The Golden Age The Lost beautiful world

 The Golden Age

The Lost beautiful world

This tale starts with an interesting argument or description of a castle that made me think I am reading the wrong book.
This could happen, for I am getting into a perhaps malicious habit of reading from a number of 6, 7 books throughout the day.
The idea would be to have variety, first of all, since this is one of the keys of happiness as it is explained by Stefan Klein.
In his amazing book on Happiness he offers some excellent advice on how to get happier and diversity comes on top of the list.
The Golden Age, like other stories of John Cheever could serve as a small treatise on well being and is a joy to read.
-          Learning about the castle, the martinis drank on embattlements, bathing in the fountain is awesome
 We then watch a couple of Americans coming over and with detachment, the author talks about the ridiculousness of the traveler.
 A father, wife and two boys with machine guns.
The machine guns serve as a reminder that in the era of the TV, the toys are reprehensible and kids act as gangsters.
The natives appear to offer a contrast and they are the ones who belong to the Golden Age which is being ruined.
There are fishermen who carry fish nets and beautiful girls with baskets that will go unphotographed in this époque.
The American is thought to be a poet by the villagers and his children wonder and ask why they do that.
The disputes between the father and his children over obedience and the mocked fights with the guns spoil the scenery.
The tranquility of the day, the remoteness of this beautiful scenery in a region which is not yet spoiled by progress is affected by the visitors.
Good and evil, Golden age and modern times are in opposition, although the American family does not really come as devils.
It is just that modernity, with its advantages and inevitable progress destroys for good the simplicity, charm and beauty of so many places.
I had my chance of experiencing a Golden Age in the small town of Rosenau, where I have lived for three years.
It is near a big town and on weekends, it was difficult to escape the crowds of tourists, but during the rest of the week it was often close to heaven.
It is interesting to observe that John Cheever was so fond of Italy, where he has placed so many of his short stories.
On a different note, the regret for a Golden Age, or bygone eras is misplaced if we take a positive view of the world.
We are better off when we are grateful for what we have – there is an exercise which recommends that we thank in writing, at the end of the day, for three things, people or events that made us happy during the day.
If we are sorry for what we missed, a period, or a golden age, this is a recipe for a gloomy perspective and unhappiness, even depression.
The tale is beautiful and funny in places, with an ironic look at the shortcomings of people, at times a satire of those who worry too much
-          It is time to go…a storm is coming!

-          What if the lira is devalued?

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