Stu’s Reviews – Page 43

Stu’s Reviews- #425- Book- “Farthing”- Jo Walton

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jo Walton

Title: Farthing

Review: Riveting first book in Walton’s pseudo sci-fi/revisionist history novel about post war England; in which a small group of wealthy British aristocrats were able to broker peace with Hitler in 1941 (“peace with honor” over Churchill’s rampage), and effectively end the war…and turn the rest of Europe, and it’s Jews, over to Nazi domain. The book is ostensibly a murder mystery that is really a treatise on the rise of Fascism. Well executed, well written, compelling….very unsettling. I’m on to the second in the series very soon.

Stu’s Reviews- #424- Album- “Sinematic”- Robbie Robertson

Genre: Album
Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Robbie Robertson, Van the Man, Frederick Yonnet, Derrick Trucks

Title: Sinematic
Review: The sixth solo album from the legendary leader of The Band is not much of a surprise. Eccentric guitar and very eccentric raspy vocals that are an acquired taste. I did not really like the album on first listen, but it has grown on me. Robbie has always been a superb songwriter and way, way out there in subject matter. The opening song, featuring the great Van Morrison, is about hit men (called men who paint houses)….and it continues from there. There is a lament for his long-lost brethren in The Band called “ Once Were Brothers” which is really sad. (Robbie and Garth Hudson are the only survivors of what may have been the greatest ever American band). That song is from a documentary on The Band just released and winning prizes at film fests (directed by Robbie’s long-time buddy, Martin Scorsese). I imagine you have to be longtime fan to really get into this…which I certainly am.

Stu’s Reviews- #423- Book- “Big Bad Brawley Brown”- Walter Mosely

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Walter Mosely

Title: Big Bad Brawley Brown
Review: Walter Mosely is a national treasure….and has been for eons. He has been writing the Easy Rawlins titles for 25-30 years and they never disappoint. Starting in post war- just getting settled LA in his first efforts…this one picks up in 1964. Mosley’s musings on Race in America are priceless and his feel for the underbelly of life in LA is amazing. These are mysteries but Mosley far transcends the genre. Mosley is simply one of our best. Easy Rawlins is a character for the ages. I saw a film of one his early books and Easy was played by Denzel….which is an image that I can’t get out of mind….and fits to a tee. If you are lucky, you might get this book re-gifted to you during the holidays.

Stu’s Reviews- #422- TV Series- “Maigret”- Ovation Network

Genre: TV Series (Ovation- 2 Seasons)

Grade: B+

Notable People: Rowan Atkinson, Lucy Cohu, Shaun Dingwell, Created by: Adapted form Georges Simenon books

Title: Maigret

Review: If you have never read the Simenon books, that is the thing to do. The Belgian/French master wrote these books form the 1930s to the 1970s following the adventures on Chief Inspector Maigret (if he had a first name, no one ever knew it) of the Police Judiciare in Paris…and they are classics. The books have been made into dozens of films and series over the years, and this most recent entree is a very good adaptation, with the bemused an forthright Atkinson neatly channeling the enigmatic Maigret. Wonderfully set in early 1950s Paris and the French countryside, it is only held back by the cloying use of all British actors for a classically French set of stories. If you can get by that, it is extremely well done. four hour a half episodes over two seasons.

Stu’s Reviews- #421- TV Series- “Orange is the New Black”- Netflix

Genre: TV Series (Netflix- 7 Seasons)

Grade: A-

Notable People: Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Jackie Cruz, Dacha Polanco, Created by: Jenji Kohan

Title: Orange is the New black

Review: From the bestselling novel by Piper Chapman from her personal experience at a woman’s max prison in update NY, the series finale was this year after even seasons. Great, great ensemble cast of weirdos, junkies and warm hearted anti -social personalities…the show started out as pure comedy, but turned dark in later seasons. The first few seasons were really good, and then a malaise set in, but the final season was masterful. No real happy endings here and a dark look at our penal system and especially ICE. Well written, snappy dialog, excellent performances. Will miss it.

Stu’s Reviews- #420- Book- “A Gathering of Secrets”- Linda Castillo

Genre: Book

Grade: B+/B

Notable People: Linda Castillo

Title: A Gathering of Secrets

Review: the next in a long line of Amish Country Police Chief Kate Burkholder series. These books are extremely well written with a great sense of life in Amish- land. Castillo continues to further develop her characters and describe the culture very well. But, how much bad shit can happen in one Amish community? Gets a bit farfetched at times…but a good ride nonetheless.

Stu’s Reviews- #419- TV Series- “Yellowstone”- Paramount

Genre: TV Series (Paramount- 2 Seasons)

Grade: B+/B

Notable People: Kevin Costner, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Created by: Taylor Sheridan

Title: Yellowstone

Review: this is one absolute guilty pleasure. Kind of a modern western soap opera, but a fascinating look at big ranching power and greed in Montana. Costner remains a fine actor, and the supporting cast is very good (especially the over the top firebrand, Reilly, as the wayward daughter). The cinematography is spectacular. May not be the most highbrow (or well written) show around, but we’re more or less hooked.

Stu’s Reviews- #418- Book – “Spoonbenders”- Darryl Gregory

Genre: Book

Grade: B+/B

Notable People: Darryl Gregory

Title: Spoonbenders

Review: this is one weird book. The story of a family of psychics involved in fuzzy espionage with the government and trying for years to be famous. The characters are rich, the writing somewhat reminiscent of Tom Robbins. I could not decide how to rate this book…thought it was hokey at times…..and could not put it down. A random selection someone gave me. The Telemachus family is worth checking out….very strange.

Stu’s Reviews- #417- Book – “The Great Alone”- Kristin Hannah

Genre: Book

Grade: A

Notable People: Kristin Hannah

Title: The Great Alone

Review: I read Hannah’s Nightingale book earlier this month, and was so impressed I went looking for more of her work. It appears she is prolific and writes a lot of what is considered “romance novels”…but I found this recent one that is another clear split from the usual. This is one of the most challenging reads I’ve had in a while. Filled with PTSD and domestic violence, it is the story of a young girl relocating to the pure wilds of the Kenai Peninsula in remote Alaska with her crazed Vietnam vet father and helpless mother, circa early 70s. The portrayal of life in “the great alone” is spectacular and the story quite compelling. Trapped in a remote cabin with an explosive and paranoid father for eight months of 18 hour a day winter, it is a fearsome portrayal of living in a very narrow world without seeming options….until…..but I wont spoil it. Memorable characters and a well-developed setting takes this novel to another level. Difficult. Spellbinding. Captivating.

Stu’s Reviews- #416- TV Series – “Das Boot” – Hulu

Genre: TV Series- Hulu- 1 Season- subtitles (in German and French)

Grade: B+

Notable People: Vicky Krieps, Tom Wlaschiha, Thierry Fremont and Lizzy Caplan, Created by: Johannes Betz and Tony Saint

Title: Knife Creek

Review: An adaptation of Lothar-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 German novel and a remake of a 1981 film, this Hulu production is a fine retelling of the story of a brother and sister in the small coastal town of La Rochelle, on the French coast, during 1942…..the height of the Nazi occupation of France. One sibling is a radio man on a German U- boat; the other a nurse assigned to Nazi high command. A dark, brooding and brilliant portrayal of the Vichy regime and the extraordinary French resistance. A very subtle look at the tenuous relationship between the Nazis, the free French and the Vichy collaborators at the point of time when the Americans and the Russians have entered the war and the tide is clearly turning. I liked this series a lot, and thought it was only held back by the extremely odd casting of Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex) as the American leader of the French resistance. Well worth watching.