Jeff Lubeck

Underground Railroad: Novel, Fantasy, Historical Fiction – A Read on Subjects of Continuing Relevance

The publishing of the novel Underground Railroad (2016) comes at an interesting time in America. Although a novel, author Colson Whitehead’s fiction touches on our history as a country and society – forcing the reader to confront foundational aspects that are highly admirable and utterly disturbing.

Could so many Americans be that magnanimous while others are treacherous? The answer in Underground Railroad is yes – both in relative and absolute terms. Unfortunately in non fiction history – the answer is yes as well. Underground Railroad has highly imaginative fantasy aspects that are presented so successfully they border on feeling real (e.g., the physical railroad). It also presents characters in settings that are beyond imagination. Unfortunately real history confirms what Whitehead presents in many storylines did actually occur (e.g., rape, torture, mob mentality).

Underground Railroad is a quick and great read (306 pages).

Fall is Going Fast: Get Your Color Fix Before It Is Gone!

Okay, okay… I understand that you are very busy, very important, and buried in the details of one of the most important issues known to human-kind. However, have you taken a moment to pull your head out from [fill in the blank] and soaked in the colors of fall-time?

In spite of being exceptionally self-important and consumed by a Presidential Election that is certain to send me to Canada on November 9th (no matter the winner). I have done so. and so should you!

Click on the images below for an expanded presentation,

The first morning of fall in the Sawtooths. I walked out from the cabin (in the trees straight ahead) to capture this shot.

The Arctic Willows at their prime fall color in early morning on Lewis & Clark’s River of No Return (Salmon River) above Fisher Creek.

If your cross the Wood River at the base of the Boulder Mountains (at your own risk) you can enjoy sunset on some hidden Beaver Ponds.

Aspens bursting with color at the base of the Galena Pass at the source of the Lewis & Clark’s River of No Return (Salmon River).

Thought Provoking & Somber With Grace – Literally: The Light Between Oceans

light-between-oceans

The film The Light Between Oceans could quickly and easily be classified as a tear-jerker Chick Flick sponsored by Kleenex brand tissues. This characterization would be selling the film, its source novel, and its potential audience short, very short. This is a story about making very… no.., extremely tough choices so as to benefit one that you love with a material risk to your own well being.

Yes, The Light Between Oceans could have been a costume-drama Hollywood executives chose to turn into a courtroom procedural or a thriller with car chases. Car chases in the 1920’s in Australia are not as dramatic as in the 1960’s – 1980’s in San Francisco.

None-the-less The light Between Oceans is meant specifically for the brain and the heart to embrace and consume.

Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Bastards, Shame, 12 Years a Slave), Alicia Viklander (ex-Machina, AA The Swedish Girl, Jason Bourne) and Rachel Weisz (AA The Constant Gardener, About A Boy, Enemy At The Gates) are superb in the lead roles.

Ironically Jack Thompson and Bryan Brown two males leads of the 1980’s in Australian film (AAN Breaker Morant) are the key supporting characters in the film. This is one of my favorite films.

Oh… then there is the music score by Andre Desplat (AA Grand Budapest Hotel, AAN The Imitation Game, AAN Argo), Cinema-photography by Adam Arkapaw (McFarland USA, Animal Kingdom) and costumes by Erin Benach (Drive, Lincoln Lawyer, Blue Valentine) These three aspects are worth seeing the film on their own.

Underground Railroad: Novel, Fantasy, Historical Fiction – A Read on Subjects of Continuing Relevance

Fall is Going Fast: Get Your Color Fix Before It Is Gone!

Thought Provoking & Somber With Grace – Literally: The Light Between Oceans

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