Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Winter 's Passage

I am listening as I type to my favorite CD. It is Susan Boyle’s singing like an angel. I love her voice and her choice of songs is varied and done well. When I first heard her on U Tube, I cried for her success and for the beauty of her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream”. And the reaction of the judges and the audience thrilled me. I’ll bet I played that spot from U Tube over 100 times.

Not only do I love the story of her success, but the fact that here was this gal staying at home taking care of her mother all of her life and the emerging like a butterfly from its chrysalis to becoming the most beautiful songstress of all. You go, gal. And she has went!!!! I know my grammar!

I recently read several books. I have read Julie and Julia by Julie Powell and seen the movie. Any resemblance of one to the other is purely coincidental. The movie was all about Julia Childs and the book had very little about her and was about the life of the writer. I do not recommend it.

I have also read again for the umpteenth time The Day before Winter which is about the Bennett families who live on this island near Nova Scotia and are lobster fishermen. I love these books for Elizabeth Ogilvie has written about the same families in a trilogy and then about other citizens of the island in other books but I feel as if I have lived there and that I know all of them personally. And I am a fisherman and I love the water.

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg is a great novel. She brings her life as a teacher of creative writing to people who never have even thought of writing a word (even in a blog) and finds that each have unique strengths and insight.

For Christmas from my Republican son, I got a copy of Going Rogue by Sarah Palin and I read it. “But Mom, she’s a Babe!” That she is, but her book did surprise me somewhat. I did enjoy the look into Alaska and the things I learned about that state. I also thought it was interesting to see the backside of a political campaign and what life on the campaign trail was like. She has done and been a lot more things than just a mayor and governor of a little populated state. According to her account, she has traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe as a private citizen, of course, and served on a lot of committees and boards in the United States. Other than that I realize a lot of the book is self serving and perhaps not too accurate as to the differences she has had with various reports of her life. I find it difficult to believe her explanations. It is written in a defensive style throwing in digs now and then at her detractors. Let’s just say that she and Katy Couric will never be close, nor do I think she and John McCain will either. She is a master mud-slinger

I also received a copy of Dave Barry’s “The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog” . (I don’t know where my underlining icon went) This was written in his usual hilarious fashion and one could not put it down. I read it in one sitting. Lots of LOL’s in this one.

And last, I received “The story of The Other Wise Man” by Henry Van Dyke. This is about a man who was to join the other three Magi to view Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. He sold everything he had to buy three jewels to present to the new-born King. However on the way he had to use these to help others and so had nothing left to give Him when he arrived. All based on the Scripture which goes “Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, thou hast done it to me.” A very moving book.

Winter is soon over. Tho last night we had a snow squall that laid 7 inches down in about an hour. I am hating winter this year, but last night was so beautiful with all the branches and everything clothed in sparkling white that I could not help but be stirred by its beauty.

42 comments:

Rosaria Williams said...

I enjoyed your book reviews. It does help to see things through differen eyes. I may have to try some.

Wanda..... said...

You write so well Bernie, enjoyed your book reviews. I saw the movie Julie and Julia, which I liked and I've heard from others too, that the book was disappointing. I would like to read Home Safe.

Our 13 inches of snow started melting yesterday, but there's snow flying out there now. It has been beautiful, but I'm ready for spring to come.
Smiles to you Bernie!

Wander to the Wayside said...

I love Dave Berry, so I'll have to check out that book! And I love Susan Boyle, even though some 'professionals' have said she'll never last. Don't know why they can't just let her have her success story!

Von said...

HiBernie, Spring will soon arrive!

Bernie said...

Bernie, we have similar taste in books and music. I love Susan Boyle's CD, I keep it in my car and play it everyday. She has perfect pitch....love her.

I too loved the movie Julie and Julia, others have told me not to read the book so I won't. I have read Going Rogue and felt the same as you did, I was not impressed with the "loose cannon Sarah" at all.

I have lived several years in Nova Scotia (my husband is buried there) it is a beautiful province and I have not read any of Elizabeth Olgilvie's books. I am going to check on Amazon and if they have the triology I will order them as I think I would enjoy the series.

Gotta love Dave Barry, he is a hoot, I love everything he writes.

I really loved your book review Bernie.

So hope you are well and that Bill is doing okay, be careful driving on snowy streets my friend.

.......:-) Hugs

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Enjoyed your book reviews. I haven't read the new Elizabeth Berg nor any of the Ogilive books that I know you love. I can't believe your son bought you Palin's book. What are we to do with him?

Enjoyed the post.

Ladybird World Mother said...

