tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77514047212110690302024-02-21T02:47:49.748-05:00Enchanted Revelries... musings on my journey through art, theatre, cinema, vintage and antique baubles, and all of life's sparkles ...Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.comBlogger578125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-29564219356369533732022-12-24T23:58:00.001-05:002022-12-24T23:58:29.725-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ab3L0ZEx-30g8eQbups3hwgnZE4T1pFghTrMkhGot5kPLtvec6SNvxLray0-rs5wFhnpPxZT2qZxqokgxkL9JhdV9ORyOQi1oYUInHPd8xL645XTRoWQRIIqcdFyb0xGbi3yUZQjn-A-Js79IdK1hX6uQTDekxae9ZredSMPSoaVuBs7GYZCRW_H/s1000/1000x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ab3L0ZEx-30g8eQbups3hwgnZE4T1pFghTrMkhGot5kPLtvec6SNvxLray0-rs5wFhnpPxZT2qZxqokgxkL9JhdV9ORyOQi1oYUInHPd8xL645XTRoWQRIIqcdFyb0xGbi3yUZQjn-A-Js79IdK1hX6uQTDekxae9ZredSMPSoaVuBs7GYZCRW_H/w400-h400/1000x1000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Best wishes that your Christmas is a wonderland!<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span><p style="text-align: center;"></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-15880253769714459012022-12-19T12:41:00.002-05:002022-12-19T12:41:43.256-05:00Back in Blogland After the Longest Year of My Life<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOF7r-BRygB4xezcS21JchG4XGpbkM53JCrXMWRREOhjLuCum-RpqV-lp0Hpj5bs-TX3pukC3gS6P8W3rSlY4aiGx000R5xWP_0vi1fT929eeMZ4Jy50oW7f2MIeHSx1dUqkEf-vH3lFOQuSe_RXoztdPsF8KsIpiyNyq85JZmR3bZmI-xbBMaN01J/s844/Screenshot%202022-12-19%20at%2010.29.52%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="844" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOF7r-BRygB4xezcS21JchG4XGpbkM53JCrXMWRREOhjLuCum-RpqV-lp0Hpj5bs-TX3pukC3gS6P8W3rSlY4aiGx000R5xWP_0vi1fT929eeMZ4Jy50oW7f2MIeHSx1dUqkEf-vH3lFOQuSe_RXoztdPsF8KsIpiyNyq85JZmR3bZmI-xbBMaN01J/w400-h288/Screenshot%202022-12-19%20at%2010.29.52%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hello and thank you for visiting me again and most joyous of holiday seasons to you and yours! It's been almost one year exactly since I have posted here at Enchanted Revelries. It's been a long 2022 here in New Haven ... but things are beginning to look up and I'm feeling more energized. So, I'm going to make a start at a return to my blog.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD9DVGBKm8M_f8jqfowMXPdlW8ZaV39wgU8VTLDQVXf2ZoHSzG3tiB3IY01OSwx-sXXmUWLB_erxFN5rXE9146Qmq0sQI_SnsQkfEltBtmiAYKZLMvGqjdL2gxWH0KmsGQKDtX9431YljqOa0lqI7Ov_TL2OqM1Sw5qOL2dtXTYAQtVwrhVqXz4YT/s400/MarieAntoinetteCoach.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="400" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD9DVGBKm8M_f8jqfowMXPdlW8ZaV39wgU8VTLDQVXf2ZoHSzG3tiB3IY01OSwx-sXXmUWLB_erxFN5rXE9146Qmq0sQI_SnsQkfEltBtmiAYKZLMvGqjdL2gxWH0KmsGQKDtX9431YljqOa0lqI7Ov_TL2OqM1Sw5qOL2dtXTYAQtVwrhVqXz4YT/w400-h168/MarieAntoinetteCoach.gif" width="400" /></a></div>I'm not going to go into a long dissertation about the woes of the past 10 months. But, I'll give you a brief run-down of why I have been inactive and out of the loop. I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma; underwent 12 weeks of high intensity chemotherapy and radiation; contracted pneumonia; contracted Covid; due to the combined forces of pneumonia and Covid, I got a collapsed lung. During the 7 months I was in the hospital, my muscles atrophied from disuse, and was unable to walk (had to use a wheelchair). <br /><p>AND, I've had to give up driving (permanent issue). So, not only is it inconvenient to get around, I don't just get up and run out to do an errand, since it requires a transport scheduling (they have to be able to wheel me into the van in my wheelchair). <br /><br />That's it. But, the year is over, and I'm improving dramatically. My visiting nurse who comes daily to drain the catheter from my collapsed lung says that the volume is diminished noticeably by the week. I've done a little baking for the holidays (though nowhere as much as I used to do!). <br /><br />And just to show you how shallow I really am, the worst part of this whole ordeal is that the chemo took out my hair, beard and eyelashes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eTDarS86-Oq80XCPEAOohZnNkhj3np70ew8j7iCvVcr2zqj1iN3mZnsv5oB18on6JcOhOO3NxicfXf3a6dTDTwtrEPJCKeNICidGG4zsSsZwVwHIkP4hNY4FyTzPHgLVz_dzOqg88xn6xAFBm3g4wzocfxF00M4WMEsQSn8w9x12-Xydq4jTZBOU/s1024/Royal-things-polish-glass-art-christmas-bauble-ball-mandy-candy-pink-blue-gold-PGA-B2092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eTDarS86-Oq80XCPEAOohZnNkhj3np70ew8j7iCvVcr2zqj1iN3mZnsv5oB18on6JcOhOO3NxicfXf3a6dTDTwtrEPJCKeNICidGG4zsSsZwVwHIkP4hNY4FyTzPHgLVz_dzOqg88xn6xAFBm3g4wzocfxF00M4WMEsQSn8w9x12-Xydq4jTZBOU/s320/Royal-things-polish-glass-art-christmas-bauble-ball-mandy-candy-pink-blue-gold-PGA-B2092.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I have managed to do a little decorating for the holidays. I decorated Christmas trees (seven this year), and put up a few displays - but, it's a low key holiday for us, so it's more than sufficient. Before I sign out for the day, I thought I'd share some of my Christmas trees and the decorations. (Oh! And I don't know if they've changed the program here in the past year - but I believe if you want to examine something closer, if you click the image it will embiggen!)<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenVOtj9S4jEDnb7Ca6gvIm6FL6cwzqvNrjpMBR-jhoM9FSc0cnJbDpxcF-AO0XIrx9HO_bMf2Mt2JxBgQ-cPYzaCVchR_B305UGghwJWJsfbLBZakwaQFXKjXCT0Bo7x3JZhLIGnVppNUgqmh0lMSap4IR58Natfyxx30EpvPmvzp7wQVpPvU5Yfz/s4032/Tree2020.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenVOtj9S4jEDnb7Ca6gvIm6FL6cwzqvNrjpMBR-jhoM9FSc0cnJbDpxcF-AO0XIrx9HO_bMf2Mt2JxBgQ-cPYzaCVchR_B305UGghwJWJsfbLBZakwaQFXKjXCT0Bo7x3JZhLIGnVppNUgqmh0lMSap4IR58Natfyxx30EpvPmvzp7wQVpPvU5Yfz/w300-h400/Tree2020.jpeg" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0nm4r0iYJmuarfngpjhYm995hzhMJnTvGEVKqAD5iUQxFC-erk2bIQEMwbuEkY7rGXSOriqEVvbhVEkfilZtRj3XZkLotoso8gLAZSIqH8r-08ZFWwLxJkkAf2zOdqAKksD8OQZ4qRsMGhj22iER0cuoGvDB_SYzZQbNmP7et-Bf2xo6TxMVwF-2/s4032/TreeDetail.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0nm4r0iYJmuarfngpjhYm995hzhMJnTvGEVKqAD5iUQxFC-erk2bIQEMwbuEkY7rGXSOriqEVvbhVEkfilZtRj3XZkLotoso8gLAZSIqH8r-08ZFWwLxJkkAf2zOdqAKksD8OQZ4qRsMGhj22iER0cuoGvDB_SYzZQbNmP7et-Bf2xo6TxMVwF-2/w300-h400/TreeDetail.jpeg" width="300" /></a> <br /></div></div>This is the Marilyn Monroe tree ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3v5848fKHBNnWlS_dqSGCwUQ9v3Kjg8p0i74FIKmhdEDstjWlVR2BvLV_pIiiuV9VfHRWusZ6molNZbpe-p1vuUUc1KwENp7PfS3RbHljT-nEk8VllAQ_2zi2Ad138It158n_d8vB7URpLjW9jsiG_UXKZXT4fknA3sxbtRF4HzH40YAz1Ln5ROz/w300-h400/MarilynTree.jpeg" width="300" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTehAecSVCf04qPLK6y7sKXAbehRrQFHXRFB-0VDmM3rPmaIhfJ81Drsqxtx-pz4BDlu-JpK95eMC0UQS3XZhFJAUry4U2DCAbH-BCAc-sOQdvmlo3PV1FFDxioDajFoPtsRDYKicQTXwvj-sxN7Od0lj1NyFwASgnh4hMi04xt5TD89QRmLs7-bm/s4032/MarilynDetail.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTehAecSVCf04qPLK6y7sKXAbehRrQFHXRFB-0VDmM3rPmaIhfJ81Drsqxtx-pz4BDlu-JpK95eMC0UQS3XZhFJAUry4U2DCAbH-BCAc-sOQdvmlo3PV1FFDxioDajFoPtsRDYKicQTXwvj-sxN7Od0lj1NyFwASgnh4hMi04xt5TD89QRmLs7-bm/w300-h400/MarilynDetail.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I've always loved the Nutcracker Suite ... Here is our tribute tree to Clara and the rest</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJuJHLgh68x5shNZTQzg0nYfOis5POqI-Yd4AltasAKulnHXpE8qRZOUhvYzMFjcBClGY37d83jggzJztxEFC58eB1RbW7sjdmNPtvpLLEq3XqvJxv4N0RrO-Y3loQP5LqH8wxSE0rWNJPul5pTIoD2zxo7Ap0c_YUUVvJKf4gW7APEcXY6xLXgEt/w300-h400/NutcrackerSuiteTree.jpeg" width="300" /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLyULUkqJrhJLTp48oMsx7zpPb-8hD0Vd6Pn9Iw5niMHPhbgIv07oLmv9ByFAcU1otdl4oPQlbADbPB1iK1s0XBcDNh0IVG2PUyr-2HeH4_xboh6T78krtbFLnTWli7biicXti4-je7kD6RocBjb4Dbvex3slFTvZcoi-eag0dEEY54V7YmW3Wk-o/w299-h399/NutcrackerDetail.jpeg" width="299" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and a few of our Nutcracker Suite music boxes under the tree...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitm6YIfjyPaEw3i2MSqAkBpwn1wPHaLJ2m4dSLODof7eh1xP06rYlkxuw9jraxVLIQrg-rR1FqZfcBLrgA-TFALMGLqurQYXzJjUw1gXjj0ai4yHcSVtFdyoFeXuMVnaA9Oi_Qm-yHvD41E3BvNc1la4gvGKKwYuB-q5ewgzNHq6Ok0U74OLJcOPFz/s4032/NutcrackerMusicBoxes.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitm6YIfjyPaEw3i2MSqAkBpwn1wPHaLJ2m4dSLODof7eh1xP06rYlkxuw9jraxVLIQrg-rR1FqZfcBLrgA-TFALMGLqurQYXzJjUw1gXjj0ai4yHcSVtFdyoFeXuMVnaA9Oi_Qm-yHvD41E3BvNc1la4gvGKKwYuB-q5ewgzNHq6Ok0U74OLJcOPFz/s320/NutcrackerMusicBoxes.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here is our Valentines tree ... I should probably wait until Valentines Day to put it up, but I decided to go ahead as I was on a roll! That ugly cord isn't nearly as obnoxiously obvious and visible in real life!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa5BE70fn-WTFKuPkBii-dTHaAiFl3QQnGBonr0AoKOycNlA5jA2ECmMX0mVuHshO4BlZlDLUIAlkdEcLJy1KrYdcoR9hNFGfNY5EVt2fWNrTx25IhHGAxD5ZAE6ZeTNu-nZW4tiAizEP7SSPQaMweN3tmMIvpNbI_Xgpeoyl7CwCSCbDI9caerOj/s4032/ValTree.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa5BE70fn-WTFKuPkBii-dTHaAiFl3QQnGBonr0AoKOycNlA5jA2ECmMX0mVuHshO4BlZlDLUIAlkdEcLJy1KrYdcoR9hNFGfNY5EVt2fWNrTx25IhHGAxD5ZAE6ZeTNu-nZW4tiAizEP7SSPQaMweN3tmMIvpNbI_Xgpeoyl7CwCSCbDI9caerOj/w300-h400/ValTree.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiHpEoYYaIUTgFgY8JwOYGDmxt1GmEnlBy7ROauU3VnzanSVH00UxhGdrSVePWPS7ww3NN6IQPSj7kGrZazmPGHN-ard8Monhji6maClrzrHrt1z6faqVsXNWbR_4wILwKGoqf17YWVyAlEQLXfwudjQ98-slGucf9FzQ7TvrqVyD-UI9rfsaCufE/s4032/ValDetail.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiHpEoYYaIUTgFgY8JwOYGDmxt1GmEnlBy7ROauU3VnzanSVH00UxhGdrSVePWPS7ww3NN6IQPSj7kGrZazmPGHN-ard8Monhji6maClrzrHrt1z6faqVsXNWbR_4wILwKGoqf17YWVyAlEQLXfwudjQ98-slGucf9FzQ7TvrqVyD-UI9rfsaCufE/w300-h400/ValDetail.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>And another holiday-specific theme tree - our Hallowe'en tree - these ornaments (almost all made by various craftsmen and artists) are too special not to be seen except for a week or two in October!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbCN55FmuRTS20bz2tws-Skh9od7pEpTUCg1fByKa0GeAdYtS2MKvFEcsVVWC5cFT4spYdtAdCMPelUbsJkpHYFFBhIJLxy5-RTvZkUY9f_VzxvNvENSurjEDmgNGzrk9Fjuexv--DBv8y2Zsp3gfOYd8kw73QJ3ZlE53-5yp1G7GYTWtgdDOsZu1/s4032/HalloweenTree.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbCN55FmuRTS20bz2tws-Skh9od7pEpTUCg1fByKa0GeAdYtS2MKvFEcsVVWC5cFT4spYdtAdCMPelUbsJkpHYFFBhIJLxy5-RTvZkUY9f_VzxvNvENSurjEDmgNGzrk9Fjuexv--DBv8y2Zsp3gfOYd8kw73QJ3ZlE53-5yp1G7GYTWtgdDOsZu1/w300-h400/HalloweenTree.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QCBof-l3jxdtIfkbe2LzN2HcKWOMRW5OjYdeLMWFmKsBQW6ELcMm-zqTdo9tCfo7NVCT3K3Cm6NAFcBdXNCZD9v86v1ZLodbgjcSpLlFiWYiWpSckeZPK5ypgwL9Dm1rHbWRSLU0z1tPpvnBJjzgKMl2i6arfyYMcjth8d81-hoRYlry4HflVNts/s4032/HalloweenDetail.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QCBof-l3jxdtIfkbe2LzN2HcKWOMRW5OjYdeLMWFmKsBQW6ELcMm-zqTdo9tCfo7NVCT3K3Cm6NAFcBdXNCZD9v86v1ZLodbgjcSpLlFiWYiWpSckeZPK5ypgwL9Dm1rHbWRSLU0z1tPpvnBJjzgKMl2i6arfyYMcjth8d81-hoRYlry4HflVNts/w300-h400/HalloweenDetail.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>My favorite children's film from my younger days right up until today ... the Wizard of Oz! We have two trees with ornaments. And then a few of our Wizard of Oz music boxes and collectibles. There's just no way to get them ALL out at one time!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxkaKuhUL022-j2MGetAuaEacQygF7RbZH4RBhgTgEzKaOkN53Gtuv59EcleTbkfgh6iBd-2xLpDKBlgl0NOwDO_QPAY00m8noSedqx22HgHE4tpHwD_JA5ZVQb8mv4HWV-3kh22_xfG5G2Pbn8whV49iQS1rfgC1YUkLGY4-Tnt9HxHMevpmedf/s4032/WoOTrees.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxkaKuhUL022-j2MGetAuaEacQygF7RbZH4RBhgTgEzKaOkN53Gtuv59EcleTbkfgh6iBd-2xLpDKBlgl0NOwDO_QPAY00m8noSedqx22HgHE4tpHwD_JA5ZVQb8mv4HWV-3kh22_xfG5G2Pbn8whV49iQS1rfgC1YUkLGY4-Tnt9HxHMevpmedf/w300-h400/WoOTrees.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rJzdjoeK-G39_QR5levW_r6pckX0TdOpTJ-hCotSYGLzbQW7qtJihzDpjb-oOxkjMwhWuNghX5rKT00Tt8bLqmBSQpITwsrURLGvZ06Kpv4OszcJNOA1PDBQyw4Zf0DhCN--NdGZYzeKNYoyhooZEAvjtYkDSPHvRviuwVPu_zejo6uW15knVQad/s4032/WoODetail2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rJzdjoeK-G39_QR5levW_r6pckX0TdOpTJ-hCotSYGLzbQW7qtJihzDpjb-oOxkjMwhWuNghX5rKT00Tt8bLqmBSQpITwsrURLGvZ06Kpv4OszcJNOA1PDBQyw4Zf0DhCN--NdGZYzeKNYoyhooZEAvjtYkDSPHvRviuwVPu_zejo6uW15knVQad/w300-h400/WoODetail2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxspmElW1sv4LbXCuU3fi6FBtES8AmDng4i2H2Bv-JBpTbxjX9MkVltqRvizxKOEertOjRX19ko_WR_o7ORHN9Q7Qx0jQtYZv698jmf8KVJ7FEGRDzo8QjkogyS2I_MZ0V-X_1cqZjsonpgOqJj9niL8DU70xUzUYzMWDZCQGBUeUauWoFsdjaHGo0/s4032/WoODetail1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxspmElW1sv4LbXCuU3fi6FBtES8AmDng4i2H2Bv-JBpTbxjX9MkVltqRvizxKOEertOjRX19ko_WR_o7ORHN9Q7Qx0jQtYZv698jmf8KVJ7FEGRDzo8QjkogyS2I_MZ0V-X_1cqZjsonpgOqJj9niL8DU70xUzUYzMWDZCQGBUeUauWoFsdjaHGo0/w300-h400/WoODetail1.jpeg" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2LW78w_UUTv2---CQd1s4QLuR8SPkBqO_VVzvj2_xdlqOWb0npbjiKjg9nz-j4nhmOJcLaLzUYdyvg_PR24OG1T3fuzqhEVi8WlGZtKaBOd77oKPRKpkCY3tWpqweAU7TIaE5gsVxjIBVMIIXRkohyaypPG0HRiLIOJXNaUSmypZD5YjtqHmmHun/s4032/WoOMusicBoxes.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2LW78w_UUTv2---CQd1s4QLuR8SPkBqO_VVzvj2_xdlqOWb0npbjiKjg9nz-j4nhmOJcLaLzUYdyvg_PR24OG1T3fuzqhEVi8WlGZtKaBOd77oKPRKpkCY3tWpqweAU7TIaE5gsVxjIBVMIIXRkohyaypPG0HRiLIOJXNaUSmypZD5YjtqHmmHun/s320/WoOMusicBoxes.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div>I've been a fan of the classic Disney films since I was a child. I've been collecting ornaments, memorabilia, music boxes and vintage (as well as a few newer pieces) figurines for almost 50 years. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVUaGZzYhPbplsS-NJWb5a9BFtAw0iCXIVzcpXbF197-Mulpc24Rga1lqV1_pdo7c-5xVJoSZbU-xQ9ooqa0uqzO0mvoHPzVbaKQs9V8BLsLPqKh72AIYau_qjwIAWnXVMJxHsnK3negFxXiXqhMxVLMwYYxKEV5FllHjoKEKB1-gKz_cE7ZYPE0Y/s4032/DisneyTrees.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVUaGZzYhPbplsS-NJWb5a9BFtAw0iCXIVzcpXbF197-Mulpc24Rga1lqV1_pdo7c-5xVJoSZbU-xQ9ooqa0uqzO0mvoHPzVbaKQs9V8BLsLPqKh72AIYau_qjwIAWnXVMJxHsnK3negFxXiXqhMxVLMwYYxKEV5FllHjoKEKB1-gKz_cE7ZYPE0Y/w300-h400/DisneyTrees.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE_OrYbskCKe9TlvW1D3rtZ_JjAL1zaAHmESF59Xlr55ajQfVTjKKjiF7ULLKno5H80QM4zf6pdQ1VxLZ0SsspZnucHlu4bUa7zslUSDwqwRrryWjuQSpK0kAz_j7vM_EF6a8kvMpdVHCLPwPPjAWv5cp4WjfqNrXXUuaeWm8HlFxw94-DLLb1HWb/s4032/DisneyTree1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE_OrYbskCKe9TlvW1D3rtZ_JjAL1zaAHmESF59Xlr55ajQfVTjKKjiF7ULLKno5H80QM4zf6pdQ1VxLZ0SsspZnucHlu4bUa7zslUSDwqwRrryWjuQSpK0kAz_j7vM_EF6a8kvMpdVHCLPwPPjAWv5cp4WjfqNrXXUuaeWm8HlFxw94-DLLb1HWb/w300-h400/DisneyTree1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlqrEY8prmSYYC673SYtXdjZJlAN6ZdYY8hbl29zBGFjIZQS_37cSshf50mrdnJva7atr1113KzfzTAeudylZmIADgKmvP3WqIeMpxGTp_jgXFYUUJ_tQ2p0w0n7nD6jtyNkSdeJkbe8S0wzW0qAxEhfd7PbhAk5T8_4T3aAmEMw2SFWaguP7rHc-/s4032/DisneyDetail2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlqrEY8prmSYYC673SYtXdjZJlAN6ZdYY8hbl29zBGFjIZQS_37cSshf50mrdnJva7atr1113KzfzTAeudylZmIADgKmvP3WqIeMpxGTp_jgXFYUUJ_tQ2p0w0n7nD6jtyNkSdeJkbe8S0wzW0qAxEhfd7PbhAk5T8_4T3aAmEMw2SFWaguP7rHc-/w300-h400/DisneyDetail2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw4Xv2Nvxzhwv3BUYPf6G9gmjetb6YgTR_-GcMmRR5NAywCCB7w0m50H5RzA0tblUQNTBvQrJT9o1VzPQpvROJXMc6vcRqe3HG7sEmV-GCHU3E7yVHbc6s4ED_jQ_WcuPkuVfkQ_11qfGtPcJvLJQL4k3WmCIyNaGtDTDoQIncxuxFezvAKYjdHFY/s4032/DisneyTree2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw4Xv2Nvxzhwv3BUYPf6G9gmjetb6YgTR_-GcMmRR5NAywCCB7w0m50H5RzA0tblUQNTBvQrJT9o1VzPQpvROJXMc6vcRqe3HG7sEmV-GCHU3E7yVHbc6s4ED_jQ_WcuPkuVfkQ_11qfGtPcJvLJQL4k3WmCIyNaGtDTDoQIncxuxFezvAKYjdHFY/w300-h400/DisneyTree2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblRzrjC3V11EL5bTgtnu4TzqgE3uIeeRbNr9SoF1m58uVOm9JH6l98k0aNewUdOiBMA0EBvcRYTbihXKFFTvZqQHxE4WlWuRhcP-OdzR_wj7FgfWOGYzcKpTmu3x3Pj-06dAslPn94jFuZxICbbdJGRdWZC02JNU9u0QQCMtv_BKMNFWtT_E7yNgH/s4032/DisneyDetail1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblRzrjC3V11EL5bTgtnu4TzqgE3uIeeRbNr9SoF1m58uVOm9JH6l98k0aNewUdOiBMA0EBvcRYTbihXKFFTvZqQHxE4WlWuRhcP-OdzR_wj7FgfWOGYzcKpTmu3x3Pj-06dAslPn94jFuZxICbbdJGRdWZC02JNU9u0QQCMtv_BKMNFWtT_E7yNgH/w300-h400/DisneyDetail1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>...and quite a few of the music boxes, and figurines, and memorabilia. I only collect the three classics (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty) and only a couple of favorites of the newer ones (Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and 101 Dalmations). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFmJltwQd4E2M2VTouMLls0m1vA1pcRlG2W29HgF0BfdjTE6Ncjas2EE4COeTp1rCMaaFMcdIYWZ1BfCy-NxqY2S5ke3VyNX9fMMPy6WqkURTVCgviIX3kC1XICb6YqgciislNZIQgfMuJaCvYW_lLyG6mjiI2CF3RbI_SQHfgkfmPtThdRta9jPe/s4032/DisneyMusicBoxes1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFmJltwQd4E2M2VTouMLls0m1vA1pcRlG2W29HgF0BfdjTE6Ncjas2EE4COeTp1rCMaaFMcdIYWZ1BfCy-NxqY2S5ke3VyNX9fMMPy6WqkURTVCgviIX3kC1XICb6YqgciislNZIQgfMuJaCvYW_lLyG6mjiI2CF3RbI_SQHfgkfmPtThdRta9jPe/w300-h400/DisneyMusicBoxes1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR01whpmoZfmWgPZ19Wr4YDAt_v_jb_uMMnYttWp0ZU6dP3aAwLUktPd3kBLShj0KK8vwjpa0s12yIIFILUjOUV8KYM3dhwDv4xvB_GKwpgm8DVCvpZ9QtfuBgUb94EF1os57sye5PBvg4av8w3uVaGmwHnaXe4CVz2z9TlDUPUeD8eJ_cfzcMis6/s4032/DisneyMusicBoxes2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR01whpmoZfmWgPZ19Wr4YDAt_v_jb_uMMnYttWp0ZU6dP3aAwLUktPd3kBLShj0KK8vwjpa0s12yIIFILUjOUV8KYM3dhwDv4xvB_GKwpgm8DVCvpZ9QtfuBgUb94EF1os57sye5PBvg4av8w3uVaGmwHnaXe4CVz2z9TlDUPUeD8eJ_cfzcMis6/w300-h400/DisneyMusicBoxes2.jpeg" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0M5sd-YKiE3Yjh31eL1b3C9fBR6DNHCmFetbCMTNPMmIXmQHv9n24HcoVtCJIaxXYt1dtwT7uz14r4NPkWoVuPF2OZ-9OoHpuZFejogCudp4W_Lv1jodjcclUbW99A3AEr2jzOmdGcpivSS_1IrtkLJdAAyuYhdsb3K0XG2sf8_BLqGYHNpGuy6l/s4032/MusicBoxes3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0M5sd-YKiE3Yjh31eL1b3C9fBR6DNHCmFetbCMTNPMmIXmQHv9n24HcoVtCJIaxXYt1dtwT7uz14r4NPkWoVuPF2OZ-9OoHpuZFejogCudp4W_Lv1jodjcclUbW99A3AEr2jzOmdGcpivSS_1IrtkLJdAAyuYhdsb3K0XG2sf8_BLqGYHNpGuy6l/w300-h400/MusicBoxes3.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div></div><p>Well, that's it for today. Again, thank you for visiting me again after all this time! I hope to be back soon as I continue to get back in the swing of things!</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0-5GfGoo8UyB8oN0FGKw1X-qi82NQsh-ptV3LQBA58YY3jFCqsTE55s-GcL-LFaciZwKnqx63y3hNR3uBgK5UkejyO0Rcs3zfX9aGMwapUH6CqBJ0Z8ycuHfQYpK_1y0d_k2hqFwQYxYUDiKM3QBolUxUz6Y4c05mBhUZDH6kWe_5_EX3zJ0PHet/s564/8d78d1845fec0f1af23b8fb3bb010ab5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0-5GfGoo8UyB8oN0FGKw1X-qi82NQsh-ptV3LQBA58YY3jFCqsTE55s-GcL-LFaciZwKnqx63y3hNR3uBgK5UkejyO0Rcs3zfX9aGMwapUH6CqBJ0Z8ycuHfQYpK_1y0d_k2hqFwQYxYUDiKM3QBolUxUz6Y4c05mBhUZDH6kWe_5_EX3zJ0PHet/w400-h400/8d78d1845fec0f1af23b8fb3bb010ab5.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></b></span><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-69621720055433430362021-12-31T22:02:00.005-05:002021-12-31T22:15:01.193-05:00Out with the old and broken, in with inspiration and hope!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW1nprM3JVELaeY3FiYImi-LQRilP7pyQzGtQi9NPWQmsOihLnwisjj89PiTpGzzDZXZwXNpP7vQ5zvuLhg44P551zDwtDnk0aYCMFj2YPTSu4auYzUDn2R8XTY6dvacUUMGreL_FOc5Nx9razgKi9CnZWG34d_2YrLjJFjSJUa374hT4nkOf4tyzJ=s720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW1nprM3JVELaeY3FiYImi-LQRilP7pyQzGtQi9NPWQmsOihLnwisjj89PiTpGzzDZXZwXNpP7vQ5zvuLhg44P551zDwtDnk0aYCMFj2YPTSu4auYzUDn2R8XTY6dvacUUMGreL_FOc5Nx9razgKi9CnZWG34d_2YrLjJFjSJUa374hT4nkOf4tyzJ=w285-h400" width="285" /></a></div><br /> Wishes that 2022 will bring you peace, joy, contentment, good health, inspiration, and love,<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgELqDQCbT3dth2FTGsWUw8tFtnBiUjUIMz1zGuy5WviTSD9tzwUIjZ0CS9chTvF762yO-VKbRFPlxtpkV7whFBpucsgQwG5TjdCmyX7YfsHO_FYPKcEJAARalVhdmfnyCqZeWLvF8xdscdXXqPrzXvln1y44cRdMJbs-oq_e_oRh3tA1Y8zmRgIlAo=s1030" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="763" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgELqDQCbT3dth2FTGsWUw8tFtnBiUjUIMz1zGuy5WviTSD9tzwUIjZ0CS9chTvF762yO-VKbRFPlxtpkV7whFBpucsgQwG5TjdCmyX7YfsHO_FYPKcEJAARalVhdmfnyCqZeWLvF8xdscdXXqPrzXvln1y44cRdMJbs-oq_e_oRh3tA1Y8zmRgIlAo=s320" width="237" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-64329857124737206652021-12-01T09:46:00.000-05:002021-12-01T09:46:26.948-05:00My "BFF" Nails It Again ... Though It Makes Me Sad<p> I've been rather down in the dumps lately. More than that, perhaps, even in what might be labeled depression. The state of our nation and the division in our society has affected me as nothing else has since the days of the Viet Nam war and I spent my free time away from classes working with organizations to muster together marches and demonstrations. And at least then I was leading with hope. I'm not even sure I have that now. I have spent uncounted hours reading and watching lots of films - and many of them have been first rate. But, I've been in no mood to write reviews or rave rhapsodic over entertainment. I'll get back to it soon. I need to take a breather from this gloom and doom I've allowed to wash over me. However, this week's message from my newest BFF (who I have never actually met 😉) sums up my current disposition perfectly.</p><h2 class="entry-title" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/2021/12/01/yes-world-its-that-bad-here-in-america-and-worse/" target="_blank">Yes World, It’s That Bad Here in America—and Worse</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="posted-on"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2021-12-01T09:06:31-05:00">December 1, 2021</time></span><span class="byline"><span class="sep"> / </span><span class="author vcard">John Pavlovitz</span></span></div><div class="entry-meta"><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrW-RM4Cc5WwJUt4NTAz9uyXIgi3WQkiwMhPWqn0_H-L0xdkNDKyUTMbgrYSXcnSqXuq8-B7KJe9It0ml2hHACzZ80RxNUwkagDMN7CSkSWUB7yoYHpcRCjuOqKW5IRnjPyT1Tw2L-7vmxj9MpWrlTKdBSgynXmMAB2zMK2qqGPtpRExPc4F4dXnI4=s676" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="676" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrW-RM4Cc5WwJUt4NTAz9uyXIgi3WQkiwMhPWqn0_H-L0xdkNDKyUTMbgrYSXcnSqXuq8-B7KJe9It0ml2hHACzZ80RxNUwkagDMN7CSkSWUB7yoYHpcRCjuOqKW5IRnjPyT1Tw2L-7vmxj9MpWrlTKdBSgynXmMAB2zMK2qqGPtpRExPc4F4dXnI4=s320" width="320" /> </a></div></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">A reader from Australia texted me last night. He’d been watching the news and said he wanted to check on me.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em>We’re heartbroken to hear what’s going on there.</em> he wrote. <em>Is it really as bad as it looks?</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Another sweet friend from England messaged me this morning, with
