Really enjoyed the French movie ANATOMY OF A FALL.Superlative acting and a riveting plot. The French criminal justice system or at least the way trials are conducted is so different.
I am not finding much to watch other than the last few episodes of ANNIKA. Why am I paying so much for streaming channels and not using them at all? MAX is a huge disappointment especially. I have been watching author interviews on you tube a lot, which I pay nothing for. LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is not as good as the book and I wasn't crazy about the book. Although Brie Larson is perfect in the part.
Lots of podcasts. My favorites are Cultural Gabfest, Books and Authors (BBC), Filmspotting, The Bulwark and all of the newsy and cultural ones from NPR, The New Yorker, and the NYT.
Finished UNCLE PAUL, which I will have more to say about later. About to start the James McBride book, THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORY. I tried FEVER PITCH by Nick Hornby but it was just too much football for me.
Going to the Detroit Symphony today (Sunday) to see Spanish music. Rain as usual.
What are you up to?
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Had an pvernight visit from Bl;ink, a great horned owl; Markhad Blink for the evening since he had to get the bird to the airport in the predawn hours. Willow the cat was not happy sharing a bedroom with a predatir. This is a busy season at the zoo; they hold their annual Boo at the Zoo events every weekend and the place is packed with families and kids. Due to scheduling conflicts, Mark -- who is very shy and does not like public speaking -- was drafted to lead a number of "animal encounters" with various birds and sloths. Part of the deal was for Mark to have kids hand feed the sloths. The sloths did not cooperate; they were given sweet potatoes (which they like) because Mark ran out of peppers (which they LOVE), so the sloths got persnickety and refused the sweet potatoes. Mark had to run to the other side of the zoo, find some peppers, chop them up. and run back while the kids waited (patiently, thank goodness) to feed the animals. Boo at the Zoo was a success with only two ambulance trips to the hospital; one kid tripped and hit his head; another broke his arm in a very crowded bouncy house.
Jessie and Christina and the kids went on what was mostly likely the last camoping trip of the year. It involves sittuing by the fire, cooking good food, and relaxing with books and sleeping bags. They came back yesterday afternoon to throw a family birthday gettogether for me, with yummy Chinese food and craft projects for the family. We painted Hallowwen decorations on small clay pots -- Amy and Erin displayed mad skills there while I tried to get the burshes to put the paint where I wanted it. Then, dammit, we tried to make fabric pumpkins as a sewing project. I do not and have never sewn (and never wanted to sew), but I managed to thread the needle four separate times and stab my thumb the same amount. They laughed at my ineptitude. For my 77th birthday they gave me a journal where each of them took turns writing 77 reasons why they love me -- I think they had to strain to come up with 77 reasons...
I read a bit over the past two weeks. A lot of Lee Goldberg: Five books in the DIAGNOSIS MURDER television tie-in series (I had order two more from an online vendor but they seem to have vanished in shipping hell while I was sent two addisiyonal copies of a third books **sigh**) and am now reading his THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE; two Dave ?Robicheaux novels by James Lee Burke (BURNING ANGEL and DIXIE CITY JAM): two Danny Dunn juvenilkes (THE HEAT RAY and THE WEATHER MACHINE); John Brunner's erly SF novel Galctic Storm (written when he ws seventeen and published under the house name "Gil Hunt");an Erle Stanley Gardner collection, THE CASE OF THE CRIMSON KISS; a very early Rex Stout novel, HER FORBIDDEN KNIGHT (a super-melodramatic crime story about counterfeiting, from 1913); the doorstop anthology GREAT GHOST STORIES: 101 TERRIFYING TALES (my Short Story Wednesday contribution); and two graphic npvels, BATMAN: FAILSAFE by chip Zdarsky amd Jeff Lemire's LITTLE MONSTERRS, VOLIME ONE. Currently reading DEMOLITION ANGEL by Robert Crais and the above mentioned IRON-ON BADGE.
Have a great week, Patti! Stay afe, and beware of ghosties and boojums tomorrow.
I bet they didn't have to think hard at all to come up with 77 reasons. Our zoo has a boo zoo too and it is hard to navigate around the zoo this time of the year. We went when Kevin was little but he will be 17 at the end of the month. Eek.
I've heard Annika was good; I haven't watched it yet, myself. And it's funny; I wonder, too, about whether I'm getting my money's worth from my streaming channels. I think it's always good to check on that.
Yep. Peacock, for instance, I watched for one show.
Kevin will be 17 and Patrick just turned 40 over the weekend! Yikes!
Katie flew down to NYC (the flight was cheaper than the train!) and celebrated Patrick's Birthday over the weekend. Diane and I were able to Portal on Saturday and wish Patrick a Happy Birthday. Katie flies back to Boston today.
Diane meets with her Book Club this afternoon. They're discussing a Kate Morton novel.
Diane and I are still going through the snail mail, email, newspapers, magazines, etc. after spending last week in Ohio visiting Diane's sister. No more driving trips until Easter. The weather in Ohio was in the 70s all week. Now, we're in the 40s here in Western NY with the forecast of snow later this week! Stay safe!
Forties here today, too. What a close brother and sister they are. So nice.
17 is an awesome year. I hope Kevin enjoys every minute of it.
George, 40 is also an awesome year -- a great time to kick up one's heels!
Hope both Kevin and Partick realize what awesome families they come from.
We started watching the second series of THE GILDED AGE (on HBO) last night, but we'd forgotten how mediocre the first series was, and we both agreed before the end of the hour to skip the rest of it. Who cares about these stupid, shallow rich people? Not us. Clearly, the budget went into the elaborate costumes. Lots of great Broadway actors but little of interest for them to do. And Nathan Lane, with those ridiculous whiskers and that corn pone Foghorn Leghorn accent was ludicrous.
We are watching BODIES (on Netflix) but it is confusing as hell, as it jumps around timelines from 1890 to 1941 to 2023 to 2053. I hope they are going to explain things in the second half . (We've watched 4 of the 8 episodes.)
Thankfully, BOSCH: LEGACY (Freevee) dropped the daughter's kidnapping story after the second episode. It's OK so far, but nothing great.
I got THE BOYS OF '36 (PBS American Experience) from the library and they did a nice job with the 1936 Olympic rowing team, but I'd really recommend you read THE BOYS IN THE BOAT instead, an outstanding book. Of course, there is only so much you can cover in an hour.
Watching plenty on Acorn, Britbox, PBS Masterpiece and MHz Choice - LITTLE BIRD (PBS) is still harrowing, as Ether is back in Saskatchewan and has found her sister Dora. ANNIKA (PBS) is must see viewing. She just can't explain why she kept her daughter's father a secret for 16 y ears. Is she ever going to tell her the truth? Who knows.
We've added LUNA & SOPHIE, who are German cops in Potsdam, near Berlin, as well as close friends. It is a little different vibe than the usual cop show. Also added another French cop show (both these on MHz), POQUELIN AND DE BEAUMONT. She is the experienced cop and he is a loner aristocrat (though one without money). He's nice, she's...not so much. Eh.
The third series of LUPIN (Netflix) was somewhat disappointing after the earlier series.
Friday we went to see Lucinda Williams at the Beacon, the fourth time we've seen her live, though this was the first time she was not the opening act. She had a stroke a couple of years ago and still cannot play the guitar (and it is questionable if she will ever play it again), but she can still sing...and talk. For nearly two and a half hours, she mostly stood and told stories from her memoir, DON'T TELL ANYBODY THE SECRETS I TOLD YOU, followed by the songs she wrote based on those stories. She looked frail but indomitable.
We got our first set of tickets for 2024 - Bonnie Raitt on June 8. We've seen her live 8 times, starting in 1992, then 1995-1999-2005-2009-2013-2016-2022. She is one of those performers like Willie Nelson who only feels comfortable when they are on the road.
Today is my youngest sister's 62nd birthday.
We are still having warmish weather. Yesterday's high was 75, on Saturday it was 80. But our condo stays cold, especially downstairs, so we are mostly comfortable in the summer and freezing in the winter... or so it seems to me. I am wearing a warm jacket inside this morning.
Jerry, Happy 77th birthday. My 75th birthday is coming up. On the weekend, we will watch a couple of movies of my choice and my husband and son will cook for me (and clean!).
We have been watching MOONLIGHTING, POKER FACE, CSI, LONDON KILLS, LEVERAGE. We started watching THE INVADERS with Roy Thinnes and have watched 5 episodes now. We are nearing the end of the 4th season of STAR TREK: VOYAGER, only 3 more seasons after that. We watched THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 this week; also MURDER MYSTERY with Jennifer Anniston and Adam Sandler. We are finishing up shows we wanted to see on NETFLIX. We will try ENOLA HOLMES soon.
I finished no books this week, but I am 50 pages away from finishing THE 7 1/2 DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton. It is set in a decrepit old country house, where a child was murdered 20 years before. The premise is that a man is placed in eight host bodies over eight days to solve a crime, but that doesn't even begin to describe it. Very confusing.
Not sure what I will read next. In November I want to focus on novellas and science fiction, and I plan to read THE POSTMAN ONLY RINGS TWICE BY James M. Cain sometime soon.
Glen read CHEAP OLD HOUSES: An Unconventional Guide to Loving and Restoring a Forgotten Home by Elizabeth Finkelstein. This is a topic he enjoys reading about, and I think it lived up to his expections. Lots of great photos.
Now he is reading: SHADOWLANDS: A Journey Through Britain's Lost Cities and Vanished Villages by Matthew Green. He has only read a few pages of that.
I will be 76 January 1. We are all within a few years except for Todd and Gerard.
I forgot how much I disliked Gilded Age but it didn't take long to remember. Too many characters, too much money spent on their clothes, houses, etc. And they all speak so stiffly.
I had to give up on BODIES, four story lines are too many for me. Is it my age or were shows easier a decade or so ago? Agree about Lupin. I like him but the plots are so similar.
I finally figured out how to get rid of Peacock and Paramount. But then I turned around and order AMC. I am hopeless.
Yeah, GOLDEN AGE was bad. I want a story that easily and pleasantly washes over me, like ANNIKA, with her little asides about Robert Louis Stevenson, rather than a complicated mishmash like BODIES, where they keep dropping hints that all the people and stories are connected and I have to concentrate too much. But then I realize that no matter how hard I concentrate, I still won't get it until they explain everything in a later episode, so just let it go.
On Saturdays we are watching JONATHAN CREEK (which, in these early series, had wonderfully convoluted plots that only a genius like Jonathan could figure out, but which are a pleasure to watch for the third or fourth time) and MI-5 (which, except for one horrific murder in an early show, I don't remember at all), plus DINNERLADIES and THE GOOD LIFE (for at least the tenth time). And since we had extra time we threw in an episode of SUSPECTS.
The more I watch JONATHAN CREEK and ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, the more convinced I am that David Renwick is a genius, though a twisted one. His scripts are brilliant.
Sorry, GILDED AGE. What a waste of fine acting talent.
A little late today. Had two doctor appointments back to back. Cold and windy out
Haven't seen many concerts lately. A lot of bands I like seem tobe skipping Detroit. Last month I did see The Psycedelic Furs and Squeeze. I have seen Lucinda cWilliams 3 or 4 times, Always an opening act. We pased on her recent appearance because we were not sure how she would sound. On Austin City Limits last year she could barely sing. Glad she has improved.
Not watching a lot of tv. I like Bosch but could do without the daughter. HBO has been a bit skimpy lately. Looking forward to theb next True Detective in Jan. And the next season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Loved Killers of the Flower Moon. Have seen it twice. Looking forward to The Killer with Michael Fassbender. And Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix.
Just finished Lou Reed: King of New York by Will Hermes Still not convinced Warhol was a genius. Maybe at self promotion. Starting Those we Thoughtb we Knew by David Joy and a collection of stories about Body Horror by women authors (incuding Megan).
Watched the first few episodes of Payback on BritBox and liked it so far. Heard that season 8 of Shetland starts at the end of November so it will be interesting to see how they move forward without the Jimmy Perez character. Just finished reading Quintin Jardine's The Roots of Evil, which is book 32 in the Bob Skinner crime series set in Scotland. Amazing how a series can hold up after that many books. I have probably read about a third. Winter definitely has arrived here in Manitoba as it appears that the snow is here to stay. Likely fewer goblins out tomorrow night.
I am seeing Killers in two weeks but I am dreading it. If a movie is about something too terrible no matter how well done it is, I take it home with me. Especially when it is a true story. So many stories now about what we (and Canada) did to indigenous people. Horrible that we elevated Columbus for so long.
I will miss Jimmy Perez. He was that role, much like Nicola Walker in anything she does. Book 32 is amazing. I loved BOSCH in the original series but haven't tried this one.
Good to know GILDED AGE can be skipped. I, too, have too many streaming services to follow. I ended up rewatching both seasons of TEN YEAR OLD TOM on Max. Also went back to Hulu to watch ARCHER, SOLAR OPPOSITES, and something else I don't recall.
My mother drove up from IL last week for Boy #2's performance with the high school honors orchestra in Madison. The performance was in the concert hall at the Overture Center. Overture is the Big Fancy Concert Hall and the musicians were dressed for the event. Impressive concert from high school kids who had limited practice together. There was also an additional percussion performance that I really enjoyed. The percussionists were given their own piece since the other full orchestra pieces had little for them to do.
Boy #2 keeps getting reminded that college apps are coming up. Early applications are falling due and rolling admissions means later apps can leave him out of luck. C'est la vie. His grades and scores are high enough that many places would accept him immediately. But, his mother and I still don't know where he will apply and he was earlier looking at the high falutin' universities.
Speaking of high falutin' universities, another mailer from Yale came yesterday and was addressed to [Boy #2] or Current Resident. Current resident? Ouch, that's kind of insulting.
Listened to Paul Tremblay's SURVIVOR SONG about a fast-moving Rabies variant spreading across New England. Decent, but not great. I was searching for his books after a recommendation and then ran across Quebec author Michel Tremblay and thought, "Hey, this guy sounds cool," and I cannot find any English versions of his work.
Michelle Gagnon's KILLING ME just arrived on audio after a multi-month wait. Another French name but always in English. Gagnon will wait since I already started listening to THE UNWOMANLY FACE OF WAR BY Svetlana Alexievich on women Russian soldiers in WWII. Alexievich writes how the book was heavily challenged when being written and initially published pre-perestroika. The feelings of freedom after the fall of communist had many interviewees contacting her to tell more truthful stories of their experiences.
Even more: My wife messaged me that we - the parents - received mail from Univ of Tulsa offering Boy #2 tuition, room, board and a annual stipend as a National Merit Semifinalist. We are not pro-Oklahoma.
Even more more: Boy #1 university run club went to Champaign, IL for a race this past Saturday. My mother could not be there due to a funeral. I mentioned to my wife that I was pondering not telling Boy #1 that I would be there, drive the 3.5 hours down to IL and yell encouragement during the race, then just disappear and drive back to WI.
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