Natalia Paris

Darlinghissima: Letters To A Friend
$37.95
I was curious. I had already read William Murray's book, "Janet, My MOther, and Me." I was still curious and had many questions. This book does not answer all of them. But I have concluded that Natalia and Janet's relationship were like two kindred spirits coming together despite their sexuality. They don't dwell on their sexual orientation like they do today. Janet was very comfortable around anybody. She was easily surrounded by men like Hemingway just as she was around women like Mary McCarthy. I learned a lot reading this book of letters. They were affectionate partners usually separated from continents and yearned to be together. I didn't think it was appropriate for Natalia to have been seeing an Austrian doctor as a companion when her heart was with Janet even though she was in Europe. Janet Flanner was a fascinating person of the last century. She spent 50 years in Paris writing for the New Yorker with it's article, Letter from Paris. Janet was never superficial, pretentious, or phony. She lacked it completely. She was intelligent, kind to her friends like Alice Toklas and others, but she loved Natalia. The two women were always together whether apart or in New York on Fire Island. After Natalia's death, their cremated remains were scattered at sea on Cherry Grove in Fire Island. Despite their sexual orientation, I felt just as comfortable reading about them as if they were a heterosexual couple. Their relationship was not totally based on sex but on communication, trust, love, honesty, integrity, and companionship. They were made for each other. Janet was a deeply loving person who never abandoned friends like Gertrude Stein's widow, Alice Toklas, who lived in a convent and in poverty and was deprived by Stein's fortune. I would have given the book five stars but i felt it was weak in some parts.

Rubens
$60.00
I found this book to be dissapointing. The reproductions are small and far from a comprehensive catalogue (Though a comprehensive catalogue would be tough considering Rubens painted over 1700 paintings). The most dissapointing aspect was the size of the prints. The text is generic art-book text, and nothing special. I understand that this book was made to represent an exhibition, but I was expecting more for my money. I'm not saying that it's a bad book, just that it is perhaps overpriced especialy considering it was orignally sixty dollars. I recommend buying "Rubens: A Master in the Making" and "Peter Paul Rubens" by Gilles Neret, a book from the wonderful Taschen publishing company. For both of those books, which together come out to about the same price as this one, you will get more for your money. If you really want a great book on Rubens and you don't mind small reproductions I highly recomend buying "Rubens" by Kristen Belkin from the Phaidon Art & Ideas series (a great series), and it's only thirteen dollars online. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a markedly bad book, it just didn't meet my expectations. I wanted large, detailed, color reproductions, and there was very few in this book. I should give credit where credit is due and admit that there were some portraits that I had not seen before and was pleased to discover, and also that there were numerous reproductions of tapestries that Rubens designed that I had also not seen before... hence the three stars.

Let's Talk About Sex [VHS]
$19.98
I just saw this film on the Independent Film Channel in December 2002. I normally pass by films with explicit adult content but this one had me riveted from the start. I read the 1st 2 reviews here on Amazon. Ignore those! One is from a Christian (well, duh, I wonder why she didn't like it) and the other from a man (no wonder he wouldn't like it, it's a brazenly honest film about women's feelings about relationships in general).I went through a full series of emotions watching the film. I laughed, cried, was shocked, and got angry. But overall, the film really made me think and made me feel I wasn't alone! It's a definite must see for a girl's night out (or night in). It can be a real ice breaker for conversation.I highly recommend the film!

Soccer Days
$14.98
A comedic romp that celebrates the power of friendship to turn your life around, Dias de Futbol introduces us to Antonio, an ex-convict and amateur shrink who convinces his pals that the best way to overcome their midlife crises and lack of success with women is to reassemble their old soccer team and win something in life, even if only a local championship. Directed by David Serrano. Starring Alberto San Juan, Natalia Verbeke (Dot the I, Son of the Bride), Pere Ponce, and Fernando Tejero.