Le Droit d'Emmerder Dieu by Richard Malka

 Le droit D' Emmerder Dieu

by Richard Malka is a new book by Grasset and maybe one of the most intense and revelatory ones that I have read till now on the story of Charlie Hebdo.

 If you want to understand what happened and why, in the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo that January 7 when 12 people of the staff of Charlie, a satirist magazine, were brutally killed and four ones survived, this book is for you. 

This one, published by Grasset, is the plaidoire, harangue of mr.Malka at the end of the trial. 

His speech represents, the most, the essence of the spirit of french people. 

A spirit where freedoms are more than welcomed; where freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of writing, freedom of drawing what a person wants, is considered incredibly important and of great value; like also the laicité, laicity of the State, so a strong disconnection from the various religions installed in France, starting from the Catholic one. The French President in general doesn't tend, for example, to visit when in Italy, the Pope, (he can does it, of course), because he doesn't recognize to him any authority, keeping well divided the role of the State and the one of the church. 

France, also removed blasphemy as penal offence in the distant 1790: so everyone can express, pretty largely, thoughts, ideas, also using irriverent, blasphemic methods without any kind of incrimination; Charlie Hebdo for these fanatics was "The Other" underlines the attorney. 

An Other, Charlie that had to be "killed" and suppressed because freely telling what that dessiners, drawers, wanted. The point is this one and the attorney is clear: it is not possible to think that a religion would be put aside because doesn't tolerate some laughs, while other ones could be portrayed blasphemically also. There is a right, an important adds strongly the attorney, right: the one of emmerder, to put some poo on God. Maybe it is a strong metaphore, but real freedom is the creation not the suppression. 

It's impossible, for french population, to lose that freedoms conquered a lot of centuries ago, remarks Malka and from a certain time the nation assisted at several atrocious terrorist attacks: I want to remember the decapitation of Samuel Paty a teacher who just told to his students during his lessons the importance of being free, thinking free, and living in a free land. 

Millions of muslins, millions of thinkers, journalists, writers, common people wants these freedoms and search for these freedoms everyday, says Malka: it is impossible to renounce at important freedoms like these ones, that give a certainty: people can experience real freedoms! There wouldn't be any hope, in different case.

The attorney then, reconstructs the long series of battles fought by Charlie Hebdo when at first were published in 2006 the  drawings till at the moment of the terrorist attacks, with considerations also on Theo Van Gogh and what happened in Netherlands.

Malka focuses the attention on all that people who were sometimes unsupporting with the satirical magazine, searching for a compromise, that to him is just one: the right of telling, reporting, writing down and drawing whatever people want, because these ones are freedoms that can't be lost.

Beautiful and moving, you must read it.

Highly recommended.

I thank L'Editions Grasset for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori

Ragioniamoci Sopra by Luca Zaia

 It is a pleasant reading the book by Luca Zaia

Ragioniamoci Sopra. 

Zaia is the governor of Region Veneto: yes, the region where there are Venice, Padoa, Verona for my foreign readers.

I am personally affectionated to Veneto because our origins are not Umbrians: we were citizens of Veneto. We went away, tells the story told by our ancestors, during a pestilence more than 800 years ago, colonizing this central part of Italy, more protected and less exposed to these immense problems.

Speaking of the book, Luca Zaia tells that, what happened with Covid, was a sorta of Big Bang, a deflagration in a moment where the region experienced other heavy problems. 

He can't sleep more than 2-3 hours per night. He has been one of the strongest and firms italian governors.

While in Lombardia, Codogno, they tried to understand where Mattia Maestri had caught Covid, Covid in the while had also reached a little town called Vò Euganeo, in Veneto causing the first victim in Adriano Trevisan a peaceful guy of 76 years, to the hospital for treating a nasty penumonia unresponsive to antibiotics for ten days. 

When they did the test, discovering Covid, it was panic! Everyone understood that that one would have been a great calamity. 

At first no one knew exactly what it was necessary to do, and how to interact with the new pestilence, admits, Zaia: he remembers some meetings of the first hour with collaborators that later wouldn't never been done anymore in presence because with too many people. 

Zaia  anyway decided to take all the powers in his hands, taking strong decisions, creating new places for potential people affected by Covid-19, destinating an hospital to the cure of Covid-19 patients because a modern structure. He blocked the Carnival of Venice, that it is one of the most beautiful representations known in the entire world: but, as admits Zaia, it couldn't be possible to do differently. Venice started to be affected by Covid, although, during that first wave, the contagion was controlled. He decided to change operative city, leaving Venice, he created the famous bullettin of the late morning with new positives, dead ones, people in quarantine, not forgetting to add also new born children, a signal that, soon or late normality would be returned. 

Zaia tells also that, (let's also add that Veneto is a productive and rich region and so it was possible to use a lot of funds for contrasting the arrival of the pandemic), every expense has been clearly documented. Zaia writes that children sent him drawings, and money; when children spotted him along the street and donated something for the Covid, everyone, he said, received a regular receipt for the money received; also for just a euro donated. Being clear and transparent is important.

