Aug. 12th, 2018

jazzy_dave: (Default)
One of the CD's i found today is a two for one job - that is two albums on one CD - Mel Torme's "Comin' Home Baby" and "Sunday In New York".Soas iam feeling a jazz mood -here is some jazz.


Mel Torme - Let Me Off Uptown



More music here )

Enjoy.
jazzy_dave: (Default)
What did you learn today?

What fun thing did you do today?

What not so fun thing did you do today?
jazzy_dave: (Default)


When was the last time you visited the library? What did you bring home?

Do you use a library for research purposes?

Nominare your favourite library and the reasons why.
jazzy_dave: (bookish)

Christopher Isherwood "Goodbye To Berlin" (Vintage)





I have just finished reading Goodbye to Berlin.

It is an account of the author’s stay in Berlin for a period of time. It was an exciting time, just before Hitler came to power and launched his full scaled pogrom against the Jews.

While we do not get a political commentary on the times, we do get sketches of people who go about their lives, not having any idea about the storm that is headed their way.

The novel is divided into several chapters, A Berlin Diary (Autumn 1930), Sally Bowles, On Rugen Island (Summer 1931), The Nowaks, The Landauers, and finally again, A Berlin Diary (Winter 1932-3)

A Berlin diary is an account of Isherwood's life in Berlin. He profiles his stay in a boarding house there. He writes about Frl. Schroeder, his sweet and caring landlady, his fellow lodgers and their everyday happenings.

The piece de resistance here is undoubtedly Sally Bowles. I was struck by the similarity between her and Holly Golightly. I found out from Wikipedia that Sally Bowles was indeed the inspiration for Holly. Capote and Isherwood met in New York and happened to talk about this small time nightclub performer who was a complete degenerate. Unlike Holly, Sally did not get a glamorous 'face' to play her, hence she remained unknown.

On Reugen Islands examines Otto, a handsome spoiled young man who puts himself out for favors. Holidaying in the Reugen Islands, Isherwood runs into Peter and the young man he has 'befriended', Otto Nowak. The relationship between Peter and Otto soon runs into rough weather, and Isherwood gets a ringside view to their fights. The Nowaks is a sequel to the previous story. Here Isherwood goes to live with the Nowaks as he has fallen on hard times. Here we get to look at the sad, poor life that Otto's family leads.

The Landauers is about a rich Jewish family that Isherwood gets introduced to. He soon strikes up a special friendship with their daughter, Natalia, who is a pretty, curious, intelligent young schoolgirl. Isherwood seems to waver on the brink of a relationship with her.

The final chapter is again about his previous landlady and life in the boarding house. Things are getting sinister now, Hitler is almost upon them. He sees life changing around him and he prepares to leave.

The stories are not told in a usual 'fictional' style. They read more like memoirs and often seem like pointless sketches. But later, you realize that these are an important record of those times, somewhat like snapshots that drop out of an old family album, reminding you of past family events.
jazzy_dave: (Default)
Having lunch in Sittingbourne today , a new venne for me - and a mystery shop to boot.Sunday lunch with a beer. Yum!

Weather is not as sunny as yesterday but at least it is dry, Then afterwards i might have abeer in Spoons.

Still Here

Aug. 12th, 2018 05:15 pm
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Still inside a pub having a few beers but now imbibing slowly waiting for the bus to take me back home. It is due in the next fifteen minutes. I will then catch up with Gotham and American Gods.

Lunch

Aug. 12th, 2018 09:37 pm
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Lunch was a traditional Sunday lunch of Yorksite pudding,veg, roast beef and chicken slices with roast and mashed potato. Ir was delicious.

P_20180812_134116

Thursday Phil and i are traveling down to Brighton for the monthly lunch club so i shall be looking forward to that.

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