Callie Siskel’s ‘Two Minds’: A Poetic Tribute to Her Father, Gene Siskel
Nearly three decades after the passing of renowned movie critic Gene Siskel, his daughter Callie Siskel has published ‘Two Minds,’ a captivating collection of poems commemorating her beloved father. This poignant and deeply personal work, which has garnered critical acclaim for its evocative language and emotional resonance, offers a glimpse into the enduring bond between a father and daughter and the profound impact of loss.
Growing up in the shadow of her father’s fame, Callie Siskel forged her own path in the literary world, earning a doctorate in creative writing and literature from the University of Southern California. Now a poetry editor and writer based in Los Angeles, she draws upon her memories and emotions to craft poems that simultaneously honor her father’s legacy and explore her own journey of grief and self-discovery.
Throughout the book, Callie Siskel weaves together anecdotes from her childhood, such as her father’s love for the film ‘Saturday Night Fever,’ with deeply introspective reflections on loss and the enduring presence of the past. The resulting work is a testament to the power of art to heal, connect, and ultimately celebrate the human experience.
In one particularly touching poem, ‘Transparent Man,’ Callie Siskel captures her father’s passionate feelings about the film ‘Saturday Night Fever,’ a passion that compelled him to buy at auction the white suit worn by John Travolta’s Tony Manero character. In another poem, ‘Mirror Image,’ she reflects on her father’s role as a movie critic and the public persona that often overshadowed the private man she knew.
Callie Siskel’s ‘Two Minds’ is a powerful and moving tribute to a beloved father and a testament to the enduring power of art to connect us with our past, present, and future.
