Mother's Day Gift Books

 

James surprised the heck out of me with his books choices this time because only one was on my wishlist which was Virginia Woolf’s Writer’s Diary.  The rest were:

J.K. Rowling’s The Ickabog which has some colorful illustrations through out:

“The kingdom of Cornucopia was once the happiest in the world. It had plenty of gold, a king with the finest moustaches you could possibly imagine, and butchers, bakers and cheesemongers whose exquisite foods made a person dance with delight when they ate them.

Everything was perfect – except for the misty Marshlands to the north which, according to legend, were home to the monstrous Ickabog. Anyone sensible knew that the Ickabog was just a myth, to scare children into behaving. But the funny thing about myths is that sometimes they take on a life of their own.

Could a myth unseat a beloved king? Could a myth bring a once happy country to its knees? Could a myth thrust two children into an adventure they didn’t ask for and never expected?

If you’re feeling brave, step into the pages of this book to find out…”

Richard Mathson’s What Dreams May Come with is Sci Fi/horror –

“What happens to us after we die? Chris Nielsen had no idea, until an unexpected accident cut his life short, separating him from his beloved wife, Annie. Now Chris must discover the true nature of life after death.

But even Heaven is not complete without Annie, and when tragedy threatens to divide them forever, Chris risks his very soul to save Annie from an eternity of despair.”

And book 1 in a  Clint Wolf mystery series by B.J. Bourg – But Not Forgotten:

“When a local businessman’s arm is found in the jowls of a large alligator, Clint Wolf and Susan Wilson investigate to find out how it got there. They quickly discover that the man was murdered, but thanks to a secret force working against them, solving the case will be no easy task.

A new dog comes into Clint’s life, and not only does it bring him hope after having lost his wife and daughter two years earlier, but it proves to be quite the guard dog when a dangerous stranger comes sneaking around.

As Clint and Susan dig deeper into their case, the body count begins to rise, and they soon realize that no one is safe…not even the law. Will evil prevail, or will Clint and Susan get justice for their victims? Read this chilling mystery to find out.”

Woot Woot! 

Reading Log as of May 11th - Happy Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day! 

Currently reading Nalini Singh’s newest in her Guild Hunter Series #17- Archangel’s Ascension:

“Aodhan and Illium. Adi and Blue. Sparkle and Bluebell. Friends become lovers, their future a wild unknown.

Finally reunited in New York, they must now learn to navigate the monumental shift in their relationship. But for these two members of Archangel Raphael’s legendary Seven, there is no time to rest. As they investigate a case for the Tower that echoes the darkness from Aodhan’s past, they will be forced to confront not only the scars that mark them both, but the promise of a vast power that flickers in Illium.

The threat of ascension has haunted and troubled Aodhan’s Blue for too long, the forces of change immutable and without mercy…and uncaring of Illium’s fierce wish to remain part of the Seven. Change is a constant in an immortal’s life, and this new horizon will bring with it both terrible heartbreak and a joy extraordinary enough to reverberate through time…”

Plus All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley which is wonderfully written:

“Millions of people climb the grand marble staircase to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every year. But only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. They’re the guards who roam unobtrusively in dark blue suits, keeping a watchful eye on the two million square foot treasure house. Caught up in his glamorous fledgling career at The New Yorker, Patrick Bringley never thought he’d be one of them. Then his older brother was diagnosed with fatal cancer and he found himself needing to escape the mundane clamor of daily life. So he quit The New Yorker and sought solace in the most beautiful place he knew.

To his surprise and the reader’s delight, this temporary refuge becomes Bringley’s home away from home for a decade. We follow him as he guards delicate treasures from Egypt to Rome, strolls the labyrinths beneath the galleries, wears out nine pairs of company shoes, and marvels at the beautiful works in his care. Bringley enters the museum as a ghost, silent and almost invisible, but soon finds his voice and his tribe: the artworks and their creators and the lively subculture of museum guards—a gorgeous mosaic of artists, musicians, blue-collar stalwarts, immigrants, cutups, and dreamers. As his bonds with his colleagues and the art grow, he comes to understand how fortunate he is to be walled off in this little world, and how much it resembles the best aspects of the larger world to which he gradually, gratefully returns.”

And my Nora Robert’s bedtime read – Midnight Bayou – which I can’t remember a thing so like reading it again for the first time.

“Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn’t understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he first saw Manet Hall, he’d been enchanted-and obsessed-with it. So when the opportunity to buy the house comes up, Declan jumps at the chance to live out a dream.

Determined to restore Manet Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief-sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan’s belief in the ghostly presence grows.

Only the companionship of alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall-a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that’s been buried for a hundred years.”

Our Saturday Night movie was the original Pink Panther with Peter Sellers. De dum de dum 🎶🎷

James' Review -Batman: The Killing Joke

 

Hey, fellow superhero lovers. After so much time away, I'm here to give you my thoughts on the story BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, one of the most influential Batman stories to have ever been written and released way back in the 1980s.

Written by Alan Moore, and released the same year as V for Vendetta, the comic sees The Joker escape Arkham Asylum and set out to hurt the Gordon family to prove that one bad day can make anyone be like him. The story is dark and looks at the origins of the clown prince of crime while examining the dynamic between Batman and The Joker, and doesn't pull any punches with what happens. The Joker is sadistic, and his actions impact Barbara Gordon for most of DC history going forward, and the ending sees another battle between hero and villain, with Joker delivering two iconic lines. I got my hands on the graphic novel, and I had a good time reading it, twice.

