Alias's 2024 Book Challenge

[Alias Reader]

Finished another prompt.
✅42- audio book
Yellowface narrator Helen Laser

Laser did a wonderful job as the narrator. I'll write up a review in The Book Salon Folder

[Rachel]

:). I was especially intrigued by the Queen of Fashion but sadly my library does not have it.

[madrano]

Rachel wrote: ":). I was especially intrigued by the Queen of Fashion but sadly my library does not have it."

Isn't that the way?!

[Alias Reader]

I finished another prompt.

✅24- A play
Our Town

[John]

Very nice! I saw the play years ago.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, John. I've never seen it performed.

[Lindsey]

How was it Alias? Did you feel differently at all, reading it again? I often wonder how I'll perceive or experience a book/play/poem years after a first reading.

[Alias Reader]

Lindsey wrote: "How was it Alias? Did you feel differently at all, reading it again? I often wonder how I'll perceive or experience a book/play/poem years after a first reading."

I enjoyed it. I think perhaps the play may have more impact seeing it performed then reading it.

[madrano]

First of all, congrats on another accomplished prompt!

I felt the filmed version, starring Martha Scott, who originated the role of Emily on Broadway. I felt she did a good job because he over-emoting fit a teenager. LOL. There is a bit of music by Aaron Copeland, as well. If you ever see it, Alias, i'd love to learn your opinion--compare & contrast, so to speak. I saw the film first, so my view was colored.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "First of all, congrats on another accomplished prompt!

I felt the filmed version, starring Martha Scott, who originated the role of Emily on Broadway. I felt she did a good job because he over-emo..."

YouTube has the play with Paul Newman. It was good.

Our Town 2003 Broadway Production Paul Newman as Stage Manager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc1o9...

Here is the 1940 movie
Our Town (1940) Drama, Romance Full Length Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ImA...

[Rachel]

It is on the surface such a simple story but has much going for it.

[madrano]

Thanks for the links, Alias. I remember the Newman version (i think i saw it on PBS) but i like the 1940 more.

Rachel, i agree. Thornton Wilder was brilliant to capture that simple idea into a play.

[Lindsey]

Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "First of all, congrats on another accomplished prompt!

I felt the filmed version, starring Martha Scott, who originated the role of Emily on Broadway. I felt she did a good job bec..."

Thanks for sharing those links. I somehow hadn't realized it was a movie as well.

[Alias Reader]

You're welcome !

[Rachel]

I am listening to A Death in the Family
which in some ways reminds me of Our Town. It has the old time all American feel to it.

[madrano]

I've never read anything by James Agee but know his name from crossword puzzles. A bit of shame, there, as he is a Pulitzer winner.

[Alias Reader]

I finished another prompt !

35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life

I'll write up a review in the Book Salon.

[James]

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt ! 35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life I'll write up a review in the Book..."

Congratulations, Alias, you are humming right along there -- almost a quarter of the way through these prompts and February isn't even done yet!

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, James. I'm pretty happy with my progress. Of course, I'm knocking off the easy ones. ;)

[madrano]

Nicely done, Alias. Congrats. I didn't realize how far along you were until James's comment. Cool!

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt !

35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life

I'll write up a review in the Book..."

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt !

35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life

I'll write up a review in the Book..."

That sounds like a very interesting book.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, deb.

Rachel, I liked the first half but not the second half. You can read my review in the Book Salon.

[Rachel]

Will do. I have trouble imagining how hard it would be to navigate the world without sound.

[Alias Reader]

Rachel wrote: "Will do. I have trouble imagining how hard it would be to navigate the world without sound."

That's one thing that I felt may be a bit disingenuous or very odd at the least. When he and his twin were born the parents were thrilled that they were also deaf. Again and again in the book he says he's happy and wouldn't change a thing if he could.

[madrano]

Interesting. I recall a friend of ours who was deaf, his wife told us they were glad when their baby showed signs of hearing.

One night we went dancing with the same friend. I was surprised when they got up to dance. The music had a beat & he could feel the vibrations of that, so had a rhythm to follow. Neat. And what a blast they were having.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "Interesting. I recall a friend of ours who was deaf, his wife told us they were glad when their baby showed signs of hearing.

One night we went dancing with the same friend. I was surprised when ..."

I think your friends reaction would be normal, deb. Why DiMarco's parents would want their child to have a disability and all the anguish that comes with that is beyond me.

[Rachel]

This thread made me remember that growing up a friend's aunt and uncle were non hearing and they had a hearing child. For sure, who would want their child to miss out on hearing.

[madrano]

I'm baffled, i'll admit.

[Alias Reader]

Another prompt bites the dust ! :)

✅40- Dystopian
Station Eleven

This is a very popular book judging by Amazon. I, on the other hand, wasn't impressed. I'll write a review in the Book Salon Folder.
Rating 2/5--- Did not meet expectations

[John]

Years ago. I was in an interpreter-training program. For those of us who came to realize that an interpreter career was not in the cards (shall we say), we received an Associate's Degree in Deaf Studies for the time and money invested instead. The Deaf Community considers themselves a distinct cultural group, so it's possible (I stress that term) some deaf parents might see hearing children as different/outsiders. Cochlear implant surgery began around the time of my studies, with some deaf people not thrilled about it, definitely controversial.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Years ago. I was in an interpreter-training program. For those of us who came to realize that an interpreter career was not in the cards (shall we say), we received an Associate's Degree in Deaf St..."

That is so interesting, John. The Roundabout Theater in NYC has a certain plays where they have interpreters for the deaf. They also have "GalaPro, a free app for on-demand captioning and audio description that you can use on your personal smartphone device. GalaPro makes theatre accessible for patrons who are hearing or sight impaired, or just don't want to miss a word of the show."

So hopefully things are improving for the deaf community.

Yes. The cochlear implants are controversial in the deaf community.

Still, in the book we are told of the many hardships faced. For example, the father was in the hospital, I think was in the 1990's. And the doctor refused, yes refused, to write down what he was trying to communicate about the condition of the father who was in the intensive care unit.

The father was also was poorly educated and faced such hardships he became an alcoholic and became depressed and violent to his family. He later left the family due to his issues and wasn't in the author's life much.

The author, DiMarco, is now 34 years old. So we are not talking a super long time ago. He was reprimanded in school if he used sign language as they wanted him to read lips and wear a hearing aide. He said he could only get maybe 10-30 % of what was being said. It was a terrible experience for him and no doubt hindered his education.

I understand that ASL is a rich language all it's own and the community bond they have is wonderful. However, I still don't see being happy your child has a disability with all the hardships they will face in life like the one DiMarco discusses in the book.

One thing I wasn't aware, according to the author, that hearing people who study ASL for years wont be a proficient as a 5 year old child born deaf who learns to sign at a young age.

[madrano]

John wrote: "Years ago. I was in an interpreter-training program. For those of us who came to realize that an interpreter career was not in the cards (shall we say), we received an Associate's Degree in Deaf St..."

Thank you for this insight, John. The culture of those who are born deaf is different, so "mixed marriages" are an opportunity for the hearing community to learn. Good point, well made.

Btw, what a neat experience for you.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "One thing I wasn't aware, according to the author, that hearing people who study ASL for years wont be a proficient as a 5 year old child born deaf who learns to sign at a young age.."

This makes a sort of sense to me. I learned ASL in the late '70s. To this day i use the signs i learned but the language is dynamic, so many of those signs are already old. Likely, it's not that another adult would understand my sign but a 5 year old might have to guess. It's as simple as this--"who", when i learned was moving your pointer finger in a circle/O, in front of your lips. Today it is putting your thumb on your chin, and moving your pointer up & down, off to the side. Like this--
https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/page...

It makes sense, as readers can see the formation of the verbal "who", which was blocked in the sign i learned.

And so it goes. The constant adapting probably makes it tough for adults to keep up at times.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "Another prompt bites the dust ! :)

✅40- Dystopian
Station Eleven

This is a very popular book judging by Amazon. I, on the other hand, wasn't impressed. I'll write a review in th..."

Hurrah for you, Alias. Congratulations on succeeding with this one.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "John wrote: "Years ago. I was in an interpreter-training program. For those of us who came to realize that an interpreter career was not in the cards (shall we say), we received an Associate's Degr..."

It is excellent that the world (even slowly) is trying to make adaptations so that non hearing people can more fully participate in life. Some of those adjustments would be a boon to seniors who can hear but not well. (This includes yours truly)

[madrano]

Ditto, Rachel. One thing i've learned from watching my (now 97 year old) hearing impaired mother-in-law is that we should learn sign language NOW. By the time we realized her hearing aid wasn't going to give her much relief, her memory was too bad to begin teaching her sign language. She just kept forgetting the signs.

Just something to consider.

[Alias Reader]

My niece taught her infant a few signs so he could communicate. For example, milk, more, all done. She would sign and say the word.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "My niece taught her infant a few signs so he could communicate. For example, milk, more, all done. She would sign and say the word."

As i learned sign, i did the same with our daughter. To this day she remembers the signs for "More Milk, Please." Love that.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Ditto, Rachel. One thing i've learned from watching my (now 97 year old) hearing impaired mother-in-law is that we should learn sign language NOW. By the time we realized her hearing aid wasn't goi..."

You are so right. I wonder even at my age, 71, if I would be able to remember signs.

