Creative art and design in various forms influence my ideas, my thoughts, and my creative process. Listening to a new song or musical artist, or reading an interesting novel or non-fiction piece may help to get the creative juices flowing. It is also useful to me as a designer to see how other people experience their art, and how it translates toan audience.
There has been a lot of media hype about Stephanie Meyer's book "Twilight" and the "Twilight Series". Before I started reading the book I questioned its allure with so many of its readers. But as I began reading the story of Edward and Bella I understood the intoxication of their relationship and this book. Meyer's "Twilight" is a young adult book that focuses on young people's lives in high school. A time that is often painful, frightening and challenging for many teens. Bella experiences all of these teenage hurdles as the new girl in school and they are amplified with her vampire love interest. There isn't great character development in this book and the outcomes are fairly predictable, but it is a quick and fun read.
Reads August 2009
Book Club Read
Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Strout
Elizabeth Strout's "Olive Kitteridge" won the Pulitzer Prize. Her portrayal of the character Olive Kitteridge in this novel of short stories is fascinating. Strout develops her character Olive Kitteridge through the lives of other townspeople in Crosby, Maine. As the story begins we see Olive as a harsh tenacious woman. As each chapter unfolds it brings us one step closer to understanding Olive and the daily lives of people in this small town of Maine. I couldn't help but think how each of us are affected by different people in our lives, and how those relationships shape who we are.
Book Club Read
The Soloist - Steve Lopez
Columinst Steve Lopez befriends Nathanial Ayers, a homeless man living in skid row in Los Angeles. What Lopez finds is a musical prodigy that has surrendered his life to his mental illness. Lopez tries to rescue Nathaniel from his life on the streets, but what he finds is that there may be no path to recovery. The book explores the many issues of mental illness, and the lack of public and financial support for such a life debilitating disease. As Nathaniel learns to trust the help of others, Lopez begins to learn about himself and the strength of human spirit. I was saddened about the many details of scizophrenia in this book, but at the same time Nathaniel offered "hope" in "The Solist".
Reads July 2009
Book Club Read
Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: Joheved - Maggie Anton
"Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: Joheved" explores the drama of a Jewish family in eleventh century France. The main character Joheved, daughter of the scholar Salomon ben Isaac explores the Talmud through the teachings of her father and it takes her on a spiritual journey. Joheved battles between the love of her religious awakenings and the love of her betrothed Meir ben Samuel. Maggie Anton has done incredible research to produce this amazing novel. I learned so much about the Talmud passages that were a part of this book, as well as how people lived their day to day lives during this period of time in France. From the winemaking to the celebration of the Jewish holidays, every page was rich with detail and great storytelling.
Somebody Else's Daughter - Elizabeth Brundage
I had the great pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Brundage, author of "Somebody Else's Daughter" in June at the Clinton Library. During this literary conversation she spoke of her love of writing and how she likes her readers to react and think about the issues she's writing about. Elizabeth Brundage holds an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and she was also a screenwriting fellow at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. After reading this book I fully understand what the author means when she says she "goes for the jugular" of her readers. Her books read like a "Movie Thriller." As heavy as the themes of the book may be, I kept reading and wanting more. "Somebody Else's Daughter" deals with some tough subjects, adoption, pornography, meth addiction, and prositution. Brundage is a master at her craft. She is able to develop fascinating characters and entwine them with these heavy issues, leading to a climactic conclusion. And yes, the author did her job, I was thinking about this book weeks after I read it.
Reads June 2009
Book Club Read
People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks did her homework when she did the research for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a lot of different characters and themes rolled into one. The story is based on the codex known as the Sarajevo Haggadah. The author takes you on a historical journey of this book from its creation in the late 1400's to its preservation and conservation from the Bosnian War in 1996. During the conservation of the book, Hanna the scientist assigned to analyze the book discovers tiny relics that will unlock the secrets of this book and trace its many journeys.
Book Club Read
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
This book proved to be an excellent choice for book club this month. Kathryn's Stockett's debut model was chock full of interesting characters and interesting themes which made for good discussion. The novel is set in Mississippi during the 1960's, and explores the lives of three of its main characters Skeeter, Minny and Abilileen. Issues of race, class, and gender are interwoven with the writing of their book "The Help." Each chapter of their book examines a different woman's experience working for whites in the Deep South.
You can't help but look at your own relationships with women after reading this book.
Reads May 2009
My Little Red Book - Rachel Kauder-Nalebuff
My Liitle Red Book is a book of 90 short stories about first periods. The authors come from a variety of backgrounds; famous authors, professionals, and the youth of today. Rachel Kauder-Nalebuff is the editor of the book and a freshman at Yale University. I see Ms. Kauder Nalebuff as a true renaissance woman, striving to make menustration an acceptable as well as comfortable topic of conversation. When I was growing up the book of choice was Judy Blume's "Our You There God, It's Me Margaret." My Little Red Book does so much more. The book contains a global perspective of first period experiences, and it explores so many other issues regarding, gender, poliitics, upbringing, and the self-esteem of young women today. Hats off to the editor for a "Do More" Section in the back of the book regarding women's health issues and women's reproductive rights charities. This book will definitely be used a resource for my own daughters.
Marley and Me - John Grogan
If you enjoyed the film Marley and Me, than John Grogan's book "Marley and Me" should be on your "to read" list. There are scenes from the movie where the actual context of that life event just cannot be explained. You miss precious moments of Marley's life as well as his family's in the film. Reading this book also allows you to experience Grogan's gift as a writer. I actually had a pile of tissues at the end of the book even though I knew what was going to transpire. As Marley creates hilarious mischief throughout the book, Grogan makes us understand how the unconditional love of a pet can transform our lives. If you are a dog lover, or you find comedy in life's everyday struggles, you will enjoy this heartwarming read.
A Thousand Days in Venice was like munching on a nice plate of antipasti. I have never been to Venice, but it is a place that I have always found to be intriguing. Marlena de Blasi does a wonderful job of describing Venice's charm and its personality. From the author's relationship with the vendors at the market, to her recipes at the end of the book, I wanted to taste just a little bit of Venice. I found her challenges with the Italian Bureaucracy interesting, and her depiction of the city's inhabitants were often hilarious. This book has helped me to envision this mysterious city with a different mind set.
The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
The Reader captures the memoir of fifteen year old Michael Berg. It is a novel that seduces you, just as Hanna seduces young Michael with her intensity and curiosity. I found myself questioning the actions of Michael and Hanna throughout the book, but I think what the author does is make us look deep inside ourselves through his characters. Throughout Michael and Hanna's relationship Bernhard Schlink shows us how passion can move and shape us, and determine the course of our lives.
Book Club Read
Away - Amy Bloom
Away was a novel that left me hanging on. I found that towards the end I just had to stay up past 1AM to finish this book. I found many places in the book to be so sad, so heart wrenching, but just as the main character Lillian plugged on, I supported her struggles by reading with much concern. Bloom seemed to understand the unconditional love a mother feels for her child, how it is a part of your every being. Why wouldn't Lillian walk to the ends of the earth to look for her daughter Sophie. Any Mom reading this book will find a hero in Bloom's Lillian.
Reads March 2009
Ines of My Soul - Isabel Allende
Isabael Allende crafts a fabulous piece of historical fiction based on the life of Ines Suarez. Ines is a Spanish Conquistadora who helps to build the nation of Chile. The impact that Ines Suarez made during this struggle has been neglected through much of history, but it has been chronicled here with great poignancy. Allende describes in beautiful detail the customs, the surroundings, and every aspect of each new challenge this strong woman bears. The author understands the true passion of people, and writes about the strength and inner spirit of her characters. I feel like I am reading a painting or an ancient tapestry when I read one of her books.
Book Club Read
The Assistant - Bernard Malamud
The Assistant was not one of my favorite books. If you are looking for dark and dismal this maybe your read. I really did not enjoy the characters within this novel, and I had a difficult time getting through the book. The characters left me nothing. The only thing that hit home with me was the similarities between the struggles of small businesses (grocery stores) within that book, and the hardships that people and businesses are facing today.
The Wild Girl - Jim Fergus
Jim Fergus has got me hooked on historical fiction. The Wild Girl is a novel based on historical fact that weaves a coming of age story of a young teenage orphan boy learning the art of photography through the 1932 Great Apache Expedition. Young Ned Giles' journals take us on an adventure with amazing characters and hard lessons learned from the chances and choices we make.
Reads February 2009
Hitman - David Foster
This was a fun read. It certainly took me back through my younger years of exploring music and well growing up. I really enjoyed the detailed progression of his career in music and the sneak peek into the various recording sessions with big-time musicians and celebrities. It really showed the humanity of celebrities, and well how we can all be control freaks about our work and what we create. I do have to say that as a parent reading this book, I could not help thinking that this man sacrificed an awful lot of family time and experiences for his love of music and his art of producing music.
Book Club Read
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit - Lucette Lagnado
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit is a memoir exploring a Jewish family's exodus from Old Cairo after the World War II. The author Lucette Lagnado gives a heartfelt exploration of her mother's and father's struggles with their lives as well as the lives of their immediate family and their extended families. The stories weave a sad theme of "waiting too long" and holding on to one's pride, and one's ideology at the cost of others. I found myself drawn in at first feeling great empathy for some of the family members, but by the end of the book my empathy had waned as did the spirit of this family.
One Thousand White Women - Jim Fergus
One Thousand White Women is truly an interesting read. The book chronicles May Dodd's journey out west. Through her journal entries she depicts life in the Cheyenne nation. I found myself thinking throughout the book if humans have advanced through the industrialization and technological innovations of our society? The one prominent theme that I will take away from this book is the importance of community in native american culture, and how that strong sense of community could help so many of us today.
When you review a CD I'm not sure what adjectives you should use? but the only word that seems to permeate my mind when I hear the Zac Brown Band and this CD is COOL!!
I love this CD, I truly believe this is going to be me my Summer of 2009 Anthem CD. It is just a fun compilation of tunes. Every song on this CD is so worthy of a spin and a purchase. From "Chicken Fried", "Whatever It Is" and "Toes", love , love, love it. If you are going to buy one CD this summer and you're looking for something new and fetching,The Foundation is it.
Tunes May 2009
I purchased Darius Rucker's "Learn to Live" off of itunes this month and it was worth every penny. There is something about that voice of his that keeps you hanging on, just wanting for more. From his smash hit "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" to the soulful "Alright", I love this album. As a Mom, his song "It Won't Be Like This For Long" tugs on my heart strings, and makes me think of my little ones growing up. I think Darius Rucker has an incredible talent and I look forward to more country albums and live performances in the future.
Tunes April 2009
So I confess I have not purchased Kenny Chesney's new CD "Lucky Old Sun", but I did have the amazing opportunity to see him perform at the Mohegan Sun Arena on April 18, 2009. It was the most perfect way to start the Spring/Summer season. I don't think there is any way you can't have a good time at one of his shows. The atmosphere is upbeat, and there is a real sense of community with his fans. I was real happy with his set list, a lot of great selections from his new album, but also the great Chesney Classics.
. . . And yes Kenny, I do think your tractor is sexy, LOL.
Live Shot of Kenny Chesney,
Mohegan Sun Arena, April 18, 2009
Tunes March 2009
I have been making a conscious effort to put all of my CD's on the new iPod. This process has made revisit a lot of my old favorites. This Fleetwood Mac album is a classic, and every time I listen to it, there's something new I haven't heard before whether its the lyrics or the amazing musicians making the music. I had the opportunity to see Fleetwood Mac this month at the Mohegan Sun. The show was absolutely incredible, from Stevie Nicks' raspy spiritual vocals, to Lindsey Buckingham jamming on the guitar, Mac Fleetwood, Jon McVie, it was amazing. If this CD is not part of your collection, it needs to be.
Play "The Guitar Album" is the ultimate set of road trip tunes. Brad Paisley is a craftsman, a true musical artist. His music always leaves me smiling. He has an unbelievable talent to tell a story with each and every one of his songs, and its a story we don't want to forget. These tales are always created with the best sense of humor, that each of us can relate to. So go out and plan your next road trip or adventure and don't forget a copy of Play.
Tunes February 2009
Dierks Bentley has a formula for his music and for his work and . . . it works! This is a really great album, I like how it was assembled from beginning to end. Each song is special in its own way, and when put together it's fabulous. The cut throat critics may not like the new stuff, "Better Believer", "Beautiful World" and "Pray", but they are FRESH. How do artists and people grow without trying new things? The tried and true songs "Life on the Run", "Sideways", and "Feel that Fire" take you to that fun place, the adventure. I absolutely love "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" and "Last Call", it reminds me of the vintage Bentley that I grew to love. Dierks' fans will be very happy with this new album.
Lady Antebellum's debut album has become one of my favorites. Even though this is the first album from this group, the words and the melodies sound familiar and offer that sort of listening comfort when you play through each song. "From Love Don't Live Here" and "I Run To You" I thoroughly enjoy listening to every song on this contemporary country CD. It certainly makes the play lists on the new iPod.
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