# MISS SUBWAYS.    #NEVERTHELESS.    #THE CHANCELLOR.

MISS SUBWAYS.

💓 THAT X FILE ACTOR.?

Yes it is him, Mulder - David Duchovny.  In 2022 I am  reading his book Miss Subways.

It is so New York, the subways, the lifestyle. As an ethnically mixed immigrant city, it has a large Irish population.  I read that all migrants bought their gods with them. In this book Gods, philosophy and fantasy and family intertwine.   

Emer a teacher, is our heroine (as she was in Irish mythology) and her 'hero' is Conn (Cu Cuchlainn).  She says she is not a writer, she is a reader. This gentle, love story of a teacher, who reads literary quotations (Keats is one) on the subway during her commute, includes fantasy supporting characters.  For example; Sydney or Sidhe.

And here is my favourite quote, from the book via Emer.  Doesn't need explaining does it!

….That Billy Shakespeare he got everywhere first.

He took the virginity of language first after Chaucer had bought her a drink....

 Once I finished, I had 'caught on' that the names meant something.  So then I did the usual Google search of these Irish names.  Maybe a  reader could to do that first.  Although it is always satisfying at the end of a read to investigate the names and influences of characters more closely.

I enjoyed this audio book. 

NEVERTHELESS.

YES THE OTHER ACTOR FROM NEW YORK.

ALEX BALDWIN.

One of my early reads in 2020 using Libby (the Australian  free online library service).  Baldwin wrote well about his upbringing with several brothers, from the poor side of the city.  He rose to prominence with his acting career.   As an author his story of the road to hollywood success was an interesting read. 

THE CHANCELLOR

ANGELA MERKEL 

Just finished this recently published biography by Kati Marton.

A review I read had called this a 'flattering' portrait of Germany's recent Chancellor.

Sounds a bit harsh, cynical perhaps, but this did not deter me from reading about this remarkable woman.  For me, it was a worthwhile overview of recent political events of the last twenty years;  Germany, Europe, and other powers in the world.

The German Chancellor was noted for her calm and careful presence and I enjoyed reading how she handled the big noisy personalities from other countries.  She is admired as a leader, with formidable intellect and thoughtfulness.