P. D. James – Tuesday 3 August 1920 Oxford to Thursday 27 November 2014 Oxford

Phyllis Dorothy James was born in Oxford in the Twentieth century and died in Oxford in the Twenty-first century. Over the course of her life in these two centuries, P. D. lived in the realm of the mysterious and murderous, primarily populated by Adam Dalgliesh and his New Scotland Yard stories. I had the pleasure of meeting P. D. James at a book signing in Bath, England. It was the only time I saw her, but I am grateful to have had the privilege. P. D. James was one of the women writers presented in this blog in March 2010. I’ve met Adam Dalgliesh via television productions of James’ mysteries, but not through the original source. Time to rectify that oversight. Hope P. D. James is inhabiting whatever place pleases her mystery and murder inclinations – it is sure to be special.

P. D. James from the website funny-pictures.picphotos.net

Not A Perfect Day As Rocker Lou Reed Takes His Last Walk On The Wild Side

Lou Reed - Monday 2 March 1942 Brooklyn, New York to Sunday 27 October 2013 Southampton, New York

Today guitarist and singer Lewis Allen “Lou” Reed died. A founding member of The Velvet Underground and a solo artist, Lou’s music career spanned fifty years. The only time I saw Lou in concert was on Friday 15 September 2000 at the Cirque Royal in Brussels, Belgium. It was the European Fall leg of his 2000 Ecstasy World Tour. I don’t remember specifics about the concert (though I did sit next to a nice Dutch-speaking man), however, I enjoyed it immensely. Here is the set list for that concert:

Paranoia Key of E - Turn To Me - Modern Dance - Ecstasy - Smaltown - Future Farmers of America - Turning Time Around - Romeo Had Juliette - White Prism - Rock Minuet - Mystic Child - Tatters - Set the Twilight Reeling - Baton Rouge - Busload of Faith - Dirty Blvd. - Sweet Jane - Perfect Day - loureed.es/live2000.htm

The one Lou Reed song that I’ve heard most often is “Sweet Jane”. Why that particular song you ask? Well, when I lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, I had friends who published a literary magazine called The Apple. And to support the magazine, “Apple” parties were held. They were lots of fun – food, beverages, dancing and a live band. I’ve forgotten the name of the band, but the leader was a guy named Donny and the parties always ended with his rendition and unique performance of Lou’s “Sweet Jane”. Since I went to “Apple” parties often, I heard “Sweet Jane” often. A most enjoyable memory! So in tribute to Lou Reed and to a blast from the past, I present “Sweet Jane”. Lou, I’m sure all your days are perfect wherever you are. Rock on Reed!



Top of post: Front of my personal Ecstasy Tour t-shirt

David Kusinitz – Friday 3 July 1953 To Tuesday 9 October 2012

Recently I read in a Clark University publication that a year ago today a college friend died. For me, Tuesday 9 October 2012 was a typical day of working, problem solving and reading. However, for my friend David, it was the last day of his all-too-short life. Not sure how I first met David, but most likely at a social function rather than in a class (we had different majors). We became members of a group of friends and eventually some of the friends (David included) ended up sharing an off-campus apartment. I used to tease David about his watching wrestling on Saturdays. You know, the type of wrestling with the outrageously costumed participants, usually representations of good versus evil, and good always won of course. It simply amused and bewildered me that an intelligent man would enjoy such fakery. And intelligent (double major) David was, as well as funny and kind.

As is still common, even in this social media pervasive time, we lost touch over the years. The last time I saw David was on a trip to Chicago to see him, his then girlfriend Joanne and his future wife Ann. It was a fun week of visiting the Sears Tower and the Art Institute; socializing at a local bar and Halloween party; and hanging out at the apartment and with some of their friends. David and I talked – probably a little about the past and a lot about the future – the usual conversations friends have. Although I don’t remember what was spoken, I do know there was laughter throughout the words.

Below are a few photos from our time in college. This is how I remember David and will continue to remember him. Yes, remember you I will David, my long ago friend.

大衛

"David" as written in traditional Chinese

David at his dorm room desk. © An Adrean Darce Brent Image

David talking to Ann and pointing at me! Ha-ha, so much for a candid shot.

© An Adrean Darce Brent Image

David, you’re looking stylish in your Dashiki.

© An Adrean Darce Brent Image

David and Joanne on the lawn at Tanglewood, enjoying the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

© An Adrean Darce Brent Image

“David Kusinitz” graphic created by Adrean Darce Brent

Maeve Binchy Has Left Her Circle of Friends, Family, Fans And All Are Broken At The Departure - Tuesday 28 May 1940 To Monday 30 July 2012

It was in California where I read Maeve Binchy’s novel The Glass Lake - a daughter-mother relationship tale set in rural Ireland and urban England during the 1950s. I have been remiss in continuing to read her works, though Maeve Binchy was one of thirty women writers I featured in this blog during March 2010.

Wherever Maeve Binchy has traveled, there are bound to be others willing to form a new circle of friendship with the Irish writer. May they be a treasure to her as Maeve will be to them.


Images:
Left: Maeve Binchy from the website bellenews.com
Center: Front cover of The Glass Lake from the website bookcrossing.com
Right: Maeve Binchy from the website livelib.ru

Ray Douglas Bradbury – Sunday 22 August 1920 Waukegan, Illinois To Tuesday 5 June 2012 Los Angeles, California

Martians, oh Martians,
Our chronicler writes no more.
Weep, memories weep.

Artists, all artists,
Fade not illustrated lore.
Keep bold your colors.

Readers, yes readers,
Never fear Fahrenheit four
Five, one – remember!

- Adrean Darce Brent
June 2012

Images:
Left: The Martian Chronicles from the website moivefanatic,cin
Center: The Illustrated Man from the website quilandkeyboard.blogspot.com
Right: Fahrenheit 451 from the website bookintime.blogspot.com

Multi-Talented and Multi-Troubled Singer Whitney Elizabeth Houston Dies On Eve Of The 54th Grammy Awards

Whitney Elizabeth Houston – Friday 9 August 1963 Newark, New Jersey to Saturday 11 February 2012 Beverly Hills, California

World Will Always Love Whitney

Images:
Left: Whitney Houston from the website Whitney-Houston-Fans.blogspot.com
Center: Whitney Houston from the website photos.express.ge
Right: Whitney Houston from the website userserve-ak.last.fm

The Blues Sound A Little Bluer Today With The Passing Of Award-Winning Singer Etta James

Etta James – Tuesday 25 January 1938 Los Angeles, California to Friday 20 January 2012 Riverside, California

At work KKJZ is our radio station of choice and on this day of her death, the station played a number of Etta James’ songs in tribute to her life. I never had the pleasure of seeing her in concert, but I have always felt deeply for her song “At Last”. The song resonates with me and gives me hope in the possibility that my love will eventually find me. Thank you Etta for all the music!



Images:
Left: Etta James from the website newsone.com
Center: Etta James from the website afrobella.com
Right: Etta James from the website yaare.com

Paris Bookseller George Whitman Dies Above Shakespeare And Company At The Age Of Ninety-Eight

George Whitman – Friday 12 December 1913 East Orange, New Jersey to Wednesday 14 December 2011 Paris, France

I first saw George Whitman at Shakespeare and Company on Tuesday 4 July 1989 during my first (of many) trips to Paris, France. Part of my coursework for the Literary section of the University of California at Berkley’s Travel/Study program was to attend afternoon field trips to various parts of Paris. On that American Independence Day, a visit to the world famous bookstore across from Notre Dame was much anticipated.

My first entry into George Whitman’s life work presented books in every possible space (no faceouts here) – outside and inside; the register right as you entered the store where books could be paid for in American dollars or French francs (Euros were a dozen years away); and the way onto the second floor that was an adventure in “climbing” skills. I went to Shakespeare and Company several times on that first Parisian trip and George was always around somewhere – at the register figuring the currency exchange for customer book payments, escorting collectors into the rare book building, or as in the photograph above, reading at the bookstore’s window.

Years later, when I lived in Paris, the bookstore was a regular haunt of mine for the poetry readings held on the second floor during the cold months and outside in front during the warm months. And it was a frequent stop on my way to or from my favorite place to hang out on the Seine’s Left Bank. From that first visit in July 1989 to the last visit (so far) in August 2002, Shakespeare and Company has been a central part of my Parisian experience, whether as a student traveler or as an all-too-temporary resident. Thank you, George Whitman, for providing me with one of the best experiences in the City of Light. May your next “City of Light” be book-filled and angel-inhabited. Salut George!


Images:
Left: Shakespeare and Company entrance, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo is © An Adrean Darce Brent Image
Center: George Whitman, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo by Dorothy McCorkle
Right: UC Berkley students outside Shakespeare and Company, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo is © An Adrean Darce Brent Image

Queen Dragonrider Anne Inez McCaffrey Goes Between And Pern Fans Mourn - Thursday 1 April 1926 To Monday 21 November 2011

I was living in Massachusetts the first time I read a Pern story in an anthology borrowed from the local library. I continued to read and began to buy Pern and other of her series (Crystal, Ship, Talents) during my first residence in California. Then it was onto Europe and I’m sorry to say that during my stay there I did not often seek out Pern novels. Now I am in my second residence in California and I have revisited the Pern world thanks to Anne’s son Todd.

Anne McCaffrey was one of thirty women writers I featured in this blog during March 2010. The post began…

"I want to be a Dragonrider of a Golden queen and lead my Weyr in the fight against Thread! From the first novel, Dragonflight, I have loved the tales of Pern penned by Anne McCaffrey. They just touch something in my imagination. How wonderful it would be to ride a dragon and have such absolute connection with another living creature. Even though I prefer my science fiction located in space and with extra-terrestrial interaction, the Pern Series is a wonderful, different perspective."

