Every year, from the second week of the month of December until mid January,  delivery service of my beloved New-Yorker magazine goes berzerk. I usually get two to three magazines around January first and  then another two or three (depending on the previous delivery) around Jan 15th.

Which is why you shouldn’t be surprised that I’m still thinking about the very powerful article in the December 24 & 31 combined issue (which, by the way, was a particularly awesome issue, one of the absolute best!) called : “Stage Mothers: A women’s theatre in rural Turkey” by Elif Batuman. The article ties in so well with the excellent Moroccan film “La source des femmes“ (called “The Source” in the US and “Water/Love” in Israel).

Both the article and the book talk about women in poor rural areas where traditions restricting women are strong. The litercay level is low. While the film relates to women’s battle to improve their lives in general, beautifully and movingly told, the article gives it a surprising twist. Not only is the article a true story (can’t write the names for you, I don’t know how to write the Turkish Symbols! See the link) but it is amazing that women with such dismal literacy rates turned to theatre as their medium of expression. The driving force behind the theatre is a woman who saw her first play when she was in her forties and is the only one of her female siblings that got to go school. The women rehearse after working 10-12 hour days on farms! But it turns out that theatre is the perfect media for making these rural women aware that life doesn’t have to be this way and the theatre is having a big impact.

The movie is set in rural Morocco, not rural Turkey, but there are enough similarities to have the movie help one imagine how one woman can set a chain reaction into motion. I hope you can get a hold of it where you are!

I am having such a good time with this book!  It’s one wild ride and I don’t want to get off! Can I have a note to stay home from school tomorrow and keep reading, please?

Tyson Seburnt recommended this book to me on March 12, 2011 (the kind of info you have when you are a blogger!) but the library didn’t have it. They do now!

This book is an early Murakami book, from 1985. I find that info significant on two counts. One is the attitude towards computers.  It’s a fascinating  futuristic vision from the point of view of people just beginning to enter the age of computers. B.t.w,  I didn’t own a computer till about five years later! The book reminds me at times of “The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, “The Big Lebowski”, and quite a few others. I didn’t read the blurb till today (as I’ve written many a times, I am wary of blurbs) and there it says the book reminds one of Kafka. Which would make sense for the author who later chose to write “Kafka on the Shore” ( which I enjoyed) but somehow, for me, Douglas Adams comes to mind first.

The other reason I find the year of publication significant is that the book IS different from his later books. I’m not sure I can define it, but there are repeated themes in his later books that I haven’t yet found here. And I like that. I read in the New Yorker a story taken from his last book (by the author!) 1Q84 and it felt awfully familiar. I don’t feel particularly interested in reading it. But this one? I have no idea what wil happen next!

Thanks for the recommendation, Tyson!

Last night we had a “family movie night”. It gets so much harder to do things together when sons are so big (over 18) and busy. So when both sons were available and interested in seeing the movie “Cloud Atlas” we ate supper and trouped off to Cinema City Multiplex.

The movie is an adaption of a book by David Mitchell. I read about the movie when it was being made, sounds like one of the toughest books to adapt – 6 different stories that take place in different periods of time. Different but connected.  When you watch it at first it is difficult to understand the connection (I understand that in the book the stories are presented in a linear fashion but in the movie you get bits from each), but the fact that the actors are the same helps emphasize the repeated themes.  And the themes are important here – freedom and human rights.  This puzzle-like characteristic of the film actually made it an excellent choice for a “family film”. On the ride home we had lots to discuss, pointing out how cleverly details and hints apeared in the different segments.

I was really concerned about the length of the film – 3 hours!! But it is visually AWESOME and is very well paced so it wasn’t as problematic as I feared. Though, as much as I enjoyed the film I think it would have worked just as well a half an hour shorter.

Did I say I’m a big fan of Tom Hanks?

I like reading autobiographies better than biographies. I’m not so interested in an objective discussion of someone or an analysis of a person. If I find a person interesting I’m interested in her (or his) personal point of view.

Somehow, all the memoirs that have left their mark in my memory, except for one, were writtten by women. (Prof. David Crystal’s “Just a Phrase I’m going through” is the exception. I read it after I had heard him speak in Jerusalem over two years ago and enjoyed it very much). Two examples that come to my mind first are Katherine Graham’s riveting “Personal History” and Madeleine Albright’s “Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War” .

Julie Andrew’s childhood is also one intertwined with war. She was actually sent to live in London (from the countryside) in 1939. When she was finally evacuated it was to the countryside directly in the path of the bombing… She tells of a childhood in which she had to grow up quickly – appearing on stage at an early age and having to be the responsible adult when her mother (and step father) were certainly not keeping up with their responsibilities. Always amazing how someone can appear on stage fearlessly yet have so many fears in “real life”.

I grew up with the soundtrack of “Mary Poppins”. In those days there was no VCR or DVD so I hadn’t seent the movie often but I had the record! I loved Dick Van Dyke too, by the way. And then of course came “Sound of Music”.

She writes without self pity and without being “shmaltzy” of her memories. The book has a subtitle “A memoir of my early years ” so I don’t know if she gets to the part describing what must have been a traumatic experience for her – not being able to sing anymore. Haven’t finished the book yet so don’t know where exactly she leaves off.

Yes, it’s me again – never had two Saturday posts before!

