Day 23 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

A busy day ahead so I'm going to try and get this list our early. Our new microwave is being installed this morning and we've got a few errands to run also. I'm adjusting my list somewhat today. I will have two books today as I had one more 5 star selection in December and I'd already completed my list. I've also thought of three other TV shows that Jo and I enjoyed very much this past year, so my final 3 TV shows will in fact be six. So there you go. I hope you like them all.

Books 3 A & B

Cornelia Funke

3a. Cornelia Funke - Inkspell (Inkheart #2).

Cornelia Funke is a German author of children's fiction. She's best known for her Inkheart trilogy. I first heard of the books when the movie Inkheart came out. I bought the first book when I was living in Victoria and enjoyed it very much. It's taken me much too long to get around to reading the 2nd book. I have the 3rd book on my list for 2020 as I do want to see how the series wraps up. My review of Inkspell is below.






"Inkspell is the second book in the Inkworld series by Cornelia Funke. I enjoyed the first book very much and this second book was just as good. It's a very rich fantasy peopled with interesting characters and a wonderful story.

In the first story Mo and his daughter Meggie and aunt are harassed by characters from a story created by Fenoglio. At the end, Meg's mother Resa is returned from captivity in Lombrica, but is unable to speak any more. Some of the characters from the book remain, especially Mortola and Basta and the are a threat to Mo and his family. With the help of Orpheus, and later Meggie, Mortola, Basta, Mo, Resa, Meg and Farid all get sent to the fictional world. Mo is shot and lies critically injured.

The story moves from the various characters as they search for each other and interact with the other characters that reside in this rich, wonderfully described world. You have two competing Kings; the Laughing Prince and the Adderhead. Fenoglio the author of the story and creator of this world, has also been sent there and tries to influence events. There are almost too many events and characters to give you a complete impression of the story and people.

There are so many unique aspects; the fire creating abilities of Dustfinger and Farid, this ability to change lives with the written / spoken word. I loved the 'good' people; Roxane, the Barn Owl, Resa, Dustfinger, etc.. and the villains are very scary. Mortola and Basta especially. It's just a fascinating second book and I can't wait to see what happens in the final story. The story was resolved to an extent but there are still unresolved issues that I need to get satisfied.. Excellent!! (5 stars)"

Lucy Maud Montgomery

3b. Lucy Maud Montgomery - Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables #2).

L.M. Montgomery was born on Prince Edward Island 1874 and died in Toronto in 1942. She is a true Canadian icon, her writing known around the world and the TV series based on her Anne of Green Gable books and her Emily of New Moon books are popular worldwide. I bought Jo pretty well the whole Anne book series two years ago as we'd started watching the CBC's latest version of Anne, Anne with an E. I found myself reading the first book last year and now this December I've once again delved into this wonderful series. My review of Anne of Avonlea is below.




"Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (Green Gables #2).... *sigh* What a stoopid story!! What a load of schmaltz!! What does it offer anybody, I ask? Well, maybe love... maybe friendship... maybe flights of imagination... family, happiness, a few tears, gentleness, caring.. So nothing really. ;0)

This second book of the Green Gables series finds Anne Shirley back in Prince Edward Island living with Marila. She is now 17 and about to assume her job as teacher of the school she started in. The book, like Anne of Green Gables is a series of vignettes, little incidents that make up Anne's life. Her life as a teacher, as she tries to win over her students (do you have any doubts?). There are new acquaintances, the new neighbour Mr. Harrison, grumpy and upset about the fact that Anne's cow continues to escape into his wheat crop (quite a funny incident ensues). There is young Paul Irving, one of her students and a kindred spirit when it comes to wonderful imagination. There is Miss Lavender, a spinster who Anne and Diana (Anne's closest friend) discover by accident and who becomes a dear friend and whose life Anne will change most drastically. There are the twins, Davy and Dora, from a distant cousin of Marila, who will be adopted by Marila and Anne and will spice up their lives (especially the precocious Davy).

Of course, there are the old friends from the first book; Diana and Gilbert (who plays a smaller role in this one as he is teaching in a nearby district) and their close neighbour, Mrs. Lynde, Marila's oldest friend. These people continue to enrich Anne's life, as she enriches theirs.

It's a wonderful story. You will laugh at some of the happenings, feel tears as Anne's life changes throughout, especially at the end. There are even some tense, frightening moments (see Chapter 24). All in all, it's a wonderful story of a simple, but fascinating life. At times it made me think fondly of events in my childhood. What more can you ask from a story. As I said, stoopid story! Well, ok, a lovely, warm, satisfying story. (5 stars)"

Song 3

Mac DeMarco

Mac Demarco - On the Level.

Mac DeMarco is a Canadian singer / songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer from Duncan, British Columbia. Just 29 years old he has released 6 studio albums. His musical style has been described as 'blue wave' or 'slacker rock'. On the Level was released in 2017.

TV Shows 3A & 3B

3a. Stumptown.

Stumptown started this fall and is a chance for Canadian actress, Cobie Smulders, previously of How I Met Your Mother and also starring as Maria Hill in a number of the Marvel movies, to get her own starring show. Cobie plays private detective Dex Parios, an ex-Marine veteran who has moved to Portland to take care of her brother. The series is based on a graphic novel series of the same name written by the TV show's director and creator Greg Rucka. The show is funny, sexy, full of action with great camera work and peopled with a wonderful cast. You've got Jake Johnson from New Girl, Cole Sibus as Dex's brother, Michael Ealy from Common Law and Almost Human, Camryn Mannheim from so many shows and Tantoo Cardinal from Longmire and other shows. It's also a nice venue for Canadian actors, many of whom crop up in the various episodes; Tantoo Cardinal being one of the regulars.

3b. What We Do in the Shadows.

OK, this is one strange, funny show. It must be seen. The simple description of it on imdb is "A look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of three vampires, who've lived together for over 100 years, on Staten Island." The series was created by Kiwi Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords and stars Kayvan Novak as Nandor, Matt Berry as Laszlo and Natasia Demetriou as Nadja. They are ably assisted by Harvey Guillén as Guillermo, the human assistant, who desperately wants to become a vampire. And of course there is Mark Proksch as Colin Robinson, who lives in the house with the others. He is a sense vampire, basically bores the spirit from humans. It's too difficult to put into words. There are laugh out loud moments, witty humour and just silliness. The three must wend their way through Staten Island society, deal with their master who arrives suddenly and wants to take over America. The best episode was Episode 7 - The Trial, when they must defend themselves from a vampire tribunal. These vampires are those from all of the other TV shows and movies featuring vampires; Paul Reubens from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Evan Rachel Wood from True Blood, etc. It's fantastic! You have to find it and watch it. Season 2 is coming out in 2020.

There you go folks! Enjoy!