From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2000 #611 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk VideoTree sign-up: http://www.jmdl.com/trading Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Friday, November 17 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 611 The 'Official' Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news, a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much much more. The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. Sign up for VideoTree #2 now: http://www.jmdl.com/trading ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Judy Collins(LJC) ["Victor Johnson" ] Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) [catman ] What do you like to read? NJC ["kerry" ] Re: Patricia Cornwell NJC ["Hell" ] Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) ["Hell" ] re: what do you like to read NJC [mags ] Re: Patty Griffin NJC ["gene mock" ] Re: baked beans(njc) ["Diane Evans" ] Re: What do you like to read? (NJC) MAD Magazine lovers! [MGVal@aol.com] Re: thanksgiving food (now Ukrainian cuisine 101) njc ["Diane Evans" ] Re: What do you like to read? NJC [MGVal@aol.com] Re: Covers of Covers [Joseph Palis ] Re: Books (njc) ["Sue Cameron" ] Re: siberry's 'hush' NJC [BarBearUh ] Re: JMDL cars (rant) - NJC ["Mark or Travis" ] Re: What would they do in England again (NJC) (md) [dsk ] nick drake NJC [BarBearUh ] RE: what do you like to read? NJC emily's shakespeare ["patrick leader" ] re Faith? NJC [Don Sloan ] re: could/n't, books NJC [BarBearUh ] Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) ["Mark or Travis" ] RE: what do you like to read? NJC - orson scott card ["patrick leader" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:11:39 -0500 From: "Victor Johnson" Subject: Judy Collins(LJC) Went to see Judy tonight in Atlanta on a cold, rainy night. Small gathering of people. It was set to start around 6 which is in the middle of horrendous traffic but by the end there were a few dozen people. She sort of talked and told stories and sang snippet of songs and got everybody to sing along on Danny Boy and Amazing Grace. Very informal, no mikes, no guitar or piano. Picked up her new live album which is excellent. Great version of "Both Sides Now" on it. She mentioned Joni a couple of times and talking about music she keeps up with, mentioned she's a big Celine Dion fan. Really good back up band on the cd. It's called "Live at the Wolf Trap" which is an outdoor ampitheatre in Virginia which she has performed at 21 times, this being the 21st. Victor NP: Judy Collins She Moves Through the Fair ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 01:18:18 +0000 From: catman Subject: Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) > > > I must say, I loved Black Notice, but I also thought it was out of character > for Scarpetta to open the door (sorry to spoil the ending for anyone > planning to read it)! But The Last Precinct (her latest) discusses that as > well, and it all becomes a lot clearer (Marino was disgusted with her for > opening the door too) - in fact, I'd say The Last Precinct is kind of the > second half of Black Notice, which ended in a strange place. I started it > Tuesday, finished Wednesday, and am now re-reading it to get all the bits I > missed 'cos I was in such a hurry to see what happened! Thanks for explaining that. I was sooo disappointed with that ending and thought Ms Cornwall had sold out to the movie makers. I also very much liked her Hornets Nest and it's sequel. You know I only got into crime novels by accicent. i picked up a Minnette walters one day, The Dark room, and from the blurb on it, got the copmplete wrong idea about what it was about(I had thought it was about a child abuse survivor) but turned oput to be a crime thriller. i was hooked! I forgot to mention i also like Fay Weldon. Praxis, Puffball, The Life and Loves Of A She Devil which was turnd into an horrendously bad film, which did not keep to the story as in the book. It really pisses me off when they do that! bw colin > > > > Used to read King but find him too long winded now. my fave was The Stand. > > The Stand is also my favourite Stephen King, but the second "uncut and > unabridged" version, where he goes into much more detail about some of the > minor characters. > > Hell > ____________________________ > "To have great poets, there must be > great audiences too." - Walt Whitman > > hell@ihug.co.nz > Visit the NBLs (Natural Born Losers) at: > http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hell/ - -- bw colin colin@tantra.fsbusiness.co.uk http://www.geocities.com/tantra_apso/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 19:26:01 -0600 (CST) From: michael w yarbrough Subject: RE: Patty Griffin NJC On Thu, 16 Nov 2000, Kate Bennett wrote: > Someone else said that but I do agree. Sorry for misattributing--glad that you share the opinion, though. :-) > I don't think "Let Him Fly" is the same song > as the Dixie Chicks "Fly" though. On the Dixie Chicks *album* called _Fly_ the last song is "Let Him Fly," with the writer credited as Patty Griffin. - --Michael ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 19:34:46 -0600 From: "kerry" Subject: What do you like to read? NJC This is a great thread, one I was thinking recently of discussing....Why am I not surprised that JMDLers are also lovers of