bookpagedev

Arts & CultureArt

Beauty and betrayal, on canvas

Review by bookpagedev

A well-known epigram says that revenge is a dish best served cold. This is evident in the elaborate schemes of Dutch art forger Han van Meegeren, as revealed in Frank Wynne’s I Was Vermeer. A journalist and translator, Wynne blends reportorial skill with a love of irony to tell van Meegeren’s life story, the saga of a frustrated, paranoid and drug-addicted 20th-century artist who was born to be a painter; unfortunately, he was fifty years too late. Van Meegeren wanted desperately to be an artist. Though his autocratic father routinely destroyed his sketchbooks, he pursued his dream via secret tutelage by a school friend’s artist father. By the time he departed to study architecture in Delft, he was well-schooled in the methods of the Dutch Masters. Van Meegeren neglected his studies to practice painting in the manner of Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer his especial muse. Finding little critical acclaim for his old-style paintings amid the contemporary tide of artistic innovation, the forger was born: He vowed revenge, made millions and fooled the art world establishment (as well as the Nazis) by creating exquisite fake Vermeers, many of which ended up in Europe’s most hallowed art museums.

Set in tumultuous times, I Was Vermeer has the makings of a noir thriller, and Wynne attempts to plot and pace it as such. The action, however, loses suspenseful momentum as he develops sub-themes of how ego-driven art criticism fosters forgery, and minutely discusses the forger’s craft (including van Meegeren’s reproduction of the craquelure, or age lines, in his most famous Vermeer forgery, The Supper at Emmaus ). Crime thriller or forgery primer, this intriguing read also proves another epigram: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

A well-known epigram says that revenge is a dish best served cold. This is evident in the elaborate schemes of Dutch art forger Han van Meegeren, as revealed in Frank Wynne's I Was Vermeer. A journalist and translator, Wynne blends reportorial skill with a…
Mystery & SuspenseMystery

The artist’s way

Review by bookpagedev

Jacqueline Winspear’s introspective sleuth/psychologist Maisie Dobbs works in 1930s London. In <b>Messenger of Truth</b>, Maisie is asked to investigate the death of Nick Bassington-Hope, an artist from a well-to-do family who served in World War I. Nick died in a fall while preparing for an upcoming art exhibit, and his twin sister thinks he may have been pushed. In addition, the exhibit’s centerpiece, a painting reputed to be Nick’s masterwork, is nowhere to be found. Though each Maisie Dobbs book is centered on an investigation, sleuthing takes second place to Winspear’s insightful exploration of post-war England. As in her three previous books, the crime in <b>Messenger of Truth</b> has its roots in the Great War, and Winspear again illustrates the world-changing power of that tragic conflict.

Jacqueline Winspear's introspective sleuth/psychologist Maisie Dobbs works in 1930s London. In <b>Messenger of Truth</b>, Maisie is asked to investigate the death of Nick Bassington-Hope, an artist from a well-to-do family who served in World War I. Nick died in a fall while preparing for an…

Mystery & SuspenseSuspense

Death, love and psychoanalysis

Review by bookpagedev

A young woman has been murdered in 1909 New York City, and one traumatized girl holds the key to finding the killer in Jed Rubenfeld’s highly anticipated literary mystery, The Interpretation of Murder. Freudian analyst Dr. Stratham Younger is called in to try to recover Nora Acton’s memories, and he receives aid from none other than Freud himself, who is visiting America with his then-protŽgŽ Carl Jung. Nora was found half-strangled and beaten in her family’s mansion, and the community is scandalized. But when Nora implicates one of her father’s friends, who has an airtight alibi for the night in question, investigators wonder whether she inflicted the wounds on herself, despite the fact that another girl was found dead from identical injuries the day before.

Freud’s involvement in solving the mystery is minimal, but those interested in his theories will find much to think about. Though Younger admires Freud and believes in psychoanalysis, he has difficulty accepting the Oedipal theory, especially when it’s applied to the beautiful Miss Acton. As Younger analyzes Nora, he falls in love (but is it transference?) and is drawn deeper into the mystery. The Interpretation of Murder is well researched, though sometimes obviously so, especially some of the lengthier passages on psychoanalysis and New York society. Still, Rubenfeld’s entertaining psychological thriller is full of enjoyable twists and turns.

