I’m currently reading and loving At Home on the Range by Margaret Yardley Potter, with an introduction by her great grand-daughter, Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s completely fascinating and really fun to read.
"While unpacking boxes of old family books recently, Elizabeth Gilbert rediscovered a dusty, yellowed hardcover called At Home on the Range, originally written by her great-grandmother, Margaret Yardley Potter. Having only been peripherally aware of the volume, Gilbert dug in with some curiosity, and soon found that she had stumbled upon a book far ahead of its time. Part scholar and part crusader for a more open food conversation, Potter espoused the importance of farmer’s markets and ethnic food (Italian, Jewish, and German), derided preservatives and culinary shortcuts, and generally celebrated a devotion to epicurean adventures. "
I had only a terrible “romance” novel downloaded to get me through the first few days of no internet/power after I finished The Lying Life of Adults. The former was not just poorly written but really misogynistic and offensive. Ugh.
Things are a little Mad Max right now, as multiple locals have remarked. But we’re lucky to have made it through pretty unscathed. County is still in rescue mode and we’ll probably have no idea of the true extent of the damage and devastation for weeks. Heart hurts but we are just trying to eke it out without utilities for a bit. Camping and gardening gear have been helpful.
On Nextdoor in SF a tread was discussing favorite movies; one man said he was forced to watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in high School (odd, I found the whole movie engrossing but maybe he was being forced to watch it for school?). Anyway, he has since watched it 10 times and sees some new detail each time.
I responded that he should read the book, that there are scenes in the book not in the movie and vice versa, I like all versions.
I wish his teacher could read that now!
I feel that way about the movie Grand Canyon with Danny Glover and Kevin Klein. I don’t know if there’s a book.
I’d say that 9 out of 10 times, the book will greatly surpass its screen rendition.
I read The Neverending Story as a 12yr old, perhaps one of the best children’s books I ever read, and I know how popular the movie was & is, but it’s not. even. close. I implore anyone who loves the movie to read the book (in most cases, but this one in particular).
My daughter’s FAVORITE movie is The Tin Drum, she’s seen it countless times. Happy to report we were able to see it on a big screen a few times. She’s read the book many times too. She prefers the book, I prefer the movie.
The main character, Oskar, is written as a little person but also he’s a child. It’s so remarkable that when they were finally able to start making the movie that they were able to find a little person, child, actor, German speaking to fill the role! He was 11, Swiss.
Yes, Günter Grass is a hugely popular & prolific German author, with Die Blechtrommel being his most famous work. The movie did a good job, and not just with the eel scene (which is not for the faint of heart, especially if one is pregnant ). David Bennent, son of actor Heinz Bennent, is still acting.
I read OFOTCN in high school before seeing the movie. Great book, and equally good adaptation, which is rare. Hard to match vibe, theme and ethos but they did.
Started listening to Natalie Haynes’ Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths. Composed of about a dozen chapters, each a retelling of a classic Greek creation myth but refocused on the woman’s POV. Pandora, Medusa, Helen, etc. Super interesting.
). David Bennent, son of actor Heinz Bennent, is still acting.
