Fotografaire - Blog and Photography

Heart-Stopping Words

A Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult is an excellent novel that examines several factors, from the death penalty to church and politics, and to the dynamics of organ donation.

Shay Bourne is awaiting execution on death row in New Hampshire, for the murder of policeman Kurt Nealon and his stepdaughter, Elizabeth. It will be the first execution in 69 years. Bourne feels it is the only way he can find redemption and salvation, within his personal spiritual belief. The problem is that death must be by hanging, and he has been sentenced to death by lethal injection.

It is not without reason that I find Picoult named the prisoner Shay Bourne. The given name Shay in Hebrew means supplanter and also gift, and the irish meaning is hawk and also can mean admirable, while the Gaelic meaning is gift. The surname Bourne means spring or stream, or one who lives near a spring or stream, or even border/boundary. It can also mean birth, beginning, rebirth. The variables of these names can apply to the traits and the endeavor of Shay Bourne to donate his heart to Claire, sister of the murdered Eliabeth, daughter of the policeman Bourne murdered.

The story is woven and alternates between Bourne, June Nealon..wife of Kurt, Michael…a priest who was on the jury that convicted Bourne, and he is now Bourne’s spiritual advisor, Lucious…a prisoner, Maggie…an ACLU representative, and Claire.

Shay is viewed by some as the Messiah, due to some incidents in prison where others feel he performed miracles, such as reviving a dead bird, bringing wine into the prison water system, etc. The Gnostic Gospels come into play, as Bourne seems to be able to quote from them, with sayings supposedly made by Jesus. Bourne becomes a martyr of sorts for the death penalty.

Jodi Picoult has written a compelling novel, on many levels, including mother-daughter relationships, child-abuse, prisoner rights in relation to religious beliefs and their choice of dying, forgiveness and love. Jodi Picoult has written a compelling novel, on many levels, including mother-daughter relationships, prisoner rights in relation to religious beliefs and choice of dying, forgiveness and love. Picoult’s perspective and prose are brilliant.

Garnet Hill Jewel

Garnet Hill Synagogue is the first synagogue to be built in Glasgow, Scotland. It was dedicated on a cloudy day, September 9, 1879. At the time, Glasgow had a Jewish population of 700 people.

John McLeod, of Hope Street, Glasgow, was the architect. He left nothing to imagination, on the Romanesque-looking exterior of the synagogue, from its massive columns, to the ornate turrets and Byzantine-like expressiveness, the synagogue attracted worshipers and visitors from all over.

The opening of the Garnet Hill Synagogue was a major occasion, and cause for celebration, as the Jews previously worshipped in a rented room, in 1825, and then in a flat, before deciding to build what is now Garnet Hill Synagogue.

From the lovely scrollwork on the iron gate, one walks the path towards the steps. The rich wood of the front door is welcoming, and the Star of David is present above the door, illuminating to everyone in its quietude. Garnet Hill Synagogue stands proudly, on a cobble stoned street, reflecting past and present. and it has been a strong community force for over almost 130 years.

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© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

The Devil and Miss Prym, by Paulo Coelho

The Devil and Miss Prym, by Paulo Coelho!

Photograph taken by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho’s novel touches on Good and Evil, and what the difference is between the two, and/or even the similarities. It might read like an adult fairy tale, but that does not lessen the intensity, or diminish the ability to provoke thought about the subject matter, about people, and how far their greed will take them. It also leaves us to wonder about purity of heart.

Miss Prym, is at the forefront of the novel, along with her interactions with a stranger who comes to town. She is given a chance to change the town for decades to come, but will she? And, the residents, once they learn the secret, how will they react..will greed or fear motivate them? Or, will it be a combination of both? I won’t elaborate on the plot, as you must read this book yourself, and inhale the contents, the word-paintings that fill our senses.