books! I recently left my (secure) job as a teacher for a job at an agency that teaches adults basic reading and writing skills. It has made me so much more appreciative of the beauty that reading has given me. I can't imagine my life without books! Jacqueline Mitchard (author of "Deep End of the Ocean) spoke recently at our 35th anniversary celebration and she said that if she ever had to choose between reading and writing, she would have written her last word yesterday. I can name my favorite author, just like I can name my favorite songwriter (guess who), but as far as listing other authors and books, the list just changes every day: Undeniably my favorite author - Barbara Kingsolver. She can make me want to stop at a single sentence and read it over and over! I also love Linda Hogan. Beautiful writing. I just read "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Don't know what took me so long! It was the best book I've read in a long time!!!! Another book I avoided for a long time was "The Well of Loneliness" by Radclyffe Hall. I had heard it was depressing, but it was appropriate for the time it was beautifully written. I also love mysteries... Ellen Hart (mainstream lesbian detective series!)....Nevada Barr is awesome...each mystery set in a different national park (and she always includes a gay character or two).....Val McDermid (love the British aspect of the stories).....and finally, Mabel Maney (lesbian & gay mysteries written in the style of Nancy Drew novels....HILARIOUS!) I have to stop before I think of more. Kerry NP - Joan - The Sire of Sorrow (Job's Sad Song) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 14:26:25 +1300 From: "Hell" Subject: Re: Patricia Cornwell NJC Kerry wrote: > Yes! That bothered me too!!! I read one book by her that I didn't like, > but finally tried others and liked them, but "Black Notice" did drive me > crazy for that reason. Just as an aside, I've been drooling over her > pictures on her books for a long time, but then saw an interview with her on > TV and was disappointed! She didn't sound like she looks. Does that make > sense? You too, huh? I've been doing the same thing myself, and I was VERY disappointed that the new book I bought last weekend didn't have a photo of her on the cover! But I'll now resist the temptation to actually see her on TV, and my illusions will be intact! Hell - in blissful ignorance P.S. The Last Precinct really will explain a lot of things left unanswered in Black Notice, although it's written in the first-person, and the style is a bit weird to start with! P.P.S. Kerry - check out the website at www.patriciacornwell.com - LOTS of pictures! ____________________________ "To have great poets, there must be great audiences too." - Walt Whitman hell@ihug.co.nz Visit the NBLs (Natural Born Losers) at: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hell/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 14:29:56 +1300 From: "Hell" Subject: Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) Colin wrote: > I forgot to mention i also like Fay Weldon. Praxis, Puffball, The Life and Loves Of A She > Devil which was turnd into an horrendously bad film, which did not keep to the story as in > the book. It really pisses me off when they do that! I also really like Fay Weldon, and loved The Life and Loves of A She-Devil. I agree that the film version was awful, but the TV series with Julie T. Walters, Dennis Waterman and Patricia Hodge was wonderful. I thought they did a great job! Hell ____________________________ "To have great poets, there must be great audiences too." - Walt Whitman hell@ihug.co.nz Visit the NBLs (Natural Born Losers) at: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hell/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:39:37 -0600 From: mags Subject: re: what do you like to read NJC some of my favourite books: i will name some of the ones that have made an impact on my life, opened my eyes, heart, soul, moved me to the core, and above all else, made me think: Obasan by Joy Kogawa The Colour Purple by Alice Walker Zami A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde Bobbi Lee Indian Rebel by Lee Maracle The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison One Good Story That One by Thomas King scented gardens for the blind by Janet Frame Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale also by Margaret Atwood A Bird in the House by Margaret Laurence many plays by Shakespeare La Guerre, Yes Sir by Roch Carrier Pelagie From Bruised Fell by Jane Finlay-Young Running in the Family and the English Patient, both by Michael Ondaatje A Room of One's Own by Virginia Wolfe The Stone Diaries / Larry's Party/ Swan by Carol Shields She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen A Widow For One Year by John Irving The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks Felicia's Journey by Trevor Howard Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt from Concert of Voices An anthology of World Writing in English: The Man by Austin Clarke Anancy and Ticks by Louise Bennett (Miss Lou was at my grad 2 yrs ago!!) Swimming Lessons by Rohinton Mistry currently working my way through: The Gifts of the Jews by Thomas Cahill Written in Memory : Portraits of the Holocaust The Cider House Rules by John Irving YorkStories Women in Higher Education edited by the York Stories