La vita perfetta di William Sidis Morten Brask Recensione

Sono innamorata delle menti. Chi mi conosce lo sa.
Non vedevo l'ora di acquistare La vita perfetta di William Sidis (edizioni Mondolibri) di Morten Brask pubblicato da Iperborea perché ho sempre pensato che Sidis fosse eccezionale.

La prima volta che sono inciampata su William Sidis è stato grazie a Will Hunting- Genio Ribelle film con il sempre compianto Robin Williams, Matt Damon e Ben Affleck.

Non sono stata smentita dalle aspettative.

Questa opera prima di Morten Brask autore danese nonché giornalista offre un racconto sulla vita di Sidis suggestivo.

Ci sono molte libertà letterarie.
Il libro in parte ispirato a The Prodigy il romanzo di Amy Walace.
L'autore ha letto le carte processuali, i pezzi scritti sul ragazzo-prodigio a suo tempo dai quotidiani locali, i libri, le lettere dello stesso Sidis.

Il libro è strutturato in tre parti: i primi anni di vita, quelli che porteranno l'adolescente a mettersi nei guai con la giustizia e l'ultimo anno di vita di William.

Chi è William Sidis?
Nato a New York ha vissuto a Boston gran parte della sua vita.

Q.I. 250-300, parla dieci lingue moderne, due antiche, latino e greco sin dai primissimi anni di età, legge il New York Times in età precocissima, ma prima di tutto è un ragazzo che vorrebbe vivere una vita normale e non essere oggetto di scherno o di risate.

Un ragazzino che ben presto comprende quanto sia difficile in una società standardizzata essere più intelligente del dovuto e quanta sofferenza questa condizione porti con sé.

Suo padre ha un Q.I. molto alto che William  eredita. Il padre cerca di stimolare il piccino sin dalla più tenera età.

Il giovane William comprende che arma a doppio taglio abbia a disposizione. Avere purezza di pensiero e capacità intellettuali straordinarie significa poter mettere un sapere incredibile nelle mani di persone sbagliate.

William cerca di evitare così tutto questo vivendo una vita appartata, circondato da pochi ma fidati amici. Sceglie lavori sottopagati che possano tenerlo all'ombra.

Porta alla ragazza che gli piace un mazzo di fiori, però precisa: "Sono recisi." Sì. qualcuno li ha uccisi per poche ore di bellezza.

Timido, introverso, comprende che forse può esistere un altro sistema. Aderisce al socialismo come farebbe qualunque ragazzo di 17 anni sano di mente che voglia cambiare il mondo. Se non hai voglia di ribaltare il mondo a 17 anni hai qualche cosa di sbagliato dentro.
Ma soprattutto...
Hai voglia di cambiare il mondo a 17-20 anni, poi non ci pensi più. Sai che non sarà mai possibile.
Come aveva detto un filosofo sarà più facile che cambierai il tuo carattere.
Infatti Sidis dopo la traumatica esperienza del socialismo ha vissuto un'esistenza tranquilla.
A quel tempo parlare di socialismo in America era un tabù e William paga cara la scelta fatta.
Viene sradicato dal suo contesto sociale per essere portato in California dai genitori dove vivrà come un recluso per lungo tempo.

Alla fine scapperà via troncando i rapporti con i suoi che non rivedrà mai più.

Spicca la figura di un giornalista del New York Times tale McGlenn che seguirà gran parte della vita di William e che a un certo punto della storia, quando il ragazzo sarà in galera gli proporrà un'intervista. "Ti prometto che potrai leggere l'articolo prima che..."

Eh no! Questo no. Mai. È deontologicamente sbagliato.

A parte questa segnalazione vi consiglio caldamente questo libro perché è scritto con il cuore.


Anna Maria Polidori

The movement of stars - Amy Brill - Book review

When I finished to read The Movement of Stars I thought at the meaning of the life and at choices, maybe not choices, real destinies, of women who decided to sacrifice their life for biggest purposes avoiding family and children.
 
