Carol's Comments September 2020

Carol’s Comments September 2020

Hello Everyone! Welcome to another issue of Carol’s Comments. After posting my last blog in early May, I didn’t think I’d be writing another blog for a quite a long time. Fortunately, while finding ways to entertain myself at home during the last six months, I added a unique new book and revisited a beloved classic from my own library collection. Both books were so compelling that I wanted to share them with my readers.

 

One afternoon while searching for calendars and books on Amazon, I discovered that Maira Kalman, one of my favorite illustrators had recently published a new edition of The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas by Gertrude Stein. I quickly ordered a copy.

Originally written by Stein in 1933, Alice B Toklas’ “autobiography” begins in 1907 with her first trip to France where she meets Gertrude Stein for the first time. This momentous encounter soon culminates into a lifelong friendship and partnership lasting forty years.

This exceptional and sometimes very humorous book primarily focuses on the pair’s unconventional literary lifestyle among the Parisian avant garde. The two women frequently host various soirees at their home at rue de Fleurus welcoming and mentoring such expatriate authors as Ernest Hemingway and T.S. Eliot along with modern artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

Maira Kalman’s very whimsical and charming color illustrations interspersed throughout the  biography cleverly and comically enhance Stein’s witty narrative by bringing the eclectic adventures, experiences and opinions of these eccentric inimitable companions and their bohemian artistic friends to life. I highly recommend this utterly fabulous and very funny early 20^th century biography to anyone who enjoys historical fiction like The Paris Wife or Woody Allen’s 2011 film Midnight in Paris.

 

After briefly visiting the early years before and after World War I in The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas,, I still wanted to immerse myself in a novel or a memoir that concentrated specifically on World War I.  Since the public library hadn't reopened yet, I remembered I still owned a copy of Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain which I hadn’t read in 40 years. I retrieved it quickly from my bookcase.

Testament of Youth, probably the only World War I memoir told from a woman’s perspective gives the reader a truly realistic, unromantic view of the first modern war that nearly annihilated an entire generation. I usually don’t read books over 500 pages for this blog but the memoir’s themes were so intriguing and fascinating, I felt drawn to it.

Written in three parts,Brittain's memoir chronicles her life from 1900-1925. The autobiography begins by describing her life in England as a young middle class woman studying hard to get accepted into Oxford while leading an idyllic life with her younger brother Edward and their friends Roland Leighton (her future fiancé), Victor Richardson and Geoffrey Thurlow. Unfortunately, when England declares war on Germany in August 1914, these young peoples’ lives dramatically change forever.

Brittain decides to abandon her studies at Oxford in 1915 and volunteer as an armed services nurse where she served in London, Malta and the Western front in France witnessing the terrible horrors of war firsthand. Tragically, by the war’s end in 1918, she loses everyone she truly loves: her brother Edward, her fiancé Roland and her friends Victor and Geoffrey.

Depressed and overwhelmed, Brittain manages to recover by returning to Oxford and supporting and writing about various pacifist and feminist causes. Ultimately, Testament of Youth is an outstanding and poignant tribute to the Lost Generation as well as an authentic depiction of the tragedy of modern warfare. Despite its length (661 pages), I wholeheartedly recommend this unforgettable memoir.

After finishing Testament of Youth, I really wanted to watch a screen adaptation of Brittain’s incredible memoir. I tried to locate a copy of the extraordinary 1979 BBC five part miniseries starring Cheryl Campbell which aired on PBS in 1980. Unfortunately, the program isn’t currently available on DVD, streaming service or any cable movie channel. Undaunted, I decided to find a copy of the 2014 feature film dramatization produced by BBC Films. I didn’t have to search very long because one afternoon while leisurely browsing through the cable TV guide, I coincidently stumbled upon this film on Movieplex.

