This past year I have had a fascination with pre-code films–actually the entire arc of the pre-code films that dared to take on subjects that are politically incorrect even today, and the fall of the strict enforcement of the code and its eventual release (only to have it reinstitute in this decade). Especially interesting is…
All posts in Writing
The Goldberg Variations Introduction
Now that all three books of the trilogy are out, it’s over due for me to give a summary of these three amazing books. In a short summary I would say The Goldberg Variations trilogy follows Jamie Goldberg from adolescence through early adulthood in 1970s and early 1980s Detroit. In Volume I, Jamie struggles with…
The Trilogy, is completed: Slings and Arrows, is available today!
Buy on Amazon Buy discounted direct from the publishers Buy from Barnes & Noble It’s been a long journey: I started this book project back in 2014, 10 years ago. Many things came and interrupted Jamie Goldberg’s voyage from adolescence to adulthood; not least was the passing of my beloved husband, Morris Taylor, COVID, the…
Lyrical Review of Volume 2: Redemption of the Damned
The Redemption of the Damned for $12.95 I am so happy to announce that finally someone has reviewed my second volume of The Goldberg Variations: The Redemption of the Damned. In many ways this book is my most daring and innovative work to date. And the review is as lyrical as it is insightful, I…
Edinburg Post 5 (actually 3)
[Sorry the post numbering is getting as confused as the number of Schubert’s Symphonies.] The last two days had more a mixed bag of shows. Yesterday started off with a Chinese Dance interpretation of Berthold Brecht’s Mother Courage and her sons. The music was surprisingly western in tonality despite its non-western mode. The narrative dancing…
WINE: The sorry (?) state of Italian white wines
When one thinks of great Italian wines, immediately the great reds pop into mind: Brunello, Barolo, Chianti, Amarone, etc. World class wines that are in demand all over the world. When one thinks about white wines, however, different associations are made. Food friendly, quaffable, light, cheap, and so on. There are some great white wines…
Simply delicious” Spaghetti with Clams
I have noticed that the so-called great cooking experts are creating a violence against decent cooking that actually is surprisingly simple. They will add complexity for its own sake, add surprising taste sensations when none are needed. Among the unnecessary ingredients I have found are lemon juice, white wine, bottarga, various herbs and extraneous spices.…
Piccolo Corpo: an intimate film of epic proportions
There is an amazing film that is so powerful that watching it is one of those events you can’t get out of your mind hours or days after seeing it. The film, Piccolo Corpo (Little Body) by debut director Laura Samani is an almost virtuoso display of the all too human struggle of women in…
Sicilia: first impression, first measurement
Our trip to Sicily was an amazing adventure, I will try and give some of the highlights of our trip, out of sequential order. I already related my finest trattoria experience and here is my initial impressions of Sicily. I was never in Sicily before so I was prepared for anything … so I thought.…
Meal I: A parade of fish in Sicily
I have a lot of catching up to do in this blog. So look for some updates on music, film, wine, art and food. Here is the first of 4 entries of the 4 best meals I had ever had in my life. This one in a worker’s neighborhood in Sicily. One of the main…