Books

419 by Will ferguson

Crow lake by Mary Lawson

The thing about December by Donal ryan

Movies

Calvary

Inside llewyn davis

Tweetish Catch-up

Books

Skippy Dies, Paul Murray: How did I hang in for 700 pages? Well-written, occasionally funny but frequently depressing novel set in Irish boys school. There's more cruelty among the boys than from their teachers.

The Sea, John Banville: Widower's visit to seaside home triggers memories and mysteries. Well done. Keep the dictionary handy.

Secret Scipture, Sebastian Barry: Very elderly woman who has spent most of her life in a mental institution tells her story. Not ill at all. Kind of a mystery too.

The Light of Day, Graham Swift: Ex-cop turned private eye falls in love with one of his cuckolded clients. Teases with mystery, but twist never comes...unless I missed it.

Movies

Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen: Boring. Unpleasant. Cartoonish. Worse than the last Woody. No mas.

My Annual St. Patrick's Day Irish Movie, 2013

In America. Couple w two little girls moves to New York and lives in dumpy apartment. Good flick. Little girls are terrific:

Littlest Girl: "Why do the men dress up as ladies? Is for for Halloween?" Her sister: "No, that's just what they do in America." 

Little girl tells border guard from back seat of car: "My dad's not working!" 

Girl explains Halloween to their dad: Dad: "It's not polite to ask for sweets. You wait till they're offered." Girl: "No Da, in America, you demand!"

Movie has most muscle-bound artist suffering from AIDS that one could imagine. Otherwise...brilliant, as the Irish say. Directed by Jim Sheridan.

Movies: Lincoln and Argo

Note: I write this just hours before the Oscar ceremony.

Lincoln: Although this movie has redeeming characteristics, what struck me most is what is missing:
1) a movie about ending slavery with no black people...well, maybe a few but they don't figure in it much.
2) a lot of talking about politics, but little that is personal.
I was surprised to learn that the Democrats were pro-slavery, while Lincoln was a Republican. Also interesting, if flawed, was the idea that abolition would be harder on the southern economy, which depended more on agriculture.

Argo: American embassy in Tehran falls, with many held hostage for over a year in the time of Jimmy Carter. A handful managed to flee, undetected, to the Canadian embassy. The first few minutes gave the back story -- Shah of Iran, oil, Ayatolah. I would like to have known more about that. The movie is a thriller. Will they or won't they get out before the Iranians get them? They did. Mildly interesting for a guy who does not know much about thrillers.

Coen Bros x 2

Burn After Reading: quirky forgettable fun. Thought the Brad Pitt character was cartoonish -- a handsome Fred Flintstone.

Fargo: How is it that I never saw Fargo until 2013? Probably scared off by the violence. Terrific sense of place and character. Frances McDormand and everyone in her world were grand. Very wise in a flat, matter-of-fact way. Reminds me of my late Aunt Viola, among others. I don't know North Dakota first-hand. And I haven't even spent enough time in nearby Minnesota to size up the place or the people. But I suspect this movie nailed weather, temperament and small town life in  many ways. Very funny too. To me, the crime and violence doesn't fit. And the movie would stand up very tall with a less intense plot.  We learn very little about what shapes the criminals. Maybe the intent is to contrast the extremes -- those who, in their simple way, get everything and those sad folks who get nothing. Perhaps there is something I am not getting about the movie. :) Brilliant nonetheless

Room, Winter's Bone, Anna Karenina

Room, a novel by Emma Donoghue: Knowing this book by reputation and me for 35 years, Connie thought this book might be too depressing for me. But I liked it. It's about a five-year-old boy and his mother, who are held captive in one small room for years. I was intrigued by the mother's ability to create a rich environment for the boy, despite their tragic circumstances. Reminded me a bit of Life is Beautiful in that respect. And the plot is very engaging...kind of thrilling at times. Not the kind of thing I normally read.

Winter's Bone, movie. Set in rural midwest. Family story. Sixteen year-old girl  grows up fast in terms of adult responsibilities and burdens. She leads a family where dad is on the run and mom does not even speak, let alone take care of much younger kids. The little boy has a skateboard but there is no pavement. He goes back and forth on an old board that lies in the dust. Powerful movie about poor folks, escapism, endurance and the crimes born of desperation.

Anna Karenina, movie. Very theatrical and artsy version. Uses tableaux nicely, among other devices. Not sure whether it's a condemnation of the mores of the time or the idle rich. A good story about forbidden love. Pretty to look at. Won't likely stay with me.

The Sense of an Ending

Novel by Julian Barnes. A slim, easy read. Focus of the story is on school days and young adulthood. Then it jumps to old age. Skips a good 40 years or more. But ripples of youth experience extend into old age. Not sure what to say about this book. Reminds me a bit of what it was like to be young -- full of pash and rash...the former being passion. I really liked this passage, in which the main character has lunch with his ex-wife, with whom he has a amicable relationship: "I looked across at her fondly. She knew me better than anyone else in the world. And still wanted to have lunch with me. And let me go on and on about myself." That's what our partners and best friends do, at least much of the time.