Day 25 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

Well, it's Christmas Eve here on the West Coast of Canada but it's either Christmas Day or almost there back east so before I go to bed, I'm going to post my final book, song and TV show of 2019.

Book 1

Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel - Night.

Elie Wiesel was born in Romania in 1928 and died in Manhattan in 2016. He was a writer, political activist, Nobel Prize winner and a Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, including Night, which details his experiences as a prisoner (as a child) in both Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. My review of Night is below.








"I've just finished Night by Elie Wiesel, the true story of how he and his family were taken from their home in Sighet, Transylvania, along with all of the other Jews of his town, to Auschwitz, in 1944. As I think about what I've read, today's news headlines state the following; 'Trump Vows Mass Migrant Arrests Starting Next Week', 'Trump Plans to Turn the 4th of July into a Political Rally in Honor of Himself', 'Ocasio - Cortez - Trump Detention Centers 'exactly' like Concentration Camps'. Those are just US headlines.

What to say about this short, succinct book? It's terror, plain and simple. Scarier and harder to conceive than any horror story. The evil of people to just dismiss another group as animals, nothing more. It's scary and even scarier as it seems the lessons may not have been learned and that we are just as capable nowadays of doing the same thing.

As I mentioned, it's a short story but a story that grabs you viscerally and holds you tight until you can't breathe. Elie Wiesel was not even 16 when he and his family were put on a train and taken to Auschwitz. When they got there, he and his father were separated from his mother and sisters and never saw them again. He and his father survived Auschwitz and then the trip to Buchenwald in winter and his father died there.

It's a terrible story but it's a story that needs to be read and believed and thought upon. There is deep within mankind this type of evil that is often stoked and brought to the surface. We need to learn from this book and others so we can fight it. Sorry for preaching. Just read it. (5 stars)"

Song 1

Mabel

Mabel - Fine Line.

Mabel Alabama-Pearl McVey is an English singer - songwriter who was born in Spain. She is the daughter of Swedish singer Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack producer Cameron McVey. Her debut album was released in 2019. Fine Line, which features Not3s was released in 2018. The song peaked at #11 on the UK charts. I've had it on my USB for awhile now and love it every time it pops up.

TV Shows #1A and 1B

1a. The Brokenwood Mysteries.

I've said it previously in one or two of my earlier posts in this thread, that our local Public broadcaster, Knowledge Network, has discovered some excellent quirky mysteries, especially from Down Under. The Brokenwood Mysteries, from New Zealand, was one such show. Over the past year they showed all of the first five seasons. We loved it right from the get-go. The synopsis, a la imdb, is -

"Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd arrives on assignment in Brokenwood, a small town where memories - and animosities - run deep"

It's a sort Midsomer Murders with a twang. Mike Shepherd is a country music fan, especially Kiwi Country so the episodes are interspersed with great bits of music. The show is funny, with a great cast and also with neat little mysteries. Because all of the episodes are set in the little town of Brokenwood, you get to meet the same characters over and over. And they are quirky and fun. The main three cast members are Neil Rea as Mike Shepherd, Fern Sutherland as his DS Kristin Sims (show gets all of the good lines) and Nik Sampson as DC Breen. Another of our favorite cast members is Maori, Pana Hema Taylor, who works on Mike's vineyard and does other odd jobs around town and seems to always know something about what's going on. He disappeared for some reason in Season 3 and was replaced by his cousin, Rawiri Jobe (Kahu). We were so disappointed when we came to the end of season 5. It seems that Fern Sutherland moved to Vancouver to try her luck there. I've since read that they have filmed four more episodes and they came out in November. Jo and I will be finding those and watching. Great show!

1b. A Discovery of Witches.

If you enjoy fantasy, then Discovery of Witches is your thing. It's sexy, has vampires, witches, werewolves and demons, and has a battle between all of the races. It's also very dramatic and has a great cast; the fantastic Teresa Palmer as Diana Bishop (witch), Matthew Goode as Matthew Clairmont (vampire and love interest), Owen Teale as Peter Knox (scary bad guy), Alex Kingston as Sarah Bishop (Diana's witchy aunt), etc. The synopsis is below

"Diana Bishop, historian and witch, accesses Ashmole 782 and knows she must solve its mysteries. She is offered help by the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, but he's a vampire and witches should never trust vampires."

The series was based on books by Deborah Harkness. I have the first book and will try in 2020. I'm happy to say there is a second season coming in 2020. I can't wait.

So there you go folks. I hope some of my Top 25 interest you. Merry Christmas to all of you. Best wishes for 2020.

Day 24 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

Merry  Christmas Eve!

Our Xmas Tree circa 2017 :0)

Wow! That sneaked up on me. Time for my penultimate book, song and TV show(s) favorites of 2019. Then maybe I might head out for a quick walk if the rain holds off.

Book 2

Richard Mason

Richard Mason - The World of Suzie Wong.

English author Richard Mason lived from 1919 - 1997. His novels usually dealt with Briton's experiences in exotic locations, especially in Asia. Over the course of his life he wrote six novels. His fifth was The World of Suzie Wong, written in 1957. I will try to find his other novels. My review is below.









