So I finished reading Loving Frank and was not prepared for the tragic ending from real life.  I wish that I had heeded my initial peek at Wikipedia for the actual real events, but I got so caught up in the characters that I actually finished the book and read the afterword by Nancy Horan, only to remember that it was a dreadful conclusion.

Although, I'm glad that I read the book that had been so well written and engaging, despite my initial objections to the apparent immorality.  Actually the questions of true love and women's independence kind of trumped the initial chagrin, and I found myself agreeing  with the author about the significance of Mamah Borthwick's story.

In any case, the events of the story led me to believe that celebrity is a silly idea, and that people should never be so up in other people's business.  I still believe that Frank Lloyd Wright did great work, and now I'm just so sorry to hear of the tragedy in his sphere.

In light of ensuring that everyone stays comfortable, the purpose of this post is to remind everyone to check out the true events of this novel first, or to at least proceed with caution.  I think that if I had assimilated the words on the back flap appropriately, I never would have been so shocked.  Or heeded the wisdom of the Wikipedia.   In any case, I'm truly a rube, and maybe this is why folks should not drop out of architecture school prematurely, and maybe we all should just do our homework.

So, yeah, really enjoyed The Art Forger, as would anyone who loves to think about making art, or just reading books about it.

What was even more exciting was Angelopolis, the follow-up to Angelology, both by Danielle Trussoni.  Fantastic, yet fascinatingly sound.  What interesting characters, and of course, angelic events.  I don't want to give it away by trying to explain it!

I'm also behind the times reading Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan.  Actually I'm usually behind the times with my reading selections, if that hasn't been noticed.  What is so irritating about Loving Frank is the marital infidelity, so I haven't just finished the book, and am drawing it out unnecessarily because of my morals.  Yet I can't deny being curious about the outcome of these characters, despite my bitterness over not becoming an architect my own self.

Thankfully!  This book has made me realize the limits of my ego, which obviously needs constant stoking, despite my dismay over the questionable morals of a real live genius.  Since I'm clearly not an amazing artistic genius my own self, I'm thankfully free to keep up a silly blog with not outstanding graphics.  Yay!

What I have learned from all of this recent reading is that the most important thing to me right now is to  keep on reading and to maintain a positive attitude.  Seriously!  Really what else is there to do but to smile and to make sure that everybody's comfortable, also with a good book in hand.

Very much enjoyed The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer recently.  She really captured some very endearing characters, that were...interesting.

Now I'm reading The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro.  Not very far into it yet, but you know I like to think about art and imagine canvases (rather than paint on my own, sadly.)  So far it's a pretty good novel, though the characters are not as well, interesting, as in the last book I enjoyed.  Maybe it'll get more intriguing as the adventure heats up.

What to read next?  Am thinking that I really need to pick up some good science fiction.  Though would it be better for my brain to read an actual science book?  We'll see what happens, I suppose.

This is just a quick post.  Didn't want to leave anyone hanging, or thinking that I've given up on the novel adventure of reading.

Why are there so many books and so little time?

Just  finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.  I wish that I had read it all in one sitting, and I almost had, because once I had time to read, I could only put it down for dinner.  It reminds me of an archaic myth that I could only shudder to understand.  In a good way!  It made me think about love, in a very good, innocent way. 

This was a fine transition from the book that I had just finished, that I was grandly deciding was about sex and death, until finished, and then realized that it was so much more.  This was Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller.  It has really amazing characterization that makes the story entirely separate from self, while at the same time it resonates with all the confusion of growing up (that makes novel reading so much fun.)

Maybe both of these books touch upon the mystery of moving from innocence to experience, that I guess is not new to literature.  I want to read more from both authors, though will certainly take my time.  I think tomorrow that I'll check the shelves for Mr. Gaiman, though first of all moving back to nonfiction for a time.

Wow, I just realized how my recent selections sound so much like fairy tales, but I guess that's what interests me.  Maybe that's about all there is.  After the nonfiction, time for imagining space travel or something. 


 

"It is a terrible thing to have loved ones, people to whom you are shackled by whatever bonds make their pain yours."

Debra Dean, The Madonnas of Leningrad, p.148.


yup.

A good book

Today I completed a very good book that I enjoyed.  This is The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean.  What I enjoyed the most about this work was thinking of art and religion or not religion, and most of all of what is lastingly beautiful.

Now I'm somewhat bookless, so hopefully tomorrow something good will come up.
I don't know why I don't always read the current popular thrillers, so maybe I'll try one.  Either that or there shall be something reliably old and popular.

In any case, I hope to make sense of this rainy weather that we have been having through the discovery of what I hope will be an excellent book.  Again this blog is probably way too frivolous, but maybe I'll tell some more people about it. It does help me to keep a record of what I've read recently.  It is so good to read, and I'm thankful both for my eyesight and  for my good friends who are readers, too.

There is a fine quote in the novel mentioned above.  Hopefully I'll find it again in the future.  Actually there were several lovely sentences that made me glad to be reading this book. 

Lazy Susan

Sometimes an animated bit of writing is what one needs to read for peace of mind.  I just finished recently Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley, and it was so good, with the best recipes!  What I really enjoyed was her thoughtful story and great appreciation for nourishment,  Her drawings are so excellent!  So, if one needs to just feel better about humanity, a little animated book might just bring peace of mind.

Am also reading another book that is not necessarily the happiest, but written quite well.  I'll keep you all posted on this one that I won't name quite yet.  Am changing my label for this blog, because I'm truly lazy even though I'm enjoying the holiday, so it's allowable.

Secretly I wish that I had the artistic chops to make an animated book.  Maybe some day, if I can overcome the laziness?