But it’s pouring rain outside and I also read a book this week (a short one, for a change!).

This is actually Kraus’s first book, but the third one I’ve read. My favorite is her second one “The history of love” which I read before I began blogging and REALLY REALLY liked. Then I read Great House which was not an easy read and not as good. I hesitated a bit but decided to try the author’s first book.

Its fascninating, unusual and deals with that ever troubling issue called memory, and loss of it. I still love the second book better but this is certainly worth reading. I had trouble putting it down as everything is so vivid.

Off to the library tomorrow – that was my last book!

When I recently read “An Equal Music” by Vikram Seth, there were some passages that described music in such a detailed and moving way that I had to hear the piece. Most notably was the part where the main character describes playing the first part (o.k. its called “contrapunctus”) of Bach’s Art of Fugue in a concert, where each member of the quartet joins in separately.

It suddenly occurred to me that I have YouTube at my disposal and that could be a great reading companion. I listened to several pieces as I read the book, though mostly to Art of Fugue as we have it on CD and I could listen to it without the computer (looking forward to getting an ipod for my birthday!!!).

Last Sunday I got home from school late, and read a New Yorker Magazine piece by Zadie Smith (author of “White Teeth” which I enjoyed) about Joni Mitchell. How for year she never liked her singing (” a white woman wailing, picking out notes in a non-sequence”) and then how she discovered her. I identified with the first part – she’s from the period I like a lot (I’m a huge Simon and Garfunkle fan, by the way) but have never taken to her music.

Looking for a way to encourage my tired self to get going with the kitchen I remembered Vikram Seth and took out the computer. YouTube  to the rescue!

Zadie Smith recommended the album BLUE and I’ve listened to it 4 times this week. I discovered the bit she she described as sounding like “Jingle Bells” and other details she mentioned.

It was just right for me. A different rhythm from what I was used to. I can’t say I am now a HUGE fan but there are at least 4 songs from the cd I really like. Its funny to think that words on paper introduced me to music!

Yes, yes, I DO know that Nora Ephron is the one who recently passed away. I was just reading about her again in TIME magazine, and have read about her several times in other places.

However, despite having reallly enjoyed the movie “When Harry Met Sally”, I have never actually read any of her books. Till today I thought I had read one. Turns out though, (thank you, Google!) that ” If Life is a Bowl of Cherries What am I Doing in the Pits” was written by Erma Bombeck…

OOPS!

On the other hand, I have a very clear memory of getting Delia Ephron’s  book “Teenage Romance” as a gift for my 19th birthday. I remember finding it both amusing and relevant and being really frustrated that I couldn’t  share it with my friends as it didn’t have a Hebrew translation back then. As far as I can tell, it still hasn’t been translated into Hebrew.

What I don’t remember is to whom I gave the book to. I hope it was my niece when she was a younger teen than I was when I got it.  All I know is I haven’t had it on my shelf for many years now. In any case, I hope it is making the rounds among people who enjoy it!

Running a bit late, but it’s never too late to discuss a book!

I can’t help thinking that this would be the right book to read on the plane to the conference in Liverpool (assuming I get that long sought-after document of approval!). Engrossing and easy to read, lets you feel as if you were somewhere else for a while. Easy to read except for the print, that is. I know I’m beginning to sound like my mother, but without Baiba’s recommendation I wouldn’t have looked twice at a 564 page paper back book with such tiny print! That’s what friends are for, right?

The book is written in a very visual manner. It’s as if the author was trying to paint with words. Hasn’t anyone made a movie of the book? It seems perfect for Hollywood.  I think that is both its advantage and disadvantage. The only bone I have to pick with the author is some parts don’t seem to be the way people actually talk, even if that is the way they think, which isn’t quite the same.

Still have half a book to go! Looking forward to it!

The horrific events in Conneticut, U.S.A pushed the book We Need to Talk about Kevin back into focus. I read it a year and a half ago and discussed it in two parts, as it was so upsetting. The parts are here and here.

With events such as these happening, I guess people don’t need to read that particular book as a wake-up call. Alarm bells should be ringing as loud as can be.

A moment of silence.

On a completely different note – it seems that some things are made to be.

Last week Baiba Svenca passionately reccomended a book called “The Swan Thieves” by Elizabeth Kostova. I took note of the recommendation but was determined NOT to look for it when I went to the library on Thursday. Our library’s collection in English is very erratic and I’ve been dissappointed often. Gems are found when I come with an open mind. Last visit to the library I tried looking for THREE different books and came home with NONE. Luckily, my good friend Dorit lent me An Equal Music (which I really enjoyed, though it is a bit too long) so that turned out well.

Anyway, what do I see thirty seconds after entering the English section of the library on Thursday? You got it – The Swan Thieves! And I wasn’t even looking for it!

So, you already know what next Saturday’s book will be. I’ve just begun (two chapters) and am delighted but its much too soon to write about it.

May everyone have a safe and peaceful week.

I didn’t notice the exact moment when I got caught up in this book. It’s not one of those that I fall in love with by the end of page one or two.

But by the time Michael jumped off a moving bus in London in a hopeless chase after Julia, forgetting the record he had struggled so hard to locate, I felt breathless and desolate.

I’m hooked.

**Note from Sunday: What a great comparision between music and food! You spend hours on preparation and its gone in such a short time!