Memorie di un Baro by Sasha Guitry

 Memorie di un Baro

by Sasha Guitry is enchanting, brilliant, plenty of great humor, irony and good smiles. I love the brevity, in a work where everything is told with clarity, efficiency. The book, released by Adelphi tells the story, pretty briefly, of a real cheater, en francais, a tricheur. The life of this poor man didn't start well at all, because his entire family, 11 people!!! were killed by mushrooms one night. Being in punishment because still little, what a luck! a sign of the destiny, escaped that horrible horror. The relatives who, at first took good care of him, were horrible people, so pretty soon left the house starting to work. I loved the description of the several places where he stayed at long: Paris, for example, a city that when want you and accept you, adopting you, won't pretend any changes from you, Monaco and the story of the arrival of Grimaldi. During the first world war he was saved by a young man. After the war, considering his capacities, started to work as croupier and understood pretty soon how to cheat at the table. It was an interesting excursus. Our man hadn't never taken in consideration the idea of...playing just for having some fun. He will start, when, one night recognized the boy who had saved his existence and had lost an arm during the first world war. They became friends starting to play every night at the casino, without to cheat. Oh, that adrenaline! And our man became incredibly obsessed by the simple idea of playing so that later, he told, didn't cheat anymore, simply, because he couldn't. He lost all his money, this one is just a detail but although in misery and with a little job, every month he deserved an amount of money for playing. The idea of playing, meeting everytime the case, the chance, and so the possibility or impossibility to win remains priceless.

This book at first appeared per chapters in a literary magazine called Marianne founded by Gaston Gallimard, where main collaboratirs were also Jean Giono, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Georges Simenon. 

The drawings in this book are the ones created at that time by Guitry. The book is translated wonderfully well by Davide Tortorella with an interesting afterword by Edgardo Franzosini.

Anna Maria Polidori

The Symphonies by Andrei Bely Translated by Jonathan Stone

 The Symphonies

by Andrei Bely Translated by Jonathan Stone is a pretty particular, singular but interesting book. Released by Columbia University Press, Bely was one of the most important members of the Russian Symbolism and with this work, divided in four parts, Dramatic Symphony, Northern Symphony, The Return and Globet of Blizzards is possible to discover a multiform genre that will space though the little joys of life, love and intimacy, the enchantment of art. This book is also a big experiment in terms of genre and sound written in a style that is prosaic, poetic, musical.

There are also autobiographical touches like when in Dramatic Symphony in some ways Bely incorporates his story with Margarita Morozova although it's in The Return where there will be a dimension of fairy-tale with the arrival of a mystical child, an old man, a bird-man, the King of the Winds, and an evil sea serpent.

Once returned to the reality we are back in Moscow following the adventures of Evgeny Khandrikov. Although at the end he will kill himself he will always be sure that there is a higher plane of being. In A Globet of Blizzard a sad love-story between a married woman, unhappy in her marriage with Adam Petrovich. Also in this love-story there are biographical touches as well.

It's a book that must be discovered. At first it won't be simple but then you'll see that you'll like it a lot.

Highly recommended.

I thank Columbia for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

Finché Non Aprirai Quel Libro by Michiko Aoyama

 Finché Non Aprirai Quel Libro by Michiko Aoyama

is a wonderful, wonderful book! released these weeks by Garzanti.

If you have loved the books by Toshikazu Kawaguchi you will also fall in love for this one.

Certain stories seem to be written to you, to me, to everyone: most of us can recognize in the tribulations, difficulties, perplexities of the various protagonists, our own existences, with similar doubts and moments when we don't know anymore where we go and the kind of life we want to live.

 

The existential problem treated in this book? Work, and how to work and be happy at the same time without feeling frustration: another theme, for people in pension is: what to do of the existence now? 

Thematics profound and dense of meanings. 

This time "the magical cup of coffee" the passport to a new and more satisfying existence is a librarian, mrs Komachi a pretty fat and good lady: this lady works in the library of the Community House: she is a great listener and she has the power to resolve many existential problems. Her magical touch appears also in little items realized with wood and donated to the people requesting books, but that are also in troubles and in search of something else: a solution to their problems. Komachi is not just there for judging without resolving: she is a real helper, of first class, let me add this.

Why? Because she will reply with wisdom to the lamentations of people, giving a first help: then the book suggested and the wooden little token donated to people will unblock their soul, preparing their path for that projects that they had dreamt to realize at long.

The first story the one of a girl of 21 years, shopgirl in the mega-store called Eden. She sells clothes, but she is not satisfied of her work. Better: she doesn't do that work with passion. She understands that maybe it would better another place and another work. 

She discovers, speaking with a colleague that she can does at a cheap price, sometimes free, some courses close to her house. They will better her. 

