WIDOW'S BAY looks like a good one (APPLE) Hoping it's not too scary for me. HACKS has been a disappointment so far. It had three good years and maybe that's all most shows with strong arcs have. It is hard to feel too sorry for a 75 year old who has reached the end of a lucrative career.
Reading GHOST TOWN, but it's too soon to tell. I have liked most of Perotta's books thus far.
Megan has an interview with David Chase (THE SOPRANOS) for any one who has Criterion Channel. She also discusses a bunch of movies with him-none of which I have seen but are all on Criterion.
It is still going down to freezing here at night. But at least it seems to have stopped raining.
How about you?
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Luke Skywalker sat down this morning to his usual healthy breakfast of muesli, when the cereal said to him, "Luke, I am your fodder!." [a little bit of unprovoked and un-asked for Star Wars Day humor there.]
It's been nice here with May flowers beginning to bloom everywhere, although it rained ;like stink on the last day of April showers. We usually hit the beach on Saturday mornings, but Christina's new schedule for May puts her on the late evening/early morning shift on weekends
We attended Jack's last middle school band concert this week. Jack did very well and we are quite proud. A middle school band attempting to do Jerry Lee Lewis's "Great Balls of Fire" is an experience in and of itself.
Jessie was interviewed to be finance manager of Escambia County's regional transportation department this week. The top three finance people in that department have left -- one fired, one resigned, and one retired -- so Jessie has been splitting her time between her work with the engineering department and the transportation authority, trying to bring order to the chaos. The job would be a good fit for her (more money, more authority), but because it is a county job politics may be involved, so there is no guarantee that she will get the position. She should find out this week. Meanwhile, Amy is starting physical therapy for the badly broken foot she got when she tripped on Valentine's Day. And her boyfriend Yavin ("That's Gavyn with a Y," he keeps trying to tell us.) will be starting a new job this week, working at the country jail. Amy and Gavyn will be moving in with Kaylee and Ivory, sharing a house, sometime over the next two weeks, leaving Jessie with a highly medicated, overly neurotic Carne Corso and three cats...Jessie is actually looking forward to the peace and quiet.
No bingo this week, but the clerk at the mat where I get my daily lunch of coffee and chicken tenders had accidentally printed off an extra Lotto ticket, so I bought it from her. The only other time I had purchased a lottery ticket was over fifty years ago, the week when Massachusetts introduced their lottery -- I did not win and decided there were better ways to waste my money. Now I have to figure out if this ticket is a winner and what all those numbers mean. Life can be confusing and hard for an old troglodyte.
More to come.
I'm back, with not much more.
Because of conflicting schedules, the April meeting of Erin's family book club was held yesterday. We discussed Nikki Erlick's THE POPPY FIELDS; this was the author's second book and was recommended by Erin because she lovedlovedloved the author's first book. This one good good reviews and was a "Read with Jenna" selection for the TODAY show. But... We all found it flawed and conveniently plotted. It concerns an experimental facility where people deeply traumatized by grief are place in a coma for a month or two to lessen the debilitating impact of that grief, with about twenty-five percent of patients emerging with an unfortunate side effect. It was a fast read with good writing, but the characters all needed to be hit over the head with a large stick and the underlying premise was meretricious. This month's pick (suggested by Christina) is Amanda Eyre Ward's THE LIFEGUARDS.
For television this week, I watched Will Trent deal with Amanda's death, Daredevil try to take back the city from the Kingpin, and DI Mervyn Little solve another impossible crime on St. Marie. DEATH IN PARADISE also has a meaningless and poorly explained side story concerning Commissioner Patterson; I'm just guessing, but it's probably setting the scene for the murder of a local newspaper reporter in some future episode, because I can see no other reason to introduce this nothingburger of a side story.
For book, I read THE POPPY FIELDS for the book club. I also read Marvin H. Albert's great western AP:PACHE RISING (the basis of the film DUEL AT DIABLO) as by FFB. It took me far too long to read THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER by Stephen Graham Jones. I have mention= before that I have a problem getting into his books, but once I'm in, it's a wild roller coaster ride. Despite being a knock-your-socks-off book, this lone took me a lot longer, most likely because of the two disparate voices Jones used. In the end, this one turned out to be one of the best books I have read in years, and well deserving of its awards and many nominations. I also read to massive anthologies: 101 GHASTLY LITTLE GHOST STORIES, edited by /Stefan Dziemianowicz, Robert Weinberg, and Martin H. Greenberg. and RAINBOW FANTASIA: 35 SPECTROMATIC TALES OF WONDER, edited by Forrest J. Ackerman. Both drew heavily on WEIRD TALES magazine, but Ackerman -- because he is Ackerman -- also dipped greatly into the very early science fiction pulps for some pretty creaky, clunky tales; luckily, creaky, clunky, and old fit right into my wheelhouse. Both books also had some pretty nifty stories to make up for the dreck.