Oooh. Book reviews... fab. Will do some cut and pasting in a moment so that I dont forget the books... rather fancy the Wise man book... sounds sweet.
xx

Barb said...

Hi Bernie,
You are quite a reader. I also love books, and I have enjoyed Elizabeth Berg's novels. I'll have to put this one on my list. It's snowing again here in CO, too. We really need the snow (for the ski areas), but when I'm in the city, I can do without it!

truestarr said...

Your blog makes me happy! I've just given you an award and posted it on my blog!

You deserve it! (thanks for the kind comments you've given me on my blog!)

/Jessica at Prospero's Cellphone

Deb Shucka said...

I loved reading your book reviews. Elizabeth Berg is one of my all-time favorite authors. I completely agree with your opinion of Julie and Julia. And I'm great fan of Susan Boyle and her story.

Spring is here for us - daffodils blooming, along with flowering plums and forsythia, and some sun almost every day. I'm a happy girl.

t i m said...

spring is just around the corner, hooray! :)

Anonymous said...

I loved your blog.
Never seen snow ... It must be wonderful!
Here in Minas Gerais in Brazil not snow ... Very cold in winter the temperature is around 14 degrees. Now the summer is between 22 and 35 degrees.

Sorry about the spelling, my English is bad.

kisses
---------------
Amei seu blog.
Nunca vi neve... Deve ser maravilhoso!!!
Aqui em Minas Gerais no Brasil não Neva... Faz bastante frio no inverno a temperatura é cerca de 14 graus. Agora no verão fica entre 22 a 35 graus.

Desculpe a grafia, meu inglês é ruim.

beijos

Beth said...

Hi! I just found your blog through Blogs of Note and I am super impressed that you have embraced the internet! I wish I could convince my parents to do the same. I will be back often to visit.

If you have a moment my blog is:
http://thinkingofthink.blogspot.com/

Beth

Ashley said...

I found your blog tonight and have read most of it already. I am fascinated by you. Keep it up!

Ashley in Alabama

Karen Kaye said...

Bernie, I want to be you when I grow up. I'm a 42 year old mother of 3 and I think you are adorable. Thank you for doing what you do!

A Good Moroccan said...

I always enjoy hearing Susan sing.

The villager: said...

I enjoyed your post.

Lilly said...

Great blog and I so enjoyed your post. I have the Susan boyle CD to and I love it! You write beautifully.

bARE-eYED sUN said...

we've not been fans of reality-based shows.
we're not ENTIRELY opposed to them,
its just one of those "different strokes, for different folks"
things.

AND we ARE aware of Susan Boyle,
who isn't, what with all the popular hoopla.

then, we read your post,
and curiousity got the best of us,
"enough already" we thought.

lets go hear what all the thing-a-majig
is about.

well, wow! what an amazing voice!
{beautiful on "I Dreamed A Dream"}

most of the background noise has been
about the incongruence between her looks
and her voice. nonsense!

her voice is an angelic one and stands on its own.
and her phrasing . . . Frank Sinatra HAS to be smiling
in heaven (or wherever goodfellas go) . . .

so, bernie,
thank you very much for the turn-on . . .
now, off we go to buy her album.

:-)

..
.ero

.
p.s. the Oglivie books pique our interest, but our TO-READ pile is about to tip over,
so we'll back-burner the fishermen for now. thanks for the tip, though.

..
.ero

.

Ana (Ballet de Palavras) said...

Hello Bernie,
My name is Ana and I live in Portugal.
I do not know how I found your blog but it was a pleasure for me.

I am also a fan of Susan Boyle. In the past I wrote a text on Susan Boyle and transcribe for you.

"Her face covered with eyebrows" two fingers ", adorned with a disheveled hair, dressed in his body a beige dress authorities showed no charm in the famous program" Britain's Got Talent. "

The revulsion, ridicule, as demonstrated by the juries of the competition when they observed its faint silhouette combined with the surprise of the music you wanted to chant the name of "I Dreamed a Dream," performed by Elaine Paige in the musical Les Misérables not inhibited Susan Boyle's approach.

Acting polished with emotion, feeling, and detail in reverse to its appearance.

Carrier voice unimaginable that compare to a cascade clear, crystalline, translucent water lilies on the delicate dreams allowed me to emerge in an infinite universe of ways in which the musical notes and the letter escorted me and lit my soul ... I cried and I smiled...

When she finished her performance, juries, and the present surrendered to her charm.
Knowing the initial manifestation was sentenced biased and repentance was widespread...

Rough or polished diamonds are both carriers of an incalculable value.

