I recently read my first graphic novel, What Did You Eat Yesterday?, which is also a manga. That term was new to me. I discovered manga refers to comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. This particular story is the first in a series about a gay couple living in Tokyo. Shiro Kakei and Kenji
Author: Barbara
A retrospective of Dorothea Lange’s photography is currently on exhibit at the MOMA, although, sadly, the museum is still closed due to COVID 19. You can visit the MOMA to learn more about Lange and view photographs from the exhibit online at https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5079. “Migrant Mother,” an iconic image of the Great Depression, is one of
This is a beautifully written book translated from the French by Molly Ringwald. The novel often seems more like a memoir; in fact, it does share threads from the author’s own life. It is the tale of young gay love complicated by class and cultural differences. The two high school boys come from very different
I saw this play starring Pat Carroll years ago, and I loved it. I was invited to a ModPo group to discuss one of Stein’s poems. It brought back the memory of the play, so I decided to read it. It is delightful. The one-character play allows the audience to spend a rainy afternoon in
Here’s another book I learned about on this blog and just finished reading. It is a complicated story that struggles with identity in terms of class, culture, education, gender, historical context and family. It also explores the importance of the lens(es) one uses to reflect upon one’s experience. The mother/daughter relationship is especially central to
This novel is based on an exceptional true story about the relationship between two men, Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian Muslim, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli Jew. The Aramins and the Elhanans suffer in the aftermath of the violent deaths of their daughters. Rami’s daughter, Smadar, was killed when three young Palestinian men detonated suicide belts
I was first introduced to Rebecca Solnit in a “Democracy Now” interview. My next encounter was a “Brain Pickings” newsletter which featured Solnit’s book Hope in the Dark which was written at the height of the Bush administration’s power and the outset of the Iraq War–a very dark time. Hope in the Dark is still
I am busy reading Apeirogon by Colum McCann–I think someone here recommended it before the pandemic. The library is finally open here, so I checked out a copy. I’ll write more on the novel when I finish. Meanwhile I thought this online event sounded fun. I signed up and thought I’d share the information. Here’s
Due to a wonderful review on our blog, I put Vuong’s novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, on reserve at my local library. I had to wait, but I finally read it a few months ago. I was excited to learn that Krista Tippett had recorded an interview with Ocean Vuong. I highly recommend listening
Neill is a dear friend and wonderful writer. Early on, it seemed COVID 19 would have the largest impact on the elderly. We never really know who the “Remnant” will be in any given situation. While this meditation is aimed at a churchgoing audience, Neill’s ideas are both thoughtful and thought provoking. I love his