Been reading ANGEL by Elizabeth Taylor in small increments. It is a satirical novel about a woman who fancies herself as a great writer. Her purple prose sells well but even her editor laughs behind her back. If she wasn't so pretentious you might pity her. Well, I still do because what writer doesn't want to look kindly on herself. On some days at least,
I am just about finished writing a short story, which has taken all kinds of unexpected twists and sent me down 1968 Philly sports teams more than once. It is the first I have finished in its entirety since Covid.
Went to a lecture at Oakland University on the Tulsa Race Riots, which are different from how WATCHMEN portrayed them. Amazing how they were buried by the townspeople for almost a hundred years. And if the Republicans have their way will be buried again. We ordered the book in hopes of persuading our book group to read it for March.
Going to the Detroit Film Theater's Animated Oscar/short subjects nominees today. (Too long but enjoyable). Big crowd.
Still watching THE LAST OF US, ALL CREATURES, and POKERFACE.
How about you?
17 comments:
Reading Jonathan Kellerman's newest, Unnatural History. Been reading through several short story collections.
Saw no movies at the theater. Just not much of interest right now. Still watching Last of Us and Poker Face. John Oliver is back I'm glad to see. Also watching C. B. Strike based on the Robert Galbraith novels. Gave up on Vienna Blood.
Weather has warmed up nicely. Which is fine by me.
So happy you've been writing again, Patti! I really look forward to reading it when it's ready!
Thanks, Margot. A strange story but it felt good to be searching for the right word. Editing was always my favorite activity but you have to write to edit.
I tried Strike but it is so darn dark-not story wise filming-wise. I can hardly make out what is going on in many scenes.
Katie and her Book Club members were supposed to fly to Jamaica today. But Katie tested positive for Covid-19 so she's obviously not going. She's been so careful during the Pandemic and just when she's about to go on a much needed vacation...this happens.
Meanwhile, Patrick managed to buy FOUR tickets to the Beyonce Concert in Vegas. Plenty of travel in the next few months, too.
Diane and I saw ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA which was disappointing. It's basically a commercial for an upcoming AVENGERS movie.
Our weather has been abnormally warm. No snow on the ground which is atypical for this time in February--usually one of our slowest months. Stay safe!
My early morning response seems to have vanished. It had been up there right after Stece's, promise. **sigh**
In brief: I read some stuff, did some stuff, it's getting wamrer, and I'm looking forward to your new story. Ta!
Meanwhile, Jackie found a few Britbox shows to try as well. We've started the first, A CONFESSION, with the ubiquitous Martin Freeman playing another cop (this is a "docudrama" so the cop is a real person), this time hunting a serial killer of young women. The mothers of two missing girls are played by Imelda Staunton and Siobhan Finneran. Only watched one episode so far.
Also watching ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL and VERA (PBS and Acorn, respectively).
I'm reading THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB by Will Schwalbe (prompted by his new book) and short story collections by Claire Keegan and Edith Pearlman. I finished the Christie collection, MIDWINTER MURDER.
Great. I see my post disappeared yet again. Fortunately, I saved it this time.
WTF?
Jerry, same here.
I wonder what I can do about that.
Always feel free to send it to me and I will post it. So far mine never disappear. (pattinaseabbott@gmail.com)
I emailed it to you.
(Jeff)
Sorry about Katie. Bummer.
With the warm winter (relatively, at least) up north, it won't surprise you that South Florida is warming up. Looks like all low to mid-80s here this week. Make sure you bring lightweight clothes when you come.
We added a few Netflix shows (all from the last few years). I think I mentioned them last week int he disappearing post, so here again:
UNDERCOVER. There were three series (8-10 episodes each) of this series. A Belgian and a Dutch detective go undercover as a couple to get close to the top Ecstasy producer/dealer. In every episode they are close to exposure or other trouble. Good show, worth a try. The dealer's wife is a fun character.
WOMEN AT WAR. Four French women in the First World War. One series so far. One is a prostitute, near the front to look for the son she gave up for adoption. A second is a nun, the Mother Superior of the convent they've turned into a field hospital. The third is the wife of the local factory owner. (SPOILER ALERT: Turns out she was also a prostitute who married her favorite client. END SPOILER) The fourth is a nurse and abortionist wanted for murder after the wife of a cop she operated on died, now undercover as the woman who was helping her escape to Switzerland. It's soapy in parts, but is quite interesting in how different the attitudes seem than in an American series.
CALIPHATE (Sweden). In some ways this is very disturbing to watch. Teenagers in Sweden are being groomed and recruited to join ISIS and go to Syria. This girl, Pervin, married with a baby, wants to get out and uses a forbidden phone given to her by a friend to call Sweden, hoping to get help. But the woman in Sweden who is ostensibly trying to help her is really more interested in saving her own career, with Pervin as a second thought. Meanwhile, there is a guy smooth talking unhappy Asian teens for his own purposes, and is he the so-called "Traveler" planning a bombing attack in Sweden?
Saturday and almost all of Sunday we did not have internet, but a technician fixed it by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. This morning we went out for breakfast and bought some groceries. It has been cold here, really cold at night (for Santa Barbara/Goleta).
I have been wanting to read something by Elizabeth Taylor. I will keep ANGEL in mind. I have a copy of one of her books, MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT, that I got at the book sale. I bought it also because it is set in a hotel and has a lovely cover.
We watched the first episode of season 3 of PICARD a couple of days ago. I liked it. Just seeing old STAR TREK: NEXT GENERATION actors is enough for me, but I liked the episode too.
Patti, have you looked for the lost comments under SPAM Comments on Blogger? I can't remember if anyone suggested that before. I have had people tell me that there comments disappeared on my blog, and usually I can restore them from Spam Comments. And sometimes comments from 2 or 3 weeks previous show up in the Blogger Spam and aren't one the old post anymore, so I check there now and then.
All I can find is a million comments about gambling sites.
Oh well, then it is a different problem.
Glad you're close to finishing a story, Patti! A sports story, or one involving a baseball fan? It's definitely been years for me. Any of the short films and animations stand out?
HBO's cable version has offered the first two episodes of the newish C. B. STRIKE series. Not bad, a bit thin. J. K. Rowling is producing (at some remove, one suspects) rather than writing them, which is probably all to the good (and therefore no damning trans women in what I've seen recently).
Indeed, George, terribly sorry about the timing as well as the affliction for Katie. Hope it passes quickly and quietly.
Weird, the Blogspot quirks. Frequently. And WordPress's...
I've never tried to CB STRIKE series. The novels are so long-winded and frustrating that I don't want to try the series.
On Netflix I have resumed watching STRANGER THINGS after a long break. I'm on the latest season, Season 4, now. As a compliment to the set design and costuming for the show I point out how when that season first released my brother posted some family photos from '84 and '85 that could have been from the set.
Off-color shows I've been watching are PARADISE P.D. and EXORCIST. Both are animated. EXORCIST is from Poland with a low-life demon hunter and makes it sound like the country has an even worse drinking problem than WI.
I read a 87TH PRECEINCT novel that had Fat Charlie Weeks in it. As time goes on he his behavior seems worse and worse. Just as worse is how damn successful McBain made him in solving cases.
After a post in a Facebook group on vintage paperbacks I found a couple audio versions of Robert Lynn Asprin's comedic fantasy series, MYTH ADVENTURES. Great narration with one character have a Norm MacDonald style of dry delivery.
Schools are closed tomorrow in advance of more snow. Parts of MN may get two feet of snow and my wife told me Boy #1 ordered a pair of snow shoes online.
Boy #2 will compete in the Solo and Ensemble competition this weekend and play bass and tuba. His playing had compliments from someone I saw today. So, I am happy.
It is Wednesday morning so I am here late, again, but did want to say that is very good news on the short story front, Patti.
Been strongly encouraged to submit to a couple of things, but I think those days are behind me. I just have nothing in the tank and have not for moths now.
It was 90 here yesterday. Supposed to cool off a bit tomorrow and Friday and then back to the upper 70s and low 80s here in DFW all next week.
Current read is an ARC THE DEAD CERTAIN DOUBT by Jim Nesbitt. This is is his latest on his series featuring the Dallas detective, Ed Earl Burch. Supposed to be out in a few weeks, not sure of the date.
And for folks in the area, there will be another NOIR AT THE BAR at The Wild Detectives on April 23rd. All the usual suspects are reading and than includes yours truly.
KRT
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