Quote of the Day (Sunday June 29,2014)-----Goodreads

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
In the beloved French novella The Little Prince, a pilot who has crashed in the desert encounters a young prince visiting Earth from his home asteroid. The premise was inspired by author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's (born June 29, 1900) own desert crash. After three days without water, he was saved by a passing Bedouin.

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads

Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.
Pearl S. Buck
Novelist Pearl S. Buck (born June 26, 1892), author of The Good Earth, was raised in China by her missionary parents and spent most of her first 40 years there. Fluent in the language of her adopted country, she says classical Chinese novels like Dream of the Red Chamber shaped her understanding of storytelling.


Seems to me that currently, our society has its eyes ON BIG stuff and not the small things that link us together.

"The Tree" an Australian film by Julie Bertuccelli

A library patron suggested this film.   She thought it reminded her of someone that we both knew, and that I would see that.   Well, I didn't see the comparison.

However, it was a very interesting film.

This revolves around a "young" family in drought stricken Australia, husband dies suddenly and unexpectedly.  We understand grief when death comes this way, or do we?  Mother bogs down in her grief, her children must make their way, when suddenly she is hired to work in a "plumbing" store in the local town. Along the way, THE TREE takes on a life of its own, and begins to drag the family with it.

Beautifully photographed, interesting characters and situations.

Was a good film to watch on a Saturday evening.

"Museum Hours" a film by Jem Cohen

One day working at the circ desk, this film passed into my hands.  The cover and title intrigued me, so I placed a hold on it.  Several weeks later it came in for me, we passed it over several times to watch "Vera" and "George Gently", and then it came time to either return or watch.

What a surprise!   If you like ACTION or VIOLENCE in films, well, this film is NOT for you.  If you enjoy visual imagery, art and "real life" type situations then please give this one a consideration.

Shot in Vienna and the Kunsthistorisches Art museum in Vienna, we meet a museum security guard who befriends a Canadian woman (she has come to Vienna as the last family member of a cousin in hospital in a coma).  Jem has artfully filmed not only this unusual relationship, he has filmed inside this museum with great care and insight.  The art of Bruegel, the elder, is discussed and viewed through the lens and one docent at the museum ---- one sees and "looks" differently after hearing her thoughts regarding this artist's works.  Many other works of art are thoughtfully viewed, none are discussed in great length.  Also, we are taken to an underground lake, a local pub and other points of interest in Vienna.

This is a Slow moving, yet highly exciting visual film to enrich the senses.

Hope you will consider it.   Remember if you like action and violence, this one ain't for you!

Quote of the Day------Goodreads

The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear
Aung San Suu Kyi
Happy 69h birthday, Aung San Suu Kyi! The Myanmar opposition leader was under frequent house arrest over the past three decades, but remained a potent political figure. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and plans to run for president in her country's 2015 elections.

Quote of the Day ------ Goodreads

I want to understand you,
I study your obscure language.
Alexander Pushkin
Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (born June 6, 1799) was part of the country's literati from age 15. By 26, he had begun publishing the serialization of Eugene Onegin, his novel in verse. By 37, he was dead, killed in one of the 29 duels that he fought in his short life.

George Gently, a dvd series

Several weeks ago, I noticed someone with this series.  I had never heard of George Gently previously, so I was interested in trying the series out.

We very much enjoyed "Foyle's War", so I was hoping that this series would be as enjoyable.  Boy, it exceeded my expectations ----  this series is set in the 1960's  ----- and I am really hoping that there will be a 7th season, as we just finished watching season 6, which after watching season 5 it might not have been filmed (that ending was certainly a cliff hanger).

Hope you will give it a try.

Delicious, a novel by Ruth Reichl

Ruth Reichl's first novel, Delicious, is a "delight".

If you are a "foodie", then the opening pages will have you drooling over them. I could just smell the orange rind, the cinnamon, the crushed cloves, the cardamom, not to forget the ginger!
Billie Breslin leaves her home state of California heading east to the "Big Apple" in hopes of finding that perfect job. What a job she lands, after a very interesting day wandering around with Sal, a well-known figure in certain food arenas.

As Ruth Reichl's career as editor in chief of Gourmet magazine for ten years, she writes with a flair for what running a major magazine must have been like, of course, we all know the demise of Gourmet magazine, she relies on that to bring abrupt changes to the fictional "Delicious" magazine, and what happens to all the employees who are no longer employed, and the disgraceful way they are informed of the closure of the magazine. 

World War II is brought into play with a series of "letters" found from a young girl in Ohio to the one and only James Beard -- just her letters, never his replies. This was a very interesting twist to the story, as it brought the history of food creations of many time frames. And then there is the architectural point of view of an "historic" building, the one and only that Delicious has had for its place of operation for all these years.

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads

Perhaps the rare and simple pleasure of being seen for what one is compensates for the misery of being it.
Margaret Drabble
Happy 75th birthday, Margaret Drabble! The British novelist is involved in well-known literary feud with her sister, the writer A.S. Byatt. It seems that Byatt took offense when Drabble wrote about a family tea set—as a result, the two do not read each other's books.

Quote of the Day-----Goodreads

Remain true to yourself, child. If you know your own heart, you will always have one friend who does not lie.
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Best known for The Mists of Avalon, a Camelot retelling, Marion Zimmer Bradley (born June 3, 1930) also wrote LGBT pulp fiction as well as several fantasy series, including the popular Darkover series. She began her writing career by publishing fanzines as a teenager.


Currently re-reading for the 4th time  "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train".