Theme Song: FROZEN

First Wednesday Book Review Club

Ordinary People by Judith Guest

I read this book when it was first published in 1976. At that time I was in my twenties, with two young children, a very different person than I am today. When my book group chose it for our May selection. I wondered if I would see it differently now. Whether I would like it less. If it would hold up--so many books don't quite. I also wondered if the movie, which I have seen at least twice, would be too dominant.Would Mary Tyler Moore's, Donald Sutherland, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton's portrayals overwhelm Guest's

I am only more impressed with this, a first novel, than I was almost forty years ago.

The Jarrets have suffered the loss of one son and the near-death of another. Con is recently home from a facility that helped him cope with his suicide attempt. He is blessed with an extraordinary father, Cal, but his mother, Beth, is distant, cold. He no longer is a good fit with his friends, mostly high school swimmers either. He finally agrees to see a counselor, a man who he has immediate rapport with. This is the story of the months following his return home. The writing is perfect. I can't remember last reading a book where one page flowed from the last so easily. It's not a page turner in the traditional sense--but you become so involved in Cal's plight that you need to see him succeed. Highly recommended.

For more reviews, check with Barrie Summy.

Tuesday Night Music: Mose Allison

Forgotten Movies: BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET

Continuing yesterday's theme as the"outsider," thirty years ago, Joe Morton starred in John Sayles' BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET. This was a clever movie that managed to be humorous, lovable, and still make a statement, as Sayles is wont to do.  Even a black man in Harlem can be an outsider. The plot is pretty self-explanatory. He arrives on earth with two white guys from his home planet immediately sent to bring him home.

I haven't seen this movie since 1984 and the trailer here looks even more light-hearted than I remember it. Joe Morton plays a character on SCANDAL nowadays and most of the other actors seem to have disappeared. I remember it as a series of vignettes, which may be suited to this subject.

OPENING CREDITS: HOMICIDE, SEASON FIVE

I Am A Stranger Here

So many movies deal with the issue of someone new entering a society. In some cases, like UNDER THE SKIN, which I saw and liked a lot last week, the stranger is from another planet or world. But often it's an immigrant or a new kid on the block.

What are some of the best movies and novels that use this plot device?

Sunday Night Music: Dave Matthews Band

Writing Advice: Lawrence Block

Saturday Night Music: UNDER MY SKIN

Short Story Saturday

I just read the story by Shirley Jackson in THE NEW YORKER, "A Man in the Woods" and although it was a real treat, I am not sure I understood the ending. Anyone out there read it.


Also my review of FINDING VIVIAN MAIER is up on CRIMESPREE CINEMA. Mystery lovers should love it.

How About a Dance Scene: Shirley Temple and Bill Robinson

Friday's Forgotten Books, Friday, May 2, 2014

 

Two weeks from day: May 16: Crime fiction of the 1950s.

THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, Eduardo Sacheri

Rob reviewed this book a few weeks ago, and since I loved the movie, I decided to give the book a try. I have read almost nothing set in Argentina. This was an excellent place to start. It's the story of a police office, about to retire, who decides to take up writing to occupy his time. We watch as he debates how to frame the story, what the POV should be--the questions all writers must answer for themselves.

Thinking back over his cases, he chooses the case that always haunted his the most: the rape and murder of a young woman. Sacheri weaves the story of this case with the politics of the country at the time--the late seventies--when Argentina was in the midst of what became known as a dirty war.. How the justice meted out by the criminal justice system was entirely caught up in the politics of the country. And he also shows what happens when a government or criminal justice system does not meet the expectations of the victims of crime. There is just enough detail of Benjamin Chapparo''s personal life to make it something fully satisfying. Highly recommended.

The Jugger, Richard Stark, reviewed by Ed Gorman

THE JUGGER BY RICHARD STARK

How this for an opener? I'm about to review the worst book Donald E. Westlake ever wrote. Don't take my word for it. Here's Westlake himself speaking.

"I spoiled a book by having him do something he wouldn’t do. The sixth book in the series is called The Jugger, and that book is one of the worst failures I’ve ever had. The problem with it is, in the beginning of the book this guy calls him and says “I’m in trouble out here and these guys are leaning on me and I need help,” and Parker goes to help him. I mean, he wouldn’t do that, and in fact, the guy wouldn’t even think to call him! (laughs)"

I found this quote on The Violent World of Parker website, a goodie. More" Westlake has more than once cited The Jugger as a failure, and although I’ve never seen it straight from the horse’s mouth, I’ve heard he considers it the worst book he’s ever written. Well, Mr. Westlake, if this is the worst you can do after cranking out more books than I can count, I am in great envy of your abilities.

"Mr. Westlake is wrong about Parker acting out of character in The Jugger. He seems to have forgotten the details, which is perfectly understandable, as the book was written in 1965 and he probably has not had much reason to revisit it if he doesn’t care for it that much."

Me again: I frequently find myself liking books most other people don't and vice-versa. The Jugger's a good example. No it's not a great Parker adventure but it's got a lot of early Sixties atmosphere, a cast of truly despicable characters and a constantly shifting plot.

What we have here is a kind of psychodrama. We have a dumb but crafty Sheriff, a smart but unlucky FBI man, a dumb but uncrafty lady friend of a pathetic dead guy who'd been trying to find an imaginary sum of money hidden by Joe Sheer.

It goes like this. Parker and Sheer worked together sometimes and then Sheer got old and all he did was serve as a way station for Parker. If you wanted to talk to the big man you had to call Sheer who'd screen you. But when Parter got a nervous communication from Sheer he got concerned that maybe the old man was coming apart and would blow Parker's cover. He had to go to the small Midwestern city and make sure that didn't happen.

