Reading Room Weekly X
Foster Park Tulips, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Gianni Toso, CHESS
Since my last weekly newsletter, my husband and I spent some time in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
One of the highlights was a visit to Foster Park, where we wandered through a stunning display of tulips and hyacinths.
The colors were vibrant, and the air carried that unmistakable spring fragrance. We slowed down to take everything in.
We also stopped by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The artwork wasn’t just cool to look at—it actually gave me new ideas and made me think about what I want to create next.
I’ll be sharing more about the different exhibits soon, but for this week, I want to zoom in on one piece that stood out to me—a unique and fascinating chess set. Because of it, my highlights this week are going to revolve around CHESS—looking at it not just as a game, but as a form of artistic expression and inspiration.
The Reading Life
1/The Art
I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to view Venetian Maestro Gianni Toso Italian glass chess set titled “Jews vs. Catholics.” The craftsmanship was truly remarkable, with each piece reflecting the intricate artistry and rich tradition of glassmaking. The level of detail and precision in the design made it clear that this was not just a chess set, but a carefully curated work.
2/The Music
CHESS is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (the guys from ABBA) and lyrics by Tim Rice. The story follows the 1972 chess championship match between American player Bobby Fischer and a Soviet player Boris Spassky. Here’s a link to the Original Anthem from Chess The Musical (Tommy Körberg). For its 2025 Broadway revival, it got an updated script written by Danny Strong.
3/The Literature
Chess sets show up in literature all the time, and they’re usually more than just a game—they symbolize strategy, fate, and intelligence. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is rarely associated with actual chess games within the text, but rather through artistic interpretation, where the characters are frequently adapted into thematic chess sets. These sets often feature Don Quixote as the King, Dulcinea as the Queen, and windmills as rooks
Shelf Aesthetics & Bookish Finds
1/ Checkered Canvas Black and White Decal Style Skin fits Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 inch.
2/ Deco 79 Crystal Chess Decorative Bookends Oversized Non Skid Bookends with Cut Crystal Designs, Set of 2 Office Bookends 4 W, 10” H, Clear
Journaling Topics or Book Club–Ready Discussion Questions
In what ways did the characters in the book "make a move" that irrevocably changed their life, similar to a pawn promotion or a king’s safety being compromised?
Wishing you a peaceful day and a week filled with gentle moments!
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