24 Comments
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Debbie Fraker's avatar

I always enjoy reading about your mother and the Portrait of a Lady essay was quite moving.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Thanks!

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Arnie Bernstein's avatar

Wonderful piece, and on so many levels.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Thanks. I love writing about her. And her yorzeit is tomorrow. She died 25 years ago and is still very much present to me.

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Karl Straub's avatar

I loved this, and I’m happy to say I’ve only recently discovered the Martin Beck novels. Good stuff!

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Thanks. Are you a fan of Nordic Noir? If not, you might soon be one. :-)

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Karl Straub's avatar

I’ve read three or four authors in that subgenre— yes, I think it’s fair to say that I’m a fan

I think I even have a book ABOUT the subject kicking around here somewhere.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Check out Wendy Lesser's book Nordic Noir, part study, part memoir.

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Karl Straub's avatar

I’ll take a look— I think I have that book. If I’m thinking of the same one, I’ve read most of it and it’s good.

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Nancy Hesting's avatar

Thanks for this. I have a similar story where my mother took me to the library every Saturday starting at the age of 4. Her favorites were mysteries -- Erle Stanley Gardner, A.A. Fair, etc. She gave me such a love for books. She also did crossword puzzles until the day she died at 92.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Will you write about that? Her love of mysteries and crosswords?

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Nancy Hesting's avatar

Gosh, I should. Just submitted an essay on my dad in WW 2. I have all of his letters he wrote to his parents when he was fighting in France and Italy. They are precious to me.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Wow! My father was saved from death in April 1945 by young American soldiers--I've written about it in my memoir My Germany--and some years ago I met several of them at a conference and got to thank them. It was amazing.

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M.E. Proctor's avatar

I feel sad for the kids that grow up in a house without books... the love of reading is the most wonderful communicable disease. Beautiful text, Lev.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

We had books in four different rooms and I especially loved growing up in apartments that had large foyers with room for bookshelves.

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Susan Oleksiw's avatar

We carry with us the people we loved and who loved us; I think of my father as the better part of myself. Your mother sounds like she was a truly wonderful woman.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

A gifted woman, indeed.

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Ramona Grigg's avatar

What a lovely tribute to an amazing woman. I can see how much she enriched your life and gave you the freedom to enrich your own stories. And it goes on. That's the beauty part. It goes on.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

It does.

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Dennis Martin Brooks's avatar

Well said, Lev! And what a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman.

Dennis

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Thanks, and you knew her.

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Dennis Martin Brooks's avatar

Yes, indeed. And when I read about her through you now, I see her and hear her. And thank you, Lev, for letting us know how she influenced your writing and is in it so much. It all makes sense, you know.

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

Of course I never met your mother but do feel that I know her a bit. These tributes to her are loving and lovely.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Thank you. Her 25th yorzeit is on the 9th which is why this was on my mind.

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