Sunday, March 5, 2023

March 2023

 

In memory of Harold Leighton Berglund 18 October 1945 – 26 February 2023

 

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me prov'd,

I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

Sonnet 116

 

And again, a year after Russia invaded the Ukraine, I repeat what I have repeated for far too long:

‘O war! thou son of hell’ O Putin! Thou son of hell! Our thoughts and support are still needed to the people of Ukraine, and the people of Russian who hate this war. Protest in any way you can! And don’t give up hope. ‘True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings.

In this time of turmoil and hope I give you this familiar promo for the book Shakespeare calling – the book. Indie authors like me always need support, even now when book signings and lectures can again be scheduled. Only on the Internet can I reach people like you, who are interested in Shakespeare would like to support the Shakespeare Calling project. I do so hope you will help me by ordering the book online. Any sales I make of this book will go directly to Doctors without Borders for their work in Ukraine as long as the war lasts. Just let me know and I’ll send the money forthwith. You can also order directly from me. Just write me an email. Thank you.

Anyone from Ukraine – send me an email and I will send you the book free of charge.

The book is available for those of you in Great Britain and parts of Europe on this site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/9163782626/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1514378301&sr=8-1

 

Also available on http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436073737&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand+shakespeare+calling

Or in Sweden

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789163782626/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

or Adlibris. Or contact the publisher info@vulkan.se

 

I would be thrilled to get an email from you if you bought the book. rubyjandshakespearecalling@gmail.com

 

Shakespeare sightings:

  • In the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter there is a long report on the director Staffan Valdemar Holm who explains in detail how Shakespeare’s plays can be improved by cutting all the dead weight. He is currently directing The Tempest in the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm.
  • In The Lincoln Highway, a novel by Amor Towles, one of the characters quotes from Macbeth then goes on to explain the play to an eight-year-old boy and tell about his actor father. He goes on the refer to Shakespeare throughout the book, but that doesn’t help. It’s still boring and I only skimmed the last half.

Films with a Shakespeare connection seen this month - see reviews on https://rubyjandsfilmblog.blogspot.com/

 

  • Reservoir Dogs - Tim Roth is in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
  • Darkest Hour - Shakespeare connection: Gary Oldman is in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Kristin Scott Thomas is in Richard III. Stephen Dillane is in Hamlet. Joe Armstrong is in The Hollow Crown.
  • The Lincoln Lawyer - John Leguizamo is in Cymbeline and Romeo & Julia
  • Belfast - Branagh (many), Dench (several), Colin Morgan is in The Tempest, which we saw at the Globe in London 2013.

 

 

Further since last time: quiet Shakespeare month

           

Posted this month:

  • This report

 

Shakespeare Calling – the book is promoted by http://shakespearesallskapet.se/

 

Read more about my alter ego’s books, in one of which Shakespeare appears live and in person, on:

 

 

 

Sunday, February 5, 2023

February 2023

 

‘Blow, blow, thou winter wind.’ I love winter, but it’s a hard time for those who lack homes and shelter. Therefore, I repeat what I have repeated for far too long:

 ‘O war! thou son of hell’ O Putin! Thou son of hell! Our thoughts and support are still needed to the people of Ukraine, and the people of Russian who hate this war. Protest in any way you can! And don’t give up hope. ‘True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings.

In this time of turmoil and hope I give you this familiar promo for the book Shakespeare calling – the book. Indie authors like myself always need support, even now when book signings and lectures can again be scheduled. Only on the Internet can I reach people like you, who are interested in Shakespeare would like to support the Shakespeare Calling project. I do so hope you will help me by ordering the book online. Any sales I make of this book will go directly to Doctors without Borders for their work in Ukraine as long as the war lasts. Just let me know and I’ll send the money forthwith. You can also order directly from me. Just write me an email.Thank you.

Anyone from Ukraine – send me an email and I will send you the book free of charge.

The book is available for those of you in Great Britain and parts of Europe on this site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/9163782626/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1514378301&sr=8-1

 

Also available on http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436073737&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand+shakespeare+calling

Or in Sweden

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789163782626/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

or Adlibris. Or contact the publisher info@vulkan.se

 

I would be thrilled to get an email from you if you bought the book. rubyjandshakespearecalling@gmail.com

 

Shakespeare sightings:

  • In the film The Elephant Man John Merrick (John Hurt) and Mrs Kendal (Anne Bancroft) do Romeo and Juliet together.
  • In the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter an editorial compare Trump to King Lear. They both believe they are ‘more sinned against than sinning’.
  • Much of the novel The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey revolves around a high school production of Much Ado about Nothing.

Films with a Shakespeare connection seen this month - see reviews on https://rubyjandsfilmblog.blogspot.com/

 

 

Further since last time: I read The Shakespeare Notebooks by various Doctor who nerds. See review.

