Stormy Songs

As we New Yorkers prepare for the worst, I was thinking of weather appropriate songs.
I like Windy by the Association and Stormy Weather.  My friend Lucia echoed Stormy Weather, but added Lena Horne's version.  Can't argue with that.

Hurricane by Bob Dylan only works because of it's title. Hurricane Carter has nothing to do with this storm.  It's a long one. 

Classic line:  I want to love you but I'm getting blown away of course comes from Neil Young's Like A Hurricane.

There there is the dreadful Stormy by Classic IV. That song was on the radio all the time in 1968.  I did not know they were from Jacksonville, Fl.

For those on the coast, Head Above Water by Hall and Oates might be appropriate.  

There are hundreds of rain songs and I seem to like all of them.

If you're in the path of the storm, stay safe.

Lots of Candles Plenty of Cake

The title grabbed me and then I heard Anna Quindlen on NPR talking about her memoir.  I related to her feelings on the Catholic Church’s hierarchy and how they are leading us Catholics in the wrong direction and not ruling by example.  She also feels, as a woman that we are disenfranchised from the Church. Men and only men run it.  I loved this part of the book.  She eloquently lays it on the line. 

As the title suggests, she is celebrating her age (She is in her 50’s) and the wisdom that comes with it.  I think the disconnect I felt with the rest of the book has to do with her being very retrospective (isn’t that what a memoir is suppose to be?) and analyzing herself at different ages and times of her life.  I don’t think I was unaware of myself as a young person and have finally found myself now. I don’t think I will every fully find myself which is a good thing.  I’m not that deep.  This doesn’t sound flattering. Quindlen is articulate in explaining myself. I am not.  I am laughing at this. 

Quindlen is a good writer.  I’m sure 80% of the women (and probably men too) in their 40’s and 50’s can fully relate to what she is writing about.  She is solid.  At the end of the book she writes, “sometimes a single moment can mark the dividing line between who you are and who you never wanted to be.”  She was referring to an elderly friend who mentioned that once you break a hip when you’re older, you’re finished.  This has a twofold meaning.  Sometimes the moment can be out of your control, such as breaking a hip and confining a vibrant person to a home.  It can also be a bad choice, a betrayal or saying something you don’t mean, but it comes out anyway.  Any of these things can change the course of someone’s life and possibly define it. 

Brooklyn Blackout

The takeaway:  Learn from your past, live each day to it’s fullest and don’t forget to enjoy cake every once in awhile, but only if it makes you happy.  On that note, I have a Brooklyn Blackout cupcake from Two Little Red Hens Bakery waiting for me.  Yum.

Who's War?

Pete Townshend just released his memoir Who Am I, which I will have to read.  Roland Kelt's blog in the New Yorker delves into Townshend's view of the world which is greatly formed by World War II.  Growing up in post wartime influenced his art. Roland had interviewed Townsend many times and each time, the conversation turned to the war.  Roland compares The Who's music to combat. Roland speaks of the combat on stage (windmills, breaking guitars).  I only came to appreciate The Who after seeing the movie The Kids Are Alright. I never realized how intense Pete's music is.

Here is the article: Pete Townshend's War. 

Gone Girl

As I'm reading Gone Girl I'm thinking this is playing out like an episode of Dateline.  Needless to say, two pages later one of the main characters, Nick (the husband) says his life feels like an episode of Dateline. 

Amy (the wife) has been known to the world all her life, as her parents used their only child as the model for a highly successful series of children's books, Amazing Amy.  Amy and her amazing-ness will reveal itself.  This is a mystery, so it's hard to talk about details without giving too much away. Like any good episode of Dateline (my husband loves the show) all things seem perfect at the start and then Keith Morrison's voice over quickly changes things with a big "but....."  Am I the only one who thinks he tells a story like he's reading a Dr Seuss book? 

There are twists and turns.  Some are predictable, some are interesting.  The book is a page turner.  There isn't a feel good ending (which is fine). Could this be a modern day prequel to The Omen?  By the end of the book, I was left hating one of the characters and it might not be the one you think.  Ok, I hated Nick and on so many levels.  Maybe it's because I've met guys like him.  They kind of coast, not much of a spine, but they are good looking so they don't try as hard.  I predicted the ending, so by the time I got there I was disappointed. 

I haven't read Gillian Flynn's prior two novels.   Her bio says she saw the movies Bonnie and Clyde and Psycho when she was seven.  I could see how that would play into her writings.  It appears that Reese Witherspoon will produce the movie version with author Flynn adapting her own book.