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.

Algorithms of oppression, by Safiya Umoja Noble

 

Safiya Noble was a speaker at the 2020 Association of Research Libraries fall forum, and attendees received a copy of her book prior to the forum. This is a heavily-researched in-depth look at how search engines (primarily Google) treats non-whites and women. Dr. Noble has conducted research into the algorithms that return racist or sexist results for seemingly innocent searches that begin with phrases such as "Black girls are..." or "Asian girls are..." At the time that she conducted her original research, such searches would bring up highly sexualized or pornographic results on the first page. Noble's research has resulted in Google's changing its algorithms to prevent this, as shown by more recent searches. Noble's research goes much further than these examples, and should be read by anyone who is a regular user of search engines; it's truly eye-opening!

You can't spell Truth without Ruth, [compiled by] Mary Zaia

 

This is a fun collection of Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes. My favorite: "Waste no time on anger, regret, or resentment; just get the job done" (p. 85).

Norman Rockwell: 332 magazine covers, by Christopher Finch

 

I bought this small book (4.3 x 4.7 inch) at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is introduced with an essay by Christopher Finch and organized chronologically into 10 sections. Paging through these plates is a great way to spend an hour or two. You can also see all of these magazine covers at the museum, but we haven't been able to go since 2019. We've tried to visit at least once a year; we like to review the standing exhibits, but also check out the changing exhibits as well. One of my favorites from a few years ago was the Roz Chast exhibit. Another good one was "Woodstock to the Moon: 1969 Illustrated."

Optiks, by Zeke Berman

 

This is an interesting collection of black and white photography by an artist who begins by creating a 3-D sculpture and then photographing it. I think he could have picked a more interesting cover for this book, though! He uses strings, other objects, and clay to make interesting displays and then photographs them, making them appear like still-life pictures (see below for my favorite example). This book was published as number 53 in the Untitled series by The Friends of Photography, and is based on an exhibit at the Ansel Adams Center in San Francisco.

Photographs, by Liliane De Cock

 

This is a lovely collection of black and white photographs, with a foreword by Ansel Adams. Ms. De Cock was Adams' assistant for many years, but also a photographer in her own right. Her photographs are in the same vein as Adams, although there appear to be more of an interest in pueblos and rural buildings like barns and churches (see below).

Ship fever, by Andrea Barrett

 

I'm not normally a fan of short stories, but I was bowled over by this collection; it's no wonder that it won the National Book Award. The writing is amazing, and the stories are so creative and unusual, with their focus on scientists and science of the past. I heartily recommend this collection.

This is the American Earth, by Ansel Adams, Nancy Newhall

 

This oversized book is a collection of photographs and accompanying text by Ansel Adams and a few dozen other photographers. Many of Adams' prints are familiar from other published collections. The book was published in 1960 by the Sierra Club, and evokes the rapidly changing landscape of the American West (mostly). Photos show the contrast between the natural landscapes and industrialized farming and suburban sprawl. It's a nice collection, although I didn't take the time to read the entire text.

The Print, by Ansel Adams

 

This is the third book in The Ansel Adams Photography Series, and the only one that the UAlbany Libraries own. It includes many prints that he uses as illustrations for various techniques. It is more about the science and technique of photography than interest me, so I only paged through it. Chapters address: Visualization and the expressive image; Darkroom design and equipment; Printing materials; Proofs and work print: basic printing and enlarging; The fine print: control of values; Final processing; Sensitometry; Finishing, mounting, storage, display; Special printing applications.

She said, by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

 

This is a fascinating account of the investigation that led to Harvey Weinstein's outing as a sexual predator. Mike gave me this book for Christmas (he saw it on a bookshelf behind a reporter who was being interviewed on TV and thought I'd find it interesting). What I like about the book is how it tells the story behind the story. It's not just about the facts of the case, but it shows how the reporters tracked down clues and put the pieces together. If you're at all interested in investigative journalism, this is a great example of how it's done. In addition to covering the Weinstein case, it also includes a chapter about the Christine Blasey Ford allegations, and how she ultimately chose to reveal her story and testify before Congress.

How to be champion: my autobiography, by Sarah Millican

 

I've been watching bits of Sarah Millican's comedy routines online for a while now (thanks, Facebook, for introducing us!), and have found her to be very funny, so I was happy to learn that she'd written a book with a lot of her signature humor. I really enjoyed this book; it covers her entire life from childhood on, although focuses mostly on her adult years and professional career. There are 43 chapters, each ending with tips on "How to be champion." Some of the chapters are: What I was like at school; Things I've been bullied for; Dates I have had; Divorce; So many proper jobs; Things my dad taught me; The six men I have loved; How to be a comedian, and Tips for turning forty. All very funny, but also heartfelt, sincere, and authentic. And the writing is very good; I would read more from her, and look forward to watching more of her shows.

