Archive | June, 2013

The Finkler Question (2010)

30 Jun

I just finished reading Howard Jacobson’s novel, The Finkler Question, which won the 2010 Man Booker Prize. It is a brilliantly written, often darkly funny depiction of the complexities of loss, personal identity, and belonging. To describe his take on these issues would only lead to their oversimplification. I can only recommend that it be read.

Making Marriage Last

26 Jun

PsychBytes (6/19/2013) summarizes research findings about what makes marriage last. Recommendations include frequent positive comments, friendship talks about hopes, fears, and dreams, generous support  especially during good times, and  combating boredom with novelty.

Divorce Rate

23 Jun

From PsychBytes (6/19/2013): “The rate of divorce is estimated at 40-50% though 86% of people expect marriage to last a lifetime.”

Marriage

20 Jun

From IPA PsychBytes (6/19/2013):”Communication skills and how couples approach conflict may be more important than how often conflict is ‘resolved.'”

The Great Gatsby

14 Jun

I just finished reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and seeing the movie by the same name. The book is a gem and I thought the movie conveyed “Gatsbyness.” Both book and movie rendered the Roaring Twenties and the impact of the then present social divides poignantly. Gatsby’s dream of love and inclusion in the world of the privileged was touching and tragic.

I do wish the movie makers had been more respectful of Fitzgerald’s artistry. There was no need for the artifice of the sanitorium and for showing Gatsby’s death., as well as for other unnecessary alterations. The author’s decisions were superior. Nevertheless, the movie was well worth my time. The book, which I had never read before, is now among my favorites.

Underface

11 Jun

Underface by Shel Silverstein:

Underneath my outside face

There’s a face that none can see.

A little less smiley,

A little less sure,

But a whole lot more like me.

Worry

7 Jun

John Dryden (1670): Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is, with thoughts of what maybe.”

Sleep Hygiene

4 Jun

The July 2013 issue of Health After 50 recommends the following to prevent a sleep deficit, which can interfere with healthy brain function: 1) Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, 2) Exercise at least 30 minutes daily but not 2 or 3 hours before bedtime, 3) Take time to relax before trying to sleep, 4) When arising in the morning, get exposure to bright light to reset the internal clock, 5) Set a moderate temperature for the bedroom, 6) If sleep won’t come, get out of bed and do something until fatigued, 7) No lights in the room at bedtime, 8) Don’t eat much before trying to sleep, and 9) Limit beverages at night.