Monthly Archives: October 2015

Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Sympathizer’ by Viet Thanh Nguyen

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The_SympathizerHow often do we take sides while harboring a suspicion that the other fellow’s view actually has some merit? Nguyen’s narrator, never named, but referred to as “The Captain,” states his position at the outset: “ … I am also a man of two minds … I am simply able to see any issue from both sides.”
The Captain is a Vietnamese, ostensibly working for the American forces at the tail-end of the Vietnam (or “American,” as it is called there) War, while acting as mole, an undercover agent, for the Vietcong and the northern forces. Born in North Vietnam of a Vietnamese mother and a father who is a Roman Catholic priest, he leaves for the south and is immediately enmeshed in contradictions. One of the first is the obvious double-meaning of the word “father.”
There he becomes part of an unusual three-man team, the “we” of this compelling take: Bon, an ardent anti-communist, Man, an equally committed communist, and The Captain, who deliciously equivocates through the saga. It is, in fact, a perfect elaboration of the yin and yang culture that dominates the Far East, from the I Ching, to Lao Tse and Confucius. Forces seemingly in opposition are in fact complimentary — they cannot exist without one another.
Nguyen, in the role of The Captain, argues men of “utter conviction” are “insufferable,” noting “The General”, to whom the narrator reports, “ … was a sincere man who believed in everything he said, even if it was a lie, which makes him not so different from most.” The narrator then goes on to puncture every conceivable balloon of human fatuity. We live, he claims, in a litany of contradictions.
Witness another character, “The Congressman”, who berates the “controls” of communism but then describes his “democratic” system as even more autocratic, using censorship and control, because, as he says, “Americans are a confused people.” The Captain comments: “ . that omnipresent American narcotic, optimism, the unending flow of which poured through the American minds continuously whitewashing the graffiti of despair, rage, hatred, and a nihilism scrawled by the black hoodlums of the unconscious.”
Here is a delicious story of the last days of that War and what followed in both the United States and Asia. “We are all puppets in someone else’s play.” And the story is often hilarious, too. The Captain describes, in three joyful pages, his attempt to masturbate with a dead squid!
Nguyen ends with yet another double meaning, “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom,” as The Captain finally realizes the two senses of this phrase. But he remains “the most hopeful of creatures, a revolutionary in search of a revolution.” A thriller in one sense but a social commentary in another and a challenging counterview to this year commemorating the end of that War.
Opposite ideas are indeed complimentary!
Editor’s Note: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen is published by Grove Press, New York 2015.

Felix Kloman_headshot_2005_284x331-150x150About the author: Felix Kloman is a sailor, rower, husband, father, grandfather, retired management consultant and, above all, a curious reader and writer. He’s explored how we as human beings and organizations respond to ever-present uncertainty in two books, ‘Mumpsimus Revisited’ (2005) and ‘The Fantods of Risk’ (2008). A 20-year resident of Lyme, he now writes book reviews, mostly of non-fiction that explores our minds, our behavior, our politics and our history. But he does throw in a novel here and there. For more than 50 years, he’s put together the 17 syllables that comprise haiku, the traditional Japanese poetry, and now serves as the self-appointed “poet laureate” of Ashlawn Farms Coffee, where he may be seen on Friday mornings. His wife, Ann, is also a writer, but of mystery novels, all of which begin in a bubbling village in midcoast Maine, strangely reminiscent of the town she and her husband visit every summer.

All About Aging: Lyme Library Hosts a Presentation, Oct. 17

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The Friends of Lyme Public Library are hosting a series of Fall Talks.  The first will be presented by Brooke Conley, LCSW on Sat., Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. at the library. Conley will explore the subject of, “Challenging Conversations to Have with Aging Parents,” in a helpful discussion about aging with relevant information.

The library is located at 482 Hamburg Rd./Rte. 156, Lyme.

For more information, call 860-434-2272 or programreg@lymepl.org

 

Saint Ann’s Church, LYSB Host Harvest Festival, Family ConcertToday

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Harvest_Festival_2015Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church of Old Lyme and Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau will host a Harvest Festival Sunday, Oct. 4, including an exciting family concert with the acclaimed singer/songwriting duo, The Nield Sisters. The day’s activities run from 12 to 4 p.m. and have been generously sponsored by Essex Savings Bank and Essex Financial Services.

The Harvest Festival will take place on the grounds of Saint Ann’s at 82 Shore Rd. in Old Lyme and kicks off at 12 noon with games, music, craft sales, activities and food for the whole family.  Highlights include: an origami artist providing hands-on demonstrations; artist Elizabeth O’Brien creating silhouette portraits; and Upper Pond Farm in Old Lyme with farm activities and produce sales.

Other participants include Bushnell Farm, the Connecticut River Museum and Bushy Hill Nature Center, all hosting hands-on games and activities that are fun for all ages.  Food vendors include the ever-popular Rolling Tomato pizza truck, the Kiwanis of Old Lyme grilling up delicious hamburgers and hot dogs and Cupcakes and Flying Hearts serving fabulous cupcakes for dessert.  Music during the festival is provided by the folk duo, Sweet Beats.

The finale of the day at 3 p.m. is a special Family Concert with The Nield Sisters – the renowned folk-rock sister duo of Nerissa and Katryna Nield.  As Spin Magazine notes, “Listen to the Nields twice and you’ll start to catch the twists in the tales, the quirks and ironies that make every song a short story, and then you’ll be hooked.”  The Nield Sisters’ family concerts encourage audience participation and are geared towards engaging all members of the family – young and old.  A donation of $10 per family will be asked for the Nield Sisters Family Concert.

Saint Ann’s is an Episcopal parish in Old Lyme, Conn., and, under the direction of the rector the Rev. Canon Mark K J Robinson, invites and welcomes all visitors to this family friendly event.

The mission of LYSB is to empower and enrich the lives of youth and families in our community through a wide range of innovative and effective programs.

Saint Ann’s is located at 82 Shore Road (Rt. 156), less than two miles off  I95, exit 70.  Parking is adjacent to the church.

For more information contact Kathy Rowe at 860-434-1621, via email at office@saintannsoldlyme.org , or visit Saint Ann’s online at www.saintannsoldlyme.org.

See ‘Whimsical Kingdoms’ at Florence Griswold Museum Through October, Over 30 Faerie Houses on Display

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LogoIt’s the return of the Florence Griswold Museum’s highly anticipated annual outdoor exhibition, Wee Faerie Village. This year the walking trail highlights over 30 faerie-sized castles, towers, and palaces celebrating fiction’s greatest royal tales.

The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme presents Wee Faerie Village’s ‘Whimsical Kingdoms’ on the grounds of museum’s campus from Oct. 1 through Nov. 1. Visitors follow the “Treasured Map” to over 30 hand-crafted faerie kingdoms and scenes – from Cinderella’s enchanted castle to Rapunzel’s towering tower to Aladdin’s shimmering palace. All ages will marvel at the detail and craftsmanship as they visit scenes from King Arthur, Harry Potter, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Lord of the Rings.

This year’s Wee Faerie Village is the seventh of the Museum’s annual outdoor creative installations. Last year 14,000 visitors enjoyed the 2014 event, Wee Faerie Village in a ‘Steampunk’d Wonderland’ during its four-week run. In keeping with the steampunk theme, many of last year’s scenes were made from found objects like cogs and gears.

More than 14,000 visitors came to see last year's Steam Punk'd Wonderland exhibit.

More than 14,000 visitors came to see last year’s Steampunk’d Wonderland exhibit at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.

This year, the artists have been challenged to create their kingdoms using natural materials. Their imaginations are sure to create fanciful edifices detailed with pinecone pinnacles, fungus fortresses, acorn-topped timbered towers, bark-covered buttresses, fluttering feather flags, and driftwood drawbridges. The annual event has come to signify an enriching, not-to-be-missed outing for visitors of all ages.

Along with the 30 wee-sized creations, two artists are fashioning grand structures out of natural elements as a special feature of ‘Whimsical Kingdoms.’

Jared is hard at work creating a magical castle from a tree trunk.

Jared Welcome is hard at work creating a faerie tower out of a tree trunk on the Florence Griswold Museum’s grounds.