Prym…could be interpreted as “Prim”, and with Miss Prym’s innocent and pure appearance, her visual essence and illumination might not actually be the way it appears, and her inner core and soul might reflect hide another illumination.

“There is no such thing as good, virtue is just one of the many faces of terror, the voice said.”

What is the difference between good and evil, and do we, as individuals incorporate some of each, in ourselves. Can one flourish without the other. And, is evil produced from fear of the consequences we will receive, or motivated by other forces, external or internal? What about goodness? These are just some of the questions Coelho leaves us to ponder, in this well written and thought-provoking novel. Paulo Coelho has written a brilliant and magical novel, illuminating life’s choices.

~~Book Diva

© Copyright - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

Open Work, by Adria Bernardi

Open Work, by Adria Bernardi

Three generations of closely knit Italian families are depicted in Bernardi’s novel, Open Work. She has woven a story of the experience of the Italian immigrant in the barren desert and coal mines of New Mexico, and of those who remain behind in the homeland and mountains of Tuscany, Italy.
The fabric of the generations is stretched and pulled, much like the “open work” stitches that were uniquely worked by Imola, one of the main characters. We are given a tapestry of time, mother, children, grandchildren, and others who interweave within the lives of Imola, her brother Egidio, their friend Antenorre.

The assimilation of the Italians in the west, and the attempts by Antenorre to help the miners understand the pitfalls of their existence is written with insight. The realizations and dreams of the immigrants, whether they are realistic or exaggerations of the mind, are also written with sensitivity. The reality of life in America is not what they thought it would be, once the immigrant has landed. The land of opportunity is more inopportune than they imagined.

We are witness to those left behind, and how they struggle to survive within their own villages. We watch them wait for a sign from America, holding their breaths for word of their relatives, through postcards bought through the mine company, and often times written by someone else, before being mailed. We see them wither away, emotionally, unable to cope with loss of family, loss of children moving on to make a life for themselves. The tapestry of life unravels within the pages of Open Work, and the stitches are stretched thin.

The craft of “Open Work” is a metaphor for life’s tapestries. If you want to learn more about the Italian immigrant experience in the southwest, I recommend Bernardi’s Open Work, for its insightful documentation and vivid imagery.

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The Year My Parents Went On Vacation

“The Year My Parents Went on Vacation“, is directed by Cao Hamburger, and was produced in Brazil. The film is subtitled in English, and written in Portugese, Yiddish and Hebrew.

The movie takes place in Sao Paulo, during 1970 Brazil, when the country was run by military regime. The story line isn’t so much about the turbulence and military authority, as it is about Mauro, his coming-of-age, and the changes in his life that he encounters, and adjustments he must make, when his parents drop him off to stay with his Jewish grandfather.

Michel Joelsas, who plays 12-year old Mauro, is very good at conveying the lonely feelings of the boy, and also conveys the confusion he feels over the fact his parents are gone. He keeps asking about them, and is constantly told that they are on vacation. His life before his parents left revolved around soccer/football, and that facet of his life remains the same. In fact, the entire city population lives for the sport.

There are some humorous parts to the film, and many moments that display warmth and vibrancy. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of the Jewish community of Sao Paolo, and how we see how they adored soccer/football, as much as any other Brazilian citizen did, their passion about the game overflowing with vibrancy and exuberance, whether young or old, Orthodox Jews or not.

We are given snippets of daily life, from the apartments to the street noises, the traditions, and the food, and are given views of culture, both social and religious. The film is delightful, humorous, poignant, well-constructed and developed with social aspects, as well as historical perspectives. The cinematography is wonderful. “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” is a film filled with humanity and acceptance. Cao Hamburger, himself, recognizes the degrees one goes through in order to feel part of their environment, due to his own background. “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” is a brilliant reflection of his ability to infuse emotion and empathy, history and religion, within political and social confines.

I could go into more detail, but won’t, as I don’t want to give too much away.

I saw this film Saturday, and I highly recommend this film to everyone.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.