"The World of Suzie Wong is my first exposure to the work of English writer Richard   Mason. Mason lived from 1919 - 1997 and over the course of his life he wrote six novels. Suzie Wong was his fifth novel and written in 1957. The book was converted to a movie in 1960, starring William Holden and Nancy Kwan. The book had that feel to it, in my mind, you know, a Sunday afternoon matinee on TCM.

Suzie Wong is a Chinese prostitute, a bar girl, who works in Hong Kong. Robert Lomax is an Englishman. The story starts in British Malaya, where Robert works on a plantation. The owner has strict rules about the men are not allowed to fraternize with the native Malaysian girls. So to keep himself occupied Robert begins painting. Eventually, he decides to move to Hong Kong and paint there. Being limited in his funds and wanting to live in the real Chinese part of Hong Kong, he rents room in a hotel in Wanchai. The hotel is frequented by bar girls, Chinese prostitutes, who stay in the bar and pick up British and American sailors who frequent the place. They then use the rooms in the hotel with their pickups.

Robert loves the atmosphere of the hotel, uses his balcony to paint. He loves the girls, becomes a confidante of theirs. He meets Suzie Wong and they develop a close friendship with her. He loves her personality, her attitudes, her humour, everything about her. Theirs is not a sexual relationship,, in fact, he has no sexual relationships with any of the girls. He just likes the atmosphere, is inspired by the area... and it does suit his limited finances.

The two, Suzie and Robert, are like best friends. Suzie has various relationships during the course of the story and Robert is still a close friend and becomes acquaintances with these other men. It's an interesting dynamic, this relationship, Suzie using Robert's room, as a place to hang out, to discuss her life and Robert's life and their attitudes and feelings.

Of course, the feelings between the two do progress and the development of a relationship between them is well-presented. All in all, the story is interesting, emotional, peopled with excellent characters; the other girls, while not crafted in great detail, are still presented as wonderful women and individuals. The story has great emotional content and rises and falls with the various incidents that occur over the course of this excellent story. One thing that struck me, and maybe it's because I'm a man, the somewhat misogynist attitude of Robert that becomes apparent when his relationship with Suzie becomes more and more personal. Suzie doesn't want to be a bar girl if she's going to have a relationship with Robert, but then how will she support her child. Robert's attitude to this is interesting. I won't get into it but I'd be interested to see what a woman would think of it. I think it's pretty clear without me describing it.

Anyway, that little bit does not detract from the excellent story that Mason tells. It's a satisfying character driven story that will leave you feeling excellent. (5 stars)"

Song 2

Georgia

Georgia - About Work the Dance Floor.

Georgia (born Georgia Barnes) is an English music producer and singer. Her father is Neil Barnes from the group Leftfield. Georgia has previously drummed for Kate Tempest and Kwes. Her debut album was released in 2015. About Work the Dance Floor was released in 2019. I love, love, love this song. It's one of those songs that gives me chills. I love the video too. I hope you like it too..

TV Shows 2A & B

2a. Evil.

Evil is another of the new shows of 2019 and it immediately grabbed Jo and I, which was unique because Jo doesn't normally like scary shows. And Evil has a very creepy quality to it. The synopsis on imdb is -

"A skeptical female clinical psychologist joins a priest-in-training and a blue-collar contractor as they investigate supposed miracles, demonic possession, and other extraordinary occurrences to see if there's a scientific explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work."

Call it The X-Files meets horror. Such a fantastic show! And what a discovery Dutch actress Katja Herbers is.  Katja plays the psychologist Kristen Bouchard whose life is turned upside down when she joins priest wannabe Mike Colter, David Acosta and tech wizard, Asif Mandvi, Ben Shakir, as they investigate strange happenings for the Church. Along the way they will encounter the 'devil?' or a demon at the very least in the person of Michael Emerson, Leland Townsend, who will do anything to disrupt their lives. You will also meet Kristen's four fantastic, wonderful daughters, who are a world on fire, non-stop talkers. There are so many wrinkles in the show that will have you laughing and then put you on the edge of your seat. I hope it continues.

2b. The Rook.

Credit where credit is due, Jo discovered this show on one of those nights when she couldn't sleep and she got me to watch it. Wow! It's one of those unique fantasies that just grab you and make you watch it. The imdb synopsis is below.

"This London-set series centers on a young woman pursued by shadowy paranormal adversaries while grappling with extraordinary abilities of her own."

It doesn't really do it justice but it's a show with so many complexities and levels. Emma Greenwell, Myfanwy Thomas, wakes up in a field of bodies, not knowing who she is or what happened. The story of Season 1 is her search to remember who she is and how she got there. She is discovered by the agency for which she works and gradually she begins to find clues she left for herself; two sets of clues that she can follow depending which path she wants to take - run away or stay and fight. The series is based on a novel by Daniel O'Malley, which I have to find to see how it compares to the series. So many interesting characters besides Emma Greenwell, who is excellent by the way. You've got Joely Richardson, the agency boss, Adrian Lester, as her right hand man, Olivia Munn, as an American agent. All have their own unique powers. And the most unique are Gestalt, the four agents who have a hive mind and feel and react in unison. Fascinating stuff! All I can say is there better be a darn 2nd season!!!!!

So there you go friends. Have a great Christmas Eve or just enjoy your day if you don't celebrate.

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!