           

Posted this month:

  • Review of: The Shakespeare Notebooks by various Doctor who nerds.
  • This report

 

Shakespeare Calling – the book is promoted by http://shakespearesallskapet.se/

 

Read more about my alter ego’s books, in one of which Shakespeare appears live and in person, on:

 

 

 

 

 

The Shakespeare Notebooks

 

The Shakespeare Notebooks

by James Goss, Jonathan Morris, Julian Richards, Justin Richards, Matthew Sweet, Doctor Who nerds each and every one.

Imagine my glee when I found a book combining two of my idols, Shakespeare and the Doctor.

The Notebooks are newly discovered journals and manuscripts written by Shakespeare in which the various Doctors have advised him, written and edited his plays and generally been important to our Will.

Brilliant idea. Sadly, the idea is ever so much better than the journals themselves. I must confess that I skimmed much of the book. It was mildly humorous from time to time but so much more could have been done with it. Maybe add Donna Noble to the mix?

My advice: Read Shakespeare, see Doctor Who but read this book only if you must.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

January 2023

  ‘Joy, gentle friends! Joy and fresh days of love accompany your hearts.’ 2023 has begun. Let us hope and work for a better world this coming year. Let us now be ‘noble of reason’. Let us ‘be just, and fear not.’ ‘True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings,’ so let us hope for peace, and equality, and a viable environment. Happy New Year, friends.

In the meantime, I repeat what I have repeated for far too long:

 ‘O war! thou son of hell’ O Putin! Thou son of hell! Our thoughts and support are still needed to the people of Ukraine, and the people of Russian who hate this war. Protest in any way you can! And don’t give up hope. ‘True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings.

In this time of turmoil and hope I give you this familiar promo for the book Shakespeare calling – the book. Indie authors like myself always need support, even now when book signings and lectures can again be scheduled. Only on the Internet can I reach people like you, who are interested in Shakespeare would like to support the Shakespeare Calling project. I do so hope you will help me by ordering the book online. Any sales I make of this book will go directly to Doctors without Borders for their work in Ukraine as long as the war lasts. Just let me know and I’ll send the money forthwith. You can also order directly from me. Just write me an email.Thank you.

Anyone from Ukraine – send me an email and I will send you the book free of charge.

The book is available for those of you in Great Britain and parts of Europe on this site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/9163782626/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1514378301&sr=8-1

 

Also available on http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436073737&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand+shakespeare+calling

Or in Sweden

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789163782626/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

or Adlibris. Or contact the publisher info@vulkan.se

 

I would be thrilled to get an email from you if you bought the book. rubyjandshakespearecalling@gmail.com

 

Shakespeare sightings:

  • In the film Clueless Cher is writing on a card ‘The merry buds of May’ and tells her friend it’s a famous quote from Cliff Notes. Later when Josh’s girlfriend declares, ‘”To thine own self be true”. Hamlet said that’, Cher responds: ‘Hamlet didn’t say that. I remember my Mel Gibson. It was that Polonius guy.’
  • In the novel The History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund Linda’s mother tells her, ‘I put on a Macbeth with twenty in the cast. It was a funny version.’
  • In Stephen King’s Fairy Tale we are reminded that Jack, of beanstalk fame, whose giant says ‘Fee, fie, fo fum’ etc stole the line from King Lear.
  • In the film Nomadland Frances McDormand’s character Fern is told by an old student that she remembers the ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’ quote. Later in the film Fern tells a young man that she had used a poem in her wedding vows then quotes the entire Sonnet 18 to him.
  • In Twin Peaks Audrey’s creepy dad when visiting a bordello quotes Sonnet 18 to the Madam. (You notice how differently Shakespeare quotes are used).

 

Films with a Shakespeare connection seen this month - see reviews on https://rubyjandsfilmblog.blogspot.com/ 

  • Ant-Man - Paul Ruud is in Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet.
  • Snowden - Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in 10 Things I Hate About You. Tom Wilkinson is in Shakespeare in Love and Prince of Jutland.
  • Clueless - Alicia Silverstone is in Love’s Labour’s Lost. Paul Ruud is in Romeo & Juliet.
  • Constantine - Keanu Reeves is in Much Ado about Nothing and My Own Private Idaho.  Djimon Hounsou is in The Tempest.
  • The High Note - Dakota Johnson and Bill Pullman are in Cymbeline.
  • Little Women - Chris Cooper is in The Tempest.
  • Ned Kelly - Heath Ledger is in 10 Things I Hate about You
  • Take Shelter - Jessica Chastain is in Coriolanus.
  • Across the Universe - Julie Taymor directed The Tempest and Titus.
  • Nomadland - David Strathairn is in The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.


