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BOOK REVIEW: My Brilliant Friends & the Neapolitan Quartet, by Elena Ferrante

The scorching eye of Ferrante does not spare us the pain – “pain” is not the right word. Pain is sharp, localized. The poverty in this book is the relentless force of the rack, slowly tearing apart normality, perpetrated by the victims as fully as the torturers. Nobody escapes responsibility in this book.

BOOK REVIEW: OLD FILTH

Edward Feathers, known as Old Filth (it is said that he invented the term F-ail I-n L-ondon, T-ry, H-ong K-ong), or Dear Old Filth in his dotage, is the epitome of the British character, stiff upper lip, impeccably and appropriately dressed, reliably well mannered, takes his licks without complaint, and keeps his secrets to himself.Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW: OLD FILTH”

ARGENTINA: Security concerns

On this Christmas day, I’m glowing with newfound faith in the goodness of my fellow human beings, no matter where I roam.

ARGENTINA: Security

On this Christmas day, I’m glowing with newfound faith in the goodness of my fellow human beings, no matter where I roam.

IN ARGENTINA: Dogs

Just watching the dogs of Argentina freed my soul. In the park yesterday, near the lake, my daughter and I sat on a bench and watched the dogs play, unleashed. They tussled over palm fronds, tried to take the ball out of each other’s mouth, raced each other for the stick thrown into the water,Continue reading “IN ARGENTINA: Dogs”

ARGENTINA: Dogs

Just watching the dogs of Argentina freed my soul.

BOOK REVIEW: THE ORDER OF THE DAY

THE ORDER OF THE DAY pretends to be about February 20, 1933, the day when a clique of twenty-four of Germany’s wealthiest businessmen agreed to fund the nearly bankrupt Nazi party, but the book is a modern warning not to entrust matters of state to powerful and wealthy businessmen whose very success depends upon flexible morals and a spiritual vacuum.

Who does the dusting?

Who does the chores in your house?

Is Sixty Too Old to Climb a New Mountain?

When I was 60 years old, seven of us decided to climb Blue Mountain in the Adirondacks. I’d done it before and wasn’t too enthusiastic, but here was a challenge. Could I still do it? Rock climbing isn’t my favorite activity, but what else would I do that day? Sit at home and read aContinue reading “Is Sixty Too Old to Climb a New Mountain?”