Enjoyed DAVID MILCH, A LIFE-it really depended on the reader knowing his work though. I did because NYPD BLUE and DEADWOOD were two of my favorite shows. Milch is a complicated guy-full of addictions, which made it an interesting if somewhat sad story. Milch has dementia now so I am glad he got this out in time.
Another writer took up some time this week. Marc Maron had Tony Gilroy on his WTF podcast. It was a terrific interview. So generous with what he shared about his career and writing screenplays. Michael Clayton is such a great movie.Then I had to rewatch it on Prime for $3.00 and then I got out the screenplay, which I bought years ago. So much of his story comes through in ways other than with dialog. Made me want to get Disney to watch Andor.
One movie at the theater: THE GOOD HOUSE.A pretty mediocre movie but Kline and especially Weaver were fine. It really needed some new beats on alcoholism, which it didn't manage.
TV: Still watching Vera. Not very impressed with the Van der Valk series on PBS. When you update a series from the seventies to now, something gets lost. I do however love seeing Amsterdam again. Hard to believe it is 25 years since we lived there because it looks the same even if the stories are different. Finishing up The Patient, Bad Sisters, Atlanta and struggling through Industry. You know you are getting old when watching twenty-somethings have sex like bunnies gets tiresome.
The leaves are changing quickly now although not as dramatically as some years because we didn't have much rain. Quite cold some days too.
How about you?
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Finished reading Shifty's Boys by Chris Offutt and Murder Book by Mark Billington. Also read Life of Crime by Martin Edwards. Very well researched. Especially on earlier writers. Disappointed there was no discussion of John D. MacDonald or Elmore Leonard. Now reading The Wheel of Doll by Jonathan Ames.
No movies at the theaters this week. On Tv-The Patient, A Friend of the Family (Peacock), Bill Haher, John Oliver, Handmaid's Take (Elizabeth Moss seems to be going full out psycho.
Another eye injection tomorrow. At least they are helping. My vision has gotten a lot better. And I can read a book without any magnifiers.
Weather went from hot to cold pretty quick although it is supposed to be milder this week.
And the Lions are now 1-4.
The leaves in the Florida Panhandle are changing color even more slowly than those in Michigan, Patti. In fact, I can't notice any difference. Go figure.
A very quiet, basically do-nothing week. The first week of radiation went well, as expected.
Spent the weekend taking care of Jack while Christina and Walt went for a well-deserved anniversary vacation in Louisiana. Mark was on hand for backup if needed and Jessamyn showed up for a few hours on Saturday, bearing food from Popeye's. The most exciting I did was fold laundry.
Amy brought home three feral kittens that had been spayed and released them in her back yard as part of a program at the animal shelter where she works.
No TV or films this week. As far as reading goes, I finished MARPLE, a collection of twelve stories by well-known authors featuring the Agatha Christie character. A noble effort but it me apprecite Dame Agatha's writing all the more. The latest Mickey Spillane/Max Allen Collins book KILL ME IF YOU CAN featured a revenge-driven Mike Hmmer during the time when his secretary Velda went missing. Hammer has become a mythic archetype and is especially appreciated on that level. Stephen King's new blockbuster FAIRY TALE also dealt with mythic archetypes nd the importance of story. This alternate world fantasy has been described as King's best book in years; the pages just flew by. Continuing with archetypes, I read the latest graphic novel (Volume Three) in the rebooted Lucifer series based on the character created in Neil Giaman's Sandman stories, THE WILD HUNT, written by Dan Watters. I also read Lincln Child's CRYSALIS, the fist Child novel I have read (although I did read the first novel he collaborated with Douglas Preston many. many years ago); with this thriller he seemed to be in Michael Crichton territory -- it was interesting but a tad on the meh side.
Here's hoping your coming week will not be a tad on the meh side. Stay safe, stay active, stay happy, Patti.
I was hoping the Van der Valk series might be good, Patti. I like the books, and I was wondering what the adaptation would be like. Sorry to hear it wasn't as good as you'd hoped. And you've reminded me of Michael Clayton; I've always wanted to see that, and haven't yet. I should.
I am weary with seeing TV series about abused girls who end up servicing rich businessmen and politicians. Or drug-heavy stories. Or stories about enslaved immigrants. I know Freeling's stories were always a bit rough but not like this. The third episode last night must have had three women beat up and a number of men including Van Der Valk.
I guess I want to be whisked back to the plots of a decade or two ago.
I am also watching THE HANDMAID'S TALE but if there was ever any joy it is gone now.
Glad the radiation is going well, Jerry. And glad the eyes are improving, Steve.
Diane's annual Buffalo Bills Party erupted in joy as the Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-3. The Party is always better when the Bills win! We'll be eating pizza and chicken wing leftovers today. The carrot cake and apple pie were big hits with our guests!
I'm focused on reading review books publishers have sent me. A friend told me BLACK ADAM will be "awesome" but I'm on the bubble about seeing it in a theater. Covid-19 rates are moving up here. I'd rather wait until BLACK ADAM shows up on a streaming service. Two of Diane's friends are battling the flu. Diane and I both have our flu shots, but don't want to take risks. Our guests for the Bills Party all tested negative for Covid and everyone had flu shots.
The looming Mid-term Elections could change everything. And, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that would allow State Legislatures to overrule voting results. We are in danger of losing our Democracy! Stay safe!
Megan had a terrible flu so be careful.
This Supreme Court is determined to return to what we knew two centuries ago. Evil men (and one woman)
I'm guessing we'll watch that movie (or at least try it) when it gets to cable, as Jackie is a huge Kevin Kline fan and I like both of them. The only movie we've watched recently was COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER after Loretta Lynn died. It was as good as I remembered, and Sissy deserved her Oscar. I also read the book years ago. That was excellent too.
Anyone with Britbox should watch SHERWOOD, a very good 6 part series based on a couple of real murders in Nottinghamshire in 2004. A former coal miner (Alun Armstrong), still bitter about the 1984 coal strike (he still calls people "scab" 30 years later) is (WARNING) shot and killed with a crossbow and left lying in the street. (END WARNING) The lead cop is David Morrissey, who grew up in the area. But he gets help of a sort from Robert Glenister, a London cop who had been sent as a young copper to help out during the strike, with - so far - unexplained results. Plenty of other well known British actors - Lesley Manville, Philip Jackson (far from his Insp. Japp persona), Claire Rushbrook, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt (both from Downton Abbey), Andrea Lowe (from DCI Banks - and there is a small role for an almost unrecognizable Stephen Tompkinson, Banks himself), Lorraine Ashbourne, Clare Holman (doctor and love interest in Lewis), among others. Very well done, and I can understand why it has already been renewed for another series.
Working our way through the newest BORGEN, Brigitte really has lost her touch from the earlier show, and her now grown up son Magnus needs a good smacking. Almost though RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER and A PRIVATE AFFAIR and series 4 of SPIRAL. Watching the new SHETLAND as each episode drops on Tuesdays. Final series of THE SINNER starts Thursday on Netflix. Also enjoying (though they are really way too old now) the last DERRY GIRLS series,
Still reading short stories. Also enjoying the third Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman.
I think Robert Glenister was in LIFE ON MARS. Of course, all of them are very familiar by now. When we lived there, Phil called them the Anointed Twelve.
Nope that was Philip Glenister.
Glenister's younger brother Philip was the one in LIFE ON MARS and the sequel, ASHES TO ASHES. Robert was in MI-5 (SPOOKS) as the Home Secretary for several series, and in things like PARANOID and HUSTLE (which I didn't watch). Their father was a television director. Robert's son is an actor and plays the younger version of his character in SHERWOOD.
I see you caught that. They are only a year apart and have a certain resemblance.
I never did see ASHES TO ASHES. Maybe it's on BRITBOX.
I would love to watch VAN DER VALK if only to see Amsterdam scenery, but I don't want to add Masterpiece to Prime right now.
I get Robert Glenister and his brother confused all the time. I loved him in HUSTLE, although the show itself was not my favorite. I will look into SHERWOOD.
Reading: THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE by Richard Osman, 2nd book following THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. I have a hard time putting the book down when reading in the evening. Finished SENSE AND SENSIBILITY by Austen but still reading ANNA KARENINA by Tolstoy.
We went for a walk this morning and it was overcast and cool and very nice walking.
I watch Van der Valk on my regular PBS station.
I am trying to get the Osman book at the library but it is very popular.
We are having gorgeous weather too.
Peter Robinson RIP. Passed away at 72. One of my favorite mystery writers.
I saw the Peter Robinson news. Too bad. I need to get back to the BANKS series.
On Saturday I volunteered to help out at the Trek Bicycle race in Waterloo, WI. I took advantage of the opportunity for a long walk there from home. On the rural highway about a 1 to 1.5 miles outside Waterloo I crossed the road to avoid some dogs. One of the dogs crossed the road with me and bit my right leg and broke the skin. I was not pleased. I reported the bite to police and the Sheriff's Deputy called today to say the dog had a rabies vaccination.
And now I have a cold and took the day off work.
I watched the Jason Momoa version of CONAN on HBO and enjoyed it.
Started reading Hilary Fitzgerald Campbells' MURDER BOOK today and am enjoying it quite a bit.
I bailed on reading Danny Gardner's ACE BOON COON. I could not get into and had confusion on what was going on. Maybe my cold and overall aggravation are to blame
Anonymous post was mine. Phone does not want to login
-Gerard
I think I've read pretty much all of the Peter Robinson books. I did get to speak to him at a Bouchercon and tell him that I was a big fan.
I have the David Milch book in transit to the library.
Dog bites are frightening common. I hope the owner is being fined and perhaps required to put the dog down.
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