Barry Stewart Levy's Blog, page 6
July 5, 2020
"The Hermitage"
A while ago I either came across on my own or was told about a blog/website called "The Hermitage." It is a magical place to visit, created by artist and storyteller Rima Staines who lives with her family in what appears to be a fairly isolated coastal area in England.
When I recently revisited her site, I came across a photo that I thought would be a perfect cover illustration for the book I am currently writing. So about two weeks ago I sent her an email asking for permission to use that photograph. Unfortunately I never received a response. My thought now is to wait a couple of weeks and reach out to her again, this time with the specific photo included in my email. Or maybe not. Maybe just leave well enough alone. Obviously if she were interested, she would have gotten back to me. Either way, though, I would have appreciated a response. But after looking at her website again today, I almost feel as if I would be encroaching upon her solitary lifestyle. I had written her a kind and respectful email; and I want to continue to show her that same kindness and respect. So perhaps I will go through some photos that I myself have taken and see if I can come across one that works well for my book's cover.
But do check out "The Hermitage." You'll see what I mean about it being a magical place to visit.
When I recently revisited her site, I came across a photo that I thought would be a perfect cover illustration for the book I am currently writing. So about two weeks ago I sent her an email asking for permission to use that photograph. Unfortunately I never received a response. My thought now is to wait a couple of weeks and reach out to her again, this time with the specific photo included in my email. Or maybe not. Maybe just leave well enough alone. Obviously if she were interested, she would have gotten back to me. Either way, though, I would have appreciated a response. But after looking at her website again today, I almost feel as if I would be encroaching upon her solitary lifestyle. I had written her a kind and respectful email; and I want to continue to show her that same kindness and respect. So perhaps I will go through some photos that I myself have taken and see if I can come across one that works well for my book's cover.
But do check out "The Hermitage." You'll see what I mean about it being a magical place to visit.
July 4, 2020
On Rereading "Dracula"
I very much enjoyed "Dracula" when I first read it many years ago. I still recall one of the black and white illustrations of a woman screaming outside of the Count's castle, "Give me back my child, you monster!"
I recently reread Stoker's novel. It is still a good book, well written and entertaining. But this time I found the language stilted, especially the words uttered in broken English by Doctor Van Helsing. Also, the text in this particular edition goes down to the very bottom of the page. I found this visually very annoying and distracting. (Was the publisher trying to save paper?) And finally there is a terrible error on the book's cover, depicting Dracula with his shadow against the wall behind him. As every admirer of horror fiction knows, vampires do not cast their shadows! Arrrgh!
I recently reread Stoker's novel. It is still a good book, well written and entertaining. But this time I found the language stilted, especially the words uttered in broken English by Doctor Van Helsing. Also, the text in this particular edition goes down to the very bottom of the page. I found this visually very annoying and distracting. (Was the publisher trying to save paper?) And finally there is a terrible error on the book's cover, depicting Dracula with his shadow against the wall behind him. As every admirer of horror fiction knows, vampires do not cast their shadows! Arrrgh!
June 26, 2020
Book Review #108
"Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life"
by Twyla Tharp
A while ago I had read Twyla Tharp's excellent and inspiring book "The Creative Habit." So I was really looking forward to attending her talk and book signing for "Keep It Moving" at Symphony Space. Unfortunately she dealt with each of the book's twelve chapters by rote and in a perfunctory manner. She answered some questions and then sat on the stage as the audience lined up to get copies signed. I was second on line and had both of her books with me. When it was my turn, I stepped forward, greeted her and handed her both books. Oh, she said, I thought I'd be signing only one. Not the response I expected. Then she asked me what from her talk stood out for me. I was on the spot and could only think of saying that inspiration and passion are essential in creating art of any kind. No response. She handed me back my books. I thanked her and left the stage. So, not a very pleasant experience.
However, having recently celebrated a major birthday, I thought her latest book might provide me with some inspiration and helpful tips about moving forward in life while getting older. In short, it is a lovely book. Her voice, strong, encouraging and feisty, comes across on every page. Also, Simon and Schuster did a beautiful job in putting the book together. So I highly recommend it.
I guess sometimes you're better off not meeting your "idols." Like when I met Ian McEwan at a reading and book signing at Hunter College...but I think I'll save that for another time.
by Twyla Tharp
A while ago I had read Twyla Tharp's excellent and inspiring book "The Creative Habit." So I was really looking forward to attending her talk and book signing for "Keep It Moving" at Symphony Space. Unfortunately she dealt with each of the book's twelve chapters by rote and in a perfunctory manner. She answered some questions and then sat on the stage as the audience lined up to get copies signed. I was second on line and had both of her books with me. When it was my turn, I stepped forward, greeted her and handed her both books. Oh, she said, I thought I'd be signing only one. Not the response I expected. Then she asked me what from her talk stood out for me. I was on the spot and could only think of saying that inspiration and passion are essential in creating art of any kind. No response. She handed me back my books. I thanked her and left the stage. So, not a very pleasant experience.
However, having recently celebrated a major birthday, I thought her latest book might provide me with some inspiration and helpful tips about moving forward in life while getting older. In short, it is a lovely book. Her voice, strong, encouraging and feisty, comes across on every page. Also, Simon and Schuster did a beautiful job in putting the book together. So I highly recommend it.
I guess sometimes you're better off not meeting your "idols." Like when I met Ian McEwan at a reading and book signing at Hunter College...but I think I'll save that for another time.
February 14, 2020
Book Review #107
Poems of New York
edited by Elizabeth Schmidt and Kevin Young
How appropriate that I finished reading this love letter to New York on Valentine's Day! It's a lovely book with poems by well-known writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman and Audre Lorde as well as by lesser known poets. Also, a very nice touch is the gold cloth bookmark. I very much enjoyed reading this compilation of poetry dedicated to New York City.
edited by Elizabeth Schmidt and Kevin Young
How appropriate that I finished reading this love letter to New York on Valentine's Day! It's a lovely book with poems by well-known writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman and Audre Lorde as well as by lesser known poets. Also, a very nice touch is the gold cloth bookmark. I very much enjoyed reading this compilation of poetry dedicated to New York City.
September 29, 2019
Book Review #106
Machines Like Me
by Ian McEwan
I have now read thirteen of McEwan's novels. This one falls somewhere in the middle. He is obviously very intelligent and writes very well, but I wanted to like this latest work more than I did. The story line is intriguing: Charlie buys Adam, a handsome, sentient robot. He and his girlfriend Miranda program Adam. And, as you would expect, a love triangle ensues. Miranda is haunted by a terrible secret that she keeps from Charlie. There is also an adoption subplot. All of this is well and good and completely held my interest. Unfortunately McEwan digresses with long-winded passages about politics, the British economy, the Falklands War, etc. Also, although the plot takes place in the 1980's, McEwan rewrites history: Kennedy survives the attack in Dallas, we have the internet service and the Beatles are recording again. Frankly, I found much of this, except for Alan Turing working with A.I. and residing with his male lover, frivolous and annoying. I think McEwan could have streamlined his novel by about 75 pages, leaving the reader with an engrossing story that is at times suspenseful and humorous yet in the end mournful and thought provoking.
by Ian McEwan
I have now read thirteen of McEwan's novels. This one falls somewhere in the middle. He is obviously very intelligent and writes very well, but I wanted to like this latest work more than I did. The story line is intriguing: Charlie buys Adam, a handsome, sentient robot. He and his girlfriend Miranda program Adam. And, as you would expect, a love triangle ensues. Miranda is haunted by a terrible secret that she keeps from Charlie. There is also an adoption subplot. All of this is well and good and completely held my interest. Unfortunately McEwan digresses with long-winded passages about politics, the British economy, the Falklands War, etc. Also, although the plot takes place in the 1980's, McEwan rewrites history: Kennedy survives the attack in Dallas, we have the internet service and the Beatles are recording again. Frankly, I found much of this, except for Alan Turing working with A.I. and residing with his male lover, frivolous and annoying. I think McEwan could have streamlined his novel by about 75 pages, leaving the reader with an engrossing story that is at times suspenseful and humorous yet in the end mournful and thought provoking.
September 16, 2019
Brooklyn Book Festival
This Sunday, September 22, the Brooklyn Book Festival returns. I will be with the National Writers Union at Table #621 near Borough Hall. It's fun and free. So come on down!
September 1, 2019
Book Review #105
The Red Pony
by John Steinbeck
A beautiful and mournful coming-of-age tale of a young boy raised on a ranch and the often brutal and heartbreaking lessons he learns from Nature and Life itself.
by John Steinbeck
A beautiful and mournful coming-of-age tale of a young boy raised on a ranch and the often brutal and heartbreaking lessons he learns from Nature and Life itself.
July 7, 2019
Book Review #104
Martha: a poem
by Garrett Buhl Robinson
Whether describing a baby in the womb, an infant taking her first steps or a dancer performing on stage, his writing is beautiful, visceral and exhilarating.
by Garrett Buhl Robinson
Whether describing a baby in the womb, an infant taking her first steps or a dancer performing on stage, his writing is beautiful, visceral and exhilarating.
June 28, 2019
Book Review #103
Tender Is the Night
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald's lovely portrait of a doomed marriage, mirroring his own with his wife Zelda, including his alcoholism and her mental illness. Much of the novel is lyrically and floridly written, interspersing scenes of love, lust, betrayal, recrimination and loss, as well as satiric digs at the upper classes drinking and dining and sunning themselves on the French and Italian Riviera. While it is not on the level of "The Great Gatsby," his themes and use of language have sparked my interest to read "This Side of Paradise" and some of his other works.
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald's lovely portrait of a doomed marriage, mirroring his own with his wife Zelda, including his alcoholism and her mental illness. Much of the novel is lyrically and floridly written, interspersing scenes of love, lust, betrayal, recrimination and loss, as well as satiric digs at the upper classes drinking and dining and sunning themselves on the French and Italian Riviera. While it is not on the level of "The Great Gatsby," his themes and use of language have sparked my interest to read "This Side of Paradise" and some of his other works.
June 14, 2019
Book Review #102
Mah Jongg Mondays: a memoir about friendship, love, and faith
by Fern Bernstein
What a wonderful book! Fern Bernstein's debut memoir melds mah jongg, mortality, sisterhood and spirituality into a touchingly honest exploration of her personal path in life, as she deals with her husband's life-threatening illness, while relying upon her faith and friendships to strengthen and guide her along her journey. An enjoyable and life-affirming read.
by Fern Bernstein
What a wonderful book! Fern Bernstein's debut memoir melds mah jongg, mortality, sisterhood and spirituality into a touchingly honest exploration of her personal path in life, as she deals with her husband's life-threatening illness, while relying upon her faith and friendships to strengthen and guide her along her journey. An enjoyable and life-affirming read.
