ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

"THE MAGIC STRINGS OF FRANKIE PRESTO" 

by Mitch Albom 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016

REMEMBERING...

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I always feel like I’ve learned something about life when reading the books of Mitch Albom. THE MAGIC STRINGS of FRANKIE PRESTO was no exception. Albom has composed a beautiful symphony…magical, lyrical and soulful… about one man’s life and the people whom he touched. 

Our story opens as people are arriving for Frankie Presto’s funeral, a time to reflect on his life…a life narrated by Music…yes, Music. As mourners from all over the world file in, they stop to tell a favorite Presto vignette. Among these are people you’d know…Burt Bacharach, Hank Williams, the Everly Brothers, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, Tony Bennett, Paul Stanley of KISS and Wynton Marsalis (just to name a few.)

We’re witnesses to Frankie Presto’s birth, (when he was immediately orphaned,) and to his difficult growing up years. But, because of Music’s influence over his life, our hearts are warmed as he manages to overcome his hardships and make his way from Villarreal, Spain (his birthplace during the mid 1930’s Spanish Civil War ) to Detroit, New Orleans, Woodstock and other places around the world…he was a global success not only as a master guitar player but as a singer and composer!

This epic novel blends fable, parable, mystery, romance and fairy tale into one of the best books I’ve read in quite a while. The entire book is a metaphor as to how music has the ability to heal. With the Spirit of Music as our guide, we glimpse into the lives that were changed by "the greatest guitar  player who ever lived..." the one man whose strings could touch the music… and the magic… in each of us.

BOOK REVIEW TIME 

AUGUST 7, 2016 

Although there's no longer an ARTFUL READERS CLUB, I continue the concept of read and illustrate. This month's review is by bestselling author, Daniel Silva. It's his 16th spellbinding, international sizzler in the Gabriel Allon series. THE BLACK WIDOW finds legendary secret Israeli intelligence operative, Gabriel Allon, grappling with an ISIS mastermind.

It's a tragically timely novel that's all the more unnerving because it mirrors current events. Allon, art restorer, spy and assassin is poised to become chief of Israel's secret intelligence service. But on the eve of his promotion, he's pulled into the field for one final operation. ISIS has detonated a massive bomb in the Marais district of Paris... reminiscent of the recent terror attacks in France and Belgium... and the anguished French government wants Gabriel and the Mossad to eliminate the man responsible before he can strike again. 

We're introduced to a new heroine, a doctor, whom we follow through both her spy training by Gabriel's team and then her jihadist training elsewhere. In  both cases, the process is fascinating, frightening and very believable. In THE BLACK WIDOW, Gabriel Allon's contributions to the mission are more cerebral than physical, since his days as an operative may be behind him as the new director of The Office. But there are reminders of his magnificent past victories throughout the book (for those that are new to the series.)

As THE BLACK WIDOW rockets from its shocking, horror-filled opening to its explosive conclusion in Washington D.C., we're reminded that the democracies of the world are faced with a mammoth crisis. Silva makes it clear...as we're on the edge of our seats and breathless...that it's impossible to protect everyone and every place from the assaults by suicide bombers who enthusiastically embrace a culture of death. 

Daniel Silva's background as a reporter in the Middle East, his encyclopedic knowledge of the history, geography and politics of that region, as well as its relations or non-relations with the rest of the world, gives every aspect of this book a sense of reality and authority. Destined to become one of Silva's most widely read works of fiction to date, I caution you not to start the book at bedtime as you WILL NOT be able to put it down until you've finished your journey!! This is an extraordinary read!!!! 

ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER 

AUGUST 6, 2016

Conrad   Crispin Jones is an interesting artist and photographer based in Spain. He's this week's inspiration for our art at DIGITALMANIA. 

Here's his art...

 and here's mine...

It's been a tough week and creating art is always soothing and relaxing for me. My dear husband, Michael,  lost his older brother to brain cancer after an 11 month battle with the disease. He passed away peacefully, Monday morning. He was an extraordinary man... caring, kind, compassionate, smart, funny and loving. This is one of my favorite photos of Brett with Michael...(Brett's the one with the beard!)

He'll be missed by many...Michael and I will carry him in our hearts (as will our daughter) always. So will the rest of his family... his wife who cared for him so lovingly, their two sons, his younger brother and his family. Special thanks to dear long time family friend, Melissa, for her continuing love and support. 

Wishing you all a good week ahead...

Big Hugs,

abbyj

 

ART AHEAD 

JULY 28, 2016 

Because I looked ahead to some of the art challenge blog themes for next week, I'm little ahead of myself. They sounded like fun challenges, so I spent some time creating...

THIS for DIGITAL WHISPER, whose theme is Masquerade... 

for TAKE A WORD, a Games theme... I depicted both a board game...

and a sports game featuring my hometown basketball team, the Syracuse Orangemen;

and THIS, for Flicker's DIGITALMANIA who introduced participating artists to Alfredo Palmero, a Spanish painter who lived from 1901-1991.

This is my creation...here's one of Alfredo Palmero's pieces...

Thanks for stopping by. See you next posting...
Big Hugs,
abbyj

HAPPINESS IS... 

July 25, 2016 

 

Hi Folks,

Hope you survived this very hot week if you're living here in Central New York as well as soooo many places across our great USA. This week, things are heating up again...politically. It's time for the Democratic National Convention to declare Hillary Clinton the official Democratic Presidential nominee (among other things.) Last week, the Republican Party had the floor and declared Donald Trump the official Republican Presidential nominee. YIKES on both fronts!!!

