Shakespeare’s role in American history is not immediately apparent — at least it wasn’t to me. Part of the considerable pleasure of reading this book is seeing how James Shapiro draws the connections.
Review
Jazz CD Reviews: Lakecia Benjamin & Dave Liebman Group — Rejuvenating the Past
I’d have to give the edge to Dave Liebman in terms of innovative creative reach. But Lakecia Benjamin more than holds her own in how she gives re-vitalizing attention to some very important musical roots.
Music Review: Childish Gambino’s “3.15.20” — The Best (And Worst) of Both Worlds
Childish Gambino is hamstrung by ambition, but 3.15.20 still contains a bevy of enjoyable songs, including one or two tracks that brush against brilliance.
Book Review: “August” — A Rewarding Curiosity in the Ordinary
August is funny in a way — over time its small scale rhythms and monosyllabic reactions generate a comforting beauty that settles in.
Television Review: “The Virtues” — The Twisted Path to Redemption
The pace of this superb mini-series is keyed to generating intimacy with the characters and their struggles.
Television Review: “Tiger King” — King of the American Jungle
What’s so appealing about Tiger King? Perhaps it is that the lurid goings-on are so distinctively American.
Book Review: “The Art of Classic Planning” — How to Build Beautiful and Enduring Communities
By so memorably reestablishing the fundamentals of urban design and planning, The Art of Classic Planning will be a strategic addition to any architecture or urban planning library.
Opera CD Review: A Tenor as a Villain? Donizetti’s Unusual Two-Tenor Opera Gets a First — and Fine — Recording
An 1829 opera about Elizabeth I and her supposed lover — enlivened by underhanded threats, virtuous resistance, remorse, and an attempted poisoning — proves well worth reviving.
Book Review: “Franci’s War” — A Very Relevant Holocaust Memoir
Here we have the story of a young Czech woman who could not only take a piece of fabric and shape it into a gorgeous dress, but could also take her experiences during WWII and shape them into a compelling memoir.
Film Review: “Vivarium” — Sheltering in Place
Vivarium offers such a completely well-thought out narrative that it hardly matters whether we are dealing with magic realism or a satirical fable.