Monday, Monday

Going out tonight (Sunday) to celebrate Kevin's passing the IB (International Baccalaureate)  exams. These are the equivalent in his school of AP exams.  Yay, Kevin!

Enjoyed FILM GEEK (Max) which so encapsulates the years when my kids were growing up in terms of movies.  Finished THE BEAR, which never quite recaptured the magic of the first two years but still is better than most anything else right now.  POKER FACE is fine but they are too wedded to their concept. Much like COLUMBO, I guess. 

Very much enjoying THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE-which is a fantasy-romance novel. Or maybe add historical fiction too. Beautiful writing. 

Went down to Michigan Central (Detroit's one-time train station) again-this time on a tour. Ford has made a gorgeous building out of what was a complete wreck a few years ago. Now they charge $20 a head for the tour so they will probably come out ahead over time because they have many tours every day.  Unlike Grand Central, Union Station and Penn Station no trains will ever come through it again. There are trains that head to Chicago but not via this route. 

Heard a rumor that both Detroit newpapers are soon going to online only. Yikes! 

How about you? 

FFB: BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, Ron Kovics

 

BORN details Kovic's experiences as a soldier in two tours of duty in Vietnam, his involvement in war atrocities, his injuries, his paralysis, his treatment at various VA facilities and his road to activism. A very hard book to read and it was a terrific movie with Tom Cruise. 

Will this be the last fourth where the country we have forged is considered a democracy?  

Short Story Wednesday: "Button, Button" Richard Matheson

"Button, Button", Richard Matheson 

A package arrives at Norma and Arthur Steward's house with a gadget inside with a button on it. Shortly after a man arrives and announces to the couple that if they push the button they will kill someone in the world, and receive $50, 000 in exchange. Norma is intrigued by this, insisting that they are part of an experiment, and nothing will happen if they push the button. Except maybe they would get paid and could do the many things she was longing for. Arthur is repulsed by the idea and by his wife. This is a very well -written story although you will probably guess the ending. This was, of course, on the Twilight Zone. You can watch it on you tube. It was also the plot of the 2009 movie THE BOX.

Steve Lewis 

George Kelley 

Martin Edwards 

Jerry House 

Kevin Tipple 

Monday, Monday

 

Off to see BAD SHABBOS. A comedy is what we need. Luckily the theater near me is still trying to have some alternative films. Because everything else is for kids or action movies. 

I broke down and ordered Peacock. Decided I wanted to see POKER FACE enough to be worth it. A few other shows too. 

The first three episodes of THE BEAR were not so hot but I liked 4 although I am betting most viewers don't.

Still wading through THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. I am just not a fantasy reader to my detriment, I am sure. It's popular with many readers, I understand. 

What do people who live in Manhattan do for the fourth of July. I mean Central Park is huge but can you barbecue there?  Although it's been a long time since I had anything barbecued. 

What's up with you guys?  

 

Good Turnout for Megan-maybe 75.

Mama to the rescue although I don't like doing it. She can't do it herself because she's in the green room. I had to correct the date on their website, make them order more books, make them get enough chairs and prepare an introduction for a clerk to read who was about to say. "Here is Megan Abbott". She was impressed enough with what she read, she bought a book.Of course I can only step in when she is in Detroit. But Indy book stores do a much better job of it because they know their customers and do it all the time. Barnes and Noble has been very good to Megan though. They did a great interview online. This store doesn't do many live events. But there were as nice as could be to the panicked Mom. Even when we tried to steal chairs from the coffee bar. 

My Choices

 

THE 100 BEST MOVIES OF THE 21st CENTURY

Reader’s Choice: My Ballot

Perfect Days

2023

Tár

2022

The Great Beauty

2013

Before Sunset

2004

The Lives of Others

2006

No Country for Old Men

2007

Moonlight

2016

45 Years

2015

Calvary

2014

Phantom Thread

2017

FFB: THE DAMNED, Andrew Pyper

 

THE DAMNED, Andrew Pyper

I was attracted to this book in my search for a ghost story and because it is mostly set in the suburb next to mine: Royal Oak. MI. Although there is technically a ghost in it I would classify it as a horror story more than a ghost story.

In order for the story to work, you must embrace the idea of a child born bad. I was never quite able to do this so that somewhat impeded my enjoyment of the book.

Twins are born to a family. From the beginning the girl is trouble although just how is never much discussed until the ending. Both almost die at birth and are brought back. At age sixteen, both die again in a fire and this time only the boy is saved. He has always been haunted by his sister in life and now in death, things don't change much. His ability to have a normal life is stopped at every turn.

This was a very well-written book and the setting was interesting to me. Pyper made good use of both Royal Oak and Detroit. But his sister never came to life for me-either alive or dead. There were lots of good plot twists in it, lots of great detail. But I guess I needed someone who didn't slip though my fingers every time I tried to understand her. Her name was Ash and that about sums up her presence