A Gift from Sarah Dunant

Finally!  A new book from Sarah Dunant.  Ironically, the Borgias popped up during our last book discussion meeting.  There's your proof that we really do discuss wildly significant issues like the papacy.  If I recall correctly, the topic came up when someone pitched reading Pope Joan.  Even though we selected Night by Elie Wiesel, we talked about the evolution of the role of Pope.  One of our members is a history major, and another is a history junkie, so together, they provided us with a many intriguing details.

How ironic, then, when a sample of Dunants' new book arrived.  Although I tend to read one book by an author and move on, I have read her Birth of Venus and In the Company of a Courtesan.  

Blood & Beauty begins at the end of the 15th century, a time when Italy's history was polarized by a surge in beauty and creativity as well as brutality and corruption.  When Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia buys his way into the papacy as Alexander VI, he is  by  his wealth, his love for his illegitimate children and by his bloodline.  You see, he is a Spanish Pope in an Italian city.  He decides that he must use his charismatic family in order to succeed in his purchased role.  

Years ago, I read Machiavelli's The Prince.  Must have been have required reading.  I recall doing it.  I recall turning pages, but I don't recall much else except that it is considered one of the most influential books ever written.  Now I have a frame of reference.  It was written about Borgia's eldest son, Cesare who was coolly intelligent and even colder hearted.

That's about as far as I am.  The next pages will introduce Lucrezia Borgia, another name that is frequently referenced, and now I will have context for those references as well.  Look out Trivial Pursuit competitors, I coming for you armed with my new knowledge of the Borgia empire.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jan Brett, Chickens, and Friends

How cute is this?  This is children's author/illustrator, Jan Brett, feeding her chickens.  This photo surprised me since I always envisioned Jan as a little European looking woman, rather like Tasha Tudor.  (Yes, I know that Tasha Tudor lives in the US, but she looks like she was raised by Heidi, Peter and a bunch of goats.)   Brett's Norwegian inspired drawings have an old world feel.  

Brett's new book, Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella, was inspired by the 60 ornamental chickens she breeds and sells.  For years, selling them meant loading them up in her car and driving them - squawking and flapping - to their  destination.  Recently, she has upgraded to using cages and a trailer when she transports which is problably safer.  I sure am hoping that she never parts with that character behind her.  If chickens have a sense of humor, I am sure he has one.  

I'm looking forward to the new book.  So many cultures have their own Cinderella inspired stories, but this is the first I know of featuring chickens as the main characters.

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Our book group met on Friday.  We met and we met and we met.  We started at 5:30, and in no time, someone mentioned that it was 11:30.  We read The Hangman's Daughter which was not a winner for most of us.  Discussing mysteries in isolation is tricky.  Unless it is a story steeped in history, or some sort of social significance, what can be discussed other than who did it?  If were were exclusively a mystery book group, that would be a different story.  We would have knowledge of different mystery genre, favorite detectives, and preferred plot lines to draw upon.  We aren't and we don't, so our book discussion was short.  However, I do believe we hit the high points, and made some discoveries about the context of the story as a result.

  So, what did we cover in six hours?   We covered a lot of territory.  Nancy is our political commentator; Valerie feeds our social souls, while Steph covers mothering and household news. There's also much education discussion, and city government updates from our "Wives of firefighters" contingency.   We all have our niche.  We all have our stories to share, and yes, we all have our quirks.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

 Once a month, I spend time with 5-8 wonderful friends, each of whom has enriched my life.  Our format, or lack of, doesn't work for everyone.  Several people have dropped in for a meeting or two, and then went on to seek out a group more compatible with their style.  We started keeping a casual record of our meetings in 2007, but I know the group formed earlier than that.  It wasn't until a woman named Jan, a transplant to Manitowoc,  suggested that we keep simple records that we began doing so.  I am glad.   It's fun to look back and see what we read, along with everyone's  single sentence comment about the book.  From the start., I felt that Jan wouldn't be with us long.   The mother of several bi-racial, adopted children, Jan was concerned with minority issues, and introduced us to numerous books and documentaries on those topics.  Her family moved after less than  a year in Manitowoc. 

The right book group can be a rich experience, but just talking with books one on one with another book lover is equally satisfying.  If you are a reader, find a friend, find a group or start a group.  In time, you too will join the ranks of the six hour book discussion marathon.

Coming Home

The lovely Emily Trask, and the equally lovely Michael Brusasco were in Manitowoc for several days.  Catching up is wonderful and so is finding new friends with whom to catch up with in the future. Why is it when I meet new people who I feel will be important to my world, I get all tongue tied and find myself acting like someone I don't know?

 All during dinner on Saturday night, a tiny voice kept saying "Why did you say that?  Did you have to laugh at that?  And what was with that dumb laugh anyway?  Can't you say anything intelligent?"
The good news is now that the first Michael meeting is over, when he comes back, it will no longer be the first time we meet and I will be better at being myself. Make sense?

 Emily and Michael just finished a run of "Twelfth Night" at the Folger Theatre in Boston.  The world renowned  Folger is regarded as Broadway for classical actors.  That tells you how talented these two are.  Next, they will be recording several Shakespeare Cd's for Simon and Schuster.