A young woman has been murdered in 1909 New York City, and one traumatized girl holds the key to finding the killer in Jed Rubenfeld's highly anticipated literary mystery, The Interpretation of Murder. Freudian analyst Dr. Stratham Younger is called in to try to…
Lifestyles

Decorating by the stars

Review by bookpagedev

Ever wondered how your favorite Hollywood celebrity decks his or her Christmas halls? Catch the Tinseltown holiday scoop with Christmas Style by Debi Staron and Bob Pranga, a Los Angeles-based decorating duo also known as “Dr. Christmas.” With a foreword by entertainment reporter Leeza Gibbons (whose home is featured in the book), this flamboyant decor guide includes full-page color photos of gorgeous Southern California interiors, all beautifully adorned with glittering holiday trees, sparkling lights, exquisite ornaments, lush greenery and festive foods. Christmas Style also includes sections on movie-star themed Christmas trees (“The 12 Dames of Christmas”), pictures of the authors’ celebrity-autographed ornaments, and a primer on how to select, trim and dismantle Christmas trees. Alison Hood still waits up for Santa every Christmas Eve and eats way too many cookies while keeping watch at the hearth.

Ever wondered how your favorite Hollywood celebrity decks his or her Christmas halls? Catch the Tinseltown holiday scoop with Christmas Style by Debi Staron and Bob Pranga, a Los Angeles-based decorating duo also known as "Dr. Christmas." With a foreword by entertainment reporter Leeza Gibbons…
Religion & Spirituality

Reason for the season

Review by bookpagedev

Author and gospel lyricist Gloria Gaither captures the sublime and sacred joys of the Christmas season in He Started the Whole World Singing, a heartwarming compendium of her original prayers, stories and songs, rounded out with time-honored Gaither family recipes. The book, named for an original song by Gaither, gives an intimate peek into the faith and spiritual devotions of her family, prompting a deeper vision of Christmas. Accompanied by a CD produced by husband Bill Gaither, this thoughtful, spiritual celebration of Christmas is sure to inspire comfort in our often cold world. Alison Hood still waits up for Santa every Christmas Eve and eats way too many cookies while keeping watch at the hearth.

Author and gospel lyricist Gloria Gaither captures the sublime and sacred joys of the Christmas season in He Started the Whole World Singing, a heartwarming compendium of her original prayers, stories and songs, rounded out with time-honored Gaither family recipes. The book, named for an…
Science Fiction & Fantasy

Magical mystery tour

Review by bookpagedev

Though playwright Gordon Dahlquist’s first novel is also set in Victorian London, the city he imagines contains a touch of magic. In The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, Miss Celeste Temple sets out to discover why her mild-mannered fiancŽ Roger Bascombe has terminated their engagement. When she follows him to a mysterious mansion in the dead of night, Celeste uncovers an unbelievable plot that involves alchemy, mind control, murder and deviant (for Victorian society, that is) sexual activity. She joins forces with two men Cardinal Chang, an assassin, and Svenson, a gentle Swedish doctor who have also lost friends to this cult-like group, which is led by a beautiful and mysterious woman called the Contessa. Chang, Svenson and Celeste take turns narrating, which sometimes results in repetition or a break in momentum, but despite those flaws, readers will be eagerly turning the pages to discover just what happens to the intrepid trio and how those enthralling blue glass books get their power.

Though playwright Gordon Dahlquist's first novel is also set in Victorian London, the city he imagines contains a touch of magic. In The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, Miss Celeste Temple sets out to discover why her mild-mannered fiancŽ Roger Bascombe has terminated…
Lifestyles

Where the heart is

Review by bookpagedev

If the idea of going home for the holidays sends a chill down your spine, you might find relief in bringing along The Dysfunctional Family Christmas Songbook by John Boswell, best-selling author of What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School, and Lenore Skenazy, a New York Daily News columnist and contributor to Mad magazine. This irreverent hymnal of 19 satirical “alternative” Christmas lyrics, all set to the music of the old standard carols, is guaranteed to raise a reaction whether it’s to tickle the familial funny bone, or to make Aunt Hilda bop Cousin Bobby with the Christmas ham. So, get happy, raise a cup of cheer and warble out such favorites as: “O Holy Fight” (sung to the tune of “O Holy Night”), the saga of one family’s sadly divided politics; and “Come Meet the Family” (sung to “O Come All Ye Faithful”), a “celebration of Christmas aggravation.” Alison Hood still waits up for Santa every Christmas Eve and eats way too many cookies while keeping watch at the hearth.

