Gathered Notes
April
Welcome to the April edition of Gathered Notes, a monthly collection of art, poetry, book, movie, and music recommendations that have brought beauty into my life this past month.
Art: Italian Coast Scene with Ruined Tower, Thomas Cole, 1838
The painting above is said to be one of Cole's major statements on the theme of the mutability of man's creations and the transience of life, and it may be seen as a pictorial version of ideas he also expressed in poetry: Or is it that the fading light reminds / That we are mortal and the latter day / Steals onward swiftly, like unseen winds,And all our years are clouds that pass quickly away. “Evening Thoughts”
Poetry: “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W.B. Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
Watching, Listening, Reading
Show: Beef
Summary: Two people let a road rage incident burrow into their minds and slowly consume their every thought and action.
My review: This Netflix show knocked my socks off. Both the writing and the acting are top-knotch. Though it’s over-the-top bonkers (and not family-friendly), there’s so much relatability and truth to this story. The two main characters are, on the surface, very different, but when you start to see beyond the surface trappings, they’re just two people who are at their breaking points. I think Beef does an amazing job of using the inciting feud to explore the humanity of the characters in a way that the viewer can feel both repulsed, but also empathetic to their struggles. It was a show that really made me think.
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Listening:
Lately, I’ve been putting in a lot of writing hours, so my go-to Spotify playlist has been Intense Studying.
Reading: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Summary: Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.
My review: I’m so glad I finally read this book. It’s definitely an all-time favorite. The writing was so beautiful that I often found myself reading passages over again, just to appreciate the way Steinbeck puts words together. The story itself is one that’s tough…an unflinching look at the nature of evil in places, but it also looks at love, grace, and mercy. I read this book over Holy Week, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect choice. I know this story will stay with me for the rest of my life. Steinbeck’s work is truly a gift.
Quote of the Day:
“Your Life isn’t about the big brek, it’s about one significant life-transforming step at a time.” -Tim Storey
Writing life: I have mixed feelings about offering any of my books for free because I believe writers should be paid for their work, but occasionally, I do offer the digital version of Sorrento Girl for free on KDP as a way to introduce new readers to my books. The idea being, if they like the story, they’ll buy my other books. As a strategy, it does seem have merit, as I always sell more of my other books right after I’ve done this. Sorrento Girl is a historical romance set in Seattle during the late 1930s and it is the first novel I wrote in the Historic Hotels Collection. This book will be available as a free Kindle download from now through April 20th, so if you would like to get yourself a copy HERE.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders, he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.