Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire

Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire.  It is 1502 and Bianca De Nevada is seven years old.  She and her father, Vicente De Nevada live in Tuscany in the hills on a farm with Primavera Vecchia, the cook and Fra Ludovico, the priest.  One day the son and daughter of the Pope, Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia, come to visit and order Vicente off on a quest to find a branch of the Tree of Knowledge, which is protected in an ancient monastery on the Holy Mountain in Thessaly.  He leaves Bianca in the care of Lucrezia who sends her off into the woods with the hunter to be killed.  The hunter takes her out and leaves her there to find her own fate.  She stumbles upon the dwarves cottage where she is taken care of until Lucrezia learns from the mirror that she is still alive.  Years pass and Vicente returns to the farm with the famous relic to learn that his daughter "ran away and has died". 

Mirror, Mirror, is the adult "so to speak" version of the classic Snow White.  I enjoyed the new spin on the tale and have read others by Gregory Maguire, such as "Confessions of an Ugly stepsister" and "Wicked", which is the wicked witch's version of The Wizard of Oz.  I have just finished reading "Lost" also by the author, which was supposed to be a new tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, but I just got lost reading it.  It was more about some chic who is infatuated with her cousin. Ugghh.

      

Been Here and Gone: A Memoir of the Blues by David Dalton

Been Here and Gone: A Memoir of the Blues by David Dalton. 

"Can I tell you about the blues? Baby, I was born with the blues...."

This is a fiction about an old time bluesman, Coley Williams.  Coley was a backup musician for some of the most famous blues artists of the 20th century.  At the age of 102 Coley agrees to tell his life story for the first time. He was born into a farming family on the Mississippi Plantations where he soon discovered his talent for playing the blues.  He travels the Mississippi Delta, hopping freighters and crossing crossroads, to play in juke joints and little shanties leaving his family behind.  During this 100 year span he encounters the Great Flood of 1927 , the Great Depression, the race riots of the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement.  Here are mini-biographies of some great blues legends whose paths he crosses: Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ma Rainey, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, among many many others.   David Dalton, formerly of the Rolling Stone magazine, has written a true history of the blues.  Traditionally he has written biographies of great musicians such as the Beatles, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, James Dean, Jim Morrison, and the Grateful Dead. 

I enjoyed the southern voice and feel of this book as well as the history and the music.  The music is sad, electrifying, artful, and can never be repeated.  Thanks to David Dalton for giving us the blues!

Every Tongue Got To Confess-by Zora Neale Hurston

Every Tongue Got To Confess-Negro Folk Tales from the Gulf States by Zora Neale Hurston. This book is chock full of African-American folk tales collected by Ms. Hurston in the rural South at the turn of the twentieth-century.  From God tales, Preacher tales and Devil tales, to Heaven tales, White-folk tales, and mistaken identity tales they reveal attitudes about slavery, faith, race relations, family and romance that have been passed down for generations. 

Example:    A man who was down on his knees praying for God to forgive him for stealing hogs said: "You might as well forgive me for that ole turkey gobbler dat roosts in de chinaberry tree, too, Lord."  - Edward Morris

Ms. Hurston records the voices of ordinary people with great self-awareness, humor, and amazing wordplay.  Her power of storytelling is fascinating.  I was first introduced to her writings by a book club reading at my local library and will read all her books that I can get my hands on.  The power of the library is immense.

   

You Got Nothing Coming-Notes From A Prison Fish by Jimmy Lerner

You Got Nothing Coming-Notes From A Prison Fish, by Jimmy Lerner.  Jimmy Lerner was a professional "suit"  living in a nice suburban town out in California with a drinking problem.  The drinking led him to a divorce and AA meetings.  While in an AA meeting he meets this crazy guy who torments him night and day.  He ends up killing the guy in self defense and lands in prison.  The book is a true account of the murder and Jimmy's time in prison.  Meet "Kansas", a large skinhead with a Swastika tattooed to the back of his head who becomes Jimmy's cellmate.  Lots of interesting characters and prison stories are here.  Jimmy served 6 years in prison where he wrote the book, and was subsequently pardoned.  Hats off to Mr. Lerner for sharing such a tragic part of his life with us.  The book is funny, educational, and bizzare and I enjoyed it greatly.