The Buddha in the Attic - Short Review

“The Buddha in the Attic” by Julie Otsuka is a strong, choral and hypnotic voice, choral and hypnotic tells the story of the extraordinary lives of thousands of women who left Japan to get married to Japanese immigrants in America. It is there on that very crowded ship that the young, oblivious girls, still full of hope, exchange photographs of their unknown husbands and imagine together the uncertain future in a foreign land. Those days, full of trepidation, were followed by their arrival in San Francisco, the first wedding night; exhausting work, bent to pick strawberries in the fields and scrubbing the floors of rich white women; the struggle to learn a new language and understand a new culture, the experience of childbirth and motherhood, with a commitment to raise children who will refuse their origins and history. And then the devastating arrival of the war, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the decision of President Roosevelt to regard American citizens of Japanese origin as potential enemies and intern them in labour camps. From the very first lines, the collective voice created by the author draws the reader into a whirlwind of stories made of hope, regret, nostalgia, fear, pain, fatigue, horror and uncertainty, without ever offering any respite, bringing to life an essential and valuable story in an engrossing and emotional book.

Book chosen by the BritMums Book Club

World Book Night 2013

World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift specially chosen and printed books in their communities to share their love of reading. World Book Night is celebrated on April 23th, the anniversary of both Shakespeare’s and Cervantes’ death, in the UK, Ireland and the USA.

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so. But it is also about more than that: it’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways, through the sharing of stories.

Each year 20,000 volunteers are recruited in the UK to hand out 20 copies of their favourite book.

This year I too was chosen as one of the "Givers" and I decided to hand out "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier, one of my favourite novels and authors. After collecting a box of books from the small library in my village, I prepared posters and bookmarks, and decided to distribute the books to the young mums of our local playgroup. With its subtle and intriguing story and its very beautiful and captivating cover, I thought it would have been an ideal novel for young women, but I had underestimated the dislike towards reading that some young women feel. While most young mums were quite happy to receive a free book, a couple of them did literally "a runner", when I tried to give them the book. I’m pretty sure that they would have not behaved like that if I was trying to give away free toothpaste or makeup!

Fortunately my postwoman was quite thrilled to get a copy and other ladies I met on my way  home were as enthusiastic, while admitting that they usually read magazines only or prefer watching TV. But they promised to give the book a try. Fingers crossed. Mission accomplished or not?

 

 

Please sign:

E-petition

Richard III to be re-interred at York Minster

Responsible department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

For the mortal remains of England's last Plantagenet King, and the last King to die in battle, recently discovered under a Council car-park in Leicester, to be re-interred with due dignity and respect in York Minster. He was the last King of the House of York and it is recorded that he was popular in and fond of the North and York in particular where he was regarded with much love and affection. It will also place him geographically closer to the remains of his son, Edward the Prince of Wales, whose remains lie in Sheriff Hutton church.

For the UK
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38772

Worldwide
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/961/861/672/return-king-richard-iii-to-yorkshire/#sign


There is plenty of evidence to suggest that King Richard wished to be buried in York and particularly in the Minster. However, the question of respecting his wishes doesn’t even seem to have been considered when the decision was made that he would be interred at Leicester Cathedral.

Richard, who was the last Plantagenet king, and the last English monarch to die in battle, had strong connections with the City of York and the County of Yorkshire. He spent much of his youth at Middleham Castle and for 12 years he ruled the North of England on behalf of his elder brother, King Edward IV, earning a widespread reputation for fair-mindedness and justice. After becoming king, he visited York several times and was showered with gifts each time. His son, Edward, was crowned Prince of Wales whilst in York.

Although entitled to be buried at Westminster Abbey alongside other kings and queens of England, Richard III announced his intention to be buried at York, and in 1483 set in motion plans for a new chantry chapel at York Minster. Indeed, so strongly was Richard linked to York that the City authorities greeted the news of his death at the Battle of Bosworth with these words: “King Richard, late mercifully reigning over us, was, through great treason, piteously slain and murdered, to the great heaviness of this city.”

  

The King is dead. Long live the King!

I’m pretty sure that by now everybody will have heard the news that the human remains found in the Leicester car park DO belong to King Richard III, the last Plantagenet King.  I’ve been following this ‘adventure’ from the start with trepidation and I’m so terribly pleased that all the hard work has paid up and all the hopes have been fulfilled. I’ve called it ‘adventure’ because it seemed to me  like that at the beginning, too good to be true. But during the press conference this morning when all the scientific experts explained their modus operandi  and then their findings, I realized how many efforts had been into this project. I won’t go into details, if you interested you can get more precise information from the University of Leicester website http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2013/february/university-of-leicester-announces-discovery-of-king-richard-iii or watch the documentary on Channel  4 tonight.

I have been passionate about the Wars of the Roses for most of my life. I think it all started with an Italian TV adaptation in black and white of The Black Arrow by Louis Stevenson that I watched when I was really very little. I remember vividly the last episode of the series. It was the first time I heard Richard, the Duke of Gloucester (later to become King Richard III) mentioned. It was a brief glimpse of this Italian actor playing the King depicted with the ‘usual’ Shakespearian hunchback (we will get a revenge on you, William, the first spin doctor of history!) but it was enough to fuel my imagination.

 

 

And then I grew up learning English history, studying English literature (and yes especially the wonderful words of the Tudor propagandist William Shakespeare) until I ended up living in Yorkshire, the heart and soul of Richard, where he is still much beloved. I started reading about Plantagenets and Tudors again and visiting the locations of their history. My fascination became love and my love became passion. And with some suggestions my dear friend MG (who recommended me some beautiful books, among them The Daughter of Time and The Sunne In Spendour),  I read more ‘alternative’ stories about Richard III that opened my mind and made me think differently about this much denigrated King.  This is my story, but if you love history, don’t just listen to me, start reading again as much as you can and you will find out the truth. All in all "Truth is The Daughter of Time" (Sir Francis Bacon)…RIP Richard.

Happy 200th Birthday, Pride & Prejudice!

I know I know I have not blogged and not visited most of my virtual and non-virtual friends’ blogs for ages. Family and work commitments have taken over my life and together with a few health issues have demotivated me from writing even a few lines. But today is one of my favourite novel’s birthday and I could not miss it for the world.
 
Yes, today "Pride and Prejudice" turns 200 years old. That's right, that crisp, subtle, ironic Jane Austen's masterpiece boasts two centuries of life, but it is like it was born yesterday. Since it was published on 28^th January 1813 with only 1500 copies, it has never been out of print. The London-based publishing house T. Egerton had the honour to be the first to distribute "Pride and Prejudice", which was a huge success and required a second printing almost immediately, followed by a third edition a few years later. You needed 18 shillings to buy a copy of the book with its elegant blue binding, a price that many were willing to pay to be able to smile at Jane Austen’s refined sarcasm, describing the English high society of the time pointing out flaws, quirks and sentimentality. But both at that time and still now, what it draws most of the readers to the book is the beautiful love story between the reluctant Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding Mr. Darcy, so inclined to hate and love each other at the same time. Even after 200 years Mr Darcy still represents most women's favourite fictional romantic icon. And this thanks to Jane Austin’s masterly words that will remain with us forever. Thank you, Jane, for your wonderful gift.

Festa della Liberazione

Today in Italy we celebrate the “Festa della Liberazione”, the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Italy from fascism and Nazi German occupation. A national holiday in Italy, this day will be marked by both commemoration and celebration – from solemn ceremonies of remembrance to parades, speeches and open air concerts in Italian piazzas. The biggest ceremony is held in Milan, the site some of the fiercest fighting, and of the grotesque public display of Mussolini’s body in the days that followed. However, despite the numerous events planned to mark the occasion at national and local level, the ‘festa della liberazione’ has never been a straightforward day of celebration for all Italians.


The date marks the end of almost two years of ferocious civil war and foreign occupation in Italy, as the collapse of fascism turned the country into a battleground between the Allies, advancing upwards from Sicily, and the Nazi Germans who occupied Italy in September 1943 to prop up Mussolini’s dying regime. While Rome was liberated by the Allies in June 1944, the tug of war continued in northern and central Italy for almost another year. Numerous groups of resistance fighters, la Resistenza, dominated by the Italian communists, were formed in the occupied areas, and the German and fascist position was gradually weakened by guerrilla warfare, in preparation for the long awaited Allied surge. Finally, 25 April 1945 was decided on as the Italian ‘D-Day’. A mass popular uprising was to take place across the northern Italy, to prepare the ground for the Allies. Mass strikes paralysed the industrial cities of Milan and Turin, destroying what little authority the fascists still retained, and days of street fighting forced the Germans into retreat. Many towns and cities were already out of German and fascist hands by the time the Allies arrived to ‘liberate’ them.

Especially in Northern Italy we are very proud of our Resistance fighters who fought against the Italian fascists and the German nazists all through WWII, although many of our towns and villages paid with fire and blood the price of hiding and supporting the “partigiani”. Today is a day of remembrance in Italy, let’s pray that the past will never come to haunt us again.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my dear mummy, to Her Majesty the Queen and to my capital city, Rome. Yes, I really mean the city of Rome.


According to legend, on 21st April 753 B.C. Romulus, who was then to become the first King of Rome, drew the 'sacred furrow' on the Palatine hill, which was the first step towards the founding of the Eternal City. The anniversary came into vogue with the Risorgimento. Then it became a national holiday with fascism and was abolished in 1945. The celebration was renewed in 1994 with all its ceremonies. This weekend Rome will hold several festivals, concerts, and special events this weekend. Historical societies put on gladiator displays and performances in and around the forum area. There's usually a spectacular fireworks display by the Tiber River.

The story of Romulus, his twin brother Remus, and the founding of the city is one of the most familiar legends about ancient Rome. The basic legend about how Romulus came to be the first king of Rome begins with the god Mars impregnating a Vestal Virgin named Rhea Silvia, daughter of the rightful, but deposed king.

After the birth of Mars' sons Romulus and Remus, the king orders them to be left to die in the Tiber River. When the basket in which the twins were placed washes up on shore, a ‘lupa’ (wolf) suckles them and a woodpecker named Picus feeds them until the shepherd Faustulus finds the twins and brings them into his home.

When they grow up, Romulus and Remus restore the throne of Alba Longa to its rightful ruler, their maternal grandfather, and set out to found their own city.

Sibling rivalry leads Romulus to slay his brother and become the first king and founder of the city of Rome.