Book Review: Shutter Island

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


*******************************SPOILERS********************************



A great book. Quick read. I saw the movie a year ago, picked this up at the rack at the track and started reading. Couldn't put it down. Lehane has a way of sucking you into the story so you don't want to put the book down.



Many slight differences from the book to the movie. The movie was a bit more suspenseful. However, I liked the book. Twisted. Made me think what is really going on and left me at the end in deep thought about what really happened. The book made it seem more like the Island was a place you would never return from dark with human experiments.



Teddy is a character you love. Chuck a bit lacking in personality. The book has more clues in it and builds up the puzzle of missing patient Rachel, in a more intent way.



I would highly recommend this book for a quick read if you are in the mood for mind twisting.



View all my reviews

Enlightenment from the Dalai Lama

"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives." ~Dalai Lama

Italy Challenge January 2011; Hemingway in Love and War........

********************************SPOILERS*******************************

This biography takes place in Italy during World War I. This particular portion of Ernest Hemingway's life from 1917-1918 when he was in Italy as an American Red Cross Ambulance Driver.

During his short time as an ambulance driver he was in Piave at the front. He was five days into handing out cigerettes, chocolates and coffee to the Italian soldiers in the trenches when one evening a trench morter shell killed the Italian private in front of him wounding him and wounding another soldier. Hemingway carried the other soldier to the first aid station in the process sustaining machine gun wounds to his right knee and foot.

This biography is written by Henry Serrano Villard an American Red Cross Ambulance driver and friend of Hemingways and also James Nagel a Hemingway Historian.

The main contents of the book are the letters that Agnes Von Kurowsky wrote to Ernest Hemingway when she was going from hospital to hospital in Italy to Hemingway whom was in the American Red Cross Hospital in Milan. Then the letters from Hemingway home to his parents.

I read this book in conjunction with "A Farewell to Arms". Which was a great way to read both books. As the love affair between Agnes and Ernie is the basis for the love in "A Farewll to Arms".

First, I have to start with how romantic the Italian countryside sounds. Even in the mist of war, I want to visit. Both Agnes, Ernie and Henry present a beautiful description of Italy. Most especially in Milan.

Secondly, this is a wonderful book to get historical facts about Italy and World War I. Very descriptive about the retreat from the Austrians. The relief when the American troops arrived and help the Italians win the war and gain back their country.

Agnes' letters toward the end of the war show how scary it was for the civilians. Many children and women where near several bombs that had not gone off and were innocent victims of curiousity. Agnes describes the wounds suffered by the civilians, and soldiers. Many whom suffered from jundice and maleria.

Hemingway's letters are descriptive about the front and his wounds he suffered. He also describes his wounds he received. Enough that as a Mum myself I would have wanted to go to Italy to be by my son's sides.

Most importantly, the romance between Agnes and Ernie. The Romance that later became "A Farewell to Arms", Hemingway's greatest Novel. The novel that would be banned in Italy because it accurately described the Italian retreat from Austrian soldiers. More importantly, the love that blossomed in a hospital in Milan. In the romantic countryside of Italy between a nurse and a patient.

Villard, whom kept in touch with Agnes and talked to her before her death, said that Agnes denied that Ernie and her were in love. However, Hemingway's letters home and Agnes' letters to Hemingway, and Henry's memory of watching the love begin to grow show us the truth.

Hemingway kept all of Agnes' letters. Letters in which she expressed her love to Ernie. Letters in which she discussed marriage. How she missed Ernie when she was transferred from Milan to different hospitals to the front. Ernie's letters home, in which he briefly tells his family he is in love.


Finally, the heartbreaking dear john letter, that broke Ernie's heart. The letter that forever stayed with Ernie and shaped his future love life. It is clear that Agnes and Ernie were in love. Was it the romantic Italian countryside? Was it two scared and lonely American's in Italy far from home, seeking comfort in another? Was it true love that was split apart by war?

It is clear the Ernie was deeply in love with Agnes. The love and the heartbreak brought both joy and pain to Ernie. It gave us "A Farewell to Arms". A must read as there is so much more to Ernie Hemingway and after reading this book I felt I understood more the pain of Ernie's heartbreak and his need to share his love and pain in Farewell. Beautiful biography on the great American Writer.

Sweet Enduring Memories

The dark cumulus clouds crept through the concrete jungle like a cat ready to pounce it's prey.  I watched as the train rolled into the station.  My thoughts wandered as a fond memory of a cold winter day sprung into my head putting a huge smile on my face.

My father's comforting voice, reading to me the words from Joel Chandler Harris' collection of Uncle Remus stories. 

Daddy making Brer rabbit come to life not only in my head but in the living room.  I could vividly see him antagonising Brer fox.  Making me giggle, and keeping my poor mother somewhat sane. Hard having a new baby around and a hyperactive seven year old, full of energy, creativity and apt to cause mischief.

My mind wanting to help Brer Rabbit as he dresses tar baby. And oh the laughter from Brer Fox getting entangled in the tar. I still want to make my own tar baby. 

How I long to reenter the lovely tale of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear.  I shall have to read to my son.

After the Storm Mumford and Sons

And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.

Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.

And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.

I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and mine so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair

Fiction meets true life

My first book for the Italy Challenge this year is "A Farewell to Arms" by the lovely Ernie Hemingway, whom happens to be my favorite American Prose writer (With Mark Twain being a very close second).  How I love this book. I am on my sixth reread of Farewell.  What I find interesting is what I am learning this time around and what I missed in my other reads.  I am also laughing at myself, as I have post it notes with my notes and comments all over in the book, as I don't write in my books.

