Susan Thomas

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The personal stories of flawed, but passionate and creative characters bring to life the history of Florence and its own struggles to survive through the challenging events since 1944. All of the personalities in this novel are united by their love of art, life, and of their love for one another. You hold your breath at times when the choices they make interfere with their connecting with one another, you cry when their lives end, but with such tenderness, and you laugh often at their very colourful behaviours and expressions. I love this story and its striking visuals and melodic sounds. It has become a movie in my mind; it is certainly not “Still”! I see Claude, the brilliant blue parrot, who seems to have studied Shakespeare and poets of another age when he offers his perspective. Ulysses is at the centre of everything with his aching heart for those he loves and loses from time to time, but is still fiercely defending and loving all who come so close to intimacy and then leave again for another part of their own journeys. Evelyn provides the bookends of the tale, bringing her rich insight about art, the feminist movement, and her gay experience that lasts a century. The female characters of Alys, Peg, and Dotty are nurtured by her and thrive. Cress grows and blossoms with all of his poetic soul and somehow Col, his foil, is also pulled along grudgingly to the point where he chains himself to a beloved tree, a tree that also speaks wisdom like the parrot. It seems that all of the characters, even the minor ones, in this book evolve in colourful, painful but most fulfilling ways. Their dialogue is witty, so wise and throughout you can hear their conversations supported by the music played by Pete and sung by Peg. As you read, it helps to have even a slight grasp on the history of Florence, a fluttering of love and interest in its arts, its churches, the mighty Arno and how this place has withstood so much of Europe’s battles over the centuries. “Still Life” offers us a glimpse through a lens that can only cover about sixty years, of the story of Florence through the experiences of these English friends who have found themselves drawn with love to this place and one another. I need to have this book on my shelf, next to my art books!

I most often disagree with the “critics” who don’t seem like real people, but are themselves cartoons employed in the business of supporting or not supporting the movie industry. Real people who are not perfect, who have suffered deep loss, disappointment in relationships, and who have tripped over their own feet as they try to muddle through life, will relate to this film. There is no easy fix to grief, to loss, to personal weakness - only time and the continued battle to stay upright can get you through, step by step. And there is no direct path back to happiness or health, either. Sometimes things go well and on other days, the garden fails, and your rage escapes and you can hurt others - as Lily hurt the Starling. Kevin Klein’s character is helpful, even though he is also questioning how helpful professional help can be. I share his cynicism. The counsellor at the hospital is not helpful, not honest and is too full of herself - not uncommon. Most of all, I love Melissa McCarthy and the close-up and full on shots of her face engage us in Lily’s personal struggle, her anger, her determination and her willingness to keep trying with her very weak husband. As for the Starling - the bird survived and continued to behave like a Starling, which is what she/he is supposed to do.