Collective The Story of Sir Real and Natasha Mags who really loves to read as well as write and wishes she had more time to... np: sleeping in hollow trees, zoebliss - -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------- _~O / /\_, ___/\ /_ - ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 17:41:22 -0800 From: "gene mock" Subject: Re: Patty Griffin NJC have to agree with les and kate. lwg makes me stop what i'm doing and just listen. "time will do the talking" and "sweet lorraine" absolutely great. just got "flaming red" on ebay for 8.00. enjoy hearing other listers favorite music. thanks and happy turkey day gene - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Irvin" To: Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 2:54 PM Subject: Re: Patty Griffin NJC > At 02:06 PM 11/16/2000, Kate Bennett wrote: > >I plan to get Flaming Red but first want to listen to LWG a few more hundred > >times! I love the sparseness of it & that you don't even realize its a voice > >& guitar because of her incredible voice. I have heard she is amazing live. > >I can't think of anyone who has inspired me so much other than Shawn Colvin > >& Joni. > > At the risk of inflaming the list admin, I must throw in a "me too" on > "Living with Ghosts". It is one of the handful of albums that I can name > off the top of my head that does not have a single weak song on it. I > think "Mad Mission" and "Forgiveness" are pure brilliance. I'm not sure a > few hundred times is enough, Kate! > Les > > NP: John Starling "White Line" > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:42:26 -0500 From: "Diane Evans" Subject: Re: baked beans(njc) Bob, Here's Gram's recipe for baked beans: 2 pounds Navy beans 1/2 pound leanest salt pork, cubed 1/2 to 2/3 cup dark molasses 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp pepper 3/4 tsp salt 1 medium-large onion, chopped coarsely Soak beans overnight. Drain. Par-boil in fresh water while mixing remaining ingredients. Stop boiling when bean skins crack when you blow on them. (Removing foam from pot while beans are boiling will reduce gas.:-0) Combine molasses, mustard, sugar, pepper, and salt in large bowl. In large crock, put layer of pork and onions (1/3 of total amount). Layer 1/2 of the beans. Repeat the layers one time. Pour on liquid and top with remianing pork and onions. Cover and cook on high for about 7 hours. If using crockery in regular oven, bake at 300 degrees for 6 hours. Serves 8 adults. (By Gram's count, that is!) Enjoy! Diane _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:58:08 EST From: MGVal@aol.com Subject: Re: What do you like to read? (NJC) MAD Magazine lovers! In a message dated 11/16/00 5:06:41 PM Pacific Standard Time, hell@ihug.co.nz writes: << My history teacher (a Catholic priest) at school recommended Mad as a good form of satire, although they went downhill after the mid-80's. Or maybe I just got older and more discerning! >> It did go downhill in the 80's, but the older ones, oh my! I still hum many of the parodies from their takes on popular musicals. One of my favorites was the parody of "Fiddler on the Roof" which in Mad centered on a father in the 60's with three daughters: To the tune of "Matchmaker:" "I'm Shelia a sexfiend fanatic, I'm Nancy, a speed freak right now, I'm Gail who makes bombs in the attic and answers the phone with quotations from Mao!" Love it, love it, love it. MG ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 21:00:12 -0500 From: "Diane Evans" Subject: Re: thanksgiving food (now Ukrainian cuisine 101) njc Evian, My parents live in "da Regendt," otherwise known as the Calumet Region of northwestern Indiana. The area abounds in Slavic groups and some of the best sausage I've ever had was introduced to me by a high school Hungarian sweetheart: they called it kielbasa. There are some fine deli's in the area that make kielbasa fresh daily and whenever we go north we have the same situation you do: as much as we can haul back will be consumed by someone! Good thing we love LOVE garlic! Also, did you ever sample brain? My Ukranian grandfather would force the grandchildren to try it and laugh like hell when we choked it down. Mostly couldn't get over that it looked so much like the wonderful farmer's cheese he would make and taste so damned horribly different! My grandfather was a first generation American and a mean old drunk. One, of course, has nothing to do with the other. While I, unfortunately, do not have many happy memories of him, I vividly recall one funny incident at their farm: the chickens got into the mash (he distilled his own vodka because he couldn't get good vodka here). Anyway, chickens can get stumbling drunk and put on quite the show when they do! Diane, who still tries to be "strong, like bull." _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 00:26:39 +0000 From: catman Subject: terrible A blonde went into a world wide message centre to send a message to her >>mother >>overseas. When the man told her it would cost $300 she exclaimed, "I don't >>have >>any money, but I'd do ANYTHING to get a message to my mother". >> >>The man arched an eyebrow (as you would expect). "Anything?" he asked. >> >>"Yes, yes, anything" the blonde promised. >> >>"Well then, just follow me" said the man as he walked towards the next >>room. >> >>The blonde did as she was told and followed