FFB: CITY OF NETS, Otto Friedrich

 

One of my favorite books about Hollywood, Otto Friedrich looks at it from 1939 until 1950. A very particular time because of the influx of Europeans fleeing Nazi Germany. Many of what would be the most talented directors and actors turned up to escape the regime and the war.  Blacklisting figures heavily in this period too. This is a terrific book for anyone interested in this era and the movie business, or the politics of that time. 

LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE NOMINEES in Mystery-Thriller Category

 https://www.latimes.com/events/festival-of-books/book-prizes#mystery-thriller

Short Story Wednesday, THE STORIES OF MURIEL SPARK

 Tracy mentioned reading THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE and I read this collection in 2020. 

I happened upon an article in "Ploughshares" discussing the ghost stories of Muriel Spark and I happened to have this collection (above) which had a number of the mentioned stories in it. I found them oddly appealing although more as pieces of writing than satisfying ghost stories. 

"The Leafsweeper" has the odd premise of being about a man whose obsession was putting an end to the celebration of Christmas. When enough people were bored and tired with his ranting about it, he was put in an asylum where he rakes leaves In the house where he formerly ranted, another ghostly figure takes his place at Christmas time although he does not rant and rave about Christmas.  The story ends with the two figures becoming one. One has to wonder what the man does when there are no leaves to rake. 

"The House of the Famous Poet" was even stranger. A woman living in the house of a famous poet is on a train ride when a soldier sells her "an abstract funeral" to cover the costs of his fare. The story ends with a bombing where people in the house of the famous poet die thus requiring a real funeral.

And finally "The Executor." A woman's uncle dies and leaves her his house and estate. She turns over his literary work to a foundation, holding back a novel about a witch with a chapter left for completion. As she works to complete it, little notes turn up each day, chastising her for not finishing the work and making disturbing accusations. The Foundation notifies her that they were in receipt of the final chapter and wanted the rest of it. 

None of these were satisfying to me as ghost stories but as I said, I enjoyed them anyway. Sometimes the conceit is more interesting than a satisfying conclusion. I always like Spark's writing and these were stories from a quirky mind. The best kind, I think. I have also enjoyed a number of her novels. 

George Kelley 

Jerry House 

Monday, Monday

My movie group went to CRIME 101 this month. It was a movie that was much like so many series I drift through on TV. Lots of good actors, but it just didn't grab me. Most of the other people in my group liked it more, especially due to Mark Ruffalo being in the cast. Don Winslow wrote the novel it was based on. I know the novel was probably stronger. 

Finished BUCKEYE and it really was a great novel. I will look for his earlier one (Patrick Ryan). It reminded me of a novel from the last century in that it was chronological in its telling and was gentle on its characters. Also watching THE PITT, (more frightening than ever) and the GAME OF THRONES prequel, which I like too. Also DROPS OF GOD on APPLE.  And SHRINKING. Finished ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. Emma Thompson's daughter looks just like her. That is such a calming show but I am glad the War is over. 

Weather here is improved. I go to FL for three weeks next Monday. I will put this up in case you want to stop by.  

What about you?  

FFB: THEY CALLED US ENEMY, George Takei

 George Takei, an actor who starred on STAR TREK, co-authored this graphic novel about his childhood in internment camps during World War 2. Although it has much in common with CLARK AND DIVISION (Naomi Hirahara) it also is an individual story that is different from hers. I am always surprised at how the Japanese people in California were so ill-treated for such a long time. Most of them were a generation or two into American life and many were citizens. None of this made much of a difference in what their four years on internment were like. This is a YA book, but so much of it was new to me so I didn't mind that. We have much to apologize for in our history. 

SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY-"For a Long Time This was Griselda's Story" Anthony Doerr from THE SHELL COLLECTOR

                                                         Kevin, a long time ago.

                                     "For a Long Time This Was Griselda's Story "

 This is one strange story about a circus stunt I had never heard of. A man who can eat metal. And huge amounts of it. Esmerelda is a high school student who plays volleyball and one day goes to the circus with her sister and is mesmerized by an act where a very non-descript man  is able to consume metal. She is so enamored that she runs away with him breaking her mother and sister's heart. 

Over the years, she sends postcards from all of the places she has seen. Her sister does not show these cards to her mother and eventually the mother dies never knowing her daughter was okay all of those years. A lot of the story describes the act in great detail. Did you know their were circus acts like this one? 

George Kelley 

Tracy K 

Jerry  House 

Monday, Monday

 Another cold week. Hopefully this is the end of it. 

Did not do much outside the home. 

Watched STEAL, THE PITT, THE SEVENTH KNIGHT, Saw the movie SEASONAL VALUES again with some friends.

Had dinner at a great Chinese Restaurant.  

Read the graphic novel, THEY CALLED US ENEMY by George Takei and BUCKEYE (Patrick Ryan) 

How about you?