Go tell it on the mountain, by James Baldwin

 

I really enjoyed this powerful, semi-autobiographical, first novel by James Baldwin. It tells the story of John Grimes on his 14th birthday. The book is divided into sections; in the first we learn about his family and his relationships with his parents and siblings, as well as his relationship with the Pentecostal church in which his father preaches. The middle section provides the back stories of John's stepfather, mother, biological father, and Aunt Florence. The final section describes John's experience of being born again in an emotion-filled, lengthy night of prayer at church. Although many of the reviews describe this as the best part of the book, I liked it the least, finding the first and section sections more interesting. John's aunt and parents were part of the migration of Black Americans from the south to northern cities. This book shows the racism and other challenges they faced both prior to and after their respective moves. I love Baldwin's writing, and look forward to catching up on more of his novels and essays.

What you should know about politics, but don't, by Jessamyn Conrad

 

This is an informative and interesting exploration of the political issues that divide and unite the country, with chapters devoted to elections, the economy, foreign policy, the military, health care, energy, the environment, civil liberties, culture wars, socioeconomic policy, homeland security, education, and trade. Even if you're a news junkie, you may still learn things from this book. This is the 4th edition, which was updated to bring it up to 2020, but it doesn't go deeply into personalities of current politicians, or even into recent changes in political directions, so it would be best used as an introduction to the issues in a historical sense.

Death Valley and the Creek called Furnace, by Edwin Corle with photographs by Ansel Adams

 

This book contains chapters reprinted from Edwin Corle's book Desert Country, 1941, a book in the American Folkways series, and is accompanied by 32 plates of photographs by Ansel Adams.

The glass hotel, by Emily St. John Mandel

 

This was my book club's pick for our February meeting, and it was a hit with everyone. The writing is very good, and the plot is compelling. It pulls together the stories of many people, including Paul, a college dropout; his half-sister Vincent, a bartender; Vincent's much older boyfriend Jonathan, an investment fund manager who's running a Ponzi scheme; and all the people whose paths they cross over a period of several decades. The story unfolds in rough chronological order, but with many flashbacks that clarify details and explain things left unclear in other segments. But the book holds together and leads the reader on through an unforgettable plot and conclusion.

January 2021 Films

 

While the acting in this film is very good, I was not impressed with the film as a whole. It dragged, and I became very impatient with the main character and her inability to get on with her life. She's a lonely woman, separated or divorced from her husband, who throws herself into one doomed relationship after another hoping to find love. She puts up with the men who treat her badly, and pushes away those who are kind. Very frustrating to watch. (1/1/21)

I really enjoyed this Japanese film about a family of grifters who are on the outskirts of Tokyo society. The film focuses on a young boy, his dad, grandma, and aunts. While out walking, they come across a very young girl who appears to have been neglected and abused, and they take her home and begin to incorporate her into their family. The film explores their relationships and affection for each other until the young boy is arrested and everything falls apart. It's a very touching film as we learn that everything is not as it seems. (1/3/21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved this film set in Germany from the late 30's to the 60's. It follows the life of a boy whose aunt is taken away from the family due to mental illness when he is very young. As he grows up to become an artist, he never forgets what she taught him about truth and art. As a young student he falls in love with Ellie, a woman whose father committed horrific crimes as a member of the Nazi party and the SS, but who has (so far) escaped discovery. As Kurt and Ellie marry and embark on a life together, Kurt continues to explore art, while adjusting to life in West Germany after the Berlin Wall goes up. While Kurt and Ellie are unaware of her father's crimes, the viewer waits impatiently to see if and when he is found out. One of the most interesting parts of the film is the portrayal of both the Nazi and Socialist ideology as applied to art, and how suffocating that is to the artist. The film is three hours long, which we broke up over two days, but it is very engrossing. Great acting as well.

This was an excellent film about a director who's in a bit of a slump, feeling his age and experiencing some health challenges. As he goes about his days, he reminisces about his past, stimulated by some of his friends and acquaintances popping back into his life. Antonio Banderas delivers a wonderful performance.

This is a poetic, modern, French interpretation of Billy Budd, Sailor. I enjoyed the acting in this visually stunning film. The pace is slow and methodical, but it's completely engaging as the film explores the jealousy of a sergeant in the French Foreign Legion for a young recruit. Set in Djibouti, it's directed by Claire Denis, who also directed Let the Sunshine in, which I didn't care for as much (see above).

I loved this film about a young man whose life goes off the rails when he suffers a debilitating injury that leaves him unable to pursue wrestling. The consequences of this affects his entire family. The second half of the film explores the impact on his younger sister, as she tries to make sense of her life in spite of her parents' neglect.

Based on a true story, this film tells the story of a young man who is put into a "conversion therapy" program. The horrors of such programs are revealed, including the deadly consequences for those who cannot conform.

This was the first time I've watched this 1971 film about a private detective who teams up with an aspiring actress to find out what happened to a man who's been missing for months. A melancholy, but atmospheric film.

This is a slow-paced South Korean film about an aging poet who asks his two adult sons to meet him at a hotel where he's been staying. As they reconnect, their paths cross with two women staying in the same hotel. There is an overarching feeling of sadness in this film, but it also includes subtle humor. 

This is a fascinating film about Arendt's reporting on the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem, along with its aftermath, which including significant criticism about her characterization of Eichmann and his crimes. Excellent acting!

Dominique is a young girl who doesn't want to go to school, work, or take any responsibility for herself. She treats everyone badly, including a series of boyfriends, her sister, her parents, and others. Out of jealousy, she kills her former boyfriend, and eventually herself. Some see this film as an indictment against the hypocrisy of French society, but Dominique has absolutely no redeeming qualities. I'm not sure why it was so popular when it came out, unless it was just the sensational (at the time) themes.