How we fight for our lives: a memoir, by Saeed Jones

 

This is a touching, heartfelt, yet brief memoir by poet Saeed Jones, who shares his experiences growing up gay and black in rural Texas, attending college in Western Kentucky, beginning his career as a school teacher and then writer. It's a very personal and intimate look at his life which he shares with brutal honesty. Great writing!

Guillaume de Machaut, by Siegmund Levarie

 

This brief volume (114 pages) is part of the Great Religious Composers series, and much of the book is a discussion of De Machaut's Messe de Nostre Dame. I believe this was his only religious composition; most of his music and poetry were secular. The book covers "Guillaume de Machaut and his time," "Problems of a religious composer," and "Machaut's mass." 

Guillaume de Machaut, by Gilbert Reaney

 

I've become interested in the music and poetry of Guillaume de Machaut, born in 1300. He's more well-known for his secular music, but also for one famous mass. This brief volume (76 pages) in the Oxford Studies of Composers series discusses his life, poetry, musical style, and forms of compositions (lays, virelais, ballades, rondeaux, motets, and the mass).

There there, by Tommy Orange

 

I loved this book about twelve Native Americans who are coming together in Oakland, CA, for a powwow. In chapters that rotate between the many characters, we learn their histories and how they are related to one another. Each of them has a role to play in the climax which revolves around an attempted robbery of the cash prizes available for dancing and other powwow competitions. The writing is wonderful, the characters are compelling, and the plotting is meticulous as the characters all come together for the final scenes. This was my book club's December pick, and I can't wait to discuss it with the other members.

An Inconvenient Truth, by Al Gore

I'm a little late to the party on this collection of climate change books and films, but better late than never!

The film shows Al Gore traveling around the country speaking to groups about the imminent danger of climate change. He has been interested in and advocating for environmental issues since the 1980s, but in the wake of his 2000 loss, he has turned his attention fully to climate change. It's a powerful film and message.

This is a version of An Inconvenient Truth that has been adapted for a young adult audience. It's full of excellent photography and great data visualizations that demonstrate global warming's impact on the planet.

The 2017 film sequel to An Inconvenient Truth shows us Al Gore providing training sessions to others who want to promote environmentalism and address climate change. It shows him teaching others how to be advocates for the environment, playing a major role in the 2015 Paris climate talks, and reflecting on the impact that Trump's 2016 election has already had on the issue. A poignant moment is when Gore quotes Mike Tyson, who said "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

The sequel's action handbook; like the earlier book, this is chock full of great photography and compelling visuals. It includes profiles of many of the activists who have taken up Gore's calling to spread the word about climate change. The second half of the book provides a blueprint for how individuals can become active in the climate change discussion and advocate for change. Each of these activities is broken down into many parts: be an involved citizen, speak at a town hall meeting or forum, write about climate change effectively, start a petition, establish yourself as a climate activist online, magnify your impact with press coverage, talk to children about climate change, talk with climate deniers, find a career in renewable energy, make your business more sustainable, run for office, walk the walk, eat with the planet in mind, vote with your dollars, create and host events, become a Climate Reality Leader, and give your own climate change presentation.

 

Fantasyland, by Kurt Andersen

 

This is a fascinating and provocative look at Americans' penchant for believing the fantastical over the realistic, starting with the earliest colonists all the way up to the current obsession with wacky conspiracy theories and the blatant lies that come out of the Trump administration. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand how we got to where we are today.

The History of Photography: From 1839 to the Present, by Beaumont Newhall

 

This is a history of photography from 1839 through 1949, when it was published. Containing almost exclusively black and white illustrations, it includes hundreds of reproductions. I was mainly interested in Ansel Adams' place in this history; he is covered in a few pages and with two plates: "Boards and Thistles, 1932" and "Mono Lake, California, 1947." I only read a few selections, so can't comment on the entire narrative.

Brassai

 

Brassaï was one of the most influential French photographers of the 20th century. This book collects many of his most famous photos, grouped into these categories: self-portraits, the street, Paris by day, Paris at night, pleasures, society, personages, graffiti, body of a woman, places and things, portraits, and Minotaure. Exclusively black and white, and printed on large plates in an oversized book. Brassaï was known for photographing the underworld, and this collections includes a number of examples of "thugs," gangs, prostitutes, as well as people in bars or at society events.

Perpetual Mirage: Photographic Narratives of the Desert West

This is a collection of essays and accompanying photographs that pulls together many of the earliest pictures taken in the American Southwest. Although I was not as interested in the essays, the photographs richly document the landscapes, Native Americans, pueblos and towns, buildings and architecture, rivers, and canyons in the Southwest.