Day 22 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

Watford beats Man U 2-0! Good grief! What a laugh! So much for making Marcus Rashford (Man U striker) my team captain for this week's games and even using my triple Captain points on him. Gaaaa!

Oh well, on to bigger and better things. My Top 4 books, song and TV show of 2019.

Book 4

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling - Captains Courageous.

Kipling was born in Bombay in 1865 and died in London in 1936. He was a journalist, short story writer, novelist and poet. He wrote such classics as Kim, The Jungle Book, The Man Who Would Be King. I've only previously read one of his other stories, Puck of Pook's Hill and I do have his Just So Stories on my bookshelf. I found Captains Courageous during one of my looks through the local Little Free Libraries in the area and thought I'd take a chance on it. I'm glad I did as it was surprisingly excellent. My review is below.





"What a lovely, entertaining story. I found Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling by chance. Kipling might be better known for The Jungle Book and Kim but this story was great.

It starts with a bang. Young 15 year old Harvey Cheyne, son of a wealthy family and spoiled, is on a sea voyage with his mother when they hit a storm in the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, and he is washed overboard. Luckily for Harvey, the fishing fleet is working at the Grand Banks as well and one of the fishermen, out in his dory, sees Harvey in the water and saves him.

Harvey wants the crew of the We're Here to take him back to the mainland so he can contact his father. They don't believe he is from a wealthy family and can't afford to leave the prime fishing season for such a long period. So Harvey finds himself forced earn his keep working on the fishing boat. The boat is crewed by a wonderful diverse bunch of characters and Harvey soon makes friends of all of them, especially Dan, the son of the ship's master, Disco Troop.

We follow Harvey and the crew as they spend the season out on the banks with the other fishing boats, learning about the people, how hard the job is, but how there is such wonderful camaraderie between the crew members. It's a brave, daring book but at the same time, it's also folksy and friendly. We watch Harvey grow as a human being, from a selfish spoiled boy to a hard-working young man. It's an excellent coming of age story, a pure joy to read. Fair warning, it will take a mite to get used to the language as it was written in 1896 and there is a fair bit of local dialect. It doesn't take away from the joy of the story. Well worth reading (5 stars)"

Song 4

The Blue Nile

The Blue Nile - Tinseltown in the Rain.

The Blue Nile are a band out of Glasgow who formed in 1981. Their early music was based on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation. They worked with artists such as Rickie Lee Jones and Peter Gabriel. They seem to have disbanded in 2004 although there has been no official announcement. They produced 4 albums during this period. Tinseltown in the Rain was released in 1984, the 2nd song off A Walk Across the Rooftops.

TV Show 4

The Unicorn

The Unicorn.

Jo and I have enjoyed a number of the new shows this season. There have been a few excellent comedies as well. The Unicorn is my favorite. It stars Walton Goggins as The Unicorn. He is new widower and according to his friends, that makes him The Unicorn to all the available women. He has two lovely daughters and a cast of excellent friends who are trying to make him live his life. You've got Rob Cordry and his wife Michaela Watkins and Omar Benson Miller and his wife, Maya Lynne Robinson. They are all great and add so much to the show. Each has their foibles and neat characteristics. You have to watch. You will laugh! The imdb synopsis is below.

"A widower is eager to move on from the most difficult year of his life, only to realize he's utterly unprepared to raise his two daughters on his own and equally unprepared for the dating world where he's suddenly a hot commodity." Just like I said, eh?

So there you go. Tomorrow we hit Number 3. Woo hoo! Enjoy your Sunday.

Day 21 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

I finished an excellent mystery this morning and have been watching the Live Text of the Footie matches as well. C'mon Brighton! Score a goal! Another busy day ahead for Jo and I; last shopping trip, picking up a crib for visitors coming on Boxing Day, etc. So before we head out, time for #5 of my book, song and TV show of 2019. Let's get going!

Book 5

Ross Macdonald

Ross Macdonald - Sleeping Beauty (Lew Archer #17).

So far I've read three books of Ross Macdonald's Lew Archer series. I first became aware of his writing when I discovered that of his wife, Canadian mystery writer, Margaret Millar. She is one of my favorite mystery writers, up there with Minette Walters. I finally decided to try Macdonald with a collection of Lew Archer short stories and loved them. I then read The Drowning Pool and loved it. So now I'm hooked and will continue to explore his mysteries, both the Lew Archer series and also his standalone mysteries. My review of Sleeping Beauty follows.





"Lew Archer is a private eye in Los Angeles. He's an ex-cop who decided to work on his own. In Sleeping Beauty, he has just returned from a trip and hears about an oil spill west LA as he's driving back from the airport and decides to check things out before he returns home. While there he meets a young woman, Laurel Russo, who is upset by the spill and also by the death of a seabird that she had pulled from the oil-soaked waters.

Archer offers to drive her home, takes her to his place to calm her down. She leaves and he discovers that she has taken a bottle of nembutol (tranquilizers) from his medicine cabinet. Concerned, he drives off to try and find her. He checks with her husband, a pharmacist, from whom Laurel is currently estranged. Tom Russo hires Archer to find her.

It turns out that Laurel is from a rich family. In fact, they own the oil well that has sprung the leak. They don't like Tom Russo, feeling he is beneath their status. Laurel has an on and off again relationship with them and with her husband. Yes, she has issues.