The picture at the top is our little hometown ET.  That's the face I remember so well - bopping in to work at LaDeDa.  Whenever that wry grin appeared, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would hear "Hey Bev, I have an idea."  Within days, we would be off happily planning another theatre project.  We both needed regular creative fixes.  I am thrilled for her success.  Emily worked hard, studied hard, and now has the stubborn determination to continue doing what she loves most.  Take a look at her website to get a feel for the range of roles she has played.www.emilytrask.net.

Michael is the bloodier of the two in the second photo.  Of course we all know that the bloodier the costume, the better the actor.  He  looks real cute in the picture too, and, as a bonus, you get a little glimpse into the backstage area of a professional theatre.  For a look at more handsome pictures of Michael work go to www.michaelbrusasco.com.

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What am I reading?  Currently, I am working my way though The Hangman's Daughter, my book group selection for this Friday.  It's a translation from a German work about the witch hysteria in Bavaria.  Having taught "The Crucible" for more times than I can count.  I was interested in seeing the situation from another perspective. After struggling for a while with the novel, I checked out a couple reviews.  They are generally good, glowing, in fact, and there are two sequels to the book.  For me, it;'s not the right book.  I find it repetitive.  The language is flat, little to no musicality, but that is most likely the Germanic style coming through..  At any rate, I will finish my assignment, and then it's on to Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout, author of one of my all time favorite books, Olive Kitteridge.

We're in the Movies

During the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to watch a Milwaukee production company work on a film about bullying.  If you haven't heard, here's the short scoop.  The DK Company is using mainly local talent for a movie to be entered in the short film category at Sundance and other film festivals.  Although I have been sworn to secrecy by the director about much of the plot, I can tell you that the story concentrates on the far-reaching effects of bullying.

A few of the scenes have been filmed here, and yesterday, I got to see some raw footage.  This is powerful stuff.  Jim, the director, his production manager, Susan, and camera operator, Dylan, have been putting hours into this project, along with lots of heart and personal sacrifice.  Because the company is small, the project has not come without a few bumps, but in the end, this will be a source of pride for the participants, and for Manitowoc.  

Their days here begin early with about an hour of make up, followed by table rehearsals where Jim explains the scenes to be shot, along with the intent,  and emotional levels he is looking for.  Then there are a few short scene run-throughs, and the actual filming.  They have been filming in short increments, 30 seconds to about 3 minutes.  After that, Jim and Dylan look at the raw footage and decide if they are happy with the lighting, angles, delivery and all other components.  Generally, this leads to some additional character coaching and re-takes.

Susan and her assistants pay attention to the minutia, and believe me, there is a plethora of that.  Jim's files are stacked into the hundreds by this time.  They are catalogued by the date, time and location of the shooting, as well as by the placement of the scene within the context of the storyline.  Susan makes sure that make-up, hair, posture, and lots of other details match in all scenes intended to portray a single unit in time.  Continuity.  At one point, a scissors came out to tame an unruly wisp of hair that was not present in a previous days' shooting.  It is a tedious process, but one that will ensure a quality final product.  

The film is called "EOB' - you'll understand when you see it.  A premier is planned for some time in September or October.  I hope you can go.  You will be awed of our local actors, but more that, we can be proud that our community was chosen to help share this important message.

Childhood Memories

Neil Gaiman writes smoothy, mixing mystery with whimsey.  His layered works intrigue and challenge readers.  If Gaiman were an actor, he would be creating characters with much the same depth and unpredictability as ...well...no names...I'm told I carry on  too much about my favorite actor.  But you get the idea, don't you Kemo Sabe?

Gaiman's newest book takes us back to childhood through memory.  After returning home for a funeral, the narrator finds himself drawn to the house down the lane, to a place filled with warmth and magic.  The only place he felt safe as a child.  His thoughts immediatly explode with images of a sad and tragic situation.  He seeks refuge with Lettie Hemstock and her family, and, for the most part, they protect him from his demons, both real and imagined. 

This is a sad book.  Mostly because  of the fear and lonliness in the narrator's little boy heart.  As an homage to lost childhood, it is painful.  The boy lived surrounded by deception.  His mother appeard to have little influence on the family.  His sister berated him.  His father abused him.  And so the boy ran.

These memories ripple back as he sits on the bank of Hemstock's pond,  the body of water he recalls as being much larger.  An ocean.  Don't most of us have amplified memories of our childhoods - good or bad?    So, amid this fantasy, is Gaiman actually telling us to get a firm grip on reality, or is the trip back in time worth the effort in order to ground us in the present? 

You know, I met Neil Gaiman at a trade show about three years ago.  I was chatting with Mike Perry ( you betcha I'm name dropping) and Neil came over to check on dinner plans he had made with Mike.  "Please invite me along" I begged,  but my intenal voice did not resonate with them.  Gaiman was soft spoken, polite and -dare I say this?- kind of boring.  Later that night. he spoke at an event and had the audience rivited.  I expected his persona to be more like  his writing style.  Can't judge by a cover, I guess.

*****By this time, you have probably all head about the movie being filmed in Manitowoc.  A couple scenes were shot here last week.  Facinatiung process.  Perhaps I'll provide more detail next week.  But, July snuck up on me, and I have end of month stuff to do.

Thanks for stopping by.  (Steve and Karen, drive safely.  Who goes to Arizona in July? )