by Richard Subber | Oct 26, 2023 | Book reviews, Books, Human Nature, Reflections
a “start feeling good” book
Book review:
Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus (b1957)
New York: Doubleday, 2022
390 pages
Lessons in Chemistry is not a “feel good” book.
It’s a “start feeling good” book.
Of course, there’s a message, and there’s a good story, and the message doesn’t get in the way of the story, and the story doesn’t obscure the message. (Guys, everybody can be a scientist, no matter which bathroom they use).
I think I need to mention that I’m not a dog person, so I confess that Six-Thirty isn’t my favorite character, but he’s more human than some people I know, so he’s important. Just think about this: maybe dogs can talk, but they choose not to.
Lessons in Chemistry is 390 pages of telling the centuries-old truths about the failures and the bitterness of the culture of male domination.
Some readers may think it’s all too much (and the “Supper At Six” TV show is a bit much), but the story evolves into a good story, and we need more inspiration to understand that some girl baby born somewhere yesterday may have what it takes to be the best scientist ever.
Elizabeth Zott has the words.
She says:
“Let’s get started.”
* * * * * *
Book review. Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.
Book review: “Bartleby, the Scrivener”
Loneliness beyond understanding…
by Herman Melville
Above all: Poems of dawn and more with 73 free verse poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”
* * * * * *
by Richard Subber | Oct 24, 2023 | Politics, Reflections, Tidbits
a great smooch…
“…righteousness and peace
have kissed each other…”
Psalm 85, King James Version
First published in 1611, authorized by King James I of England
…indeed, a kiss for all seasons
* * * * * *
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.
Book review: Ethan Frome
not being satisfied with less…
by Edith Wharton
–
As with another eye: Poems of exactitude with 55 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”
* * * * * *
by Richard Subber | Oct 12, 2023 | Human Nature, Reflections, Tidbits
for life to have meaning
“A man must fill his life with meaning,
meaning is not automatically given in life.
It is hard work to fill one’s life with meaning.”
from The Chosen
by Chaim Potok
New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967
pp. 204-205
Here’s one approach: do a good thing every day.
* * * * * *
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.
Book review: Ethan Frome
not being satisfied with less…
by Edith Wharton
–
As with another eye: Poems of exactitude with 55 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”
* * * * * *
by Richard Subber | Oct 7, 2023 | Theater and play reviews
ya gotta have heart!
Emperor of the North
(1973, rated PG, 118 minutes)
Emperor of the North is a heroic film.
They don’t make too many like this one.
If you plan to watch it, do yourself a favor: plan to watch it twice.
Watch it once so you get the picture: a tramp named A No. 1 (Lee Marvin) is a devil-may-care legendary figure in the hobo camps. He teaches a thing or three to the inexperienced Cigaret (Keith Carradine). He challenges the thuggish railroad policeman, Shack (Ernest Borgnine), there’s a supremely brutal fight on a rolling flatcar, the best ‘bo wins, he finally rides Shack’s “No. 19” to Portland, and, you guessed it, A No. 1 is the king of the road.
Sounds like a few of the “B” movies you’ve seen over the years?
All routinely imaginable stuff, but Marvin’s imperial performance stirs the imagination.
Watch it again. Watch Mr. Marvin show you everything you ever wanted to know about classic heroism of the spirit. See him surpassing his impoverished circumstances to enjoy a rich life, embracing independence, rugged optimism, casually competent leadership, generous mentoring, and the dauntless strength of a Viking in mortal combat.
Finally, A No. 1 abandons the feckless Cigaret. “You had the juice, kid, but you didn’t have the heart!”
A No. 1 rides off, northward, soaring, in high majesty, singing his victory.
American hobo.
American hero.
Emperor of the North.
* * * * * *
Movie review. Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.
Book review: The Financier
Theodore Dreiser’s villain…
–
As with another eye: Poems of exactitude with 55 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”
* * * * * *
by Richard Subber | Sep 26, 2023 | Politics, Power and inequality, Tidbits
seldom…never…you pick it
“Power, once acquired,
is seldom voluntarily parted with.”
Thomas Hutchinson (1711-1780)
Loyalist Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1769-1774)
Make no mistake: Hutchinson was talking about the growing political power of the Sons of Liberty, not his own stake in the royal chain of command.
* * * * * *
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.
How the Irish Became White (book review)
just another slice of American history by Noel Ignatiev
–
Writing Rainbows: Poems for Grown-Ups with 59 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”
* * * * * *
by Richard Subber | Sep 14, 2023 | Reflections, Tidbits
over the course of a life…
“Instead of seeing philosophy
as an end to which one aspires,
see it as something one applies.
Not occasionally, but over the course of a life—
making incremental progress along the way.”
from The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2016
p. 151
I think it’s pretty easy to remember that today is the day to do some good…
* * * * * *
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.
Book review: Who Built America?
…including people
who got their hands dirty
by Christopher Clark and Nancy Hewitt
–
Seeing far: Selected poems with 47 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”
* * * * * *
