Wildlife
Favorite Fiction, Part 2 -2022
I continue here with seven more of my 14 favorite novels I read in 2022. They will take you to Bangkok, Cyprus, London, and India, and touch on how a teenage tragedy can affect a family for a lifetime, Mexican immigration, Marcellus the clever octopus, & an incredibly creative story about a female taxi driver who picks up and delivers both the dead and alive.
Favorite Fiction, Part 1 - 2022
I read some wonderful novels this past year. It just wasn’t possible to winnow them down to a half dozen, so I am doing two parts with 7 books in each. Some really outstanding, informative, and entertaining stories. I hope you find something special to pick up for 2023.
Favorite Nonfiction for 2022
When it comes to nonfiction, my interests range widely. Perhaps because of the pandemic, this year’s best has some serious subjects, but each contributed to my understanding of life, how precious it is, and sometimes how elusive a good life can be. Of course I have included food, dogs, tennis, and thoughts on the over-privileged. I hope you’ll find something that interests you, too.
Life in a Pinball Machine
Thoughts on the past and plotting a way forward . . .This week includes another birthday and the end of a year that has been beyond anything we could have imagined. In my own way, I take stock.
When to Indulge in a Threesome: Trilogies I’ve Loved
Five trilogies I’ve read that stand out in my mind. In each case, I was swept away by the stories, carried thoughts about the characters around in my mind for days and weeks as if they were personal friends.
Music to My Ears: Why I Get Lost in Rock and Roll
Ohh give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away . . .
Music To My Ears: Best Albums Lists
Rolling Stone’s list of 500 best rock & roll albums. as Steven Van Zandt says, “[Lists] are absolutely subjective, utterly frustrating, always incomplete—and they cause more arguments than religion and politics. In other words, they’re a lot of fun.”
Abstract Art: When Is A Portrait Not a Likeness?
What type of art is most likely to catch your eye? The seascape, mountain scene, or wildlife? Paintings or sculptures of people realistically portrayed? Or are you drawn to a bold design filled with line and form, but no recognizable subject?
Smokin’ Hot: Cheech Marin on Film, Art, and Life
What pops into your mind when you hear the name Cheech Marin?
San Francisco: Two Artists to Watch
My recent trip to San Francisco to explore its vibrant art scene introduced me to the work of Vanessa Marsh and Philip Buller, two artists to watch, both represented by Dolby Chadwick Gallery. Their styles and processes are completely different but each is producing compelling work guaranteed to attract interest.