I find I can hardly finish my New Yorker before the next one arrives on Thursday of each week here in E Bay SF.
In the October 26 issue, I read Leo Robson's "Delusions of Candor", yet another portrait of Gore Vidal's arrogance, as perceived by others. Was reminded of "Burr" today in a bookstore in Berkeley when someone wanted a new biography out, "Aaron Burr", of the former one, as Burr is Vidal's relative. What is fascinating about this account is the material about him and Anais Nin! It is the thread which ties the piece together and is a revelation.
Then, there is Elizabeth Kolbert's review of the new book about Humbold, "The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World" (Knopf) by Andrea Wulf, an author and dweisgn historian who lives in Britain. She argues for the relevancy of his ideas, especially the "Green ones". I know who Humboldt is; he was connected with plant exploration with Joseph Banks, and Cook, and so on... and inspired travellers to discover South America. It is a lovely review counting Goethe and Darwin as admirers and friends. He was an early environmentalist and interested in all phenomenoma. A celebrated naturalist.
Under BRIEFLY NOTED, there is a short review of "Flood of Fire" Amitav Ghosh's new book in the Ibis Triology, in 1839 during the Opium Wars.
In The Current Cinema, by Anthony Lane, "Bridge of Spies" with Tom Hanks and Amy Ryan and Mark Rylance gets a great review...as it is Spielberg's collaboration with the Coen brothers and the result is enjoyable and skillful, and good timing. Looking forward to it. I am not big on detective stories, but I really do love a good espionage story, which the British do so well...so good for Spielberg to add the American touch. Essentially, the recent picture with Robert Redford and dear Cate Blanchette, who I think is fabulous, does not make the grade...it is about the imploding of 60 minutes when they made an effort to uncover military history secrets of George Bush. The final sentence of the review says: "The path of wishful thinking, though leads awfully close to mush". OUCH!
I am not finished yet, but tomorrow is Thursday! Under Life and Letters, there was an article by Masha Gessen "The Memory Keeper" about the Nobel Prize being awarded to Svetalana Alexievich which is heart rendering, and yes, no doubt she has captured the souls of the people who are forgotten in the disasters she describes, including Chernobyl poisoning, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. A courageous voice, rewarded. She is the first to receive the Noble prize for literature, based on interviews.
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In the October 26 issue, I read Leo Robson's "Delusions of Candor", yet another portrait of Gore Vidal's arrogance, as perceived by others. Was reminded of "Burr" today in a bookstore in Berkeley when someone wanted a new biography out, "Aaron Burr", of the former one, as Burr is Vidal's relative. What is fascinating about this account is the material about him and Anais Nin! It is the thread which ties the piece together and is a revelation.
Then, there is Elizabeth Kolbert's review of the new book about Humbold, "The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World" (Knopf) by Andrea Wulf, an author and dweisgn historian who lives in Britain. She argues for the relevancy of his ideas, especially the "Green ones". I know who Humboldt is; he was connected with plant exploration with Joseph Banks, and Cook, and so on... and inspired travellers to discover South America. It is a lovely review counting Goethe and Darwin as admirers and friends. He was an early environmentalist and interested in all phenomenoma. A celebrated naturalist.
Under BRIEFLY NOTED, there is a short review of "Flood of Fire" Amitav Ghosh's new book in the Ibis Triology, in 1839 during the Opium Wars.
In The Current Cinema, by Anthony Lane, "Bridge of Spies" with Tom Hanks and Amy Ryan and Mark Rylance gets a great review...as it is Spielberg's collaboration with the Coen brothers and the result is enjoyable and skillful, and good timing. Looking forward to it. I am not big on detective stories, but I really do love a good espionage story, which the British do so well...so good for Spielberg to add the American touch. Essentially, the recent picture with Robert Redford and dear Cate Blanchette, who I think is fabulous, does not make the grade...it is about the imploding of 60 minutes when they made an effort to uncover military history secrets of George Bush. The final sentence of the review says: "The path of wishful thinking, though leads awfully close to mush". OUCH!
I am not finished yet, but tomorrow is Thursday! Under Life and Letters, there was an article by Masha Gessen "The Memory Keeper" about the Nobel Prize being awarded to Svetalana Alexievich which is heart rendering, and yes, no doubt she has captured the souls of the people who are forgotten in the disasters she describes, including Chernobyl poisoning, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. A courageous voice, rewarded. She is the first to receive the Noble prize for literature, based on interviews.
.
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