I hope your coming week is not full of dreck, Patti; rather, let it be bursting with good weather, good books, good shows, and good times. Stay safe.
Jerry, the Yankees held a Star Wars Day over the weekend.
It's been unusually cool the last few weeks, but we're supposed to really warm up the next few days at least. We have tickets to see the Bobby Darin show, JUST IN TIME, next Sunday. First time in the city since...let's see... wow, can it really be November 12 when we were last in Manhattan?
Patti mentioned Tom Perrotta. I have the new one too, from the library, but the reviews prompted me to go back and get out his two short story collections, which I had never read, and I'm glad I did. BAD HAIRCUT: Stories From the 'Seventies was his first book, a collection of (clearly) at least semi-autographical stories about Buddy, a teenager growing u p in suburban New Jsrsey in the '70s. It would be hard to overstate both how subtle the writing is and how much I'm enjoying it. (I'll read the last two stories today.) Even though he's a dozen or so years younger than me, and I grew up in the city, I can recognize what he is doing and feeling. Terrific stuff.
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I'm a big fan of Lou Berney's books but for some inexplicable reason, I skipped last year's CROOKS, despite excellent reviews. Well, something got me to reconsider, and stupid me. This is a terrific book, possibly his best yet (I haven't read enough to say that, though other authors and critics have). Buddy and Lillian, a low level mob guy and a pickpocket, fall in love and get married in Vegas. But despite success there, they and their five kids have to flee to Oklahoma City (this is the mid-to-late '70s), where things get interesting. Each character gets his or her say, all are interesting, and the word "rollicking" does come to mind. You'll find yourself with a smile on your face, and isn't that what we can all use now?
We have three episodes left of the second season of THE PITT, still one of the best shows on television. Finished up series of FOR ALL MANKIND (first), THE MORNING SHOW (third), SHRINKING (second; outstanding), several others. Still watching THE BUREAU (series four, not as good), MISMATCH (French; two sisters, one a cop, one a judge), SILENT WITNESS (series 23), etc. Jackie watched HIJACK (series one) and the latest OUTLANDER and VIRGIN RIVER series. She put on the first episode of the new series of BRIDGERTON and discovered this year's theme was...Cinderella! Yes, they are actually doing Cinderella. She won't be watching.
I think i read those Perotta stories but I will have to check. I read and loved Berney's first two (although it might have been later) and loved them.What a great thing it must to be able to go to the beach anytime. Also what a great thing to be surrounded by the House family, especially in their house.
Diane and I woke up to 30 degrees this morning. It's supposed to warm up here into the 50s this afternoon, but it sure is chilly right now!
In a few minutes, Diane and I will start driving to Erie, PA to meet up with her sister, Carol, and her son who is driving her from North Canton. We'll make the exchange and Carol will stay here until Thursday. Then I'll take Diane and Carol to the Airport and they'll fly to New York City to spend with weekend with Patrick, Katie, and Carol's granddaughter, Annie, going to Broadway shows and eating at swanky restaurants. What a way to celebrate Mother's Day Weekend!
Meanwhile, I'm stay home trying to get caught up on reading and watch all the stuff I've DVRed. I'll start the 8-episode THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (PBS) and perhaps TOM JONES (PBS from 2 years ago!). Pizza will be consumed! Stay safe!
Today is supposed to be in the mid-70s. There's been a mix of rain the past week. No telling what will be coming due to global warming.
I assisted at the annual post-Prom at the local bowling alley. Did not get to sleep until about 3AM Sunday morning. The kids were appreciative. The pizza was decent. I handled the door prizes and drank too much soda pop.
Finally finished reading PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIE. I may have mentioned it last week. About lawlessness of the Illinois frontier of 1830s and 1840s. Plenty of stories about horse thievery, counterfeiting, robbery, river piracy, murder, and more. Lots of counterfeiting. An extensive network of horse thieves running from MO to OH who'd trade-off and sell-off horses down the line.
Started EL DORADO DRIVE on audio. Quite good. As expected.
Finished the YA book ALL THESE BODIES which had a preposterous concept but kept me going. A mix of rural crime set in 1958 MN and based on the Starkweather and Clutter family murders mixed with a vampire angle.
UW-Madison classes and finals end this week. I hope your grandson had a good year. We called Boy #2 yesterday for our weekly call and he was deep into working on an essay. We got off the line since we'll be moving him back home on Wednesday or Thursday anyway.
Kevin is coming home today and doing one final online at an assigned time. His classes next year are: Religion, Philosophy, Math, Astronomy. Music and Anthropology. And who says liberal arts are dead.
El DORADO was her first book set in her hometown. The next one is not.
You certainly raised theater lovers, George. I have been wondering in the COUNT is any good.