the man. "Come in and close >>the >>door" the man said. She did. He then said "Now get on your knees", she >>did. "Now >>take down my zipper", She did. "Now go ahead...take it out", he said. She >>reached in and grabbed it with both hands. The man closed his eyes and >>whispered, "Well...go ahead". >> >>The blonde slowly brought her mouth closer to it and while holding it >>close to >>her lips, tentatively said, "Hello, mum, can you hear me?" - -- bw colin colin@tantra.fsbusiness.co.uk http://www.geocities.com/tantra_apso/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 21:26:54 EST From: MGVal@aol.com Subject: Re: What do you like to read? NJC In a message dated 11/16/00 5:45:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, myrtlmoo@ticon.net writes: << I just read "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Don't know what took me so long! It was the best book I've read in a long time!!!! >> I loved this book, too, but the enjoyment of it was almost completely wiped out by reading the book that followed: "Little Altars Everywhere" or something like that. The theme of child abuse took away the pleasure of meeting up with the Ya-Ya's in the first book. Love this thread. If I couldn't read, I don't know what I would do. MG ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 10:02:52 +0800 (PHT) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Covers of Covers I agree with James. If the songs Joni sang will be included in the Covers Project of Bob, then we might as well include other jazz singers' version of STORMY WEATHER, I WISH I WERE IN LOVE AGAIN, etc. and other standards from her BSN album. Joseph (guilty for sending Marlena Shaw's version of `twisted' to Bob) On Thu, 16 Nov 2000, James L. Leonard wrote: > I just saw that Joseph had written the following to Bob: > > "Just reconnected to the List. My question to you: do you already have the > version of CENTERPIECE with Van Morrison, Annie Ross and Georgie Fame? I > listened to Van Morrison's HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON album with > Georgie Fame and there was CENTERPIECE with the three of them singing at > the same time. If you don't have it, tell me, so I can send this song along > with the Paganini Ensemble's version of GOODBYE PORKPIE HAT." > > I'm a *diehard* Van fan, but think that including his version of > "Centerpiece," as much fun as it is - or any of a great number of other > versions of these two songs - would be taking the "Covers" concept one step > too far. Joni based her own covers on Lambert, Hendricks and Ross' version > of "Centerpiece," and Charles Mingus' 1959 version of "Goodbye Pork Pie > Hat." Both of those are already included in Bob's "Covers" series. > > Just an opinion ... :) > > "Boston Jim" > > NP: "Wharf Rat," the Dead at Nassau Coliseum, 1990 > > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 21:35:38 -0500 From: "Sue Cameron" Subject: Re: Books (njc) GARRET wrote: i have also loved everything of Toni Morrisons that i've ever read, and i could write about her for hours on end....if anyones interested. any other Toni fans on the list?????? Garret, I first heard Toni Morrison on a talk show in 1977. She was reading a passage from Song of Solomon: "She had dainty habits which matched her torn and filthy clothes in precisely the way her strong young cultivated voice matched her wizened face. Her white hair-braided, perhaps; perhaps not-she touched as though replacing a wayward strand from an elegant coiffure. And her smile-an opening of flesh like celluloid dissolving under a drop of acid-was accompanied by a press of fingers on her chin. It was this combination of daintiness and cultivated speech that misled Macon and invited him to regard her as merely foolish." Immediately I wrote down her name and the title of the book. It was number one on my Chirstmas list and I still own the thing today. Toni's writing reminded me so much of Joni's lyrics in the way they painted a picture. Colin, I never knew you were a King fan. I totally agree that some of his latest works have gotten boring. The Stand, too, is my favorite. I especially enjoy the unedited version that really fleshes out some of the minor characters who played key roles. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a good read if you get the chance. Cool thread! Can't wait to see what everyone else is reading. Sue Cameron ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 21:45:59 -0500 From: BarBearUh Subject: Re: siberry's 'hush' NJC Mike Hicks wrote: > > can't believe no one's mentioned JANE SIBERRY yet! must explore! 