Zaia tells the story of his family describing also the characteristics of people from Veneto; amicable, compassionate with old ones, plenty of hospitality and healthy values, like also his political story that brought him to the guide of Veneto, treating at the end the thematic of autonomy.

Luca Zaia anticipating the central government ordinance has put Veneto in Yellow Zone two days ago. The war against Covid is not yet finished and this fourth wave deserves more and more attention than what we can think.

Highly recommended.

I than Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

Faust Dalla Leggenda al Mito edited by Paolo Scarpi

Faust Dalla Leggenda al Mito

edited by Paolo Scarpi is a beautiful book published by Marsilio Editori treating the myth and legendary character of Faust seen under the lenses of famous writers like: Eudocia, Spies, Marlowe, Caldéron de la Barca, Goethe, Heine, Valéry.

I had read the Faust written by Marlowe and Goethe when I was a teenager. Pretty powerfuls, you will discover other scenarios, reading the characterization made by these immense authors on the character of Faust. 

But..Who was Faust? Faust represents the ambition that there is in every man, adding a heavy touch: for having a secure success and knowledge in this life will sign a contract with the devil: the pact is tremendous: the soul of Faust will descend to the hell once dead. 

The scheme more or less is similar in these short tales or theather's play.

 

There is this man called Faust: he loves magic, sometimes he wants more from life, he searches to conquer the woman he loves, or differently he desires wagons of women, or magical powers... 

In a way or in another, he meets along his way  the devil asking him how to have these powers or possibilities: the devil explains with calm: he will have knowledge, success, love, whatever he wants, but, but... The devil will ask for his soul once dead. If at first Faust is thrilled because of the deal reached with the devil, close to the end of his existence he will understand the horrible error and the impossibility to return on own his steps, because too late, because, anyway there was a signed contract between him and the infernal creature that must be "honored" if we want to use this expression.

In some of these tales there are portrayed scenarios of the hell as for example in the tale written by Spices. 

De la Barca changes names of the main protagonist: that one is a funny play thanks to the co-protagonists as well! 

Cipriano is in love for Giustina, would want to conquer her heart, and he ends signing a contract with the devil. The end of this play is more happy. The play written by Goethe is more obscure but what it is impressive in these plays or short tales like the one by Heine is, is the immense poeticity and verbal rich expressions for describing situations, feelings, state of minds: they make the difference:  a precious writing-style. I was thinking that in our modern world, is difficult to find someone writing with such intensity and accurate description. 

Apart these considerations, in some of these tales/play you'll also find a healthy humor close to the obscure one of the story. Faust sometimes understands that he is falling in a situation without escapism but what he wants is too strong for listening to that internal voice that says him: "no, no, it's an error, don't close any pact with the devil." In itself, also this part is plenty of comicity, because you can see a human being petrified, understanding that the chap close to him is not a remarkable one, that he should be diffident, that, after all the devil is telling him that the soul of Giustina has the cost of his soul! Cipriano should just run away but, in love, will sign the contract with the devil! 

It is tremendous the end of Faust portrayed by Spies, like the final speech to his students before his horrible "disappearance." 

After all, it's better not to joke with someone like the devil, tells us Spies between the lines. 

Absolutely beautiful! This book is the perfect Christmas gift for people in love for theater, literature and an immortal character life Faust is.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori

Cahier de L'Herne Giono

Oh, Jean Giono! What a fairy-tale is this new Cahier

hi

de L'Herne dedicated to this beloved author!

Giono has represented per generations the writer of the  rural life: born in Provence, Giono supported spasmodically an existence distant from the city, and strongly connected with the most beautiful nature's values: we speak of trees, grass, farm animals, good wine and food from the natural products of farms and fruits trees.

It became a philosophy of life the one of Giono embraced in particular after the second world war by socialists, communists, jewish, minorities and people in search of tranquillity and peace.

Giono is not just this: he loved paintings and music, he appreciated poetry, he thought that friendship, largely treated in his books, was the best value of this world. 

He adored several writers: Melville, Virgil, Homer, Machiavelli (he truly appreciated the florentian writer) and Hemingway for his writing-style; he was an avid diarist as you'll learn, someone researched and pantheistic in his description of nature, people, men and women. 

He adored his wife and his children.

In the cahier you'll find letters to his family and friends. Friends and correspondents most of the time never met in real life as it happened with Henry Miller or Saint-Paul Roux: some not yet known writings, witnesses of his daughter with beautiful and touching anedocts and memories; poetry he adored; movies produced thanks to his books; pacifist, his most symblic book is represented by Que Ma Joie Demeure

. 

A wonderful cahier of a stunning writer.

Personally I consider this cahier a real treasure. I adore Giono and his messages to the humanity. Sometimes I ask to myself what he would think of the disappearance of many forests and trees in the world, so beloved in his books and which solutions he would proposes. 

A wonderful Christmas Gift this one!

I thank L'Editions de L'Herne for the physical copy of the cahier.