Surfing the web she discovers that very close to her there is this so called Community House, where there is this possibility. Tomoka would want to learn more on PCS and Office, you know...Word, Excel... 

Once there, anyway, she visits also the library and a girl suggests her to speak with mrs Komachi.  Komachi will suggest her a children's book, can you believe it? that will open the doors of a new vision of the existence, more tasty and satisfying.

The second story is my favorite one: here the expression more used by the protagonist of the story, Ryo, is Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will do this, tomorrow I will do that...Procrastinator for fear, Ryo works in a company where they sell furniture. When he was a teeanger he had discovered for casualty an antiquity store owned by a fascinating man, mr Ebigawa. Since then, his dream is this one: opening a store like that one. 

But...He doesn't know where to start, considering that it would be a sacrifice. He has a relationship with Hina, a girl in love for old things and with an online business. Having accompanied Hina at the Community House, will speak of his problems with mrs. Komachi. She will tell him that till at the moment that his dreams won't become a reality, they will remain forever as beautiful as he imagines them. After all she adds, they give you joy to your days. Sure Komachi adds that if strongly motivated he should try to go and see what his dreams would mean to him. The book suggested is on gardening.

While he is reading with curiosity, relaxation, the book, he will stop by to the book store of a guy who had been interviewed recently regarding his two jobs. This man has two jobs and he is pretty gratified by both, and not for a story of money.

He will clarify him that doubts won't pay, that his behavior must change and then he will be ready for this new fantastic adventure. He also asks to Ryo why he wants to open a store, and not just buying old furniture, or items, as the british teaspoon of 1905 that Ryo treasures as a trophy bought at the store of mr. Ebigawa. 

There is in this passage more than a shade of difference.

He has the answer! He wants to find a home for old things. He wants, after a long period that these objects stay in a store, to find houses and people appreciating them: better, in love for them. Because old things must find their owners. He wants to play the role of the mediator between objects and people: people must re-meet things, taking them on their hands, checking that these objects are part of them, desiring them.

In the while he will discover something on Ebigawa... We find Ebigawa in the final chapter of the book. He does now a completely different work but he is happy that someone wants to open a store because inspired by him. If he has been helpful changing so much the existence of a boy as he did, maybe he did something good in his existence.

In the third tale there is the story of Natsumy, 40 years. He worked as reported for a female magazine. Once that she has had a baby and returns to work she discovers that they have changed her status, mortifying her splendid past work.

Frustrated, Natsumi doesn't know anymore what she wants in her life. She knows that maybe the baby has been an error. Her husband is not helpful, because works till late every day, she is tired, and she wouldn't want to work where they imposed her to work. One day the colleague that she is replacing her in the newsroom asks for some help. Natsumi when was working in the newsroom had insisted for a book that had to appear in chapters in their magazine. Now: the author she wanted for the purpose was a bit old, the girls buying the magazine more or less in their 20s: we speak of a fresh magazine. There were strong doubts, but Natsumy won the resistences and the publication of the adventures of these two girls was a success.

A series of lucky meetings, with Komachi first of all, then with an ex colleague, with the writer, will permit her to discover what she wants realistically, receiving new help for a fresh start, and her adorable kid won't be judged anymore an heavy part of her existence.

Hiroya in this other story, is unemployed. He studied drawing, but they considered his drawings too dark, too gothic for being appreciated. So, this boy, mortified, stopped to search a work, staying at home and living with the frustration his condition: he has a realized brother. Her mother maybe is a bit embarassed for his status but she hasn't never considered him like a weight. Sure, she lives the other child with more happiness because he is a realized man. Hiroya's future anyway is changing because he will visit the Community House once and will speak with mrs.Komachi. Komachi suggests him a book also on the theory of Evolutionism, on Darwin with the story of Wallace as well.

Hiroya, attracted by the other youg librarian of the Community House, and thanks to a note from the past written by him and buried at school, understood that maybe he had misunderstood but also forgotten, what he wanted to do in his life and what he wanted to transmit to people. The end is beautiful.

The final story is the one of Masao. Oh, this story is hilarious. This man is in pension but he still doesn't know what to do of his remaining...time. He worked for the factory of Kuremiyado: they did the delicious Honey Dome. Mrs Komachi uses the tin box of the Honey Dome for putting there the necessary for his wooden creations. 