[John]

My mother has a friend who suddenly went deaf in her 90s. The recommended cochlear implant restored much, though not all, of her hearing to the point that she can carry on phone conversations and speak one-on-one with others, group chatter in, say, a restaurant would prove challenging.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "My mother has a friend who suddenly went deaf in her 90s. The recommended cochlear implant restored much, though not all, of her hearing to the point that she can carry on phone conversations and s..."

Being hard of hearing in the elderly is linked to dementia.

"In a study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, Johns Hopkins expert Frank Lin, M.D., Ph. D., and his colleagues found that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia."

The Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss | Johns Hopkins Medicine
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healt....



I've read with the popular use of ear buds in younger adults that hearing loss as one ages will be a big problem.

"Irreversible hearing loss can result from loud noises, and if the volume goes too high for too long, you could be at risk for hearing damage. Studies have shown that as many as 1 in 5 young people may already suffer from hearing damage, because of the ubiquitous and constant use of ear buds."

California Hearing Center
https://calhearing.com/ear-buds-may-l....

[madrano]

John wrote: "My mother has a friend who suddenly went deaf in her 90s. The recommended cochlear implant restored much, though not all, of her hearing to the point that she can carry on phone conversations and s..."

Interesting, John. No one recommended such treatment for MIL and her hearing began a good 15 years before her memory failure was an issue. Curious.

You've mentioned a sad part of such stories, phone calls. When calls stop coming in, her intense loneliness increases. At this point one of her children must be in the room when she calls or receives calls, just to make sure all the "settings" are correct. By "settings", i mean her hearing aid on, the phone plugged in and the tv off. Yes, she forgets to turn down the tv.

[Alias Reader]

Deb, I've seen commercials for phones that type out on a screen what the caller is saying. That is in addition to hearing the call as one normally would. It might be something to look into.

I think this may have been the one I saw on the commercial.

Clear Captions
https://clearcaptions.com/google/?utm...

[Rachel]

Technology can sure help people with reduced hearing. In the book I just finished listening to, A Death in the Family,
the grandmother was very isolated because she could not hear.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "Deb, I've seen commercials for phones that type out on a screen what the caller is saying. That is in addition to hearing the call as one normally would. It might be something to look into. ..."

Alias, we tried one of those and this was when we learned she can't really read any more, either. By the time we got the font to a size she could read, the entire process was too slow for her. We tried another after that but she couldn't hear it ring and the print was in red, which she couldn't see, either. Progress in such appliances are being made but apparently they aren't universally usable. *sigh*

Rachel, that book has it correct. It's the isolation which gets to her. I watched my own dad's world shrink to his living room but he could always communicate. With MIL, she can talk but the rest is not working. Her friends would work it out with her but now most of those have gone (dead or transferred eleswhere).

That isolation, btw, coupled with other problems engenders an anger i had seldom seen in the years i've known her. It's caught us all by surprise. Just another way to become isolated.

Other than that, she's very fit. If anything defeats her, it will be her mental health. When we were there last October, she even line-danced, using her walker. It has certainly given her family pause for consideration of our own futures.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote:

By the time we got the font to a size she could read, the entire process was too slow for her. We tried another after that but she couldn't hear it ring and the print was in red, which she couldn't see, either.

When we were there last October, she even line-danced, using her walker. I


Sorry to hear this solution didn't work for her, deb. :(

Pre- pandemic, I took a few line dancing classes at the YMCA. It was fun. A long distance High Five to you MIL !

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Deb, I've seen commercials for phones that type out on a screen what the caller is saying. That is in addition to hearing the call as one normally would. It might be something ..."

People are social animals. When the ability to socialize becomes impossible I would think it would be almost impossible to maintain mental health. I think about that a lot as I am of that age.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "Pre- pandemic, I took a few line dancing classes at the YMCA. It was fun. A long distance High Five to you MIL..."

Thanks, Alias. She was a square dancing queen in the '50s! I love seeing her outfit.

[madrano]

Rachel wrote: "People are social animals. When the ability to socialize becomes impossible I would think it would be almost impossible to maintain mental health. I think about that a lot as I am of that age..."

It is something to consider. I'm a tad of a misanthrope, so sometimes i think i'll be fine. However, intellectually i know i would eventually go off-balance without interaction. My husband would go crazy. He seems to have a need to talk and socializes with anyone who doesn't scowl at him. ;-)

As you wrote, Rachel, it is something to consider, particularly when you reach an age where you think about your "deep" retirement, as my DH & i now call it. Where we will probably end our days is "deep", as we've been retired quite some time but mobile.

[Rachel]

The funny part is that I am fairly solitary. I like reading (of course!) exercising, cooking etc but am so afraid of being lonely. The two do not go together.