Anna Maria Polidori 

 

Il Piccolo Libro di Bridgerton by Charlotte Browne

 Il Piccolo Libro di Bridgerton

by Charlotte Browne published by Sonzogno is wonderful if you love that magical time that was the Regency period and Bridgerton the tv series (I confess, never seen.) In this nice, kind and funny book you'll discover the story of the Regency from 1811 to 1820. It was a convulsive historical moment in which Napoleon was, at first, the strongest Emperor of Europe, where Mozart introduced to everyone Così fan Tutte; when, again, Napoleon lost his power: Lord Byron died and there were strong polemics regarding  the place where he had to rest in peace, considering the immorality of the man.

After many other historical facts, you'll discover also how to talk in regency-style thanks to the expressions used for describing men, women and situations.

You'll learn the best characteristics for becoming attracting in that society, with a lot of gossip; you'll dance wearing the perfect outfit and combing the hair according to the Regency-style: the importance of objects for a lady and their meaning will be a revelation.

Oh, a wonderful little book that will transport you in another era!

Perfect as Christmas-Gift, if you have romantic friends in love for past.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

A Revolution in Three Acts The Radical Vaudeville of Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay &Julian Eltinge by David Hajdu & John Carey Foreword by Michele Wallace

A Revolution in Three Acts The Radical Vaudeville of Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay &Julian Eltinge by David Hajdu & John Carey

Foreword by Michele Wallace is a new brilliant book by Columbia University Press. No, better: an incredibly delicious graphic novel exploring what it meant a tranformation of customs and performing in the USA at the beginning of the XXth century, where most people emigrated in cities with the desire, also, of assisting at new, exciting and elaborated shows.

Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay and Julian Eltinge were the first ones of a generation of performers: the advent of variety or the so-called Vaudeville, en francais was their art.

They were three different kind of persons: Bert Williams was black, so he experienced, as you will largely see a lot of racists problems; Julian Eltinge loved to perform wearing female clothes. He was gay and had a companion although he tried to keep silent his being homosexual with pictures and articles with always new girls, affirming he had had more than nine relationships.

Eva Tanguay was a provocative girl, with a great career.

Bert Williams became a great name and after the first years on stage he launched himself in several great productions. Discriminations didn't just touch him but also Jewish and italians.

Variety was pretty diversified and was for all tastes, after all. There was in fact a number of acrobats in it, you could find a comedian performing a monologue, there was space for classical music; whatever you wanted to see there was in a variety.

Bert Williams experienced a lot of problematics also inside his category; when there was a big strike for bettering the condition of workers at theather, Williams was not invited. Later someone called him but he didn't find a great atmosphere when arrived preferring to return home, discomforted. He died pretty soon. He was still in his 40s.

Eltinge at some point created a magazine dedicated to women; once appeared in all newsmagazines and magazines with this news: he would have married Eva: the story ended before the celebration of the marriage. 

Eltinge of all these three, was the latest one who participated at a silent movie. After some perplexities, launched himself in that career, different from the one of the variety, without any kind of success, but buying in the while a big house when in California, with mega-galactic ideas. He dilapited all his money. Some people, he died close to the stage, thinks that maybe killed himself. 

Eva lived till at 69 years dying in California, alone. 

Variety has been a real gym for these artists and many other ones.  

Let's remember Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (later Stanlio and Ollio) who at first started in the Vaudeville like Charlie Chaplin did.

Intense, well done! Captivating. Sad, happy, this book is a mixture of sentiments. I found it funny sometimes. Eva was funny, for sure! I really enjoyed reading it and I highly recommend it. Not only: being Christmas close, this one can be and it will be, a wonderful, wonderful gift for your friends in love for Broadway and acting!

I thank Columbia University Press for the physical copy of this book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

In Pace con la Pancia by Silvio Danese

 In Pace con la Pancia

is another interesting book by Silvio Danese. I read and reviewed also his previous book La Pancia Lo Sa, published also in that case, by Marsilio. 

Danese is a doctor specialized in that field at the hospital of San Raffaele, Milan and so if you have any kind of disturb involving your intestine, your digestion, if you are affected by a nasty colitis, the most common inflammation of the colon, or the Chron syndrome, if you suffer of allergies or intollerances (we will discover the difference between these two disturbs) this book will reveal you everything, permitting an approach that it is reassuring and at the same time clear. It is important.

Danese decided to write this book after the lockdown and the advent, first of all of the Covid Pandemic.

Alimentary disorders, more stress, more sedentarietà, more time spent at home, less hours of sleeping because constantly worried, means to the second brain of our body an immense stress, because of an alteration also of the metabolism of the body. If, in fact, our brain is our rational organ, the intestine is the brain of our emotions, so everything, from joy, happiness passing through sadness, stress, fears means a message for that organ.

That's also why, suggests Danese, is important to keep cleaned our intestine, helping it when necessary with probiotics. 

An intestine kept cleaned and functional means happiness for the person and health for sure!

Written pretty friendly, with an approach you'll surely love, I highly suggest this book to all of you!

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy.

Anna Maria Polidori