Comment Archives: stories: Arts and Culture: Books
Re: “In the harsh landscape of Wyoming, Nashvillian Laura Bell finds her elemental home in her memoir Claiming Ground”
I'm not sure what they are playin these days at the Bellecourt theatre; what used to be the hippest dive in Hillsboro Villiage (Nashville, Vandy area), but out here last night in a theatre, on the west coast, I saw a pretty movie starring white people in 'Chloe'. With Julianne Moore and a young nordic looking actress opposite Liam Neison it was an all white cast, which I much prefer to any fat black people, yet I live among the beautiful beige and tan looking people that leave me with a really 'white looking image' of the movie :Chloe".
Re: “In the harsh landscape of Wyoming, Nashvillian Laura Bell finds her elemental home in her memoir Claiming Ground”
Laura Bell is one of my dearest friends from back in college and I can testify that this is a beautiful book. If you need further testimonial, I happen to know that when Wendell Berry, a fellow Kentuckian (Laura's family settled in KY when they left Nashville) read it he sent her a 3 page handwritten letter of praise. Don't fail to show up at Davis Kidd next Wednesday to hear her and get her to sign your copy of Claiming Ground.
Re: “Poet Diann Blakely considers the lasting influence of Eleanor Ross Taylor”
Thank you, Diann Blakely, for this wonderful portrait of Eleanor Ross Taylor, one of our best Southern poets who has not gotten her due, I fear, but whose work will stand the test of time. It is so important to honor those who have blazed the trail for the rest of us.
Re: “In town to accept the Nashville Public Library Literary Award, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about the past, the present and the World Series”
CORRECTION: Goodwin will speak in the Downtown Public Library's auditorium, not at the Ryman.
Re: “In town to accept the Nashville Public Library Literary Award, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about the past, the present and the World Series”
Doris Kearns Goodwin's public lecture is at Nashville Public Library (615 Church Street) at 10:00 AM November 7. (Not the Ryman.)
Re: “Alice Randall's new novel details the (un)making of a black conservative”
After reading about 3 paragraphs of this review anyone who knew Alice’s incomparable deceased first husband would know immediately that Abel Jones, Jr. is him--anyone except perhaps the sycophantic Scene reviewer and all of the fawning book reviewers on Alice’s self-aggrandizing website. Son of a civil rights lawyer; neoconservative; foreign services officer in the Philippines; collapsed and died (very sadly) in a dinner theater. Him, all him. All of which is shocking that she made this the setting for her latest book. Why take the facts of a deceased man’s life, twist them into fantasy, and then trifle with them unless she harbors some sort of deep seated (and better kept private) animus. Or, is she so unoriginal that this is all she could think of? Alice describes herself as being a risk taker and courageous and all those other words-- just words, that self-observant writers wish for themselves. I suppose she’s right. Courage on paper need reach no higher than libel and scorn. In real life, courage is tethered to sacrifice, a face down of danger, and great achievement. In a book, courage is, well, kind of whatever you say it is. Bravo. I will read the book (I just bought a used copy from someone who decided pretty quickly that this is not one for the permanent library) if only to discover just how like the Scene reviewer she did not know her husband, and to remind myself why he was right to pick a "second, less combative wife." Funny. I remember when "Wind Done Gone" came out. How appreciative and respectful “Abel” was of Alice’s work. How he hoped that it would mean a better more blessed life for their beloved daughter. How he silenced me and others for our criticism of it. How now he is remembered.
Re: “Words in Air, the new collection of letters between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell, captures a friendship in poetry”
Great review. Intelligent and Engaging. I felt like I was back in my high school English class, noting everything said.
Re: “In The Future's So Bright I Can't Bear to Look, Tom Tomorrow takes on the most religious nation west of Iran”
This is a very weird review. Tom Tomorrow is undeniably a comedic genius (though he's frankly been given extraordinary material for the last several years), and this review reads likes the blackest possible snark to acknowledge that. But at the same time, it leaves open the possibility that the writer might really feel the hostility expressed in the review, which would be horrific beyond belief. In the future, consider some final paragraph that acknowledges that all the bilious venom might *possibly* be a gag intended to really actually promote the book. As is, we're left only with the desperate hope that this perspective couldn't possibly be true. Could it?
Re: “In The Future's So Bright I Can't Bear to Look, Tom Tomorrow takes on the most religious nation west of Iran”
Judging from the writer of this review, you have a lot of idiot douchebags in Nashville. Tom Tomorrow rocks!
Re: “The Mark of Cain”
The reason Cain's offering was not accepted is because it did not represent the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ - which is the only reason a sacrifice was required. All this was done as a similitude of the eventual sacrifice that Christ would make. This requirement of a "sacrifice" of the firstling of the flock was given to Adam when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Adam was taught what kind of sacrifice was to be given to the Lord. Adam taught this to his children. Cain was taught this, but rebelled against what he was taught and tempted the Lord with his non-santioned offering from the field. Cain sought for power. Cain was influenced by Satan to offer a sacrifice that would be rejected by God. You can find this information in a book of modern day revelation called "The Pearl of Great Price" written in 1830. The "Book of Moses" parallels the Book of Genesis and adds back in what was left out by those compiling the Old Testament. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/5/6#6 I hope this was helpful.
Re: “The Mark of Cain”
The reason Cain's offering was not accepted is because it did not represent the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ - which is the only reason a sacrifice was required. All this was done as a similitude of the eventual sacrifice that Christ would make. This requirement of a "sacrifice" of the firstling of the flock was given to Adam when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Adam was taught what kind of sacrifice was to be given to the Lord. Adam taught this to his children. Cain was taught this, but rebelled against what he was taught and tempted the Lord with his non-santioned offering from the field. Cain sought for power. Cain was influenced by Satan to offer a sacrifice that would be rejected by God. You can find this information in a book of modern day revelation called "The Pearl of Great Price" written in 1830. The "Book of Moses" parallels the Book of Genesis and adds back in what was left out by those compiling the Old Testament. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/5/6#6 I hope this was helpful.
Re: “The Mark of Cain”
The reason Cain's offering was not accepted is because it did not represent the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ - which is the only reason a sacrifice was required. All this was done as a similitude of the eventual sacrifice that Christ would make. This requirement of a "sacrifice" of the firstling of the flock was given to Adam when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Adam was taught what kind of sacrifice was to be given to the Lord. Adam taught this to his children. Cain was taught this, but rebelled against what he was taught and tempted the Lord with his non-santioned offering from the field. Cain sought for power. Cain was influenced by Satan to offer a sacrifice that would be rejected by God. You can find this information in a book of modern day revelation called "The Pearl of Great Price" written in 1830. The "Book of Moses" parallels the Book of Genesis and adds back in what was left out by those compiling the Old Testament. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/5/6#6 I hope this was helpful.
Re: “Romance, Country-Style”
I loved this book! A real treat!
Re: “Mayhem at the Museum”
I'm psyched about this one--I love Tess's work. -Marcus Sakey MarcusSakey.com
Re: “Highballers and Hoss Hair Pullers”
My dad Graydon Bone and Uncle Leemon Bone were members of the "Hoss Hair Pullers" and im wanting to connect with someone who has any information concerning their recordings..Please respond...Thanks, Jerry Bone
Re: “In a new book, Andrew B. Lewis follows the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and its leaders from Nashville’s north side into the heart of Dixie”
I taught at Tougaloo College in the school year of 1965-66. One evening my wife and I and another couple were intimidated at an African American restaurant. We were asked why weren't we eating with our own kind? The shedriff told us he would return in an hour and we had better not be there. Fortunately Jimmy Travis and other SNCC members were in the eating place. They escorted us back to the campus by having us follow their car. I often wonder what would have happened if Travis and his SNCC friends were not at the restaurant.