Cold Moon: On Life, Love, and Responsibility

by Roger Rosenblatt

"A booster shot of wisdom when we need it most."—Alan Alda"Cold Moon knocked me on my ass then held out its hand and hauled me back up, tossing me into the brawling fray, joyous and more hopeful than ever." —Paul Harding, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Tinkers The Cold Moon occurs in late December, auguring the arrival of the winter solstice. Approaching the winter solstice of his own life, Roger Rosenblatt offers a book dedicated to the three most important lessons he has learned over his many an appreciation of being alive, a recognition of the gift and power of love, and the necessity of exercising responsibility toward one another. In a rough-and-tumble journey that moves like the sea, Rosenblatt rolls from elegy to comedy, distilling a lifetime of great tales and moments into a tonic for these perilous and fearful times. Cold a book to offer purpose, to focus the attention on life’s essentials, and to lift the spirit.​

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

66 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

ROGER ROSENBLATT, whose work has been published in 14 languages, is the author of five New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and three Times bestsellers, including the memoirs KAYAK MORNING, THE BOY DETECTIVE, and MAKING TOAST, originally an essay in the New Yorker. His newest book is THE STORY I AM, a collection on writing and the writing life.

Rosenblatt has also written seven off-Broadway plays, notably the one-person Free Speech in America, that he performed at the American Place Theater, named one of the Times's "Ten Best Plays of 1991." Last spring at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, he performed and played piano in his play, Lives in the Basement, Does Nothing, which will go to the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook, and the Flea Theater in New York in 2021. He also wrote the screenplay for his bestselling novel LAPHAM RISING, to star Frank Langella, Stockard Channing, and Bobby Cannavale, currently in production.

The Distinguished Professor of English and Writing at SUNY Stony Brook/Southampton, he formerly held the Briggs-Copeland appointment in creative writing at Harvard, where he earned his Ph.D. Among his honors are two George Polk Awards; the Peabody, and the Emmy, for his essays at Time magazine and on PBS; a Fulbright to Ireland, where he played on the Irish International Basketball Team; seven honorary doctorates; the Kenyon Review Award for Lifetime Literary Achievement; and the President's Medal from the Chautauqua Institution for his body of work.

Reviews

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was ‘introduced’ to Roger Rosenblatt’s writing in January 2016 when I read his novel, Thomas Murphy, a wonderful story with a very memorable character. A month later, hoping to capture some of the magic in that novel, I read his The Book of Love: Improvisations on a Crazy Little Thing which was not a novel, but musings and observations on love in all it’s forms.

”Better to know where to go than how to get there. I wander from thought to thought, having learned but three things from my long night’s moon. I believe in life. I believe in love. I believe we are responsible for each other.”

This is also not a novel, but ruminations and reflections on the “Cold Moon” phase of life. The Cold Moon occurs in December, foretelling the arrival of the winter solstice and the coming end of the year. As Rosenblatt likens this to the years later in life, and his own life, much of this, for me, reminds me of listening to sitting in a club in New Orleans listening to a jazz musician playing lovely, connected riffs that occasionally transcend this life and offer a glimpse at the eternal nature of life – even if it is not our life here, our bodies. The gratitude for this gift of life we’ve been given permeates these pages, and is infused with humour and beautiful memories, lessons learned about the power love has to change us, change others, lessons that offer us hope for the future – much needed lessons. His ponderings are deeply rooted, if sometimes lightly shared. Often expressed with humour, he frequently offers thoughts on family, as well as some on more weighty matters. Overall, he still maintains a lighter feel, overall, while tackling some heavier topics.

Love. There is an emphasis on love in this, although not strictly a romantic love, or even love of family, or neighbor. It is the love of life, this incredible gift we are given on the day we took our first breath, and so frequently forget the temporary nature of this gift of living in this world. We forget to honor this gift too often, to share ourselves, our love with others, forget to honor the humanity in others, forget that the Cold Moon will light our own sky soon enough, too soon.

"Memory believes before knowing remembers. Believes longer than recollects, longer than knowing even wonders." That's Faulkner telling us that memory is an act of faith. I remembering you, you remembering me-these are acts of love driven by the imagination. We may not remember each other accurately. We may not remember each other at all. Yet we remember loving.”

A lovely, inspiring read that offers insight and much needed hope, comfort for our days, inviting us to embrace this gift we’ve been given to have and to hold, if only for a time.



Pub Date: 27 Oct 2020

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Turtle Point Press / Consortium Book Sales & Distribution

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book opens with absolutely gorgeous image of a grandfather watching his two grandsons. And if you’ve read his book, Making Toast, this image will be so much more poignant. The younger one climbs up a tree because he likes sitting alone and looking out at the sea. When the grandfather remarks to the older grandson how wonderful it is to be able to be alone with yourself, the older grandson says matter-of-factly, "Oh yes, he really loves life." And isn’t that the point: to love life" And how to fall in love with life again?