'when > > How would you rate her new albume Hush? I have a couple of hers. > Speckless Sky and The Walking. Very different and very good. I > agree, we must explore JS. i've never liked either of those albums much, especially 'sky'. her later stuff is much more interesting and less cheesily produced (IMHO). as for 'hush', i really love it, but as always, jane is so different each time out that it's hard to give a nonpartisan review, so to speak. very rich choral arrangements - a virtual jane chorus singing traditional songs. some of them are really lush and beautiful. some fans aren't jumping up & down because they want original compositions and more instruments (70% jane vox, 20% piano, 10% strings or other touches on this one). my only problem with it is that if you listen to it in its entirety, by the 7th or 8th song it can feel a little monotonous. but song by song it's delightful. completely delicious to listen to this disc on headphones. barbara np: the sundays, reading writing + arithmetic ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 19:00:49 -0800 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: JMDL cars (rant) - NJC > My agent, who is a great woman, talked me out of getting a Saturn, because > they are too "granola, too lesbian" and not the best car to drive on to the > lots. What's wrong with granola, what's wrong with lesbian? Let me say it > loud and proud, I eat granola, and I'm practically a lesbian myself (or a > lesbi-man as Paz called me) as I love softball, flannel shirts, monogamous > relationships and I play the acoustic guitar. Well this is news to me but I guess since I own a Saturn I am a lesbian after all! Lori Fye! You da bomb, baby! Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 22:07:00 -0500 From: dsk Subject: Re: What would they do in England again (NJC) (md) MDESTE1@aol.com wrote: > Debra's blanket dismissal of any news source other than those in which 92% > of the staff vote liberal and radical liberal candidates are all unworthy of > consideration. No, I don't completely dismiss any news source, and no news service is completely objective (although some do have that as a goal). I do, however, like to know what their slant is, and am especially suspicious when that is hidden. Debra Shea ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 22:01:36 EST From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: PJ Harvey NJC In a message dated 11/16/00 8:01:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, SCJoniGuy@aol.com writes: << Bob M., you should try this out--I know PJ burned you w/ ROM, but this one is not so, um, raw. Just rawk.) >> I'd be up to hear it, but you can bet I wouldn't buy it without a thorough listen...I had a hard enough time getting rid of that other disc of hers. Even the garbageman wouldn't take it! :~) >> Bob, at least you *did * get rid of PJ's "Rid of Me". For the past two years I've tried to unload that CD to any JMDLer's who wanted it, and no takers. IMO, from over 1000 cd's in my collection, that is absolutely the worst peice of SHIT I own. (sorry to offend any PJ lovers, but that's the way I feel) Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:59:16 +0800 (PHT) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Covers of Covers Not the same with the Paganini Ensemble. They did GPPH instrumental (cello, violin, viola) and its to a tribute to Mingus more than Joni. Joseph np: Swing Out Sister "Waiting Game" On Thu, 16 Nov 2000, James L. Leonard wrote: > > > Joni based her own covers on Lambert, Hendricks and Ross' version of > "Centerpiece," and Charles Mingus' 1959 version of "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." > Both of those are already included in Bob's "Covers" series. > > > After I sent this, something occured to me ... if any other versions exist > of GPPH using Joni's lyrics, they would certainly be "Covers" material. (Is > that the case with the Paganini Ensemble?) > > "Boston Jim" > > NP: "Wharf Rat," the Dead at Nassau Coliseum, 1990 (still) > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 22:24:48 -0500 From: BarBearUh Subject: nick drake NJC npr is doing a feature on nick tomorrow morning. i don't know if it will be the same story, but when they interviewed emmylou a couple of weeks ago, the story was 5 minutes or so, but you could listen to the full interview on the npr site (about 50 minutes). of course, here nick is not around to be interviewed, but it may be worth a check-see. barbara np: youssou n'dour, the lion (seeing this phenomenon on tuesday!) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 22:33:33 -0500 From: "patrick leader" Subject: RE: what do you like to read? NJC emily's shakespeare emily wrote: > >for work (i'm a graduate student) i'm reading lots and >lots of shakespeare and writers ON shakespeare. that >part's wonderful. and it sounds fun. i can cast a jewel into this thread with the addition of my favorite writer, robertson davies. yet another great canadian gift to the world. davies, who died about 5 years ago, had been an actor, playwright, essayest and critic, editor-in-chief, and master of a college before he really hit his stride as a novelist. he styled himself as a cranky curmudgeon, but you can tell in his writing how much he loved people, their frailties but also their achievements. he wrote so beautifully about the people who make the arts that i care about so much, the singers, actors, playwrights, composers, painters. not worshipfully, but gracefully. he was also scathingly funny, most of the time; he saw acutely the foolishness of people. but still so loving. the only writer who comes close for me is jane austen, and they have similar strengths. the shakespeare reference reminded me of a particular davies favorite of mine, 'tempest tost', a fairly short comic novel about an upper ottawa community theater production of shakespeare's 'the tempest'. i've read it a number of times, but the best was when i was involved in a community (brooklyn) theater version of 'the tempest', which had brilliance and bullshit in equal proportions to davies' fictional version. he reminded me to appreciate all of