The comic is not the only version of the story, especially as DC and Warner released an animated movie adaptation in 2016, which starts off with Batman and Batgirl teaming up to fight crime, having a little... affair, and Batgirl giving up on, well, being Batgirl... all before we get to the main story. The love story between Bruce and Barbara stirred up a ton of controversy, which does make TKJ a controversial film... but it wasn't THAT bad IMO. So, what is my opinion on BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE?

Reading the story years after its release, especially in the deluxe version, KILLING JOKE offers an entertaining read that older fans will enjoy. It is not for kids, especially with how brutal it can get. After all, it was made in a time when superhero comics were starting to become more than just for younger readers. As for the movie, it isn't too bad, it has its moments and is an engaging watch... if you can handle an R-rated superhero action animation. I saw it on MAX, on a Tuesday morning, may I add. If anyone wants to read the comic for yourself, be warned, it will be very scary... which makes it fun. 9/10. With the movie, the writers did their best with the material and I did enjoy the opening action scenes.

See you all later, people.

-James M

Reading Log as of May 4th - Mysterious Bakery on Rue De Paris

 

Our 52 Books Dragon of the Month for May is Norbert from the Harry Potter Series. Will dip my toes back in to the potter world at some point. 

I’m currently reading a mystery set in Compiegne, France called The Mysterious Bakery on Rue De Paris by Evie Woods, aka Evie Gaughan

“Edie is … not in Paris?

Edie Lane left everything behind in Ireland for a once-in-a-lifetime job at a bakery in Paris. Except, thanks to a mistranslation, the bakery is not in Paris, and neither is Edie.

The tiny town of Compiègne, complete with its local bakery on the Rue de Paris, holds many secrets. This might not be where Edie intended to be but it’s not long before she realizes it’s exactly where she needs to be…”

She also wrote the Lost Bookshop which was every enjoyable and looking forward to reading more of her books.

Also on #3 in the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts – Savor the Moment and still plugging away with Les Miserables.

Will dive back into the Harry Potter series this month with Philosopher’s Stone, but don’t know whether I’ll read the rest of the series or just the first book for right now.

Saturday’s movie was The Goonies which was action packed and silly.

Reading Log as of April 27th - Buying ban is officially over

 

My 52 Books group is ending the month with a quest over land, by sea, through space or into ourselves. I have a few interesting nonfiction books on my shelves that fill the bill such as Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit from the personal Quest’s List as well as the memoir – True North: A Journey into Unexplored Wilderness by Elliott Merrick, plus All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley.

Robin Hobb’s Dragon Keeper, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi By Shannon Chakraborty, and The Bone Ships By RJ Barker, among others mentioned in the most recommended lit.

From the Wisdom list – Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Persig, and Virginia Woolf’s A Room on One’s Own. I’m looking forward to reading them all. I may not get to all of them this year but I’ll have fun trying.

I’m two thirds through Frozen River and enjoying it. But spending way too much time on youtube and watching podcasts and travel shows so need to put a kibosh on that and immerse myself in reading.

My buying ban is officially over. Bought myself a blind date with a book from Etsy and received the science fiction book Scythe by Neal Shusterman which was a win because have been meaning to read that one for years.  Also went to Barnes and Noble by myself so I could browse to my heart’s content and picked up Evie Woods The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris as well as All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley.

Our Saturday Night movie was The Shadow with Alex Baldwin.  So so. The acting was a bit cheesy. 

Reading Log as of April 20th - Happy Easter

 

Happy Easter! 

Currently reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon which is good so far:

“A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. Ari

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.”

At bedtime rereading Nora Roberts Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy and on the second one – The Last Boyfriend.

Still plugging away with Les Miserables.

Our Saturday Night movie watch - A Few Good Men. Excellent

 

Reading Log as of April 13th - Northern Lights

 

Found out why I haven’t been reading as much. Went to the eye doctor and was advised my eyes are a little bit different from each other and if I had the proper glasses, my eyes wouldn’t have to work as hard. Getting fitted for bifocals soon.  Oy!

Les Miserables – Jean Valjean has a crisis of conscience.

I reread Nora Roberts Northern Lights and it always surprises me. For some reason, I want The Professor to be the murderer and yet again, he wasn’t.  LOL!

Almost done with Kazuo Ishiguro’s The buried Giant. Interesting story, especially with the Arthurian language. They find such polite ways to say the worst things.

Picked up T.R. Ryden’s Occam’s Razor which looks and sounds really interesting:

“When ancient artifacts discovered in the Great Pyramid of Giza shed new light on a DNA pattern, venture capitalist James Anderson is thrust into an action-packed road of scientific exploration and discovery. An unlikely participant in the events that begin to unfold, he begins to realize he has stumbled upon the greatest and most terrifying cover-up in human history.

Occam’s Razor is a chilling speculative fiction thriller which ties together several well-known, and some not-so-famous controversial theories concerning alien visitation, human evolution, ancient legends, and much more. Explore just how plausible it is that the people in power may already know about an impending disaster, and join Anderson and his team as they figure out what to do in the face of unstoppable catastrophe.”

Our Saturday Night movie was the 2015 movie Jupiter Ascending with Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis which was excellent.