33 1/3: Parallel Lines by Kembrew McLeod

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This series, 33 1/3, reviews the making of individual albums and is written by various authors for the series. In this edition, McLeod writes less about the album Parallel Lines specifically than about Blondie as a band and historical influencer. Although I loved this album in my youth (and still think it is awesome), I had no idea about its historical context and Blondie’s roots in not only punk, but in 60’s pop, disco, and the radical art scene happening in the 1970’s in downtown NYC. This book was in in-depth review of the subculture that bred Blondie and the other bands of their kind.

While I was a bit disappointed that the book did not go into detail about each song on the album, the way a prior book in this series did (see my review of the 33 1/3 on Court and Spark), it went into great detail about the music scene in downtown NYC in the late 60’s and early 70’s that lit the way for the making of this album. We are given a lesson on the forces that brought together various art forms (visual art, theater, music) as well as various cultural and societal forces (the queer, Black and Latino rights movements) that were undergoing radical changes at this time. Dance clubs and music venues were about the only place where these marginalized folks were able to gather, dance, and enjoy time out together (particularly the queer contingent), most often occurring at venues below 14th Street. This subculture was supported not only by some of the local businesses (restaurants, clubs, hotels) but also by some more successful artists such as, most famously, Andy Warhol. It was Warhol who managed the Velvet Underground at their onset, and who sponsored large parties, often under his own roof, bringing together folks from all backgrounds, gender and sexual identities, and genres. It was out of this melting pot of genres and identities that Blondie was birthed, and from which Parallel Lines eventually was created.

And while each song is not necessarily discussed in full (including my favorite on the album, which was not ever even mentioned), we are given a glimpse into the varied nature of the songs on this album. While Heart of Glass is considered to be more disco, other songs are more poppy, and others outright punk. The most radical and unusual on the album, Fade Away and Radiate, combines theatrical vocals with sparse, mystical instrumentation and an uncharacteristically slow beat.

If you have listened to and enjoyed this album, this book will give you quite a bit of insight into its historical origins and the personal and creative dynamics involved in the making of it.

(And if you’re wondering, my favorite on the album? Sunday Girl. )

The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese

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Dr. Abraham Verghese is a senior medical school faculty member and an infectious disease specialist in El Paso, TX. He is also a huge tennis fan, having played the sport since he was quite young. Upon meeting one of his new medical students, David Smith, who not only is smart and motivated to learn, but has also played professional tennis, Verghese feels he’s met his match, so to speak. Finally, here is someone he has something in common with! Moreover, he sees his own loneliness reflected in the face of this new friend, and he understands that they might be a support for each other. As Verghese learns more about David, and specifically about his addictions, he sees that this relationship may be more challenging than he imagines.

This autobiographical work by Verghese is an emotional and moving portrait of what it feels like to be close to someone who has an addiction as well as to be blindsided by it. While Verghese has clinical experience (albeit in a different area of medicine) and as well as deep compassion and understanding, he cannot help being sucked in to the dramatic ups and downs of his friend’s disease. Verghese becomes the only true friend David Smith has, the only consistency in David’s chaotic life; on the other hand, he is in the awkward position of really not being David’s peer as well as having quite a bit of stress of his own (his dissolving marriage, his worry for his own two young sons). Nevertheless, we watch as he becomes the friend that David comes to rely upon and he finds himself caught up in David’s world.

I did find the story a bit repetitive and predictable, although that may be a function of addiction itself. Many sufferers of addiction bounce in and out of rehab, feeling the low of needing to detox and the high of coming out feeling rehabilitated. While there are many who succeed in remaining sober, it is a daily if not hourly struggle – and the repetition seen here is likely a reflection of this. It may be that one has to convince others even as they are convincing themselves that THIS time will be their time to make it. That seemed to be the case with David – and Verghese may have tried to believe it each and every time. I imagine it is the hardest thing to overcome.

If you’re interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the terrible disease of addiction, if you’d like to learn how loneliness and abandonment can impact an addiction, this book is for you. [Also, be ready for much in the way of tennis details. If you hate the sport, this may not be for you!]

For the Love of Labor: The Life of Pauline Newman by Cathryn J. Prince

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Born in the Jewish section of a small town in Lithuania in the late 1800’s, Pauline Newman spent her early years in a small but tidy house with her mother, father, and brothers and sisters. Although only a child, she already felt the frustration of being a girl in a world built for men. The boys were allowed to go to school while she was not; the boys were allowed more freedoms, while she was tasked with helping her mother with the housework. When her beloved father (who in fact did sneak her into the school while he taught the young boys) passed away, her mother suspected she’d be safer and have more opportunity as a single mother with children in America. Unfortunately, thousands of Jewish immigrants had the same idea, and opportunities were scarce. Because of the urgent need for a way to support themselves, Pauline was sent to find a job so that she could help contribute to the family, despite her very young age. It was there that she was exposed to the unimaginable work conditions in the sweatshops, there where her ideas on organizing and bargaining for improvements took root. These ideas would galvanize her to making improving life for workers – particularly women workers – her life’s work.

This non-fiction book reads like a novel, telling the true story of an American heroine. Before she was even through her middle teens, Pauline Newman established herself as a force to be reckoned with. Never one to shy away from conflict, her ability to speak and write despite her lack of formal education enabled her to organize women around the issues of the day: namely, the unsanitary, unsafe working conditions that she and so many other women and children endured while working in the sweatshops of the Lower East Side, including the notorious Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Knowing that their only hope was collective bargaining, she organized groups to strike and bargain from the strength of unions. Little by little, she made headway, working with various organizations and writing for various publications.

Too often non-fiction can be laborious, but I found the writing in this book to be incredibly accessible and readable. I particularly enjoyed the more personal sections, those that focused on Newman’s private life. While often lonely and frustrated, Newman did manage to find love, albeit in someone who, because of their differences, broke her heart in some ways.

I cannot imagine the hours of research that went into this book – but the final product is a gift to those of us willing to read it. It is quite an American, real-life drama! (If you’re interested, you can find it at https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=c049552.)

33 1/3: Court and Spark by Sean Nelson

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This tiny book, one of a series, each of which strives to analyze a chosen music album, provides the author’s insight into Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark. One of my favorite Joni Mitchell albums, this one is apparently the author’s favorite of hers as well. Nelson begins with some context of how this album might have been conceived, how it logically grows and expands from her former works. He then delves into each of the songs themselves, primarily focusing on the lyrics and how they reflect a message of confusion and frustration over relationships, loneliness. And then he ends with his perspective on her works that follow.

The initial chapters are frustrating. The author is meant to be speaking about Court and Spark, yet his analysis wanders from album to album, giving the feeling that he is circling around the album but doesn’t know quite where to land. He writes in detail about “related” songs from other albums, which might have been acceptable had they been quick references rather than the diatribes they amounted to. It was challenging to follow, to be honest.

Nevertheless, once he settled in to the actual album, focusing on each individual song on this album, his thoughts were interesting and his ideas were expressed more coherently. He provides evidence for his opinion that there is a unifying theme throughout the album, and while I disagree with him on which songs are best/worst, I can appreciate his analysis of the poetry found here. I would have liked, however, to hear more about how the music supports the lyrics so aptly, which he touches upon sometimes, but avoids often.

And while I am to this day a huge Joni Mitchell fan, I do agree with the author that after Court and Spark and Miles of Aisles, her music spiraled into a jazz/fusion/dissonance that while musically more sophisticated is just less appealing, less fun to listen to (at least to both the author and myself). And isn’t that what music should be about? Joy?

On the whole, I am grateful to have read this book. I suggest investigating these easy, short, monographs if you’re interested in learning more about the vinyl you may still own – or wish you did.

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris

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Johnson & Johnson is probably the most venerated pharmaceutical company in the US. They may not even be thought of as a pharmaceutical company (which we normally associate with prescription drugs), because most know them best for their baby products, bandages, and skin care lines. Their story, as they love to tell it, is more about how they are the most honest, most trustworthy, family-run company, having recalled their tainted Tylenol decades ago, at great cost to them. Well, this revelatory, painstakingly-researched book will call into question everything we have believed about this company, reducing their golden reputation to a mythology. Time and again, this company has chosen to spend billions of dollars on litigation defending their repetitive deceptions rather than admit that a product is harmful. They have released products before being tested, not tested enough subjects, hidden data that has not been favorable, and have falsified data on tests they have submitted for review. Their executives have lied under oath about their products. Even after seeing horrific harm result from their products, they have continued to conceal evidence in order to continue to make money. No matter the human toll (including deaths in the millions). Because, of course, it is always about the money.

This book is, of course, a MUST READ. It is relevant not only to anyone in the medical or pharmaceutical field. lt is relevant because it is a perfect example of how money and power are so inextricably linked. As J & J grew, so too did its influence and lobbying power. We see how the independence and integrity of the FDA, for example, has been compromised to the detriment of all of us – because those who make decisions on what drugs and devices are approved for use are also the ones who benefit financially from them being approved. How can anyone possibly be objective when these decisions affect whether or not they may keep their job? Or perhaps their future one? In addition, the company uses FDA approval (for what it’s worth) to shield them from litigation. And those medications and/or devices that are approved by this compromised agency will be used by you, or by your family member, or by your best friend. Are you comfortable with that?

I would encourage everyone to read this book. It’s distressing, yes, but so important to be informed. This “trustworthy” company may no longer be so. And there is much to be done to fix the system that has allowed it to become this way.

Coming Up Short by Robert Reich

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This non-fiction memoir by Robert Reich is an accounting of how America failed to maintain the middle class, from the boom of the post-WWII era to current times. Having grown up being taunted and abused by bullies because of his short stature, Reich was particularly sensitive to protecting the underdog, and since he could not do so physically, he did so with his economic wisdom and understanding. He taught at Harvard and he also served in the Department of Labor in the Clinton administration, advocating for policies that in his view would protect the middle class and thereby narrow the gap between the very rich and the very poor. Much to his dismay, he was undermined at each turn, and over the course of the ensuing years, regulations over high finance and banking only relaxed, the highest earners became taxed at a lower rate, and the gap only widened. We are now left with a country that has an enormous wealth gap in spite of his efforts and it is a dismal outlook ahead.

I have to confess that I did not complete this entire book. I usually do not blog when I’ve done that, but I felt that I’d read enough to 1) learn quite a bit from it already and 2)get the gist of what he is trying to say from what I did read. While it is definitely readable, and he makes the economic parts very accessible (even to someone like me who never studied economics for very good reason…!), it was also quite repetitive. Perhaps that is a function of his frustration with everyone who did not listen to his advice -as he tried over and over to push for more decency in the policies and laws that were being passed. It was also quite hard to see how so many leaders, including Clinton and Obama, both of whom I had admired, came under the spell of Wall Street and its powerful lobbyists, who led them to pass such irresponsible and dangerous legislation. Worse, this deregulation of Wall Street and the disaster of 2008 did not teach us anything at all. Deregulation has only continued – to the point where folks are now predicting another similar bubble from AI. Will we never learn?

In any case, I believe this book carries much insight, much wisdom and even a bit of humor as it guides us through the past couple of decades of economic downfall. It gives us a window into how we’ve narrowed the middle class and why billionaires exist when the rest of society has seen little to no increase in wealth.

I would have liked to see answers to what we can do about it – perhaps how we can make changes for a brighter future.

Maybe that will be his next book? Or that is the book for the next generation to write…

Why Faith Matters by David J. Wolpe

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In this nonfiction work, Rabbi Wolpe shares his journey from non-believer in God to believer, explaining his view of this belief and countering the common challenges to faith. Using personal experiences, parables, and quotations from innumerable biblical, scientific, philosophical and historical sources, he asserts that religion can coexist with science, that it is NOT responsible for violence, and that it is the backbone of morality. Rabbi Wolpe provides evidence that faith in God can improve our lives, our health, and our societies.

For those of us who question, who seek to learn, this is an accessible, readable work that provides, if not definitive answers, certainly strong support for why belief in God and participation in a religious community is a healthy, logical, and meaningful way of life. When Rabbi Wolpe’s experience with confronting illness might have challenged his faith, for example, it actually appeared to have strengthened it, inspiring him to dig deeper, helping him cope. And it is not “blind faith” that he turns to, but rather questions he relishes in. Religion is nothing if not all about our questioning. But the tone of our questions matter: if we ask with a cynical bent, we close ourselves off to the benefits of faith. If we question with an open heart, we will understand that there are things we cannot possibly ever know, and hopefully we will have the humility to be able to live with that. We live with other concepts that are not tangible – thought, ideas, even love. So why not God?

If you are, yourself, questioning, this may help you parse things out. You will find here a thoughtful, well-researched, well-articulated argument for faith in God, no matter what religion you are.

The Ride by Kostya Kennedy

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Most people likely assume, as I have, that Paul Revere merely rode one night, alone, shouting, “The British are coming, the British are coming!” to alert the American militia to ready themselves against the beginning of the War of Independence – and that was that. Most people do not know that Paul Revere actually had a long history of trusted connections with the founding fathers based in the Boston area, namely John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and the Reverend Jonas Clarke, and that he rode on many occasions to deliver vital information in secret to the various players involved in coordinating efforts to liberate America from the ever-encroaching British. In fact, if he had shouted that the British were coming as loudly as we imagine from the common lore, he would have been found out and captured, thwarting his effort to get the word out, ensuring failure of his mission altogether. Here in this deeply researched and warmly shared tale of the life and accomplishments of Paul Revere and his compatriots, we learn what actually happened that night, long ago, at the birth of this nation.

Usually a sports writer, Kostya, Kennedy has chosen a topic that is still well within his arena, as he gives life to the ride itself, to Revere’s background, to his connections, and to his industriousness. He answers the question of why Paul Revere? Why was he chosen to deliver this message? Why was he, above all others, trusted? And although there were others who helped him on that fateful night in April of 1775, he was the primary source of intel because of who he was, how reliable he’d proven himself, how sociable and believable he could be, and what a skilled rider he had become. Kennedy sets the stage for us, gives us the background, the complex historical details leading up to that fateful night, and builds the suspense for us so that we truly understand the weight and the danger of Revere’s mission, of the Ride.

This is definitely a part of history on which I am weak – but it is so important for us to understand. In this moment when our democracy is being challenged on so many fronts, I feel it is crucial for us to appreciate how hard-won it was. Thousands of lives were lost to win this delicate, precious freedom we take so for granted. Paul Revere was just one of our heroes, but there were so many. We must learn about them, celebrate them, revere them as it were – and not take them or democracy itself for granted. Because it is fragile. It can be lost. And then we will all be lost.

Ina Garten: A Memoir; Be Ready When the Luck Happens

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In this memoir, Ina Garten, of Barefoot Contessa fame, shares her story, her breakthrough into the world of epicurean cuisine. And while she shares some vignettes of the challenges she faced along the way as well as the hard work and long hours she put in – especially in the beginning of her career -it is clear that she was fortunate enough to frequently happen to be in the right place at the right time, both in her personal life and her professional life.

I had heard much ado about this book, and so had very much been anticipating reading it… which made it doubly disappointing when I found myself giving up on it around page 100. I so rarely abandon books, but I decided it was not worth my continuing to plow through the pages of Garten’s self adulation. I found it repetitive and dull and kept waiting for the bigger stories that would make the book worthwhile. Perhaps I should have stuck with it, as there may have been more glamorous parts, but honestly, glamour doesn’t impress me as much as genuine reflection. Even when Garten discloses difficulties with her father’s temperament, which of course must have been painful, she keeps it, I felt, at the very surface. We don’t really get to the heart of it, what it really meant to her and to her family more than it meant much time for her in her room, avoiding him. It feels like she tried to paint a picture for us, but it was in a vague black and white. I was seeking color.

Again, perhaps I gave up too early, but I will live with that. I’d love to hear your reactions, particularly if you’ve read it and loved it!

Them by Ben Sasse

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I believe it’s important to know that the full title of this book by the former, conservative Republican senator from Nebraska, Ben Sasse, is actually: Them; Why We Hate Each Other and How To Heal. I am not conservative, nor have I ever voted Republican – but this is exactly why I was curious about reading this book.

What Sasse observes in this book, and what we can all see quite clearly, is that our country is so painfully divided, so diametrically polarized. We are distrustful of the news outlets that are available to us either because 1) they are run by an intellectual elite or 2) they have become faithful only to the almighty dollar, dependent on the outrageous and extremism that is clickbait. Those who turn to social media for their news are even more vulnerable, because they are most likely getting their information from Russian bots or from some creative teenager in the basement of their midwestern parents’ home. Furthermore, the idea of community, from which we derive identity, security, – happiness even – has all but dissolved as we become more mobile in search of the perfect job, the ideal opportunity to earn more money, the next best thing.

Not to worry, though. There are answers. Of course, they don’t come easily and they don’t come quickly. The answers take time, effort, energy and lots of commitment. We have to want to heal. We have to want to come back together. We have to want to have those difficult conversations that will enable us to find what we have in common that will bring us together. We have to be able to say, “OK, I disagree with you on X and Y, but I agree with you on Z, so let’s start there.” We have to be able to come together with folks we have differences with and be in community with those people, because we are stronger together than we are apart.

The bottom line is that if we continue along this fractured, divided path – we become vulnerable to our real enemies. Putin is just sitting and watching with glee, noting all of our polarization and waiting for just the right moment to pounce. United we stand, remember?

So, I figured that reading literature such as this, written by someone who comes from a world so different from mine, with a political philosophy so opposite from mine, was a first step. And it was a good one. There was much more that I agreed with than I disagreed with, to my surprise. While I completely disagree with his opinions on abortion or the ACA, I agree with his overarching premises and I hope that others will read what he has to say here.

I think this is a MUST READ. I think work like this will do much to save our country. We are in deep need of more like this.