Month September 2011

Books into Movies: “Sarah’s Key”

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movie tickets three

This afternoon I went to see “Sarah’s Key” at the local theatre.  There are three theatres in my town and I actually had to drive to the one farthest from me to see the movie – but I really want to support independent films in this town.  I have been disappointed more than once because a film I was really looking forward to never made it here.  And “here” isn’t a slouch of a city, either.  So when independent films come, I try to support.

I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing this movie, because I knew the story and that it would be sad.  I looked away a few times (I’m so wimpy) and got teary-eyed a few times. It was a good portrayal of the book and wonderfully acted and beautifully filmed. Little girl Sarah was an incredible actress. It makes me wonder if I will ever be able to learn about all of the atrocities of war. You think you know some history and you learn that you know the tip of the iceberg.  (I really probably only know the tip of the tip of the iceberg about history.)

I’m glad I went and “voted with my dollars,” and hope that independent films will continue to come here!

Off to read!

40 Things (6)

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challengeleading up to her 40th birthday, her next question is:

6) A book that changed my life

Hmmm.  Not an easy question!  I’m not sure I can point to a book and claim that it changed my life in any big way.  I know that the very presence of books has changed my life.  Books have brought me comfort in times when I needed it and have brought me joy in times when I needed that.  I have lots of vivid memories of the books that I read as a child and have always been known as a reader or a “book worm.”  So does the first book that hooked me in and made me a reader become the book that changed my life?

Being in book club has changed my life.  Connecting with great people over great books (or even not-so-great books) has been a great experience in the past ten or so years.

#6 on my list of Things to do before turning 40 was to “Say YES more – be ready!”  Yesterday I wrote about how “saying no” to an overbooked life was on my list.  This one is about being ready for adventures and the life I want.  It isn’t always easy for me to be spontaneous, as I do like to plan things.  I know that when my daughter went away to college that I adopted the philosophy that “I can do whatever I want,” which was pretty freeing (after the initial despair over bringing her to college).  It was nice to be open to adventures without feeling tied down to responsibilities.

Off to read!

40 Things (5)

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Non-Fiction Section

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Following along with Boof’s40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday…her 5th question is:

5)  A favourite non-fiction book?

Non-fiction isn’t something I read often.  Should I be ashamed? Because I’m not.  The few that I have read, I have enjoyed.  Probably non-fiction books that I don’t enjoy don’t even get finished, thereby they don’t make my “Read” list.  🙂

Here are a few good books:  “The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and Friendship,” “No Journey is So Far: Two Women and their Historic Journey Across Antarctica,” “A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table,” and “Reading Lolita in Tehran.”  (When I look further at the non-fiction books that I have read, there is a common theme of a title with a colon (:) and a subtitle following.  Is that requisite in non-fiction?  Have to explain the title further to get people to read them?)

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table

“The Girls from Ames…” inspired me to invite a group of women to commit to getting together monthly in order to nurture relationships, so that’s kind of a big deal.  I met Ann Bancroft and she signed my “No Horizon is So Far” book, so that’s kind of a big deal, too.  I refer to “My Homemade Life” often, and in fact, it is with my cookbooks rather than on my bookshelf.  It is full of recipes that are fun to dream about (and do-able if a person were inclined to cook).  And “Reading Lolita” is a wonderful glimpse into the lives of women in Iran.
Any #5 on my list of 40 Things was SAY “NO” MORE.  This was something that I was consciously doing before I made my list, but also something I needed to keep in the forefront of my mind.  There was a time when I said YES to everything and had many volunteer commitments and work commitments.  I was busy and getting a lot done but the joy was taken out of it so I needed to evaluate what was important to me and pare down the things that were sucking the life out of me.
Again, no great shakes, but the list made it a conscious choice.
Off to read!

40 Things (4)

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Cover of "Persepolis"

Cover of Persepolis

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday… her fourth question is:

4) A favourite translated book

Hmmm..  Not sure how many translated books I have read, but there have been a few.

I own and LOVED reading “My Life as a Dog” by Reidar Jonsson.  A Norwegian book whose movie adaptation won best foreign film in 1987, I believe.  I loved the movie and the book even more.  I have memories of riding on public transportation in Madison and literally laughing out loud and also having my heart break.

I really enjoyed “Persepolis,” by Marjane Satrapi and translated by Mattias Ripa.  A story about growing up in Iran.

I read an abridged version (shameful, I know) of “War and Peace” by Tolstoy and didn’t really enjoy that much.  It was a long hot summer and there are so many names …

I’m sure there are others, but “My Life as a Dog’ wins.  🙂

And on my list… my #4 was “Learn some Ukranian / Russian” and I failed miserably. Again, I listened to Russian podcasts and downloaded vocabulary sheets.  Not much stuck.  We had a foreign exchange student from the Ukraine so that was the motivation to attempt it.

Off to read!

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40 Things (3)

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Elizabeth tells her father that Darcy was resp...

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Playing along with Boof’s 40 Day Book Challenge for her 40th birthday, day 3 –

3) A book with a favourite character

I’m sure that there are others but last summer I read the book “Love Walked In” by Marisa de los Santos and I remember vividly that I wanted to be friends with Cornelia.  She was spunky and fun and kind and quirky and I wanted the best things for her.  There are a lot of other favorite characters, too.  Elizabeth Bennet (AND Mr. Darcy) in “Pride & Prejudice,” Lizbeth Salander in “The Girl…” books, Harry Potter, Oskar Schell in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” and I could go on and on.  But these are a few favorites.

Looking back on my list of 40 Things, my #3 was to “Learn some Italian.”  Not a very good goal – not specific or measurable – but again it’s more about the big picture than the minute steps.  I listened to a bunch of Italian podcasts and downloaded some vocabulary lists and that’s as far as it got.  I’d love to go to Italy someday and think that would be incentive to actually get the words to stick in my head.  I think my Italian Ferragosto holiday at the lake each August will also help inspire me to learn more Italian and get to Italy some day.

Off to read!

40 Things… (2)

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[St. Stephen's Green Park, Dublin. County Dubl...

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Following Boof at Book Whisperer, I’m participating in her 40 day book challenge leading up to her birthday.  Her second question is:

2) A book I wish I could live in

Well, bouncing off yesterday’s post of my favorite book of 2011, I’m going to say anything by Maeve Binchy.  Those quaint little Irish villages are so seductive (as are some of the villagers!).  I would love to live in Ireland for a bit…

And reviewing my list from my 40 things… My #2 was

2) Read “Persuasion” by Jane Austen
and I did!  In August of 07 (reflecting my belief that Austen is best read in the summer!).  Again, no great shakes, but a purposeful wish to do important things.

Off to read!