Directed by James Kent and starring Alicia Vikander as Vera Brittain, the movie’s screenplay written by Juliette Towhidi focuses only on one third of Brittain’s memoir (specifically 1914-1918)  that describes Brittain’s brief time at Oxford, her service as an army nurse and her brother Edward’s and fiancé Roland’s tragic untimely deaths. Although the movie accurately portrays in graphic detail the brutality and futility of war, I wish it would have explored the aftermath of World War I and Brittain’s transformation into a pacifist and feminist supporter and writer in post-war England. Instead it briefly notes these significant contributions  at the end of the film.

The 2014 movie version of Brittain’s book is very serious minded and thoughtful but feels somewhat incomplete. Despite these flaws and until the 1979 miniseries becomes available again, I still recommend viewing this film especially for anyone interested in World War I or early 20^th century England.

The books and film reviewed in this blog can be found at most local public libraries. My readers in St Joseph County, Indiana can visit the St Joseph County Public Library’s web site at sjcpl.org for additional information.

Thanks for reading! See you all (hopefully very soon) next time.

 

 

Carol's Comments May 2020

Carol’s Comments May 2020

Hello Everyone! Welcome to another issue of Carol’s Comments. Since last November, I have been diligently watching Downton Abbey every Sunday afternoon on WNIT, my local PBS station. As Season 6’s final episodes quickly approached in late February, I wondered if I could ever find a book, movie or television series that could ever compare to this unforgettable program. One day about two weeks before I published my last blog, I decided to go to the River Park Branch Library and hopefully discover an appropriate substitute that could whisk me away to 1920’s aristocratic England.

While browsing the new fiction section, I glanced up toward the new mysteries and spotted Jessica Fellowes’ new mystery The Mitford Scandal on display and snatched it up immediately. Niece of Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and author of the Downton Abbey companion books including my favorites The World of Downton Abbey and A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey, Jessica Fellowes recently started a fascinating new murder mystery series. The Mitford Scandal is the third and newest book in the Mitford Murders collection. 

This mystery begins in 1928 when a maid supposedly dies by accident during a lavish engagement party held at Asthall Manor, the Mitford family estate. Louisa Cannon, former nursery maid and chaperone to the six real-life Mitford sisters is working as a temporary maid at the gala and suspects the maid’s tragic death may be more nefarious than it appears. 

The novel then fast forwards to 1929 when 18 year old Diana Mitford marries Bryan Guinness. During the couple’s whirlwind tour of Europe, Louisa Cannon accompanies Diana as her lady’s maid. Unfortunately during their honeymoon in Paris, another murder happens among the newlyweds’ circle of acquaintances.

Then two years later when Diana and Bryan visit Venice with many of their avant-garde friends including author Evelyn Waugh, Dora Carrington and Lytton Strachey, American actress Clara Fischer dies of an apparent opium overdose. Louisa suspects that all these deaths may be linked to the maid’s mysterious “accident” back in 1928. She investigates with the aid of London detective Guy Sullivan who helped her solve a another mystery at the Mitford estate several years ago,

Despite being a bit convoluted and complicated at times, The Mitford Scandal is a delightfully luscious escapist treat for mystery and Downton Abbey fans alike. This wonderful novel successfully transports the reader back to the Downton Abbey era by vividly describing aristocratic society through the servant’s perspective.

Luckily in mid-March, I went to the library and checked out Fellowes’ two earlier mysteries, The Mitford Murders and Bright Young Dead before the St Joseph County Public Library system closed indefinitely due to the pandemic. Reading the novels in reverse chronological order, I started with Bright Young Dead first. 

Set in 1925, Bright Young Dead takes place during 18 year old Pamela Mitford’s birthday party where  a guest, haughty and charismatic 22 year old Adrian Curtis falls to his death from a bell tower near the Mitford home during an infamous “treasure hunt.” A maid Dulcie Long is arrested for his murder. Louisa Cannon suspects she didn’t commit the crime. Although very entertaining, this is the weakest mystery in the series because the plot, which also featured a female theft ring with connections to the murder, was mediocre and predictable.

