Thursday, September 25, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads



Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.
William Faulkner
When William Faulkner (born September 25, 1927) won the Nobel Prize, he donated part of the award money to establish a fund encouraging young writers, which became the PEN/Faulkner award, and the rest to a scholarship for black teachers as a Mississipi university.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Agatha, a film starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave



Watched this intriguing film the other night.   This was produced "many" years ago.

Who hasn't read, at least one, Agatha Christie book?  Her books are still very popular all these years after her passing.

This film is simply a "Tantalizing tale" of what might have occurred during her 11 day disappearance. 

Agatha's husband (played by Timothy Dalton) is in love with his "secretary", and wants a divorce.  Agatha (Vanessa Redgrave) is devastated and refuses, consequently her disappearance casts suspicion on her husband.  A very determined American reporter (Dustin Hoffman) is hot on the trail of this story.

Acting was interesting.

Worth the time spent.  Hope you will consider this.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Free Men, a French film



Another across the circulation desk return.  Looked very interesting, so I checked it out.
Once again, a winner of a film ----- Film Movement has a very good track record for picking independent films.

Set in German occupied Paris, Younes (young Algerian) dabbles in the black market, his cousin is part of the French resistance, which leads to Younes being picked up by the French police - he has the choice of becoming a "snitch" or remain in jail, not much of a choice, but in those times....
As he becomes acquainted with the devout Muslims at the local mosque, he quits helping the French police. 
Seen through the eyes of Younes, we discover how the Muslims of Paris not only joined the French resistance, they aided the Jews of Paris by giving them fake identification papers, and smuggled them to North Africa.

Once again, we found "learning" something about WW II, that was not taught in our history classes.

Although this is a "hard" story to watch, we "enjoyed" the film, the acting was almost "too real". 

If you have about an hour and a half, it is well worth watching.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Caramel, a Lebanese film



Caramel, a beautiful film from Lebanon.
Written and directed by, and starring, Nadine Labaki.
We watched this film, just mesmerized by the flow and beauty of the women, last night.
 
Set in a beauty salon in Beirut, Lebanon, the proprietors and the clients have a unique relationship, some with angst, some with humor.  Aunt Rose and Lili, from across the street, offer an unusual look at how two "older" ladies cope with aging.

At the end of the film, my husband stated that it was an interesting, and exquisite film.  My thoughts exactly.

Hope you will consider it. 

Monday, September 15, 2014

quote of the day-----goodreads




For to know a man's library is, in some measure, to know his mind.
Geraldine Brooks
Happy 59th birthday, Geraldine Brooks! The Australian-born novelist is best known for March, which imagines the wartime service of the March sisters' father in Little Women.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads




Good books tell the truth, even when they're about things that never have been and never will be. They're truthful in a different way
Stanisław Lem
Polish sci-fi writer Stanisław Lem (born September 12, 1921) was a fan of Philip K. Dick, but the American author thought that Lem was a composite character created by the Communists and reported him in a letter to the FBI.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Deserted Station, an Iranian film


Another film "caught" at the circulation desk.

You've seen her in other middle eastern films, and you know she is a wonderful actress.

This is a very poignant story about loss, in very many subtle ways.  Loss of family, loss of direction, loss of one's national heritage.

Filmed in a bleak area of Iran, yet the bleakness is the beauty of it.

The only "down" side to this film, the subtitles are sometimes impossible to read as they appear next to the sands of the desert. If you understand Farsi, it will be no  problem



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver
Happy 79th birthday, Mary Oliver! The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet's daily walks in the woods and wetlands of Provincetown are a central inspiration for her work.

Many years ago, at a memorial service for a very dear friend, I heard Mary Oliver's poetry for the very first time. I simply "fell in love" with her work.  Every time a new book of her work is published, I purchase it.

Happy Birthday Mary.  Many more.  And thank you for wonderful words over the years.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Quote of the Day---Goodreads



People make mistakes in life through believing too much, but they have a damned dull time if they believe too little.
James Hilton
Novelist James Hilton (born September 9, 1900) wrote Goodbye, Mr. Chips for The Atlantic magazine, where it first appeared as an article before being published as a book. It was inspired by Hilton's father, who worked as a school headmaster.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads




One must live as if it would be forever, and as if one might die each moment. Always both at once.
Mary Renault
Mary Renault (born September 4, 1905) was known for her historical novels set in ancient Greece and her contemporary novels exploring homosexual relationships.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Quote of the Day----Goodreads




Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.
Frederick Douglass
September 3, 1838: Writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass escaped slavery by boarding a train dressed in a sailor's uniform and carrying borrowed identification. He wrote about his journey in his autobiography, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.

And your life will be filled with rainbows, sunrises, sunsets, and love.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads



There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.
Ray Bradbury
September 2, 1932: Science fiction master Ray Bradbury was a 12-year-old boy when he walked into a carnival tent and met Mr. Electrico—a moment that he credits with making him want to be a writer. The performer tapped him with an electrified sword and shouted: "Live forever!"