Category: Books

Return to Manhattan

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TULIPS AND MANHATTANS

After our abbreviated visit in December, we’re back in Manhattan for several weeks.  Being here this time of year is a tradition, and we always anticipate the colorful tulips along Park Avenue, in Jefferson Garden, and in small beds encircling sidewalk trees.  Despite cold and extremely windy weather, there were tulips in bloom, and even some that hadn’t yet been blown apart.  And we spied some bright daffodils. It felt more like brisk March than almost May, making me very grateful for my down jacket and several layers of fleece.

Daffodils on a Manhattan street

Our first night’s dinner is always at Sel et Poivre, a cozy French restaurant on Lexington.  The Chief Penguin orders his favorite Manhattan (we are in Manhattan after all) and I a glass of Chardonnay.  The prix fixe menu is still a good deal, and he went for the green bean salad, roast chicken, and, of course, profiteroles.  This time I opted for simplicity with the chicken paillard accompanied by dressed greens and fries.  Then I tacked on a scoop of raspberry sorbet with chocolate sauce!  This was the perfect ending to a trip that began in 80+ Sarasota and ended in chilly New York. 

HOLBEIN: AN ART LOLLIPOP

Erasmus of Rotterdam

One of the several current exhibits at the Morgan Library is Holbein the Younger’s works and it’s appropriately called, Capturing Character.  Hans Holbein excelled at expressive portraits of noted figures of the day such as Erasmus.  He also painted merchants, members of the Hanseatic League, and other upper-class men and women.  Active in the early 1500’s, he also produced drawings for early books, images for jewelry, and rondels for society’s elite.  

Two of Holbein’s contemporaries are also included, Jan Gossaert and Quentin Metsys.  The real treat for me was seeing up close Holbein’s portrait of Sir Thomas More, previously viewed at the Frick Collection, but from a greater distance.  Here, one really appreciates Holbein’s depiction of facial expression and the rich colors of clothing and drapery.   

Simon George by Holbein ca. 1535-40

FASCINATING NOVEL: THE SHAPE OF DNA

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict

Marie Benedict specializes in historical fiction about under-appreciated and overlooked talented women.  This latest novel, Her Hidden Genius, is a fascinating account of scientist Rosalind Franklin’s career.  She leaves her job studying the properties of coal in an English lab for a position in Paris. There she gains high praise and respect for her skill and aptitude in using X-ray crystallography to see patterns and shapes others don’t.  Her parents don’t fully understand or appreciate her chosen path of career instead of marriage and, partly due to their pressure, she returns to her native England.  

Suffice it to say that this British lab is very male and highly competitive. The work she now undertakes on the structure of DNA puts her in contention with Watson and Crick.  Benedict’s novel paints a picture not only of scientific rivalries, but also of the dismissive and discriminative treatment of women during the 1950’s.  Only years after her death did Dr. Franklin begin to get the recognition she deserved.  A good read!

Note: Photos by JWFarrington.

Detectives, Pioneers, & Protesters

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I faithfully read several newspapers every morning. The war and devastation in Ukraine are heartbreaking. I am also upset and angered by the power-grabbing actions of our state governor. For diversion, I turn to solid TV drama and well-written literature. Here is what I’ve delved into most recently.

MY NEW FAVORITE CRIME SERIES

The Chelsea Detective (Acorn)

Priya, Max, Jess (express.co.uk)

There are so many aspects of this series I like that I almost don’t know where to start.  First, it’s set in London and filmed in the affluent Chelsea neighborhood.  Second, the main characters are colleagues in the best sense of the word and like each other.  It’s a series with warmth and some humor as we see the home lives of several of them. Third, the cases they are confronted with, murder generally, are complex and involve multiple leads and dead ends. 

 Max Arnold, detective chief inspector, lives on a houseboat and has recently parted ways with his girlfriend Astrid.  His house is messy, but his approach to a case and his work desk are neat and orderly.  Priya Shamsie, another detective and his sidekick, is adapting to being a new mother while still loving the job she does very well.   Connor and Jess, two detective constables, round out the team along with Ashley Wilton, the pathologist.  What is noteworthy about Ashley (played by Sophie Stone) is that she is a deaf person in the role of a deaf pathologist.  There are only 4 episodes in Season 1, but each is 90 minutes long.  No definitive word yet on a second season.  Highly recommended!

