Stu’s Reviews – Page 65

Stu’s Reviews- #207- Film- Novel- Mendocino Fire

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+ (B)
Notable People: Elizabeth Tallent
Title: Mendocino Fire

Review: This is an interesting set of stories/novellas by this California writer/academic that are alternately set in California and Iowa. they roughly trace the life path of a college professor (clearly the author) through a series of romantic entanglements, life changes and family crisis. Very-very well written but somewhat obtuse and quite esoteric at times. You almost have to have gone to grad school to keep up. If you’re willing to struggle a bit with her intellectualism, there is some vivid material here. Hard to rate this one…so I took the easy way out with a range

Stu’s Reviews- #206- Film- The Water Diviner

Genre: Film

Grade: B+
Notable People: Directed by and starring Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, many Turkish actors
Title: The Water Diviner

Review: This was second movie we watched on all day flight to Hawaii and a surprisingly good one. I am not a big Crowe fan but he is undeniably good in this film about a grieving father in Australia trying to bring back his lost three sons’ bodies from the Battle of Gallipoli. Great cinematography, wonderful period costumes and flourishes and an intriguing story. Kurylenko is a ravishing Turkish beauty and her interactions with Crowe are riveting. The story is a bit of a tear- jerker, but well done nonetheless. A good one to rent.

Stu’s Reviews- #205- Film- Bridge of Spies

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Tom Hanks, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, Mark Rylance, Directed by Steven Spielberg

Title: Bridge of Spies

Review: This is real biography and one of three films we watched on our exhaustive flight to Hawaii. Not only directed by Spielberg, but produced and co-written by the Coen brothers, it is bit of a surprise for their resumes. Still, a well done film about late 50’s cold war antics between Russia and the U.S. with the closing down of Berlin and the erecting of The Wall as a backdrop. Hanks is his usual steady but magnificent self and Ryan is really understated as the committed Eisenhower era American housewife. Rylance is a revelation as the Soviet spy- very coyly played and a lot more subtly complicated than he might have been . The simmering tensions underlying the time are well done….see the scene with Hanks son filling up the bathtub to deal with the potential nuclear attack he hears about in school each day. This was a very good in-flight movie and worth seeing at the cinema.

Stu’s Reviews- #204- Novel- The English Major- Jim Harrison

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jim Harrison

Title: The English Major

Review –As I’ve noted before, in my opinion Jim Harrison is probably our greatest living American writer- so he starts with an “A” in my book. That said, this one is not one of his best novels, though still phenomenally well written. Like all is books- it is clearly a variation of his story taking place in his friendly confines of most Northern Michigan (Deb Hodges will note that part is set in Harbor Springs!). Sixty year old man loses his wife, his dog and his farm and sets out to visit each state- re-naming the states and their state birds along the way. He also tries to fulfill his 50 year old sexual fantasies while attempting to stay out of the modern world (he flushes at least three cell phones down the toilet). Maybe this character hits close to home!!!Harrison has gotten more humorous in his later stages, which may or may not be a plus. A delightful read, though not in the same class as Legends of the Fall or Dalva.

Stu’s Reviews- #203- Novel- The Cuckoo’s Calling

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-
Notable People: Robert Galbraith
Title: The Cuckoo’s Calling

Review –This is a the first novel in a series (three to date) by the author who is really J.K Rowling of Harry Potter immortality. Why she is using a pseudonym and still telling everybody who she is – is one of those literary world secrets or inside jokes I guess. So, first off I am not a Potter fan. Tried the books once, but did not really take, and have not seen the movies (my kids were already grown when the books were the rage). That said, she/he is a brilliant writer- these books are very well written and the stories are pointedly told, and she has a great ear for dialog. Cormoran Strike is a down on his luck private detective in London, who has lost his leg in Afghanistan and his heart to a tigress. He is also the estranged bastard son of a famous rock star- and is called on, very mysteriously, to investigate the apparent suicide of a super model. This one is filled with wild goose chases and greedy, manipulative characters. London is well portrayed. I’m going out and get the next two.

Cooking with Fernet Branca

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-
Notable People: James Hamilton- Patterson
Title: Cooking with Fernet Branca

Review –This is a hilarious and irreverent book about and English writer living in the hills of Tuscany. The wacked out story is secondary to the two narrators’ musings about life, art and each other. The book is interwoven with the primary narrators’ recipes that can best be described as haute- disgusting (stuffed udder in butterscotch sauce). Very well written with some laugh out loud moments- a perfect light summer book and would carry over onto the fall. Very unusual.

Stu’s Reviews- #201- Album- “Messenger”- Mokoto

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Album

Grade: A
Notable People: Mokoto
Title: Messenger

Review – Full disclosure…unlimited bias here as this is Max’s band, so you can disregard my opinion if you wish….but this is a really fine album of music. I have listened to it for 2 weeks non-stop in my car and am amazed at the quality. Sound and production are top notch. The singer is wonderful, the rhythm section really tight and lots of very well thought out arrangements. This is African music and sung in native tongues for the most part, so lyrically a bit beyond me. But what sweet melodies. And did I mention, the guitar player is extraordinarily tasteful on riffs ranging from reggae influenced, to classic African to traditional R&B influenced….where did this kid come from (yes- you can guess). This is a fine, fine piece of music. You can find a link to the album at http://mokoto.bandcamp.com/releases That’s’ my boy………

#201- Album-Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Album

Grade: B
Notable People: Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams
Title: Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams

Review – Long overdue first album from this husband and wife team. Larry was Dylan’s’ longtime guitarist, a very noted session player and the leader of Levon Helm’s band for the past ten years or so. A mainstay along with Theresa of the Midnight Rambles band that Levon had featured at his long time barn concerts. This is a pretty album, but neither of them is a particularly striking lead vocalist, and the songs just don’t really shine. Some great guest appearances including Amy Helm, member of the Levon band and Levon himself on one of his last recordings. And Larry is the king all things stringed. I love these folks live , with Levon, with the Dead, with just about anyone…but this album did not move me unfortunately.

THE BIG #200- Novel- ” The Whites”- Harry Brandt (Richard Price)

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Novel

Grade: A+
Notable People: Harry Brandt (Richard Price)
Title: Whites

Review – I have no idea why Price is writing under a pseudonym-especially since his real name is one the cover…but who cares. This guy is a master of his genre…..or any other. A truly great, great writer of dark, urban stories. “Whites” is the name for the kind pf perp who plagues a cop for his entire career- someone who gets away with some heinous act but cannot be brought to justice. This is the underlay for this amazing story set in NYC. Lots of demons, lots of underbelly, lots of characters. This is a real keeper.

Novel Review- Girl on the Train

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-
Notable People: Paula Hawkins
Title: Girl on the Train

Review – Well written first novel form this British journalist. Quite the suspenseful ride- with a few too many red herrings for my taste. Not very likeable charters, but believable and compelling. Took me a while to warm to the cadence of this one- told in diary style from several characters. This either is or will be really good movie. (Trying not to give much away her- as my friend, the Nave, was just visiting and is in mid-book)