Rita Levi Montalcini, Margherita Hack, astronomer as Hannah is in this book. 

Inspired on the life of  Maria Mitchell a Nantucket (Massachusetts) born girl, this book will tell the human adventure of the first part of Hannah's life.

Devoted for stars and comets, Hannah uninterested about any other aspects of  human life. It's not because she doesn't care, just because she is completely absorbed by her astronomical researches. She is serious, she  lives the life "planned" by the little and very much controlled community.

What she wants is to find a comet in the sky she observes with great joy every night for passing at the astronomical history, and for trying to make the difference.

One day someone will break this perfect life of moderation, study and work: an exotic black sailor. He will bring in Hannah's life more than a reason for starting a rebellion against the system created by her community.
While time will pass by and social life will also change in Nantucket, Hannah will try to defend her independence with all herself.



Anna Maria Polidori 

The Letter Exchange Book released!

Gabrielle Rizzo and The Letter Exchange Book Project


Her name is Gabrielle Rizzo, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and for a long time she decided of promoting her project: The Letter Exchange, without appearing at all.




Now, the book, released-
It can be found in Amazon and Amazon Kindle.

 

She didn't want any kind of personal publicity and involvement during the creative process of her book.
In our past interview Gabrielle asked me of not mention her and her work behind The Letter Exchange Project.

Italian origin, Gabrielle tells me she can't speak any italian unfortunately.
"Never learned it although I visited Rome last December and my ancestors are from North Italy."
The dream of this girl? To seeing back the art of corresponding and for doing it, she created just few months ago a website I discovered for pure casualty, called The Letter Exchange Project.
Gabrielle asked to everyone to write her a letter, later published in a book.

Released yesterday the book The Letter Exchange, 100 pages, wants to remember to everyone that writing a good letter is better than a short text message.

Gabrielle, I guess satisfied.

"Yes I am. And looking back, I think the best part about running this project for me was being able to connect with individuals who still value the handwritten word."

Gabrielle started this personal dream without any big expectation

"Starting off, I had no idea what kind of reception the project would receive and slowly I realized that there was a community out there for snail mail lovers. I even see a change from last year's National Letter Writing Month, celebrated every April. I think the Write_On campaign has expanded this year and reached more people. I also think that there's movement towards this "text less, write more" mentality. And, on a completely smaller scale, I think I helped influence those close to me. The message spreads by example right!"

A key-piece to Gabrielle her anonymity. Why didn't you want to let us know your name?

"I wanted to make sure the focus was on the individuals and their submissions. I really wanted the focus on shedding light on what they wrote and had to say. As I started curating the book, I felt like it was an appropriate time to share the voice behind the project."

How many letters did you receive?

"I received 30 letters, from 7 different countries which seems small but you have to remember it takes more for people to sit down to write something."

In twenty years old-fashioned correspondence appeared defeated by various factors. The net, with its compulsion, dependence was winning the war. Postage increased dangerously these past years as well for discouraging the use of common letters. People kept away from this hobby.
Gabrielle in the past talked with me of  the use of written words compared to the use of the net. 

"I do believe that correspondence lived differently today."

Why?

"The Internet has without a doubt captured more of our  attention. Twitter, Instagram, blogs, etc allow for an  instantaneous connection between people near and far. There  is not the same delay as sending a letter or even penning  the letter for that matter."


Someone call it instant gratification. People are not anymore able to waiting for anything, because stressed by the gratification that they can receive by the net.


"I think that the instant gratification I have hinted to above can air on the side of superficial. With modern communication the individual behind the tweet or Facebook post is almost lost. I think that the  creative process, as well as, your identity is muddied with  using those outlets. You could portray an entirely different persona without having to hint at your true identity."

With a letter...

"I  think that when you sit to write a letter that anonymity is  lost. You are responsible for the words, even if they are fiction, you're still writing them from your stream on conscious. I just feel it's more personal."