it, giggling. emily, i think you could justify reading 'tempest tost' as 'reading about shakespeare. and you are drawn to the writing of robertson davies, you'll be in for a fantastic journey. tempest tost, like most of his novels, is part of a trilogy. his best trilogy, the 'deptford', is quite frankly a masterpiece. happy reading. patrick np - bebel gilberto - tantotempo ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 19:46:26 -0800 From: Don Sloan Subject: re Faith? NJC colin wrote: <> Colin... good observations and question. Law may or may not be partisan when created, but it's definitely getting the ol' partisan spin down there in Florida. In this case, I think the Democrats are once again proving themselves to be the True Masters of Spin (is that the name of a band?). Though many on the list will disagree, it looks like they've got the Republicans so far off balance now, they may not even recover by 2004. The whole mess has devolved into, as you put it, "a pile of do do" and at this point, I don't see any integrity in whatever decision comes down. I read an interesting editorial yesterday comparing the Florida Fiasco with a phenomenon depicted in the film "Blowup". Here's a brief excerpt: "With each passing hour, the election seems less and less a routine exercise in democracy and more and more like a wild script directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. Antonioni's famous 1966 film Blowup follows the adventures of a fashion photographer in Swinging London who, while taking random pictures in a park, may or may not have photographed a murder being committed. During the course of the film, the photographer enlarges his pictures in hopes of clarifying the details but finds instead that everything just gets murkier. Antonioni's film invited audiences to study ambiguous photographic images until they became random collections of dots on a page, effectively devoid of any definitive meaning." http://www.reason.com/0101/ed.ng.pres.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 23:04:53 -0500 From: BarBearUh Subject: re: could/n't, books NJC Azeem wrote: We have an expression to denote complete indifference: "I couldn't care less" - - - in other words, it would not be possible to care less than I do now. It seems that in American English the phrase is "I could care less." i've heard both, and agree "couldn't" is the original. i think it's just evolved to "could" over time, and it usually is delivered with disdain. what i read... i read a lot more when i was younger, lots of biographies (mostly directors & actors & musicians - tons of dylan bios) & non-fiction (film & music books & political stuff). in college, i read tons of plays, especially shakespeare (almost all of them). i went through a real reading drought for about 10 years, and just a couple of years ago, started reading again. it was the loan of "widow for a year" by john irving that restarted me. he was interviewed for a documentary series i work on called "great books" for an episode on dicken's "great expectations". i went from "widow" to that book. then read "cider house rules", which made me want to read "david copperfield". i can really see how influenced by dickens irving is. then i read "the world according to garp". i had read "garp" in college, and it's now only the second book i've ever read twice (it was better the first time - it seems a little dated now, but still good). the other one was kerouc's "on the road", which i loved as a young adult, but found totally depressing as a grown-up. anyhow, i liked the feel of reading something current and then a classic, so i kept in that pattern and read some jane austen. then i read irving's "owen meany". gotta say that "widow for a year" and "owen meany" are maybe my two favorite books ever. mary shelley's "frankenstein" is also unbelievable, not anything like i expected it to be. i read a lot of vonnegut in the 80s; "galapagos" is a favorite, as is herbert's "dune" and styron's "sophie's choice". i'm still in the modern/classic/modern/classic mode, so i've read books by george eliot, thomas hardy and gabriel garcia marquez in the past year or two. right now, i'm reading tolstoy's "anna karenin", after having finished kingsolver's "bean trees". i'm just discovering her - "poisonwood bible" is a masterpiece, though i haven't found the other books i've read of hers to be anywhere near in that league. i've never read russian authors, so "war & peace" and "crime & punishment" await me. i also recently read my first toni morrison (solomon's song), and "jazz" is in the to-be-read stack. i've been meaning to get "prince of tides". i picked it up in a condo rental last year and only had time to read the first few chapters. the writing in that book is exquisite - i'm going to have to pursue reading more by that author (can't remember name). i'm also looking to read abraham lincoln's letters & recently enjoyed bios of louis armstrong and andrew wyeth. occasionally i try to get through the old testament and "ulysses", neither of which i have much luck with; though i did read up on jacob a few weeks ago (after jane siberry recorded "jacob's ladder") and found myself actually feeling a sense of suspense reading that story. barbara np: youssou n'dour, the lion ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:09:41 -0800 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) he does the best impersonation of Billie > Holiday. In one of his Christmas stories, he sings "Away In A Manger" as > Billie would. LOL LOL I heard him reading a piece on NPR & he did the Oscar Meyer Wiener Song a la Billie & I nearly peed from laughing so hard! Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:12:21 -0800 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: Stockwell Day and the Canadian election (njc and LONG) > >To demonstrate the flaws in this approach, This Hour > >Has 22 Minutes is trying to > >get 350,000 signatures to force a referendum > >demanding that Stockwell change his > >first name to "Doris". To add your name to the > >petition, just go to . LOL! I saw this on their last show. Too funny! They've been having a good time poking fun at Stockwell Day. Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 23:37:45 EST From: MDESTE1@aol.com Subject: Re: re Faith? NJC (md) The question is whether someone is literally inventing new interpretations of precedented case law. The old "that depends what is is" scam. Only the Demos ( judges and other authorities) are doing this in Florida. marcel ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 20:58:49 -0800 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: what do you like to read? NJC emily's shakespeare the only writer who comes close for me is > jane austen, and they have similar strengths. Finally got back to the Jane Austen again, Patrick. Got through 'Emma' (very good) and 'Northanger Abbey' (the weakest of the lot so far, imo, very hard to maintain interest in that one). I'm not sure I agree with you that 'Pride & Prejudice' is her best. A couple of the others are just as good, I think, if not better. I just started 'Persuasion' last night & so far I think it's up there with the best. 'Beloved' is the only Toni Morrison I've read. As far as I'm concerned, that book alone puts her amongst the greats. Beautiful, powerful, amazing book. E. M. Forster was a great surprise for me when I first read him. His books aren't the stereotypical stuffy English literature you might think they are. 'A Room With a View' was better than Merchant/Ivory's exquisite film, imo. I too have been a fan of Anne Rice although I think she's putting out too many books in too short a time these days. I sort of got burned out on her. Barbara, Tolstoy is well worth the time & effort. I actually like 'War & Peace' better than 'Anna Karenina'. Lori, 'Six of One' is one of my all-time favorite books. I haven't read any of Rita Mae's more recent output but 'Six of One' is one of the most life-affirming books I have ever read. I recommend it to *everybody*. It's definitely a feel-good type of book. Hilariously funny one moment & poignant & tragic the next. Garret, Glad you're enjoying Tolkien. I've read the entire trilogy several times and it never fails to enthrall me. Those are a few. And you know there may be more. Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 22:59:09 -0600 From: evian Subject: what do you like to read? njc Hmmmm, what DON'T I like to read? Well, let's see.... since my thesis is on AIDS life writing, and representations of illness and the body in literature, I've devoted most of my reading to illness narratives and body theory. However, you can only take so much of that before you go batty. Also, since I work for an Aboriginal college with a mandate to have high Aboriginal content, I've been teaching and researching North American Aboriginal texts. But, in my free time, I like to kick back with just about anything. I just finished David Sedaris's "Me Talk Pretty One Day" which is even better than "Naked." Oh God, I was almost pissing myself from laughter -- especially the part when his French class is discussing Easter! Also, as has been said here before, love love love love the Bridget Jones's Diaries, especially the second one. Hmmmm, what else have I read lately..... Oh yeah...lol... reread all my Judy Blume childhood novels this month in bed (still rereading Sally J. Freedman) which I seem to do every year or two. Contemporary authors I really dig are feminist/disabled activist/essayist Nancy Mairs, Armistead Maupin, Louise Erdrich, Sedaris, Carol Shields, (can't believe I am admitting this) Bret Easton Ellis, Wally Lamb, and on and on and on. Oh yeah, and got a thing for Anais Nin too... and basically any diary I can get my hands on. OH! I can't forget Ira Levin.. lol...I really get spooked still from Rosemary's Baby and the Stepford Wives. And anything spooky too. I really love the modernists, especially D.H. Lawrence and V. Woolf, and have a HUGE obsession with all things Mary Shelly, and Toni Morrison, but when it comes down to it, even though I love these writers, I reread and reread them because of work -- either teaching them or thinking of writing something on them, or whatever, but I don't make a bowl of popcorn at night and curl up with "Ulysses" or whatever. So, in other words, my reading has two purposes -- one set of authors for work and one for reading in the tub! THANK GOD IT IS FRIDAY, NOT A MOMENT TOOO FRIGGIN' SOON! Evian np: something that sounds like Natalie Cole on the radio ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 00:09:59 -0500 From: "patrick leader" Subject: RE: what do you like to read? NJC - orson scott card patrick, who'd rather be reading than writing but loved this post, continues to respond to emily: > >i also just read (at my brother's behest -- it's his >favorite book, bar none), a sci-fi novel by orson >scott card called "ender's game" (poorly written but >with a cracking good war-games story and maybe one of >the best trick endings i've ever read.) > i've read plenty of card, including the novella-length first version of ender's game, 20 or so years ago. much more poorly written than the novel, i'm sure. actually, i don't agree with 'poorly written' here, though it occurs to me that i rarely reread passages of card's novels to marvel at the delicate prose. on the other hand, when i finish a great novel of his (and there are several) his characters and plotlines vibrate in my mind for days. i can't think of many writers who make me think as long after i finish a work as orson scott card. 'ender's game' as a novel was a huge success, and card, who was at the peak of his talents, followed it with 'speaker for the dead' and 'xenocide', two of my favorite novels in or out of any genre. i highly recommend them emily; i think that the weaknesses in 'ender's game' disappeared and card's strengths came into clearer view as the series progressed. orson scott card is a mormon, and with my aversion to the organized religions of the USA, i could find him scary. i don't. he creates moral questions in his novels, but does not push answers. his characters have to find their own moral ground, and watching them do so is just exhilarating. and i never feel excluded from that moral universe. that matters. these are cracking good stories, by the way. my other favorite card novel is 'songmaster', a love i share with ashara. the best piece of fiction i've ever read about making music. patrick np - bebel gilberto - tantotempo ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 00:15:40 -0500 From: "Nikki Johnson" Subject: Speaking of the Dixie chicks... NJC > -----Original Message----- > michael w yarbrough wrote: but the Dixie Chicks do a > phenomenal cover of this tune on their latest, the highly recommended > _Fly_. Speaking of the Dixie Chicks...tonight I went to see a singer/songwriter Terri Hendrix that my friend introduced me too who is just the sweetest person, and the father of Natalie from the Dixie Chicks (the lead singer) tours w/ her. His name is Lloyd Maines and he plays dogro, pedal steel, guitar, you name it and is REALLY good! Very talented guy! Going again tomorrow night! Terri has been doing some touring, mostly in TX, but if you ever can catch one of her shows she's really sweet, and animated and talented! :-) Nikki np: Los Lobos "This Time" live from the World Cafe WXPN "Dream on but don't imagine they'll all come true...Vienna waits for you" ~ Billy Joel ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 00:38:49 EST From: CaliMermeyd@aol.com Subject: Re: what do you like to read?(NJC) I like to read all sorts of things...mostly books, but also magazines, etc. I absolutely LOVE reading. I am ALWAYS reading....one of those people who always has a book to read just in case there are a few extra minutes. I am currently reading James Joyce. And I love Kafka's style, too. - -zelda- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 01:18:14 -0500 From: dsk Subject: Re: PJ Harvey NJC FMYFL@aol.com wrote: > Bob, at least you *did * get rid of PJ's "Rid of Me". For the past two years > I've tried to unload that CD to any JMDLer's who wanted it, and no takers. > IMO, from over 1000 cd's in my collection, that is absolutely the worst peice > of SHIT I own. (sorry to offend any PJ lovers, but that's the way I feel) Hey Jimmy, If you still have it, I'll gladly take it off your hands for you. After reading some interesting reviews about her latest cd, and remembering the harshly negative remarks on this list (which made me very curious), I bought her latest one, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, a couple of weeks ago. That title reminds me of Joni's debut album, so I expected PJ to be starkly folky sounding and have an unusual voice. (I recall some comment on the list about yelping.) But no, not Joni sounding at all, more like Patti Smith but with a great voice and more subtle lyrics. This is a fantastic cd and I literally can't get one song, This Mess We're In, out of my head. PJ wrote it for Radiohead's Thom Yorke to sing, and their two voices together are mesmerizing. He's also on a couple of other songs, so Kid A appreciaters might want to give this cd a try too. After getting some advice from a PJ fan about what to get next, I bought To Bring You My Love and just yesterday, Is This Desire? and I LOVE them both. There's something so seductive and intriguing about the sound (love the piano especially) and her expressive voice and the strong lyrics and ... wow. She's great! Anyway, Rid of Me was last on the what-to-get list, but if you don't want it, Jimmy, I'd be very happy to give it a good home :-). I'm hooked and I want to hear everything she's done. Is Rid of Me the only PJ Harvey you have? How about if you send me that and I send you her latest one? A trade, with a promise to take back the new one if you absolutely hate it... but I don't think you will. Want to give that a try? Debra Shea NP: PJ Harvey, This is Love ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2000 #611 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she?