This begins Archer's investigation into Laurel's disappearance. It appears that she has been kidnapped as her parents receive a ransom threat. Archer finds himself getting deeper into this family's history / skeletons in their closets as he continues to investigate. Is that enough to pique your interest?

This was a fantastic mystery. Ross Macdonald has such a clear and descriptive writing style. You can see the characters, the locale and even with the twists and turns, the story flows along so neatly and smoothly. Lew Archer is a fantastic character and the characters he meets over the course of his investigation are all interesting with flaws and personalities that make the whole story even more interesting and readable. I enjoyed this so very much and even the ending, which had a nice little twist, was eminently satisfying. (5 stars)"

Song 5

The 1975

The 1975 - Chocolate.

The 1975 are an English pop / rock band that formed in 2002 in Cheshire. The band consists of lead vocalist Matthew Healy, lead guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald and drummer George Daniel. They released their first album in 2013 and have since released two more, with one on the way in 2020. Chocolate was their second single, released in 2013.

TV Show 5

Guy Pearce as Jack Irish

Jack Irish (Seasons 1 & 2).

Over the past few years, Jo and I have enjoyed a number of excellent mystery series from Down Under. Our local Canadian public broadcast station, Knowledge Network specializes in finding these gems; the Phryne Fisher mysteries, the Doctor Blake mysteries, Janet King, etc.

Jo had caught a couple of the Jack Irish TV movies while searching for things to watch on line so when this series came up on Knowledge, she highly recommended it. Season 1 came out in 2016 and Season 2 in 2018. Jack Irish, played by Guy Pearce, is an ex lawyer, turned detective. He's kind of hapless, a bit of a drunk, has trouble with personal relationships, but seems to find his way through solving his cases. He's supported by a fantastic cast. Marta Dusseldorp, who we loved in Janet King and also A Place to Call Home is an investigative journalist and also Irish's on again, off again girlfriend. Frustrated by his inability to commit, in Season 1 she heads to the Philipines to investigate a Muslim guerrilla group. Her work there also has a relationship, it turns out to a case Irish is investigating.

Also in the mix are two race horse aficionados, who need Jack as a bit of a blind in buying horses and also help him with strong arm tactics. Jack's office is in a local pub and there you have another entertaining group of characters, always free with advice. My favorite character is Simone, Jack's computer genius. She's a hoot. Both seasons were fantastic, funny, a good mystery and also with fantastic tension at times. I'll have to find the movies now. I can't recommend more.

OK, so time for me to get ready for our day's outing. Have a great weekend, the last before Christmas. Take care.

Day 19 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

Jo and I are watching an interesting movie on TCM as we relax this morning; The Victim from 1961, starring Dirk Bogarde and Sylvia Syms. We got a few more things accomplished yesterday, quite a busy day. We sure slept well last night. LOL.

Now to move onto my Top 7 book, song and TV show.

Book 7

John Christopher

John Christopher - The Death of Grass.

Sam Youd lived from 1922 - 2012. An English writer, he was best known for his Science Fiction stories that he wrote under the pseudonym of John Christopher. He also wrote under a number of other pseudonyms. His best known SciFi novels included The Death of Grass, The Possessors and a young adult novel series called The Tripods. I've also read another of his young adult books, The Lotus Caves. My review of The Death of Grass is below.

"The Death Of Grass by John Christopher was written in 1956 and in some ways reminds me of John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids and The Road by Cormack McCarthy.

It's a grim, tense dystopic story. A virus, the Chung Li virus, has affected the grasses (read rice, grass, etc) of China and other Asian countries. The story is told from Britain where the main group that we will follow track the disaster that is occurring from the comfort of their lives. 100's of millions are dying in China, there are riots, panic. John and David Custance and John's friend Roger Buckley follow the news and try to prepare for the future. Roger is a government spin doctor so has inside information and tries to guide John. David lives in a valley in northern England and wonders what to do with his grain crops.

Of course, efforts to contain the virus fail and threaten the whole world. This begins a journey by John and Roger and their families to get to David's sanctuary. For the shortness of the story, there is a lot of impact and Christopher packs a lot of punch into the story. The characters are transformed by the events and once again Christopher tries, and I think successfully, to show their attitudes and how they are forced to change them to the new situation.

Everything happens in a very short time frame once the disaster strikes but don't let that fool you. The story is tense, at times scary and will leave you somewhat uncomfortable. Very powerful and worth reading. (4.5 stars)"

Song 7

Halsey

Halsey - Graveyard.

Born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, Halsey is a singer / songwriter from New Jersey. Jo and I saw her earlier this year when she hosted Saturday Night Live. She was lovely, funny, intelligent and a pretty good singer as well. She has said that her parents music interests were a great influence on her, music by artists such as Alannis Morissette, The Cure, 2Pac, etc. Lady Gaga give her the courage to just be herself. Since 2015, she has released two albums, 4 EPs, 17 singles. Graveyard was released in 2019 from a pending third album, Manic.

TV Show 7

Emergence.