similar concern for me and for our nation based on what she’s been
reading and seeing in the media.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Over the past few months I’ve had many kind-hearted people from all
over the world make similar inquiries about America, asking if it is as
dire and alarming up close as it appears from a distance.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, it is.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In fact, it’s far worse here on the ground, because all the ugliness
you can see from thousands of miles away (outside of a few politician’s
faces) is probably still rather abstract—a largely undefinable, faceless
wave of malice and bigotry, something to be analyzed and studied later.</p><p style="text-align: left;">But here on the ground this malignant sickness has a face, one that is far too familiar:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It’s the face of family members whose newly revealed racism is regularly leveling us around the dinner table.<br />
It’s the face of former church friends, who have completely abandoned
the Jesus they claim faith in and chosen the vilest of idols.<br />
It’s the face of once pleasant neighbors who casually regurgitate extremist propaganda in sidewalk conversations.<br />
It’s the face of childhood friends spewing anti-immigrant filth on their social media profiles.<br />
It’s the face of storeowners and hair stylists and restaurant workers,
the interactions with whom, have become walks through minefields.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">So yes, it’s the staggering cruelty of those holding the power
here—but just as much it’s the people we know and live alongside who are
so gladly empowering them.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, it’s the complete bastardization of the rule of law and the
systems of protections our forebears put in place to avoid putting our
nation in such peril—but it’s our coworkers and uncles and classmates
who don’t seem to give a damn about that.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, it’s one political party’s sociopathic lack of empathy and their
unrepentant viciousness—but it’s the people we’ve shared Thanksgiving
dinner with and served on mission trips alongside, who share their venom
and boost their signal.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, it’s Republican politicians’ incessant attacks on LGBTQ people
and immigrants and Muslims and the sick and the vulnerable—but it’s the
once kind-hearted people we love, who have been so poisoned by partisan
talking points and perverted Christian theology that they celebrate all
of it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">That’s why this is all so bad.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We’re certainly losing the big things here: the integrity of our
elections, the stability of our Republic, the faith in our systems, the
illusion that our Republican leaders will put anything over power and
party.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">But we’re losing much more than that.<br />
We’re losing the soft places we called home: our families and our churches and our circle of friends.<br />
We are swiftly and almost hourly seeing the relational fractures that
may have always been there beneath the surface, but are now visible and
cavernous.<br />
We’re trying to decide whether to fight for relationships we’ve spent
our lives nurturing, or whether we need to severe those connections in
the name of self-preservation.<br />
These things will never make the news or make a global impact—but they are rocking our personal worlds to the bedrock.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">So we’re marching and protesting and working and resisting in the
face of this monumental and historically malevolent national political
cancer—and while we’re doing that, we’re also trying to preserve our
families and our friendships and our workplaces, which are also hanging
by a thread.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This is a Constitutional crisis and it’s a family emergency.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We’re wondering what happened to our nation—and to people we once
loved and respected; to our parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors,
and best friends.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, our Democracy is in peril, but our most treasured relationships with people are in tatters too.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We are trying to salvage both and it’s exhausting.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">So yes, friends around the world, thank you for caring about us in America.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It <em>is</em> as bad as it looks from where you’re standing.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">But it’s far worse, too.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>By John Pavlovitz<br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG3NGpfv2PGT4bltJs1SzY7mHBAD7UIj1rLeoWQ0wq-T9dauTyvLllbI4pJ2gkdbWG-T3JWqhYUCoao1QoZ4RLeK9RJ0JLPdRTbg38EPJ0Jnkp_nw3PQdLIq-62D8q9LjreQzCAtTe8GoahE-Dkk4F1Dy9PDYZk-XYKBN3EI6ntr76E64BTvey5J6J=s121" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="97" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG3NGpfv2PGT4bltJs1SzY7mHBAD7UIj1rLeoWQ0wq-T9dauTyvLllbI4pJ2gkdbWG-T3JWqhYUCoao1QoZ4RLeK9RJ0JLPdRTbg38EPJ0Jnkp_nw3PQdLIq-62D8q9LjreQzCAtTe8GoahE-Dkk4F1Dy9PDYZk-XYKBN3EI6ntr76E64BTvey5J6J" width="97" /></a></div><i>John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North
Carolina. A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry,
John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and
outside faith communities. When not actively working for a more
compassionate planet, John enjoys spending time with his family,
exercising, cooking, and having time in nature. He is the author of <em></em><b><em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/a-bigger-table/">A Bigger Table</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/hope-and-other-super-powers/">Hope and Other Superpowers</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/low-an-honest-advent-devotional/">Low</a></em>, and <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/stuff-that-needs-to-be-said/">Stuff That Needs to Be Said</a></em>. <br /></b></i><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Thanks for stopping by Enchanted Revelries. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I hope you'll return and I'll be more in the holiday spirit! Have a wonderful weekend.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuPxmksvbTLZElZ0Fwdo8SL3iZ3_ddlKa008RRAHCTFiginXya-U-A3iqS9dStrypvo9xW44ghWsfvlIDIhT2DsblbjNjpQbhYfc3k3btw5flwq-o2zsV0XQrTLzW2OizJeyPA42VhVs2149NovkMvWF1p5XzpdZxOtNkiBog4DW6ebBN2t2nRWBye=s600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="600" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuPxmksvbTLZElZ0Fwdo8SL3iZ3_ddlKa008RRAHCTFiginXya-U-A3iqS9dStrypvo9xW44ghWsfvlIDIhT2DsblbjNjpQbhYfc3k3btw5flwq-o2zsV0XQrTLzW2OizJeyPA42VhVs2149NovkMvWF1p5XzpdZxOtNkiBog4DW6ebBN2t2nRWBye=w400-h359" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p> </div></span></span></div><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><br /></span></span></div><div class="entry-meta"><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"> </span></span> </div>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-34654337615923890732021-11-05T10:28:00.000-04:002021-11-05T10:28:06.492-04:00I’m Not Saying Conservative Christianity is Anti-Jesus. Jesus is.<p><i><b> I’m Not Saying Conservative Christianity is Anti-Jesus. Jesus is.</b></i></p><p><i><b></b></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEqkx36Jki4TVd-EJwmLBSRW1FllI0xaAds4P9X7BlrQt09ikolxTV3Ajtg7crimxeqjacQqvyeZDIc3zxa5zF13gQcdjmv1fnNSQ9A1impGiOuuL3sgXUfaSuuP1QmoErjS5dQyVGPog5ops5HtEhPNoddP7WEVsf6gRasSPYqHMzl9xczsenfjJ7=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1280" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEqkx36Jki4TVd-EJwmLBSRW1FllI0xaAds4P9X7BlrQt09ikolxTV3Ajtg7crimxeqjacQqvyeZDIc3zxa5zF13gQcdjmv1fnNSQ9A1impGiOuuL3sgXUfaSuuP1QmoErjS5dQyVGPog5ops5HtEhPNoddP7WEVsf6gRasSPYqHMzl9xczsenfjJ7=w400-h261" width="400" /></a></b></i></div><i><b> </b></i><span class="text Matt-5-9" id="en-NIV-23244"><span class="woj">The
steady stream of vitriol I receive from professed Christians who
identify as MAGA or QAnon or Republican is completely understandable. </span></span><p></p>
<p><span class="text Matt-5-9" id="en-NIV-23244"><span class="woj">As
they fire-off threatening texts, furiously tap out expletive-laden
emails, and break into violent, performative histrionics on social
media, I genuinely feel for them. They’re often getting some really bad
second-hand news from me that blows up the story they’ve spent a long
time telling themselves and depend on to validate and to justify them. </span></span></p>
<p><span class="text Matt-5-9" id="en-NIV-23244"><span class="woj">They’re coming face to face with the sobering reality that they are antithetical to Jesus. </span></span></p>
<p><span class="text Matt-5-9" id="en-NIV-23244"><span class="woj">Worse than that, they aren’t hearing that news from me—they’re hearing it from Jesus.</span></span></p>
<p>There are few things that confound and infuriate Conservative
Christians quite like the simple, clear, unadorned words of Jesus as
documented in the Bible they so loudly and frequently claim to love,
believe in, and live by. It’s almost miraculous:</p>
<p><em>Blessed are the peacemakers, </em><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Matt-5-9"><span class="woj"><em>for they will be called children of God.</em> Matthew 5:9</span></span></span>
</p>
<p>When you’re part of an antagonistic movement built almost exclusively
on a self-righteous battle posture: on a theology and politics that
require an enemy, an adversary, an encroaching danger, a culture war foe
to be defeated—the idea of being a peacemaker really pisses you off.
MAGAs don’t like peace. They refuse to coexist with it. They cannot
abide it. It’s not a compatible idea.</p>
<p><em>Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. </em> Matthew 25:45</p>
<p>The poor, the outcast, the hurting, the hungry, the homeless, the
lonely. Jesus said he literally inhabits the most vulnerable among us,
and that the way we treat them is the way we treat Jesus himself. That’s
a really disturbing reality, when you spend so much of your time
denying people healthcare and cutting social programs and assault voting
rights and legislatively attacking people for their sexuality or their
nation of origin or their pigmentation. The news that according to
Jesus, you devote a great deal of your life treating <em>Jesus</em> like garbage—tends not to be received too well.</p>
<p><em>For God so loved the world…</em> John 3:16</p>
<p>The world. God loves<em> the world</em>. That includes the planet,
the climate around it, the resources within it, the disparate humanity
and expansive life upon it. No<em> America First.</em> No “Go back where you came from” nationalistic bluster. No, “Don’t Tread on Me” middle-finger defiance. If you <em>so love the world</em>
as God does, you fight for diversity, you welcome immigrants and
foreigners, you demand environmental responsibility, you want more
people to have voices, not fewer. When America becomes your world—you’re
opposing God.</p>
<p><em>“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. </em> Matthew 26:52</p>
<p>That’s the part of the oft-quoted story that gun-loving Christians
never want to read: the part where Jesus reprimands his disciple who
uses a weapon to defend him, reminding him and those listening, that his
people will not be a people of retributive violence, that they will be
those who shun force and turn the other cheek and resist harming others
and de-escalate conflict. That is a really hard truth for the NRA, <em>God and Guns, Come and Take It</em>
crowd, who really want Jesus to be cool with their instigating,
posturing bloodlust—and who have to hear straight from Jesus that he
isn’t.</p>
<p><em><span class="text Matt-22-37" id="en-NIV-23910"><span class="woj">‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’</span></span><span class="text Matt-22-38" id="en-NIV-23911"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>This is the first and greatest commandment.</span></span> </em><span class="text Matt-22-39" id="en-NIV-23912"><span class="woj"><em>And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. </em>Matthew 22:37-39</span></span></p>
<p>Loving your neighbor. Jesus says unequivocally that this is the
priority and the point, and the way we show our love for God: the way we
treat other human beings. When Conservative Christians realize that
this includes their Muslim neighbor, their transgender neighbor, their
Jewish neighbor, their Liberal neighbor, their uninsured neighbor, their
undocumented neighbor, their black neighbor—they usually don’t react
very well. When you aren’t able or willing to practically or tangibly
extend love to such a vast portion of your neighbors in any meaningful
way, that is a difficult theological pill to swallow.</p>
<p>Honestly, I empathize with people who want to be both Christian and
MAGA, who think they can be devoted to Jesus and to Donald Trump
simultaneously, who labor under the false assumption that their
bastardized, territorial, self-centered white nationalist GOP version of
Christianity is remotely of God.</p>
<p>And I know that the actual words of Jesus are the most triggering of
any they could be faced with, and so the venom these generate aren’t
surprising and neither is their scalding rage toward those of us who
regularly share those words with them.</p>
<p>MAGA friends, I’m not saying this white Republican theocracy built on
power, exclusion, and subjugation that you’re tethered to is
anti-Jesus.</p>
<p>Jesus is saying that.</p>
<p>I know you really want to shoot the messenger.</p>
<p>That’s been going on for two-thousand years.</p>
<p><i> By John Pavlovitz<br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG3NGpfv2PGT4bltJs1SzY7mHBAD7UIj1rLeoWQ0wq-T9dauTyvLllbI4pJ2gkdbWG-T3JWqhYUCoao1QoZ4RLeK9RJ0JLPdRTbg38EPJ0Jnkp_nw3PQdLIq-62D8q9LjreQzCAtTe8GoahE-Dkk4F1Dy9PDYZk-XYKBN3EI6ntr76E64BTvey5J6J=s121" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="97" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG3NGpfv2PGT4bltJs1SzY7mHBAD7UIj1rLeoWQ0wq-T9dauTyvLllbI4pJ2gkdbWG-T3JWqhYUCoao1QoZ4RLeK9RJ0JLPdRTbg38EPJ0Jnkp_nw3PQdLIq-62D8q9LjreQzCAtTe8GoahE-Dkk4F1Dy9PDYZk-XYKBN3EI6ntr76E64BTvey5J6J" width="97" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i>John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North
Carolina. A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry,
John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and
outside faith communities. When not actively working for a more
compassionate planet, John enjoys spending time with his family,
exercising, cooking, and having time in nature. He is the author of <em></em><b><em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/a-bigger-table/">A Bigger Table</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/hope-and-other-super-powers/">Hope and Other Superpowers</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/low-an-honest-advent-devotional/">Low</a></em>, and <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/stuff-that-needs-to-be-said/">Stuff That Needs to Be Said</a></em>. <br /></b></i></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-63651392530811486682021-10-27T12:23:00.001-04:002021-11-05T10:20:03.578-04:00On the Day Fascism Wins Here<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Day Fascism Wins In America<span class="posted-on"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2021-10-27T08:48:44-04:00"> </time></span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="posted-on"><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/2021/10/27/the-day-fascism-wins-in-america/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2021-10-27T08:48:44-04:00">October 27, 2021</time></a></span><span class="byline"><span class="sep"> / </span><span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/author/johndpav/">John Pavlovitz</a></span></span> </p><div class="content-area" id="primary"><main class="site-main" id="main" role="main"><article class="post-34315 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized" id="post-34315"><header class="entry-header">
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<div class="entry-content">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj917yuV5Cw3V7nPmFEjcyN19ZLfOWjkvYF6M9pVsChGb54se2bz1oR-56uJNSsdV5tNAEhduI1p1BqLIfIhTp9yi4rSIH0TeF2vGUCiqwOnO5-gntwQsKes2n0Cp6X2c4iYw-oNhkuuvfmtE0JJbyx1LJn436GJVSPAxYypG5JlKFLwUXOj-_N0NSJ=s1536" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1536" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj917yuV5Cw3V7nPmFEjcyN19ZLfOWjkvYF6M9pVsChGb54se2bz1oR-56uJNSsdV5tNAEhduI1p1BqLIfIhTp9yi4rSIH0TeF2vGUCiqwOnO5-gntwQsKes2n0Cp6X2c4iYw-oNhkuuvfmtE0JJbyx1LJn436GJVSPAxYypG5JlKFLwUXOj-_N0NSJ=w400-h217" width="400" /></a></div><br />What will you do on the day fascism wins in America?
