The slim little book was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s ’Vertigo,’ the film about one man’s obsession with a woman who is not what she seems. The slim little book was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s ’Vertigo,’ the film about one man’s obsession with a woman who is not what she seems. It was fascinating to read this as the seed for the film; like Daphne DuMaurier’s short story that inspired ‘The Birds,’ Hitchcock hewed very closely to the source material. Unfortunately, that means that the first 1/3 of the book is a little dull, as Flaviere, the would-be detective, follows Madeleine around Paris at the request of his friend—and her husband—Cevigne, who is concerned about her erratic behavior The book really only picks up when Flaviere rescues her from drowning, and he quickly decides he is in love with her, whatever her mental state. The movie follows the story closes, but the book begins on the eve of the German invasion of France in WWII, which intensifies the sense of impending doom to their relationship. No need for humiliating the filmic best friend Midge in the book, since we do not need a fourth character to provide insight into Flaviere’s interior life—I was happy that doormat Midge was entirely the director’s creation. Not subject to film censors, the book also has a bit of a surprising ending for those familiar with the film. All in all, worth a comparison to Hitchcock’s film, once you slog through the beginning. ...more
This is my first book by Christopher Fowler, the writer who conceived England’s Peculiar Crimes Unit and its detectives, Arthur Bryant and John May. TThis is my first book by Christopher Fowler, the writer who conceived England’s Peculiar Crimes Unit and its detectives, Arthur Bryant and John May. This book tracked several improbable crimes almost in alternating chapters, and it took a little time and patience to see how they connected up. But the improbable twists in the solution of two of the crimes were worth the wait. And I enjoyed the two quirky main characters. Fun stuff. ...more
As a born-again Democrat, David Brock cannot resist sounding feverish as he outlines the corruption of today’s Supreme Court, its barely concealed conAs a born-again Democrat, David Brock cannot resist sounding feverish as he outlines the corruption of today’s Supreme Court, its barely concealed connections to right wing Christian nationalism, and the ways in which these developments have benefited Donald Trump. The tone is somewhat off putting for someone like me who doesn’t want to be drawn into tit-for-tat debates or what-aboutism, but I do understand his passion, on the eve of what might be the most consequential election of my lifetime. Brock traces the increasing tight relationships among the Federalist Society, Opus Dei, and Leonard Leo as intentional shapers of the Court; from that standpoint, the book reminded me a little of Jane Mayer’s ‘Dark Money,’ in that right wing intellectuals know how to play the long game and are patient enough to do it. The book revisits the very painful treatment received by Anita Hill at the hands of senators who should have known better, during the Clarence Thomas hearing. Once Trump accommodated these nationalist influencers by appointing Kavanagh, his hearing was Thomas revisited; Brock recounts the way the evidence was ignored (again) in that instance. As someone who was taken in by Thomas, Brock saves special ire for him—justifiably—and in the end he outlines eight counts for impeachment against the justice. These range by failure to disclose to conflict of interest, thanks to his activist wife’s actions. It’s a clear cut case, but will anyone take it up? In the meantime, the Supreme Court is one more American institution that seems undeserving of the American people’s faith and respect. ...more
Hoffman brings his extensive experience reporting from around the world to bear on the phenomenon of Trump rallies. He hopes to treat the attendees thHoffman brings his extensive experience reporting from around the world to bear on the phenomenon of Trump rallies. He hopes to treat the attendees the way an anthropologist would, dispassionately and taking them at their word, but after ingratiating himself with a group of super-fans, the guys who are at the head of every line, he finds it more and more difficult to feel any sympathy with their racism, xenophobia, and self-pity. About 1/3 of the way through, his disgust began to feel depressing and off-putting, but he stuck with the project and so did I. I was glad I did. The closest analogue he found was the great religious awakenings that have taken place in the U.S. periodically throughout our history. “To read descriptions of revivals from the 1700s and the 1800s, in which the preacher painted such a dark portrait of sin that people died only to be reborn by their faith, is to read an only slightly exaggerated description of a Trump rally,” he writes (161). There are plenty of frightening comparisons to Hitler’s fascism as well. Ultimately, he concludes that these are (mostly) men looking for community and affirmation, but mainly in the unhealthiest way, so they are bound to be disappointed yet again. Read a newspaper, he exhorts them, use your critical faculties to really examine the guy you’re following. Unfortunately, they would rather be right than enlightened and that’s the problem. ...more
Delightful reminiscences by Judy Dench as she relates her many, many roles in plays by “the man who pays the rent,” William Shakespeare. It helps to hDelightful reminiscences by Judy Dench as she relates her many, many roles in plays by “the man who pays the rent,” William Shakespeare. It helps to have a detailed knowledge of Shakespeare’s body of work—which I don’t—but the book tries to help the uninitiated reader catch up. And Dench is an iconoclast, never hesitating to break stereotypes about actors’ approaches to their work. She is not overly intellectual, nor is she at all a method actor, but has a workmanlike ethic about her craft, believing that an actor’s first duty is to bring to life what the writer put on the page, without reading too much into a character. And she offers some funny anecdotes about her years onstage, such as the time she dropped a suggestive note in the lap of a man in the front row, mistaking him for an old friend. Lovely spending time with her. ...more
It is 1851 and British spinster Charlotte Morrison is accompanying her brother’s family on a pleasure cruise of the Rhine River, as a babysitter-compaIt is 1851 and British spinster Charlotte Morrison is accompanying her brother’s family on a pleasure cruise of the Rhine River, as a babysitter-companion for their fifteen-year-old daughter Ellie. Charlotte encounters a man on shipboard who vaguely reminds her of a lost love, someone she might have married years ago if not for her family’s disapproval. The growing friendship between this lookalike and her family becomes the occasion for Charlotte’s self-examination, as she tries to determine her next steps since her employer recently died. Returning to her family now also means capitulating to their plans for her life and renouncing—yet again—her independence. As the cruise continues, the novel becomes a meditation on female self-determination and the “problem” of unmarried women of a certain age. The fact that JD Vance still feels empowered to regularly pontificate on appropriate roles for single women demonstrates that men are still intimidated by unattached women. The language and subtlety of this novel makes it hard to believe it was written in 1980. A bit less of the scenery than I would have wished, but otherwise a rich and subtle book. ...more
I picked up this book after hearing one of the authors—I can’t remember which one—on the ‘Hidden Brain’ podcast, and the book did not disappoint. FarbI picked up this book after hearing one of the authors—I can’t remember which one—on the ‘Hidden Brain’ podcast, and the book did not disappoint. Farb and Segal call upon new understandings of the significance of the senses in brain function and behavior to outline new ways of getting yourself unstuck when old ways of thinking and behaving are no longer working. Habitual thought and behavior—what they call the DMN, default mode network—are necessary to survival and day-to-day functioning, because humans could not use conscious thought to perform every daily task: brushing your teeth, driving to work, fixing dinner. But overreliance on the DMN can result in a life void of meaning, feeling, and ultimately, satisfaction. The book outlines ways that engaging the senses can enriched and deepen people’s experience of life, reigniting passion and shaking up patterns that have become too rote and predictable. For me, recent experiments with forest bathing demonstrated the usefulness of some of these techniques of shaking up life and thought. Well worth a try for anyone who feels as if they are languishing or just wants to deepen engagement with the world. ...more
What a strange little collection of short stories by Rendell—they definitely left me wanting more. Most revolved around women who take decisive actionWhat a strange little collection of short stories by Rendell—they definitely left me wanting more. Most revolved around women who take decisive action when their choices are limited, often with drastic consequences for those around them. One exception is the title story, in which a writer develops an elaborate fantasy about the cleaner in the flat he has borrowed, until she makes the mistake of giving him a gift he considers in poor taste, shattering his dream. Sometimes the endings are head-scratchers; it tools me a minute to make sense of ‘Weeds.’ But each story represents a puzzle of a life worth unraveling. ...more
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