Fortunately, Fellowes’ debut mystery The Mitford Murders was totally irresistible. Set in 1920, the novel centers on the senseless murder of retired nurse Florence Nightingale Shore and also introduces the reader to 18 year old Louisa Cannon, nursery maid and chaperone to the six Mitford sisters as well as aspiring crime solving sleuth.

While investigating who might have had a motive to kill Nurse Shore, Louisa meets young London police Sergeant Guy Sullivan who later becomes a love interest. I highly recommend The Mitford Murders and The Mitford Scandal because they both successfully blend Agatha Christie style mysteries with a touch of Downton Abbey. I can’t wait for Jessica Fellowes’ fourth book in this series. The Mitford Murders and The Mitford Scandal were definitely both very addictive and absorbing reads. 

After finishing the Mitford Murders mystery series, I became very intrigued with the real Mitford family especially author Nancy Mitford. I really wanted to read her two famous novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate published in 1945 and 1949 respectively but they were only available as e-books at the library. Luckily, I discovered on Amazon Prime Video that the BBC had produced a miniseries of Love in a Cold Climate in 2001. Originally airing on PBS Masterpiece, this program directed by Tom Hooper and screenplay by Deborah Moggach skillfully combines Mitford’s two novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate which focus on the eccentric Radlett family. Set from 1929-1940, the film centers on Linda Radlett, her cousin Fanny and their mutual friend Polly who grow into womanhood by pursuing love interests between the two World Wars. This very entertaining screen adaptation of Mitford’s semi-autobiographical novels authentically captures the fading grandeur of the British aristocracy before World War II. 

After watching Love in a Cold Climate, I still wanted to learn more about Nancy Mitford and her extremely unconventional family. While reading The Mitford Scandal, I discovered that Jessica Fellowes had consulted Laura Thompson’s revealing biography about Nancy Mitford, Life in a Cold Climate for background research. Unfortunately, the St Joseph County Public Library didn’t own it, not even in e-book format. Determined to review it for my blog, I succumbed and bought my first e-book on Amazon.

Since I don’t own a Kindle e-reader or a tablet, I had to read it on my iPhone which made it very challenging for me. I’m a very tactile person and enjoy holding a print book in my hands especially for recreational reading. So flipping pages on my phone screen and not being able to figure out how many chapters the book had beforehand without a table of contents was very frustrating.

Despite these initial setbacks, I’m still happy I got to read Thompson’s rather complicated and unorthodox biography.  Also watching the BBC miniseries before reading Thompson’s comprehensive book helped immensely because  the author uses detailed references to Mitford’s novels to chronicle Nancy Mitford’s life as well as profiling her family’s and especially her five younger sisters’ eccentricities and rather unusual lifestyles.

After I posted my last blog on March 6, Carol’s Comments along with the world turned a dramatic chapter. My blog which I’ve been writing since March 2011 has reached a notable milestone. This issue marks its 40^th post. After considerable thought, I’ve decided to take a break for a while. It has become extremely difficult in the last couple years finding good books and films to create interesting and unusual themes for my readers to enjoy; even more so now that this current crisis has closed the public library with further uncertainty when it will ever be open for full public use again. 

One thing I do know while enduring self-isolation is that books and movies became my treasured constant companions by nurturing, consoling and transporting me to places I might never visit physically. This blog especially during this very strange, surreal time was very therapeutic because it temporarily distracted me from the fear, anxiety and loneliness I and everyone else was experiencing. 

The books and film reviewed in this blog can be found at most local public libraries. My readers in St Joseph County, Indiana can visit the St Joseph Public Library’s web site at sjcpl.org for additional information, Thanks for reading! Until next time, stay safe and well my friends!

Carol's Comments March 2020

Carol’s Comments March 2020

Hello Everyone! Welcome to another issue of Carol’s Comments. After the Christmas holidays, I decided to focus on women’s history and movies (two of my favorite subjects) by reading historical fiction and memoirs (two of my favorite genres) during the winter.