Further since last time: 

  • not much                     

Posted this month:

  • This report

 Shakespeare Calling – the book is promoted by http://shakespearesallskapet.se/

 

Read more about my alter ego’s books, in one of which Shakespeare appears live and in person, on:

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, December 4, 2022

December 2022

 

‘What freezings I have felt, what dark days seen, What old December’s bareness everywhere!’ December can be a joyous month but it is also cold and dark in the Northern Hemisphere. I wish you all a sheltered and hopeful Winter Solstice. Together we can and must make the world a better place.

In the meantime, I repeat what I have repeated for far too long:

 ‘O war! thou son of hell’ O Putin! Thou son of hell! Our thoughts and support are still needed to the people of Ukraine, and the people of Russian who hate this war. Protest in any way you can! And don’t give up hope. ‘True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings.

In this time of turmoil and hope I give you this familiar promo for the book Shakespeare calling – the book. Indie authors like myself always need support, even now when book signings and lectures can again be scheduled. Only on the Internet can I reach people like you, who are interested in Shakespeare would like to support the Shakespeare Calling project. I do so hope you will help me by ordering the book online. Any sales I make of this book will go directly to Doctors without Borders for their work in Ukraine as long as the war lasts. Just let me know and I’ll send the money forthwith. You can also order directly from me. Just write me an email.Thank you.

Anyone from Ukraine – send me an email and I will send you the book free of charge.

The book is available for those of you in Great Britain and parts of Europe on this site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/9163782626/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1514378301&sr=8-1

 

Also available on http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436073737&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand+shakespeare+calling

Or in Sweden

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789163782626/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

or Adlibris. Or contact the publisher info@vulkan.se

 

I would be thrilled to get an email from you if you bought the book. rubyjandshakespearecalling@gmail.com

 

Shakespeare sightings:

  • The Tempest is scheduled to play at Dramaten.
  • Thirteen-old Marty (Natalie Portman) in the film Beautiful Girls compares Will (Tim Hutton) to Hamlet, ‘you know that Danish guy who couldn’t make decisions’, then calls herself and Will ‘star-cross lovers, like Romeo and Juliet.’
  • In the film A Quiet Place the children are home-schooled with a poster on the wall, ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day’.
  • In Kurt Vonnegut’s book God Bless You Mr Rosewater the author sneaks in quotes from Shakespeare as well as having his Mr Rosewater imagine he’s Hamlet writing to his wife Ophelia.
  • The novel The Travelers by Regina Porter is in many way based on the play  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead as one of the characters reads it, quotes it and has R&Gs voices in his head, and his daughter becomes a Shakespearean scholar, having started to quote Shakespeare at the age of three. All before page one hundred (I haven’t finished the book yet).

 

Films with a Shakespeare connection seen this month - see reviews on https://rubyjandsfilmblog.blogspot.com/

  •  The Witches - Stanley Tucci is in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
  • ’71 – Sean Harris is in Macbeth.
  • The Secret Life of Words - Dean Lennox Kelly is in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Re-Told. Julie Christie is in Hamlet. Steven Mackintosh is in Twelfth Night.
  • Wide Awake - Julia Stiles is in O, Hamlet and Ten Things I Hate About You
  • Christopher Robin - Oliver Ford Davies is in Hamlet.
  • Away from Her - Julie Christie is in Hamlet. Sarah Polley is in Slings and Arrows.
  • Ricki and the Flash - Kevin Kline is in As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet.
  • 24 Hour Party People - Shirley Henderson is in The Taming of the Shrew Re-Told. Paddie Considine is in Macbeth. Lennie James is in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Re-Told. Ron Cook is in The Merchant of Venice, Richard III, Henry VI Parts I, II and III. Sean Harris is in Macbeth
  • London Has Fallen - Gerard Butler is in Coriolanus.
  • Monster’s Ball - Heath Ledger is in 10 Things I Hate About You
  • A Quiet Place II - Shakespeare connection – Djimon Hounsou is in The Tempest.
  • The Personal History of David Copperfield - Ben Whishaw is in King Richard and The Tempest
  • American Hustle - Christian Bale is in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V.
  • Selma - David Oyelowo is in As You Like It. Carmen Ejogo is in Love’s Labour’s Lost. Tom Wilkinson is in Shakespeare in Love and Prince of Jutland. Giovanni Ribisi is in The Postman. Tim Roth is in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead 

Further since last time: not much                   

 Posted this month:

  • This report

 

Shakespeare Calling – the book is promoted by http://shakespearesallskapet.se/

 

Read more about my alter ego’s books, in one of which Shakespeare appears live and in person, on:

 

 

Monday, October 31, 2022

November 2022

 Hover through the fog... November is upon us and today it’s foggy in Stockholm. Fog can be beautiful, or gloomy. There is much to be gloomy about in the world today, but I wish you a cosy fog wherever you are, with a nice cup of tea, or whatever you prefer, and a Shakespeare play in your hands, or on your TV, to give you inspiration.