But when he got there Sheer was dead. And the (imaginary) enormous amount of stolen money was nowhere to be found--yes there;s money but it's modest compared to what others think. So Parker proceeds to deal with both problems. Under the name of Willis.

The Psychodrama: The Sheriff is a dope but a brutal one and Parker has to string him along in order to learn what he needs to. Watching Parter mislead him is a game worth watching. The Sheriff is a human pit bull. He's capable of killing Parker at any moment. But then Parker is more than willing to strike first. On the other hand the FBI man is slick and political. Mitt Romney could play him. Quoting Norman Mailer on a writer he didn't like: "He's as full of shit as a Thanksgiving turkey." But he suspects that this guy Willis is really a big catch under another name. He's already signing a book contract and learning to wave in parades.

So The Jugger ain't perfect and ain't gonna win none of them NYC awards but I don't care. I just enjoyed this particular take on Parker's world. I read it in two dazzled sittings.

Sergio Angelini, MR. CAMPION'S FAREWELL, Mike Ripley
Yvette Banek, THE RUBBER BAND, Rex Stout
Joe Barone, THREE EXCELLENT BOOKS 
Brian Busby, EXPO SUMMER, Eileen Fitzgerald
Bill Crider. THE FUGITIVE STARS, Daniel Ransom
Curt Evans, A PENNY A WORDER, Cornell Woolrich
Rick Horton, THE CHANGED BRIDES, Mrs. E.D.E.N Southworth
Jerry House, PULPTIME, Peter Cannon
Randy Johnson, SEE THEM DIE, Ed McBain
Nick Jones, HIDE TIDE, P.M. Hubbard
George Kelley, DRUM BEAT, Stephen Marlowe
Margot Kinberg, THE RED QUEEN DIES, Frankie Y. Bailey
Rob Kitchin, BIRD DOG, Philip Reed
B.V. Lawson, MRS. MADELYN MACK, DETECTIVE, Hugh Cosgo Weir
Evan Lewis, "Smart Guy" Cleve F. Adams
Steve Lewis/William F. Deeck, MUM'S THE WORD FOR MURDER, Brett Halliday (Asa Baker)
Todd Mason, THE WORLD'S FINEST CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES, ed. Ed Gorman
J.F. Norri, THE GLASS SPEAR, S.H. Courtier
James Reasoner, BEYOND ALL DESIRE, Tom Philips
Richard Robinson, READING JOHN BUDE
Gerard Saylor, LIVE AND LET DIE, Ian Fleming
Ron Scheer, FLINT'S TRUTH, Richard Wheeler
Kevin Tipple, THE FEEDSTOCK CHRONICLES, Travis Erwin
TomCat, MURDER OUT OF ANGER, A.C. Baantjer

Final Scene: THE GODFATHER TRILOGY

Theme Music: That Girl

For a birthday

Someone having a special birthday asked that anyone who wanted to give her/him a gift at a birthday party, give her their favorite book. Not one they thought she would like, but the one they liked the best--the one that meant the most to them. What book would you choose?

My choice would be Stewart O'Nan's LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER.

Tuesday Night Music: Harry Nillson

Forgotten Movies: BETWEEN THE LINES

An underground newspaper is in financial trouble and might be bought by a larger concern (this at a time when newspapers had value). The in-fighting, worries, and sexual antics by the young, left-wing staff make up the plot. The film boasts some great actors doing some of their earliest film work: Jeff Goldblum is funny as the constantly stoned music critic, Bruno Kirby (pre-Godfather II, When Harry Met Sally) and sadly now dead, is almost unrecognizable, pre- L.A. Law Jill Eikenberry, Lindsay Crouse, Joe Morton (Terminator II, Lone Star, City of Hope) and now SCANDAL, a very young pre-TAXI Marilu Henner as a stripper and TV's 7th Heaven, Stephen Collins. Lots of fun, mostly for its actors and the idea that newspapers were important. 

The film was directed by Joan Micklin Silver. Sad that she didn't have the career this suggested was in store for her. HESTER STREET, CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER, and a few others before the fall into anonymity. So few female directors go on to a long career.

Opening Credits: FAWLTY TOWERS

The Importance of Titles

with good titles

Titles are important to me. I dislike titles that are hard to remember. A case in point was a book reviewed last week for FFB. DEATH AT SWAYTHILLING COURT.

Why would an author choose a name like Swaythilling for either a place or a title? Even if it's an actual place name I wouldn't use it on a book title. It's even hard to pronounce. Did the author think it unforgettable?

Sometime titles are too generic though. Or too familiar.

What title do you dislike and why? Whose titles are especially memorable?

5-2 Poetry: Our Old Man

Welcome to Day 29 of the 5-2 Poetry Blog Tour. This month-long endeavor is the work of Gerald So and you can find him and lots of other content at the link.




Our Old Man
by Patti Abbott

Who ate the finest piece of beef leaving us the luminescent fat
Who ordered us into the gloom for Pall Malls or a pint of Jack
Who pinched change from our pockets schoolbags bureau drawers
Who lashed our legs with his thickest belt for sport

His sun-drenched skull is a ripening orange now
Tarring the roof above us forty years on
He pours pitch and pounds nails
Crouching on legs that quake on flat land

Undulating above the pulsating thud
Of his hammer on the softening surface
His flexing back blue-black with sweat
Discarded shingles sailing like a pitcher’s brush back

Shading our eyes we watch unmoved as
He wades through tar rivulets through years past
On his knees but never contrite
His shadow as sharp as a knife encompasses us