Brother Broken

     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: 

  Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   Alf Reads about Hockey Night in Canada... Saturdays were packed with the usual order of events. It was bath day, and we took turns griming up the bathwater for the next kid in line. Mom washed and waxed floors, and we stayed out of the way until she was done. We watched Bugs Bunny while she cooked chop suey or baked beans for supper. Dad tended to his tasks early in order to free up his evening. The whole day felt like we were preparing for something important. “Is that Mahovlich gonna give our team a hard run this year?” Talk around the supper table would naturally turn to hockey. “They should sic the Pocket Rocket on ’em.” “To do what? Bite him on the kneecap?” “He’s tough for his size. Don’t be surprised.” A kid would interrupt the discussion with a question: “Kin I have s’more beans?” “Put some beans on Mitchy’s plate there.” They opined about the new guy, Yvan Cournoyer. Perhaps he was the ticket to getting th...

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: 

  Brother Broken Foreword  Clarion Review   Alf Reads about pesky kids... Denis needed quiet time to recover from the accident, so Mom and Dad gave him a bedroom all to himself. If he needed to escape the din of the rest of us, he could find solace there. He fixed his room to suit his personality. He organized his stuff with precision and kept his space neat and orderly. There was a Meccano set with all its parts, a stamp and pad collection with no missing stamps, and an assortment of Elgo building bricks. A chess set occupied a prime location next to his bed. He kept his books on a shelf, arranged in precise order. His organizational system intrigued me and drew the attention of all his younger siblings. We were attracted to his room like magnets to metal. Knowing his space was off limits only made us keener to trespass. “Denis, kin I watch you?” I stretched to see above the tabletop. “OK, but don’t touch anything.” He resumed his task, and then added, “Who was in ...