When I finished The Chaperone last fall, the St. Joseph County Public Library’s online catalog suggested I might enjoy reading Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. After skimming through a brief synopsis of the novel, I found the book’s plot very intriguing so I quickly checked out a copy.

Set primarily in 1938 Hollywood, Letts’ compelling novel revolves around Maud Gage Baum, L. Frank Baum’s widow who visits the MGM studio during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. There she meets the young 16 year old star Judy Garland. Letts intertwines the Wizard of Oz movie with detailed flashbacks to Maud Baum’s early life in the late 19^th and early 20^th century as irrepressible feminist Matilda Joslyn Gage’s headstrong and very independent daughter.

These flashbacks give the reader a very vivid glimpse of her life by revealing how many elements of it were integrated into her husband’s classic children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz published in 1900. Much like Laura Moriarty’s The Chaperone, the storyline describing Maud Baum’s remarkable life with  L. Frank Baum was much more riveting than the one centering on Judy Garland and Maud’s efforts to protect her as well as the integrity of the character she portrays. 

Finding Dorothy is a very well researched and enchanting historical novel that will delight everyone especially Wizard of Oz book and film fans. I highly recommend it.

Next I chose The Giver of Stars, Jojo Moyes’ new bestselling novel and latest Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick after reading a positive review in The New York Times Book Review. 

Set mainly in Depression era Kentucky, Moyes’ enthralling book centers on Englishwoman Alice Wright who marries American Bennett Van Cleve and then moves to her husband’s family home in Baileyville, a small Kentucky town in Southern Appalachia. Her hasty marriage proves hardly the exciting romantic adventure she imagined. Fortunately, after learning that the WPA plans to establish a system of mobile libraries specifically in Kentucky along with other states, Alice sees this as the perfect opportunity to provide and promote literacy to the local community in Lee County. Officially known as the WPA Packhorse Library, the service delivered books to rural residents by horseback four days a week.

Margery O’Hare, a very unconventional, fiercely independent and outspoken young woman leads the group of five trailblazing librarians who soon become known as “the book ladies.” Despite Alice’s father-in-law Geoffrey Van Cleve’s determined and nefarious efforts to interfere and possibly shut down the Packhorse Library, the program ultimately prevails and thrives. Furthermore, these intrepid librarians also successfully and cleverly solve a murder mystery that unjustly implicated their friend and leader Margery.

Filled with many colorful and multidimensional characters, The Giver of Stars paints a very realistic and fascinating portrait of life in 1930’s Kentucky by accurately describing a little known WPA program that enriched people’s lives through the power of books and reading. The WPA’s Packhorse Library service existed from 1935-1943. At most, it brought books to more than 100,000 rural residents.

I’ve loved Julie Andrews ever since I saw Mary Poppins as a child in 1964. In fact, my mother let me stay up late and watch the Academy Awards when Andrews won the Best Actress Oscar for the role. So when I learned from a New York Times By the Book interview that the actress had recently published a new autobiography, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, I definitely knew I had to read it.

Andrews second memoir written with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, chronicles the singer/actress’ Hollywood years from 1963 through 1986. 

The best parts of the book extensively and lovingly focus on her experiences filming Mary Poppins and then The Sound of Music released in 1964 and 1965 respectively. Although I enjoyed reading about her later films like Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hawaii and Victor/Victoria directed by her second husband Blake Edwards, I found the chapters which concentrated on her personal life (especially with Edwards) rather tiresome and a bit boring. 

Fortunately, Andrews’ memoir does feature a marvelous introduction that extensively recaps her life from musical child prodigy through her London and Broadway stage career in The Boy Friend and her respective memorable roles as Eliza Doolittle and Guinevere in My Fair Lady and Camelot. This section is most helpful for people who haven’t read her first memoir Home. Despite its flaws, Home Work is the definitive autobiography for all Julie Andrews fans.

The books reviewed in this blog can be found at most local public libraries. My readers in St Joseph County, Indiana can visit the St Joseph County Public Library’s web site at sjcpl.org for additional information, Thanks for reading! See you all next time.