Books to Consider for 2010

There is a new feature on the blog. We talked a little bit this week about books for next year, so I have started to make a list of books that look interesting. If you have any books you'd like us to consider for next year, please comment on this post. Also, if you have read any of the books on the list, let us know what you thought and if they would be good choices for us. A good place to go for descriptions and reviews is Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers.

Beth

Finishing "Dreaming With His Eyes Open"

I finished the Diego Rivera biography this morning! I'm looking forward to tonight's meeting and the discussion about his life and art. I'm also looking forward to reading our only novel this year, Susan Vreeland's, "Luncheon of the Boating Party." I've already started reading it and am enjoying the "lighter" read.

Leon Trotsky and Diego Rivera

I found this web site when I wanted more information about Trotsky. I am almost finished with our book and Rivera has severed his relationship with Trotsky over the affair with Frida. I thought this was a good supplemental source of information.

Back to Vermeer...

There was an interesting book review in the Wall Street Journal this morning. The book is "The Gardner Heist," by Ulrich Boser. It's about the "world's biggest unsolved art theft," from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston 19 years ago. It looks like a good book, but it's of interest here because one of the paintings stolen was a Vermeer, "The Concert." (The book jacket here is from the Amazon.com site and the painting image is from the book I had at last month's meeting. I'll have it again next week if anyone wants to look at it. The plate does say it is at the museum in Boston!)

I enjoyed reading the review and will consider the book for next year's Arts & Culture Book Club! If any of you have read it or do read it, let me know what you think.

Beth

Frida Kahlo

I am within 100 pages of finishing "Dreaming With His Eyes Open" (Rivera is in San Francisco with Frida Kahlo) and Frida figures prominently - to say the least - in this stage of Rivera's life. So I thought I'd include a link to a web site with additional information about Frida Kahlo.

I am struck by how Frida reinvented herself in a way similar to Rivera's own reinvention! I am looking forward to discussing this aspect of their lives when we meet next week!

Beth

Posting A Comment

Sylvia and I exchanged e-mails yesterday because she is having trouble posting a comment to the blog. I am not sure why this is happening, but I would appreciate it if other book club members would try to post comments & let me know if they are successful. I would like to figure out what the problem is and correct is so everyone can comment and exchange ideas. Thanks!

Beth

"The Statue That Didn't Look Right"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0316010669/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

Victoria came in & brought me a copy of this Introduction from Malcolm Gladwell's book, Blink. It's called "The Statue That Didn't Look Right," and it relates to our discussion of The Man Who Made Vermeers. I hope you can open the link, because it's a great story!



Beth

Inventing Your Own Life!

Another theme I've been seeing in Dreaming With His Eyes Open is the ease with which Rivera - throughout his life - invents and reinvents his life history! Whether purposefully or wishfully, his creativity extends to his life story. He seems to change the details depending on the times and/or the audience. I was wondering how often artists - and people in general - reinvent themselves to suit their own perceptions of themselves or to 'paint a picture' of themselves for others. Any thoughts? Do any other artists/writers/musicians come to mind who you know have also reinvented themselves like this?

Beth

Art & Politics

I'm about halfway through Dreaming With His Eyes Open and was struck by the inter-connection between art & politics and Rivera's connection to the Revolution and to the Communist movement in Mexico. It reminded me of our discussion about art, crime & politics in the first book we read. I am beginning to see this as a common thread in the books we will read - how art and artists fit into the larger culture and in the politics of the times. I guess it's not surprising, but it really jumped out at me as I reached the point where Rivera is painting his first murals in Mexico.

I wanted to get this down before I lost the thought! I think it will be a good discussion point at our February meeting.

Beth