Though I may never really ride a queen dragon or fight Thread, through Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels and short stories I will always be an eager visitor to the planet Pern and its amazing dragons. You may have gone Between Anne, but you’ll always remain Beside in all the journeys of Pern.

Images:
Left: Anne McCaffrey from the website irishtimes.com
Center: Signed Bookplate for Dragon’s Time
Right: Anne McCaffrey from the website empmuseum.org

Clarence Anicholas "The Big Man" Clemons - Tenor Saxophonist

Clarence Anicholas Clemons - Sunday 11 January 1942 Norfolk, Virginia to Saturday 18 June 2011 Palm Beach, Florida

"Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

- Bruce Springsteen

Images:
Left: Clarence Clemons from the website wolfsgangvault.com
Center: Clarence Clemons from the website umes.edu
Right: Clarence Clemons from the website mediaconfidential.blogspot.com

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor – Saturday 27 February 1932 London To Wednesday 23 March 2011 Los Angeles

“Here lies Elizabeth.
She hated being called Liz,
but she lived”

-Elizabeth Taylor

Images:
Left: Elizabeth Taylor from the website fashionsmostwanted.blogspot.com
Center: Elizabeth Taylor from the website sant-cugal.net
Right: Elizabeth Taylor from the website movieeye.com

Pursuit Of The Trivial (And Other Games) Ended Today For Chris Haney – Wednesday 9 August 1950 to Monday 31 May 2010

Question: Who contributed to my self-realization that I know a bunch of unrelated information about many things?
Answer: Chris Haney, Canadian Co-Creator of the board (never bored) game “Trivial Pursuit”.

Chris Haney died today at age fifty-nine, but he, along with “Trivial Pursuit” Co-Creator Scott Abbott, had provided gamers with many days (sometimes in a row!) of knowledge spouting and knowledge gaining over the years since “Trivial Pursuit” made its debut.

I was introduced to “Trivial Pursuit” in grad school. Up to then I had only played a few of the classic board games – “Checkers”, “Monopoly”, “Scrabble”, “Risk” – none of which required any demonstration of specific knowledge or facts. The first time I played was with a group of fellow students living on the third floor in our University-owned off-campus apartment building. We would play often and had many willing players. It was during one of these games that, because of the number of people wanting to play, we were teamed up and I was teamed with a guy named Chris. We won that game and it turned out that we had different areas of knowledge (Chris – Science and me – Arts) and together we were unbeatable! When Chris and I won a game, the other players would continue and our reward for coming in first was to read the questions and answers for the rest of the game. That was done many times, and happily so. After a number of times of playing “Trivial Pursuit” as a team and handily winning games, other players began requiring that Chris and I have other partners when team playing was needed. Ah, the price of being too victorious! No matter, playing “Trivial Pursuit” was always great fun whether played individually or in a team with Chris or someone else.

Later in grad school I would often play “Trivial Pursuit” with friend and fellow grad student Kate as part of an after seminar Thursday night ritual of grad students hanging together during Happy Hour in a local restaurant, playing the jukebox, dancing (although the place didn’t have a license for it), and just commiserating about grad life. After Happy Hour was over, we all dispersed and Kate and I would usually have “bad for you” stuff to eat and drink and play a game of “Trivial Pursuit”, which she was a good sport about since I usually won - all that earlier experience came in handy :). As I recall, our areas of knowledge were similar and the games were usually close ones. Makes for exciting competition! I enjoyed those grad times of “Trivial Pursuit” playing and I thank you, Chris Haney (and Scott Abbott) for providing me (and others) with a fun outlet where the trivial can play.


Images:
Left: Box cover of “Trivial Pursuit” from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: Chris Haney with “Trivial Pursuit” board from the website telegraph.co.uk

Right “Trivial Pursuit” playing piece and wedges from the website en.wikipedia.org

J. D. (Jerome David) Salinger – Wednesday 1 January 1919 – Wednesday 27 January 2010

Upon hearing of the death of J. D. Salinger, I went in search of my copy of The Catcher In The Rye. Unhappily the book is missing from my library collection. No matter. It was The Catcher In The Rye that helped me through my own adolescent journey and gave me reassurance that I would make it to the other side. Until I read that novel, I was in despair of survival. An explanation of how I, a black, middle-class, public school educated, teenage girl related so well to a white, upper-class, prep school educated, teenage boy protagonist is not to be had - it is a mystery to be embraced. And I am forever grateful for it.

So, Jerome David Salinger, may you rest well in whatever afterlife there may be. Know that there are many of us who found solace in Holden Caulfield’s story – a variation of our own many individual ones. Thank you J. D.


The Catcher In The Rye book cover image from Wikipedia