Occasionally you are blessed with being able to review once again a film that made a heavy impression upon you. And so it was with the film LILLIES OF THE FIELD starring Sidney Poitier and Lilia Skala. A film that renews individual faith, hope and lots of charity; one that restores strength and lots of humor plus showing the hardheadedness of the Mother Superior. But Sidney Poitier once again showed his incredible acting ability.
And frequently you have the opportunity to renew acquaintance with a previously enjoyed book and its author, although it is one you’ve read before. But this time around, by rereading it, you learn more than was captured in the beginning. And this is what I recently discovered when I read David Baldacci’s first book, ABSOLUTE POWER. The plot is very unusual; his characters are extremely well drawn; bit by bit of each with even facial expressions or just the general attitude and posture. These are people you would be drawn to; either because you really want to know them more, or because you don’t want to be anywhere near them. However, I found in his second book a change of writing; his sentences are somewhat shorter, but still very descriptive; thereby making each paragraph possibly somewhat easier to read. But Baldacci will remain an incredible author and one you can enjoy for many years to come.
Three books by Jill Churchill next captured my attention; I found these extremely informative about a period of time I know very little about, and also what would be classified as light reading, but thoroughly enjoyable. The books are set in the 1930’s following the result of the stock market crash and the Depression. They’re set in a small town in upstate New York State near Hyde Park, the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The two protagonists, brother and sister, Robert and Lily Brewster, find themselves in their late uncle’s mansion, Grace & Favor, totally penniless, but apparently living quite well. Their father had played on the stock market earlier, as had many, and lost everything; to save himself, he jumped out the many storied window of his stockbroker, thereby ending his problems but creating those for his children who had grown up in the lap of luxury.
Each book, SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME; IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT; and WHO’S SORRY NOW? details their life in their Uncle’s mansion, but are complicated by somehow becoming involved in the discovery of a murder, whether on their property (in one book), or in town.
Robert and Lily are fun folks; they’re people you’d like to know; and there’s more than a little humor apparent on each page. What is really interesting is their take on the other characters in each book.
These books are fun to read; but definitely do give you the idea of life in a previous generation, battling the economy to feed themselves and their families.
“When an old person dies, A Library burns down.”
Karin Gillespie