If the idea of going home for the holidays sends a chill down your spine, you might find relief in bringing along The Dysfunctional Family Christmas Songbook by John Boswell, best-selling author of What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School, and Lenore Skenazy,…
FictionHistorical Fiction

A deadly rivalry

Review by bookpagedev

The subtitle of Michael Cox’s engrossing debut, The Meaning of Night is A Confession, and the book takes no time getting down to it: The narrator, Edward Glyver, has killed a man, and he shows little remorse. On the foggy streets of 1850s London, it’s easy for a killer to escape undetected or so Glyver supposes, until he begins receiving mysterious communiquŽs from a blackmailer who seems to know about the events of that night. It is soon revealed that the first murder is merely setting the stage for a second, more meaningful plot rooted in childhood rivalries. Phoebus Daunt’s lies caused Glyver to be expelled from Eton, ruining his hopes for an academic career, and Glyver has been planning his revenge for some 15 years. Cox, a scholar of Victorian literature and the author of a biography of the writer M.R. James, has the tone and style of the era down pat. The complicated plot there’s much more to Daunt and Glyver’s relationship than is initally revealed unfolds with all the richness and depth of a classic Victorian potboiler.

The subtitle of Michael Cox's engrossing debut, The Meaning of Night is A Confession, and the book takes no time getting down to it: The narrator, Edward Glyver, has killed a man, and he shows little remorse. On the foggy streets of 1850s London,…

Trying to do some good

Review by bookpagedev

There’s no doubt that John Wood has done incredible things and helped thousands of children. His nonprofit, Room to Read, which started by stocking one library in Nepal, works with communities in six Asian countries to build schools, computer labs and libraries, as well as providing long-term scholarships for young women. Wood’s memoir, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, is to some extent an inspirational story of how to create a more meaningful and service-oriented life. There are glimpses of how genuinely touched Wood is by the way his work changes people’s lives for the better. But Wood spends most of the time talking about the stellar corporate track he gave up and the masterful ways he uses business techniques learned in that lifetime to run his new venture which is to be expected; this is a business book after all.

It is clear that Wood has simply shifted his Type-A drive for success from selling software to selling a cause. Although there’s a fundamental difference between the two, Wood’s constant focus on numbers, his ability to close a sale and a management style that has allowed him to build and inspire a global team of hard-working employees and volunteers are just some of the skills that served him so well at Microsoft and that have enabled him to grow his nonprofit so quickly and successfully. When someone leaves a lucrative position with one of the world’s foremost companies to start a nonprofit, your inner humanitarian wishes him nothing but the best. When Wood decides to leave Microsoft, he practices his answer to the question What do you do? until he is happy with his description of his new venture. He writes, It was clear that I would be proud to say this. If anyone judged me harshly, I would ignore it. The sad thing for this story is that Wood still seems nearly apologetic for creating a nonprofit that has clearly benefited from all of his particular skills and drive and no one would judge him harshly for that. Megan Brenn-White writes from her home in Brooklyn.

There's no doubt that John Wood has done incredible things and helped thousands of children. His nonprofit, Room to Read, which started by stocking one library in Nepal, works with communities in six Asian countries to build schools, computer labs and libraries, as well as…
LiteratureArts & Culture

A writer’s refuge

Review by bookpagedev

A must-have for any bibliophile, American Writers at Home, co-published by the Library of America and the Vendome Press, provides a peek into the private lives of 21 famous literary figures. Taking readers on a coast-to-coast tour, this wonderful book visits the painstakingly preserved homes of a wide range of writers. From Eugene O’Neill’s elegant, understated residence in Danville, California, to Washington Irving’s charming cottage in Tarrytown, New York, the volume presents a liberal cross section of authors, regions and eras. Photographer Erica Lennard provides captivating portraits of each artist’s workspace, illuminating the day-to-day routines of American favorites like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Frederick Douglass, Emily Dickinson and Edith Wharton. The text by poet J.D. McClatchy includes fascinating anecdotes about the domestic habits and working methods of each figure. The breathtaking visuals, showcasing typewriters, parchment, manuscripts and other tools of the trade, combined with McClatchy’s commentary, make the book an intriguing meditation on the importance of personal space to the creative lives of writers. Julie Hale is a writer in Austin, Texas.

 

A must-have for any bibliophile, American Writers at Home, co-published by the Library of America and the Vendome Press, provides a peek into the private lives of 21 famous literary figures. Taking readers on a coast-to-coast tour, this wonderful book visits the painstakingly preserved…

Pop CultureArts & Culture

Trivia Competitors for $500, Alex

Review by bookpagedev

Who got himself in a bit of a fix recently for describing Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek as a robot ? The answer, in case you’re not up on trivia, is Ken Jennings, who earned a burst of celebrity in 2004 when he won a record 74 straight competitions on television’s longest-running trivia show.

