For most of us today is just another Monday, or at most an excuse to go out for Mexican food tonight or make a margarita at home. For Mexican-Americans and Mexicans residing in the US, today is a celebration of Mexican heritage. But what is Cinco de Mayo? The holiday commemorates the highly unlikely victory…
Last night’s Muslim Journeys event was great. Harvard Divinity School professor Leila Ahmed participated in a discussion of her book, A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence, from the Middle East to America. We had a good turnout, and everyone who participated in the discussion had interesting questions and shared well-informed opinions. The conversation ranged from …
It’s official: Whitey Bulger has been found guilty – of a whole lot of stuff – and will presumably be spending the rest of his life behind bars. Many of us would like to forget all about the notorious thug but, human nature being what it is, a fair number of us want to know all…
The mercury’s breaking 90 today and it’s going to be almost as warm through the weekend. Here are some tips to make the next few days a little more comfortable. Cooking can make an already hot kitchen unbearable, so check out this link to Mark Bittman’s 101 recipes ready in fewer than ten minutes. Longtime…
The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro is our book for this year’s Somerville Reads. Inspired by the 1990 Gardner Museum heist, the Art Forger is the story of Claire Roth, a struggling young artist who makes a meager living painting reproductions. Her luck seemingly changes when an art dealer offers a very large fee…
Today is the day the nation remembers those who have died serving in the armed forces. Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday began to honor those men who had died for the Union in the Civil War. Time has a brief history of the holiday here. If you’re interested in learning more about the grim…
During lunch I was reading a book industry newsletter and came across this marvelous quote from Sarah McNally, a NYC bookshop owner: “Never forget the wonks, and the weirdos, and the people who will be delighted by this book that they never could even have imagined could exist and they will find on your shelf.”…
The Somerville Public Library is introducing a new collection, Muslim Journeys, which is currently available for browsing and checkout at the Central Branch of the library. This bookshelf collection aims to familiarize residents and visitors with the places, history, faith and cultures of Muslims in the U.S. and around the world. It is intended to…
A friend read the earlier post about therapeutic reading and wrote to me that The Divine Comedy had helped him through a very difficult time (he thinks it was either Mark Musa’s translation or John Ciardi’s).* He has also found comfort in Gerard Manley Hopkins’ “Terrible Sonnets” (an example here) and the poetry of George…
Recently someone wrote to the editors of The Paris Review for reading recommendations. The person in question was suffering from severe depression. As a result he had already lost his job and relationship. He wrote that he was in therapy, but wondered if the editors could recommend books that would help him recover. Sadie Stein…