In conjunction with Farewell, I am also reading the biography which was done on Ernie's time in Italy during WWI in which he and Agnes fell in love and their love was lost.  This is the love the haunted Ernie his entire life and the love that Farewell is based upon.  The book is called "Hemingway In Love And War; The Lost Diary of Agnes Von Kurowsky, Her Letters, and Correspondence of Ernest Hemingway" by Henry Serrano Villard and James Nagel.

The significance of the writers, Henry Serrano Villard is and was Ernie's friend and comrade during WWI. Henry was there when the love of Ernie and Agnes developed and grew into this undying and enduring love that would haunt both of them.  James Nagel is the lead historian on Ernie's history and literature. Thus this is a wonderful book and it has been a joyful book to read with Farewell.

In Farewell, Ernie has changed the real story, actually a quite a bit from what did truly happen, however, many of the facts are within Farewell.  I find the development of Tenente and Catherine's relationship rather amusing.  It is the male perspective of I am falling in love with this wonderful woman however I am scared to death to admit this love.  It also takes into consideration the fact that Agnes accepted then rejected then admitted that she shouldn't have rejected Ernie's love and tried to make a go at it only to get rejected.  Ernie makes his character more hesitant in the novel.

One thing we can learn, is that when you have love, you must do everything to hang onto the love.  If you don't you will be miserable. The loss of love will haunt you forever............................Oddly enough I am listening to After the Storm by Mumford and Sons right now as I am writing this last paragraph. Bliss, there will always come a time when "love will not break your heart".

A New Year

Seems like time flashes by like a lightening storm as 2010 has come and gone and it is almost the end of the first day of 2011.

Life is always a journey it is how we handle the journey that counts and when we share our journey with the ones we love.  We need to listen to the crickets, feel the wind on our face, taste the rain in our mouths, see the birth of new life, and smell the fresh cut grass.  To grow is to learn, to learn is to grow.

Part of my 2011 New Years Resolution is to read 100 quality books and soak up all the learning withing them. Part of my 2011 journey will consist of 12 books honoring woman in history or literature, 12 books taking place or about Italy and 12 books for spiritual growth and development.  The rest of the books will be unplanned either reads with my dear friends or book groups. Something to enlight, enrich and enjoy.

Twelve books in honor of woman; whom bring life, love and laughter to the world I will be reading one book a month to honor and learn more about women-
January 2011: Founding Mothers: The Women who raised our Nation by Cokie Roberts
February 2011:  Behind the Mask: The Life of Queen Elizabeth I by Jane Resh Thomas
March 2011:   The Joy of Loving A Guide to Daily Living by Mother Teresa
April 2011:  Middlemarch by George Eliot
May 2011:   Sanditon by Jane Austen
June 2011:   America's Women: 400 years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmats and Heroines by Gail Collins
July 2011:    Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo
August 2011:  A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
September 2011:   The Hiding Place By Corrie Ten Boom
October 2011:   I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelo
November 2011:   Joan of Arc Her Story by Regine Pernoud
December 2011:   Beloved by Toni Morrison

Twelve books for Spiritual Growth-
January 2011: Jung the Mystic, The Esoteric Dimensions of Carl Jung's Life and Teachings by Gary Valentine Lachman
February 2011:  Shakti Mantras: Tapping Into the Great Goddess Energy Within by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
March 2011:   Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
April 2011:   Mantra Meditation: Change Your Karma With the Power of Sacred Sound by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
May 2011:   Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing by Stephan A. Hoeller
June 2011:    Miracles by C.S. Lewis
July 2011:    Living Gnosis a Practical Guide to Gnostic Christianity by Tau Malachi
August 2011:   The Magdalene Gospel Meeting the Women who Followed Jesus by Mary Ellen Ashcroft
September 2011:   Gods Problem How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Questions Why We Suffer by Bart D. Ehrman
October 2011:   Modern Man in Search of a Soul by Carl Gustav Jung
November 2011:   The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book
by Miguel Ruiz
December 2011:   Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh

Twelve books about or taking place in Italy-
January 2011:  A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway
February 2011:   Between Two Seas by Carmine Abate
March 2011:  The Imperfectionists: A Novelby Tom Rachman
April 2011:  The Enchanted April  by Elizabeth von Arnim
May 2011:  A Room With A View by E.M. Forster
June 2011:    Up at the Villa by W. Somerset
July 2011:   The Last Promise  by Richard Evans
August 2011: The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel by Irving Stone
September 2011:  In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel  by Sarah Dunant
October 2011:  The Name of the Rose  by Umberto Eco
November 2011:   The Aspern Papers by Henry James
December 2011:    Vivaldi's Virgins: A Novel by Barbara Quick

This is only part of my journey for this year. I will also be working out as I feel so much better when I exercise. I suffered a severe arm injury in October and the last three months wasn't able to rock climb, lift weights, participate in yoga or biking like I usually do.  I am going to be more careful when working out and not push myself beyond my limits. I plan on being on 5.10b walls by the end of 2011 that gives me 364 days and tomorrow is my first day climbing for 2011.

I am also on a journey of self discovery. I need to find who I am and my missing link. Thus I am studying Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Jungism. I plan on doing a lot of meditation and just enjoying myself, my children, my family and my friends.

Listen to the crickets