Brother Broken

  ‘The White Tiger’ gives us a glimpse into the life of Balram, a young Hindu working his way out of poverty in India. He serves a wealthy family as a chauffeur, a role considered prestigious for a man of his caste. Balram’s employers often mistreat him to the point of threatening harm to his family if he were to forget his station. But he is determined to break out of the trap of poverty and servitude, a condition he refers to as being stuck in a ‘chicken coop’. Watch the movie to see if he succeeds. The story is beautifully crafted and it will stick with you a long time after the movie credits have rolled off the screen. It’s well worth the watch. View it on Netflix or read the book of the same name. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

     Leon Uris wrote more than a dozen outstanding works of historical fiction. His many stories are set in world-wide locations such as Ireland, the Middle East, Berlin, the Warsaw ghetto during WWII and in Greece. Uris delves into government corruption that often fuels civil unrest. Every story depicts the culture, principles and customs of its protagonists, as well as conflicts that arise.    For a great read, I recommend Uris’s novels: ‘Trinity’ and ‘Mila 18’    I’ve yet to read many of his other works, like: ‘Exodus’, ‘QB VII’, ‘The Angry Hills’, ‘Mitla Pass’, ‘Battle Cry’, ‘The Haj’ and ‘Armageddon’… to name a few. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

  ‘Maudie’ is the amazing true story of a Canadian artist. Maudie is frustrated with her home situation, living with an aunt she can’t get along with. She moves out to become a live-in housekeeper for a fish monger named Everett. Everett’s cantankerous nature, triggered by Maudie’s quick wit, often causes havoc in their living situation. But their testy interactions slowly form into a bound and they learn to love and rely on one another.     Maudie’s physical challenges, amplified by severe arthritis, don’t slow her down. She maintains the household while pursuing her love of painting. Her unique creations are simplistic and endearing. She garners national and international recognition for her pieces. Learn of Maudie’s tremendous tenacity and courage to succeed in spite of monumental obstacles.  ‘Maudie’ can be found on Netflix. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

  In the book ‘What is the What’, it is the voice of Valentino Achak Deng that you hear. Even though the autobiography was written by David Eggers, Valentino’s voice stands forefront as the narrator. ‘What is the What’ is the story of Valentino’s struggle to escape atrocities occurring in Sudan. You quickly become immersed in his life as he orates his thoughts to the people in his story. Valentino’s tone and dialect flow and one can’t help but tag along with him as he flees to Ehtiopia, Kenya, then America in hope of finding refuge. I was intrigued by how the author made me part of his adventure. In one sense, by the realism of how the story is told and in another, how he specifically invites me, the reader, to become part of the story.  Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

Sometimes I choose to watch a movie that’s light and refreshing instead of dra matic. Even better if the movie is based on a true story, like ‘The Phantom of the Open’. If yo u’re a golf enthusiast, you’ll love this one. British movie makers are the best at producing comedy, in my opinion. Their knack for delivering great humor goes way back to the days of Monty Python. Mark Rylance plays the role of Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned golf enthusiast. Maurice doesn’t allow his shoddy golf game to deter him from entering the British Open. The outcome is as you would expect ― hilarious. Watch the movie on Netflix to find out how he qualified several times to play in a major world golf tournament. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

  It’s astonishing that one writer can produce such excellent prose in different dialects. I thought Sebastian Barry was top-notch, writing stories of Ireland with wonderful Irish rhythm on each page. And then I discovered ‘A Thousand Moons’. I hadn’t realized this was the second book in a series, so I missed reading the first book ‘Days Without End’. I’ll get on that right away. I was a pleasantly surprised how he tells the story in a deep-south US dialect of the 18 th century. Ireland comes to America and he effortlessly carries the story in his new natural melodic writing voice. You hardly know you are reading a story, it’s more like being audience to a marvelous symphony. Sebastian Barry’s prose will leave you humming. My other favorite Sebastian Barry books: The Secret Scripture The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty The Temporary Gentleman. Tell me your favorites. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

  The movie CAKE debuted in 2014. It stars Jennifer Aniston in the lead role of Claire, a woman who suffers from chronic pain. The physical pain Claire endures does not totally explain her fixation on suicide, but there is more to the story than what is initially revealed. I was never a Jennifer Aniston follower until she portrayed this dramatic role. I assumed she could only be tight cast in romantic comedy roles. This was a pleasant surprise and she won me over as a fan. Patrick Tobin adapted his short story to a screenplay, so there is no book to follow-up on. Too bad, because it would have been a great read. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: 

  Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author whose books have been translated into many languages, including English. His voice is unique, one you’ll recognize in all of his books. His debut novel, ‘A Man Called Ove’ quickly became a best seller and was made into a Swedish movie. Of all of Backman’s books I've read, 'A Man Called Ove' remains my favorite. The writing is quirky and I can’t help but be drawn into the story of a cranky old man named Ove, who tries to live a hermit’s life on a busy residential street, where the many other home owners frequently request his assistance. Other books by Fredrik Backman that I’ve read are: ‘My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry’, ‘Britt-Marie Was Here’, and ‘Beartown’. Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   https://www.brotherbroken.com/ Follow me on: