*** NOVEL: The Photograph AUTHOR: Penelope Lively DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2003 REVIEW: I picked this novel up on a lazy afternoon, when it was too hot to do much of anything else than sit around, and although I read it only to occupy a few idle hours, it has stayed with me for weeks. *** … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – The Photograph →

Much to my pleasant surprise, it was a lovely book, the story (which takes place over 15 years) of the making of a new dictionary at a Japanese publishing house.

*** BOOK: Strength in What Remains AUTHOR: Tracy Kidder YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2009 *** Before I picked up Strength in What Remains, I read two other books by Tracy Kidder, both of which I thought were well written, but not extremely compelling or original.  Among Schoolchildren is the story of a year in a  fifth … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Strength in What Remains →

I was initially excited to see To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway, and bought a pair of tickets months ago.

*** John “Fletch” Fletcher keeps busy.  Photography, acting, doing voice-overs, playing bass, dancing salsa, teaching English…the list goes on.  He studied film and video production in college at Notre Dame (and worked on the movie Rudy, which was shot on the campus). But he got away from his film roots for a while, working for … Continue reading A Road Less Traveled – Our Q&A with John Fletcher of FletchJr Photography →

A few weeks ago, a small NewsWhistle contingent attended the 9th Annual Chekhov Variety Show, a celebration of Anton Chekhov’s birthday, at City Winery in NYC.

You’ve got a few weeks left to see Joan Miró: Birth of the World at MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) in New York City—it’s here until June 15th.

Misty Copeland’s story is amazing, as is her dancing.

*** NOVEL: Ayesha at Last AUTHOR: Uzma Jalaluddin YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2018 *** This is a terrific book—Uzma Jalaluddin, a high school teacher and newspaper columnist, has knocked it out of the park with her first novel. A love letter to Jane Austen and William Shakespeare, a sweet, touching, and very funny romance, and a … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Ayesha at Last →

*** NOVEL: Sense and Sensibility AUTHOR: Jane Austen YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1811 *** This one is truly a classic; if you haven’t read it, you are in for a treat, as it is one of the best debut novels ever written. (I’d put it up there with Jane Eyre and A Portrait of the Artist … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Sense and Sensibility →