which together tell the story of Dream. Dream, in The Sandman, is both a character, and a fundamental, inescapable force of the universe in which he resides. He is one of the Endless, and like Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium, he has always been, and will always be. Despite this, Dream is moody, stubborn, and often remarkably human.

The Sandman had its roots in horror, a genre I have never had much inclination to explore, but while it has fantastical and grotesque elements, it is too optimistic, too affirming, too delightful to be anything of the kind. The characters of Death and Delirium are particularly delightful—while both have their obvious dark sides they are depicted as being kind and caring; Death in particular is shown to be particularly wise. Most of all we delight in the world of stories and dreams. "The Dreaming", where Dream makes his home, also provides its own delights, including a cast of often comic characters and a library containing every book and every story.

Many different artists worked with Neil Gaiman on The Sandman, and the art is always competent, and often very good indeed, especially in the later volumes. I'm particularly fond of some of P. Craig Russell and Jill Thompson's illustrations, and Dave McKean's covers are fantastic.

The Sandman is a haunting story with great characters set in a complex, detailed world. It is made up of many stories of many different types, and its variety is part of its appeal. This is a great graphic novel, and worth trying even if you aren't normally a fan of comics.

The Trip [DVD]

The Trip a film by Michael Winterbottom

This feature mockumentary, edited down from a BBC television series, stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as exaggerations of themselves in the entertaining fictional road movie, The Trip.  The two colleagues continue their antagonistic relationship that began on the screen with Winterbottom's A Cock and Bull Story.  Coogan initially asks Mischa, his American girlfriend, to accompany him on an assignment where he'll be writing a magazine piece covering restaurants and quaint inns in the northern English countryside.  We soon learn the actor's relationship is in trouble and he reluctantly calls on comedian Rob Brydon to join him.  

What follows is a one upmanship contest of mythic proportions.  The two bicker over their careers, public perception, height and general approach toward life.  In the car and at various breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner tables they battle it out with celebrity impersonations, vocal range and improvisational wars.  The comedic competition is never ending, but never ceases to be funny.  Contrasting the humor is Coogan's desperation in private moments.  Cell phone conversations (with a weak signal) to Mischa, his ex-wife, son and agent reveal the actor's lonelier side and his frustration dealing with aging.

The uncredited supporting role of this film are the beautiful hills and mountains and the elaborate dishes Rob and Steve are served.  Most importantly however, the friendship seen on screen, though obscured by Coogan's condescension and bitterness, is rather touching at times.  Despite his best efforts to isolate himself, this is possibly a story about meaningful human relationships.

The Pickwick Papers

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

This was the first novel by Charles Dickens and really a pleasure to read. It tells the story of Mr. Pickwick and his fellow Pickwick Club members as they travel the English countryside and describes their adventures in a very humorous manner but also with a keen eye into the social and political landscape of the time. It was a great re-introduction to Dickens for me and I am looking forward to reading many of his other works.

There Is No Dog

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

I confess: I borrowed this book because the title reminded me of my favorite bumper sticker: DOG IS MY CO-PILOT. Also, that cloud poodle was kind of cute.  You just can't go wrong judging a book by its cover.
Anyway, this young adult novel gives the most convincing explanation yet of why the world is plagued with war, famine, bad weather, and carnivores that eat each other. In short, God is a self-absorbed teenage boy who is not paying attention.  He can't even pick up his clothes off the floor, let alone answer the mail from his billions of creations.  When he's moody, the earth erupts in natural disasters, and when he falls in love with a human, all hell breaks loose.  This is my first acquaintance with the witty and irreverent Meg Rosoff and I'll be looking forward to reading more, for the laughs, the originality and the covers.

Small Gods : a novel of Discworld

Small Gods : a novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett

I've read many of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. They are great fun. The Discworld is an imaginary planet in an imaginary universe and everything, even the Discworld's fundamental physical laws, is written so as to parody or satire our own world. Pratchett isn't content to leave it at that however, he also parodies literature of all sorts, but especially fantasy novels; he affectionately sabotages these by taking their best known cliches and stereotypes and acting as if they made sense. The results are hilarious.

Small Gods is probably my favorite of the Discworld novels. I have returned to it again and again, and I enjoy it every time. Perhaps it is because libraries and books play such an important part in the book, but I think it is mostly because of the book's two unlikely heros: the great god Om, stuck in the form of a tortoise and incapable of performing even the smallest miracles, and a lowly novice monk, Brutha, the only living creature who still believes in the great god Om. Om is arrogant and ill-tempered, but endearing in his impotence and confusion as he struggles with his new fondness for lettuce and fear of eagles. Brutha is slow, illiterate, and quite accustomed to be looked down upon, but he has an amazing memory, faith in his god, and an absolute determination to do the right thing.

Things, of course, get complicated. They always do in the Discworld. There is a war and an inquisition, gods and philosophers, a labyrinth and a steam engine. Brutha plods through it all. Om, on the other hand, is carried most of the way. And they are both changed by their experiences. They have to be, because that's how these kind of stories work, but that doesn't stop the transformation from being satisfying, and even a little surprising.

Small Gods stands well on its own. You don't need to read any other Discworld books to appreciate it, and, indeed, it would be a good choice for your first Discworld book.

Nilsson Sings Newman [Music CD]

Nilsson Sings Newman by Harry Nilsson

1970's Nilsson Sings Newman is an example of the potential for beauty in popular music.  Randy Newman, not then a household name, was approached by tenor extraordinaire Harry Nilsson about making an album.  Nilsson was a fan of Newman's effortless melodies, thoughtful chord structures and clever lyrical ability.

Nilsson Sings Newman features only the two artists in question.  Newman composes the songs and handles the piano playing duties; Nilsson sings.  The simplicity of this set up lends itself to display dynamics and emotive arrangements which do not seem to exist in most contemporary recordings.

Nilsson took great care in recording his vocals on the album.  It is rumored that on some songs, pieces of 100 or so takes were spliced together (and remember this was using multitrack tape).  He also layered his voice to produce heavenly, Beach Boys-esque harmonies in appropriate places.  The refrain of the opener "Vine St." or the sublime "Caroline" perfectly exemplify the richness of his harmony singing. 

The album is full of story songs that in some places are nostalgic for the past.  Lyrically, Nilsson Sings Newman feels like a truly American experience.  Songs about cowboys, the Midwest and leaving home fill the record.  As expected from Randy Newman, humor plays a large part as well.  Nilsson, always a fan of silliness and inside jokes, contributes to the humor by insisting that certain off mic instructions by Newman be left on the final version. 

Nilsson Sings Newman is an album that is graceful, funny and technologically impressive.  It's great on headphones and it's one of those albums that I'll never tire of listening.

Where We Live [DVD]

Where We Live: Steve Alves' Western Massachusetts Film Collection

Filmmaker Steve Alves has been making movies about Franklin County since 1997.   These six short documentaries were produced over a period of several years and explore the cultural, economic and natural world from the hyper-local point of view.

Titles: Beneath the River (about the Connecticut) -- A Sweet Tradition (maple syrup production), Together in Time (contra dancing) -- Everyone's Business (local entrepreneurs and economic history) -- Life After High School (jobs and education) -- Talking To The Wall (Big Box sprawl vs. small town Main Street).

If you live here it's hard not to be fascinated by the lives going on around us, both human and environmental. Steve really gets it, and he's a fine director too.  His company Hometown Productions is currently working on a new film called Food For Change. Watch for it!

The Rolling Stones: All 6 Ed Sullivan Shows [DVD]

The Rolling Stones: All 6 Ed Sullivan Shows
Recently added to the steadily-growing Forbes DVD collection is this wonderful 2 disc set I recently checked out. It has all of the Rolling Stones appearances on the Ed Sullivan show. From black and white to color television shows, the quality is the best I've seen so far and to watch the musical performances was a treat. An added feature is being able to select single acts or watch the complete show (vintage commercials included). Seeing early Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield AND Tom Jones all on one evening's show was a fun experience for me.

Julie and Romeo

Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray
This light romance turns Romeo and Juliet on its head. Julie is struggling to keep her family's flower business in Somerville, MA afloat after her husband of 35 years left her (for a younger woman) and moved to Seattle. She runs into her rival, Romeo Cacciamani, at a small business conference. Although he is the other florist in Somerville, and their families have been feuding for years, she finds that not only does she no longer hate him, but they quickly fall in love. In a reversal, it is their children who are against the relationship, and insist on continuing the grudge, even though no one knows why or how it began. Will Julie and Romeo find true love the second time around, or will their children prevail in keeping them apart?

Kes [DVD]

Kes a film by Ken Loach

Film recommendations certainly play a role in a day's work at the Arts & Music department.  It's often my favorite task to help someone find a film that fits their taste and am always flattered when a patron asks for me to select something that I enjoyed.  Recently, the favor was reciprocated.  A regular patron suggested, based on our many movie conversations, that I might enjoy the film Kes.  He was correct and to continue the dialog, here's my take:

Kes is a story that I consider the Northern England equivalent of Truffaut's 400 Blows.  Made a decade later, director Ken Loach, who certainly chooses not to glamorize youth or pander to children, creates a nearly bleak portrait of childhood.  His central character, Billy Casper, lives in a poor, working class mining community and seems to have his future decided for him at 15 years of age.  While not absolutely going for the heavy handed approach, Loach is suggesting flaws in, what he considers, the still existing English class system.

Billy eventually finds an escape from the constant bullying from adult figures (his headmaster, classmates, older brother, gym teacher, etc.) when he notices a nest on a neighbor's property.  He studies the science of training birds and eventually develops trust with a kestrel he appropriately christens "Kes".  His dedication and care earns him the respect from a group of classmates and a caring English teacher (who is possibly the only kind adult in the film).

Kes, which is heartbreaking and desolate feeling at times, is a remarkable work.  Loach's nonjudgmental camera style, the simple and lyrical imagery, the falconry scenes with young Billy's textbook narration and soft English landscape gives the film a quality not unlike a documentary.

 

The Penny Whistle Book

The Penny Whistle Book by Robin Williamson

A couple months ago, I saw The Penny Whistle Book come up to the Arts & Music library and happened to notice that it was penned by the Incredible String Band's Robin Williamson.  He was essentially one half of the group, sharing vocal and songwriting duties with Mike Heron.  At this time I also was thinking about the arrangement for a song of my own and was in need to have a flute or whistle type sound for a two note hook in the final chorus (a la "Penny Lane").

The sensible thing to do I thought was to go to check out the book and head to Downtown Sounds in Northampton and see how much one of these whistles costs...  Turns out they're very cheap (something like $10).  I cracked the book open, read the introduction and was making sounds and playing scales right away. 

The slim Penny Whistle Book is filled with traditional American and British tunes with accompanying illustrations that reference the era in which the pieces were most likely composed.  The sheet music is also perfect for playing instrumental accompaniment like guitar or banjo because chords are placed at the top of the staffs.

The penny whistle is a fun and simple instrument to play.  You really don't need to be able to read musical notation or have special technique in operating a mouthpiece.  You just place your fingers on the holes and blow!