Book Review: The Storyteller

Jodi Picoult’s The Storyteller introduces us to Sage Singer, a baker. She works nights hiding her scarred face, her loneliness, and the memory of her mother’s death. In grief counseling group she meets Josef Weber, a 90 year-old man, who becomes a friend. And then he asks her to help him die, because he was a Nazi.

 

Sage’s journey begins. She meets Leo, a man working for the USA department that deals with Nazi criminals. With Leo, she interviews her own grandmother and hears her tale of a happy life that was destroyed – surviving the concentration camps, enduring brutality, and seeing a best friend shot. Sage had no idea about her Jewish legacy. She questions ” punishment and justice, forgiveness and mercy.”

 

Cover blurb – In this searingly honest novel, Picoult gracefully explores the lengths we will go in order to protect our families and to keep the past from dictating the future.

 

It is obvious that Picoult did a lot of research for this book and she indeed presents a brutal yet honest tale with characters that ring true. She treats the subject with respect.

 

 

P. 8  “Loss is more than death, and grief is the gray shape-shifter of emotion.”  The Storyteller is a powerful story that moves between the past and present, and brings rich characters to life, even as they face death.

 

Movie Madness: August: Osage County

 

August:Osage County is based on Tracy Lett’s play and the movie feels staged. I have a feeling seeing it with live actors would have been better.  However, the movie has a stellar cast and some very good lines. BUT – it’s a truly miserable film about a truly miserable family and it’s two hours of angsty drama. Don’t go see it. There – I’ve saved you from wasting two hours of your life.  

Meryl Streep is nominated for an Oscar as Violet, the drug addled cancer ridden matriarch. I normally like Meryl, but she overacts this over-the-top character. It was quite annoying. Sam Shepard is good as the patriarch and he’s smart to exit the film quickly with a suicide. But his death triggers the family gathering with their spite, anger, and miserable lives. Julia Roberts is good as the eldest daughter, but you always know it is Julia on screen. Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Dermot Mulroney, Benedict Cumberbatch all join in this mess.  

The viewer keeps waiting for something redeeming or nice to happen on screen. Sadly, it doesn’t and I’m not ruining any major plot point here. Some folks and families just wallow in their own nastiness. Life is bleak in August: Osage County.  

poem : Movie Snow

 Recent Northeast snow pics courtesy of a sibling. He shall remain anonymous at his request. Like the NSA is tracking this blog..........seriously???

Movie Snow

 

glistens, pristine white glow

contrasts with nubby tree bark

red scarves wound around necks

blue mittens packing snow balls

muffled hush blankets cars

woodpiles, bikes left outdoors

smothered in crystalline splendor

movie snow frosts panes as

laughter ripples over hot chocolates

fireplace crackle, and winter nap

 

by Joanne Faries

 

my sister coined the phrase in an email and I thought it was awesome - Movie Snow never has the grit and grime and after effects..........instead it's just so pretty to look at from a window. Enjoy!

 

Book Review: The Cuckoo's Calling

Robert Galbraith’s debut mystery, The Cuckoo’s Calling, gives us a tough detective, Cormoran Strike, investigating a supermodel’s suicide. Strike has one client, he’s living in his office, and his prosthesis (lost a leg in Afghanistan) hurts. He’s a mess, but an old friend seeks to open this suicide case. After initial investigation, Strike agrees that Lulu’s suicide is fishy, and every clue opens new doors to models, rock-star boyfriends, desperate designers, and extended family issues due to adoption.  

p. 6  Journalists wrote that “the decadence of her new life had unhinged an already fragile personality.”

“And then at last, the frenzy wore itself into staleness, and even the journalists had nothing left to say, but that too much had been said already.” 

Strike is quite a character himself, but he is meticulous in his research and thought process. His temporary secretary, Robin, proves to be quite an asset and he’s reluctant to have to let her go. She in turn adds a brightness to each page, and her questions and inventiveness help Strike’s investigation.  There are plenty of twists and turns, and indeed Galbraith surprises us with the conclusion. The reader will stay vested and satisfied with The Cuckoo’s Calling.  