She suggests to Masao a book of poetry. A meeting with his daughter who works in a book store will be revelating. He had thought to be absent when the daughterwas little: maybe he hadn't followed well his daughter, but now, look at her and what she remembers of a distant conversation lost in the time... Masao at the end will find stabilization and new answers to his questions, without to forget to give value to the Honey Dome. Yes, because as also said to him by the daughter: the success of a book can't be left alone. There are many passages that can makes the difference, and as she says to his father: when I love a book and I think that it will be a success, to me it is a joy promoting it with all myself, and, adds his daughter, I haven't written it, but I love it. The revelation for Masao has been incredible. He worked at the factory where they did the Honey Dome and thinking better he had always shared his good consideration on these cookies, with joy, serenity, happiness. That's why it is important to to continue to do that, and to be supportive. 

I absolutely loved and loved and loved all these stories: they are of great inspiration for everyone. 

This one is an incredible book. Please read it. It's unique!

Anna Maria Polidori 

Halloween with Snowman Paul Written by Yossi Lapid and Illustrated by Joanna Pasek

Halloween with Snowman Paul

Written by Yossi  Lapid and Illustrated by Joanna  Pasek is an enchanting children's book pretty good for this time of the year. Halloween is approaching and although we live in scaring times, this celebration can be read and seen like a moment of escapism. Our Snowman Paul, in fact, is ready to live amazing adventure thanks to a feast in grade to catapult his affectionate "followers", adults and children in realms made by ghosts, aliens, caldrums and witches, tree-houses where having a lot of fun.

I love the character of Snowman Paul. He is tender, his smile is so warm and good, and he will be another time a protagonist of another fabuluous story. 

Highly recommended children's book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

Ella's Inner Genie The Superpower of Children by Jacqueline Pirtle

Ella's Inner Genie

The Superpower of Children by Jacqueline Pirtle is the most beautiful reflection of the author: after having improved in fact with her books women's existences, she doesn't abandon her idea to present to everyone, children included a self-help book and this one is for sure a serious, powerful tool for them but also teachers, parents, educators in general who want to see improvements in children or to try to see the way they imagine themselves, their genie, people surrounding them. It is absolutely a great tool in case you notice some changes in your kid's behavior. 

Who hasn't had a fantastic companion during the childhood age? It's normal, common. I remember Pantoufle the Kangaroo in the case of Vianne Rocher's daughter Anoux in Chocolate the book by Joanne Harris, but I invite all of you, adults, to remember your inner voice and the beauty that presented you. 

What is a genie if not that encouraging voice exploding in the kid's mind, telling him/her what to do and how to be more happy and cheerful?

Who are children if not little adults in grade to absorb every emotion that they intercept along their way?

Children were born like any other individuals to follow their dreams and their inner voice and, simply to build a successful, plenty, beautiful still little life.

Childhood is crucial for the rest of the existence of an individual: children growing harmonically will live a beautiful existence. That's why Jacqueline asks to parents, educators, people interested in the future of these little new individuals, to help them to discover their most genuine self, encouraging passions, accepting who their children are. 

The chapters will help children in the understanding of their wishes, desires. What they love to do, their interactions with parents, siblings, their inner voice and potential conflicts with parents because of different expectations: that research of happiness that sometimes is a bit distant from the one desired and wanted by parents. 

But, we know like an intelligent family will be in grade to successfully resolve problems. 

Enjoy this wonderful self-help book: I loved a lot the latest pages where children will portray in words and drawings their existences, telling much more of themselves and their existences, but also of their inner genie! and how they visualize him or her!

Superb and highly recommended! to children, parents, and educators.

Anna Maria Polidori 

Tell me a Story, Please by Kyoko Hara and Kazue Takahashi

 Tell me a Story, Please

by Kyoko Hara and Kazue Takahashi is a beautiful and inspiring children's book released by Museyon Books. The tale is the one of a kid, a female one, called Yuka, who asked often to her mother of reading to her some fairy-tales. Yuka was at the first year of school, so she was in grade to do that, but her mother was so funny when she made weird, strange voices of several characters, like the horrible wolf of Little Red Riding Hood for example. But...Her mother was also pregnant and soon there would have been the arrival of a new baby and so brother or sister. Yuka wanted to be much more educated with this new baby than not what her biggest brother had been with her. Once born Yuto, the problem was simple: Yuka didn't find anymore in her mother, her reader because she was too busy. She tried with several people; an elderly for example who fell asleep immediately after having started to read.Yuka was depressed: one day she entered in a close forest where there was a beautiful maple tree, and she sat. She opened discomforted the book, and starting to read-aloud. Immediately a curious squiller made her company, asking for more fairy-tales as for all the rest of animals of the forest, with which she became great friends with, because she became their reader. One day, these animals asked her a fairy-tales where they were all included. Bloody hell! Now, what to do? Because there wasn't realistically a fairy-tale including all of them but....One day looking well she thought: well, why not the Bremen Town Musicians?