FLORIDA CRACKERS—HISTORICAL NOVEL

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

Published in 1984, Smith’s A Land Remembered, is set in Florida.   It spans a hundred years from near the end of the Civil War to 1968 and follows three generations of the McIvey family as they settle the land, raise cattle, plant orange groves, and more.  Early cattle ranchers were called Florida crackers after the sound of the whips as they drove their cattle long distances to market.  The patriarch, Tobias, came from Georgia to Florida in the late 1850’s with his wife Emma and his infant son, Zech.  Wild cattle roamed freely, land was there for the taking, and despite battling weather and outlaws, Tobias and his family were successful.  

Zech and his son Solomon eventually traded cattle for oranges and real estate and Sol became very wealthy.  The novel is both a family saga and a history of early Florida and its transformation from open land to fenced ranches to hotels and high rises on the coast.  As a somewhat recent transplant to Florida, I appreciated this history through fiction. It was the April selection for my local book group and received positive reviews from the members.

SLICE OF BOSTON—CONTEMPORARY NOVEL

Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh

Author Haigh (living concord.com)

Jennifer Haigh is an author whose work I have enjoyed and admired.  Her earlier novels include Mrs. Kimble, The Condition, and Baker Towers, and often deal with controversial or contentious issues.  Mercy Street is no exception.  In exquisitely detailed prose, Haigh creates a Boston that is gritty and grotty and locked into an unending winter with nor’easter after nor’easter.   The focus is on an abortion clinic on Mercy Street—its staff, the protestors, and others connected to them or it in some way.  

Claudia, a social worker, who has been on the clinic staff for ten years, is the main character.  Divorced and stressed by her job, she seeks solace and companionship from Timmy, a childhood friend and now her source of pot.  There are regular protestors outside the clinic every day.  Anthony comes daily to photograph patients entering and leaving and then shares them online with Victor, an antiabortion activist who compiles them on a website.  

Apart from Claudia, most of these people I would never associate with nor have any desire to meet.  As the novel progressed, I kept expecting a tragic event.  Instead, what Haigh delivers is more a study in humanity.  While detached, she treats her characters, all of whom have been disadvantaged or treated badly earlier in life, kindly.  With its unexpected ending, I feel as if I should go back and re-read this timely novel from beginning to end. (~JWFarrington)

Note: Header photo of rowboat at the edge of the bay ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).

Happy young woman watching TV

Watching & Reading: On Screen & Page

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DOCUDRAMA OF FALSE IDENTITY

INVENTING ANNA (Netflix)

Julia Garner as Anna Delvey (tvline.com)

Anna Delvey, Russian by birth, presented herself in New York as a German heiress with a large trust fund. Only 25, she grandly aspired to create a club cum art gallery called ADF, the Anna Delvey Foundation.  Poised, confident, and brazen, she led the high life, courted the A-list of society, and conned investors into believing she was rich and worth the risk.  

Anna Delvey was a real person, but not what she appeared to be.  Based on an article that appeared in New York Magazine, this series is almost as much about journalist Jessica Pressler (called Vivian Kent) and her long investment of time and energy in getting and writing Anna’s story.  

You may not like Anna, and I didn’t much of the time, but her story is a fascinating study in social psychology.  Comprised of 9 episodes, the series runs through Anna’s trial for grand larceny.  Anna is played by Julia Garner, who won two Emmies for her role in the TV series. Ozark.   Jessica Pressler, the real writer of the article, has a new book coming out in August entitled Bad Influence:  Money, Lies, Powers, and the World that Created Anna Delvey.

ONGOING SERIES

BRIDGERTON (Season 2, Netflix)

Lady Danbury with Mrs. Sharma and daughters Edwina & Kate (latimes.com)

The courting games and rituals continue this season as Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton sibling, seeks a wife.  Rational and determined in his mission, he’s guided more by his head than his heart.  Key players are half-sisters Edwina and Kate Sharma who have come to London with their mother and are under the tutelage of the formidable Lady Danbury.  Edwina seems to be the perfect candidate for Anthony while Lady Whistledown aka Pen, is always on the lookout for new material for her gossip sheet.  I think this season, while different, is as good as the first one!

CALL THE MIDWIFE  (Season 11, PBS)

Call the Midwife cast (townandcountry.com)

Babies continue to be born, and East End London never climbs out of poverty.  The sisters and midwives of Nonnatus House remain super dedicated to serving the local mothers and their families.  It’s 1967 and while hair styles and clothing have changed, diseases like scabies can infect a whole community.  After ten years, I feel as if I know these midwives, Nurse Crane, Trixie, and Sister Julienne to name just several; their exploits and the cases they handle make for charming and heartwarming drama.  There is tragedy, but almost always there is something positive that makes this series uplifting.

