The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland: book review

Set in Rome and Florence in the seventeenth century, The Passion of Artemisia (2002) is a story of the emerging talent of Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653), the most famous female artist in the history of Italy.

Her father, Orazio, is an artist who teaches his daughter the passion of painting. He introduces her to Agostino to teach her perspective. Agostino promises marriage as he abuses her body, but at his trial it is she who is tortured and humiliated by the Inquisition. She leaves Rome and marries Pietro, an artist in need of her dowry. He does not mind her career as a painter as she strives for professional acceptance, but is angered when she is boldly admitted to the Accademia del Disegno in Florence before him. Their relationship gradually diminishes and Artemisia spends more time with her paintings and her daughter, Palmira, turning at this time to her scientist friend Galileo Galilei who espouses his controversial theories on astronomy.

She describes Galileo as “not particularly handsome, he was an intelligent man capable of kindness, a man whose gallantry was sincere, a man easy for an intelligent woman to love … in spite of the incredulity of his ideas, an affinity of the mind drew us together.” They were also both taking risks in their careers. Soon afterwards, for his beliefs in astronomy, Galileo was brought before the Inquisition in Rome, tried for heresy, and threatened with torture (see book review of Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel, December 14, 2010)

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2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

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