THOSE WHO STAY

  Those Who Stay  by Curt Stephenson - Here is a book for anyone who ever loved Michigan football. It's the story of a guy who had a dream, believed in himself and achieved his dream. A true memoir of the Maize and Blue and what it's like to aspire to be a Michigan Man. The stories are inspiring, funny, sweet and sometimes scary when you consider the beating that football is taking nowadays for brain injuries. I particularly enjoyed it because I was probably at many of the games mentioned in the book. When I got to Michigan, I didn't know much about football, but my dad got me the tickets and said that I had to go to the games. I was lucky to have a roommate who loved the game and taught me about it. We went to the game, sat in the end zone in our Freshman seats and cheered our team as part of the 104,000 strong crowd. I don't remember it being called The Big House yet, but I do remember the band, the cheerleaders, how the place would rock after a touchdown, the winning, and the freezing and happy walks back to the dorm, sometimes stopping to eat and drink (in those civilized days the drinking age was 18) at Dooleys or the Pretzel Bell with my friends. Curt chose to quote his coach Bo Schembechler in the final line of his book, and I'll do the same here: "What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve, and those who stay will be champions."

A MEMORY OF VIOLETS * THE REVENANT * THE SAPPHIRES

A Memory of Violets A Novel of London's Flower Sellers by Hazel Gaynor - A Memory of Violets is so good that it doesn't need a secondary title. This beautiful story stands on its own as one of the best. Jumping between 1876 and 1912, we follow a young girl and a young woman who seem somehow connected. It's beautifully written and this morning with half of it to go, I decided to bag everything else and finish it. I think you know by the beautiful title that if I loved it, you will be similarly enchanted with the characters and settings. Read it next!
The Revenant - There have been many good movies this year, most of them intense, and The Revenant is no exception. Leonardo DiCaprio is a father whose love for his son knows no bounds. It's a powerful movie showing the toughness of the human spirit. It's been nominated for 12 Oscars, so although I liked it a lot, I obviously missed something, because there were other movies I found more enjoyable and/or compelling. But what do I know? As not a member of the Academy, I would say that I wish everything didn't have to be a competition, and that we could just watch each movie for the experience and enrichment it brings to our lives.
The Sapphires - I taped this charming little movie ages ago, and finally watched it. The Sapphires are an Australian girl band in the 1960s. It's a bit of a different movie, but easy to watch and good enough to include here as a mention.