Feldman's Faves: January 24, 2022

GOOD MORNING BL5

Last week was interesting, especially for those with kids in school. The first two days back were snow days, of course – the first back to back snow days I can ever remember….but we are making progress in getting back to some form of normal. For those of you who are NFL fans, this weekend was a treat and capped off by the Chiefs / Bills game that was the most exciting game I can remember watching in any sport - ever. Mahomes and Allen represent the next generation of superstars in the league. SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH. Needless to say it was hard to keep my New Year’s resolution last night but I will attempt to get back on track today….

This week’s suggestions reflect the highest of highs (a very funny PODCAST) and the lowest of lows (a very sad but brilliantly written book). I hope you enjoy both.

THE PROMISE By: Damon Galgut – I finally figured out how to win a Booker Prize. Pick the most depressing topic you can think about and write a novel about it – it’s that simple. The 2020 winner, Shuggie Bain, was a heart wrenching story about a young boy growing up poor and gay in working class Glasgow during the Thatcher era. Needless to say it was not the story of an ideal or idyllic childhood. In 2021, Damon Galgut won the Booker for The Promise, which takes place in South Africa as the Apartheid regime is in the process of crumbling. That’s the only “happy” part of the book. The book follows the very dysfunctional Swart family through the life and death of its members – the use of funerals as focal point sets the grim and sad tone very effectively here. To borrow from Wikipedia, “The Promise is a family saga spanning four decades, each of which features a death in the family. It concerns the Afrikaner Swart family and their farm located outside Pretoria. The family consists of Manie, his wife Rachel, and their children Anton, Astrid, and Amor. The titular promise in the novel is Rachel's dying wish, in 1986, that their black domestic servant, Salome, be given ownership of a house on the family's property. This promise, overheard by a young Amor, is made by Manie but not fulfilled. After nearly a decade, the siblings reunite at the family farm after their father suffers a fatal snakebite. Anton inherits the house and assures Amor he will follow through on the promise but does not do so. Another decade passes, and tension grows between the siblings as Astrid and Anton resist Amor's appeals to honour the promise and legally transfer the property to Salome, who now lives in it.” There are many promises made this book, on the micro-level (giving land to Salome) and on the macro-level (of a better life post-Apartheid). While both of these promises are ultimately fulfilled the painful process of getting there and the result of the promise being met with different results than initial expectations, is at the heart of the beautifully written (and of course horribly buzz killing) novel. Here’s a good review from the NYT -https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/books/review/damon-galgut-promise.html

SmartLess - "Kathryn Hahn" – On the other side of the spectrum, here is some fun. The three lovable idiots from Smartless are just killing it. Their PODCAST is hugely popular and a lot of fun (still second to my “buddy” Conan). They were planning to do a live show or two in Toronto (Will Arnett is from here) but then Omnicron hit so they had to cancel. BUMMER. Their interview with Kathryn Hahn, a hilarious actor – think Parks and Rec and Bad Mom’s (she was also in Crossing Jordan (not as funny…)) – is really full of joy. Part of the discussion is about her filming of Knives Out 2, which I am sure will be great. Here’s an excerpt from the PODCAST itself: “First we cross Jordan then head to Serbia and Greece with the ultra-talented Kathryn Hahn. Kathryn makes us giggle uncontrollably, Will critiques Jason’s personality, and Sean asks an award-winning question in another sizzling episode of Psalm-artless: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/smartless/id1521578868?i=1000546523819

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon