If you loved Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, then prepare yourself for Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. Douglas Stuart's mastery of tempo, tone and detailed description produces physical reactions whilst reading. There are many stories about poverty and alcoholism. Families on any given street in any given country and from all walks of life could …
Tag: coming of age
Mrs. Knapp
Mrs. Knapp had been a teacher prior to her retirement, whereupon she became simply old Mrs. Knapp (as she was referred to by all the kids in the neighborhood). Berenice's mother said Mrs. Knapp was older than our elementary school, older than the park on Falstaff, even older than some of the shade trees lining …
When pigs could fly
Do you remember when pigs could fly? When you wondered where the moon went when it disappeared. Looked for shapes in clouds. Deconstructed Oreos. Walked to the park with a paper bag of gumballs, hot toothpicks and Pez to share. Sat on the curb with your best friend. Ran through the sprinkler on torrid summer …
Fences – “You gotta take the crooked with the straight”
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are beyond belief in this powerfully touching movie (based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play by August Wilson) that explores the messy, multifaceted, shameful and proudful relationships of a family. There are times when, in the presence of something bigger than yourself, you become lost both in your admiration and …
Continue reading Fences – “You gotta take the crooked with the straight”
Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls
What a read! A confession of sorts within an answer to a question..."What were you to my father?" A declaration of having existed on this earth and left a mark. The highs are dizzyingly so and the lows are lower than pond scum. Somewhere in between is the exercise of living. Living to do, to …
The Lover by Marguerite Duras (L’Amant)
The power of love and love as power I don't know about you, but usually if I have read a book, I won't watch the film version and vice versa. Having said that, there are, as always, exceptions to the rule. The Lover (L'Amant in original language) by Marguerite Duras is an autobiographical novel. It …
A day at the beach with Margaret Drabble
Sea breezes, the squawk of gulls, the scent of coco and salty air; I am at the beach. Colorful mini shops on wheels sell cheerful brightly colored bikinis, towels and beaded jewellery. The sky is dotted with para-sailors and the water with windsurfers, paddle boats and bobbing heads. Mothers call out to their children to …
Inside and Out
Doubleface The man and woman formed an island of uncomfortable silence in the middle of the airport terminal's noisy crowds. He dejected staring at his shoes, she clutching her bag close to her body with one hand and wiping away tears with the other. As an impartial observer one might assume his embarrassment was caused …
I love New York
History and Family Saga If you want to get a good smattering of New York's history under your belt without having to endure a dry read, may I suggest Edward Rutherford's New York. It is a chunky volume (981 pages) that covers the 1600's through to 2001. New York is a fantastic read (think Gone …
Snippets of Life (from A to Z) “T”
THE LETTER "T" Thin as a twig and touchingly pale; the timeless trademarks that elicit tenderness. Tirelessly she tried to come towards me, as I tirelessly strode away. Too many years apart and two disparate trajectories were the trouble. She was tremendously tenacious, and though terribly flattered, I couldn’t tolerate being tailed twenty-four seven. Terrible …
Manu writes 