And, Susan Boyle is a true diamond.
Gross in its delicate appearance and polished inside patented for its friendliness, simplicity, and musical language.

And precious stone ... I am ... and are all people who admire, congratulate, and wish that regardless of Raw Diamond or Lapidate your dreams are finally realized".

I hope to enjoy.
Have a nice day and wish that my pleasure is mutual.

Ana

Becky said...

Bernie~ congrats on your "blog of note!" I'll be following your posts~ keep up the good work! I just started blogging last year for a class I was taking... but kept it going, because it's so fun! And fun to see what others are blogging about!

Kaylne said...

if you at all liked the movie Julie and Julia you'll probably enjoy Julia Child's book "My life in France" Much better than "Julie and Julia" the book (which I also wouldn't really recommend)
I've reviewed both of these books on my blog, check them out!

Anonymous said...

How it thrills me to see someone who is not of the "digital generation" jumping in feet first and blogging. Kudos to you, all the way from Brisbane, Australia.

I love Susan Boyle's CD, she has a beautiful voice and conveys so much emotion in every word of her singing. I think she's an amazing woman who is proving to the world that you don't have to have breast implants and bleach blonde hair and a skimpy outfit to have talent.

Fragrant Liar said...

Bernie, I see your blog was listed in "Blogs of Note." That's just fantastic! Congratulations for being so recognized and honored. Your blog is lovely, so you it's well deserved.

Best,
Kimber

P.S. Excellent book reviews.

The Drunk Mommy Diary said...

Have you read "Open House" by Elizabeth Berg? I cried through the whole thing. Sobbed, really. Don't watch the Lifetime movie though, turns it into mindless drivel.

you-wee because said...

Awesome blog, Bernie!

Gratz!

Keep on blogging,

Uwe (Americans usually pronounce me "you-wee") from Germany.

Anonymous said...

Hi Bernie-I am a new reader through "blogs of note". Congratulations on that recognition. We like some of the same authors and I enjoyed the reviews and your post. I'll be back.

Michelle Wells Grant said...

Bernie, I've been away too long and have missed your humor, wit and great book reviews! I know someone else you also has these 3 qualities. Hmmm, wonder where that came from?
Carry on! Happy end of winter to ya!

Anonymous said...

Hello Ms,Bernie
I hope u r fine, did u listen to Oum Kalthoum before?
i hope ... she is fantastic, i hope u enjoy...sorry, i dont writte english well.
bye

♥ Braja said...

Hey Bernie! Just came to check on you :) Looks like you're keeping yourself busy and entertained :)

Grayson Gabriel said...

You have an amazing blog, Bernie, and I thoroughly enjoy reading it. Enjoy the day.

Gray from Gray and Mars Poetry
http://grayandmars.blogspot.com/

Kat Weaver said...

I love Susan Boyle too...and I love your Blog. I'm from Oklahoma--"Native America"! Keep writing and I'll keep reading...((Hugs))

Alysson Teixeira said...

hey, mrs Bernie.
I'm from Brazil, and I liked a lot your blog. You are proving that there's no age to use de web. congratulations.

I have a blog stories, and I would be very glad if I had you comment on a story I'm writing. It's on chapter one for while, but it would be great. My blog is in portuguese, but I'm sure that you can translate with some translator online.

take care and go on with the blog.

Mrs Catch said...

What a lovely post. Looking forward to more!

California Girl said...

All I can say is, welcome to the blog world and it is very cool to read the very hip writing of an 84 year old. No, I'm not condescending, I'm stoked!

I heard "I Dreamed A Dream" by Ms. Boyle while working out at a gym today. It was lovely.

"The Other Wise Man" sounds like a book I'll enjoy. Thank you for the brief summary.

I'm watching Sarah Palin in clips from last night's Tonight Show. Jon Stewart is showing them and adding his own unique editorial to each moment. He thinks she trumps Mitt Romney!

Not a fan of Palin or much iin the Republican party. Too mean spirited and self-involved. However, it will be interesting to read your ongoing thoughts. I'm now a follower.

Unknown said...

I admire your site.:)

ViewStreams said...

Wow i'm really impress about your blogs, very interesting to read about your post.

God bless you

smilla4blogs said...

I just found your blog on "Blogs of Note" and it is so enjoyable to read. Congratulations!

shereen said...

Very nice...

Filippez.blogg.se said...

age is just a number ;)

Re said...

You are a beautiful woman and I loved your blog! Nice blog! Kisses!

ruthibel said...

wow. you've read a LOT!! I love good books. Reading is just indispensable.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails