Book notes | Marcel’s Letters
Even as a young girl, White Bear Lake resident and graphic designer Carolyn Porter was fascinated with lettering, calligraphy, and such. As an adult, she imagined designing a type font. Looking for inspiration, she found some letters dated from World War II in an antique store, in Stillwater, that she purchased and later translated.
The letters were written in French, but in such beautiful, expressive script that Porter was captivated, and set to work designing the font she later named P22 Marcel Script Pro. Reading the letters that Marcel had written to his wife and daughters, Porter became emotionally connected. She was moved by his tender, loving words, and became obsessed with finding out what happened to the author of these letters, who was working in Germany while communicating with his young family back in France.
Her obsession and detective work paid off (with lots of help and support from friends and genealogists) when Porter eventually traveled to France to meet Marcel’s daughter and grandchildren.
It’s a fascinating journey, from a small river town to war-torn Europe. Some members of our book group thought there was too much detail about the design of the font. Mostly, the group enjoyed the journey with the author, and concluded the takeaway of the story is that Marcel found her, not the other way around.
— Joni Mitchell, UMRA Book Club I
Book Club I to meet September 17
Fri, Sep 17 2021, 2pm
Joni Mitchell will lead the discussion of Marcel’s Letters by Carolyn Porter when the UMRA Book Club I meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 17.
This book club currently has 16 members, a number that works well for our discussions. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information, including suggestions for starting a new book club.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.