Oh, that animals had been so satisfied of this fairy-tale! They would have wanted to be like that Musicians. They will, you see, at the end of the story, and like for that Musicians, they will set free their place from a big danger!

Absolutely beautiful, fantastic, tender illustrations. Another wonderful children's book from Museyon!

Anna Maria Polidori

Non nel mio Nome by Michele Santoro

 Non nel Mio Nome

by Michele Santoro is a pamphlet that you'll read in a few hours published by Marsilio. In this little book the lucid analysis of the beloved journalist and ideator of many successful political talk shows these past decades and years. Why did he decide to write a book like this one? 

Because of the Ukraine war with its own contradictions. 

Son of an anarchic and of a communist, Santoro has always been a thinker of a reality recently more complicated than not the one that we have known in the past.

What kind of democracy is this one? A democracy paralyzed, in the hands of that "propaganda of regime" without any kind of sensibility for minorities or people in difficulty. There is to add that this war is adding new discrepancies and new poverty in always more large segments of our society. This one is a world where a bunch of people have in their hands most of the richness of the Planet. The rest of the population is not heard, live in passivity a condition where, also when they would want to try to say something, no one would hear.

War is the worsest answer to a problem adds, Santoro. There is a brief reconstruction of the Russian years after the end of the Communism; the errors of Boris Yeltsin, the arrival of Putin, lived like an unknown man, but that, with the time has been in grade to re-put things in order, followed by people. People in particular youngest ones, have experienced the freedom created. My russian friends travelled in the entire world. Not just Meloni and Salvini fell fascinate by him but also Berlusconi writes, Santoro. Berlusconi would have done the impossible for becoming the italian Putin writes ironically, Santoro.

Santoro is tired of this policy where politicians are not anymore in grade to resolve the problems of people, asking so to economists to do that, and, in these cases creating a lot of messes: yes, because when you call an economist, the economist will resolve the problems maybe of Italy but not the ones of people, because who work with money can't see people as persons with problems. We experienced Monti, and recently Draghi. Both of them delusional experiences.

Santoro appreciated the Five Star Movement, (I really am a fan! I wouldn't never have said it four years ago!) becoming recently skeptical because no one would have believed that someone like Beppe Grillo one day would have told to his movement that they would have joined a government with Draghi, close to Mario Monti for mentality. That's why some big esponents decided to go away from the Movement: an unacceptable position the one of Beppe Grillo.

A movement the one of Grillo, who intrigued till the very first moment Santoro, who gave a lot of space to them and their ideas.

There is a reconstructon of the final days of the government Draghi with the scission of Luigi Di Maio at first, and then the end of the government Draghi. Draghi wanted in fact to become President of the Republic, and Santoro tells that later sounded pretty upset because they didn't keep him in consideration...Substantially Draghi decided to leave. 

The past: I remember the years, and moments when Indro Montanelli in the tv program of Santoro launched this provocation: "Please give me back my newsmagazine, Silvio!"  Yes: Indro Montanelli worked for Silvio Berlusconi, he was the editor and ideator of Il Giornale, and things were going on well; just, Berlusconi changed character completely once in policy. He pretended that the newsmagazine of Indro had to follow him blindly: Montanelli said no (great, Indro!) and Berlusconi removed him. Freedom has always a great price, in a way or in anoher.

There is an explanation of the war in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attack, that would have brought a lot of departures and after all they found Bin Laden in Pakistan.

Gino Strada, founder of Emergency told to Santoro that a war is the saddest existential condition of the man: he said that with the cost of an F-35 is possible to create 1000 places in intensive care. 

Realistically when a country says that intends to go in another country for humanitarian missions, you know that a war is in act. Putin, adds Santoro, called it a special operation: but the de fact is that also our countries sometimes don't tend to call, because maybe not elegant, a war, with its name. 

War is always a lies writes Santoro and who wants to condamn Putin for war crimes should also remember Bush, Blair for what done in Iraq, remarks the journalist.

Journalism with the time became always more close to the ideas of the government, so we receive writes Santoro communication but not anymore information.

When the Ukrainian war started and the first timid voices of dissent became clear, these people were classified like filo-Putin writes Santoro: that meant at first being a sort of enemy of Italy, of the Ukrainian crusade started by Europe, UK and USA. 

It was a great mediatic strumentalization: a newsmagazine published lists of people tendentially filo-Putin, but this one is an abnormality, and a sad, sad and dangerous fact, writes Santoro, because in a democracy I must tell my opinion with freedom. It can be also pretty different from the one expressed by the biggest part of the population but a lack of information would also create a hole that in a democracy can't be permitted. Sharing informations is important for personal growth.

Please, read this book. To me, you will find more than a good vibe and great ideas for changing in better Italy and the world. A world warless, first of all it is what all we want so badly.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori