Forever Ulysses...

A forgotten novel by one C.P. Rodocanachi, a Greek writer whose focus was on explication of the Greek Spirit through the ages. First published in the UK as No Innocent Abroad , Forever Ulysses was published by Viking Press in 1938. I read Forever Ulysses in just a few days, as it captured my interest in subtle ways. A very dated novel in some respects (published in 1938, it was a history of one Greek who captured the eternal Greek spirit, and at the same time illustrated the times in which he lived). Starting before the turn of the 20th century and ending a few years after the Great War, which of course we know as WWI, since it turned out NOT to be the war to end all wars. I fell over one of Rodocanachi's other books, Athens and the Greek Miracle when a friend found it at a used book store. When searching Worldcat, we turned up this novel, so I placed an interlibrary loan request. The riches that can be had from a simple ILL request know no bounds. Beginning with Ulysses' youngest years, we follow him from the age of six, as he leaves his village in Cephalonia to try his luck at making a living, using his slippery talents. First as a shoe shine boy in Argostoli, a Greek lustro, and then following along through Egypt, the Sudan, and on to America, we follow his adventures through wars and peace, and through many a scheme as he makes, loses and remakes his fortunes, encountering the likes of Kitchener, the Mahdi, and countless others. His final move is back to Greece, and back to his humble village, and his eternal rest. From this vantage point in time, I was lucky to find an archived book review at TIME Magazine. The review dates to January 10, 1938, a week after publication. Apparently there were real life models for Ulysses, including the author's own life! I was reminded of the stories of Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos as I read the Ulysses story over again. Using his life, and the lives of other adventurous Greeks, Rodocanachi created Ulysses as the behind the scenes mover and shaker of his era, an inveterate deal-maker, businessman, global nomad, and patriot. Ulysses was fascinating enough, imagine the lives of those he was modeled after.

Rex Reed...

Reading the New York Observer the other day just for the Rex Reed movie reviews. Still the same standard as way back in the late 60s when I used to see him on TV. WOW. Rex has been a mainstay of my movie (O.K. pretentious people out there, my film) interest all these years. He's the kind of iconic name like Marilyn Monroe or Henry Kissinger. He's just always been there in my cultural database. Not for me the mellow tones of an Ebert, though I love the guy's reviews sometimes; no, I prefer the acerbic tones, the irony and the satire I get from reading Rex's reviews. When he likes a movie, I can tell that will be a film worth watching. When he does not, it gives me pause. Sometimes I disagree, but I always respect his insightful opinions and ruthless critiques. You get the feeling no one has EVER paid Rex Reed to simper over their movies! His review of Sex and the City is a scream! I loved the movie for what it was, my chance to see the ladies one more time, but as far as film, he had it nailed! Keep it up Rex, to me you are still that dashingly handsome guy I saw on late night TEEVEE back in the early 70s...

Portis Aloha?

It's almost like grieving. I just finished Gringos. This was Charles Portis at his best and in the last novel he has written. I won't say his last novel because he just might publish one any minute? Maybe? Please? I do not reread books. That never appealed to me. I have read it, so on to the next book. Not with Portis. I have all five novels and now I must start at the beginning again. I have written here before about Portis. For the pathos without much of the humor, read his short piece I Don't Talk Service No More but for the ironic beauty and gentleness with which Portis treats the average guy trying to make it in this world in some ethereal and usually weirdly comic way, read the novels.

Avocado and Elizabeth Peters...

A great lunch today. Avocado again! Oh boy, do I ever love avocado. Made the Roast Beef and Avocado Salad for dinner last week. YUMMY. I'll be getting more avocados for sure.

Now for more serious fare. I recommend Elizabeth Peters' series of Amelia Peabody mysteries. Amelia has a thirst for Egypt, pyramids and Archaeological mysteries! You can learn a lot while being entertained. I have read other books by Elizabeth Peters (real name - Barbara Mertz), but her heart is really in the Amelia Peabody character. She is funny, pushy, erudite, loving, inquisitive and very modern for her times. The series is set in the late 1800s and Amelia wears trousers! In order to read these seemingly light reading novels you better have a terrific vocabulary or a terrific dictionary.

HDTV is better than chocolate...really...

We got HDTV hooked up and WOW...boy...this stuff is terrific. What'll they think of next? I mean the resolution is more than the human eye sees when the human eye looks out on the world. EVERY little pimple on the Red Sox faces is there for all to see. Just in time for a look at the Olympics as well. Again I say - WOW. Luckily the History Channel, and National Geo also do HD, as does the Food Channel, HGTV, Sci-Fi for goodness sake. All my favs. Also get two PBS channels in HD...my cup runneth over. Thank you local TV fiber optic cable provider!