Back in the day, when Men Were Men and women were generally more retiring and not as adventurous as they are today, there were Those Women who scandalized, intrigued and caught the imagination of the world by their daring and brave forays into untamed lands and wilderness. I have read biographies and autobiographies of these women and I am fascinated by their achievements and bravery. Many people have seen Out of Africa, based on the book of the same title by Karen Blixen, aka Isak Dinesen. Another book that I found fascinating is West with the Night, by Beryl Markham.
Beryl Markham arrived in East Africa in 1906 at the age of four. Her mother beat a hasty retreat to England, leaving her daughter in the care of her husband, a horse-breeder and trainer. Beryl grew up a child of Africa, spending time with the native children and living in the benign neglect that led to self-reliance that would stand her in good stead in the years to come. Her autobiography is a beautifully written story of her life in East Africa, of the people she encountered and befriended, and of a life filled with adventure and challenge. There is some controversy surrounding the authorship of West with the Night. Markham's third husband claimed to have ghost-written the book, but, no matter, it is still a great read. Anyway, I prefer to think he was jealous of all the attention his ex-wife received upon the book's publication. Friends and lovers abound in the pages and the danger of living in a place over-run with wild animals is never discounted. Her love for Africa and its people is apparent, as well as her acceptance of the inherent risk of living in such a place. Beryl Markham was a very glamorous and accomplished woman, but her life was filled with much sadness and tragedy. Reading West with the Night is a great opportunity to revel in the glorious Africa of a bygone era when so much opportunity existed for those brave enough to face an untamed and unspoiled land. It also gives the reader a chance to reflect on the "what ifs" that hind-sight affords the student of history.
Where do I begin to write about The Lady and the Panda? I suppose I begin with the book's complete title, The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventure of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal. Whew! Henceforth, I will use the abbreviated title. I had no idea, previous to reading this book, that the first giant panda was brought to America in the arms of Ruth Harkness, a fashion designer and socialite. Harkness was determined to find, capture and bring home a panda after her husband, Bill Harkness, died of throat cancer in Shanghai before he could accomplish the task. This story is absolutely amazing. Besides giving a great description of life in China in the 1930's for expatriates and adventurers, it details the incredible expeditions into the wilderness and mountains to find, kill and/or capture all types of wildlife. Granted, it was a different time and people were blissfully ignorant of the folly of wholesale slaughter of exotic species, but it is chilling to read the documentation of these hunting trips. Please understand, I come from a family of sportsmen and hunters. I am not opposed to hunting. I am, however, horrified at the slaughter of wildlife just for the glory of killing. I am also not a big fan of most zoo and animal exhibits. But this story is fascinating. It is, warts and all, a heroic tale of a woman determined to see a task through to the end. Ruth Harkness was a strong and resourceful woman who did what no man had been able to accomplish- to bring a healthy, giant panda out of the wilds of the Chinese mountains and cut through the nightmare of bureaucracy to transport the animal safely to the United States. The methods she used to get from A to Z make a terrific story.
Read The Lady and the Panda, by Vicki Croke. Perhaps you will come to the logical conclusion that I did concerning why it "took a woman to do a man's job." In my opinion, this was NEVER a man's job! Let me know what you think.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Music For Chameleons
For some reason, I really have had a difficult time deciding what book to cover this time. I had finally narrowed it down to two autobiographies. I was researching the authors, about to flip a coin, and decided to take a break to string some beads at my studio. Upon returning home I was spinning my revolving bookcase and my eyes fell upon Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote.
I have always loved Capote's literary style. I read A Christmas Memory when I was in my early teens and I was hooked. The author had a distinctly southern point-of-view and a sweet melancholy that was heart-breaking in its simplicity. My family has deep roots in the South and I could relate to the characters and the landscape painted so beautifully in this slim volume.
Truman Capote was extremely complicated. Just read Breakfast at Tiffany's, In Cold Blood, The Grass Harp, -his range was unbelievable. I must confess, I find some of Capote's writing uneven. But, with all that has been written about his tumultuous life, that is to be expected. He was certainly a creative genius and, like so many gifted artists, tortured and self-destructive.
A few years ago, when my mother was nearing the end of what is euphemistically referred to in our family as "the fourth quarter," I spent a a great deal of time trying to find books to engage her mind and divert her attention from the constant pain she was experiencing. Laura Paige and I were reading lots of Truman Capote books and comparing notes, when we came across Music For Chameleons, a collection of short stories. Now, I rarely read short stories because, well, they are "short." As I stated in an earlier blog, I am always sad to come to the end of a good book. With that in mind, why would I want to invest myself emotionally in a plot and characters that leave me high-and -dry after less than an hour? But, because of my great love for Truman Capote's work, and for my mother's comfort, I read the book. My mother adored Truman Capote and always stated that, given a chance to have a anyone in the world sitting next to her at a dinner party, she would pick him.
Well, reading Music for Chameleons may have been the next best thing. The stories are as wide-ranging and entertaining as, well, as I imagine a conversation with Truman Capote would have been. He writes of his friendship with Marilyn Monroe in A Beautiful Child. Who, better, to explore the emotional torment of a gifted, misunderstood soul, than another gifted, misunderstood soul? Handcarved Coffins is a lengthy and fascinating true-crime story in the style of In Cold Blood. But my favorite story is Music for Chameleons. The descriptive, beautiful prose takes you to a place and time far removed from the present. How much of the story is true, and how much is a product of the author's imagination is not important. It is a lovely story in brilliant colors and images.
My mother was delighted with the book. We had some wonderful conversations about the stories and our impressions. What a gift great writing and good literature are to those who read! Not only are individual readers blessed by what is read, the opportunity to share a treasured story with loved ones and discuss one another's reactions and thoughts is a way to connect when other avenues are closed. Generations are bridged, differences are put aside and conversation can take place on common ground- a love of the printed page.
I have always loved Capote's literary style. I read A Christmas Memory when I was in my early teens and I was hooked. The author had a distinctly southern point-of-view and a sweet melancholy that was heart-breaking in its simplicity. My family has deep roots in the South and I could relate to the characters and the landscape painted so beautifully in this slim volume.
Truman Capote was extremely complicated. Just read Breakfast at Tiffany's, In Cold Blood, The Grass Harp, -his range was unbelievable. I must confess, I find some of Capote's writing uneven. But, with all that has been written about his tumultuous life, that is to be expected. He was certainly a creative genius and, like so many gifted artists, tortured and self-destructive.
A few years ago, when my mother was nearing the end of what is euphemistically referred to in our family as "the fourth quarter," I spent a a great deal of time trying to find books to engage her mind and divert her attention from the constant pain she was experiencing. Laura Paige and I were reading lots of Truman Capote books and comparing notes, when we came across Music For Chameleons, a collection of short stories. Now, I rarely read short stories because, well, they are "short." As I stated in an earlier blog, I am always sad to come to the end of a good book. With that in mind, why would I want to invest myself emotionally in a plot and characters that leave me high-and -dry after less than an hour? But, because of my great love for Truman Capote's work, and for my mother's comfort, I read the book. My mother adored Truman Capote and always stated that, given a chance to have a anyone in the world sitting next to her at a dinner party, she would pick him.
Well, reading Music for Chameleons may have been the next best thing. The stories are as wide-ranging and entertaining as, well, as I imagine a conversation with Truman Capote would have been. He writes of his friendship with Marilyn Monroe in A Beautiful Child. Who, better, to explore the emotional torment of a gifted, misunderstood soul, than another gifted, misunderstood soul? Handcarved Coffins is a lengthy and fascinating true-crime story in the style of In Cold Blood. But my favorite story is Music for Chameleons. The descriptive, beautiful prose takes you to a place and time far removed from the present. How much of the story is true, and how much is a product of the author's imagination is not important. It is a lovely story in brilliant colors and images.
