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Showing posts with label Helen Mirren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helen Mirren. Show all posts
Book of the Month
This Month,
THE LAST STATION
by Jay Parini
This 1990 novel about the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life was recently made into a very well received film. I have not seen the film, but the book is definitely worth your time. I had very little knowledge about Tolstoy before reading the book, and while it is a novel, it draws heavily on true accounts and journals from the main characters. The characters and their personal stories are what drives the narrative. Parini deftly switches the storyteller in each chapter, so that the reader is aware of the feelings, thoughts and agenda of the major players in Tolstoy's life. Sofya (the Countess Tolstoy), Bulgakov (Tolstoy's idealistic secretary), Chertkov (the devoted leader of the Tolstoyian movement), along with Tolstoy's doctor and daughter make up the book's narrators. Every one of these characters yearns for the great man's attention and confidence throughout the book, and some do better than others.
The real conflict is between Sofya and Chertkov, who are at odds over what will become of Tolstoy's works once he is dead. Chertkov and his many followers hope to elbow Sofya out and convince Leo Nikolayavich to sign over the rights to his writings to the public domain, so that the people can enjoy them, and so that profit cannot be made from them. It is a core tenet of the Tolstoyian movement to reject personal property. Sofya, on the other hand, wishes to keep his writings private so that her family can survive on the money they generate. Caught in the middle of the conflict is the Count's new secretary, Blugakov, a young Tolstoyian who is recruited by both Chertkov and Countess Tolstoy to spy on the other. He ends up finding that his loyalty is to Tolstoy himself, and not to the factions on either side.
This book is at once a study of political dealing, a snapshot of pre-revolutionary Russia, a love story and a portrait of a great author. If you allow yourself to get lost in the world that Jay Parini creates, you will find an engrossing story that takes you right up to the end as Tolstoy arrives at the last station.
P.S. My girl Helen Mirren is in the movie.
I Like You
Once again I bring you some people that I like/enjoy/admire/think you need to be aware of. I'm sure you already know about these three individuals, but I'm doing this to offset my Schmohawk posts so that I even out my karma.
HELEN MIRREN
What a babe. She's not only the best actress every year, she continues to be hot even at her age. I'm not usually into older ladies, but I'd be hard pressed not to put her high on my list of celebrity fantasy hookups. She's such a well respected woman and she keeps getting better- like a fine wine. The Queen is a great testament to her ability as an actress. (This one is for Elaine)
MICHAEL J. FOX
Who doesn't like this guy? He was my idol as Marty McFly in Back to the Future and won America over as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties (or as my wife called it as a little kid, "Shoelaces"). He has also overcome a great deal in his struggle with Parkinson's disease and continued to work in spite of it. I admire him a great deal for his skill as an actor, and his perseverance as a human being.
CHARLES BARKLEY
He is by far the best basketball commentator working today. His frank and well informed opinions are at the same time hilarious and insightful. I had some difficulty cheering for him when he played, but now I make sure to catch him whenever there are NBA games on TNT. The Round Mound of Rebound has transitioned nicely into his current gig, and I hope he stays with it for a long time to come.
HELEN MIRREN
What a babe. She's not only the best actress every year, she continues to be hot even at her age. I'm not usually into older ladies, but I'd be hard pressed not to put her high on my list of celebrity fantasy hookups. She's such a well respected woman and she keeps getting better- like a fine wine. The Queen is a great testament to her ability as an actress. (This one is for Elaine)
MICHAEL J. FOX
Who doesn't like this guy? He was my idol as Marty McFly in Back to the Future and won America over as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties (or as my wife called it as a little kid, "Shoelaces"). He has also overcome a great deal in his struggle with Parkinson's disease and continued to work in spite of it. I admire him a great deal for his skill as an actor, and his perseverance as a human being.
CHARLES BARKLEY
He is by far the best basketball commentator working today. His frank and well informed opinions are at the same time hilarious and insightful. I had some difficulty cheering for him when he played, but now I make sure to catch him whenever there are NBA games on TNT. The Round Mound of Rebound has transitioned nicely into his current gig, and I hope he stays with it for a long time to come.
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