In the meantime, I repeat what I have repeated for far too long:

 ‘O war! thou son of hell’ O Putin! Thou son of hell! Our thoughts and support are still needed to the people of Ukraine, and the people of Russian who hate this war. Protest in any way you can! And don’t give up hope. ‘True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings.

In this time of turmoil and hope I give you this familiar promo for the book Shakespeare calling – the book. Indie authors like myself always need support, even now when book signings and lectures can again be scheduled. Only on the Internet can I reach people like you, who are interested in Shakespeare would like to support the Shakespeare Calling project. I do so hope you will help me by ordering the book online. Any sales I make of this book will go directly to Doctors without Borders for their work in Ukraine as long as the war lasts. Just let me know and I’ll send the money forthwith. You can also order directly from me. Just write me an email. Thank you.

Anyone from Ukraine – send me an email and I will send you the book free of charge.

The book is available for those of you in Great Britain and parts of Europe on this site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/9163782626/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1514378301&sr=8-1

 

Also available on http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Calling-book-Ruby-Jand/dp/9163782626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436073737&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby+Jand+shakespeare+calling

Or in Sweden

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789163782626/shakespeare-calling-the-book/

or Adlibris. Or contact the publisher info@vulkan.se

 

I would be thrilled to get an email from you if you bought the book. rubyjandshakespearecalling@gmail.com 

 

Shakespeare sightings:

  • Howard Zinn, in his play Marx in Soho refers repeatedly to Shakespeare, as Marx was an avid admirer of the Bard.
  • In the film Saints and Soldiers the British soldier Oberon informs hi comrades that he was named after the one in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
  • Marge Piercy, in her novel Small Changes, while preparing for her wedding Beth remembered wanting to a lawyer like Portia. Later, in Boston, she attends open lectures about Shakespeare.

 

Films with a Shakespeare connection seen this month - see reviews on https://rubyjandsfilmblog.blogspot.com/

  • X-Men films collectively - Richard E Grant is in Twelfth Night. James McAvoy is in Macbeth Re-Told. Michael Fassbender is in Macbeth. Liev Schreiber is in Hamlet. Lynn Collins is in The Merchant of Venice. Jessica Castain is in Coriolanus. Patrick Stewart is in The Hollow Crown Richard II, Hamlet x 2. Ian McKellen is in Macbeth, Richard III.
  • 6 Souls/Shelter - Jonathan Rhys Meyers is in Titus.
  • The Power of Few - Christian Slater is in Star Trek the Undiscovered Country, in which among other things, the Klingons claim Shakespeare as their own.
  • Under the Cherry Moon - Kristin Scott Thomas is in Richard III. Victor Spinetti is in The Taming of the Shrew.
  • Fierce People - Diane Lane is in The Glass House, a spin-off of Hamlet. Anton Yelchin is in Cymbeline.
  • Chicago - Dominic West is in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Richard III.
  • How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Bill Patterson is in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Re-Told and Richard III.
  • Red Riding 1980 - Shakespeare connection: Paddy Considine is in Macbeth, Maxine Peake is in A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream and The Hollow Crown. Ron Cook is in The Merchant of Venice, Richard III, Henry VI Parts 1,2,3, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Shaun Harris is in Macbeth
  • Red Riding 1983 - David Morrisey is in The Hollow Crown, Shakespeare in Love, Richard III, Michelle Dockery is in The Hollow Crown. Shaun Harris is in Macbeth
  • Catch that Kid - John Carroll Lynch is in A Thousand Acres, a spin-off of King Lear.
  • Hidalgo - Zuleikha Robinson is in The Merchant of Venice.
  • In Secret - Jessica Lange is in Titus, and A Thousand Acres. Shirley Henderson is The Taming of the Shrew Re-Told. Mackenzie Crook is in The Merchant of Venice
  • Needful Things - Ed Harris is in Cymbeline
  • Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Shakespeare connection: Steven Mackintosh is in Twelfth Night.
  • Superman - Marlon Brando is in Julius Caesar
  • Big Business - It’s sort of a spin-off of The Comedy of Errors, whether they’re aware of it or not.
  • Amistad - Djimon Hounsou is in The Tempest. Nigel Hawthorne is in Twelfth Night, Richard III, The Madness of King George, The Tempest. Pete Postlethwaite is in Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet. Stellan SkarsgĂ„rd is in Hamlet.

Further since last time: not much

 

Posted this month:

  • This report

 

Shakespeare Calling – the book is promoted by http://shakespearesallskapet.se/

 

Read more about my alter ego’s books, in one of which Shakespeare appears live and in person, on: