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Books read and media of note: Lie down with the Devil by
Linda Barnes. Barnes has a taut series of detective novels set in
Boston, which initially drew me because the woman detective plays blues
guitar, and drives a taxi. Barnes' writing is quite
straightforward and readable. This one represents a turning point
in several of her protagonist's relationships.The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud. Harry Potter made fantasy fashionable, and thousands of writers would kill to be the next JK Rowling... This one does pretty well, judging by the first of this Bartimaeus Trilogy. A smattering of lore about genies and magicians leads into to this juvenile adventure novel--dark like the Harry Potter novels-- set in an alternate modern day London where magicians have taken over Parliament. Film: The Last Samarai My son is a military history major, and we've watched a lot of war movies together, and a lot of samarai movies as well. There's usually a lot of blood and guts, and battlefield hoorah, and this movie is no exception. This one blended the US and Japan at the time of their opening door, 1876. It was poignant, even if, like me, you're not a big Tom Cruise fan. Film: Princess Caraboo A delightful English period film made in 1992, based on a bit of history from 1817. A young woman appears, speaking no English, but her royal bearing and behavior convince many of her royal if exotic lineage. An engaging story, well told, featuring many fine British actors. Film: You were never lovelier Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth. I usually think of Ginger Rogers with Astaire, but Rita Hayworth was very good in this fluffy romantic comedy that emerged in 1942 as some warfree fantasy, set in a South America seemingly lacking in real hispanics. Jerome Kern's music was not his best, but the whole thing worked in a convoluted way. Over Tumbled Graves by Jess Walter. This reads like a true crime novel, not too surprising since the author has written some. Towards the end it becomes more a whodunit and suspense novel. But what makes it worthwhile for locals is the totally local realistic Spokane setting, familiar ground for many of us who've lived here for a long time... Resolution by Robert Parker. Another take on the classic western tale by the best selling author of the Boston detective Spenser series. It resembles The Dark Knight in its reflections on the role of the vigilante in society. It playfully alludes to 19th Century philosophers, as unlikely as these same gunslingers would be to have read any of them. It is more coarse in language and action than the archetypal forebears of Zane Grey and Louis Lamour. I'm still not sure why these modern best selling authors are writing for a mostly moribund genre, but they've got the clout to get them published. And I enjoyed it... |
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