Summer Solstice Moon at Capitola by the Sea

At Paul’s suggestion, we revisited Capitola village right after dinner yesterday evening. It has been a long while since we visited Capitola Esplanade. At 8:10 pm, it was busy but not overcrowded on one of the longest days in the year. People sauntered either out of or going to various restaurants , young kids played on the beach, even though the same-day shark warning notices were posted on every post. We parked our RAV4, walked our usual rounds and finally reached Capitola Wharf. One idea was obviously on both our minds: where was the moon? 

Just a few steps on the wharf, we glanced at left and spotted a half pink ball on the horizon. That is our full moon! That is a true magic moment: a half ball soon turned into a full round moon rose steadily above the horizon and in the sky; the pinkness became light and deep golden with a long reflection on the water. Looking around, we saw people either watch in awe or trying to catch the moment with their hopeless phones. Even amateur fishermen stopped their busy hands at that moment. 

A rare realization dawned on us: why are we here? Is there anything better than this sublime moment?

On Zhang Ailing's Love in a Fallen City

Courtesy of SCPL Staff Picks ...

In 2007, New York Review Books published Love in a Fallen City (倾城之恋), a collection of seven novellas by famed Chinese writer Zhang Ailing (张爱玲). Originally published in 1943, it tells the story of a rapidly declining aristocratic family in Shanghai at the end of the 1930s. Not unlike Mrs. Bennet, the mother in Pride and Prejudice, the old matriarch is anxious to marry off her three grown-up daughters, especially Bai Liusu, the sixth daughter, whose ex-husband has just died, to eligible rich bachelors. Instead of succumbing to fate as a widow to claim a share of the inheritance or a future of shaving her hair to become a nun, the 28-year-old Liusu is determined to live her own life: "First marriage for the family, second marriage for oneself." Her half-sister, the seventh daughter, admires Liusu’s fiery and free spirit and chooses her as her companion for her first formal meeting with Fan Liuyuan, a wealthy Chinese heir from London. In a twist of fate, the sophisticated Liuyuan shows more interest in Liusu than in the intended betrothed. He engineers an invitation to Hong Kong for her. They fall in love after resolving a series of misunderstandings, and survive untold hardships during the 1941-1945 Japanese occupation.

The title story, which made Zhang Ailing the most popular new writer in Shanghai in the 1940s, displayed what became her literary trademarks: settings (Shanghai and Hong Kong), time periods (prior to and after World War II), characters (European or American educated intellectuals from declining aristocratic families), and themes (tension and uncertainty between love/freedom and societal restraints). She drew substantially from her real life experience, as reflected in her autobiographical novel Xiao tuan yuan (小团圆; SCPL has a copy in Chinese).

Despite her early success and later recognition as one of China's four female literary giants (along with Lü Bicheng, Xiao Hong, and Shi Pingmei), Ailing remains relatively unknown to today’s readers. Her first marriage, to a Japanese collaborator in the Sino-Japanese War, resulted in the banning of her books in Mainland China until recently. And, while a handful of her books have been translated into English, many subtleties have been lost in the process. However, Ailing's literary works transcend time and space with their penetrating language to portray "the desires, imaginations, and personalities of urban residents," (Encyclopedia Britannica). Meanwhile, their conflict between traditional Chinese culture and Western modernity is one of the constant themes favored by film/TV directors. Many of them have been adapted into movies, mostly notably, Love in a Fallen City (1984), Red Rose, White Rose (1994), and Half a Lifelong Romance (1997 as a film; 2003 as a TV series).

On the Treacherous Net

Many of our readers are familiar with Swedish author Helene Tursten. Her character, Detective Inspector Irene Huss, appears in a number of books, audiobooks, & DVDs in our library catalog. The Treacherous Net, her latest translated mystery, is a complex work, with an ambitious theme dealing with loneliness, the most widespread disease in Sweden, and modern society as a whole.

There are three concurrent storylines: a time-sensitive case to save teenage girls from an online predator; a mummified body discovered during a house demolition that triggers the reopening of a cold case from 42 years ago; and an intense workplace conflict between Huss and her new boss, Efva Thylqvist.

Loneliness, an internal poverty, is reflected fully in the book. Young teenage girls from both rich and poor family backgrounds turn to the treacherous Web for love and romance. But face-to-face interaction can be treacherous, too. Ever since her former boss was replaced by Thylqvist, Irene has experienced the taste of loneliness at work. She has been passed over and her input ignored. Worse, she has become isolated from her best friend/colleague, who was moved away from their shared office, and from the rest of her fellow officers, who have been won over by their attractive, seemingly hardworking new boss.

Faced with these challenges, Huss does not give in and quit her job, for she loves what she does. As the case progresses, Huss finds her true allies within and outside her department. And she surprises herself by finding the strength to speak out and give credit to the deserving when the new superintendent intends to grab all the glory herself. 

On You Disappear

I have finished reading You Disappear by Danish novelist Christian Jungersen, but its impact is such that my mind simply will not let it go.

The story is straightforward: Mia Halling, a school teacher, is struck with a series of unpleasant surprises. One hot Mediterranean day during a family vacation in Majorca, her husband Frederik is driving so recklessly that he crashes the car, falls, and is taken to hospital. It turns out that he has been suffering from a brain tumor, possibly malignant. After medical consultation and treatment back in Copenhagen, Mia finds the black cloud of the cancer scare lifted, but is faced with a graver reality and its damage to her family. Frederik, the principal of Saxtorph Private School, has embezzled and lost more than 11 million kroner of the school’s funds, gambling on international commodity indexes. Erratic risk-taking behavior apparently is characteristic of orbitofrontal brain injuries such as his.

Unlike many a public official or private CEO who bankrupts their city or company and walks away without being held financially responsible, Frederik and other school board members have to face the consequences: take fiscal, as well as moral and political responsibility. They are obligated to sell their upscale houses and liquidate all their assets to make up for the misused funds. Even though Frederick has medical evidence that his behavior was caused by his brain tumor, he is likely to serve jail time.

Jungersen won Denmark’s Best First Novel Award in 1999 with Undergrowth. His next novel, The Exception, won two more Danish literary awards. I cannot wait to put my hands on these earlier books.

The review was originally published on SCPL Staff Picks.

Evening Views with Plummer

During the MLK long weekend, Paul and I finished 5 seasons of Justified and started to explore a number of incredible new and classic movies by Christopher Plummer, most notably, Danny Collins (2015) and Murder by Decree (1979). In the former, the middle-aged Plummer played a upright and resourceful Sherlock Holmes, in partner with James Mason with a new interpretation of Jack the Ripper. In the latter, the aged Plummer served as a loyal manager to Danny Collins (Al Pacino). As a birthday present, he handed Collins a letter written to him by John Lennon in 1971, without Collins' prior knowledge. The letter changed the rock star's life for the better.

After the movies we were were not only touched by the stories told, but also amazed by the fluent performance by Plummer, and his quiet style with his co-megastars, whether he was Sherlock Holmes or Frank the manager.

In addition to Plummer's movies, we also watched The judge (2014) by Robert Downer, Jr. and Robert Duvall. It is another story for another time for a small town life.

Easy Solution Proposed by State Librarian

At day after Christmas breakfast, Paul reminded me of reading an article in Sentinel if I finished other sections. It turned out to be a special to Sentinel by Greg Lucas, California State Librarian. The whole writing is not long, but very thoughtful and inspiring.

Greg Lucas: Here’s an easy resolution

By Greg Lucas, Special to the Sentinel

Posted: 12/26/15, 7:01 PM PST |

Looking for a truly transformative New Year’s resolution that’s unbelievably fun and super easy to stick to?

Read.

Books. Magazines. Newspapers. Flyers. On-line. On a park bench. In clouds. In libraries. Paper. Parchment. Braille.

Just read.

Any number of amazing things stem from reading. Not the least of which is gaining a better understanding of the world around us.

If there’s anything this world needs, it’s more understanding.

Read and change the world.

Reading also makes us healthier.

Reading reduces stress, improves relationships and can protect against Alzheimer’s. Adults whose spare time involves creative or intellectual activities – like reading – have a 32 percent slower rate of cognitive decrease than those who don’t, according to a 2013 study by Chicago researchers in Neurology.

Researchers in Great Britain made participants engage in an “anxiety-promoting” experience. Those who then read for a few minutes had stress levels drop by 67 percent, a higher percentage than those who listened to music or played a video game to unwind.

Reading can conjure happy memories. Immersing yourself in the lives of characters makes you more empathetic. It can be easier to overcome your own obstacles by reading about someone overcoming theirs.

The benefits of reading for young kids are well-documented.

The U.S. Department of Education says that helping a kid “become a reader is the single most important thing that you can do to help the child to succeed in school — and in life.”
Not only does reading help children in all academic subjects, the department says, reading is also “the key to lifelong learning.”

The consequences for kids who don’t read are tragic:

Less proficient readers are more likely to be high school dropouts. Two-thirds of students who aren’t proficient readers by the end of fourth grade end up incarcerated or on welfare.

The U.S. Department of Justice says, “The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.”

Reading also makes you richer. The math is elementary — greater reading comprehension equals a better-paying job.

Helping someone become a better reader is by far the most cost-effective investment of taxpayer dollars.

Boost someone’s reading proficiency and they’re far less likely to go to prison. A better reader will land a better-earning job and, by doing so, needs less government support. Higher wages means more tax revenue government can devote to other challenges.