<p>Months from now, when you realize that the terrible things you always
dismissed as virtual impossibilities have actually come to pass, how
will you feel?</p>
<p>When it becomes sickeningly clear that January 6th, 2021 was not a
final and resounding defeat of this malignant ugliness but merely a
postponement of its eventual victory, what will run through your mind?</p>
<p>Will you regret not taking it all more seriously?</p>
<p>Will you grieve the loss of the nation you dreamed we could have been?</p>
<p>Will your heart break for your children and grandchildren and for the terrifying future they will now inherit?</p>
<p>Will you lament your silence, your inaction, all the times you
abstained from the fight because you were too tired or too lazy—or
simply because you never imagined this was even a remote possibility?</p>
<p>Will you desperately pray to rewind the world and have one more
chance to do and say and give all that you did not before fascism won?</p>
<p>It will all be somewhat irrelevant, because on the day fascism <em>does</em>
win you will have far fewer choices than you do right now. Your voice
and your vote and your options will no longer mean what they mean as you
read this.</p>
<p>Our Democracy is not guaranteed, our Republic not ensured to survive,
the freedoms and systems that we always saw as a given are no longer
fixed promises. The sobering truth, regardless of whether we want to
believe it or not, is that we are perilously close to losing many of the
elemental liberties we assumed could never be taken away.</p>
<p>The good news is that we are not quite yet there.</p>
<p>Fascism has not yet fully won, which means we do not have to grieve
all that we did not do or say or give, if we do and say and give it now,
if we use today wisely.</p>
<p>We still have this sacred and urgent present moment to engage in the
fight and to sacrifice what we can and to leave no work undone—and to
call upon our better angels to show up and spend themselves on behalf of
the America we wish to see and the future we dream of leaving for those
who will follow behind us.</p>
<p>America, we are a hair’s breadth from authoritarianism; from a
conservative white theocracy at the hands of a small minority of the
absolute worst human beings among us. We are at the precipice of forced
submission at the hands of people who fully despise diversity and equity
and empathy. This is not hyperbole or sky-is-falling histrionics, it is
the sober and clear evaluation of <em>what will be</em>, if the kind
and decent human beings of this nation choose to stay silent or
procrastinate away our activism or assume that justice will prevail
simply because we cannot imagine it failing.</p>
<p>History has shown us the cost and the consequence of good people
underestimating hateful people’s capacity for inhumanity. What we have
seen over the past five years should be all the evidence we need, that
we cannot dismiss this viciousness or rationalize away why it cannot
win, or turn away and anesthetize ourselves with social media and
streaming binges and pray for the storm to spare us even though we are
in its path.</p>
<p>On the day fascism wins here, I hope you will speak and work and
fight like hell to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice. We
will need the good people here more than ever, then.</p>
<p>But since fascism has not yet won, I hope you will martial all of
your energy and the totality of your resources and every bit of passion
you have for this nation, the planet, for the people you love, and for
those you will never know but care deeply about—and you will empty
yourself to make sure that fascism does not win.</p>
<p>Don’t fall asleep.<br />
Don’t turn away.<br />
Don’t relent.<br />
Don’t let someone else fight for you.<br />
Don’t assume decency’s victory.</p>
<p>Don’t pray, wish, or hope that fascism does not win.</p>
<p>Make sure it doesn’t.</p>
<p>It’s all in your hands.</p>
<p><i><b>by John Pavlovitz</b></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr3GDGErQDZvq_24i5AfBt7MEs8lUvPmH_MFgxrkBGQzevVB0oG4AMPBntLFHvuLiwRfFSCxILF5LpZ2axxrkIY3h2WLz9x2QoTpiKoyJkfGowlSZpt4jlKVzw8ftb0y07B66OC0yaf3ikJePTNcQpYzk0t0EHCL20JyFYl29pTTfeAHOEafuDF7cX=s438" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="350" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr3GDGErQDZvq_24i5AfBt7MEs8lUvPmH_MFgxrkBGQzevVB0oG4AMPBntLFHvuLiwRfFSCxILF5LpZ2axxrkIY3h2WLz9x2QoTpiKoyJkfGowlSZpt4jlKVzw8ftb0y07B66OC0yaf3ikJePTNcQpYzk0t0EHCL20JyFYl29pTTfeAHOEafuDF7cX=w97-h121" width="97" /></a></div>John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North
Carolina. A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry,
John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and
outside faith communities. When not actively working for a more
compassionate planet, John enjoys spending time with his family,
exercising, cooking, and having time in nature. He is the author of <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/a-bigger-table/">A Bigger Table</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/hope-and-other-super-powers/">Hope and Other Superpowers</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/low-an-honest-advent-devotional/">Low</a></em>, and <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/stuff-that-needs-to-be-said/">Stuff That Needs to Be Said</a></em>.<br /> <p></p><p> <br /></p>
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</aside> </div><br />Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-91260820465820226102021-08-27T19:05:00.003-04:002021-08-27T19:05:59.701-04:00The Doll Factory ... and a weekend in Venice<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVMotDHv9TMQFU6mxBBcFXa6sCnVSA4277CoLohPdQ-KURCGJKoxCSRouBTlsmU6kisSKQHaNaUs7Qme7DIatGjQt1G_d7jK-oHmyCn-ezebd2YCiAPyHe01wl6W-tBjDvhsxjyslVbE/s475/38591165._SY475_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVMotDHv9TMQFU6mxBBcFXa6sCnVSA4277CoLohPdQ-KURCGJKoxCSRouBTlsmU6kisSKQHaNaUs7Qme7DIatGjQt1G_d7jK-oHmyCn-ezebd2YCiAPyHe01wl6W-tBjDvhsxjyslVbE/w250-h400/38591165._SY475_.jpg" width="250" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">☆☆☆☆+</div><p></p><p>What an astonishing book. I started to read it thinking it was going to
be a murder mystery with an historical setting. What a surprise to
discover that it takes place in mid-19th century London, and the
characters are the reknowned Pre-Raphaelite artists Louis Frost, John
Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rosetti and others. And that the principal
character was none other than Elizabeth Siddal, the Pre-Raphaelite
artist who is best remembered today as the model for the very famous
Millais painting of Ophelia drowning in the pond with all the flowers
around her. <br /><br />I found it fascinating that this book - obviously
well researched - took these people and completely fictionalized a story
around them. Nothing taking place during the time period in the novel
is factual. In fact, the novel would lead one to believe that Ms. Siddal
was the wife of Louis Frost, when in real life she was actually married
to Rosetti. <br /><br />London itself is a major character in this book -
and the events that took place in it. Especially events such as The
Great Exhibition of 1851 (the precursor of The World's Fairs) and the
venerated Royal Academy curated yearly "On the Line" exhibits by the
finest artists in the nation, both of which play large roles in this
novel. The author does a marvelous job of bringing the images and sounds
and smells of the city fully to life. It's very easy to feel yourself
living in the world of the novel while reading it...a special gift to
me, as a reader! And she doesn't shy from making the squalid and brutal
as tactile as the lush, beautiful and splendid. It was all part of that
world and all part of this story.</p><p> </p><p>Courtesy of Jeanie at <b><a href="https://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Marmelade Gypsy</a> </b>blog, who recommended them, I spent an enchanting weekend in Venice. I didn't get to fly over to Italy (darn it), but I read two terrific novels over the weekend by Donna Leon which take place in Italy. This is the <b><a href="https://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com/2021/08/postcards-from-lake-julys-books.html#more" target="_blank">post</a></b> in which she discusses them.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRuW05J2oy1JAH-CTWoecl28v9bgHJf0UifahOvKGu4KhBS0qCphwql_4DFmzRAwrvFnsyYo_1lyhOL-FQehr4A-cKA9OZ2yN93ugiRNWErdTsarBG8dXfBjh_SJE8foNrV29XEDd1ng/s475/24998974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRuW05J2oy1JAH-CTWoecl28v9bgHJf0UifahOvKGu4KhBS0qCphwql_4DFmzRAwrvFnsyYo_1lyhOL-FQehr4A-cKA9OZ2yN93ugiRNWErdTsarBG8dXfBjh_SJE8foNrV29XEDd1ng/w266-h400/24998974.jpg" width="266" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTrEMsGisW5seyS_03PN2NphR_s7gpW7y6z7IjGP4NnmZPsKUo35lK8qhaZZ9gQMlEmMqXW_cwEqeNfqeG72_4MM7jK-HTKgBel050OYJSwiItN4XhWJSmrta73tC1dLkhtifNOWOP_U/s475/16000330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTrEMsGisW5seyS_03PN2NphR_s7gpW7y6z7IjGP4NnmZPsKUo35lK8qhaZZ9gQMlEmMqXW_cwEqeNfqeG72_4MM7jK-HTKgBel050OYJSwiItN4XhWJSmrta73tC1dLkhtifNOWOP_U/w270-h407/16000330.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /></div><p>The Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries are a series about a police detective in Venice and his astute ability to ferret out the evil-doers in that marvelous city. He has a splendid bevy of of cohorts in both the assistant policemen in the constabulary and his family which he heads with his wife, a socially conscious lady of independent means. Another major character in these books - at least the two I read - is the city itself. And Ms. Leon does a splendid job of dredging up all my fond memories of Venice from my college 3-month stay there as an exchange student. She has a way of bringing the unique way of traversing the city (you have two choices - get a boat or walk) fully to life. I was also amused that Commissario Brunetti started his day out with cappuccino and brioche from a sidewalk cafe/bakery every morning; that was just exactly how I started my mornings 50 years ago! Neither of these books took place during the magical event of Carnivale. I was fortunate to have spent my college time there during Carnivale, and I have since returned on holiday for Carnivale. I am hoping that one (or more) of these stories takes place during that fantastic and exotic time; I'm getting the entire boxed set, so I'll know by the end of the year!<br /><br />The mysteries themselves I found intriguing and original. It was a fluke that the two I picked up happened to have the same sort of theme about them: the murders involved socio/ecological interests. I've read some of the other descriptions of the books and they're filled with more lurid subjects (greed, adultery, sex, dysfunctional families, etc. 😂). I really was rather surprised by the guilty parties - and the standard murder mystery 'chase' scenes in both books were raised a notch with the necessary addition of the Venice canals and boats and unique street layout.<br /><br />The writing is sharp and clever. The characters are honest and sincere, but they also often have a touch of cynicism and dry humor that livens them up and makes them very urban and real.<br /><br />These are fun - and quick - reads - and I thank Jeanie for the recommendation. I look forward to more.<br /><br />Right now I'm in the midst of a most strange and unusual and rather wonderful book, <i><b>The Perfume Thief</b></i>, by Timothy Schaffert. I'll let you know about it next week!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by Enchanted Revelries. I hope you found something you think would be a good read for you! Be sure to stop by <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2021/08/anything-goes-pink-saturday-august-28-2021.html" target="_blank"><b>Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Hop</b></a> to see what other choice morsels are being offered ... and you might like to check out whatever is new over at Jeanie's <a href="https://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Marmelade Gypsy</b></a> blog!</p><p>... now go make something beautiful!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM44XYdr3FNIq1jkV9mvxCeh7I58zoIG4IPeD7j_RQN8_fIL_yWSDV0BwT3fRFtVxCf1o3KWLodLbhMEqDKAwPBjdxwCdK3Semgj9YkVFiGL3E9oeQHNEJYq9LmVtwhdbw6c9xek1AXI/s612/portrait-of-laughing-little-boy-with-angle-wings-picture-id530073503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM44XYdr3FNIq1jkV9mvxCeh7I58zoIG4IPeD7j_RQN8_fIL_yWSDV0BwT3fRFtVxCf1o3KWLodLbhMEqDKAwPBjdxwCdK3Semgj9YkVFiGL3E9oeQHNEJYq9LmVtwhdbw6c9xek1AXI/w400-h266/portrait-of-laughing-little-boy-with-angle-wings-picture-id530073503.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span></p><p> </p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-76320713944755132232021-08-21T09:53:00.003-04:002021-08-21T09:53:38.186-04:00When Your Personal Freedom is Killing People<p>All you regular readers know that I periodically - well, three or four times a year - will share a post from John Pavlovitz' <a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/" target="_blank"><i><b>Stuff That Needs To Be Said</b></i></a> blog. This is one that I feel not only needs to be said, but is said extremely well...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When Your Personal Freedom is Killing People</b></span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTJopzjrmo6wgdNpnd4jlwXpxxhV06kXWsRlLQoKCCCHYzQW7HMFZjrFQBcvMQ3WL0LdU6lS3iBNdSRokB6UxedSOg3_GWltmIKBtkg07DbBFQsYBGPfWzZXX5CyWfrkHGhSS_SZQ9Ro/s1280/Antimasker-scaled.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1280" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTJopzjrmo6wgdNpnd4jlwXpxxhV06kXWsRlLQoKCCCHYzQW7HMFZjrFQBcvMQ3WL0LdU6lS3iBNdSRokB6UxedSOg3_GWltmIKBtkg07DbBFQsYBGPfWzZXX5CyWfrkHGhSS_SZQ9Ro/w400-h198/Antimasker-scaled.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>
</p><p>Freedom is an unearned privilege—and you have it.</p>
<p>If you were born here in America you inherited it.</p>
<p>It came with your breath and your birth certificate.</p>
<p>That freedom actually wasn’t free though—it was quite costly and someone prepaid it on your behalf.</p>
<p>You never met them and you’ll likely never know their names.</p>
<p>They paid for your freedom in filthy, putrid trenches decades ago and half a world away.</p>
<p>They paid it on blackened beachfronts littered with the blood and body parts of strangers.</p>
<p>They paid it cold and alone on frozen countrysides, in places their bodies still remain.</p>
<p>Others paid in churches in Birmingham and on campus squares in Ohio and in streets of Chicago.</p>
<p>Generations of Americans sacrificed family and future and body and
breath, so that you could be pulled from the birth canal nestled in the
warm embrace of the easy liberty you’ve come to believe you deserve.</p>
<p>Which makes it all the more tragic and shameful how little regard you
have for that freedom now, how much you’re squandering it over and over
because you’ve decided the simplest of requests are too much for you to
bear and constitute an assault on your personal liberty:</p>
<p>Putting a tiny piece of cloth over your nose and mouth while you’re at the grocery store.</p>
<p>Getting a free vaccine that has been carefully researched by people qualified for this very work.</p>
<p>What a stupid, selfish waste of the freedom people paid so dearly for.<br />
What a brazen middle finger to those who gave everything.<br />
What a squandering of the gift that is this nation you claim to so love.</p>
<p><span class="JsGRdQ">Your courageous, selfless forbears were asked to fight and die on foreign soil in order to save other American </span><span class="JsGRdQ">lives—and they did.<br />
</span><span class="JsGRdQ">They braved bombs and bullets to perpetuate this place where liberty resides and you were generously handed.<br />
In times of war, people here went without for years in cause of the
soldiers who were preserving the democracy we were born into.<br />
Activists here gave up security and safety for your right to vote and marry and to live unfettered by tyranny.</span></p>
<p><span class="JsGRdQ">Today, you’re being asked to simply make the
smallest effort to accomplish the same noble task and you can’t manage
that. You are interpreting your temporary, tiny, fleeting inconvenience
as perpetual and inhumane persecution—that’s how soft and sad we’ve
become, how small our battles now are, what we see as worthy causes.</span></p>
<p>That’s the way freedom works, though. No one gets to tell you how to
wield it or what merits your indignation or what is worth your outrage.</p>
<p>But from where I’m standing, you’re making a mockery of the lives of
Americans, who in trenches and on beachfronts and countrysides and
churches and campuses and street corners, spilled blood and lost limbs
and sacrificed life on your behalf. You’re showing stratospheric
disregard for other human beings who share this place with you, all in
the name of not wanting to be told what to do.</p>
<p>That’s the thing about the “personal freedom” you seem to be missing:
it was never supposed to be just about you. It wasn’t purely about
independence, it was about <em>interdependence</em>: about loving our
neighbor as ourselves, about being our brother’s and sister’s keeper,
about caring for one another because we’re all in this together. That’s
what the anthems declare and the statues proclaim and the songs ring
out.</p>
<p>You’re being asked to wear a mask and get vaccinated, not just for you, but for other Americans:<br />
so that vulnerable people aren’t exposed to a virus their bodies likely cannot overcome.<br />
so that already exhausted healthcare workers will not be overwhelmed by a continual flood of sick people.<br />
so that thousands of unprotected children don’t get sick and disrupt the
school year and kill their teachers and bring home a deadly virus to
their families.<br />
so that we aren’t hit with another tidal wave of sickness and death that we will be unable to come back from.</p>
<p>But if you feel like that’s asking too much of you, go ahead and
scream and complain and protest and threaten and beat your chest like
you are defending liberty: that’s what someone sacrificed so you could
do.</p>
<p>I’m just not sure your politics and your preferences are hills worth them dying on.</p>
<p>I think you may be wasting your personal freedom.</p>
<p>I think it’s getting people killed.</p>
<p>That may be a you problem.</p><p>-- by John Pavlovitz</p><p>Just something for you to think about - and perhaps also share with others, if you're so inclined. </p><p>...now go make something beautiful!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAowYveXMewNA8VpWHEeu88laYhTP-N2AsYLeDqk58I_ASY1JdkS9wHA75uPzOoxOKD2hGXZpucY0pwnxy3K2OEjJaZKxl1n6mVlmpNbO9WL-rx9kO02weP1I_RgROl1rH6u2guvoLrc/s900/John-Pavlovitz-Headshot-10-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAowYveXMewNA8VpWHEeu88laYhTP-N2AsYLeDqk58I_ASY1JdkS9wHA75uPzOoxOKD2hGXZpucY0pwnxy3K2OEjJaZKxl1n6mVlmpNbO9WL-rx9kO02weP1I_RgROl1rH6u2guvoLrc/s320/John-Pavlovitz-Headshot-10-2018.jpg" width="256" /></a></b></div><b><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">John Pavlovitz</span></i></a></b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North
Carolina. A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry,
John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and
outside faith communities. When not actively working for a more
compassionate planet, John enjoys spending time with his family,
exercising, cooking, and having time in nature. He is the author of <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/a-bigger-table/">A Bigger Table</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/hope-and-other-super-powers/">Hope and Other Superpowers</a></em>, <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/low-an-honest-advent-devotional/">Low</a></em>, and <em><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/stuff-that-needs-to-be-said/">Stuff That Needs to Be Said</a></em>.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqt5Pq0lazl0vBmGEiHEHKm8B6Cpgo5P_mgZpTTXnAZuszHZ2KXbjAEELfRQz9J5C9vdM0gsKHEnjV8RxLxMZFn2OEy-aDpmR5SC4Mb3rGXI4v9KBIm2aehq5Pl8B5o70-GPrDlXPpxo/s588/147461461_10159046688935682_8020442403413841882_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqt5Pq0lazl0vBmGEiHEHKm8B6Cpgo5P_mgZpTTXnAZuszHZ2KXbjAEELfRQz9J5C9vdM0gsKHEnjV8RxLxMZFn2OEy-aDpmR5SC4Mb3rGXI4v9KBIm2aehq5Pl8B5o70-GPrDlXPpxo/w286-h320/147461461_10159046688935682_8020442403413841882_n.png" width="286" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> <br /></span></b></span></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-9954401759528911092021-08-21T00:42:00.002-04:002021-08-21T00:42:45.433-04:00The Lost Pink Saturday Blog Hop Post<p> <b>As most everybody who has read my post with any regularity knows, I always credit people whenever it's appropriate. I started blogging almost 20 years ago, and it's just second nature to me.</b></p><p><b>Today, after almost 3,000 posts, I neglected to do so. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.<br /><br />Well. Although I usually only receive about 5 or 6 comments on each post, my inbox was FILLED with comments from people letting me know that I hadn't given credit to the original author. And these were not pleasant informative posts; not every single one was nasty - but over half were ugly hateful snide and vicious. <br /><br />I got so upset (and, admittedly, angry) at the tone of many of these messages (think bitter, lonely, disillusioned, and chip on the shoulder abandoned wives), I just deleted the entire post. I wish they weren't cowards and identify themselves so I could do something that would really make them vent their spleens - like maybe tipping over an outhouse on their front lawn.</b></p><p><b><span><b>So, no post this week. </b></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIvdp_M3INo7nF-3BUnDS5rlH0uYF4ohlRp1B6ORt9QakHved6UL7-BucRSc82MTsh1zW1Za19rgISFCfK55tvcWbQy8XaRlyAN8SsJ7D7McU7vDNZp1dYGwd0-ES2lwqdIG3yyUFIgY/s960/proxy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIvdp_M3INo7nF-3BUnDS5rlH0uYF4ohlRp1B6ORt9QakHved6UL7-BucRSc82MTsh1zW1Za19rgISFCfK55tvcWbQy8XaRlyAN8SsJ7D7McU7vDNZp1dYGwd0-ES2lwqdIG3yyUFIgY/w400-h400/proxy.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p><b><span><b> </b></span></b></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-64900246621801934272021-08-12T21:54:00.001-04:002021-08-13T15:04:58.346-04:00A Pink Saturday Movie Star ... and Some Terrific Books!<p style="text-align: left;">Halfway through a marathon of Ann-Margret movies, I realized she must have worn pink more times on screen than any other actress! I figured she needed some representation on this week's <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/">Pink Saturday</a> post!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXJvliitkrAFzHBbKtQgVyD-lmfdURpUpUfHODkQgs4XOUBbWoY1h2Cboh2qZ8IV3Uhp75XjT4wubKypKyvxFR9SefzNl0F9L7r14vXU9DXkPxl6ssnpUYSIMZWUs7W4_VU9SMGO0Hps/s2048/MV5BNjhmNTQwNDUtNzdlNS00YjJmLWI4YmQtYjk0YzZhOGI5Y2EyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc%2540._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1102" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXJvliitkrAFzHBbKtQgVyD-lmfdURpUpUfHODkQgs4XOUBbWoY1h2Cboh2qZ8IV3Uhp75XjT4wubKypKyvxFR9SefzNl0F9L7r14vXU9DXkPxl6ssnpUYSIMZWUs7W4_VU9SMGO0Hps/w215-h400/MV5BNjhmNTQwNDUtNzdlNS00YjJmLWI4YmQtYjk0YzZhOGI5Y2EyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc%2540._V1_.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh963-GfD9cq2wwUPpKdN9H2AGJ-F8ziBCsvg43WFgWxDLY2iMGR8Dj_C0BqDLypeBLjhtJMqz2S4_rusAmk7wurZ0DTDu_NTijOaugsBw4xhPPhK7JOwnwGQry3y9XIYQPB3CJc4WcVR8/s1045/Lucky-Rusty-in-Viva-Las-Vegas-movie-couples-18725270-1050-592.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="1045" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh963-GfD9cq2wwUPpKdN9H2AGJ-F8ziBCsvg43WFgWxDLY2iMGR8Dj_C0BqDLypeBLjhtJMqz2S4_rusAmk7wurZ0DTDu_NTijOaugsBw4xhPPhK7JOwnwGQry3y9XIYQPB3CJc4WcVR8/w400-h169/Lucky-Rusty-in-Viva-Las-Vegas-movie-couples-18725270-1050-592.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWzIkfdNW7WNxmgdjoS0PKEGP5STtMtSr8YtmH6WgD28BsX8VcUqePPZ-NBu5CoImvLN3CMVoHObF1aVSyxCQPpeqGo2-x4Thd6ZrkVOG4NtLEKHLotKKrmSaO-Q9Aopb5rPOCQn8EaQ/s1540/ann-margret_marquee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1540" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWzIkfdNW7WNxmgdjoS0PKEGP5STtMtSr8YtmH6WgD28BsX8VcUqePPZ-NBu5CoImvLN3CMVoHObF1aVSyxCQPpeqGo2-x4Thd6ZrkVOG4NtLEKHLotKKrmSaO-Q9Aopb5rPOCQn8EaQ/w400-h225/ann-margret_marquee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixze50GrJMzQltesC5-h9_yJtbKmav2bcHHuNU3Q83vqHrsH-Qr-kR34mQI8yRUoE3_ZiNDWJlVeT43cbEtB72PV8wqo5Zt-G80sN5cWbJQVbTuFmha5WlFg62o_PhOVETn0gAe5jeBJU/s688/ann-margret.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixze50GrJMzQltesC5-h9_yJtbKmav2bcHHuNU3Q83vqHrsH-Qr-kR34mQI8yRUoE3_ZiNDWJlVeT43cbEtB72PV8wqo5Zt-G80sN5cWbJQVbTuFmha5WlFg62o_PhOVETn0gAe5jeBJU/w328-h400/ann-margret.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6B0kmmW_oyKgE8o3Jfig2wwvoiaq-5mPnrQ4hBqEuVyhw_U0VRkwWjkr-meOkeH-HHvGfvGrBA8gx99P-Xx6f5HbOvwOCLhFkZXbjmnb9iOpmY89ozd7JeWCEhlSy9sdRGVSFdMh9x40/s540/Ann-Margret-Pink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6B0kmmW_oyKgE8o3Jfig2wwvoiaq-5mPnrQ4hBqEuVyhw_U0VRkwWjkr-meOkeH-HHvGfvGrBA8gx99P-Xx6f5HbOvwOCLhFkZXbjmnb9iOpmY89ozd7JeWCEhlSy9sdRGVSFdMh9x40/w268-h400/Ann-Margret-Pink.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsbB-u5bhnHUcSXKu-LZ4Uy10lM9QpvR6ErMK_x68DG4XE7MUDC9reSxGMrK_vSRDyZlHTfLYTaA8Zjvl9OBUhPChvSIaFXrCaIvRrr4mpp6qpY8ccPuLfCumzOtviBQHiEEiSLg8rOw/s500/41AXOJH-PeL._AC_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsbB-u5bhnHUcSXKu-LZ4Uy10lM9QpvR6ErMK_x68DG4XE7MUDC9reSxGMrK_vSRDyZlHTfLYTaA8Zjvl9OBUhPChvSIaFXrCaIvRrr4mpp6qpY8ccPuLfCumzOtviBQHiEEiSLg8rOw/s320/41AXOJH-PeL._AC_.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>I would say something obvious like, she's certainly pretty in pink! But, face it, she was pretty in just about any color!<br /><br />I have some great books this week for you to think about when you're selecting a new read next! I've been a very lucky reader, with some very good ones this week!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6F01K2U7STaaVB5U9R3iV3EZjk-bMBE34NfbjIYTzt4FhJD0rEhk0yGdcfy3RLyZ2niUhn5BhKzMS62FXNXSfmFnCUE6WD16zk6_5jcQDz-hggIm3F4n-Q_psy7WKbw0rOp9Otlf_3bE/s1200/4+x+2+in.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6F01K2U7STaaVB5U9R3iV3EZjk-bMBE34NfbjIYTzt4FhJD0rEhk0yGdcfy3RLyZ2niUhn5BhKzMS62FXNXSfmFnCUE6WD16zk6_5jcQDz-hggIm3F4n-Q_psy7WKbw0rOp9Otlf_3bE/w400-h200/4+x+2+in.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6crDWPT7F9Zo7xizw6-_HZu2RPdzVKVCdKPNU2DZRDACIMcL7QPobFHFPbM3_ZD03-wDQ5e74D-F-gdtWGZ8kzsEd2HpTy6MpyAtjACKp83NuKqK1AYvs3W33V8_YJwyXC-7LM-t9pE/w265-h400/40539807._SY475_.jpg" width="265" /><br />☆☆☆☆<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not sure if this is one of the most fascinating and interesting
books I've ever read; or if it's one of the most disgusting ugly and
warped views of humanity I've ever read. Either way, it's at the top of
the list.<br /><br />It takes place in 18th century Stockholm, in the
absolute destitute areas of privation. Squalor, filth and casual brutal
violence are the order of the day. A body has been found in the sewage
pit of a river: a corpse that has no limbs, no eyes, and no tongue. The
watchman, Mickel Cardell, an amputee ex-soldier and Cecil Winge, a
brilliant lawyer, dying of consumption, turned consulting detective to
the Stockholm police, are teamed to ferret out the murderer. First, they
will have to find out who the mutated corpse was. <br /><br />In another
street in the same hellish location, a young woman has been falsely
accused of prostitution and is sent to a "work farm" which is little
more than slave lodgings and torture.<br /><br />To this horrendous milieu a
young man comes from the rural countryside to make his fortune - and is
swiftly led to his destruction.<br /><br />These four people - and the corpse - intersect each other's lives and change them, sometimes without being aware of it.<br /><br />This
is a bleak, bitter and cold - both figurative and literal - world for
this mystery and character study to revolve in. The characters are not
pretty - they do not rub elbows with admirable people - they do not hope
to save the world or even believe the world can be saved. They
certainly don't believe they can be saved themselves. But they all
struggle on trying to survive. There are elements of it that reminded me
at times of the pathetic existence of those in the novel <i>Angela's Ashes</i>, but this always managed to surpass the horror.<br /><br />And
yet, it was fascinating. Perhaps in the way you don't want to look at a
traffic accident, but can't stop yourself. I just kept reading -
voraciously - to find out what was going to happen next; and yet I
almost dreaded to find out. <br /><br />So, take from that what you will.
Perhaps it will intrigue you and you'll want to try it. Or maybe you'll
discern it's not your cuppa. For those who love a good mystery, this is <i>not</i> ever going to be included on a list of 'cozies!'
</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaqzG08txvLWPoiehN8FBtJC_vu73z1ZWmJiAXM9NHteyALzj9NdklcjwozOKFSo72-FkdmpxZ-9t3uscXDzfBo72w8VLZs7fn6pLk0vvKVZFkIj2TVSBD8kxku55LXHnjHWdKfSgKiU/s475/54875696._SY475_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaqzG08txvLWPoiehN8FBtJC_vu73z1ZWmJiAXM9NHteyALzj9NdklcjwozOKFSo72-FkdmpxZ-9t3uscXDzfBo72w8VLZs7fn6pLk0vvKVZFkIj2TVSBD8kxku55LXHnjHWdKfSgKiU/w263-h400/54875696._SY475_.jpg" width="263" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">☆☆☆ <br /></div>This was an interesting premise for a mystery/thriller. The setting is
late 17th century Boston, and witchcraft trials are taking place around
the New World settlements. Mary Deerfield, a young and beautiful widow
decides to take a popular well-to-do man as her second husband. Unknown
to her - or almost anybody in the city - he is a secret drunkard and
violent wife beater who murdered his first wife in an unprovoked fit of
rage. During one such rage, he brutalizes Mary and she decides she must
divorce him; divorce at this time was no small matter and she was going
to have her hands full. But, it gets worse when she is suddenly called
out as a witch and she is not only fighting to get out of her marriage,
but fighting to save her life from the bonfire execution decreed to all
condemned witches.<br /><br />This was melodramatic and passionate - and a
ripping good story. There were chase scenes and hiding scenes and
amazing surprises when characters expose parts of themselves I didn't
expect at all. <br /><br />If you want to have fun with an historical murder
mystery/thriller, this is a good one. It's fairly short and a quick
read. There's also a tad of romance in there, but not nearly enough to
spoil it!