Correspondence is like a personal journey to Gabrielle

"I would  have to agree that the role of the correspondent has been
 lost. On the other hand, the role of the recipient is lost  as well. While it's a personal journey to write a  letter, it's also a personal experience to receive one as well."

Statistically real letters bring good mood.

" When you open your mailbox and see a letter in the midst of all the spam, you are immediately connected.  There's some statistic out there that estimates a 10-15% better open rate if the outside of the envelope is  handwritten. That stands for something. That resonates with  me. Even if it's just 10-15%, it still means that we  visually connect with the handwritten word.  I'd like to hope that written correspondence isn't a thing of that past."

Gabrielle loves to think that

"With the communities my project  touched, the written word can still live on. I think that society as a whole gets so wrapped up in their day to day  lives, almost glorifying busy.
A mantra I love is:
 
 Stop the glorification of busy.

It's not just letter writing that falls by the wayside, it's reading a book
 or going to a play. We've entered a time where we are
 captivated by 30 second imagery and short
 soundbites."

Gabrielle loves to go to Boston

"Yes it's a beautiful city and recently I've seen a revival of standard supply stores. These supply stores may be trending, but they are diamonds in the  rough. They keep cards, pencils, stationary, notebooks and more in stock. They are my sanctuaries after work. I must  have hundreds of cards in my apartment just for when I need one or when the occasion arises."

The Letter Exchange Project started with

"2-3 letters a month. That  frequency definitely picked up by September 2015. I was patient.  I knew that my post office box wouldn't be flooded at  first. The creative process takes time. It also takes time  for something like this to catch on."

Someone asked to Gabrielle: What should I write though? Her suggestions?

"I would always tell  people: Whatever is on your mind right now. Letter writing  doesn't have to be a strenuous task."

Were you inspired by some sites for this name or project?


"I didn't have a particular site that inspired me. I had a fellow colleague  who was wrapping up a mail art project when I first met her  called:
www.artviapost.com.

 Her project stuck with me for a few months. I started to  really think about the art of sending mail. I also felt  connected to her project in a different way. My friends often comment that I'm one of the few people that still sends mail. I liked that. I thought deeper on their  sentiments and then came to the realization that there are  so many other stories out there that have no outlet...no place to be heard.
I think the combination of those things helped inspire The Letter Exchange."

We talked of Massachusetts a land of readers, culture and writers. How's the situation of correspondence in your State at the moment?


"I'm not sure how most  people in Massachusetts utilize written correspondence. I  can only speak for myself and people I know. I think that  the majority of my close friends and family will send cards
 and notes around the holidays. I know that long ago, I had  some family members that used to correspond with their  relatives overseas. I think that it was trickier back then  to keep up with correspondence because of a less  sophisticated postal service. I also think that it may have
 been harder to keep track of people's whereabouts. We  have the Internet now to thank for the ease of finding  people. We can often Google a name, find a Facebook,  LinkedIn, etc. and easily be in touch to acquire their  address. Back then, if someone moved and didn't inform  you, that correspondence would be lost."

Gabrielle loves post offices

 "Yes I do. I think that it will always be a joyous  place for me. I love watching individuals stand in line to  mail their letters or packages. I love receiving mail so I  always think wherever their letters or packages are going,  it will make someone's day."

When do you write everyday?

"Personally, I write  whenever I feel inspired. I keep journals, I keep to-do  lists, I remember by writing so the handwritten word is  vital to my day-to-day. I frequently send friends and family  cards, postcards, notes and so on. Sometimes I just send  notes to send notes or to make someone's day. I'll  send recipes if I know someone might enjoy it. Spending  $0.49 to send someone an "I'm thinking of you  note" is the easiest money I could spend."


I didn't want to forget to tell to my readers I participated at The Letter Exchange Project as well and you can find my letter included in the book :-)


Good Luck, Gabrielle!


Anna Maria Polidori