RECENT READING

THE BEAUTY OF DUSK  by Frank Bruni

Bruni (wbur.org)

Memoirs are a popular genre. While many are accounts of growing up in a dysfunctional family or putting one’s life together after a contentious divorce, there is also a sub-genre related to dealing with diseases such as cancer.  A recent example of this sub-genre is Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad in my post of Sept. 19, 2021.

Frank Bruni’s first memoir, Born Round, was an affectionate portrait of growing up in a food-loving Italian American family coupled with his long struggle to get his weight under control.  His latest memoir, The Beauty of Dusk, is about the effects of an illness, but is more wide-ranging.  A few years ago in his 50’s, he suffered a sudden stroke which destroyed the sight in one eye.  Reading and navigating both became more difficult.  

Bruni discusses coming to terms with his disability, but more significantly shares examples of friends and others who are thriving despite disease or serious injury.  These examples are heartening and uplifting. They remind both Bruni and the reader that other people have serious issues to contend with, some that are hidden.  

Bruni is an engaging writer, and I enjoy his insightful New York Times columns on politics, gay rights, and other issues. Here,  I was impressed by how open he was, not only on his eyesight, but also about the disruptions in his personal life.

Sarasota Scene: Music, Food, & Literature

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SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MASTERWORKS CONCERT

Maestro Bramwell Tovey (sarasotamagazine.com)

The Sarasota Orchestra was in fine form last evening under the baton of new music director Bramwell Tovey.  Maestro Tovey is a Grammy award-winning conductor and principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra.   The program included lesser-known works by Richard Strauss and Samuel Coleridge -Taylor plus a lovely violin concerto by Mendelssohn played by guest artist Timothy Chooi.  Rounding out the evening was a selection from Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe.  I thought the orchestra played superbly but wished that Maestro Tovey had been much briefer in his comments before several pieces.

DINING FIND

481 Gourmet

Luscious lamb!

Located in Sarasota’s Rosemary District and sharing a patio with Rosemary & Thyme, 481 Gourmet is a great addition to the neighborhood.  We were a few minutes early for our pre-concert dinner, were warmly welcomed by the hostess, and seated at a table in the center of the dining room (outdoor tables were all reserved).  The dining room is handsome with deep gray walls and dark wood tables and bar.  

We were the first diners inside, and our waiter, Chris, enthusiastically greeted us.  Next another staff member walked by, smiled, and said hello.  Later, the owner herself came over to apologize for any confusion over the no longer offered pre-theater menu.  All this before we’d ordered any food!  We felt like celebrities.

As for the meal itself, the food was delicious. The three of us each had a Caesar salad followed by jumbo scallops, lamb chops, and grilled halibut as our entrees.  The scallops were over risotto, the lamb chops sat on a puddle of pesto, and the halibut was on a bed of couscous with tomato confit on top.  The Caesar salad was the perfect size with croutons and a lacy Parmesan tuile.  Prices are moderate to less moderate, but reflective of today’s food prices and staffing challenges.  Worth a return visit!

EXPANSIVE FRENCH NOVEL

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin

(amazon.com)

Translated into over thirty languages and the bestselling novel in 2020 in Italy, Fresh Water for Flowers is the first novel by Perrin to be translated into English.  Set in France, mostly in a cemetery, it is a book with many characters, some living and some dead.  Primary is Violette, a still youngish woman whose life we follow from her days as a level-crossing keeper at a train junction to her work as a cemetery caretaker.  

When we first meet her, Violette is alone, her husband Touissant having long since disappeared.  She is friendly with the grave diggers, the priest, and the funeral director and spends her time observing and comforting the families of the deceased who come to bury and later mourn their loved ones.  She has her routine, and she keeps a notebook of the particulars of each new cemetery resident including the weather on the day of the funeral and how many mourners were present.  She gets to know and see again and again a select subgroup of these relatives.  When detective Julien Seul arrives to scatter his mother’s ashes on a stranger’s grave, Violette’s life becomes unsettled and entangled with his in ways she never imagined. 

The novel moves back and forth and around in time, in anything but linear fashion, as Violette’s past is revealed and bits of her childhood as a foster child meted out.  Struck by tragedy, Touissant and Violette separately seek answers to why the event occurred.  Other people’s lives are presented and probed, and diaries reveal secrets long kept.  From a woman who has more than her share of troubles to one who finally realizes she has the will and the right to be happy, Violette evolves into a whole person.  

This novel is rich in its depiction of friendship (Violette and Sasha, Violette and Celia) and ultimately, of love.  A long read, it pulls you in and weaves a spell.  Highly recommended!  (~JWFarrington) 

Note: Header photo and restaurant photo ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).