Category: Stu’s Reviews

Novel Review- Burn- Nevada Barr

Title: Burn

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: Nevada Barr

Review: The latest in the Anna Pidgeon series; she’s a national park ranger who gets into a lot of very sticky situations. Ms. Barr is also a lifer in the Park service so she knows of what she writes. Each book is in a different national park and the settings are really good. This one has the unusual setting of an urban park setting in post Katrina New Orleans. Good stories and characters, decent writing. Serial readers could get attached. Not her best effort.

Novel Review- I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive-Steve Earle

Title: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: Steve Earle

Review: Yes- it’s THE Steve Earle- the wonderful singer songwriter of alt country fame. First novel; strange concept. Junkie lost doctor in South Texas doe abortions and communes with the ghost of Hank Williams. Loved the characters; faded a bit at the end. You’ve got to be interested in south Texas, drug addiction, Catholicism and Hank Williams to REALLY like this book.

Film Review- Beginners

Title: Beginners

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Christopher Plummer, Ewan Macgregor, Melanie Laurent

Review: This is a wonderfully touching and funny movie about a man dealing with his fathers’ coming out of the closet in his mid 70’s. Plummer is a jewel and Macgregor is really good. Laurent is the French beauty from Ingloriuos Basterds in a role that will leave you smitten with her. Very cool graphics in the film; the director a graphic designer as well. Great art house film.

Novel Review- The Glass Rainbow-James Lee Burke

Title: The Glass Rainbow

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+

Notable People: James Lee Burke

Review: The umpteenth in the Dave Robicheaux series does not really cover new ground- but if you’re a fan – you’ll eat it up. Very good depiction of life in post Katrina Louisiana and a deep sense of what it’s like to live your life in a ritualistic southern environment. This book is his most focused yet on Dave’s iconic partner, Clete Purcell, who you will love or hate (or both). Good summer read.

Novel Review- Caleb’s Crossing- Geraldine Brooks

Title: Caleb’s Crossing

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Geraldine Brooks

Review: This is magnificent book that tells the story of the first Native American graduate of Harvard in the mid 1600’s. Beautifully written and fascinating historical saga told from a fictional woman character whose family were the original settlers of Martha’s Vineyard. A little slow to get started- especially with the local language of the era- but a sweeping book once you get hooked.

Music Review- My Love Will Keep- Jonathan Edwards

Title: My Love Will keep

Genre: Record

Grade: A

Notable People: Jonathan Edwards

Review: Long forgotten singer- songwriter from the 70’s has re-emerged with a beautiful album. His high pitched tenor remains a heavenly instrument. Beautiful songs, excellent arrangements, wonderful musicianship. Like the return of an old friend. Interesting translation of The Beatles “She Loves You” and remake of his own standard ”How Long”. A beauty!

Film Review- You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Title: You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Directed by Woody Allen. Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts

Review: If you like Woody- you’ll really like this one. If not – probably not so much. This is his last love affair with London film and he gets great performances from his ensemble f players. It is beyond amazing how he gets people like Anthony Hopkins to begin to sound and whine like Woody himself- they all take on his persona , which is a treat to see from Hannibal Lecter.

Film Review- Meek’s Cutoff

Title: Meek’s Cutoff

Genre: Film

Grade: Not Rated

Notable People: Michelle Williams

Review: Too weird to give a rating to. The slowest most thought provoking western in the history of cinema. Story of pioneers lost on their way west to the Pacific; led by a cowboy philosopher (Meks) who know nothing. This is the antithesis of the grandiose awe- inspiring western. Got to have an art house theater nearby to see this one.

Film Review- Water for Elephants

Title: Water for Elephants

Genre: Film

Grade: B +

Notable People: Robert Pattinson, Renee Witherspoon, Christopher Waltz

Review: nice adaptation of an excellent novel. Great cinematography that really captures the gypsy life during the Depression. Waltz (who won Academy Award for Tarentino’s Ingloriuos Basterds- is an absolute tour de force. The ending was changed to be more Hollywood- which was a little disappointing. Reece’s role is a real departure for her-pretty gritty. Overall pretty good for a mainstream movie