<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfisk73l6PPFlPy3MjLUDxXUQabqMHkPCLEHFfTJt2ISFNdE1buB2XyBajDkYwQqGLnsXCTmFxnVxb9XTEmzfNRH-wL3GWxUx767JCE1ay2kEPKslxvk44zNYozxh6z4F2Il5quC6oHiM/s400/46064313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfisk73l6PPFlPy3MjLUDxXUQabqMHkPCLEHFfTJt2ISFNdE1buB2XyBajDkYwQqGLnsXCTmFxnVxb9XTEmzfNRH-wL3GWxUx767JCE1ay2kEPKslxvk44zNYozxh6z4F2Il5quC6oHiM/s320/46064313.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>☆☆☆☆</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, my! I finished this thoroughly enjoyable mystery early last evening -
and I'm still chuckling over some of the turns of phrase and astute
observations on the human condition generally and the film business
specifically. <br /><br />Pretty As a Picture is written from the point of
view of a nebbish-y, OCD afflicted, neurotic and fiercely loner female
film editor. Marissa Dahl ("as in Roald, not as in Barbie") is hired to
edit a prestigious film by current Hollywood artiste bad boy, Tony Rees
and is spirited away to a resort island where the filming is taking
place in a retro grand hotel which was the scene of a murder years ago.
And the roller coast ride begins!<br /><br />Marissa is obviously somewhere
on the spectrum, though it's never stated outright. However, her quirks,
neurosis and psychologically required daily rituals are treated not
only with respect and compassion, but often with self-deprecating humor
that is never insulting or offensive. Autism is not really in my
wheelhouse, but I feel as if I understand it a bit better after reading
this book. And the education comes with many chuckles and at least one
hearty guffaw in every chapter.<br /><br />The mystery is confusing,
infuriating, deliciously scandalous, and compelling - and, I have to
admit, the resolution was out of my reach...in fact, I thought I had it
all figured out and couldn't have been more wrong. I love that in a
mystery!<br /><br />Add to all that a fantastic (in all senses of the word!)
array of secondary characters - from the actors, producers, crew and
director of the film, to the man mountain bodyguard who has been
assigned to protect Marissa on the shoot, to a pair of teen internet
influencers who have turned to amateur detecting.<br /><br />I also love the
way the author has created a multi race cast of characters with race
never being an issue. Sometimes in a description she will state whether a
character is black or white or Asian - sometimes she doesn't. I decided
about half way through the book that Marissa was black. I don't know
why I decided that - nothing STATED that she was - I just 'felt' she
was. Then, by the end, I thought she must have been white. It doesn't
make any difference. But, it added to the 'unknowns' in the book.<br /><br />But,
on top of it all - oh, so so so clever and funny. I recommend it to any
and everybody. Even teenagers can be urged to try it - there is little
in the way of cursing (I don't really recall <i>any</i>, but I don't
want to say that definitely) and no sexual activity described, and the
pacing of the action will keep any young person interested.<br /><br />I'm
keeping this on my Nook 'top' of the list because in a few months I want
to read it again...I'm sure I missed a few quips or jokes in there! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, that's it for this week. Hope you enjoyed a little Ann-Margret this morning - and perhaps found a book that you didn't know about that sounds interesting to you.Thanks for stopping by Enchanted Revelries - be sure to check in at <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/">Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Hop</a> and check out all the offerings there this week! And then, go make something beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7MmOqPKs4Io" width="320" youtube-src-id="7MmOqPKs4Io"></iframe></b></div><b>Enjoy a little Ann Margret in pink with your morning cuppa!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </b><p></p> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p></p><br />Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-39900252167390334062021-08-06T17:17:00.003-04:002021-08-06T17:17:39.286-04:00A Reading Chair for Pink Saturday <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNITJ8B3xCFb8VBlGShLE6rJ2ObWtx_3LfVwviOdtVB_UPOQsnyPizHZt-E4Lb-542eGUp6G_imF8NlKaGLIIjVM3ieWM8hKxR1__o684qW05pizxT1RiU4WD_r7MdWwyfu7V1QpeX9I/s733/890a4823a40bcf0e9b3f5bf5ef95e4ae.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="545" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNITJ8B3xCFb8VBlGShLE6rJ2ObWtx_3LfVwviOdtVB_UPOQsnyPizHZt-E4Lb-542eGUp6G_imF8NlKaGLIIjVM3ieWM8hKxR1__o684qW05pizxT1RiU4WD_r7MdWwyfu7V1QpeX9I/w298-h400/890a4823a40bcf0e9b3f5bf5ef95e4ae.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>The perfect chair to spend a <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2021/08/anything-goes-pink-saturday-august-7-2021.html" target="_blank">Pink Saturday</a> with a cuppa and a good book! And here are this week's reads in a capsule ... it's been a very good week for choosing books!<br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-t7IBQsqQpRreOu02SBIUJPqMoT6x2EpnXfVwM6nekN1bZVRL0Z8l5ahPa9ACyRDzxerfHbINYmnX7jIgoD_IorcEiqOgrhVnS5wKEHwzSFnSORQBgf1g1pSAH05IQqRxOAF53B6qPM/w362-h362/Etsy+Shop+Icon.png" width="362" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijXPZY4BQnAF8-xHp5jEu-3xDM_kecTN8HXfRwdgwVfPBo6x-ukybf6KiUhCXD8V-iRe0T0NpSvk_FQiqbefDKMVTnWatTzb34O_KgwtJa_T_nhSeAqKnqQzRn7NhSfqKEqnjvHqiDtI/s320/11474888.jpg" width="205" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I was totally intrigued and engrossed in this triple-era mystery. First
we have the Cadences: wealthy early century bank owners and manor house
owners who have a lot of secrets and skeletons and emotional baggage and
pitfalls. Next we meet the depression-era children, Ella, Victoria and
Clem. They are friends who also have secrets even at their tender age,
and one which they will carry to the end of their lives. And, finally,
we meet Amy - Ella's grown grandaughter - and Jan, Amy's boyfriend.<br /><br />Although
the story travels the world, it centers on The Poisoned Village. The
Poisoned Village is Priors Bramley, a village shut off in the 1950s so
that the area could be used for chemical weapons-testing during the Cold
War. When the village was evacuated and the razor wire and signs
surrounded it, a long history of dark secrets was also closed off to the
outside world. Now, sixty years later, the village has been declared
safe again. And there are people who want the ugly secrets kept hidden
in Priors Bramley forever - and there are some who are searching out
answers which promise to stir the secrets to the surface.<br /><br />If you
are up for a neo gothic thriller this one should be next on your list! I
do wish Hitchcock were still around to film this story ... he might
even surpass <i><b>Vertigo</b></i> with this material! </p><p style="text-align: left;">and speaking of <i><b>Vertigo</b></i>! ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbBGYH2AJNihLrCLTbDRPPj0LmH6nUY2rZsPiPLfU8uZQp1dFmLyiyMdN6pmxE23ym7AY9JIPN9WMXXefuSADs7y8W6TRvhCvYgxZ1cM3TLHFfQdMqJTA9Tux2dOHVczO1o83SsDRPQM/s448/13721833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbBGYH2AJNihLrCLTbDRPPj0LmH6nUY2rZsPiPLfU8uZQp1dFmLyiyMdN6pmxE23ym7AY9JIPN9WMXXefuSADs7y8W6TRvhCvYgxZ1cM3TLHFfQdMqJTA9Tux2dOHVczO1o83SsDRPQM/s320/13721833.jpg" width="227" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Vertigo</i></b> has always been not only my favorite Hitchcock film, and
my favorite film noir, but my absolute favorite film - period. I've seen
it over 100 times. And I will still watch it. So, when I found out
about this analysis by the renowned film critic Charles Barr, I knew it
was no-brainer must-have.<br /><br />This is a cold analytic study of the
film, dissected scene by scene and compared with Hitchcock's first film,
the 1924 British silent <b><i>White Shadow</i></b>, which has dramatic
comparable lines. Barr also discusses at length the cinematography
stylistic choices, the actors' poses and camera framing techniques, and
the heavy uses of long silent stretches in the movie with lavish
orchestral soundtrack. And he takes all of that and assesses how it
makes for a stronger, more emotional and more sturdy film. He also
shares some of the scenes which were filmed at the studio's behest and
which were then discarded as inappropriate for the film Hitchcock
envisioned. <br /><br />I found all of it very interesting and I was ready
to delve into the next chapter, when I realized that - I had finished
the book. It's only 92 pages long. And a lot of that is taken up with
film stills. So, that's my reason for the 2-star review. The little
glimpse of insight was excellent. Though, I would suspect anybody not a
major <b><i>Vertigo</i></b> aficionado would be bored to tears by it. This is
very genre specific material. But, for those of us fans, it's a very
well done study.<br /><br />But, I don't think anybody should pay $15 for a 92 page book. Sorry. I felt ripped off. <br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...and, as it's been a noirish kind of week:<br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="318" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhizns8QOhJU1nIrH4KUxRmHuOM7tZs9Q7H7af_VAOeTPx-1P-W7b07r-6xePXxh7CCnP8mSrV-LXpr6PNbD0uwYM39b2oMbrtKgXFZOJBibogoDn7-c20ubjxCCYWZSBRQC-KCGXsDSc/s0/445882.jpg" width="318" /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've wanted to read this for a couple years; I guess it was good I
waited, as it's been revised and updated. And it's a terrific read by
Eddie Muller, the film noir host on Turner Classic Movies channel. It
reads much like Muller's film introductions in his distinctive
hard-boiled crime story style. It's entertaining without question - and
chock full of information and background. The book is divided in
chapters on the various 'settings' for film noirs (this is American film
noirs, he doesn't try to traverse the entire planet): Sinister Heights
(Exclusive Enclave of the Criminally Corrupt); The Precinct (Battered
Bastion of Law Enforcement); Hate Street (Randy Region of Ruined
Relationships); Hate Street (All the News That's Unfit to Print); Shamus
Flats (Lost Someone? Gumshoes for Hire); Vixenville (Fiefdom of the
Femme Fatale); Blind Alley (Crossroads of Coincidence and Fate); The
Psych Ward (Where Veiled Veterans are Quarantined); Knockover Square
(Deluxe District of Heists and Holdups); Losers' Lane (Street of Sorry
Psychopaths); The Big House (Last Stop on a Wayward Course); Thieves'
Highway (The Risky Road Out of Town); and The Stage Door (Enjoy a
Show...Before It's Too Late). Within each chapter, Muller shares the
quintessential films that make each of these categories enticing and
thrilling to watch, along with photos, trivia, cast information, and
production personnel. And it's NEVER dry reading. Somehow - I'm not sure
how, but he does it - it all reads like one long screenplay. It's a
very original concept; and, a successful one.<br /><br />Obviously, I highly
recommend this to anybody who is a lover of film noir or hard-boiled
detective crime novels. The hard copy is a deluxe book, with glossy
paper that makes the well reproduced black and white film stills and
photos pop right off the page. However, I chose the Nook version which
allows me to click on a photo and enlarge it (the way a photo on a phone
does). That way I can examine all the little details in the photos,
which I find really interesting.<br /><br /><b>
<i>“I don’t mind if you don’t like my manners. They’re pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings.”</i>
</b><br /><br /><b>
<i>“There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those
hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl
your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like
that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge
of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can
happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.”</i>
</b><br /><br /><b>
<i>“Dead men are heavier than broken hearts.”</i>
</b><br /><br />I'm crazy about this stuff!
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8rizHsLK4OR-FaTE5pYkcJNr4NSq8-xFtvz-gjmjwueoWYU7jz5XPAZzehmq3jd9rHngRwSFXJgNJRRJ28sCvmvEiruNcseCzQD7EJGP-OoT1NYwVBCp2CMw2qtwbm4Gw-1UsAHuDyY/s450/8660015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8rizHsLK4OR-FaTE5pYkcJNr4NSq8-xFtvz-gjmjwueoWYU7jz5XPAZzehmq3jd9rHngRwSFXJgNJRRJ28sCvmvEiruNcseCzQD7EJGP-OoT1NYwVBCp2CMw2qtwbm4Gw-1UsAHuDyY/s320/8660015.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>After so much noir this week, I needed a change of pace, and this well-written and lavishly illustrated biography was just what I needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sal Mineo was such an unusual combination of angry young rebel and
sensitive artist to become a teenage heartthrob movie idol. His career
began on Broadway, playing first as an extra, young boy in Tennessee
Williams' <b><i>The Rose Tattoo</i></b> and then as Prince Chulalongkorn in <b><i>The King and I</i></b>
starring Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence. He is probably best known
for his iconic role opposite James Dean in the classic film <b><i>Rebel Without a Cause</i></b>,
for which he was Oscar nominated; but, he was also nominated for his
outstanding work in Exodus opposite 16 year old Jill Haworth (the future
Sally Bowles in <b><i>Cabaret</i> </b>on Broadway) and won the Golden Globe
for it. He had several top ten hits and had girls screaming and chasing
him like all the rock and roll stars of the period. Then he made the
tragic mistake of admitting his bisexuality. His career dried up. He
went back to his roots, the theatre, and started producing and
occasionally directing and/or appearing in controversial plays that
explored society sexual and cultural taboos. He starred in the west
coast production of <b><i>P.S.Your Cat is Dead</i></b> and directed and played Rocky in the controversial prison play <b><i>Fortune In Men's Eyes</i> </b>He did have a long term relationship, but his life was cut short by a botched robbery.<br /><br />This
book was well researched and there were many interviews with people who
both worked with him and were involved with him in personal
relationships. It was well written, and stayed fairly true to life
events and didn't dwell too heavily on the more sensational and
exploitative parts of his life. His interest in the arts and his
attempts to live a cultured, artistic and somewhat private life was
explored and I found was sympathetic. There are many photographs - private candid shots, publicity shots, film stills and play photos - all well reproduced and clear.<br /><br />I recommend it to anybody
who is a fan of Mineo's - especially if you've only read the more lurid
accounts of his life (I've read two that were just dreadful). And, if
you only know him as Plato in <b><i>Rebel Without a Cause</i></b>, this is a very good way to learn more about a young American artist cut down too early in his life. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB1LZ_Xxfl7FNEOqyPOC8IS2q8zn-7Dq2X1wLgzVmx44-xeGb81O-GsW2pL_sCWSqn7Df_8tdIstIdQ4CkjxFculyaZ4AbHRlIKKnTCWGEgbD_0strM3MnRf_g-yDHh7tNDHWdd_lToM/s297/411116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="200" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB1LZ_Xxfl7FNEOqyPOC8IS2q8zn-7Dq2X1wLgzVmx44-xeGb81O-GsW2pL_sCWSqn7Df_8tdIstIdQ4CkjxFculyaZ4AbHRlIKKnTCWGEgbD_0strM3MnRf_g-yDHh7tNDHWdd_lToM/s0/411116.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>I can't believe I'm giving this 4 stars. I mean, honestly, this is not
great American theatre repertoire material. Nobody is ever going to
mistake it for a play written by Tennessee Williams or Eugene O'Neill or
Arthur Miller or Edward Albee.<br /><br />But, it is <i>
<b>the</b>
</i> laugh out loud, knee-slapping, funniest play I have ever read. I used to think the funniest play ever was Paul Rudnick's <b><i>I Hate Hamlet</i></b>.
Nope. This is it. Not only funny - but has the most outrageous and
mind-blowing twist ending ever. It's not a mystery - but this ending is
right up there with the Agatha Christie oh-I-don't-believe-it final
curtain!<br /><br />If you get a chance, read this play. It will only take
you about an hour or so to read it. And trust me. I dare you to read the
paper bag scene and PICTURE IT in action and not howl with laughter! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd6XwlvYTW11PwkIh4CNNpVvT32LlKmZhkf6YIdYsnttwC68g_0K0S9w3CkLwxvnjoe4f2jtdAbrlVP2iBe_dwweQ35PtDtT4jFmNohQ1Xe9ldr_I3X9865V6JzvbKplHaTLJR-j-1OA/s400/55004063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd6XwlvYTW11PwkIh4CNNpVvT32LlKmZhkf6YIdYsnttwC68g_0K0S9w3CkLwxvnjoe4f2jtdAbrlVP2iBe_dwweQ35PtDtT4jFmNohQ1Xe9ldr_I3X9865V6JzvbKplHaTLJR-j-1OA/s320/55004063.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><p>This book has a terrific 'hook'...it reads as if written in real time.
It's not - just as films that are supposedly in real time (I'm thinking
of <i>
<b>Run, Lola Run, Rope, 12 Angry Men, Phone Booth, Dog Day Afternoon</b>
</i>), there are times when there is a quick shift forward which is
almost unnoticeable. But, the intent to present as real time is there -
and it certainly reads that way. It's clever and well-done.<br /><br />A
woman's infant has been kidnapped and she has been given very specific
instructions on what is required to get the child returned to her. She
and her best friend spend a terrified time trying to, not only follow
the demands exactly, but also, determine who is the criminal and why she
was targeted. <br /><br />I can't give any more away - it's too good to
spoil the discovery on your own. This was a fast read; not because it's
short or simplistic but because it's genuinely suspenseful and tense and
I tended to race through it to find out what was going to happen next. <br /><br />It's a good one. I've never read this author before but I'm going to search out more!
<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">And, if you prefer lounging to sitting while reading on Pink Saturday morning or afternoon, here's a nice comfy chaise lounge that should fit the bill nicely ... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-ncRAk12ZrDC6TEfBYPFQe42CMlnv_YcEivt1wLEFBinEtR597bAULBKNs5fxTsG3LrpUvkd1bevo_ZZbBC-5IM85J1Tqz-mf4wOftKH0ItqYag7XWTPk8tWqRKX3VAEhG0DWlpX1ww/s600/a6bbaa556dd6085d4b59de69e1127b2e%252B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-ncRAk12ZrDC6TEfBYPFQe42CMlnv_YcEivt1wLEFBinEtR597bAULBKNs5fxTsG3LrpUvkd1bevo_ZZbBC-5IM85J1Tqz-mf4wOftKH0ItqYag7XWTPk8tWqRKX3VAEhG0DWlpX1ww/w341-h400/a6bbaa556dd6085d4b59de69e1127b2e%252B%25281%2529.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I hope you found something that sounds like a good juicy read to you ... and when you're all inspired from your reading adventures, be sure to check out the other offerings on today's <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2021/08/anything-goes-pink-saturday-august-7-2021.html" target="_blank">Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Hop</a>, then go make something beautiful!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpM4Fuzf1ocUXdSUTJ9Eov5jFlpnF__PgCZMw6T8nZO1ucTO4yc8WUcp7LQPEsQnqbQYPbk7DeJC2y7g3m-OUae4JcTiVvAnGeLzLUqnCa4lQ9tUN6KHV48lCdBNw_mujdCk1L5pTMYI/s789/225651546_1890458071134210_5949888555024574771_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpM4Fuzf1ocUXdSUTJ9Eov5jFlpnF__PgCZMw6T8nZO1ucTO4yc8WUcp7LQPEsQnqbQYPbk7DeJC2y7g3m-OUae4JcTiVvAnGeLzLUqnCa4lQ9tUN6KHV48lCdBNw_mujdCk1L5pTMYI/w370-h640/225651546_1890458071134210_5949888555024574771_n.jpg" width="370" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p></div>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-21083769128904545322021-07-24T08:28:00.003-04:002021-07-24T08:28:56.327-04:00Pink Saturday Silk Ribbon Embroidery + 2 Out of 4 Isn't Bad!<div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmvfLzYKPA0UmrDXKttsEjPy9JSF-to4X1uW0SovngpycL7C-qjbL_1k0z9T6c-MXgDqqe-mgpljkn-KyN-wxcPLntObdx-BIguC2ftWTwwrUM15Bv2967_dsNiwsFftgtq5EAKTDd1M/s568/1522107_10151798581227007_612323750_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="550" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmvfLzYKPA0UmrDXKttsEjPy9JSF-to4X1uW0SovngpycL7C-qjbL_1k0z9T6c-MXgDqqe-mgpljkn-KyN-wxcPLntObdx-BIguC2ftWTwwrUM15Bv2967_dsNiwsFftgtq5EAKTDd1M/w336-h347/1522107_10151798581227007_612323750_n.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>I have always been fascinated by people who have the patience, skill and talent to create flowers and design embellishments with bits and pieces of silk ribbon. This example seemed too perfect for <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2021/07/anything-goes-pink-saturday-july-24-2021.html" target="_blank">Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Hop</a> not to share. If you scroll to the bottom of the post, I'm going to share a couple other photos of other marvelous pieces!<br /><br />But, first, this week's book round-up. Two terrific must-reads for mystery lovers - and two books that I'm so sorry to have picked up! LOL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ3mVZDNGgBB2nrr4Vh_8NZFPG7CRXQ-VH4qE9kag7icOXI5UhMEOlo2cimhu5xY1E_uJJoaWAj-p-fjhiLGzk9TCR4hxiYZPrwPdFKSXguiogT6dlP2z9H_LLBUtk2_76dcJWdKy_YM/s500/Etsy+Shop+Icon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ3mVZDNGgBB2nrr4Vh_8NZFPG7CRXQ-VH4qE9kag7icOXI5UhMEOlo2cimhu5xY1E_uJJoaWAj-p-fjhiLGzk9TCR4hxiYZPrwPdFKSXguiogT6dlP2z9H_LLBUtk2_76dcJWdKy_YM/w369-h369/Etsy+Shop+Icon.png" width="369" /></a></div></div><div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHu-b5trf8zbP-8qAwrvqhgp8Dmv4FJ3R5MVhsLZsQ2un7eztD_6NLBmreCd54sA0uOu8i7OYLeS9iNID8s7nHJ2C82OO-V7MQqVpogqT8LXuTDa6Q3GYwdbevfzkAr5nz_6yjxH2b-E/s320/22750000.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> ☆☆☆☆☆</div>First I have to address some of the reviews I've read on Goodreads and Amazon that contain
complaints that this book has too much plot. Seriously?! With so many
mystery/thrillers that have chase/romance/escape filler to disguise the
fact that there is hardly <i>any</i> plot, I found the many complex and
disparate threads that wove into one final tapestry exceptionally well
written. I've decided Mr. O'Brien must have written this from the end
backwards. There are so many plot lines that eventually feed into each
other it was astonishing to me. And, though I hadn't figured out the
denouement, I had to admit all the clues and arrows were pointing there
and readily available to somebody more quick-witted than I!<br /><br />Now,
how disparate are those threads? The book is about a 30 year old
Manson-like thrill killing spree and a contemporary copy cat killing.
And there is a film being made of the original gruesome crime that has
been plagued by disasters, including deaths, of the people involved in
the making of it. So why disparate? Because the protagonist and main
character in the book is young mother/widow of a war hero who works as a
cook in a gourmet diner and is being stalked by her ex-lover. And she
has absolutely nothing to do with the film, the original murders or the
copy-cat murders. How is <i>that</i> for out of left field? LOL<br /><br />I
loved this book. I enjoyed every page. The characters are vivid and
sharply drawn. The plot is complex and smart. The dialogue is believable
and each character has a voice of their own. And I enjoyed that it was
about Hollywood film and celebrities and nostalgia - but takes
completely in Washington state. I found the whole thing refreshingly
original. This is one of my rare 5 star reviews! I think it's about as
close to perfect as a murder mystery gets! <br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpSsv1fPbQDd3NzY85_pKBzaUn15vnLOczVDhPoXHKMwGWUXllW1iNOFn-SB0DrTkxuGkvIxXNqumJvvZl7W3FXLAuWnvYMIT_bR4c_5OM1jqlnTgj8UVgcj9YeIHsEHbjOI6GTMf8Og/w209-h316/20112657.jpg" width="209" /></div><p style="text-align: center;">☆</p><p>Very disappointing to me. I thought this was going to be a mystery thriller. And, it <i>sort of</i>
is ... but it's supernatural and, basically, an excuse for chapter
after chapter of soft porn. I've never been a fan of soft porn. I have
always equated soft porn with real life sex: soft just doesn't get the
job done. Okay - too much information, I know. But, it bored me silly.<br /><br />One
dead ex-lover's spirit inhabits the body of a new lover and makes the
life of the main character a living hell. It's a living hell for a
bazillion chapters while he has supposedly mind-blowing sex.<br /><br />Just not my cup of tea. If you like this kind of thing, I suppose it was bizarre enough to keep one reading. I <i>only</i>
kept reading because I thought it was going to turn out that somebody
was trying to drive the main character crazy or something. Nope. It was
what it was.<br /><br />As much as I disliked the book, I really disliked the publisher's advertising and found it disingenuous and misleading. And that quote from Stephen King on the cover raving about it? - how much did they pay for that?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSEWh9iaVvcHZv9kvtw5hJvY1HwDpgmiAfSOZQBT0xZvu_AAgcuqSo99UUMmzDpdi7KOpiOTX21p_ab8LzvEScbvtjpRZ4MVk-AphcZCdbD3lKCjF2mbGc8RxF-5zFO0cLz4c54NqgoI/s320/35478973._SY475_.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> ☆☆☆☆</div><p>Something about UK (and Scandinavian) serial killers is creepier than
our American ones...or, at least the fictional ones. Perhaps I've just
read too many American serial killer novels and watched too many of our
films and television series. But, they do tend to be doggedly similar.