Swimming in the Dark, by Tomasz Jedrowski

 

I really enjoyed this short novel (191 pages) set in 1980s Poland. It tells the story of two young men who meet and fall in love the summer after they finish university. The narrator, Ludwik, is disenchanted with communism and Soviet influence over Poland; whereas, Janusz is eager to work within the system, using his political connections to aid his rise and increase his influence. During the year after university, they clash more and more as the political situation becomes less stable, until Ludwik decides that he must make a break to live honestly. This novel demonstrates the difficulty for the average citizen living in Poland: waiting in lines to buy food, the inability to get medical care unless you have connections,  tiny apartments, censorship, and much more. The author does a wonderful job setting the scene and describing life during that turbulent time. This is his first novel, and I hope to see many more.

Photographs of the Southwest, by Ansel Adams

 

This book contains a collection of 109 photographs by Ansel Adams from the 1920s through the 1960s. They include landscapes, portraits, statuary, Native American ruins, architecture, sand dunes, flora, storms, and lots of rock formations. It includes several of his famous photos, "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico," and "Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958." It's amazing how sand dunes look like snowy mountainsides when rendered in black and white. This collection is introduced with "The Southwest: An Essay on the Land," by Lawrence Clark Powell. Interestingly, Powell was a librarian who, according to Wikipedia, started his career at the Central Library in Los Angeles, then worked in the acquisitions department at UCLA, eventually becoming University Librarian. Later he became the first dean of the UCLA School of Library service. His career continued after retirement at the University of Arizona, which holds his papers.

Ansel Adams: Classic Images

 

This is a nice collection of 75 of Ansel Adams' most well-known photographs. It's introduced by John Szarkowski, a photographer himself, as well as a curator, critic, and historian. James Alinder, another photographer, writes a longer essay about Adams and the particular photographs included in this collection. I'm struck again by Adams interest and love of wilderness, but not wildlife. This collection includes the expected Yosemite and Sierra Nevada photographs, aspens, sand dunes, surf, and much more.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri

This is a powerful novel about a refugee couple from Aleppo whose son died in a bombing. Nuri and his wife Afra, who was blinded in the bombing, decide to leave Aleppo after Nuri is threatened with death if he refused to join the militia. They make their way to Istanbul, then Greece, and eventually to England. The novel tells their story in chapters alternating between past and present, revealing the danger and indignities experienced by those who give up everything to make their way to a safer country. Initially, Afra appears the weaker of the two, but as the story develops, we learn of Nuri's own vulnerabilities. This is a wonderfully written novel by Christy Lefteri, who observed firsthand the tragedy of the Syrian refugee crisis when she served as a volunteer in Athens for UNICEF.

Deacon King Kong, by James McBride

 

I loved this novel by James McBride. It's set in a Brooklyn housing project in the 1960s, when heroin is beginning to be widely available, creating tensions between generations and criminal gangs. An elderly man, nicknamed Sportcoat, shoots a young dealer in front of many witnesses; later, he claims he doesn't remember doing it. This sets in motion a series of events that changes the course of the young man's life. There are many characters who add depth and color to the story, including a Genoan smuggler, mafia drug dealers, rising Black dealers, a bunch of church ladies, and a cop nearing retirement, who just has to make it through the next few months. The writing is excellent, the plot is engaging, and the characters are interesting. All that being said, I didn't care for the style of the first two short chapters, but if you can get past that, the rest of the book is very good.

Rage, by Bob Woodward

 

To a certain extent, this book is similar to Woodward's last book, Fear, in that it simply reinforces everything you know about Trump from watching the news. I found Rage to be a little haphazard. However, one of the things I appreciated about Rage is that it delves more deeply into some of Trump's closest advisors, at least early in the book. The book begins with profiles on several of Trump's cabinet members: Dan Coats, Rex Tillerson, and James Mattis. Woodward explores their careers and why each chose to enter the Trump administration, and how they came to work closely with each other, before each were eventually fired. Interspersed with these accounts are chapters devoted to Trump's relationship with Kim Jong Un. Finally, the book almost completely pivots to how Trump has dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. While each of these topics is interesting, the book is less of an account of the four year term than a collection of anecdotes. 

Woodward was able to interview Trump 17 times on the record for this book, so it includes a lot of direct quotes that came from Woodward's recordings. Often Trump would call Woodward, seemingly making him one of a number of people that Trump calls when he wants to chat. It's clear the Woodward was able to interview Lindsay Graham and Jared Kushner as well, adding some other perspectives on their strategies for working with Trump. Woodward's conclusion is that Trump is not the right man for the job (which I could have told him!).