Skip to main content

Impressions notebook

Search This Blog

Weekend photograph nr 1

November 16, 2014

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

A sunset, seen from my living room

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Comments

Anonymous18 November 2014 at 20:24
Lovely!
:-)
ReplyDelete
Replies

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nobody's boy, Hector Malot

My childhood version. The Dutch title translates as: Alone in the world When I was little, my parents had a big blue book on their bookshelves with beautiful drawings. I loved the story of the young orphan Remi who was sold by his mean stepfather when he was ten years old to a musician, Vitalis, who travelled around with Joli-Coeur the little monkey and the dogs Capi, Dolce and Zerbino. Nodoby’s boy is a beautiful story and I read it many times. Only later did I find out this was a world famous French classic, translated into many languages. The story is probably known: Remi is an orphan and that is why he does not belong to anybody. But fortunately for him he does encounter many people who help him, sometimes for a short while, but often for a longer period of time. Vitalis is a good man, but during a cold winter’s night when they could not find shelter, he dies. Gardener Alcuin takes Remi into his family, but when a heavy storm destroys the gl...

Corleone, Il capo dei capi (2007)

Another great Italian mafia series, although this one is a bit more recent. In six episodes of 90 minutes each the story is told of the Corleone clan and their rise to the top of the Sicilian mafia . It focuses expecially on Totò Riina and how he managed to become Capo dei Capi , boss of the bosses. The story begins in 1943. Totò Riina and this friends are very poor and they live in Corleone. The boss of the village is doctor Michele Navarra, who belongs to the mafia. It is his godson Luciano Liggio who sees how the boys can be useful and he often hires them to do certain jobs for him. Finally Liggio murders Navarra and from that moment Liggion runs the show. They want to expand to Palermo and they need to find a way into the organization. The mafia families of Palermo do not take the peasants from Corleone serious in the beginning. Liggio becomes older and is more preoccupied with the good life and from that moment it is Totò Riina who calls the shots. He stops at nothing t...

Hidden churches in Amsterdam

In the 17th century the Dutch Republic was a bit of an exception in Europe. We were a Republic amongst monarchies, and also tolerance was something that was treasured. Since the war against Spain (1568-1648), Calvinism was the main religion in the Netherlands, but other religions were allowed to practice their faith. As long as they did so in silence. Especially the Roman Catholics had to be a bit careful. They could have churches, and the whole town knew a Roman Catholic church was there, but as long as it was not recognizable as a church and they did not do anything in public, they were tolerated. Some of these Schuilkerken (hidden churches) can still be seen in Amsterdam. One of the most beautiful churches is called 'The parrot' , in the middle of the busy shopping street The Kalverstraat. Inside is a lovely church full of atmosphere. Worth a visit! Another well known hidden church is at the Begijnhof . The church on the Begijnhof is now an Anglican church, but on ...

Red love, Maxim Leo

What is is like to grow up in a totalitarian state? A state that decided for you if you could study or not or what profession you could have. A state that kept a close eye on its people and where everything could be reason to be arrested. A state that kept its people prisoner and told them it was for their own safety. A state that distorted the truth and told its people that was freedom. Maxim Leo grew up in the socialist state of East Germany. His mother Anne was a party member and believed in the ideals of the socialist state. This was due to her father who was one of the leading members in the state. Only when she found out as a journalist how she has to compromise with the truth she began to have doubts, although she was not ready yet to give up all her beliefs. His father Wolf was an artist who did not believe in the DDR and who tried to find his own path within the system. This caused many arguments with his father in law....

A single thread, Tracy Chevalier

Tracy Chevalier wrote several historical novels. I liked some of them, others I did not like that much. So her books are a bit hit-and-miss with me. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up A single thread , and I must say I was not disappointed. It turned out to be a well written, interesting and beautiful story and I really enjoyed it. The main character is Violet Speedwell, a spinster who never married since her fiancé died during WWI. It is now 1932, but the wounds of the First World War are still visible. Violet moves out of the house she shares with her mother and moves to Winchester. Her job pays very little, but it is a form of freedom, and that is what Violet wants. She becomes involved with a group of women who embroider the cushions in the Catherdral of Winchester and slowly, Violet can create her own life. The atmosphere of 1932 is well written, and I love how Violet fits into that. Yes, she is a woman who wants to find her own way, but it is done within the timeperiod...

Powered by Blogger