In another twist to this book – the debut had decent sales. THEN it was discovered (leaked) that the actual author is J.K.Rowling, of Harry Potter fame. Sure enough, she admitted choosing the Robert Galbraith pseudonym, and sales skyrocketed. Frankly, it’s a well written book, either way. But it does demonstrate in this crazy world of publishing, that a “name” author gets the buzz.  

Poem: Layered

Layered

 

gray sky

brief blue streak hint

January edgy

pale sunlight gleam

 

 

by Joanne Faries     I've been thinking about doing a poem a day - well, that hasn't quite happened, but I'm writing something each week.  My drive to work the other morning inspired this poem.

There's Nothing on the Telly

View Anything Anywhere Anytime 

I remember the huge Magnovox television set in our living room. It was an imposing piece of furniture, not a light flat screen hung on a wall. You had to walk over and actually push a button for power. Then you had to rotate the knob to your three or four channel choices. Click – kachunk, Click- kachunk, Click – kachunk. And the picture was in a grainy black and white. When “they” talk about the “olden days”, it was not awesome, my friends. It was a vast barren wasteland of old dudes smoking and reading us the news.  

Fast forward to the land of color television, and the remote control, and cable, and…and…and satellite TV and Netflix. Oh, the chorus of angels sing Hallelujah. Flat screens, LCD Display, Plasma, High Definition, Surround sound. Home movie theaters. Download to tablets or your phone! A million choices – but is anything good? 

Well, that’s up to you and there are more and more startups on the internet that offer FREE programming. Yes, you can pay for Netflix streaming, but check out hulu.com for alternate free shows. And wait there’s more. I have not actually watched any of these shows, but I’ve read about them, and as your entertainment writer, I wanted you to be aware of what’s out there on the internet or available as apps for your own creative television hookup. It’s limitless.  

www.crackle.com offers old movies, tv shows, and some new creations – Chosen  and Cleaners.  

www.pivot.tv launched in August 2013 and is geared toward ages 18-34. The goal is to spark conversation, inspire change, and illuminate issues. Check it out and take part. Pivot TV seeks viewers to create and upload content.  Host Joseph Gordon-Levitt of HitRecord on TV encourages creativity, whether it’s short film, animation or music.  Other new content are Take Part Live, Jersey Strong, Teach, and Raising McCain.

 

www.comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com is Jerry Seinfeld’s foray into new pop culture. He and comedian pals drive around in expensive cars and talk about whatever they want. It’s quite funny. The lineup starting Jan. 2014 is Patton Oswalt, Howard Stern, Jay Leno, Tina Fey, and Louis CK. You can also check out back episodes.

 

This is only the beginning. I’m sure there are many other sites that offer new programming and creative outlets. I cannot endorse or vouch for family friendly viewing. This is a new frontier. At least there’s always a delete button. Exercise it wisely. And speaking of exercise, maybe I should suggest you set up some of these shows as you walk on a treadmill. Just saying. I know I ate a few too many Christmas cookies.  

Enjoy!

 

Book Review: Five Days at Memorial

One of my New Year resolutions is to read more nonfiction. I started off with a bang - Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink is a harrowing read. Sheri Fink, a physician and reporter plops us in the middle of Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters as the storm ravaged Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans. We meet the patients and the nurses who struggled to survive amidst chaos.

Floodwaters rose, power failed, heat climbed, and nurses and doctors "chose to designate certain patients for last rescue."  The book "brings the reader into a hospital fighting for its life and into a conversation about health care rationing."  cover blurb

Health professionals faced criminal allegations that they deliberately injected numerous patients with drugs to hasten death.  There were end of life dilemmas and a question of preparedness for large scale disaster.

Sheri Fink writes a thorough and fair portrait of Five Days at Memorial.  I came away in awe of what transpired and satisfied with final conclusions. No doubt others who read this book will have different opinions. This book is a tough but worthwhile read, and I can only imagine conditions at Memorial were even worse than described during those five horrific days ... the stench, the fear, the exhaustion.  Strength of human spirit prevails.