In Japanese literary sensibility, it is in autumn that one typically meditates on fading and death. So, I was taken aback that the author feels this happens in winter... as he looks upon the cold moon-- that last moon-- before the winter solstice.

But it’s true with every passing years, there is a “hardening of the arteries. The bones fray. The skin puckers. The skills ebb."

And how beautifully he says, "At this age, comrade, at this stage, what is to be done? Should we toss in the towel? Or gallop across the bridge together in the opposite direction from whence we came, and, like the Czars, make a palace of winter? I am a book in your lap."

Isn’t the writing Beautiful?

Rosenblatt is a saint. I was so struck by his profoundly religious questions that I immediately googled, "Rosenblatt, what religion?"

This is a book about love and affection. Love and affection between people and the love and affection we feel for the world. He is most affecting when he talks of his time in war zones. And maybe even more as he talks about his family. He had me in the palm of his hands with this book.

And then he said "I wander from thought thought, having learned about three things from my long night moon: I believe in life. I believe in love. I believe we are responsible for each other." Amen.

I loved the story of Thomas Carlyle, when he loaned his only manuscript copy of his still-unpublished book on the french Revolution to Mill... whose maid accidentally, thinking it was trash, tossed it on the fire for kindling. Poor Carlyle, didn't cry or complain... just went home to start all over again! Isn't that life?

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique and wonderful little book on . . . well. . . life, love and responsibility. I am certain that this work will resonate with those of us in the twilight of our time here. You will find yourself throughout and the value of time. "And these precious days I will spend with you." Those of all ages should also take some time to connect with this amazing work for there is much to be learned from it. For life is opportunity and "the world waiting for us [him} to walk in and play the piano". And we do, indeed, walk in one another's shadow.

Find some time with minimal or no distractions. Take your time and read this book. You will not be disappointed.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I discovered him through 'Kayak Morning' which I loved and have also read 'Making Toast'. This one is disjointed, scattered and random... like notes for a book rather than the book itself.

He has a kind of flip tone throughout some parts that is a little off putting. I guess as he gets older and processes old griefs and newer ones, we are now seeing more of his sense of humor and I am guessing it is different than mine.

This book kind of meanders and doesn't end up anywhere. Good thing it's short.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed like an inside joke at times

I adore Rosenblatt’s writing and storytelling but this book was an abrupt departure from his other memoirs. The stream of conscious jottings that intersperse the stories wasn’t effective or clever in my view. It seemed like the author was winking at someone who understood why all these cliches were regurgitated and rearranged.

[Anahiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this while I was at work - for reference, I work at a library - and it was on the returned books cart. I have had the pleasure of being able to take two classes with Roger the past year while working on getting my MFA so I had high hopes for this book. And I was not disappointed. It was almost like a 100-page long essay, though it was a bit dense at times so it wasn't the quickest read. I think this was intentional though, as the book repeatedly talks about how we are all responsible for one another and need to take care of each other. It's a beautiful book that plays with language in wonderful ways but is a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, I recommend giving this a read!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful descriptions, topics jump quite a bit and seem overall disjunct. As others have said, this seems like the notes or ideas for a bigger work rather than a finished piece. The writing itself is good and it’d be nice to see several of those ideas connected and further developed into something more cohesive.

[Lora Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold Moon allowed me to look at aging and the process of moving into the winter of my life like a song with unfamiliar chords, riffs, different key changes, and still have the courage to go with the music, all the way to the coda.

[peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful treatise on life and love, wonder and aging. Written in a prose like stream of consciousness. It is necessary to let the book wash over you. Thank you Alan Alda, Mr Rosenblatt was a guest on his pod cast…

[Suzanne Ondrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like a meditation book. It tends to jump from one introspection to another but it is lovely. There are personal memories, literary reflections, and current events.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough structure. Some great passages and playing with language. Just not enough love.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've loved Rosenblatt's earlier memoirs, but this seemed disjointed and lacked his usual humor and storytelling abilities.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially, I chose to read this book because I had ordered the ARC and it was on my TBR pile. I had experienced one of those pandemic "Blue Days" as my daughter calls them. I was stuck in a hopeless place of feeling that the sorry state of the world, and my life, was never going to turn around- a low moment, a slice of time. I needed someone or something to show me a way out without patronizing me. After reading the description and realizing it was a small book, I figured my attention span could handle it (I really was having a tough day).
I was immediately absorbed into this rich, fulfilling, substantive little book that turned my spirit around in 98 pages. At times humorous, personal and life affirming this book took me on a reflection of someone else's life as if it was my own. I am astonished by the author's ability to remember several occurrences at very young ages. Additionally, his memory of events is striking and vivid.
A Cold Moon is the moon right before the Winter Solstice, the very last full moon of the year. At times I felt as though the book was the kind of self-reflection one does at the end of life or at the gates of Heaven. There was an accounting for choices made or directions taken and a kind of forgiveness that comes out of a deep understanding of the transformative nature of love. I am so glad to have read this and hope it gets into the hands of a great many people.