My mother was delighted with the book. We had some wonderful conversations about the stories and our impressions. What a gift great writing and good literature are to those who read! Not only are individual readers blessed by what is read, the opportunity to share a treasured story with loved ones and discuss one another's reactions and thoughts is a way to connect when other avenues are closed. Generations are bridged, differences are put aside and conversation can take place on common ground- a love of the printed page.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Fearful Is Right
As the days are a little longer, a little gloomier, a little colder, curling up in a chair by the fire with a good book may be the best way to spend an evening. What is better on a cold, dark winter night than a really scary tale? I have just the book for those who aren't too afraid of things that "go bump in the night."
Several years ago, when I read Audrey Niffenegger's book The Time Traveler's Wife , I was struck by the amazing originality of the story. It was one of those books I would stay up late into the night reading because the story was riveting. I read so many books that most of them invariably remind me of some other book. There are lots of stories, but, in describing the plot or the characters I can usually refer to some other book for comparison. Not so, with The Time Traveler's Wife. It was so unusual, so gripping a plot, such well-developed characters that I was certain that this Ms. Niffenegger was a One Hit Wonder; a writer with only One Great Novel in her repertoire. I could not have been more mistaken.
I bought Her Fearful Symmetry fully expecting to be disappointed. I can say it is one of the spookiest books I have read it a long time. Identical twins, just out of high school, receive a bequest in their aunt's will. One of the conditions of the bequest is that the girls move from the US to their aunt's flat in London and live there together for one year. There is some bad blood between girls' mother (who is the twin of the departed aunt) and her late sister, so a condition of the will is that the girls live in London without their mother or father or they lose the inheritance. After much hand-wringing and drama, the girls hop on a plane to London to embark on an adventure living in a foreign city, courtesy of their mysterious benefactor.
Things get very creepy very quickly. The girls are not quite normal to begin with- they still dress alike at their advanced age of twindom. One twin is very Alpha, the other, timid and resentful of her bossy sibling. Their aunt's boyfriend, still reeling from his loss, becomes very fixated on the girls. He is a docent at the historical cemetery across the street (are you feeling a chill?) and pretty soon, the story gets very dark indeed.
This is a ghost story. It is a psychological thriller that sneaks up on you on quiet little paws like the ghost-kitten that is an important player in the winding, tortured story. Do not read this book to relax and kick back- it will have you on pins- and- needles until the end. I will say that I figured out the ending before I got there; but I was completely enthralled, horrified and curious to see if my worst fears would be realized. So, if you like stories that have a gothic flavor and make it necessary to leave a night-light on for awhile during and after the reading, I can recommend Her Fearful Symmetry.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Walk in the Woods
Rather than continue to give the impression that all I think about is food and fiction, (although that is fairly close to the truth), I want to write about two of my other loves- travel and nature. One of my favorite travel authors is Bill Bryson. Bryson has written numerous books about his adventures and misadventures traveling the world. His books are informative, irreverent and extremely humorous. I have read many of his travel chronicles and books about language ( this is a very smart man), but my favorite is A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail.
The book traces the process and preparation for an attempt at hiking the Appalachian Trail from it starting point in the mountains of North Georgia, to trail's end in Maine. But, before even beginning his odyssey, Bryson must first run the gauntlet of maps, clothes and camping equipment in a hilarious and bewildering trip to REI. Honestly, not only could I relate completely to the writer's confusion as he tried to process the information given him by camping experts at the store, but his subsequent experiences trying to pack and use the equipment were all-too-familiar. The later addition of a traveling companion from Bryson's past adds to the general hilarity.
