Stu’s Reviews #187
Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: M.L. Steadman
Title: The Light Between Oceans
Review – Brilliant first novel by this Australian author. Set in remote western Australia after the first work war, a sweeping 50 year tale of life as lighthouse keeper and a wild ride of beauty and trauma. Very well written with excellent historical base. I was really moved by this book an sat in tears at the end. Highly recommended.
Genre: Film
Grade: B with a twist
Notable People: Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco, Directed by Troy Duffy
Title: Boondog Saints
Review – so- apparently this is some kind of cult classic amongst a certain set. Had never heard of it until my kids gave it to me for my birthday. Took several months to watch it (it’s a 19999 out on blue ray-and on Netflix), and it’s pretty weird. To very Irish twin brothers in south Boston become murdering avengers of evil- along with an Italian sidekick. The dialog is weird, the cinematography is weird, the acting is over the top…and Dafoe is absolutely nuts….but it’s hard not to like. They all seemed to have really good time making this film and it does have a certain urban kitsch to it that is hard to resist…almost a Boston version of Pulp Fiction- I think the director must be a big Tarantino fan. Not a bad way to spend an evening- it’s a B movie that is in the band width of so bad it’s good.
Genre: Stories
Grade: A
Notable People: C.J. Box
Title: Shots Fired
Review – as you all may recall, I am a big fan of the lost art of short stories and seek out those who really master this oft-forgotten art form. I have ben lucky to find a number of really good practitioners of this art in last few years and Box is high amongst them. This set of stories, all set in modern day Wyoming are wonderfully written small works of art. Box does Wyoming like Hemingway did the UP and Irving does New England…loves the place and lets us learn how to love it. Four of the stories are related to his Joe Pickett series for those of you who have dabbled in that. My favorite is about a faux Shoshone Indian who goes to Paris to be in wild west show because French woman want to have his wild – nature babies. This is a good read- easily done in small segments- perfect for bedtime
Genre: Film
Grade: B with a twist
Notable People: Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco, Directed by Troy Duffy
Title: Boondog Saints
Review – so- apparently this is some kind of cult classic amongst a certain set. Had never heard of it until my kids gave it to me for my birthday. Took several months to watch it (it’s a 19999 out on blue ray-and on Netflix), and it’s pretty weird. To very Irish twin brothers in south Boston become murdering avengers of evil- along with an Italian sidekick. The dialog is weird, the cinematography is weird, the acting is over the top…and Dafoe is absolutely nuts….but it’s hard not to like. They all seemed to have really good time making this film and it does have a certain urban kitsch to it that is hard to resist…almost a Boston version of Pulp Fiction- I think the director must be a big Tarantino fan. Not a bad way to spend an evening- it’s a B movie that is in the band width of so bad it’s good.
Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: Jake Wallis Simons
Title: The English German Girl
Review –Very interesting book by noted British journalist that chronicles a German Jewish family’s experience in Berlin starting in the late 1930s and through the rise of Nazi power. As expected, a rather heartbreaking tale that I found pretty compelling. Not a happy ending, as is the norm for tales of this time and place. Pretty well written but not a great writer, but the material and the story make it more than worthwhile.
Genre: Film
Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Dohmnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Directed by Alex Garland
Title: Ex Machina
Review –Full disclosure- I generally do not like Sci-Fi, but this is an interesting movie. Garland’s directorial debut may be the most complicated film yet made about artificial intelligence, featuring a “dummy” ingénue. Very little in the way of bells and whistles- mostly just a mind blower with a plot that is quite challenging. A much more visceral nuance of the film Her- taking the concept a big step further. The entire film takes place ominously in as secluded mountain fortress and is basically acted by four performers. The acting is very good and Oscar Isaac….oh my. Who is this guy? I really liked him in Llewelyn Davis; then saw him in A Most Dangerous Year and did not recognize it could be the same actor until I saw him on the credits….which happened again with this film. The man is really talented. This one is well worth seeing.
Genre: Stories
Grade: B+
Notable People: Tom McGuane
Title: Crow Fair
Review –McGuane is a GREAT writer- in my view, one of the five best living American authors. And, he is a master of the short story form, which is not all that common. His books take place in modern day Montana and are filled with large than life characters; diverse and mesmerizing- pseudo punk- hippie cowboys. A lot to like. That said, his characters may be the most consistently depressing in modern literature. They are full of betrayal, loathing, greed, deceit, despair and orneriness. Not a likeable one in the bunch…which does detract from the big picture for me. Fortunately, the stories are short and you don’t have to wallow too long in their misery. Got to be in certain mood for this, preferably with a full stomach and slightly inebriated in some form. Read “92 in the Shade” for a McGuane primer.
Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: C.J. Box
Title: Stone Cold
Review – Talk about guilty pleasures- I read this book in two days! Box’s 13th in the fish and game warden Joe Picket series continues to thrive- getting more exciting with each effort. Set in the wilds of Wyoming and filled with unforgettable characters- Box is becoming a master of the genre. The side character Nate Romanowski is one for he ages. Pretty well written but not going to make anyone’s classic lit list…but good guilty pleasure for sure.
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Dev Patel, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Richard Gere. Directed by John Madden
Title: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Review –Nothing new here- except a weirdly cast Gere and Tamsin Grieg, a good British actress with terrible Brooklyn accent…but a lot of fun nonetheless. This is really a classic B grade movie – but with Dench and Smith it’s still worth the price of admission. The filming in India and the gorgeous colors and pomp/ circumstance make it more enticing.
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: Pat Conroy
Title: The Great Santini
Review –A pretty interesting book; early 60’s story of crazed marine fighter pilot and his family which he runs like a marine unit. Conroy writes well and clearly knows his subject, though I got a bit bored with his lengthy ruminations on Catholicism and all things marine. The story is dynamic and very dramatic- a movie waiting to happen- which it was in 1979 with the great Robert Duvall in the role of a lifetime. Jenn had gotten into Pat Conroy’s books (Prince of tides and the ilk) and I bought her a few for Christmas; had no idea he had long ago written this book, which seemed out of character. A good read- but, honestly, go rent the movie if you want the total package.
