The Earth at Midnight

 

I recently saw the movie Midnight Sky.  It reminded me of a blog I wrote a few years ago and leads my collection: Joan Chandler Today. Here it is again on the last day of this very difficult year.

Message to the Universe

Voyager 1, launched by NASA in 1977, is the first man-made object to enter the dark region beyond our solar system.  If there is a message stored inside, I hope it goes something like this.

Greetings from planet Earth.

We have human beings here who are smart enough to have invented this device which has just broken free of our solar system.  But, even though we possess so much intelligence, we are in deep trouble. We have not been able to figure out how to live peacefully with each other.  Our whole existence has been one of killing and destruction.

We also have not been wise enough to respect our natural habitat.  Our lifestyle is destroying our planet to the point where we can actually envision our own extinction.  Yet, no one has the will to turn things around.  If you are more advanced we could surely use your help.

Sincerely,

All of us.

Seeing or Imagining

 

I was listening to a discussion on the value of adding illustrations to works of literature.  I decided to ask some of my favorite writers and readers what they thought.

How do you feel about having illustrations in novels?  I know that graphic novels are very popular.  I’m talking about novels that depend on the written word. Would adding a few illustrations enhance your experience?

I’m inclined to think that I want to imagine the characters and scenes in my own mind relying on the author’s descriptions to spark my imagination.  Is this just old thinking?

Carole is decisive.

One of the most satisfying aspects of reading is the ability of an author to create an atmosphere and characters that allow the reader to imagine a world outside her/his own.  Of course you can imagine that I do not like movies made from books. Why would I want to see someone else’s vision of that which I saw and felt, especially when the decisions for productions are made based on capitalistic greed for profit?   Just give me the written word, please! 

Natalie added the picture to her note.

I think for younger audiences having pictures dispersed through longer chapter books would be helpful so that they can have visual aids. But for teens/adults I tend to agree with you that having illustrations would probably be at conflict with readers’ own imagination of the visuals- especially what the characters look like! I hate when there’s a movie remake of a book I like and the characters all look so different from how I pictured them hahaha!

Rex is a novelist.

I loved illustrated novels as a kid -- Treasure Island, the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Alice in Wonderland. I associate my first libidinal stirrings w/ looking at illustrations of Alice being set upon.

 

Today I still think of illustrations as being right for young readers. In novels for adults, maybe not. Adult readers might find illustrations interrupt the pleasure of immersion in language

 

In some stories tho, a map helps, doncha think?  : -) / Rex

What do you think? I'm really interested in your opinion.

 

Holidays 2020

 

Carole said this popped up on her Facebook page.  Thanks! 

I'm sending it along with my very best wishes for all the holidays we love to celebrate.  I know you are all coping and hoping.

T'was 3 weeks before Christmas, and all through the town,

people wore masks, that covered their frown.  

The frown had begun way back in the spring when a global pandemic changed everything.  

They called it corona, but unlike the beer, It didn’t bring good times, it didn’t bring cheer.  Airplanes were grounded, travel was banned. Borders were closed across air, sea, and land.

 As the world entered lockdown to flatten the curve, the economy halted, and folks lost their nerve.  

From March to July we rode the first wave, people stayed home, they tried to behave.  

When summer emerged the lockdown was lifted, but away from caution, many folks drifted.  

Now it’s December and cases are spiking, wave two has arrived, much to our disliking.  It’s true that this year has had sadness a-plenty, we’ll never forget the year 2020.

 And just ‘round the corner - The holiday season, but why be merry? 

Is there even one reason?  

To decorate the house and put up the tree, who will see it, no one but me.  

But outside my window, the snow gently falls, and I think to myself, let’s deck the halls!  

So, I gather the ribbon, The garland, and bows, as I play those old carols, my happiness grows.  

Christmas is not canceled and neither is hope. If we lean on each other, I know we can cope.

Edge of Sports Interview

 

Dave Zirin is a sportswriter and Sports Editor at the Nation magazine.  I met him a few years ago at a book signing with John Carlos.  His book about John Carlos and his "raised fist" is so powerful.

Dave is such a regular guy and so accessible that I asked him if he would be interested in interviewing Bill to talk about The Queen's Gambit.  He was excited to do it.

Of course the question came up: Is chess a game or a sport? 

The interview goes far beyond the Gambit phenomenon.  Bill and Dave meditate on art, society, and our current predicament.  They both end up celebrating the power of a great story well told.

You can find the interview at Apple Podcasts.  Go to Edge of Sports.

Bill and Ben

 

My favorite podcaster, Ben Joravsky, is going to interview Bill on Saturday.  Bill says they spent a few minutes talking about The Queen's Gambit, and the rest of the time talking about Bill's time starting out in Chicago, then going to Hollywood and beyond.

Ben is a local gem.  A long time columnist for the Chicago Reader, he is a political savant.  I love it when he gets deep into the weeds and stays there.

You can find the podcast here:  www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ben-joravsky-show...

Or, it's on Apple Podcasts, and the Chicago Reader site on You Tube.

Another R.I.P.

 

My cousin died.  Yes, it was from Covid-19.  I haven't seen him in many years but I remember him as a fun loving guy who was happy.  Yesterday, I received an invitation to his funeral via zoom.  It's a ceremony I would not have been able to attend even in different times because he lived in Toledo, Ohio.

What a strange, unnerving world it is where I can attend a "virtual" funeral while locked down behind my familiar walls.

My loving memories of my cousin never depended on our seeing each other often, so maybe it's not so strange after all.