But, do not think that this book is merely an account of a bumbling, novice camper with a side-kick who is even more prone to disaster. Bryson is a serious student of history. He traces the history of the Appalachian Trail, its geology, ecology and politics. He shares fascinating and troubling facts about the Trail's management and mismanagement by the Forest Service and the various organizations and agencies that continue to fight turf wars for control of this remarkable byway. Anyone who loves to wander, just walking for walking's sake, MUST read this book. The descriptions are awe-inspiring, frightening, laughable, tragic and dramatic.
The Appalachian Trail is a national treasure. If you love natural history, hiking, camping, pushing your limits, this book is for you. If you have no desire to get any closer to nature than flipping to the Discovery Channel, this book is for you, too. If you love to laugh about people putting themselves unwittingly into experiences that they are not even remotely equipped to handle, read this book. It is Bill Bryson at his best.
The book traces the process and preparation for an attempt at hiking the Appalachian Trail from it starting point in the mountains of North Georgia, to trail's end in Maine. But, before even beginning his odyssey, Bryson must first run the gauntlet of maps, clothes and camping equipment in a hilarious and bewildering trip to REI. Honestly, not only could I relate completely to the writer's confusion as he tried to process the information given him by camping experts at the store, but his subsequent experiences trying to pack and use the equipment were all-too-familiar. The later addition of a traveling companion from Bryson's past adds to the general hilarity.
But, do not think that this book is merely an account of a bumbling, novice camper with a side-kick who is even more prone to disaster. Bryson is a serious student of history. He traces the history of the Appalachian Trail, its geology, ecology and politics. He shares fascinating and troubling facts about the Trail's management and mismanagement by the Forest Service and the various organizations and agencies that continue to fight turf wars for control of this remarkable byway. Anyone who loves to wander, just walking for walking's sake, MUST read this book. The descriptions are awe-inspiring, frightening, laughable, tragic and dramatic.
The Appalachian Trail is a national treasure. If you love natural history, hiking, camping, pushing your limits, this book is for you. If you have no desire to get any closer to nature than flipping to the Discovery Channel, this book is for you, too. If you love to laugh about people putting themselves unwittingly into experiences that they are not even remotely equipped to handle, read this book. It is Bill Bryson at his best.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Resolved: To Rise To The Occasion
Here we are, a new year upon us, resolutions to be made; perchance, to be kept. I have several resolutions, as usual, so here goes. Bear in mind, these are NOT in any particular order, certainly not as far as importance is concerned. I just hope to keep at least some of them. Maybe.
1. I resolve to finish Laura Paige's Christmas stocking this year. Laura Paige is my youngest daughter. I began needlepointing her stocking FIVE years ago. Yes, there have been stops and starts along the way. Yes, Laura Paige will be 25 years old in May. YES, I NEED TO FINISH THE STOCKING.
2. I resolve to hike two fourteeners this summer in Colorado. Last summer, I climbed Handies Peak near Lake City. It is considered an "easy" fourteener to climb. To the uninitiated, a fourteener is any mountain over 14,000 feet in elevation. There are over 50 of them in Colorado and since there was apparently no air to breathe for the last 200 yards I struggled up Handies Peak, I will be very happy if I can manage to hike two more of the "easier" mountains this year. Besides being just about the most difficult physical feat of my life, it was the most breath-taking(pun intended) and rewarding accomplishment I have achieved. I do not count childbirth. After all, once you are deliberately "with child" delivering said- child is mandatory, and drugs are available in the form of an epidural.
3. I resolve to learn how to make a souffle'. The likelihood of accomplishing this task has been improved with a a book I received for Christmas from a dear friend. Rise to the Occasion- A French Food Experience is a beautiful book by Hedda Gioia Dowd , Cherif Brahmi, and Celine Chick. Hedda Dowd and Cherif Brahmi own rise; which is not capitalized, a Dallas restaurant that is receiving rave reviews for its fabulous French offerings.
The book is much more than a cookbook. It is written with love by these people who approach French cooking with missionary zeal. They write with such enthusiasm about the preparation of food that I am convinced that I, too, can whip up a lovely souffle'. The recipes are clear and apparently simple to prepare. The photographs of food, friends, beautiful architecture and table settings are inspiring and fun- not stuffy or overbearing. This is French food of the French countryside- hearty, healthy and delicious.