Change the world. Change yourself: Resolve to read in 2016.

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries have plenty of options to choose from. The librarians who work there have plenty of ideas on which reading material might be of most interest to you. They’ll also have recommendations if you’re helping a little kiddo become a life-long learner by reading to them.

You can also help someone else learn to read better. There are literacy programs throughout the state. One-on-one volunteer literacy tutoring occurs at over 800 California libraries. All are eager for volunteers.

Your life will be changed along with that of the learner. What can be more transformative than that?
Greg Lucas is the state librarian.

Also available at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/20151226/greg-lucas-heres-an-easy-resolution

Jazz for All

Last Sunday night, I was invited to Paul's "Philosophers' Seminar" special night at Cafe Limelight. The top item on the agenda was view "Wynton Marsalis with Eric Clapton" at the Lincoln Center, NY, September 13, 2011. It is a life-changing experience.

Courtesy of http://wyntonmarsalis.org/discography/title/wynton-marsalis-and-eric-clapton-play-the-blues

I was always living under the impression that Jazz was reserved for the elite, or for the white, as some of my favorite writers complained. But the concert has changed my mind. First of all, I witnessed a collaboration between Marsalis and his ensemble. Everyone was working for the same goal: giving the excellent music for their audience. Next I could not help noticing a rare support. Whenever one person was playing, his neighboring partner would show his encouragement and admiration, which would spread to the whole ensemble. Last but not least. there was a strong atmosphere of welcoming inclusion, rather than exclusion. Such a spirit is truly rare in our life.

Inspired by the performance, our group decided to forego the rest of items on the agenda. Instead we shared and devoured two big pizzas!

Ithaka: Let's Enjoy the Process

Cousin Milton mailed us Ithaka by C. P. Cavafy after receiving our sympathy card for the passing of his wife Helen. I did not see it until a week later, but have been fascinated ever since.

In a goal-oriented world, enjoying the process is not part of an equation for quick success, thus not appreciated. Ithaka, however, has again brought us back to the basics: when we set out on our life journey, pray the road ahead is long. Be prepared for all kinds of adventures, but do not fear; absorb all the knowledge along the way, so we can be wise in the end. Ithaka, the destination, might not live up to our expectations. But in the process, we have already experienced everything for the first time and gained all the riches life can offer. This is the reason why we do not need to hurry the voyage but keep Ithaka, our destination, in mind.

Such a simple truth is not unknown to me. More than two decades ago James Prestini mentioned it almost daily when I started to work for him. But time dulls our senses and obstacles in life may turn us into cynics. This is one of the reasons we still need art and literature in a digital age. Beauty in poetry, for instance, is able to directly communicate with us, especially when we encounter disasters or crises, such as the loss of a dear family member.

Enjoying Lumina String Quartet's Chamber Music Concert

Last Sunday, we were invited to attend our niece's concert, part of the eighteenth annual Lumina String Quartet's Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians in The Palace Theatre, Stamford, CT from August 5 to August 18, 2015. Each of these Sunday afternoon concerts will feature youthful string quartets playing works by the greatest classical composers. 

It is really an inspiring experience to see young musicians aged 9 to 18 playing classics so eloquently and professionally, including Haydn, Schubert, Weber, Mendelssohn and Borodin. On that particular afternoon, there were 8 performances playing quartets, quintets and sextets, Our 15-year-old Emily played her cello with four other players (three violinists, and one more cellist). Their complete unabridged quintet performance of Schubert's work is simply divine and energetic! Three of us, Sue, Paul and I, are bursting with pride!

Enough Said but Seldom Remembered: a Life Lesson

Yesterday, Paul and I watched two movies before and after visiting Mother. They are none other than Agatha Christie Biography by PBS and Enough Said with James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

At a first glance, the two films have little to do with each other. One is about a famous mystery writer and the other, about two single parents with empty-nest syndrome. Passing over the superficial difference, we will discover a profound similarity: do not take love for granted. It needs to be cultivated.

The young Agatha was married for love to her aviator Archie Christie, but neglected to maintain it by leaving him to golf, which led him to finding love somewhere else. With the double disaster of her mother's death and her divorce, Agatha disappeared and emerged as a new woman who not only found her new love in archaeologist Max Mallowan, but more importantly, never left her second husband alone anymore.

The same is true with  Enough Said. After a couple of dates, the single mother Eva assumed that she had Albert for sure, and lashed out with all the poisonous remarks she had heard from his ex-wife, thus causing a spectacular breakup.

Another remarkable similarity about the two movies is that both Agatha and Eva/Albert are not shy in admitting their mistakes and taking action to go on with their new life. It takes both courage and foresight.