Recommended Reading: "Still Alice," by Lisa Genova

This is a very moving novel (about early-onset Alzheimer's disease).

http://www.amazon.com/Still-Alice-Lisa-Genova/dp/1439102813/

Recommended Reading

The World to Come, by Dara Horn (W.W. Norton, 2006).

http://www.amazon.com/World-Come-Novel-Dara-Horn/dp/0393329062/

September 11th

(Photograph, circa 1978, is used by permission of artist Jenny Lynn.)

Convention speech

No one in American politics can give a speech like Bill Clinton.  No one can explain policy, and present political argument, as clearly, and as persuasively.

Wisconsin, and Colorado

A poem I read this week—a one-sentence poem—made me think of the recent heart-rending, and enormous, tragedies: the murders at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, the movie theatre killings in Colorado.

The poem, called “History,” is by Joe Brainard (1942-1994), and is from 1974.

It reads:

With history piling up so fast, almost every day is the anniversary of something awful.

The poem appears in the 2003 book Great American Prose Poems, edited by David Lehman (published by Scribner Poetry).

http://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Prose-Poems-Present/dp/0743243501/

Thank you, to Bob Costas

I am deeply moved by the gesture that NBC's Bob Costas has said he will be making, during the broadcast of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the murder of eleven Israeli athletes and team members at the Munich Olympics. The International Olympic Committee has turned aside appeals for a moment of silence during the opening ceremonies, in recognition of the 40th anniversary.

(As one commentator has noted: "For more than three decades, the families of those killed in the attack have tried to have the Olympics honor their loved ones during the opening ceremonies. Incredibly, the IOC has steadfastly refused that very simple request.")

Mr. Costas says he will be acknowledging the anniversary, and offering a moment of silence, as the Israeli delegation is introduced.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-costas-olympics-israel-munich-351132

http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/white-house-supports-moment-of-silence-at-games/

http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/rogge-reiterates-stance-on-moment-of-silence/?ref=jacquesrogge

Today, the head of the Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, held an unexpected ceremony at the Olympic athletes' village, which included a moment of silence for the murdered Israelis.

http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/i-o-c-s-impromptu-munich-remembrance-draws-criticism/

Recommended Reading

Am currently reading, and enjoying:

New Jersey Noir, edited by Joyce Carol Oates (softcover, 2011).

http://www.amazon.com/New-Jersey-Noir-Akashic/dp/1617750263/

The book (it is largely a collection of short fiction, yet there is poetry, as well) is published by Akashic Books. Akashic has published a great many titles in its geography-specific noir series. I'd previously read (and enjoyed) Philadelphia Noir, edited by Carlin Romano. Some of the other locales featured in the series are Haiti,  Brooklyn, Dublin, Cape Cod, Las Vegas, Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Mexico City.

http://www.akashicbooks.com/