These Brits are really wacky and loonier tunes than I would be able to
come up with LOL. <br /><br />This novel works on three levels: the serial
killer (who 'steals' tattoos - especially full body ones - from his
murder victims); the tattoo artist who is avoiding her exhusband, the
serial killer, and <i>might</i> have a thing for the detective in charge
of the case (even though she's a boho tattoo artist rebel and naturally
anti-police); and the police detective who is a jaded, sour fellow who
is still grieving his murdered wife and young daughter. <br /><br />Now doesn't all that sound cheerful? This is one dark, edgy, twisty and twisted noir-ish tale.<br /><br />It's
terrific. I loved it. I read the whole thing in one night ... though it
did take me the whole night. It's well written; tight and concise and
Ms. Belsham has a knack for describing horrifying murder scenes without
being graphic and downright disgusting. <br /><br />And, if you're of a mind, there are some fab ideas for tattoos! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjo-R01_swv_QXpeqogPs9dXL1jBbzhPfwATGOA_HIwIYgaIgaDDPQjQsBPeTIsHVkqkxxmAN4yaKsD4Rw4O-xymnJVMZtrD8KZ44aXOfTO8V0RTOt0DmMGdAjxxwacNzax48sJf7TVE/w215-h320/1680762.jpg" width="215" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">☆</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The set up for this story was intriguing: Nazi-occupied Paris with an
odd-couple of detective partners, one a French police detective and the
other a Gestapo detective. Together they've been assigned to work as a
team to solve murders during the occupation. And the set up for this
mystery was intriguing, too. I think. I say "I think," because I'm not <i>really</i>
sure what any of it was. This has to be the worst translation I've ever
tried to wade through. Garbled sentences, incomplete thoughts, partial
phrases rendered meaningless by the 'translation by Google translator."
It took me over four hours just to read 100 pages. And I wasn't even
sure what was going on. I know it involved antique coins, a possible
maybe or maybe not murdered prostitute, a criminal murdered on a
carousel (or maybe it was a Resistance fighter? I'm not sure) ... or
maybe those were just sidelines in the story. I just knew I wasn't going
to attempt another 300+ pages. <br /><br />I have a feeling if you read
French and got a copy of the book in the original language, it would be
quite good. But, this is like trying to listen to music while you're
underwater. <br /></div><br />And that's it for this week! Here are two more promised images of beautifully crafted silk ribbon embroidery samples. I wish I knew the artists who created them so I could find more of their work. I'm afraid I have to be satisfied with these!<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pCReVcvnHwiO6aY6rFNISVgeKCi_-Dvz2_-USQW78TI0uHXX-bEtfbc4MusAozJ05tmlZ9V9skuyrjZVOVgC-6WA0sYMa1IMtTNVWB5QeCVDDENisezqr3XoXQYBA4KjmMNmC-Slq34/s577/f771389849a9c7b4d66836fb9efb1f37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pCReVcvnHwiO6aY6rFNISVgeKCi_-Dvz2_-USQW78TI0uHXX-bEtfbc4MusAozJ05tmlZ9V9skuyrjZVOVgC-6WA0sYMa1IMtTNVWB5QeCVDDENisezqr3XoXQYBA4KjmMNmC-Slq34/s320/f771389849a9c7b4d66836fb9efb1f37.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2En-YyXVTdrLwzYYIaFzI9i8Ht41ww5AIv8Pl9NiSSLBrERxsTYm5DuxeZdWFvXky4PoT9fPIbhki2ed_MTz2J-H7UL9vNwaC8GzmN2yfvjT6hMz3ptGBQO9sqj14SKDDaryGGNGQ8TE/s701/59343004_10156005091802007_4395659097697943552_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2En-YyXVTdrLwzYYIaFzI9i8Ht41ww5AIv8Pl9NiSSLBrERxsTYm5DuxeZdWFvXky4PoT9fPIbhki2ed_MTz2J-H7UL9vNwaC8GzmN2yfvjT6hMz3ptGBQO9sqj14SKDDaryGGNGQ8TE/w277-h369/59343004_10156005091802007_4395659097697943552_n.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>Enjoy your weekend - be sure to check out the other offerings on <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2021/07/anything-goes-pink-saturday-july-24-2021.html" target="_blank">Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Hop</a>!<br />And then - go make something beautiful!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoCwFjvCYajkdEcBiKM5DKUlEqS5_HJ0TMAQgp6gqlsywQmxxuJZMN6ByiPzOri75I53CjK2qPWLXASX0HWOFVqeWPgLzrC5Xq2FaGbzscVeF5osAqsYPWXT0oRfQdSCcQoscuBzbtzM/s690/HistoryIsToLearn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="480" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoCwFjvCYajkdEcBiKM5DKUlEqS5_HJ0TMAQgp6gqlsywQmxxuJZMN6ByiPzOri75I53CjK2qPWLXASX0HWOFVqeWPgLzrC5Xq2FaGbzscVeF5osAqsYPWXT0oRfQdSCcQoscuBzbtzM/w269-h386/HistoryIsToLearn.jpg" width="269" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p></div><br />Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-61447657357946331232021-07-07T18:35:00.001-04:002021-07-07T18:35:19.232-04:00The Perfect Pink Saturday Morning Spot for Some Reading Inspiration!<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The perfect spot for a Pink Saturday Blog Hop morning snack and inspiration!</b></i><br /></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT2v6-56fSj47KtYBLHHBcurtvLxGOsesbVpnxqSmgkxP3W4E7is5k8IrPYGZzkAsD9SSpUvJQmn9wVGkBp_SGoKPiigCIaHkmTm_-ZHIzghgTBbK63ERc2at5OQXQONtJl9Z5AO8o-Y/w320-h400/SparkleKitchen.png" width="320" /></div>I know, I know. I've been woefully missing in action for a couple months. I wish I could say that I've been doing exciting and magical things. Alas, it's not so. We are still not fully opened up here from the pandemic, so except for restaurants and malls - neither of which I'm really interested in right now - there still isn't much in the way of fun to be had. For the most part, I've been watching lots of Turner Classic Movies, Raku and Netflix, baking way too many desserts ... and, of course, reading, reading, reading! I've got six - count 'em six! - terrific suggestions for you this week. I'll have some more soon - but I didn't want my book 'reviews' to be as long as an actual book.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwApy3BCiFDlNh-dluMwg3tjDOTa6fRLs76BhAZh5719Y_FKadixwuboJXK5eZlxMee86LDQ2zs2EGOuXxlaZyaQ9PzDA9-7sZSMMdc_vLcap0GKHzXIVvqKtJUa8YejU48JuzvVg0tUQ/s360/33123864._SY475_.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="163" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwApy3BCiFDlNh-dluMwg3tjDOTa6fRLs76BhAZh5719Y_FKadixwuboJXK5eZlxMee86LDQ2zs2EGOuXxlaZyaQ9PzDA9-7sZSMMdc_vLcap0GKHzXIVvqKtJUa8YejU48JuzvVg0tUQ/w181-h400/33123864._SY475_.png" width="181" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHetbLVrIEpsqdlvHC0J9zhsKrW_xVRgO11RAsYMJecWXyfxgepZblMCGnpcxBhljv8EbMOuobEtWvZ8viBspVdVlpkGMQfPddPwJNB5vsKiWEzBHMUw_5cqx5s7yjJtQJk5lZZNmZmjA/s475/33123864._SY475_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHetbLVrIEpsqdlvHC0J9zhsKrW_xVRgO11RAsYMJecWXyfxgepZblMCGnpcxBhljv8EbMOuobEtWvZ8viBspVdVlpkGMQfPddPwJNB5vsKiWEzBHMUw_5cqx5s7yjJtQJk5lZZNmZmjA/s320/33123864._SY475_.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A definite change of pace, this novel does an excellent job of placing
us in the retro era of the 1950s-60s. Like the novels of Patricia
Highsmith, whose books this reminds me of quite a bit, it's a mystery -
definitely not a 'cozy!' - and though there is a murder or two it's not a
murder story per se. It's a bonafide psychological mystery thriller.
With a bang up terrific ending. With obsession, suspicion, mental
fragility, fear of past friends and mistrust of loved ones as the orders
of the day, it's interesting how measured and evenly tempered this
story progresses, told between the points of view of the two main
characters. <br /><br />I recommend this to anybody who like a good mystery, as well as a story that reads like a midcentury black and white movie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ENKnV1ZxKMKX_4_MMQOK-uPGLkB_ndUSQmsSht0McwwVRcsmq9GbTJbJsjDzPU-Gbn4a0pxDVz3mXelBalGDPq2ATCojl2Kkrs5l2_L1fCrM6Q-PJof1S6HJ6MfmQnf4G_7R7KAyVXU/s1000/54860603.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ENKnV1ZxKMKX_4_MMQOK-uPGLkB_ndUSQmsSht0McwwVRcsmq9GbTJbJsjDzPU-Gbn4a0pxDVz3mXelBalGDPq2ATCojl2Kkrs5l2_L1fCrM6Q-PJof1S6HJ6MfmQnf4G_7R7KAyVXU/s320/54860603.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After reading Ms. Mangan's <i>Tangerine</i>, I searched out her other
writing and discovered this, her second book, has just been published. I
quickly got it and devoured it. I liked it even more than the first
one. This is an author to keep a watch out for new work from.<br /><br />Like her previous novel, <i>Palace of the Drowned</i>
is decadently atmospheric. This time it's 1966, and we're in Venice -
the city of dreams, mystery, beauty, art and - in this case - treachery.
You may remember that 1966 was the year of the great Venice flood -
which plays a large role in this novel. But, I won't tell more than that
because giving too much away would be spoiling the (many) surprises.<br /><br />Also like her previous novel, this is told from the points of view of the two main characters; though in <i>Tangerine</i> they are long time friends and in <i>Palace of the Drowned</i>
they begin as strangers to each other. Sometime this storytelling
technique can be confusing and frustrating, but Ms. Mangan has mastered
it and the voice is always clear and recognizable as the character
speaking.<br /><br />Again, this is a book I heartily recommend. I look forward to finding out her next book is being pubished.
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IbleWre6-9t6uxf-EtQev-IH8H0hPFl_jRlp3UtH-ife4JwhYhHySs6IyiagGNT76UyCSTY7ivaB9yyPQJDcupp3QnOvVz_misWjESGjs7rXGm6bkRB7JMR1kCA4gb86TWbyWuRwM2Y/s320/52761909.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I wish I could remember who recommended this book to me, because I would
really like to give them a big thank you! From the brief description on
the Barnes & Noble page, it's not a novel I would usually choose
(it sounds a bit too much like a romance to me; they do it a grave
injustice), but I trusted whoever gave it the thumbs up and gave it a
try. What a good choice.<br /><br />It's written from two characters'
perspective - and from two time periods and locations. First we meet
Odile in Paris just before and during the Nazi occupation. Then we
discover her again in a one-traffic-light burg in Montana during the
1980's, where we also meet Lily, the teenage girl who lives next door to
the now aging Odile.<br /><br />We live through their joys and tragedies:
both endure great personal losses and have to cope with hardships. But,
they also have great joys and rewards and learn important things to help
them get through their futures. All of this is written with a spare and
clean writing style that doesn't allow the tragedies to become mawkish
nor maudlin, nor allow the joys to become absurdly over-the-top. And the
lessons learned are clear-eyed because they come from reality and not
from preaching. I'm not sure any of that is any easy balancing act for a
writer and Ms. Skeslien-Charles does it admirably.<br /><br />But, what I
really really loved about this book was the background for a good amount
of the novel. The American Library in Paris was (and is) an American
based subscription library in Paris. Much of the story involves the love
of books, words, writing - and, of all thing!, the Dewey Decimal System
- and the fascinating and intriguing cast of employees (of which Odile
is one) and the subscribers who are daily visitors to the library. These
characters spring to life, and for brief periods we come to know and
enjoy each and every one; they are presented with vivid and delightful
characterizations and their conversations are a treat. <br /><br />The
fictional book tells the real story of how the librarians of the
American Library in Paris defied the Nazis and the Gestapo and kept the
library running - and even managed to get books to both French soldiers
at the front and to Jewish and 'foreign enemy' victims in hiding. The
afterwards goes into detail about the ways research was conducted for
the book - and quite a few of the characters in the book are actual
people who lived and worked in the APL. It's not only a wonderful
character-driven novel, but also a WWII novel with a unique perspective
and vision of the war we don't often see or read about. <br /><br />So, let me be YOUR person who you forget recommended this to you! Just grab a copy and enjoy - it's a very nice change of pace, and perfect for anybody who is in love with books, words, and libraries. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp5U7_9qLMamPkFyM_Rj9_8i9Z4RNgOioofxldRfFeI-U2f93AMPfLsW4Gmnb_2bf3fdAGE-24zxlO6SRlD-ff6rTjc-7c0aY-kJhyLUYCZT_IPyNRGmPxZtcjAtcf5iHtiRZDXDLgFM/s419/lf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp5U7_9qLMamPkFyM_Rj9_8i9Z4RNgOioofxldRfFeI-U2f93AMPfLsW4Gmnb_2bf3fdAGE-24zxlO6SRlD-ff6rTjc-7c0aY-kJhyLUYCZT_IPyNRGmPxZtcjAtcf5iHtiRZDXDLgFM/s320/lf.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody">
Anybody who is a fan of noir - whether it be film or literary - has probably read or seen <b>The Big Sleep</b>.
As the book flap states, "This work established Chandler as the master
of the 'hard-boiled' detective novel, and his articulate and literary
style of writing won him a large audience, which ranged from the man in
the street to the most sophisticated intellectual." And the film
adaptation is almost always in the top five of the greatest American
film noirs. I have read it several times over the decades - and seen the
movie, well, <i>dozens</i> of times. It punches all the right buttons
for a noir fan. There is one tiny issue with it that has always bothered
me - and I'm far from the first person to have stated it: the plot
simply doesn't make sense. There are leaps of logic, impossible
coincidences, and when all is said and done, way too many threads
dangling to call it a neatly tied up mystery. So, when I saw this
annotated version, I couldn't wait to delve into it. There are hundreds of
footnotes, diagrams, photographs, letters and memos, maps, etc. all
tying up as much as possible - and also alerting the reader to
Chandler's use of plot, characters, and even entire chapters from
earlier published short stories (word for word!).<br /><br />I found this
completely absorbing and enjoyable. I will say that I'm not sure I could
have enjoyed it as much if I hadn't been reading on a Nook - so when
ever a footnote appeared, I could simply click on it, read the footnote
and/or see the images associated with it, and the click back to where I
was reading. If I had to thumb back and forth in a paper hard copy and
search for the footnote and then get back to my place in the book, I'm
not sure it would have been as much fun. And, it <i>was</i> fun! <br /></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody"><br />If you already know The Big Sleep, this is a great opportunity (and excuse) to read it again. If you've not discovered The Big Sleep yet, I envy your first time prowling the dark, rain-slick streets of 1940s Los Angeles and your first introduction to the jaded and shallow millionaires, the shady down-at-their-heels hustlers and conmen, the twists, turns, and first appearance on the scene of the now iconic detective, Phillip Marlow. Did I mention a femme fatale or two?<br /><br />This gets my definite recommendation for anybody who wants to learn more about film noir than just the plot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmCfOOVptQuUKrMryPK7bcc7C9MwLf0tRd-3sGBkwmMWKEgO6M4SODJ42zF4XEcDSncu4x8pk34Wy3JI1PJlyx0fbRqbXEvYPP3NEpP1OVwdxvhd_HUVqXU9R1kR8cdiMDayJEPje_LA/s475/37678008._SY475_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmCfOOVptQuUKrMryPK7bcc7C9MwLf0tRd-3sGBkwmMWKEgO6M4SODJ42zF4XEcDSncu4x8pk34Wy3JI1PJlyx0fbRqbXEvYPP3NEpP1OVwdxvhd_HUVqXU9R1kR8cdiMDayJEPje_LA/s320/37678008._SY475_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody">
This magical faery tale told in the absolute most realistic
way is nothing short of brilliant. I was captivated by it the entire way
through. It's a book that has stayed with me through the three books
I've read since ... the characters - from the lonely, kind and gentle
merchant to the vivacious and celebrated courtesan to the shrewd, bitter
housekeeper to the savvy, overstuffed, aged whorehouse madam - are
rendered in wonderful detail and are constantly amusing, tragic,
frustrating and poignant. And, then, there's the mermaid ...<br /><br />History should always be written this way!</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxWgz9p5K5K_5gMa7Up1bISvphCR8Rr6X0LN3_1Bm2PrrHCXqFezSs11o-j3AeieM7klPSRlXctoixP2rXOhBrwuRaYz6a3HwehioQyJIYHtPIytiKCinSdIxSPJE77ghQm36MReGIwM/s448/2702652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxWgz9p5K5K_5gMa7Up1bISvphCR8Rr6X0LN3_1Bm2PrrHCXqFezSs11o-j3AeieM7klPSRlXctoixP2rXOhBrwuRaYz6a3HwehioQyJIYHtPIytiKCinSdIxSPJE77ghQm36MReGIwM/s320/2702652.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="text-align: left;">I read this back at the beginning of the year and just realized I never
listed it in my 'read' update feed. I don't know why - I thoroughly
enjoyed it; in fact, I enjoyed it far more than I expected. It's
advertised as a sort of gothic thriller taking place in the art world -
but, it's so much more than that. It's really an intriguing - and creepy
- character study with, admittedly, lots of twists and turns. But,
those twists and turns are more character based than thriller shockers.
Oh, there's a killing (though you aren't sure who is dead for quite some
time), and there are some tense moments. But, they don't have the kind
of tension that makes you feel the writer is gearing up for the film
version. <br /><br />There are three main characters: all rather bizarre and
fascinating, if somewhat unsettling. A famous counter-culture
philosopher and experimental drug user, his reknown artist hermit-like
lover, and an obsessed fan, meld into a story of psychosis, talent,
love, betrayal, loyalty, seduction, and murder. <br /><br />If you like a
good mystery with some eerie and unusual characters, this is one for
you. It's a rather lengthy novel - but a fast read, mainly because you
just can't stop reading. I doubt you'll have this one figured out before
it's spelled out for you by the clever author.</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="text-align: left;">Well, that's it for this week! If you've made it this far, I wanted to give you some information about the fabulous sparkling pink kitchen at the top of the post.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ53adFc-0cNXOZ2tW5lycm6mxVS1E0SDmdZ9T5y5Qtwj43g99KBOs5sQJhCRv91qF7rpTpQH-l8zD6Os7NbR61kpd72A4PBAE_kXsvtjR6sSEIQHde8SDwRFtDE7kU2hayiacRfm2WmM/s960/SparkleKitchen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ53adFc-0cNXOZ2tW5lycm6mxVS1E0SDmdZ9T5y5Qtwj43g99KBOs5sQJhCRv91qF7rpTpQH-l8zD6Os7NbR61kpd72A4PBAE_kXsvtjR6sSEIQHde8SDwRFtDE7kU2hayiacRfm2WmM/w320-h400/SparkleKitchen.png" width="320" /></a></div>Yanna Potter is an insanely brilliant computer graphic artist who will make just about anything sparkle, shimmer, glimmer and gleam! I wouldn't even hazard a guess to the number of pounds of glitter or number of thousands of crystal rhinestones it would take to to do this kitchen. But, then, how about this one?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZo7L-K3i4ddyvLlhAyS5WtU33lNWue_ce1niCukTwFBlOM-CaVKJkOSUbWZQsUkq8VZmQ5yWxeIPWeUwq_ylJ4y7JNmpD9PCs6rHW4lFlQYib8FtjUEyLEpn4OavCJ4phwjtDYf0ttI/w321-h400/Screen+Shot+2021-07-07+at+6.16.23+PM.png" width="321" /></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="text-align: left;">... and just a couple more to end this post where it started ... in the kitchen! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOlNWebHjsdYvOCdplITeUrlPT3o2BjsKWNRZ5Zjs82689kkItjsLa40U6Xg7xG_tskTqA3_j6Faz6XdT6hbl32LcORQYjMKT-3uFvUiFwuVo00BZ-kdGMcl36l23F7C_YaVIF8dQ4OE/s597/Screen+Shot+2021-07-07+at+6.15.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOlNWebHjsdYvOCdplITeUrlPT3o2BjsKWNRZ5Zjs82689kkItjsLa40U6Xg7xG_tskTqA3_j6Faz6XdT6hbl32LcORQYjMKT-3uFvUiFwuVo00BZ-kdGMcl36l23F7C_YaVIF8dQ4OE/w321-h400/Screen+Shot+2021-07-07+at+6.15.36+PM.png" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi506n88_B2t50GCObRSpbHMjchuZkEZD-AkecJ7nmwVF-Ca1LUlEfzMcOXA5VnjjB8l7rY4z2YfzhpBgy-WIaj1LIstp73kpkGCt4bDWdBhVEFOjnrL4d6v6rjV1U-IRZOEg5Y3WLP02w/s602/Screen+Shot+2021-07-07+at+6.12.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi506n88_B2t50GCObRSpbHMjchuZkEZD-AkecJ7nmwVF-Ca1LUlEfzMcOXA5VnjjB8l7rY4z2YfzhpBgy-WIaj1LIstp73kpkGCt4bDWdBhVEFOjnrL4d6v6rjV1U-IRZOEg5Y3WLP02w/w319-h400/Screen+Shot+2021-07-07+at+6.12.44+PM.png" width="319" /></a></div>Thanks for stopping by Enchanted Revelries today - be sure to check out the other terrific offerings on today's <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/">Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Hop</a>!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, be more creative and motivated than I - go make something beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fAc05tq7i7emQEKvbv5t5Bz3NLhrDtB16ey4d2p7ZtdWIzAlW6J1OxrBQ1ei9kaYTYMvEyMOcy5u_cbLTrSXQREyoShxmnWd6Fwa7hTQsTY3jDYD4j8su6Nk33Tp4l42ktQu3lHk40w/s828/NoNegativity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fAc05tq7i7emQEKvbv5t5Bz3NLhrDtB16ey4d2p7ZtdWIzAlW6J1OxrBQ1ei9kaYTYMvEyMOcy5u_cbLTrSXQREyoShxmnWd6Fwa7hTQsTY3jDYD4j8su6Nk33Tp4l42ktQu3lHk40w/w273-h400/NoNegativity.png" width="273" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-85090858571274857542021-04-24T12:26:00.000-04:002021-04-24T12:26:23.584-04:00"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0BLbVPruk9oD3FAF_JXc8G_4sLRPA7TfumFYiQm-3SWhB8iwjNgYfLUh2U0oZgFyI31nhaVBKj8UZ46kwO3fc0M8xFkgWq2n5mhg42mt2owz5fTEpHhz4TmY3ouVRyhjgbaPcgdVuB8/s475/10149142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0BLbVPruk9oD3FAF_JXc8G_4sLRPA7TfumFYiQm-3SWhB8iwjNgYfLUh2U0oZgFyI31nhaVBKj8UZ46kwO3fc0M8xFkgWq2n5mhg42mt2owz5fTEpHhz4TmY3ouVRyhjgbaPcgdVuB8/s320/10149142.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Formatted"> ☆☆☆☆</span><p></p><p><span class="Formatted">This is probably the saddest book I ever laughed
out loud all the way through. The heartbreaking story of this brilliant
and genius dysfunctional family of performance artists is told in such a
clever and satirical voice, it's impossible not to snicker and breakup
at their weaknesses, cruelties, and deeply ingrained failings. It is so
extravagant and extreme and thoroughly enchanting, when it finally
begins to spiral completely out of control it doesn't even seem too
outrageous to be true!<br /><br />The best recommendation I can give for this book comes from a short conversation about it I had in bed with my better half:<br />"I thought you wanted me to read this book...?"<br />"Oh, I do!"<br />"Then why are you reading almost the entire thing out loud to me?"<br /><br />For
people who love art; for people who hate art; for people who never
considered what goes into making art; for people who find performance
art both pretentious and precious; and for every person who has spent
ten minutes in a food court in an American shopping mall: this is a
gotta read!<br /><br />"Kids kill art. No. Art kills kids."<br />You gotta be there. </span></p><p><span class="Formatted"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uWWyVmhIx4rMDgm-d_ajYX4zXXUP6IOv6cIsIP5hnOrBD7eSu3ntu9DSNxtoIz5tfuJUdefXvAXmxGfuqyTTkK_RA9wJSmb0OEqwU7L_D3Kix7hm1pR4DqJEKYvio1vQ5TXCtBONSOY/s320/50892432.jpg" /></div><p></p><p><span class="Formatted">☆☆☆☆<br /></span><span class="Formatted">I don't know what about this book kept me
engrossed for almost a straight-through day and night. The characters -
though completely believable - aren't particularly pleasant, and usually
I need at least one person to root for in a book. But, there was
something about the writing and the story which kept me up until I
finished it!<br />Basically it's a family saga of a completely
dysfunctional Irish show-business family (a couple of performers, a film
producer, a talent agent). It's written from the point of view of three
of the family members (the three brothers), and often the same incident
is retold from a different perspective. No one is faultless and without
blame for the fall-out which often/always occurs, yet there is
something that intrigued and kept me turning pages. <br />If you have
penchant for dark, twisted, quirky and sometimes bizarre characters, I
heartily recommend this one! It's not a particularly light read, as it
has quite an emotionally dangerous undertow to it; however, it's also
not a deeply philosophical narrative nor a pretense of a psychology
lecture. It's a good quick read, mainly because you'll want to keep
reading it straight through meals! I have to add, if you're a fan of
sunshine, rainbows, children's smiles and heart-warming Hallmark movies,
I would say skip this one!</span></p><p><span class="Formatted"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT6ursKZpNzrFbdvgIcfiEho_hfkq6Z9hj9KLZygKwsJjZyy9bm-XfnYoJ_i5WKXr7oE_ps4eqlym-LhIW5VrKyVf7dPUl1nPeAZxTnQWpRff-ZgeXchV-cWB-lZzwJdLtXWlLhw39Ic/s320/11890805.jpg" /></div>☆☆☆☆<br /><span class="Formatted"><span class="Formatted">I enjoyed this multi-generational family saga. A
young couple from Germany leaves for America - not speaking English and
not having any real money to speak of - in order to escape her
disapproving family who feel that the man is beneath her daughter's
station. From there we follow the family through the adult years of
their grandchildren. <br />It's a gentle, quiet story. There are certainly
many emotional moments and chapters of intrigue; but, they are handled
in a very realistic way and not in a thriller/suspense novel way. And,
of course, a major surprise at the end of the book which I genuinely was
not expecting. <br />And, the nice thing about this - and the reason I
chose to read the book at this time - is many of their decisions in life
are made with the thought of their patriotism and love for America and
all the good things it's meant to stand for.<br />I would recommend this
to anybody who would like an unassuming, well-written, thoughtful,
loving story of an uncommon common family with all the joy, tragedy and
skeletons-in-the-closet that involves.<br />I should add, this was written
by Alex George, who wrote The Paris Hours - a book that I was totally
enamored of a couple months ago. Obviously, I really enjoy his writing
and his way with a tale!</span></span><p></p><p><span class="Formatted"><span class="Formatted"> </span></span></p><p><span class="Formatted"><span class="Formatted">I'm so glad you stopped by Enchanted Revelries today ... and I hope your interest was piqued to search out a book you didn't know about before!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwIqPWqDcgz2CPOfKX1vPV9RhQoV4M1zIvkxYL1S0CSo6bcDpOrR9k9kT_z5Pm1nOwQwZB7_kCyELbE2qTAJvvxFxRpLgNr-21IoKbBnwPgwjdMZhXtN_WWKp3Lzaag9N0HTnqchSFwA/s526/169731251_10159057946339509_7022707340270732026_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwIqPWqDcgz2CPOfKX1vPV9RhQoV4M1zIvkxYL1S0CSo6bcDpOrR9k9kT_z5Pm1nOwQwZB7_kCyELbE2qTAJvvxFxRpLgNr-21IoKbBnwPgwjdMZhXtN_WWKp3Lzaag9N0HTnqchSFwA/s320/169731251_10159057946339509_7022707340270732026_n.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p><span class="Formatted"><span class="Formatted"> </span> </span></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-11843468507104490182021-04-17T08:17:00.000-04:002021-04-17T08:17:17.517-04:00A Quartet of Beauties ...<p> This week I am sharing four of my favorite novels of the 21st century (so far!) with you ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FWd2faYhcolliZn-I0dG6rexFtshCwq_sdtlz_1-cHAWgMGN_ZCjrNeTzRP_CXk39pAeFOwoRcPk7_LsMKl9VgkPjrHrLfur1vYcMIx31Na4Z1FGWYwddjMxA5lz8WQDJvST1bboWCw/s320/TheBottoms.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">☆☆☆☆☆ <br /></div><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009">I
don't remember who recommended this book to me (I should keep a list of
these things - but, then I'd have to keep a list on my desktop of where
the list is being kept, and then - well ... anyway), however, I am so
glad they did! I also don't know how this book published twenty years
ago escaped my attention; obviously, I wasn't paying attention!<br /><br />Some
authors have the unique gift of writing in a way that makes poverty -
especially Great Depression poverty - seem almost beautiful. Truman
Capote, Carson McCullers, Toni Morrison were/are all able to create a
private, secluded world of hard scrabble and destitution that existed in
a bubble of familial love and compassion and comraderie. Joe R.
