Stephenson Family Ties

Courage is found in unlikely places.

 from: Lord of the Rings

 by: JRR Tolkien

I enjoyed reading another book about the life and times of Florence, Italy.  It was even more enjoyable because it took place in the 1600's when Florence was alive with the artists that we now revere. But never will a single book move me as much as The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone did many years ago.  The Passion of Artemisia was just a tickle of a reminder for me of Stones great work on Michelangelo. But it brought me great pleasure, never-the-less, to go back in time again to the sights and smells of dear Italy. Susan Vreeland wrote Girl in Hyacinth Blue...which I appreciated reading...but was not as memorable for me as this read will be. Here  is another story (historical fiction) of one of the first woman artists to be 'accepted' in society as an artist, through great patience and perseverance. (I seem to be reading a lot of these types of stories lately.)
 As you may or may not recall...in my next life I hope to live in Italy, be able to dance like Michael Jackson, and maybe paint a picture that would bring out emotion in someone viewing it, and cook like an Italian.  In my next life.
I give this book ***1/2 stars
And I cant wait to get started on Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick

art by: Katya Shkolnik The Horse Tamer 2

I needed to read The Passion of Artemisia after slogging through this heavy, heavy read. I think I got a lot out of The Art of Loving...but I know I didnt extract half of what he intended me to learn. I'll read it again...soon...at a slower pace and see what else I can glean from its pages. You'll find many a quotation at the tops of my posts with ideas from this book...but please dont ask me to explain it too much..for I couldnt. I recommend it on the merit that Erich Fromms purpose in writing it is to help us build better, more meaningful relationships with the people in our lives.  I also learned about the power one can derive from learning to be completely alone...alone with ones thoughts...in quiet and with no distractions....for a period of time each day.  I recommend that practice too.
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