I do enjoy a good Science Fiction show and Emergence is one of those. It was a new series released this Fall season and it grabbed me and Jo right away. It stars Allison Tolman (Jo Evans) as a small town sheriff who finds a young girl, Alexa Swinton (Piper), who seems to have survived a plane crash. Of course, everything is not as it seems. Was Piper in the plane crash? Who are all the strange people running around hiding the evidence? Does Piper have unique powers? It's a common theme for a TV series, but this one is presented so very well. And Tolman and Swinton are fantastic actors. There is a great supporting cast as well; Donald Faison as the es-husband, Robert Bailey as Tolman's loyal deputy, Clancy Brown as her father and Ashley Aufderheide as her daughter, another super young actress. I just hope it doesn't get cancelled. I need to know how it will resolve itself!

So there you go, the countdown continues as we head to the Top 5. Have a great day!

Day 18 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

Another windy, rainy day. Looks to be a busy one; Jo's final appointment to check her foot and maybe a trip to Campbell River to buy a crib for our New Year's visitors. So I'd better get a move on as times a rushing.

Book 8

Susan Cooper

Susan Cooper - Over Sea, Under Stone.

Susan Cooper is an English writer who was born in Burnham, Buckinghamshire in 1935. She is best known for her children's fantasy series, The Dark is Rising, which incorporates Arthurian legends and Welsh folk heroes into the stories. She has also written non-fiction, dramas and another series, The Boggart, etc. There are 5 books in The Dark is Rising series. Over Sea, Under Stone is the first. My review is below.







"What an excellent story! Over Sea, Under Stone is the first book in English author Susan Cooper's young adult The Dark is Rising fantasy series of 5 books. People of a certain age might remember those 60's TV shows featuring precocious kids involved in all sorts of adventures. Well, this is a reminder of those excellent shows.

Three young kids, Simon, Jane and Barnie Drew go on a summer vacation with their parents and Great Uncle Merry (or as they call him gumerry) to the Cornwall coast. Their parents have rented a house, the Grey House, from an old sailor and gumerry is staying with them.

What these three great kids don't know is that they will become involved in a search with their Great Uncle for the Grail of King Arthur. And this search will be contested by forces of the dark who also want the Grail for their own reasons. The kids find a secret room in their rental house and find a old map, which will guide them in their search. It's a dangerous search and they don't know who their enemies are and Merry isn't always about to help them. Of course they do have the sailor's dog, Rufus, faithful and with strange insights.

The story moves along at a nice clip and we get exposed to the kids' ingenuity, intelligence and bravery as the search for clues to guide them to the Grail. Their parents play very little role in this entertaining story, leaving the children free to wander about the area, deal with the 'bad guys' and have fun and adventure.

This was a completely entertaining story, lovely kids, interesting locale and lots of action. I can't wait to try the next installment, which currently resides on my bookshelves. (4.5 stars)"

Song 8

Panic at the Disco

Panic at the Disco - High Hopes.

Panic at the Disco are an American pop / rock band which formed in Las Vegas in 2004. Lead singer Brendan Urie has been the only official band member since its formation. The band has tended to change its style for each album; pop punk, pop - rock, electro rock, etc. They have released 6 studio albums. The song High Hopes was released in 2018 from their Pray for the Wicked album.

TV Show 8

All Rise.

All Rise is a new series for 2019, a court room drama starring Simone Missick as an ex-prosecutor and now a judge in the LA County Courthouse. The stories can be a bit worthy at times but all in all it's been an enjoyable first season. It also stars Marg Helgenberger of CSI as Judge Lisa Benner and an excellent supporting cast, my personal favorite being Ruthie Ann Miles as Lola's fantastic court clerk, Sherri Kansky. Now let's hope that the series doesn't get cancelled. *sigh*

So there you go folks. The countdown continues. Now it's off to run some errands.

Day 17 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

Taking the car for some recall work this morning, so let's see if I can get this post finished before I go.

Book 9

Greg Iles

Greg Iles - Natchez Burning.

Iles is a novelist from Mississippi and he's published 17 novels and one novella. Natchez Burning is one of a series featuring Natchez, Miss former prosecutor, Penn Cage. The novel deals with racism, crime, gangs, very powerful stuff. My review of Natchez Burning is below.









"Natchez Burning is the 4th book in the Penn Cage series by Greg Iles. But for some reason, it's also the first book in his Natchez Burning trilogy (all of which make up the Penn Cage books too). At any rate, after reading this book, I didn't seem to have missed not reading the first three Penn Cage books. But my interest in this book will get me to delve back into those other books. Confused yet?

So, this book begins in 1964 with the murder of a black music shop owner in Natchez, Mississippi and others by a sect of the Ku Klux Klan, known as the Double Eagles. With this introduction we move to 2005 and the arrest of Tom Cage, a local doctor, and Penn Cage's father for the murder of Viola Turner, a woman who'd been his nurse and lover back in those same '60s. Viola, who had moved to Chicago after the events mentioned above, with the help of Tom Cage, had returned to Natchez, still under threat of murder by the Double Eagles, to live her last days. Tom Cage had been treating her for her cancer and upon her death, he has been charged, first with assisted suicide and then murder. This charge has been laid by Lincoln Turner, Viola's son, who also claims that Tom is his father.

Whew! That's just the beginning. Penn Cage, now mayor of Natchez, has now to try to find the truth about this from his father, who is reticent to tell him anything, all the while fighting off pressure from the local DA, Shad Johnson and also the sheriff, racist, redneck Billy Byrd. Of course, it's not that simple a story. This story will delve back into the past as Penn tries to find out the truth of the murders in the '60s, to break down who caused them, to fight the remnants of the Double Eagles, and their sons. He will require the assistance of local reporter, Henry Sexton, who has made it his life's work to find the truth; FBI agent Jim Kaiser, who is trying to make amends for the failure of the FBI to solve the crimes in the past; and also Kaitlin, publisher of the other local newspaper, and Penn's fiance, who also wants to get her own story.

And that's just touching the tip of the iceberg of this rich, engrossing, and at times, scary thriller and look at the troubling past of southern states like Mississippi. Iles has delved greatly into similar incidents in the past to create this fascinating story. It's so well written, it holds your attention right from the get-go. There is a large cast of characters that each share the spotlight in their own right, from those crusaders who want to expose the truth to those who want to continue their 'evil' work and to crush those who would dare to try to stop them.

While the ultimate ending wasn't totally satisfying, the story on the whole is rich, powerful and will keep you turning pages. I do know I'll be reading more books in the Penn Cage series. (4.5 stars)"

Song 9

Sam Sparro

Sam Sparro - Black and Gold.

Samuel Falson (AKA Sam Sparro) is an Australian singer / songwriter born in Sydney in 1982. Sparro has released two albums, one in 2008 and one in 2012. Black and Gold was released in 2008 and reached #2 on the UK Charts. It's classified as neo Soul, synth pop and dance-pop. What ever happened to plain old rock 'n roll I ask? Anyway, it's a great catchy song, kind of Michael Buble meets Goldfrapp.

TV Show 9

Mystery Road.


In British Columbia, we have a wonderful public broadcasting network, Knowledge Network and on the weekends they show many different unique mysteries. We discovered shows like Phryne Fisher mysteries, Jack Irish, etc. Mystery Road is one of those great Australian mystery series. It started on Knowledge just a month ago and hasn't run its course yet. But even after just 3 episodes so far, I've really fallen for it. It stars a wonderful actress, Judy Davis and an actor we first saw on Jack Irish, Aaron Pederson. The show is gritty, the scenery is rugged. The imdb synopsis is below.

"Detective Jay Swan is assigned to investigate a mysterious disappearance on an outback cattle station. Soon, Jay's investigation uncovers a past injustice that threatens the fabric of the whole community."

So there you go. Have a great Tuesday.

Day 16 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book, a Song and now a TV Show

It's been a miserable day so far, windy and rainy. Jo and I had a productive meeting with our financial adviser and bought a nice lunch at the Cafe at the Base CANEX (Canadian Exchange Store). I finished another book today but I'll update that in my next Reading Update. For now, it's time to move into my Top 10 books and songs of the year. I'm going to add TV shows as well. Now please remember that they probably weren't made in 2019, just enjoyed by me in 2019. So with that reminder, let's get a move on.

Book 10

Jan Struther

1. Jan Struther - Mrs. Miniver.

Jan Struther was the pen name for Joyce Anstruther and later, Joyce Maxtone Graham. She lived from 1901 - 1953. She was most known for the character she created, Mrs. Miniver and for a number of hymns, especially 'Lord of All Hopefulness'. Her final years were marked by severe depression, including a stay in a mental institution and she eventually died of cancer. In the 1930's she began to write for Punch Magazine and the publisher asked her to write a series of columns about an ordinary sort of woman who lived an ordinary sort of life. That's how Mrs. Miniver came to into being. The book, published in 1939, was a collection of these columns. The character created by Jan Struther was the basis for the patriotic American film starring Greer Garson. My review is below.

"I've seen Mrs. Miniver, the movie starring Greer Garson, many times. So when I saw the book by Jan Struther I thought it might be worthwhile comparing the two. Well, there is no comparison because the book is totally different from the movie. However, both are excellent.

The book, as I understand it, was originally a series of columns that she wrote for the Times newspaper about 'an ordinary sort of woman who leads an ordinary sort of life - like yourself'. The movie, for those who might not have seen it, is about an ordinary English family living life during the initial parts of WWII. The book is set before the world, with the last chapter ending "Christmas 1939".

Each chapter presents a vignette as described by Mrs. Miniver, featuring her life and those of her husband, Clem and her three children, Vin, Judy and Toby. It presents her thoughts and observations about trips, events and sundry other items of their lives. It's very matter of fact in many ways but also very thoughtful. There were some chapters that I preferred more than others, some that stood out for me. Even one where she is deciding what new engagement book she wants to buy to record the events of the upcoming year struck a chord with me. Probably a personal one as I know how much my wife loves wandering through proper stationary stores. The last chapter where Mrs. Miniver is making her Christmas shopping list for her family and looks back over the last 17 years' lists and how her family has changed when she made up her lists was especially poignant.

In many ways, each chapter is a simple little story but some will definitely strike a chord with you and when you put them all together, it's a wonderful, rich story. I don't know how William Wyler came up with the idea to transition this book into a movie but he seems to have and made it just as rich and wonderful as this little book. You should try it. (4.5 stars)"

Song 10

Becky Hill & Weiss

Becky Hill / Weiss - I Could Get Used to This.