Lansdale, the author of The Bottoms, is that kind of author. Though the
characters in this novel are dirt poor and the plot line is squalid and
grubby on the surface, the author has put a 'spit shine' on the whole
thing and it has sparkle and romance to it that perhaps it doesn't
deserve, but, nonetheless it's there and it's a joy to live through. As
Tom says in the opening of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, "The
stage magician gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I
give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion."<br /></span></span></p><p> </p>The
book is a narration by a very elderly man in a nursing home, as he
reminisces about his youth in a small town in East Texas. It's a coming
of age tale that involves family history and discovery, awareness of Jim
Crow racism, violence, rape and alcoholism, and finally a serial
killer. Though the serial killer follows the story through the entire
book, it is - in no way, shape, or form - a thriller. It's no more a
serial killer book than To Kill a Mockingbird is about child abuse. It's
a strategic part of the narrator's history - but it's not the focus of
the author.<br /><p> </p>I'm not going to write more about it, because
I'm afraid that I will spoil it for anybody who decides to take my
prodding recommendation and reads it. This is one terrific book.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjld605wlxDt0UwKlrvHsqw0IU-luGEyqVPxWNbJpp78uzjdGm9vqvl5r5kMD2RbWutWzfXUrdUXtYJbhQMFNGVKBC7iZydRbVhKkKGFxcb34gftcAgYyiwX4j15usXN4u8tLtQaySqGrI/s320/TheSearcher.jpg" /></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"> </span></span>☆☆☆☆☆<br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009">Locked down and isolated on a long cold dark winter's afternoon? Have I got a book for you! Tana French's <i>The Searcher</i>
was a welcome surprise as my first book of 2021 - and I'm taking it as
an omen of good literary things to come in the coming year!<br /><br />When
you get right down to it, the advertising blurb for the book is quite
misleading. It reads like an ad for a conventional murder mystery
thriller. And, perhaps it is that superficially, but it's so much more
than that. There is a murder mystery on which the story is hung;
however, the story is one of loneliness, self-redemption, survival and
compassion. Cal and Trey and Mort are three loners - all making their
way with various degrees of psychological success for different reasons.
As the murder mystery unfolds (and, trust me, the thriller part is non
existent), they find each other, circle and learn to either trust - or
not - each other.<br /><br />The book is what I believe is called a slow
burner ... it definitely has a forward thrust and energy; but, it's not
hurried or given to leaps over logic to get to the next chase scene
(spoiler: no chase scenes). It kept me completely engaged, but not
through the artifice of the murder mystery (which is quite believable in
itself). Rather, I found myself wrapped up in the people involved and
interested in how each of their personal stories would resolve (or not).<br /><br />I
don't believe this was a best seller or got a lot of press coverage in
book reviews which is a shame. It should have more readers who are less
partial to pulp genre novels and more prone to books about the human
condition. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRfNZErfH6xA4WUXegE_8Rrik9AKNCNICkasFXiPxDbsJ2Ob49XUZpr0VWZJ5Z0Z-8pJOC1OESNG5DKvodXXtxuZMHBIdqLaO0DG2UaG1WOQYfuHvsBOvg-a2YoieLikgKGpFtWIMguE/s320/TheMuse.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> ☆☆☆☆☆</div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">One
of the most evocative and engrossing books I've read in a long while.
If you follow my reviews, you know I rarely give 5-star reviews - to me,
a 5-star review signifies an almost perfect book and there are</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">darned
few of those around. This, I found to be one.</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">I will admit, it
took me 50-75 pages to get really intrigued by the premise. There are
lots of characters, disparate locations and time eras - and until your
mind clicks in on who is who and when and/or where they are living it
can be a bit of a challenge to keep up. But, once, all comes together,
it's quite easy to bridge the time and geography and protagonists'
leaps.</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">What is is it about? Well, it's about the small things in
life: war, love, life, art, ambition, loyalty. In this book, those words
are not contranyms. All of these things make up the lives of the people
in "The Muse," and yet, they - as major plot points - remain in the
background.</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">What we learn about are the sudden and unimportant
joys and the exquisite and ultimate horrors and supreme disappointments
of the characters. When first starting the book, I found myself doing
what I do in all books - deciding who is good, who is bad, who is
suspect, who is possibly dangerous out of ignorance. But by the middle
of the book, I cared for each of them. They did not all have "good"
traits - but neither did they try to be exploit their bad ones. They
simply tried to get through their lives as well as they could.</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">When
reading this book, I would encourage readers not to "think" too much -
let the book engulf, encircle, and wash over you. I had figured out who
one of the main characters was long before it was revealed in the book -
but, I was so wrapped up in the story-telling, it didn't stop me from
crying when the author chose to divulge it. </span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">Ms. Burton's "The
Miniaturist" was one of my favorite books of 2016. Now, this book,
though written in 2002, has become my favorite thus far of 2021</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">For
those able to allow a book to spill over them, rather than race to get
through it, I can't recommend it highly enough. Although I have been
known to tear up at Folger's Coffee Christmas tv commercials, I'm not
really one who is easily brought to tears. This book made me cry several
times - not out of sorrow or because something sad happened - simply
because the beauty of the language overwhelmed me.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"> </span><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUYX3TR6Q4sNs69-vNk1nCeEsrzDNkw3RVs6e_TBsZ9OTSkpqsNl-Fe9wlS8ulAEPj2wtFYsGIzwL5qtJnO_7LfscuUrfTaJybQNZ5SrZGvR4ey__28lCz-JrsBYN7RKX8mDZBRctZeI/s1198/50130587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="768" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUYX3TR6Q4sNs69-vNk1nCeEsrzDNkw3RVs6e_TBsZ9OTSkpqsNl-Fe9wlS8ulAEPj2wtFYsGIzwL5qtJnO_7LfscuUrfTaJybQNZ5SrZGvR4ey__28lCz-JrsBYN7RKX8mDZBRctZeI/w191-h299/50130587.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>☆☆☆☆☆</span><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"> <br /></span></span></div></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">I opened this book with no expectations. As I am a fairly fast reader, I
was halfway through it when I realized: whoa! This is something
special. Something not to be glossed over. This is something to be
savored. So I started over, and read slowly, relishing every delicious
word combination and whimsical improbable possibility. </span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">I only
wish I had discovered Duchess long before the book was written and I was
made aware of her. She is a magical, enchanting, and devilishly clever
wordsmith who has the ability to envelope her reader in genuine love and
compassion and the care that would come if the reader were one instead
of one of thousands.</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">I can't even begin to say what this book is.
It's not a novel. It's not a biography. It's not a roman à clef. It's
not a book of humor. It's not a self-help book. It's not a celebrity
expose. It's not the story of survival and emotional courage. However,
it's all of those things.</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">If treasures like "Sometimes I tie your
words in linen with a little lavender and mint and use them as a
poultice for my weary old heart" and "If you find yourself feeling
embittered, roll around in a barrel of kosher salt until encrusted, and
then set yourself in a collander to drain" or "A lot of people go very
Martha Graham when dancing on their enemies' graves. Me, I like
flamenco. I want the souls of the dead to feel it" excite and thrill you
and make you smile, rush out and get this book!</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">It's less than 200 pages...you can easily read it twice in once sitting. And, when you read it, you will want to read it again!</span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054">It
wouldn't be fair to complete this without thanking Geri Degruy for
recommending this book to me. It is definitely my favorite book of the
year thus far! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"> </span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span> </div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"><br /></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"></span></span></div></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview1959750054"> </span></span></div></span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3847666009"></span></span><p></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-13615429901074104022021-04-09T12:39:00.004-04:002021-04-09T13:32:45.095-04:00Good Neighbors and French Exit ... Two Winners This Week!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_Q9hIIRw8SvSauDk05lywBuo3H0UoJGuB8at52cKikK8788uxprdqA7RGs6VKFu_qyDTbe5kQpeYDGgQBXmIqgT_Wb3j0qfSz6-XnPTTA44fKUYEaXQuptUcD7x76ik906fsufnvvkc/s475/54304088._SY475_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_Q9hIIRw8SvSauDk05lywBuo3H0UoJGuB8at52cKikK8788uxprdqA7RGs6VKFu_qyDTbe5kQpeYDGgQBXmIqgT_Wb3j0qfSz6-XnPTTA44fKUYEaXQuptUcD7x76ik906fsufnvvkc/s320/54304088._SY475_.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328">What
a surprise this novel was! I didn't really know what to expect. I had
heard some good comments about it and it was on sale, so I got it.</span><span id="freeTextreview3915188328"></span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328"><br />WoW! </span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328"><br />Razor
sharp satire, biting social commentary, mournful heartbreak and
desolate tragedy combined with a soupcon of science fiction create a
book of startling humor and rage and awareness and, well, shock.<br /> </span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328">Set
less than ten years in the future, the story takes place with America
living through climate change unabated. It's not the keystone of the
book - but, it's always in the background. And the way the environment
is viewed, and traversed by the population ran incredibly true to
American form for me. The characters were all alarmingly familiar - as
I'm sure they'll be for anybody who grew up in the middle/upper middle
class neighborhoods of the east coast.<br /> </span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328">I can't even say more because I
feel that divulging any more details will spoil it for anybody who
picks this up...as I hope you do! I don't belong to a book club, but I
want to join one just so I can discuss this book with others!<br /> </span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328">If you
follow my book reviews, you know that I rarely give a 5 ☆☆☆☆☆ rating, as
I consider that a next-to-perfect book. That's how I feel about this
one. I can't imagine anything that would have been an improvement.</span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3915188328"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMDZO40bJIpDxZ1HBrmUGRYi9dFIhOwxcC3wKIxdOJjVq2bMUXLH8VaLV_eFVZ1xJLhpG9sY96IiNOBmrIAIhtOKU0bYQZbzuH8veBM8Sp8XHqOzOmGoi96aUkaoLF7frpBXT2tgT5CY/s475/36300687.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMDZO40bJIpDxZ1HBrmUGRYi9dFIhOwxcC3wKIxdOJjVq2bMUXLH8VaLV_eFVZ1xJLhpG9sY96IiNOBmrIAIhtOKU0bYQZbzuH8veBM8Sp8XHqOzOmGoi96aUkaoLF7frpBXT2tgT5CY/s320/36300687.jpg" /></a></div> This is a brilliant combination faery tale, comedy of
manners, social satire, and character study wrapped up with a ribbon of
dysfunctional family tragedy...or is it hope? I haven't yet sorted out
my feelings about this intriguing and bewitching book about the most
endearing, frustrating, irritating, charismatic and curious people I've
run across in a novel in a good long while.<br /><p></p><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody"><br />While I was
completely captivated by it - in fact, I just finished it after reading
through the entire night without sleeping to get to the last word - I
realize that this book is not going to be to everybody's taste. In fact,
I can even imagine being in a different mood and not caring for it
myself. I'm so glad that I was in a receptive move last night, because I
was rewarded for it! It is at various times hysterically funny,
heart-rendingly sad, extraordinarily fanciful, razor-sharp perceptive,
and forcefully passionate.<br /><br />I'm not going to re-write a mini-synopsis of the story when the advertisement synopsis does a perfectly good job of it:</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody"><br /><i>Frances
Price – tart widow, possessive mother, and Upper East Side force of
nature – is in dire straits, beset by scandal and impending bankruptcy.
Her adult son Malcolm is no help, mired in a permanent state of arrested
development. And then there’s the Prices' aging cat, Small Frank, who
Frances believes houses the spirit of her late husband, an infamously
immoral litigator and world-class cad whose gruesome tabloid death
rendered Frances and Malcolm social outcasts.<br /><br />Putting penury and
pariahdom behind them, the family decides to cut their losses and head
for the exit. One ocean voyage later, the curious trio land in their
beloved Paris, the City of Light serving as a backdrop not for love or
romance, but self destruction and economical ruin – to riotous effect. A
number of singular characters serve to round out the cast: a bashful
private investigator, an aimless psychic proposing a seance, a doctor
who makes house calls with his wine merchant in tow, and the inimitable
Mme. Reynard, aggressive houseguest and dementedly friendly American
expat.<br /><br />Brimming with pathos and wit, French Exit is a
one-of-a-kind ‘tragedy of manners,’ a riotous send-up of high society,
as well as a moving mother/son caper which only Patrick deWitt could
conceive and execute </i><br /><br />If you're in the market for a quirky,
non-stop roller coaster ride, I can't recommend it highly enough. If you
enjoy Coen Brothers and Wes Anderson films, this is the literature
version! </div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody"> </div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody">Thanks for stopping by - hope you've been given some good tips for a book that will make the coming week enjoyable!<span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFLaz6PZvIeEUzBu_H5mkK4KIiSvLhY9MOBJ0GJTTWa-Mym54uOP9XAA-9BW2ffPWFWDLlZTJbbD1JHx7hqoZ2rjwemAN-Z0OtuBUnkkDLqfHb2-b7uyLsNp_QWmC6ZUOi2we51Zg5Ig/s916/108137308_10221244675418027_2556656997874867636_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="916" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFLaz6PZvIeEUzBu_H5mkK4KIiSvLhY9MOBJ0GJTTWa-Mym54uOP9XAA-9BW2ffPWFWDLlZTJbbD1JHx7hqoZ2rjwemAN-Z0OtuBUnkkDLqfHb2-b7uyLsNp_QWmC6ZUOi2we51Zg5Ig/w347-h234/108137308_10221244675418027_2556656997874867636_n.png" width="347" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqZi8_bO7MlMuKoXeUapOAMzi6CIacSPLq2YCpIXdbnv-RnnkZjjQH3WM3kuD19HDVh4251sIvYG8RWJsASDpdR7g3e3mbXKxuOhMVZmTSTIHm5v4XjB7K7nxiApR52ewoJqqFxrfpvA/s526/166628210_23847586256460326_9091002608725621133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqZi8_bO7MlMuKoXeUapOAMzi6CIacSPLq2YCpIXdbnv-RnnkZjjQH3WM3kuD19HDVh4251sIvYG8RWJsASDpdR7g3e3mbXKxuOhMVZmTSTIHm5v4XjB7K7nxiApR52ewoJqqFxrfpvA/s320/166628210_23847586256460326_9091002608725621133_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /></b><p></p></div>
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Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-75333173505234460812021-04-03T10:19:00.000-04:002021-04-03T10:19:52.497-04:00Four for the Price of One!<p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><br />Four short reviews today ... keeping it quick and clean and moving on!<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0sl7Oe9olVkv6u1yHDH9p2NwtUG2beujICDFz1SeDH-fryC_PPfpSPRsyd_U76wlXHJkzoH6hTSDWKfWplbnRNZBdqoN-pREq5FCW83IMw_sHo_qRP-50IFghRjeXvU_TfEOUpPWzZY/s2048/50892388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0sl7Oe9olVkv6u1yHDH9p2NwtUG2beujICDFz1SeDH-fryC_PPfpSPRsyd_U76wlXHJkzoH6hTSDWKfWplbnRNZBdqoN-pREq5FCW83IMw_sHo_qRP-50IFghRjeXvU_TfEOUpPWzZY/s320/50892388.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147">This
book was recommended to me by a friend, so I just got it without even
knowing what it was really about. Then I read a few reviews by people
who <i>really</i> didn't care for it. They all seemed to have the same
objection to the book: the characters were unlikable. I don't actually
find that a valid reason to dislike a book. I don't "like" Fagin, or
Bill Sykes or Mr. Bumble, but that doesn't mean I don't like the book
Oliver Twist ... and I don't plan on having anybody like Scarlett O'Hara
be my best friend, but that doesn't keep me from reading Gone With the
Wind every couple of years! I don't need to best friends with the
characters, as long as it's a good story and told honestly and
unpretentiously (a little wit and humor never hurt either!). <br /><br />So,
that being said, I loved this book! You are forewarned about what
you're getting into from the very first sentence: "Ivy Lin was a thief
but you would never know it to look at her." Right off the bat, you are
thrown off balance. There are many different kinds of thieves: from bank
robbers to con artists to international secret spies to shoplifters.
What kind is Ivy? I'm not telling you. If you're intrigued enough to
find out, as indeed I hope you are!, you may be surprised. And at much
more beyond. Ivy is a multi-faceted, many-layered, paradoxically lazy
and industrious woman with an agenda. I will admit, there were things
she was willing to do to achieve her agenda that surprised - even
shocked - me. Yet, somehow, I was never turned off from reading her
story - I wanted to know how it played out ... if she would succeed and
if so, how. And, for some bizarre reason, this very unlikable woman got
under my skin and I rooted for her to win - though what the prize was
going to be I never really knew.<br /><br />The writing is clear, clean,
with original uses of descriptions and a vision of a Chinese-American
born to Chinese immigrants that we don't often read about or see in
media. <br /><br />Go ahead - give Ivy a try. She's worth the effort!</span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmNs39IkoEfkj415iuZ25rlNWHDiofWIJOrGi1-fxiZWgR2U7Ip8UDhR8J2jmCr35bTYFhlh3-V7rQqk_QDLW6sP9iaD1QLmWjf9k-E_lcZgHzP2M2ZeJQjYzPi-zTCsUEiOlzCrlX24/s475/52053713._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmNs39IkoEfkj415iuZ25rlNWHDiofWIJOrGi1-fxiZWgR2U7Ip8UDhR8J2jmCr35bTYFhlh3-V7rQqk_QDLW6sP9iaD1QLmWjf9k-E_lcZgHzP2M2ZeJQjYzPi-zTCsUEiOlzCrlX24/s320/52053713._SY475_.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3922978762">This
was a delightful little surprise. A quick one-day read, thoroughly
entertaining, this is a modern version of a period Agatha Christie
murder mystery. It takes place in the roaring 20's - always good for
period music, fashion, fads and political descriptions - at a posh
Egyptian hotel almost at the foot of the Great Pyramids. The leading
'detective' is, of course, an amateur sleuth, who is daring and clever
and amusing - oh, and a beautiful single woman. There is the usual
assortment of supporting characters, villainous, virtuous, friend and
foe. It's a fairly fast paced tale, told by the leading lady who is
witty and judgemental and a quite good narrator. As I have read dozens
(and <i>dozens</i>) of these murder mysteries I was sure I had it all
figured out. Naturally, I was completely off the mark, and the guilty
culprit was as much of a shock to me as it was to the detective!<br /><br />If you like a good, almost-innocent, fun, fast murder mystery read, I heartily recommend this one.</span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Hp_1nDvjRNDr2dfVzBJ5jf_39VwhJVWCnLzGEhoC7GVLzcWRRntYS_jxEt2dy1KrAIvUK063lEtJUnQ3mTal5cJu4R_bCH1b65VfqcuIEFMMfVcAm8I_6UoTTbgVPhtHWSGMWPx8XDk/s475/39797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Hp_1nDvjRNDr2dfVzBJ5jf_39VwhJVWCnLzGEhoC7GVLzcWRRntYS_jxEt2dy1KrAIvUK063lEtJUnQ3mTal5cJu4R_bCH1b65VfqcuIEFMMfVcAm8I_6UoTTbgVPhtHWSGMWPx8XDk/s320/39797.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3896748609">Some
of the most intriguing mystery/thrillers and complex characters I've
read in the past few years have come from Scandanavia ... from the
Dragon Tattoo series to the Nordic-noirs of Ragnar Jonasson and Kjell
Eriksson. <i>The Return of the Dancing Master</i> by Henning Mankell is another to add to the ever-growing list of authors being translated for English readers.<br /><br />I
found this one particularly interesting as the horrible murder and the
bizarre mystery that follows is based on a neoNazi group. It's very
different reading about the descendants of the people who grew up in the
Nazi 'neighborhood' written by a European, rather than by what American
authors feel about it. Granted, it's not the main focus of this book,
but the difference in the way the characters are written is quite
evident.<br /><br />The well-established tropes in modern Scandinavian crime
writing are all in play here. A blood-splattered crime scene tells a
seemingly simple story of a crime of passion, but the acute, gruesome
details illuminate a richer, thornier backstory. And it requires the
appropriately downtrodden loner detective (this time recently diagnosed
with tongue cancer - tongue cancer?!) to decipher all the minutiae of
clues, both direct and circumstantial. <br /><br />The bleak winter
landscape of rural Sweden is written about in stark, bleak language
which brings it to life; reading about the cold in this book makes you
shiver. The blistering torment of the inner monologue we're privy to in
Detective Stefan Lindman's mind is in direct counterpoint to the quiet,
reserved, reticent manner of his social discourse. <br /><br />The only
reason I couldn't give this book four ☆☆☆☆ is I truly believe it's about
50 pages too long. At almost 400 pages, it could have been shortened.
Of course, this could be entirely the result of the translation and
perhaps the original book wasn't quite this wordy - but, whatever - this
is the one we're given to read. And it's really only an issue right
towards the end. I was completely engrossed in the book until just about
the last hundred pages, and almost as if a switch was flipped, I was
waiting for it to wrap up.<br /><br />I actually spent three nights reading this one. I took my time with it. It's not a fast read. But, it's a good one.</span> </span></span></span><p></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkkz6qJd14wQthukvGJ4DMPlB_zZGeduHb4kteKrZe5MNIvBYUNOS_DE0I-d62RtQRlN5CwYOCVqufxl3mRHrMVshEe9tAdlAQwC5X2yel08lnvT-v3Zx-nu1DP0-pw3byczzvSKfcc4/s0/80660.jpg" /></span></span></div><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978"> </span></span></div></span></span></span><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978">This had to be the most disappointing book I've read in a good long while. I (like <i>everybody</i>)
have heard so much about it; read so many glowing reviews; read and
watched so much discussion about the film, that I was quite anxious to
dig into it. sigh. Dig is right. What a gully to slog through. First and
foremost: a thoroughly unpleasant and self-interested and self-involved
group of people. And this is not a short book, so we are with these
people for a good chunk of time. Second, it's written in the first
person (by one of the aforementioned unpleasant and thoroughly
self-involved people), so there is no other point of view to be gained
at any junction of the journey.<br /><br />I did give it three stars
instead of two because admittedly the final shocker(s) in the last
several dozen pages was definitely a head spinner. <br /><br />This
was absolutely a case of my letting reviews get to me. If I hadn't known
that this was a top NYTimes bestseller with glowing reviews from
everywhere and that it was getting a glossy film adaptation starring
Tilda (one of my favorite actors!) Swinton, I would have abandoned it
within the first third of the book. I thought it was obnoxiously
repetitious. I can't say too much about what was repetitious because it
would be spoiling the plot for anybody who is crazy enough to pick this
one up LOL. And, I know that a lot of people will. The subject matter is
too controversial, the concept is too juicy, and the reviews are too
splendid not to be intrigued. I get it. I fell for it. But, don't frown
when I tell you that I told you so!</span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978"> </span></span></span></span><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978">That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by ... I hope you found something that sounds intriguing that you will read!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978">And ... have a lovely holiday weekend!<br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0-_fGnlol04fdJEtSQd1qWHfctxdOzgy83IVgDKlKTMM5nnMcn8eQpOhWUJ-6CYtfCA1260gDNeZckvunI8iOsaeOG88xK09BoThwRnQCOzyj5bB9pGHYZx95HCVWeTrx6zf0UaDGt0/s828/167759398_774117123215580_8313982099011709473_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0-_fGnlol04fdJEtSQd1qWHfctxdOzgy83IVgDKlKTMM5nnMcn8eQpOhWUJ-6CYtfCA1260gDNeZckvunI8iOsaeOG88xK09BoThwRnQCOzyj5bB9pGHYZx95HCVWeTrx6zf0UaDGt0/s320/167759398_774117123215580_8313982099011709473_n.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><p><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3919265147"><span class="readable reviewText"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3811632978"> </span></span> </span></span></span></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-57512550205891103382021-03-20T16:20:00.001-04:002021-03-20T16:20:17.483-04:00Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies ... a review<p style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Follies</b></i> is, if not my absolute favorite, in the top 3 of my favorite musical theatre pieces. I saw the original production on Broadway four times. I've seen the 2001 and 2011 Broadway revivals, and quite a number of regional productions. To say I'm a tad obsessed with it would not be an overstatement. So, when I found out about this book which I never knew existed, I couldn't wait to get it and dive in. It was really everything I could have hope for it to be. It's basically a rewritten form of the detailed and exacting journal kept by Ted Chapin, the 20 year old Production Assistant (the 'gofer') of the original production from before the rehearsals started through the out-of-town Boston try-out and the Broadway previews and opening night. <br /><br />If you like musical theatre, this is a must-read book. There is always talk about how much changes between starting the rehearsals for a new show and the finalized production of opening night. This book exhibits just how that happens. With the boxloads of thrown out materials (scripts, songs, scoring, characters) and re-choreography after painstaking rehearsals to learn a number and new staging and direction and lines for scenes that were presumes 'set.' Changes (which are expensive) to the sets and costumes. Changes (which are emotional) to the casting). Although this book is specifically about the production of<i> <b>Follies</b></i>, you needn't be familiar - or even like - the piece to get a heck of a lot from this book. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the process of theatre geniuses (and what else can you call Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince and Michael Bennett?) doing what they do better than anybody else.<br /><br />If you have no interest in the musical theatre, this book is not going to hold anything for you at all. But, if you love theatre - especially musical theatre - this is one terrific book to read. I tried to read it slowly so I could bask in the reflected talent I was reading about. But, I found it impossible to put down and in two evenings I finished it. It's a very easy book to read - Chapin, the author/narrator, is quite personable and makes the arduous and treacherous journey to Broadway magic enjoyable and educational. I know it's very rare for me to ever give a book 5 ☆☆☆☆☆, as I consider a 5 a close-to-perfect book. And I certainly can't compare this book to <i><b>Don Quixote</b></i> or<i><b> A</b><b>nna Karenina</b></i> or <i><b>Beloved</b></i> or <i><b>To Kill a Mockingbird</b></i> as far as literature; however, it totally succeeds at the goals it has set for itself. I recommend it without reservation. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_apEzmT94cxeBtpRgstKki2e2UZpcKtmGRzOVl6aBFGSOq11QlHwgfHabmugqKbq-WXQDM4alHPCrqNpt_YsRpu2vUIAUMLcqBAw9DKnHpUU49yZbBinOLs4QLOCBVv1cky-gGgRtEfk/s320/https-__m.media-amazon.com_images_I_51JEb7%252B5ZbL.jpg" /><br />If you'd like to read more about the Broadway production of<b> <i>Follies</i></b>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">click <a href="https://www.theatregold.com/follies-musical-broadway/">HERE</a> to read about it on Broadway Gold.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for stopping by!<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8PiyHHyFUtv3urSdZbg8yERDaWQPJ5lft8tarM74PA80Ih5YrbITB-hr-lf6oYyjnaoqtnV-Hi6bKSMNKF0hixqFAsAsdS6K4ojg46qnc6yh8cw9-7Z-iTEdxXqCvVIRReodMXWtzbs/s676/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.42.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8PiyHHyFUtv3urSdZbg8yERDaWQPJ5lft8tarM74PA80Ih5YrbITB-hr-lf6oYyjnaoqtnV-Hi6bKSMNKF0hixqFAsAsdS6K4ojg46qnc6yh8cw9-7Z-iTEdxXqCvVIRReodMXWtzbs/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.42.37+PM.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Dorothy Collins and John McMartin <br />as Sally and Ben singing "In Buddy's Eyes"</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNButkS2pxLAP5WS3lpLABHB5kXMf-FAq1miCrpPaWYZ9ysqCV8ht69SlMDBrNF45m10P_wo3GqEjqGAbF92aGQ0MsTvIYTcq8R62UXED0aJbttFtC8xhqUlut4CGplXuWk_7o4aaGqkQ/s451/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.42.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNButkS2pxLAP5WS3lpLABHB5kXMf-FAq1miCrpPaWYZ9ysqCV8ht69SlMDBrNF45m10P_wo3GqEjqGAbF92aGQ0MsTvIYTcq8R62UXED0aJbttFtC8xhqUlut4CGplXuWk_7o4aaGqkQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.42.43+PM.png" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dorothy Collins and John McMartin <br />as Sally and Ben singing "Too Many Mornings"</span><br /></span></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuRHbz9ytftQwb-R2nMtPbq2-dOLWz-Vq31SwFwaYr77snuHhL1sYz64F5TmFVlIkOmOG4ZEdoSd-j3FXTl1aDHJTMRolnmN8Hfg7gRxAbvWmDIlKOzEm_tGw-kPmgJDw8RJBf5tpBz8/s690/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuRHbz9ytftQwb-R2nMtPbq2-dOLWz-Vq31SwFwaYr77snuHhL1sYz64F5TmFVlIkOmOG4ZEdoSd-j3FXTl1aDHJTMRolnmN8Hfg7gRxAbvWmDIlKOzEm_tGw-kPmgJDw8RJBf5tpBz8/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.22+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Michael Bartlett as Roscoe<br />"Beautiful Girls"</i></span><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZHkx750JWWU_riy3D7pK_c9eOCIC1A_X9Q00i9ZRaiUknDb8flQQvmYblp0YauBB0OHjQQ9UQHJYSKSRmeJYfka8-lDnXOmfYVyf9D3x7a_IaGIAStPOWfdU-q5Dzj_De0eeyY56N8I/s676/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZHkx750JWWU_riy3D7pK_c9eOCIC1A_X9Q00i9ZRaiUknDb8flQQvmYblp0YauBB0OHjQQ9UQHJYSKSRmeJYfka8-lDnXOmfYVyf9D3x7a_IaGIAStPOWfdU-q5Dzj_De0eeyY56N8I/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.27+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Kurt Peterson as Young Ben, Michael Bartlett as Roscoe, Gene Nelson<br />as Buddy, Arnold Moss as Dimitri Weissman, and John McMartin as Ben</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8vwv7OfbG_iDKj6tTuu0nuvuOP74edhJ-wen19k93Z1Lv3RGuHXx_jUNx7oH5-28myEG9ThNh1kPHxP98iQkW1h_vKC72G0zhc3VglM8Gkauq6BqbXiDcrvRmSXS_Pe6Cb0engrCTXg/s678/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="678" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8vwv7OfbG_iDKj6tTuu0nuvuOP74edhJ-wen19k93Z1Lv3RGuHXx_jUNx7oH5-28myEG9ThNh1kPHxP98iQkW1h_vKC72G0zhc3VglM8Gkauq6BqbXiDcrvRmSXS_Pe6Cb0engrCTXg/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.35+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>John McMartin as Ben and the Loveland company <br />singing "Live Laugh Love" </i></span><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOk9dvAwgWEjhrrSCb5AntYYR0Ix2CBJRHt8oydfKLm4QhO4a93T3u1UdJ4NhdhhLFDJ_1xJ4LO487xtYO9Cf8B2R11XVswoMSPlxJ4dB2o75CfqJhwOsBlUZmJ9uVAsGMLkMaS6i5Ho/s554/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOk9dvAwgWEjhrrSCb5AntYYR0Ix2CBJRHt8oydfKLm4QhO4a93T3u1UdJ4NhdhhLFDJ_1xJ4LO487xtYO9Cf8B2R11XVswoMSPlxJ4dB2o75CfqJhwOsBlUZmJ9uVAsGMLkMaS6i5Ho/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.45+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">The Loveland showgirls </span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_tZMiCazcISL8dIpu-qPWglTq7gJlY7XnHl-tfp1EVIOmwFctDsMiRsvkVPHwvB8PhgiSHjPfaovzpHCby_Gshh4k0L82RrbMAwRFNCevGHCnT6s1c1U-roeC32JBd4DYbJKW69GPHM/s450/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_tZMiCazcISL8dIpu-qPWglTq7gJlY7XnHl-tfp1EVIOmwFctDsMiRsvkVPHwvB8PhgiSHjPfaovzpHCby_Gshh4k0L82RrbMAwRFNCevGHCnT6s1c1U-roeC32JBd4DYbJKW69GPHM/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.56+PM.png" /></a></div> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The 6'7"-in-heels head showgirl in the Loveland sequence</i></span><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wAhACD3M5KcckLWafKtXzXH9jT2yHua2dTCYeYrihWZumRoz5QWrOcEx4RjVHQahoM1zPYiIvknbiw0U_kHDpeL6MmEsigmRRUFgekAwIBpP_XjQBHBG6PUpWhnEznWuIhy8nG9ZCAU/s690/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.44.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wAhACD3M5KcckLWafKtXzXH9jT2yHua2dTCYeYrihWZumRoz5QWrOcEx4RjVHQahoM1zPYiIvknbiw0U_kHDpeL6MmEsigmRRUFgekAwIBpP_XjQBHBG6PUpWhnEznWuIhy8nG9ZCAU/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.44.56+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Yvonne deCarlo as Carlotta and the cast</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6p6JKtOeaBJCJFnFjTEvO_5332Bm-h7AlljLIy7WSucyhdde7ZupNumpCXUr92S6E4iLc0VDhfqRgfw1IrDodmhi-ibyInveTTUd-BCU1Vix7w7iP9k8ypqzVn8E3KifPfbqmnyBgg/s674/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.45.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6p6JKtOeaBJCJFnFjTEvO_5332Bm-h7AlljLIy7WSucyhdde7ZupNumpCXUr92S6E4iLc0VDhfqRgfw1IrDodmhi-ibyInveTTUd-BCU1Vix7w7iP9k8ypqzVn8E3KifPfbqmnyBgg/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.45.07+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Alexis Smith as Phyllis in "Beautiful Girls" parade</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroMPoTZHR27Fi09T0ZPxd5CCSbR8SNMa-qgW1OEAOYOr56p6b_kWGIiBkFl_BOkFkvQd8UHe_GsXtsNhLJeKaYl-YpfU2JUh_pZDpLOCiglmmYEIt5Qa2H5jwkCHo8psGYBTjjrJCxiE/s563/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.45.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroMPoTZHR27Fi09T0ZPxd5CCSbR8SNMa-qgW1OEAOYOr56p6b_kWGIiBkFl_BOkFkvQd8UHe_GsXtsNhLJeKaYl-YpfU2JUh_pZDpLOCiglmmYEIt5Qa2H5jwkCHo8psGYBTjjrJCxiE/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.45.20+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Alex Smith as Phyllis, John McMartin as Ben,<br />Dorothy Collins as Sally and Gene Nelson as Buddy</i></span><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexIeVZJf2874tW70GxhO6YiZ9MuaMuvpi1tnf4WpuHcmYhQJ_hqpN7KmQLDy0vq2ShoXI4qz8n74ti4Z-DsOIXCoqratCJ-QJh7wGZUEF0yhVyro5UjRXMAS6EVohUGxgyUh9uFDOzbI/s953/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.50.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="953" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexIeVZJf2874tW70GxhO6YiZ9MuaMuvpi1tnf4WpuHcmYhQJ_hqpN7KmQLDy0vq2ShoXI4qz8n74ti4Z-DsOIXCoqratCJ-QJh7wGZUEF0yhVyro5UjRXMAS6EVohUGxgyUh9uFDOzbI/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.50.56+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Yvonne de Carlo as Carlotta, Alexis Smith as Phyllis and<br />Michael Bartlett as Roscoe with the cast in "Beautiful Girls"</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cCw-gnEZSuuEC5rfO6C-mI9_Q0hkafVut2f7a7Yjb3weM-m3J207EVxIVIlI5YABX7SbanBS0aMv_f0VsKqW_7XwGU2j-LqRuXJKL4b961LzyAuLsmptI06gNfN8hU5XqfonRJr0ok0/s598/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cCw-gnEZSuuEC5rfO6C-mI9_Q0hkafVut2f7a7Yjb3weM-m3J207EVxIVIlI5YABX7SbanBS0aMv_f0VsKqW_7XwGU2j-LqRuXJKL4b961LzyAuLsmptI06gNfN8hU5XqfonRJr0ok0/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-03-20+at+1.43.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">The Loveland sequence company</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl0kY4PCPysGUGHQwQCFLx1BE9o-CobnsqkUulRS2dWmyymKI6zX2_ogRaegVeOwbt7t_vvtzyMYLxQwRSWuzaGpYNbo5QcxghxGtpHU7wuLef3M8Q0AcwEmS2am-O4xohNHM5inpwkk/s581/uxcltsz9l8glst9x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl0kY4PCPysGUGHQwQCFLx1BE9o-CobnsqkUulRS2dWmyymKI6zX2_ogRaegVeOwbt7t_vvtzyMYLxQwRSWuzaGpYNbo5QcxghxGtpHU7wuLef3M8Q0AcwEmS2am-O4xohNHM5inpwkk/s320/uxcltsz9l8glst9x.jpg" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Ethel Shutta as Hattie singing "Broadway Baby"</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_dYrr0k3RACwu-oAGlm8_udm8lp4z_hPfROxAMLYf2YLmNF7z7nI5OKup0CuDbmN_C89pu18MzV-jxKlQW4vWvrL71SaBylo_vb28WZhCc0DAX1dVMEVtzcrmk7lWlCPYCcKUSiVtiM/s781/tumblr_n28m6ullP21rg1mmoo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="687" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_dYrr0k3RACwu-oAGlm8_udm8lp4z_hPfROxAMLYf2YLmNF7z7nI5OKup0CuDbmN_C89pu18MzV-jxKlQW4vWvrL71SaBylo_vb28WZhCc0DAX1dVMEVtzcrmk7lWlCPYCcKUSiVtiM/s320/tumblr_n28m6ullP21rg1mmoo1_1280.jpg" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Yvonne deCarlo in "Who's That Woman"</span></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMsZK4d7yqbBlX5y8Q7j2JPVIXxLhbIIg_ybHIKmIDK4T8OKWRmWJ-zx9-y3_2H4-EBw4wLrYeQYyD7Laz4CVJGtmzC1yt9kdJZRusJhyEYaW6XV1yinxXG7UPtlkYr-q8A5OIpSvFmw/s602/4c25d7a4c4639de2f2df74ead758c713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMsZK4d7yqbBlX5y8Q7j2JPVIXxLhbIIg_ybHIKmIDK4T8OKWRmWJ-zx9-y3_2H4-EBw4wLrYeQYyD7Laz4CVJGtmzC1yt9kdJZRusJhyEYaW6XV1yinxXG7UPtlkYr-q8A5OIpSvFmw/s320/4c25d7a4c4639de2f2df74ead758c713.jpg" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Alexis Smith as Phyllis singing "The Ballad of Lucy and Jessie"<br />surrounded by the Loveland showgirls</i></span><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> <br /><br /></span></b></span><p></p></div><br /><p></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-1924196173743959632021-02-23T17:09:00.001-05:002021-02-23T17:12:02.963-05:00The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale ... a review<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXSOWTyPjLV0AaXjhq2XyGf0wd9RVpZpRDaJfzgY3_iM9bcBtlq_iLR3PLCkc86av-zX6MtxLPsiv9paYRevkRmQFg5jfgne34mGEDZY0-IG1fiNxalkub1YnViksHAYP76w9xT-zSPk/s320/9808581.jpg" /></div><p></p><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody">
I don't remember who recommended this book to me (I should
keep a list of these things - but, then I'd have to keep a list on my
desktop of where the list is being kept, and then - well ... anyway),
however, I am so glad they did! I also don't know how this book
published twenty years ago escaped my attention; obviously, I wasn't
paying attention!<br /><br />Some authors have the unique gift of
writing in a way that makes poverty - especially Great Depression
poverty - seem almost beautiful. Truman Capote, Harper Lee, Carson McCullers, Toni
Morrison were/are all able to create a private, secluded world of hard
scrabble and destitution that existed in a bubble of familial love and
compassion and comraderie. Joe R. Lansdale, the author of <i><b>The Bottoms</b></i>,
is that kind of author. Though the characters in this novel are dirt
poor and the plot line is squalid and grubby on the surface, the author
has put a 'spit shine' on the whole thing and it has sparkle and romance
to it that perhaps it doesn't deserve, but, nonetheless it's there and
it's a joy to live through. As Tom says in the opening of Tennessee
Williams' The Glass Menagerie, "The stage magician gives you illusion
that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant
disguise of illusion."<br /><p> </p>The book is a narration by a very
elderly man in a nursing home as he reminisces about his youth in a
small town in East Texas. It's a coming of age tale that involves family
history and discovery, awareness of Jim Crow racism, violence, rape and
alcoholism, and finally a serial killer. Though the serial killer
follows the story through the entire book, it is - in no way, shape, or
form - a thriller. It's no more a serial killer book than <b><i>To Kill a
Mockingbird</i></b> is about child abuse. It's a strategic part of the
narrator's history - but it's not the focus of the author.<br /><p> </p>I'm
not going to write more about it, because I'm afraid that I will spoil
it for anybody who decides to take my prodding recommendation and reads
it. This is one terrific book.
<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNi1cZuDeozjzB1yd7xJyqBwOmXE_p4tNFF5LtQr7_Nw3l0Uh-exJ9EkAgTN328vCmucICmj_3uCe-5kw6ruA9Ry-PBfhcvM6Xhc_D3Wsh7sP2pMieEFHjaDIKaMlmQMRbPyS5vtaS4ZY/s512/830feceeae667056594c631d579011b9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNi1cZuDeozjzB1yd7xJyqBwOmXE_p4tNFF5LtQr7_Nw3l0Uh-exJ9EkAgTN328vCmucICmj_3uCe-5kw6ruA9Ry-PBfhcvM6Xhc_D3Wsh7sP2pMieEFHjaDIKaMlmQMRbPyS5vtaS4ZY/s320/830feceeae667056594c631d579011b9.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><i>to read more of my book reviews, visit<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4307583-tristan-robin-blakeman?shelf=read" target="_blank">Tristan Robin Blakeman Goodreads Book Reviews</a></i></span><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></b></span></p><br /> </div>
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Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-81917118572382838752021-02-14T11:32:00.001-05:002021-02-14T11:32:28.817-05:00Let Love's Wings Soar!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkXB8HKAT8ZEKokaFeEtX7J-Z3rNiXvnj4L4LMJ9KyblHQKsUdikhYocpnHeI8LeUjTPIyoKD3rgHH6EGflVInGMadnkFXde3WX33LwCg0AZ-EhCNtNnl68Cx9pnjbg1LyVhTN00BUHM/s2048/8e19bc0481e0bfdbd90b20a849fa0175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1276" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkXB8HKAT8ZEKokaFeEtX7J-Z3rNiXvnj4L4LMJ9KyblHQKsUdikhYocpnHeI8LeUjTPIyoKD3rgHH6EGflVInGMadnkFXde3WX33LwCg0AZ-EhCNtNnl68Cx9pnjbg1LyVhTN00BUHM/w339-h545/8e19bc0481e0bfdbd90b20a849fa0175.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Happy Valentine's Day!<br /> <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-27015446959787502112021-01-01T11:47:00.002-05:002021-01-01T11:47:46.436-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvpogIDGZCatN85w09ncCkvOof6goaRLWXwACOelNKJ4Dc1dKW5D9Yk1R05szS3G0vyA83KexRn_3Yz9MU3zUtpsLhK_FZjZ0zOjc3sFTbmDdV1aCW-SB5uqgVuPYqieUbyX0HVMJx5U/s800/134716669_10157562264602007_414340157761303802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="593" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvpogIDGZCatN85w09ncCkvOof6goaRLWXwACOelNKJ4Dc1dKW5D9Yk1R05szS3G0vyA83KexRn_3Yz9MU3zUtpsLhK_FZjZ0zOjc3sFTbmDdV1aCW-SB5uqgVuPYqieUbyX0HVMJx5U/w332-h449/134716669_10157562264602007_414340157761303802_n.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-13575294499928445322020-11-20T12:37:00.009-05:002020-11-20T12:45:32.122-05:00Merchandising an American Icon<p>Oh, American merchandising! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_fwTvhsKFghR_Z6HwXjsv-vV7aVRbEl3oCL1ckrP7zhrTi5FJJdXy1xbWlKuQQsfqya8IrZIXS8YLm-TDtm39T-ddOL0felW5auI0tm9Mo9LYUN5i3dlKxyts8nGAT0gycBTNQ8HZG0/s2000/Blank+2000+x+2000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_fwTvhsKFghR_Z6HwXjsv-vV7aVRbEl3oCL1ckrP7zhrTi5FJJdXy1xbWlKuQQsfqya8IrZIXS8YLm-TDtm39T-ddOL0felW5auI0tm9Mo9LYUN5i3dlKxyts8nGAT0gycBTNQ8HZG0/s320/Blank+2000+x+2000.png" /></a></div><p></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_117"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">In the classic 1950 Disney movie, Cinderella's faery godmother gives her a silver ball gown and bibbity boppity boos her strawberry blond hair into an updo.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vpeNcFKo2gk" width="320" youtube-src-id="vpeNcFKo2gk"></iframe></div> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The ball gown is silvery and shimmery and white and sparkly - and perfect to set off those all-important glass slippers (which we never are to learn exactly how she is able to walk in). He hair is still that lovely shade of strawberry blonde, which keeps her from looking too much like a California surfer chick...but like a - well - prototype for decades of Disney princesses!</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">However - to mix faery tale metaphors - there is a poison apple in the mix here.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH-aGlA6yVr0WbJjoEkvxNxiQVk8xysROqht3iCZSRUl5Hb5My5NftlrzHpeniph-3qmS5sHdz-1ji_6PJq3O15CpKgZTlNxxAThR9G_XhWEz7sOzn-uiikKtLES_SZDLdu51CRm-uG8/s1456/Snow_White_the_Witch_and_the_apple.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH-aGlA6yVr0WbJjoEkvxNxiQVk8xysROqht3iCZSRUl5Hb5My5NftlrzHpeniph-3qmS5sHdz-1ji_6PJq3O15CpKgZTlNxxAThR9G_XhWEz7sOzn-uiikKtLES_SZDLdu51CRm-uG8/s320/Snow_White_the_Witch_and_the_apple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">When the designers for the merchandising for the film went to the drawing boards, they thought that the dress looked too bridal, so they changed it to blue - and also lightened her hair, because the solid buttery shade of yellow was an easier color to manufacture!</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghx0G-v_a602HHjlLqDfkP1BX96XTsDatkUDD9TncEZcRezhqoC7T23_lpr_uKzsyupbU_qF_wV6Huz4Ehh8xVXKNpaNEMSfu89wM1ZRbAtMIIJwHrCOOKoX4W-36i54Mm6nhnaYpseC4/s1500/1108full-cinderella-%2528original-disney-animated%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1108" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghx0G-v_a602HHjlLqDfkP1BX96XTsDatkUDD9TncEZcRezhqoC7T23_lpr_uKzsyupbU_qF_wV6Huz4Ehh8xVXKNpaNEMSfu89wM1ZRbAtMIIJwHrCOOKoX4W-36i54Mm6nhnaYpseC4/s320/1108full-cinderella-%2528original-disney-animated%2529.jpg" /></a></div>Not to mention, with so many Cinderella dolls to sell, they had to make sure that the ball gown was easily distinguished from her wedding gown - because selling two gowns for a doll was much better for the cash drawer than selling only one!<br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/amcLieomhLU" width="320" youtube-src-id="amcLieomhLU"></iframe></div><br />Was this merchandising tweak successful?</div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><br /></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Well, now, today, everybody thinks that Cinderella wore blue to the ball - even people who have never seen the classic film! Does it matter that it's not true? Not a bit. After all - impossible things keep happ'ning every day!</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Even when Disney remade Cinderella as a live-action film, they changed the color of the ball-gown from silver to blue to strengthen the merchandising image, not the original film!<br /> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopeTBpxvNF4e3068pUiyVWPz28UwguLvArp-3EbjqzFa_IFsMbFGBUt75wqjbvS-r4u_9av9Ut9VSO55kpW7yrFse06UwJlT2X91Ple-x76CdIYHcFRGERHaIa7JGM-Py8IK8FKtuxY8/s1140/il_1140xN.2543563328_r6dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopeTBpxvNF4e3068pUiyVWPz28UwguLvArp-3EbjqzFa_IFsMbFGBUt75wqjbvS-r4u_9av9Ut9VSO55kpW7yrFse06UwJlT2X91Ple-x76CdIYHcFRGERHaIa7JGM-Py8IK8FKtuxY8/s320/il_1140xN.2543563328_r6dt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">This fascinating piece of useless trivia brought to you by ... Enchanted Revelries and me!</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Now, go make something beautiful!</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">and I leave you with the enchanting stage magic of the 2013 Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Cinderella, starring Laura Osnes and Victoria Clark singing the transformation song <i><b>Impossible</b></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><i><b><br /> </b></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w-lEAHwCaS4" width="320" youtube-src-id="w-lEAHwCaS4"></iframe></i></div><i><br /></i><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> <br /></span></b><p></p></div></div></span></div></div></div></div>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-89493522725462528532020-11-07T10:16:00.002-05:002020-11-07T12:41:03.097-05:00America Has Been Put Through Enough, Mr. President - I'm Weary and Worn Out<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat5wCJKqw9Jy9fYNJ4z6H5Na9QgFf77D4mplTRvGlgONA5hSZvwQ_xtfAY2BtpnzEP1EZlWLFgTwFKJR0vueYSbu-5DX44Fz935ierg6DXqsJ7Fml3rMm3XS5Zkdi5L0ogxNDQL3rOH8/s700/WearyandTired.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat5wCJKqw9Jy9fYNJ4z6H5Na9QgFf77D4mplTRvGlgONA5hSZvwQ_xtfAY2BtpnzEP1EZlWLFgTwFKJR0vueYSbu-5DX44Fz935ierg6DXqsJ7Fml3rMm3XS5Zkdi5L0ogxNDQL3rOH8/s320/WearyandTired.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It has been a long while since I posted here. I have been rather distraught and disjointed and semi-dysfunctional over the events of 2020 in America. From the pandemic and the dreadful response to it by the government; the tragic race-baiting and rioting; the racist profiling and murdering of people of color by some police officers; our President's litany of lies, distortions, misinformation and deceit spread throughout the country by social media almost daily; and, finally, the election. I'm just bone-tired of it all. It has been - by far - the most dreadful year of my life. And nothing bad happened to me personally! Even though I take the attempt to destroy democracy in my nation somewhat personally.<br /><br />As always, John Pavlovitz (who I now refer to as my best friend - with my tongue firmly in my cheek, as I've never met the man), has written a short essay which expresses exactly how I feel, but in words that are succinct, comprehensible - and not worthy of censoring!<p></p><h1 class="entry-title"><i>President Trump, Haven’t You Put America Through Enough?</i></h1> <div class="entry-meta">
<span class="posted-on"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-11-07T08:44:26-05:00">November 7, 2020</time></span><span class="byline"><span class="sep"> / </span><span class="author vcard">John Pavlovitz</span></span> </div><h1 class="entry-title"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYizLx_KmH2KPqDy_0COqnB54thGFQLv63lhO15NYGed_0IP19iXdBXz3L0UQr0UhEtcpOLFobuYcswcQf1CnL3wiuHGX7JbNQGX-e3rhD_leSx-J4wdxtvaGsXVwKdOOS3bnsZ3zWvzs/s320/Screen-Shot-2020-11-07-at-8.43.13-AM-1536x1003.png" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">President Trump,</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">I wonder how much pain you’re willing to cause America.</span> </span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Apparently, more than you already have.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It isn’t
enough that you have spent every waking moment of the past four years
manufacturing urgency for this nation, that you have continually
appealed to the very worst nature of your followers; weaponizing them
against their neighbors, friends, family members, and strangers.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It isn’t
enough that you have perpetually trafficked in lies, when the truth
would have been much simpler and much less fraught with suffering and
sickness; that you were almost habitually allergic to honesty even when
honesty would have greatly benefited you.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It isn’t
enough that you have steadily stoked the fires of racism, that you have
courted wild conspiracy, that you’ve never once taken the path of
maturity, compassion, and sober judgment in stewarding this nation.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It isn’t
enough that you have been so guilty of presidential malpractice, that
you have inexplicably made a public health crisis a partisan event,
allowing a quarter of a million Americans to die, many of them
needlessly—one that you are currently simply ignoring.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">And now,
after all that, you’ve chosen to do something far worse as your swan
song: to go to war with the very bedrock of this nation: a free and fair
election by the people—simply because you cannot live with what they
are telling you.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You