I must admit the only recipe that has been prepared at my house was a lovely cake, a Cherry Clafouti. Laura Paige, who is an excellent baker, made it with fresh berries, following the recipe exactly. The instructions said to "bake for 15-20 minutes, until browned on top." After 20 minutes, at 375 degrees, the cake was still quite liquid. Nervously, she watched it and, after 33 minutes total cooking time, it was perfect. We are undaunted and plan to try other recipes as soon as possible. The Cherry Clafouti was delicious.
I look forward to trying the fare at rise on my next trip to Dallas. In the meantime, I will try to accomplish Resolution #3, at home. Stay tuned to find out how successful I am!
Happy New Year!
Oh, last year, in an attempt to overcome a "fear of baking", Laura Paige resolved to write a blog detailing her attempts to overcome her phobia. Well, the little darling not only overcame her fear, she has become quite an accomplished baker. Her culinary creations can be viewed at: laurapaigeinnerarity.blogspot.com
1. I resolve to finish Laura Paige's Christmas stocking this year. Laura Paige is my youngest daughter. I began needlepointing her stocking FIVE years ago. Yes, there have been stops and starts along the way. Yes, Laura Paige will be 25 years old in May. YES, I NEED TO FINISH THE STOCKING.
2. I resolve to hike two fourteeners this summer in Colorado. Last summer, I climbed Handies Peak near Lake City. It is considered an "easy" fourteener to climb. To the uninitiated, a fourteener is any mountain over 14,000 feet in elevation. There are over 50 of them in Colorado and since there was apparently no air to breathe for the last 200 yards I struggled up Handies Peak, I will be very happy if I can manage to hike two more of the "easier" mountains this year. Besides being just about the most difficult physical feat of my life, it was the most breath-taking(pun intended) and rewarding accomplishment I have achieved. I do not count childbirth. After all, once you are deliberately "with child" delivering said- child is mandatory, and drugs are available in the form of an epidural.
3. I resolve to learn how to make a souffle'. The likelihood of accomplishing this task has been improved with a a book I received for Christmas from a dear friend. Rise to the Occasion- A French Food Experience is a beautiful book by Hedda Gioia Dowd , Cherif Brahmi, and Celine Chick. Hedda Dowd and Cherif Brahmi own rise; which is not capitalized, a Dallas restaurant that is receiving rave reviews for its fabulous French offerings.
The book is much more than a cookbook. It is written with love by these people who approach French cooking with missionary zeal. They write with such enthusiasm about the preparation of food that I am convinced that I, too, can whip up a lovely souffle'. The recipes are clear and apparently simple to prepare. The photographs of food, friends, beautiful architecture and table settings are inspiring and fun- not stuffy or overbearing. This is French food of the French countryside- hearty, healthy and delicious.
I must admit the only recipe that has been prepared at my house was a lovely cake, a Cherry Clafouti. Laura Paige, who is an excellent baker, made it with fresh berries, following the recipe exactly. The instructions said to "bake for 15-20 minutes, until browned on top." After 20 minutes, at 375 degrees, the cake was still quite liquid. Nervously, she watched it and, after 33 minutes total cooking time, it was perfect. We are undaunted and plan to try other recipes as soon as possible. The Cherry Clafouti was delicious.
I look forward to trying the fare at rise on my next trip to Dallas. In the meantime, I will try to accomplish Resolution #3, at home. Stay tuned to find out how successful I am!
Happy New Year!
Oh, last year, in an attempt to overcome a "fear of baking", Laura Paige resolved to write a blog detailing her attempts to overcome her phobia. Well, the little darling not only overcame her fear, she has become quite an accomplished baker. Her culinary creations can be viewed at: laurapaigeinnerarity.blogspot.com
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