Feels so odd to me that students are back home and still completing final assignments and exams remotely. Boy #2 may be doing the same this week.
It sounds as though your TV watching and your reading have been a bit of a mixed bag, Patti. That happens to me, too. Megan's interview sounds really interesting. I know she has a lot to offer. Hope your weather warms up a bit more.
May the 4th is also the anniv of the first Grammys presentation, for 1958 recordings in 1959...for a sense of some good choices and a whole lot of cluelessness, see https://www.grammy.com/awards/1st-annual-grammy-awards
Did you see the list in the NYT yesterday of their choice of the 30 greatest living American Music writers. Some interesting/controversial choices. She and David Chase seemed to have a good rapport, Margot.
Well, I checked out the first episode of HALF MAN...about as depressing as I expected, if also slightly less convincing even given that (though the dynamic of clueless/careless teachers not bothering to rein in vicious young bullies certainly rang true to my early experience, followed by unhealthy enthusiasm on the part of adminstrators when I was pushed far enough to beat down an obnoxious "jock" in 7th Grade and a likewise "burnout" in 9th, and had the same administrator ask me, seriously, as junior high principal and then as Jr/Sr High vice principal if I wanted to Settle This the Honorable Way, in a boxing ring on both occasions...why my beating either of these other boys/young men again so that he could watch would help me or them, assuming he could bully them into it, was never even given a shred of justification....in NH public school in 1977 and 1979). Also "amusing" was how much other jerks congratulated me for beating both other boys, particularly the jock, despite their being his supposed friends.) So, perhaps I'm the wrong or the right audience for that series. But I don't see myself watching it weekly nor binging.
HACKS isn't quite hacky for me this season, but I can still see how it might seem a bit pettier, as the Jean Smart character's options keep seeming to be foreclosing on her, despite her never needing to worry where her next Porsche, much less meal, is coming from...I'm still enjoying it enough.
I didn't see that list yet, Patti...will go look for it. Not too surprising that Megan and Chase would vibe well! I don't have the Criiterion feed, but will keep an eye out if the video pops up elsewhere. (Putting on a new back porch to the house will take priority even over new vid feeds, I fear. Alice also recuperating from helping her sister and father get him resettled after her mother's sudden death the other week. Even by my standards, I am a Ray of Sunshine in these oddly cold NE US days, today....)(did I mention that our elder cat might be sick? There.)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/magazine/greatest-american-songwriters-alive.html OK, the only entries that I will not grant a second's credence to would be Lionel Richie, Stephin Merritt, and Jay-Z, but I can at very least see the argument in the other cases. Notable how little jazz and other non-pop (as in, say, no bluegrass, really) composers are represented, as well.
Patti, one of my favorite novels is THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO translated by Robin Buss (Penguin). I'm hoping the 8-episode series on PBS can compare to it. I'll let you know next Monday! I'm starting watching it this week.
I won't quibble the songwriters list. I don't know enough about the topic. I do know many songwriters get screwed by the artist. "You want me to record your song? Then I get writer credit."
Songwriters will accept the demand because the artist is so huge and popular.
Our weather overall seems cooler than previous years, but nothing unpleasant about it. Last week we had my favorite weather, overcast days almost all day, everyday. I am still having digestion problems so today, instead of buying big bags of potting soil, we went to a drug store and bought a 2-week course of Prilosec for acid reflux. It is curtailing our gardening work.
And I will be keeping this brief.
Last week, Glen started reading A DISTANT MIRROR: THE CALAMITOUS 14TH CENTURY by Barbara Tuchman. He wanted to like it, but he gave up on it about 10-15 pages in; he found the writing too dry and he could not get into it. It is the first time in a long time that he DNFed a book.
He recently started reading THE SIEGE by Ben Macintyre about the 1980 hostage crisis at the Iranian embassy in London. That is going much better, although it has a huge cast of characters that he can't keep up with. But he always likes Macintyre's books, so I am sure he will like this one.
Last week, I finished reading TATIANA by Martin Cruz Smith, the eighth book in the Arkady Renko series. So good; it got better and better as I was reading it.
I am now reading NOSY NEIGHBORS by Freya Sampson. It is a mystery, although I did not realize that when I started it. A cozy mystery set in a Victorian apartment building; the landlord is evicting all of its inhabitants. Some of them have lived there more than 30 years. It starts slowly, but I got more involved in the story after about 50 pages.
Let me know how the prilosec works. Pepcid AC isn’t cutting it.
And I don’t know half the songwriters on here.
And I'll say after mulling that I might've been too quick to dismiss Jay-Z (but best living? as with most of these, No)...but definitely not the other two.
You'd have to spend a lot more time with new, younger-adult oriented music than I suspect you ever would to have come across much of their work. Some of the contumely engendered in me by anyone nominating Lionel Richie, the purest hack here, in this wise splashed harder on Jay-Z than it should have
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