Welcome to this month's reading group selection. David Von Drehle mentions The Melting Pot , a play by Israel Zangwill, that premiered on Broadway in 1908. At that time theater was accessible to a broad section of the public, not the exclusive domain it has become over the decades. Zangwill carried a hopeful message that America was a place where old hatreds and prejudices were pointless, and that in this new country immigrants would find a more open society. I suppose the reference was more an ironic one for Von Drehle, as he notes the racial and ethnic hatreds were on display everywhere, and at best Zangwill's play helped persons forget for a moment how deep these divides ran. Nevertheless, "the melting pot" made its way into the American lexicon, even if New York could best be describing as a boiling cauldron in the early twentieth century. Triangle: The Fire That Changed America takes a broad view of events that led up the notorious fire, not...
Nice picture, av. Kind of looks like the Nemunas which winds its way through southern Lithuania. We had a mini-vacation, taking the little one to Druskininkai, which is famous for its salt baths. We got the full treatments and the little one got to swim in a salt water pool. Skin feels refreshed after the cold dry winter. Beautiful bike paths and a new "adventure park" with all sorts of climbing activities, other assorted adventures and a zip line across the river. Great fun!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Gintaras.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you and the family had a great spring break. It sure sounds good right now, looking out on a gray sky threatening to spring snow any minute.
Last month I bought a little camper van so hope I can get out and do a little more warm weather traveling myself soon. I could always go to the salt lake, I guess!
Not sure where this river is from. I found it at a "wallpaper" site. Think spring, think green, think transcendental.
Said hello to Robert yesterday. He follows the blog and hopes to be posting soon. Sends everyone his best wishes. He would enjoy your e-mails.
ReplyDeleteHI, ROBERT! We miss you!
ReplyDeleteRobert you are indeed missed.I have cable now and watch Sponge Bob all the time thanks to you!
ReplyDeleteFor a real weekend meander -- just back from seeing Leon Redbone at a local bar. What an amazing performer. Odd to be sure. But a great talent.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of fun, av. I got back into reading Emerson.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know where to put this so I 'll put it here but I was watching"They Died with their Boots On"on TCM this morning which I had never seen.First off Erroll Flynn wasn't very convincing as Custer but Anthony Quinn as Sitting Bull was a hoot.Also the new HBC flyer is out and it seems Nathaniel Philbrick has taken on the Little BigHorn battle.I like Philbrick but I doubt I'm going to buy the book.It's been done many times and I think Killing Custer was the the best and the end to them all.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't be any worse than Burt Lancaster in Apache,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=80097
Gosh, I wish I would have seen both of those (I think....)! I lose track of TCM in the spring/summer.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what "ship" Philbrick sees in the Big Horn, other than the one Custer sank. Seems a little beyond his reach -- although I do love his other books. I've read them all but the one on the Mayflower.
As for Jim's book on the Little Big Horn, I agree. That is a perfect and yet still a very personal book. I've not seen the movie they made at the same time, but assume it's good as well. There's another book from the perspective of both the Cheyenne and the Crow -- something about men and horses falling in camp. I'll see if I can find it in my bookcases.
This is one of those battle fields that is worth visiting if you ever have a chance. Particularly now that they have a monument to the ghost warriors alongside the Custer obelisk.