When it's hot...very hot, both in temperature and in politics, my "go to place" of happiness is always a snow scene. So, when art challenge blog TAKE A WORD declared their theme to be HAPPINESS IS... I jumped on it! Happiness is...SNOW!!

My piece of art for DEZINAWORLD15's CHEEKY CHALLENGE this week centers on FOOD. I took this photo in Hangzhou, China at a family restaurant. I thought it was interesting the way the people held their rice bowls so close to their mouths... wonderful food throughout our repeat trip to China...different areas than we'd been previously. 

DIGITAL WHISPER requested a black and white creation...a wee bit political...sorry!

Finally, SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked that participants remember the Wild West with COWBOYS and COWGIRLS...

That's it for now...thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy your week. Hope to see you next posting...

Big Hugs,

abbyj 

WE WANT PEACE 

JULY 17, 2016 

With the world in such tremendous turmoil and an unsatisfactory election looming ahead, we all need to pray for peace and respect for one another. With all our traveling, I must admit that this is the first time I've ever been concerned about safety. I didn't even really think about it after 9/11! When challenge blog, THE THREE MUSES, declared its subject for the week to be "the printed word," my thoughts  immediately turned to the unrest in my heart. Here's what emerged...

I wish you safe passage as you navigate through the week...in your heart and as you move from place to place. If you're having a hard time, I wish you relief...if you're unwell, I wish you better health. Most of all, I wish you love.

Thanks for checking in.

Big Hugs...until my next posting,

abbyj 

ART SOOTHES MY SOUL 

July 17, 2016 

Hello there, dear readers!

The sun is shining; we just saw our grandson marching and playing in his BURLINGTON TEEN TOURING BAND in LeRoy, New York; the sheetrock is going up to make the walls inside our new home...life is good. I hope things are going well for you, where you are, as well.

I so enjoyed putting together the following pieces of challenge art this week...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART was in the summer mode declaring its theme to be PICNIC...

DIGITALMANIA asked challenge participants to create art in the style of one Maria Pace Wynters , a mixed media artist.

Here is one of hers...

and here's my creation using her technique...

That's it for this moment in time...short and sweet. I'm working on another that I'll post when completed. Meanwhile, enjoy your evening and weekend.

Thanks for stopping in.

Sending hugs and love to you all,

abbyj

 

FINALLY...SOME ART  

JULY 13, 2016 

Hi Dear Readers,
Hope you've been enjoying your days and weeks... we're in the middle of an exceptionally hot, rainless summer and a great deal of our green has turned brown. I wonder how it is where YOU are?????

Have been missing making art so I got back to it a bit this week...a little break from going through our rooms and throwing out or packing, getting ready for our new house.

DEZINAWORLD15, a fun art "cheeky challenge" blog, has asked for a piece of art depicting a MAGIC theme... to me, reading a book is a magical experience because it transports you to another place.

DIGITAL WHISPER declared its theme to be TOPTOE... a unique call...

 Finally, SUNDAY POSTCARD ART called for a typical summer beach scene with seashells...

I've been missing doing art on a daily basis...must try to get back to it. It's my relaxation and brain challenge...both, good for the soul!!

Enjoy your days...and thanks for stopping by.

Big Hugs,
abbyj

BOOK REVIEW TIME 

"CITADEL" by Kate Mosse 

June 29, 2016 

1942.

Nazi-occupied France.

A group of women Resistance fighters are trying to help people escape the Nazis in France's Languedoc region. This story is interwoven with a tale of a monk during the Dark Ages (342AD,) seeking to protect and hide a mysterious, sacred scroll (called the Codex,) so it can be rediscovered in a time that would be more receptive to its message.

It takes about 700 pages for CITADEL's author, Kate Mosse, to tell us both stories and relate them to one another. Bringing together elements of history, ancient secrets, suspense, romance, death and a twist of the supernatural...a trademark of Mosse's in the previous two books of this trilogy... LABYRINTH and SEPULCHRE... I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Her use of parallel narratives set in two different time periods helped keep the action going.

We meet Sandrine, code name "Sophie" and her Resistance network, known by its code name "Citadel."  Led by 18 year old Sandrine Vidal, her sister and their friends, this powerful band of women show courage and daring, never knowing who's watching them or who may betray them to the authorities. They're determined to outwit both the Germans and their evil French collaborators. As a reader,  I could imagine what the ordinary citizens of these villages and towns must have felt as the Nazi occupation deepened. Packed with some terrifying action scenes as well as some gentle moments and day to day struggles, Kate Mosse captured a wide array of feelings making CITADEL an emotionally satisfying book to read. I highly recommend it, but be prepared for the 700 page undertaking!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Big Hugs and Happy 4th of July to all my American readers...

abbyj

 

GINGHAM and SHAPES 

JUNE 12, 2016 

I love finding time for art. It makes my heart smile and challenges my creativity. It's a good opportunity to think of something other than the new house...that's coming along well, by the way! There are some good challenges this week...here are two in which I participated:

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked for art with GINGHAM... how's this?

And, DEZINAWORLD15 declared their "Cheeky Challenge" to be SHAPES. This may work...

That's it for now...short and sweet. I hope you're all well and that the coming days are easy for you.

Big Hugs until my next...I hope you'll join me then.

abbyj