are indicting a process that you spent months poisoning and polluting
and sabotaging, when even those unprecedented efforts to create chaos
and silence voters would not deter a record number of Americans from
telling you that you are not worthy to lead them.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You are revealing your character in these moments.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">A decent man would honor the unequivocal and clear will of the people.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">A decent man would concede with dignity immediately in order to allow calm to prevail.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">A decent man would agree to a peaceful transfer of power, as every previous outgoing president has.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">A decent man
would look at a nation ravaged by a pandemic, devastated by job loss,
and exhausted from internal strife—and decide to end his tenure here by
finally, for the first time, doing something selfless.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">But you are not a decent man by any measurement, and that is simply not your way.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You
are incapable of the elemental goodness that even the most malevolent
people are eventually able to tap into when called upon by moments of
gravity and consequence.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">I should have known it would end this way.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">This is
who you have always been: a man lacking a single noble instinct or
humane impulse; a completely parasitic presence who only takes from
things it attaches itself to, leaving them less healthy and less viable
than before.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Your ornamental</span> <i><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">America First</span></i> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">rhetoric is burning up in the presence of your caustic conduct right now.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You have
never loved this nation or cared for its people, because if you had and
if you did, you would be an adult man and a true leader, and admit
defeat and allow this nation to begin to heal and recover.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Instead
you incite violence and stir your unhinged base and speak reckless,
incendiary lies that will only serve to injure more people and try and
avoid your eventual departure.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">And make no mistake, that departure is imminent.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You are leaving.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">The American people have made that clear.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Every president before you has honored that.</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">And whether you like or not, you will, too.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It’s just really sad that you couldn’t take this moment and finally become a better version of yourself;</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">that instead
of being a source of stability and strength for this disaster-battered
nation, that you would make your final days here ones marked by
unnecessary suffering and manufactured sorrow;</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">that in one
more traitorous, belligerent salvo, you will assail the very heart of
democracy in order to defend your brittle, fragile ego.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">History
is recording the truth: that you will have caused more injury to America
and its people than any of the men who have served the office you hold
and will shortly be removed from.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You will have even done more destruction to our sovereignty and safety than any imagined foreign threat.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">That, you cannot spin or gaslight or lie your way out of.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Joe Biden is going to be our next president.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">You will soon be leaving, Mr. President.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">And sadly, it looks as though you will leave the way you have led and the way you have lived your entire life: disgracefully.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It’s
simply a national tragedy that all the previous damage you’ve done and
all the wounds you have inflicted on America and its people were not
enough for you.</span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">John Pavlovitz, November 2020</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"> </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BlaW5oVgV_Cyg2tldFO-7O2xZRA9hBCYbZSy7HzzN9TnADj1p1gUNPeQX106JtmFQBTgoRW0eY7W81BR-OaGBXy_t0FWfUsgUvgNGCJfhFQstQU9Gj8qJDRP4iHXn-e_rlMSr0er6tM/s320/John-Pavlovitz-Headshot-10-2018.jpg" /></div><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> </div><br /> </h1> <div class="entry-meta">
<span style="background-color: black;"><a href="v."><span class="posted-on"></span></a><a rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-11-07T08:44:26-05:00"></time></a></span><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span> </div><div class="entry-meta">
<span style="background-color: black;"><a href="v."><span class="posted-on"></span></a><a rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-11-07T08:44:26-05:00"></time></a></span><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span> </div><div class="entry-meta">
<span style="background-color: black;"><a href="v."><span class="posted-on"></span></a><a rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-11-07T08:44:26-05:00"></time></a></span><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span> </div><div class="entry-meta">
<span style="background-color: black;"><a href="v."><span class="posted-on"></span></a><a rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-11-07T08:44:26-05:00"></time></a></span><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span> </div><div class="entry-meta">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="posted-on"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-11-07T08:44:26-05:00"></time></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span class="byline"><span class="author vcard"><br /></span></span>With hope that we will begin to heal as a society, a culture, and a nation ... and we can begin to treat our friends, family, neighbors - and opponents - as people deserving of dignity, respect and civility, but most of all equality.</span></span></div><div class="entry-meta"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuDT98Heff2scMgbe-zUxRt__zs50ZFtLqv7IZzF9KAKTu-cUzn2rpVp9QiBM1oc2yIprMNmYBXqhrFoQ-bg_m7jzBdI6m-evKrVSZk0-NF0SP6RpmIwvmbhk7PHYOuK4sLaXmrEDLBs/s306/RoseOpening.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuDT98Heff2scMgbe-zUxRt__zs50ZFtLqv7IZzF9KAKTu-cUzn2rpVp9QiBM1oc2yIprMNmYBXqhrFoQ-bg_m7jzBdI6m-evKrVSZk0-NF0SP6RpmIwvmbhk7PHYOuK4sLaXmrEDLBs/s0/RoseOpening.gif" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span> </div>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-38192963830527562982020-08-12T11:12:00.001-04:002020-08-12T11:12:38.745-04:00Americans and Their Abusive Relationship<p><i>I know, I know, I know ... it's very bad form to post political opinions on an arts and travel and unique special interests blog like this one. And I haven't in over a decade, so I am pretty good. But, we are in a most unusual time in our nation - in the world! - and I read this very short essay by the marvelous John Pavlovitz today. It articulates exactly how I feel about this issue right down to the last comma and period. So, I'm going to post it in its entirety here. I hope you read it, and take from it what you will</i>. </p><div class="content-area" id="primary"><article class="post-32269 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized" id="post-32269"><header class="entry-header"><h1 class="entry-title">Americans Need To Get Out of This Abusive Relationship</h1><div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on"><a href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/2020/08/12/americans-need-to-get-out-of-this-abusive-relationship/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2020-08-12T10:09:53-04:00">August 12, 2020</time></a></span><span class="byline"><span class="sep"> / </span><span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/author/johndpav/">John Pavlovitz</a></span></span></div></header><div aria-label="<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-32276" src="https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM.png" alt="" width="1280" height="784" srcset="https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM.png 1280w, https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM-300x184.png 300w, https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM-768x470.png 768w, https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM-1536x941.png 1536w, https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM-676x414.png 676w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />Photo: Fresco/GettyIt’s heartbreaking to see someone you love in a toxic relationship: watching them be continually torn down and berated, treated with complete disregard, humiliated publicly over and over again—and knowing that despite how much damage has been inflicted, they will likely stay with their abuser, to their own detriment. There is a unique kind of helplessness when a human being is so blinded by their past hopes about what the other person would become, that they can’t see what they actually are presently; when they are so consumed with the story they’ve told themselves about the heart of their partner, that no amount of evidence to the contrary will be enough to convince them otherwise. They will be lied to and gaslit and injured—and still they will fiercely defend the object of their misplaced affections; perhaps because they do not see their own worth and imagine they will not find better, or because fear has paralyzed them into inaction, or because living this way for so long has left them unable to see another possibility.When they are confronted by the efforts of well-meaning people, they will deny and rationalize and even lash out at the very suggestion that they are being manipulated, rather than face the possibility that they have been fooled by someone they misjudged and trusted. It is exhausting to try and help them extricate themselves from their own hearts, to show them how unhealthy this place is, to wake them up to their greater value.Nearly 40 percent of this nation is in an abusive relationship with this President and they are the only ones who cannot see it.He has complete contempt for them and yet they passionately defend him. They cut ties with those who attempt to reach them with the evidence of his betrayal. Though they are being daily devalued and damaged, they cannot see it through the intoxicating romantic haze of their Fox News, Evangelical, Great America back stories. They see those of us who oppose him as the enemy, when the truth is we care far more about them than he ever will—which is why we have to show up in November and help them see what they cannot right now.This election is the chance for the sixty percent of us to rescue these people from this bitter codependence; to vote them into a safer and more stable place; to show them what it could be like if they were led by someone who actually cares for their well being, who actually works to strengthen the bonds between them and the people around them, who will not subject them to a continual toxic flood of intimidation in order to keep them close and retain their affections. Whenever someone finds their way out of an abusive relationship, you watch them blossom: you see them embrace the wide-open life that has always been waiting for them, and they get to see themselves and the world with new eyes. Like a mighty Phoenix rising from the suffocating ashes of something that was far less than they deserved, their spirits are reborn—and they wonder how they ever let themselves be treated as anything less than beautiful. They find real freedom.I so want these people around me to experience this, for them and for the America that I share with them. We all deserve far better than the oppressive, violent, fractured place we now live in, and until they see that we’re stuck here. The best of who we could be as a nation is not possible while they are tethered to something so destructive and injurious, and the greatest gift we can give them is to save them from themselves.That’s what’s at stake in this election: everything. Share this:FacebookTwitterPinterestRedditPrintEmailLike this:Like Loading..." class="entry-content blast-root"><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-32276 lazyloaded" data-ll-status="loaded" height="308" src="https://johnpavlovitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-12-at-10.07.04-AM.png" width="505" /></strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"> </span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Photo: Fresco/Getty</span></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It’s
heartbreaking to see someone you love in a toxic relationship: watching
them be continually torn down and berated, treated with complete
disregard, humiliated publicly over and over again—and knowing that
despite how much damage has been inflicted, they will likely stay with
their abuser, to their own detriment.</span> </strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">There
is a unique kind of helplessness when a human being is so blinded by
their past hopes about what the other person would become, that they
can’t see what they actually are presently; when they are so consumed
with the story they’ve told themselves about the heart of their partner,
that no amount of evidence to the contrary will be enough to convince
them otherwise.</span> </strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">They
will be lied to and gaslit and injured—and still they will fiercely
defend the object of their misplaced affections; perhaps because they do
not see their own worth and imagine they will not find better, or
because fear has paralyzed them into inaction, or because living this
way for so long has left them unable to see another possibility.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">When
they are confronted by the efforts of well-meaning people, they will
deny and rationalize and even lash out at the very suggestion that they
are being manipulated, rather than face the possibility that they have
been fooled by someone they misjudged and trusted.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">It
is exhausting to try and help them extricate themselves from their own
hearts, to show them how unhealthy this place is, to wake them up to
their greater value.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Nearly 40 percent of this nation is in an abusive relationship with this President and they are the only ones who cannot see it.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">He has complete contempt for them and yet they passionately defend him.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">They cut ties with those who attempt to reach them with the evidence of his betrayal.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Though
they are being daily devalued and damaged, they cannot see it through
the intoxicating romantic haze of their Fox News, Evangelical, Great
America back stories.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">They
see those of us who oppose him as the enemy, when the truth is we care
far more about them than he ever will—which is why we have to show up in
November and help them see what they cannot right now.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">This
election is the chance for the sixty percent of us to rescue these
people from this bitter codependence; to vote them into a safer and more
stable place; to show them what it could be like if they were led by
someone who actually cares for their well being, who actually works to
strengthen the bonds between them and the people around them, who will
not subject them to a continual toxic flood of intimidation in order to
keep them close and retain their affections.</span> </strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Whenever
someone finds their way out of an abusive relationship, you watch them
blossom: you see them embrace the wide-open life that has always been
waiting for them, and they get to see themselves and the world with new
eyes.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Like a
mighty Phoenix rising from the suffocating ashes of something that was
far less than they deserved, their spirits are reborn—and they wonder
how they ever let themselves be treated as anything less than beautiful.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">They find real freedom.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">I so want these people around me to experience this, for them and for the America that I share with them.</span> <span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">We
all deserve far </span></strong><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">better than the oppressive, violent, fractured place we now live in, and until they see that we’re stuck here.</span> </strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">The
best of who we could be as a nation is not possible while they are
tethered to something so destructive and injurious, and the greatest
gift we can give them is to save them from themselves.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">That’s what’s at stake in this election: everything.</span></strong></p><p><i><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">I agree with so much in this piece...as I almost always agree with everything he writes. His columns speak for me so often - and I'm sure for many others.<br /><br />I really want him to be my best friend!</span></i></p><p><i><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"> I would love to read your comment about the essay, if you have one. However, stand forewarned, though I have no issue with differing opinions, I will just delete anything that is abusive or ugly.<br /></span></i></p><p><i><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence">Now, go make something beautiful!</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTcVCGNHEpf91y2mrq5fKjEfFOOhqnRUZTOxG7HJsIujNr92CQngy7OiS9K-x1OyEpxjrRgzPvpdnEggrlQkiVf96-dFG0BS-Mu8C4yij104mqU3SceVogJR60U7guQ-fnZt1IN0UVm4/s900/John-Pavlovitz-Headshot-10-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="720" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTcVCGNHEpf91y2mrq5fKjEfFOOhqnRUZTOxG7HJsIujNr92CQngy7OiS9K-x1OyEpxjrRgzPvpdnEggrlQkiVf96-dFG0BS-Mu8C4yij104mqU3SceVogJR60U7guQ-fnZt1IN0UVm4/s640/John-Pavlovitz-Headshot-10-2018.jpg" width="210" /></a></b></div><i><br /></i><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North
Carolina. In the past four years his blog Stuff That Needs To Be Said
has reached a diverse worldwide audience. A 20-year veteran in the
trenches of local church ministry, John is committed to equality,
diversity, and justice—both inside and outside faith communities. In
2017 he released his first book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Table-Authentic-Spiritual-Community/dp/0664262678/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488892487&sr=1-2">A Bigger Table</a></em>. His new book, <em><a href="https://amzn.to/2IbCPNI">Hope and Other Superpowers</a></em>, arrived on November 6th.</span></i></span><p></p><h3>Press</h3><p>Chicago Tribune<br /> <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-life-stevens-john-pavlovitz-be-a-superhero-1017-story.html">Anti-Trump pastor John Pavlovitz doesn’t want thoughts and prayers; he wants hope and action</a></p><p>Billings Gazette<br /> <a href="http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/former-megachurch-pastor-visits-billings-makes-appeal-for-more-kindness/article_9ac612f9-c96b-579f-88e4-d35e28725f3c.html">Former megachurch pastor visits Billings, makes appeal for more kindness amid disagreements</a></p><p>Chicago Tribune<br /> <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-life-stevens-sunday-bigger-table-john-pavlovitz-1112-story.html">Just in time for Thanksgiving, instructions on building a bigger, more inclusive table</a></p><p>Indy Week<br /> <a href="https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/how-raleighs-john-pavlovitz-went-from-fired-megachurch-pastor-to-rising-star-of-the-religious-left/Content?oid=9664688">How Raleigh’s John Pavlovitz Went from Fired Megachurch Pastor to Rising Star of the Religious Left</a></p><p>Religion News Service<br /> <a href="https://religionnews.com/2018/03/15/john-pavlovitz-digital-pastor-of-the-resistance-pitches-a-bigger-christian-tent/">John Pavlovitz, digital pastor of the resistance, pitches a bigger Christian tent</a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnpavlovitzofficial">John on Facebook →</a><br /> <a href="https://twitter.com/johnpavlovitz">John on Twitter →</a><br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/johnpavlovitz/">John on Instagram →</a><br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwEL-Y1acBXrv-dorXaJ-w">John on YouTube →</a><br /> <a class="button" href="http://www.patreon.com/johnpavlovitz">Pledge at Patreon →</a><br /> <a class="button" href="https://www.paypal.me/johnpavlovitz">Give through Paypal →</a><br /> <a class="button" href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/books/">Order John’s New Book →</a><br /> <a class="button" href="https://johnpavlovitz.com/contact/">Contact John →</a></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b></span><br /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"></span><strong><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast mmt-sentence"></span></strong></p><p> </p></div></article></div><div class="widget-area" id="secondary" role="complementary"><aside class="widget widget_text" id="text-6"><div class="textwidget"> </div></aside></div>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7751404721211069030.post-69594282577521295032020-08-08T11:38:00.002-04:002020-08-08T13:02:50.212-04:00Birds of a Glorious (Pink) Feather ...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="834" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOA6rm-O07FgKWzuK-ByM8Tdr5zJxAqq5KSkw-Sq-VSzKDBXlMgSFt0h8mO4zNcZdy67yq5G7Eftd2TX9ZJZmZMcEmz0rLs1nXVhab7X6sVfXR_Xhyphenhyphen2_J-c6gP1-bA7WfhPt5sgHRWOg/s640/101647582_10158499069624777_5978965449537224704_n.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I was surfing and browing around the internet, I stumbled upon this image of a bird family that intrigued me. The vibrant shocking pink color of the feathers was the first thing that caught my attention, but then I noticed the unusual shaped beak, and that the male and female of this species looked remarkably similar (unusual for 'show-y' birds!), not forgetting that the beaks on the babies were obviously going to grow into that strange platypus-shape - but start out more like little duck beaks. I did a little searching and discovered that this is the Roseate Spoonbill from South America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, of course I realized how fun it would be for a Pink Saturday post to search out other pink and fabulous birds, both exotic and domestic. And, to my surprise, there were no small supply of them! From parrots and pigeons (yes! pigeons!), to canaries, a rare cardinal species, not to mention the gorgeous Flaring Pink Gorget!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've assembled a Pink Saturday dozen for you to enjoy! I hope you find them as enchanting and almost magical as I do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="563" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KTGIP72Spjoi9pCUIavxumW0ACTtPjkJtbdT3N98Ejv9giTOintHyCsDqaz6znlKGXyf3R2NROWidtl_At_SnNVSdSabpyABu_-DpQF_MafW1kTCS3MBy-tAqTBBSgQ1mKTBIvQZjys/s640/e73f68cec0cb6a9d38d45e70541d2bb2.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="563" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLEat1CV0j6Cj-cuF60r5bowtgx3IsTPRGBv-pLRcAA6G4xF3S6rQ0SqBCRjYq1PX4Ikg2JcSlNGQT84xE27TRVaMg3oYu3fsD4cYf7UaJR3eCRuR9GUz3NpqmmE9HEn1z2KCIXVxK6o/s640/e4d7ba987efe62f7cefeb0d158284379.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="564" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7r-y8FTaV7Q3sh9po1K_TQLxf-DymELI_dp8qXyhX9Wjvewu4Q5RWVeyLcka7qb74b0l1ShhzTxtRvv9ynm4gj-jRHW35x9sfZ19_K2Abd1_GxFQumrmhO-Z8_sfOYmncW2ksUEhYdA/s640/c383b4fb58b29f406da47fb9996c8046.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="500" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAX3vJPwjPaWNl9LY0QvtqIEFMxkVdBC2hwDtsvOg8lY0sPdp3j44nYKrINwkqVk-gkfSUeQiTUUWXhw1hdopGg-fnm1E99lpbnvVViIyR0LWWPN0u9RV7lUd-v8gZNuVZclUJkivKoTQ/s0/BKikojkmb4P6kvhjkGVrJXXNIrA.jpg" width="400" /><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="500" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9zrGDfMHLJOO0nyLRlflGw6tXqlddGhHixiyIFy6YsD15CP22Aor5iC8L1LPeLDjyXFOBoIlQnU7qwrb5j62_IRR-t961Z8ctdttwlU3tSHThkWwCOGMcREv0jJZSuQGmDHJxP_MG8I/s0/3fddfbd5452d8e8eb14107e69b0f18ad.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6PUbgay3GIocJnNz6qkRmambeWlJWioHllJdtVaAlIBmyfJcPeu0xv476R65WfbdeXCBT4DXz8BFWr5OcEW0FwVST6HFJeaICApWGohysFA_Bl8F0Cktmh3qbJsIolOfGEBfGAN97Wg/s640/3dae3fc98a1785a17b13a64c126a843e.jpg" width="400" /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="563" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PwgWJGJW_-n-A5uAVn-IRWPq3rDlbizPpOblBGJ6WIXrF72BI7yv-3eTcDJafEU2gMBAtiH6OPFjPBi18HTXOsgMhjPQhHBWBCRdO8BpOduQP6PI3tgAaR4HOFFpcsFODDCKUEBwq7A/s640/100792245_10158688431455820_6650076264453373952_n.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="553" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EV9pAV74LCWLb-nRUHG-9wwdG2wwtQN6BJOAJ29GgigG_j2EJwpolQ9mXGXpdW9Y_zFvr5yK6X5zug1jw_preasZ4jThE3RPJDIKVcri3RH3JY5ftMRmcJsuxKbh9UJs5oJsP1Um3nM/s0/84198364f8b539eb3da270304740d511.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="499" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzTLa70ilGOrScXbSe9giH-vzs9C46ieyTiLhE1YcSNILonm2PZxcExx8-oXawXKxPILIwsKtPIQgBhMXA9skESix8UCqb7HJBMvd_Fwg6imapjBvDvH-1ms1iHd_jUcJ6ajeM-aYOuU/s640/619df517e7b9a091892650da0897806b.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="564" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7JWxq5J9A2qYzg3amZ6g5hTIuWOaMm-bNxtEH9A1wKHPftPmD65StaeuZUyDM0arqQGwzxxTDhoFgrETePs32c3wAQkLtvsOfoMUsMGqa0czF-7pYnyE2BGER9mMZmSsaQBeVJpO1no/s640/1de065850579aca8bc91aeba34e18056.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />... and of course, I couldn't complete the dozen without a photo of stunning pink flamingo!<br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="564" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU52BZ9A6Jm2eTbhNCwxln3k1hB4k3enNwur5n1cr54YewjtNlviiBT6fXKiYElmZudAUNQq-VOAhS1uy3LBl1mLb9UtwFy1zT78pspU0dsjakVvCijMQCDYa7_Uhzssp0KuP7g0PQ06U/s640/88fcda5ce9a3dba22f9583cf9e3369cf.jpg" width="400" /> <p></p><p>As always, thanks to Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday blog hop - be sure to check out the other offerings at the <a href="https://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2020/08/anything-goes-pink-saturday-august-8-2020.html">link here</a>.</p><p>... now go and make something beautiful!<br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">
(¸.•´ (¸.•´) Tristan</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"> </span></b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">... and just one little addition - with the dozens of books read during the shelter-in-place order for the pandemic, I have just read my absolute favorite book of the year.</span><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xyfvt5LSrH3jBi4rzLbYLxVIg_KeYyeUbHdQmncJTFu-4q88bdWcAQnvmF_aIxOOqnu7u9WPB2uzu3wroxgPnW0Gv5Iht44Z-Nf66ozZmVIg1SN1_uqQFWDsFnDGMWvo7KV6W2qZYJE/s640/EcQYdo2WoAIldi6.jpg" width="400" /> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Becoming Duchess Goldblatt...<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">A Memoir by Anonymous </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3470230705"><b><i>My Goodreads review of Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: </i></b><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3470230705"> </span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3470230705">I
opened this book with no expectations. As I am a fairly fast reader, I
was halfway through it when I realized: whoa! This is something special.
Something not to be glossed over. This is something to be savored. So I
started over, and read slowly, relishing every delicious word
combination and whimsical improbable possibility. <br /><br />I only wish I
had discovered Duchess long before the book was written and I was made
aware of her. She is a magical, enchanting, and devilishly clever
wordsmith who has the ability to envelope her reader in genuine love and
compassion and the care that would come if the reader were one instead
of one of thousands.<br /><br />I can't even begin to say what this book is.
It's not a novel. It's not a biography. It's not a roman à clef. It's
not a book of humor. It's not a self-help book. It's not a celebrity
expose. It's not the story of survival and emotional courage. However,
it's all of those things.<br /><br />If treasures like "Sometimes I tie your
words in linen with a little lavender and mint and use them as a
poultice for my weary old heart" and "If you find yourself feeling
embittered, roll around in a barrel of kosher salt until encrusted, and
then set yourself in a collander to drain" or "A lot of people go very
Martha Graham when dancing on their enemies' graves. Me, I like
flamenco. I want the souls of the dead to feel it" excite and thrill you
and make you smile, rush out and get this book!<br /><br />It's less than 200 pages...you can easily read it twice in once sitting. And, when you read it, you will want to read it again!</span></span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <br /></span></i></b></div> <p></p>Tristan Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372571059339403974noreply@blogger.com2