What Happened Miss Simone?

Netflix

I had a CD of Nina Simone's and as it played in the car, I was struck by the beautiful genius of this artist.
Never realized much about her until I saw this flick.
Lots of pain, abuse from her husband (idiot!) manager.
She was another individual genius, with struggles that defined unhappiness.
Worth a second view someday. 
Companion book

This movie relates to the Boston Globe Spotlight teams investigation and reporting of the systematic abuse of children in the Boston area and the subsequent cover-ups by the hierarchy of the Church, all the way up to Cardinal Law.

I lived in New Hampshire at this time, so I enjoyed the Boston references, and loved reading the Globe.

Spotlight
Only makes sense that I'd see this movie after reading The Bishop's Man.


eBook on the story

The Bishop's Man

   by Linden MacIntyre

took me awhile to get thru this as it skipped back and forth between years and places too quickly for my slow brain to keep up.

It won a Giller Prize, that's why I picked it up, plus I knew of Linden from the Fifth Estate on CBC.

Set on the East Coast with sorties to Toronto, Boston, Nfld, it's about a priest, troubled past, questionable activities and rumours galore.

Al Purdy Was Here ...

January 24, 2016
CVAG

This was what I like, seeing a movie that tweaked my interest, made me look up more about the subject, and was a positive surprise.
I had heard the name from when I lived in Toronto during the 60s, early 70s and had seen from the listing that a number of 'famous' types were in it.
So, got a good seat this week, and thoroughly enjoyed the night.

A troubled man, who was abusive to his family, ignored his children, plainly selfish in that respect., yet was a very talented, inspired writer.
I got a kick  out of this verse..

At the Quinte Hotel  I'm a sensitive man

Wellington, The Iron Duke
   by Richard Holmes

keeping with the 19th Century theme here, I read this book, since I did get from the Crimean War book that he was still alive, at least in the run up to the hostility.
Course those days, there was always some battle going on in Europe.
I didn't realize that Wellington, or Arthur Wellesley as he was named, was Prime Minister at one point. Quite the lady's man apparently, his wife must've been very lonely.

a brief history of The Crimean War
the causes and consequences of a medieval conflict fought in a modern age
   by Alexis Troubetzkoy

Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do or die.
              Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The war and its causes was a colossal comedy of errors in which at every moment the question was asked, "Who is being swindled here?"
              Frederick Engels


a conflict I'd heard about (Charge of the Light Brigade, and Florence Nightingale) but knew nothing about.
the whys, wheres and whats are explained here in a reading which really points out the absurdity of war, and the anguish of the men (and women) of those who were 'lead' into the fighting.
interestingly, it was from what I gather, one of the first times England and France were allies.

REMEMBER

starring Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau.


January 10, 2016, Rialto Theatre Courtenay, BC
as part of the CVAG Film Series


Enjoyed this a great deal, despite sitting in the 2nd row by the wall!
These showings are always well attended, so get there early next time Mr Evans.
A thriller which really took a turn in the last 5 minutes so don't leave early.

Mostly Movies and Books, classic beginnings here

I've seen and read.

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