I've featured Becky Hill earlier in my Top 25 songs, back on Day 16, with Sigala and the song Wish You Well. I don't have a lot of information on Weiss, except to say that he was an apprentice to Massive Attack's James Day.Weiss embodies the spirit of Classic House. I Could Get Used to This was released in early 2019.

TV Show 10
My TV list may be a bit more haphazard. Jo and I do watch a lot of TV so I'm sure I missed some from earlier in the year. But the list I'll are all shows I've enjoyed immensely.

Shetland Season 4

Shetland Season 4 

This series is a favorite of both Jo and I. In fact, this year we've watched both Season 4 and a reissue of Season 3. Season 4 actually came out in 2018 but we do tend to get them a bit later here. The show stars Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez, Alison O'Donnell as DS 'Tosh' McIntosh, Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson, Mark Bonnar as Duncan and Julie Graham as Rhona Kelly, the procurator fiscal. The series is set on the Shetland Islands, so besides excellent stories, you get to enjoy the rugged islands themselves. In this series, Jimmy and Tosh have to go to Norway as part of the investigation. The case involves reopening of the 1994 death of a local teenager. The series is based on the Shetland series written by Ann Cleeves, who also writes the Vera mystery series. If you've never seen before, start at season one and enjoy this series as much as we do.

Time for the Mid-Week +1 Day Shuffle..

It's hard to believe that this week has passed so quickly. Already Thursday. I think I've been pretty good about book buying this year. Having said that in the past two days I've acquired 7. On Tuesday I dropped off a couple of books at my local used book store, Nearly New Books, and found a couple more. Then yesterday the pups and I went for a drive around the four Little Free Libraries in our local area that folks have outside their homes and I traded two books. Then lo and behold, a book order arrived, slightly overdue but welcome. So these are the books -

Nearly New Books

1. Shotgun by Ed McBain. This is one of the 87th Precinct books. I've enjoyed the first two so far. Number 3 is on the docks awaiting my attention. This is slightly further down the list.

"Detective Kling looked at the pair of faceless bodies and threw up...
A shotgun fired at long range can really do a job on you. But when it's fired point-blank in your face, what's left is sickening enough to make anyone puke ... even a cop.
A psycho had butchered a nice young couple - and he was loose somewhere in the 87th Precinct. He had a name, an address, an identity: Walter Damascus, a third-rate lothario who liked his women well-off, well-built, and - apparently - dead, along with their husbands. Sooner or later he would surface and the men of the 87th would be waiting - for the biggest shocks of their careers."

2. Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker. Somewhat less gritty fare than the 87th Precinct book, this is part of the Bruno, Chief of Police series, set in the French countryside, one of my favourite series.

"It's the start of summer, and Bruno's found himself the last-minute replacement navigator in a car rally race. The event has attracted a spate of outsiders with deep pockets, big egos, and, in the case of one young Englishman, an intriguing story about a lost Bugatti Type 57C. Having disappeared somewhere in France during WWII, and worth millions of dollars, it's among the most beautiful cars ever made, driving its pursuers mad with greed.
When a local scholar turns up dead, Bruno suspects unnatural causes. Still, while life may offer its challenges - often in the form of distractingly comely Parisiennes - there is always time for a good bottle and a home-cooked meal."

Little Free Libraries

3. Second Wind by Dick Francis. Francis is an author I've not tried yet but I'm interested in checking him out.

"For a few precious seconds, the shrieking wind dies down and the colossal waves lie flat. Airborne in the heart of the storm, TV weather forecaster Perry Stuart braces himself for impact. Then suddenly all is blackness as the small aircraft plunges out of control...
It takes a truly frightening accident for Stuart to discover the secret of Trox Island - and plenty of things about the human race that he would rather he didn't know. He came as a half-drowned hurricane victim lucky to be spared from the ocean. He left with information that would bring down an evil worldwide conspiracy - if they didn't kill him first."

4. Winter Prey by John Sanford. I've read the first two Lucas Davenport thriller mysteries and have enjoyed them both. This is the fifth book in the series.

"The Iceman crept up to the house on the edge of the lake. He killed the father first. Then the mother and child. And when his work was done, he set the house on fire...
Lucas Davenport had tracked killers in cities across America. But the woods of rural Wisconsin are as dark and primal as evil itself. The winters are harsher and colder. And in the heart of every mother and father, there is fear...
Because tonight, the Iceman cometh."

Better World Books, Dunfermline UK

5. The Goblin Reservation by Clifford D. Simak. I've read a few of Simak's science fiction offerings in the past couple of years. Each story is unique and interesting.

"There was Maxwell - he had just returned from discovering a new planet ... and Sylvester, the sabre-toothed tiger ... and Mr. O'Toole, the goblin ... and Ghost, who didn't know who he was ... And Alley Oop who had been brought back from Neanderthal times.
Just an ordinary bunch of everyday galactic folk - who got caught into something sinister - something concerning a big, black, impenetrable block of stone - and a mysterious crystal planet - and the life-form known as the Wheeler - the Wheeler, a bulging sack of writhing worms suspended between two wheels - the Wheeler, whose intentions were evil, and whose appearance was revolting..."

