Title: Before the Devil (Knows You’re Dead)
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Directed by Sidney Lumet, with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei
Review: Wacked out film about two loser brothers who decide to hold up their parents’ jewelry store. Very good performances. Lumet’s last film before his death.
Title: The Paris Wife
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: Paula McLain (Author)
Review: a very interesting novel in the first person by Hemingway’s first wife- Hadley. Took it to Paris with me; it’s mostly set during the early (pre fame)Paris years and has a notable cast of characters (Gertrude Stein, Scoot Fitzgerald, Sherwood Anderson, Picasso). A sad tale of the end of thier marriage and his falling for his 2nd wife. Well told and very detailed research. This is must for anyone who is fan of EH or Paris.
Title: Stories
Genre: short stories
Grade: B
Notable People: T.C. Boyle (Author)
Review: Twenty years worth of short stories from a master of the form. Not for everyone; these are mostly very dark. Great one about Eisenhower’s secret affair with Khrushchev’s wife. Good bedtime reading; they are short and can be read one at a time.
Title: The Constant Gardener
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: John LeCarre (Author)
Review: a very complicated and socially conscious book about the abused of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. If you’ve seen the movie- the book has little resemblance and may seem a bit hard to follow. It’s a slow but dynamic read by an author who is master of the spy business. It’s also a very subtly touching love. Takes awhile to read.
Title: Mudcrutch
Genre: Record
Grade: B+
Notable People: Tom Petty and several of the Heartbreakers
Review: I’ve been listening to this album , released a couple of years ago, again. Very classic 70’s county rock from Petty and his original Gainesville band- which included two of the Heartbreakers and Bernie Leadon’s (Eagles fame) brother. Nice harmonies, jingle jangle guitars and classic songs of the era. A nice little record.
Title: Nowhere to Run
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: C.J. Box (Author)
Review: This is the seventh or eighth serial novel in a series about Joe Pickett- a Wyoming game warden. Fast paced, good characters (especially the mysterious falconer and ex CIA guy Nate Romanowski). Not the best plot in the series- but a very fast paced and good read. Very descriptive of the northern Wyoming terrain. If you are a serial reader- try Box out.
Title: Known to Evil
Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: Walter Mosely (Author)
Review: If you have not read Mosely before- this will be treat. It’s a new series based on a hard boiled NYC detective an former mob guy that has the usual charm and wonderful dialog from Mosely’ wonderful Easy Rawlins’ books. A great look into the African American psyche and the best one liners of any author I’ve ever read. Captivating story and great eye for setting
Title: Low Country Blues
Genre: Record
Grade: B
Notable People: Gregg Allman
Review: First solo album in many years from this blues rock legend with the voice of gold. In good form with good guest players and the classic keyboard sound from the Bros. nothing major new here- but a good return to roots and a welcome return from the near dead.
Title: King is Dead
Genre: Record
Grade: A-
Notable People: The Decemberists
Review: a lot of Jayhawks and a little Poco; sweet music, nice harmonies, very laid back traditionally classic country- alt rock; these guys play well together and sing Everly Brothers inflected harmonies
Title: The Farmer’s Daughter
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: Jim Harrison (Author)
Review: A fine book of three novellas by the legendary author of Legends of the Fall; combines his usual Hemingway-like portrayal of Montana and the UP of Michigan with an unusual male sensibility of a story told through female characters. Returns to the classic Brown Dog character(BD)of previous writings and includes a beautiful coming of age tale of a young woman in remote Montana