Jared Welcome of JareBear Carvings from Connecticut will create a faerie tower out of a 77-year-old tree on the Museum’s campus. Hurricane Sandy took its toll on the once sturdy maple. The tree was scheduled to be removed earlier this year, but instead, was saved for this project. Using a chainsaw and sander Jared reveals an over ten feet tall fanciful tower hidden beneath the bark.

Greg J. Grady of Professional Sculptures in New Hampshire is a master sand sculptor. He will forge a splendid castle using seven tons of “Hi-G” (dense, flat-grained) sand.

Special Events

As part of its Wee Faerie Village exhibition, adults and families with children can enjoy a month of faerie-themed activities. Events include a visit from Princess Merida, baking contest, parties, performances, story-telling, book discussions, and craft activities. Many events are included in Museum admission.

Visit www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org for a complete list.

Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 12

The Museum will open on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Faerie dance lessons begin at 11:30 a.m. At noon, an artist from the TEN31 living statues troupe will lead visitors in a parade. Wings, crowns, tiaras and Medieval attire is encouraged.

Sand-sculpting demonstrations will take place at the sand castle during the day.

Hands-on crafts 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. .

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., shop for artful objects created by local artisans and crafters inspired by the faerie realm.

This quirky and creative artisan fair is a special one-day, pop-up event at the Museum.

Beyond the Faerie Realm

The Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce encourages visitors of the Museum’s Wee Faerie Village to explore participating shops and restaurants in the historic town of Old Lyme for prizes and surprises. See www.VisitOldLyme.com for details.

The Florence Griswold Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, exit 70 off I-95. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission during the exhibition is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $13 for students, $5 for members. Children 12 and under are free thanks to the support of an anonymous donor.

Admission includes the outdoor walking tour of the faerie village as well as the Florence Griswold House, Chadwick Studio, Rafal Landscape Center and the Krieble Gallery special exhibition, The Artist in the Connecticut Landscape.

Wee Faerie Village is supported by an anonymous donor, the Joffray Family, and the Platner Family Foundation.

‘Frost at the Farm’ Program Returns to Bushnell Farm This Afternoon

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Walter Woodward, State Historian and Robert Frost scholar will return to Bushnell Farm on Sunday, Oct. 4,  for the ‘Frost at the Farm’ program.

Walter Woodward, State Historian and Robert Frost scholar, will return to Bushnell Farm in Old Saybrook on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 4 p.m. for the program Frost at the Farm. The program, which includes Robert Frost’s poetry and music, is free and open to the public with on-site parking at 1445 Boston Post Rd. in Old Saybrook.

This well-reviewed program includes Woodward’s reading, appreciation and sometimes musical interpretation of New England’s favorite poet. Bring your own chair if the weather is fair for this outdoor program; in the case of rain, folding chairs will be set up in the barn.

'Frost at the Farm' will be held Sunday at Bushnell Farm in Old Saybrook.

‘Frost at the Farm’ will be held Sunday at Bushnell Farm in Old Saybrook.

The fields, stone walls and apple trees of this 17th century farm are the perfect setting for this outdoor appreciation of the Pulitzer Prize winning poet, who contributed so many memorable lines to the American lexicon. The private, 1678 Bushnell Farm is owned by Herb and Sherry Clark of Essex and is open seasonally for public programs. The buildings will next be open on Nov. 7, for the annual Harvest Home event.

Dr. Walter Woodward is an author of scholarly works and Assistant Professor of History at the University of Connecticut. As State Historian he works with the Connecticut Humanities Council, the Museum of Connecticut History, teachers through the Connecticut Council for Social Studies, and many other organizations. A long-time admirer of Robert Frost, Woodward admits to being an English major in his younger years. Woodward is also an Emmy Award-winning songwriter, who plays guitar. This year he will be joined by a musical foursome, his Band of Steady Habits.

Robert Frost was a four time Pulitzer Prize winner for volumes of his poetry. Although somewhat under-appreciated today, Frost made the phrases, “Good fences make good neighbors” and “Home is the place where, when you go there, they have to take you in,” part of the language. Time magazine called “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” one of the loveliest poems ever written. His poems are said to begin with delight and end with wisdom.