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Mark Schweickart
Dave – To be honest, I was always a Four Tops guy myself. But that doesn't change my enthusiasm for recommending this Temptations show, Ain't Too Proud.
And speaking of making recommendations, here's a toss out to the class for a topic changer – what have you been reading lately that we all might be interested in? (Oh, and let's leave out books covering our current political situation, since we know how that can devolve into unwanted rancor here on the forum.)
My favorite read this summer was Charles Frazier's new book, Varina. You might remember Frazier from his earlier, highly acclaimed Cold Mountain. This one is also set in the Civil War era, and the Varina of the title is none other than Varina Davis, the wife of Jefferson Davis. It starts in 1906, when, as an elderly woman staying at a spa-type resort in upstate New York, she is surprised to have a middle-aged black man seek her out one day. It turns out that he was a small child in her custody who was with her, along with her own children, when she fled south after the fall of Richmond in hope of eventually making it to Havana. And thus, the old memories come flooding back, as we experience this exceptionally fine rendering of not just the flight, but of most of her life. One thing is clear from the get-go, this woman is not anything like one might off-handedly expect – no priviledged Southern Belle with notions of the righteousness of the Southern cause, here. Who would have thought that our hearts would ever go out to this First Lady of the South? This is a story that is not only historicaly informative, but even moreso it is heart-breakingly poignant, and masterfully delivered by Frazier whose prose dazzles us while remaining uttelry easy to read. Here's a sample from the opneing scene to possibly pique your interest:
An elderly woman enters the great room from one of the corridors. She resembles later photograpphs of Queen Victoria–much taller but with similar gravity dragging from behind. Same hairstyle. Her dress a sheen of eggplant. She walks past the piano player and palms the small of her back to correct her posture.
James doesn't recognize the woman, but makes an assumption and stands.
At the chair beside the settle, V stops and says, Mr. Blake? I don't recollect your name, but I'm curious.
– Yes, ma'm. Thank you for seeing me I'll be brief. What I wanted to see you about concerns the war.
She had started to sit, but now remains standing.
– Please, I'm long since exhausted with that insane war, and don't need to re-dream a nightmare.
V turns to walk away, but then turns back, angry.
She tells him how uninterested she is in the past, except people keep trying to clench its fists around her throat. Whatever old story he needs to tell, she's heard a thousand of them–all the tales of waste and loss. And heaps of guilt too, for failing to find a bloodless way to end ownership of people–choosing a bloodbath instead. Since then, South and North have been busy constructing new memories and new histories, fictions fighting to become facts.
– If you haven't notice, she says, we are a furious nation, and war drums beat in our chest. Our leaders proclaim better than they negotiate. The only bright side is, the right side won. My only advice is to be where you are now – don't look back.
Of course, what we are about to witness is just that – her looking back. And what a look back it is. Well done, Mr. Frazier.
So fellow book club members, what else should be on the reading list?
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