A self-described nerd, Jennings was a software engineer, a devout Mormon and a quiet family man who suddenly found himself talking to David Letterman and Barbara Walters about his game show prowess. A national watercooler phenomenon, he appeared on television so often that his one-year-old son began calling him Ken Jennings! instead of Daddy.

Jennings recounts the whole roller-coaster experience, and more, in Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs. Though he includes snippets of his trivia-crazed youth, his college quiz bowl triumphs and his success on Jeopardy! Brainiac isn’t really a memoir but a broader look at the culture of trivia competitions.

We’ll take software engineers for $200, Alex. Despite the fact that he made a living programming computers, what engineer managed to write a funny and engaging book? The answer, of course, is Jennings himself, who shows a pleasantly nerdy sense of humor throughout (he describes the contestants on the 1960s televised G.E. College Bowl as four heavily Brylcreemed white people with big ears ). Woven into the narrative are 170 trivia questions, with solutions at the end of each chapter. And, just like watching Jeopardy! you don’t have to know all the answers to be entertained.

Now, what’s all this about a feud with Trebek? As it turns out, Jennings saw very little of the host during the show’s tapings, but found him a little chilly, with a tendency toward saltine-dry impartiality. Jennings says a post on his blog implying that Trebek had died and been replaced by a robot was a misunderstood bit of satire. And a good piece of publicity for a smart new author.

 

Who got himself in a bit of a fix recently for describing Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek as a robot ? The answer, in case you're not up on trivia, is Ken Jennings, who earned a burst of celebrity in 2004 when he won a…

LiteratureArts & Culture

Back to the woods

Review by bookpagedev

An artist unafraid to improvise at life, Henry David Thoreau was a man who dared to be an idealist. In 1845, he conducted his famous experiment in the woods of Massachusetts, single-handedly building a cabin on Walden Pond, where he weathered two winters in solitude. Honoring his strength of spirit and unique wisdom, Walden: 150th Illustrated Edition of the American Classic was recently published, with unforgettable color photographs by Texas native Scot Miller. Released to mark the 150th anniversary of the original publication of Walden, this beautiful volume was produced by Houghton Mifflin (Thoreau’s original publisher) in conjunction with the Walden Woods Project, a nonprofit organization established by singer-songwriter Don Henley to protect the wilderness immortalized in Thoreau’s work. Complementing Thoreau’s original text, Miller’s stunning photographs capture the serenity and majesty of the Massachusetts wilderness in each of the four seasons. With a special introduction by nature writer E.O. Wilson, this lavish volume is a bargain at $28.12 (that’s half a cent less than Thoreau spent on the construction of his cabin). A portion of the proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Walden Woods project.

Julie Hale is a writer in Austin, Texas.

 

An artist unafraid to improvise at life, Henry David Thoreau was a man who dared to be an idealist. In 1845, he conducted his famous experiment in the woods of Massachusetts, single-handedly building a cabin on Walden Pond, where he weathered two winters in…

Sports

Voice of the NFL in his own words

Review by bookpagedev

Pat Summerall was playing catch-up from the day he was born. Summerall: On and Off the Air is the veteran broadcaster’s almost painfully honest look at a life full of ups and downs. Summerall’s parents split while his mother was pregnant, leading him to bounce from family member to family member during his childhood in Florida. His career in sports couldn’t have been more unlikely, as he was born with a right foot so twisted that doctors had to break the bones to point it in the right direction. Told he might not be able to run normally, he nevertheless played football and became, of all things, a kicker. Summerall played in the NFL just as the league was starting to bloom. After a decade in the pros, he almost stumbled into a second career as a football broadcaster in the early 1960s just as television’s association with the NFL was about to explode. He became one of the best in the business: His minimalist style of play-by-play was the perfect complement to John Madden’s expressiveness, and two covered eight Super Bowls over 20 years. Summerall tells many stories about his glory days with CBS, and some of them have alcohol as a component. He paid the price, becoming an alcoholic and ruining his liver, before finding sobriety and faith relatively late in life. I entered this world a little twisted, he writes, and it took a while longer than anticipated to get me completely straightened out.

Pat Summerall was playing catch-up from the day he was born. Summerall: On and Off the Air is the veteran broadcaster's almost painfully honest look at a life full of ups and downs. Summerall's parents split while his mother was pregnant, leading him to…

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