6. The Quiller Memorandum/ Quiller in Berlin by Adam Hall. I became interested in this series in my Birth Date thing. Hall won the Edgar award for one of the Quiller books. It turns out that Hall is actually Elleston Trevor who wrote The Flight of the Phoenix.

"You are a secret agent working for the British in Berlin. You are due to go home on leave, but you are being followed-by your own people, or by the enemy. A man meets you in the theatre and briefs you on a plot to revive the power of Nazi Germany. You do not believe him, but you remember that one of the suspects mentioned was a senior SS officer you met with in the days when you were working as a spy in Nazi Germany. The next day you make contact with a beautiful girl who may know something. Someone tries to kill both of you.
Your name is Quiller. You are the hero of an extraordinary novel which shows how a spy works, how messages are coded and decoded, how contacts are made, how a man reacts under the influence of truth drugs-and which traces the story of a vastly complex, entertaining, convincing, and sinister plot."

and....

7.  The German Agent by J. Sidney Jones. Jones wrote a series called the Vienna mysteries. I've been trying to find them but haven't had any luck so far. But this standalone thriller sounded interesting. It's set in 1917 when the Germans were making every effort to keep the US out of the war. They tried to involve Mexico to keep the US occupied on its southern border. The Zimmerman telegram contained news which was sure to bring the US in to the war on the side of Britain. That is the premise for this book about a German agent trying to prevent  the British from delivering the telegram to the US.

The Missus's Pop Culture Challenge

Today Jo put out the last challenge, which will finish it. We've had 90 days of fun with her challenges. I'll be checking on Days 25 - 27 today.

Day 25 - Your favourite TV quiz show, current or old. I chose Jeopardy, a long-time favourite of mine and of Jo. We do like to sit down before supper and watch. She chose A Question of Sport, which I've also enjoyed. Other shows included Only Connect (another favourite of ours), Pyramid), Blockbuster, Hollywood Game Night, etc. We do like a good game show.

Day 26 - What's your favourite movie Musical. I don't often watch musicals more than once, but I do enjoy. I chose Cabaret, although I did consider The Music Man. Jo's pick, which did not surprise me was West Side Story. Other choices included Oliver (sis-in-law Sue's pick), High Society, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, etc.

Day 27 - Who is your favourite Movie or TV Villain. I chose Julie Newmar as TV's Catwoman. Loved her. Jo chose Sue Sylvester from Glee, a villain with a heart. Great character. Other choices included Mrs. Danvers from Rebecca, Thomas Barrow from Downton Abbey, Norman Bates from Psycho, etc. So many excellent villains.


So there you go for today. I'll finish the last 4 days next entry. That will end the quizzes which have been lots of fun. Many of the people playing have pleaded with my wife to start a new quiz. We'll see. :)


I'm going to pass the Great History events and Science portions of the BLog for today and move right along to the Birth Date Thing..

The Birth Date Thing 10 November 2006

The music selections are getting to songs I'm not familiar with and don't really care for. But I shall continue!

US Bill Board #1 Single 10 November 2006

Money Maker by Ludacris ft. Pharrell. Born in 1977, Ludacris is an American rapper and actor. Money Maker, written by Pharrell Williams was his second US #1 single.

UK #1 Single 10 November 2006

Star Girl by McFly. McFly are an English band formed in London in 2003. Star Girl was their 6th #1 UK single.

New York Times #1 Fiction Best Seller 10 November 2006

For One More Day by Mitch Albom. Albom had the #1 best seller as well in 2003. "The book tells the story of a troubled man and his mother, and explores how people might use the opportunity to spend a day with a lost relative."









Pulitzer Prize Winner 2006

March by Geraldine Brooks. This book retells the story of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women from the point of view of the family's absent father. The book was Australian / American author Brooks' 2nd novel.









Nobel Prize Laureate 2006

Orhan Pamuk (Turkey). Born in 1952 in Istanbul, Pamuk is a Turkish novelist and screenwriter. The Nobel Prize citation read, "In the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, Pamuk has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures."

Hugo Award Winner 2006

Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. Spin is the first novel by American author in his Spin trilogy, which was followed by Axis and Vortex. (This is another book and author with which I'm unfamiliar.)









Edgar Award Winner 2006

Citizen Vince by Jess Walter. This is American author Jess Walter's fourth of five books.

"At 1:59 a.m. in Spokane, Washington—eight days before the 1980 presidential election—Vince Camden pockets his stash of stolen credit cards and drops by an all-night poker game before heading to his witness-protection job dusting crullers at Donut Make You Hungry. Along with a neurotic hooker girlfriend, this is the total sum of Vince's new life. But when a familiar face shows up in town, Vince realises his sordid past is still too close behind him. During the next unforgettable week, he'll negotiate a coast-to-coast maze of obsessive cops, eager politicians, and assorted mobsters—only to find that redemption might exist, of all places, in the voting booth."

Man Booker Award Winner 2006

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. This is the 2nd book by Indian writer Desai. Among its main themes are migration, living between two worlds, and between past and present.









Giller Prize Winner 2006

Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam. This is a collection of short stories inspired by Lam's experiences in Medical School following the lives of four young medical students in Toronto.









Well, there you go, finished for another day. I did take a break mid-preparation to do some yard work.. How multi-talented.. :)

The weekend is almost here. Enjoy!