Book Review of “Saint John of the Five Boroughs” by Edward Falco
This book is the first novel I have read by Edward Falco. I will be sure to read the rest soon. When I picked this book up at my local library I was not sure what to expect. Saint John? I am Catholic so I of course thought of the New Testament…The Five Boroughs? Well, I thought New York City…I was close enough.
It is a nicely layered novel about a period of transition for a group of people whose lives are related by marriage, etc.
Avery is a college senior. An art major, in Virginia.
Grant is an artist from Brooklyn, New York.
Kate, Avery’s mother, is a widow, living in Salem, Virginia.
Hank, Kate’s brother-in-law, is married to Lindsey. They have an 8 year old son named Keith.
Now this seems like a lot of characters…But Falco introduces them at a nice pace. Each is clearly defined, and there is no confusing their storylines.
Early on Avery meets Grant under awkward circumstances, and they have a strange interlude. Afterwards she decides to move to Brooklyn with him and drop out of college.
At this time, Lindsey is unsure about her future. She and Hank have been married for sometime. Hank is older than her by more than a few years. They have an eight year old son. Her mother is deceased and her father is in a nursing home. She seems to be unsettled by the fact that her brother is involved in the war in Iraq. She is still searching for something…
Once in Brooklyn, Avery is very attracted to Grant’s world and his “artist life style”. But Grant is largely about his own darkness. But still, Avery is very happy. She meets some interesting people thru Grant. Avery finds a job at a restaurant and feels she is building a life for herself.
Her family does not hear from her often enough… Kate and Hank and Lindsey come to look for her in New York and many things change for all of them…
Much of this book deals with the effects of certain decisions we make. What manifests afterwards.
I often write of my desire to read about artists. To try to understand their life and what drives their creativity. This book reminded me of my late teens and early twenty’s. What a rush it was to leave home at 18 and head off to college. Back then I craved meeting new people. I remember how cool it was to meet certain people and find an instant attraction to them. Maybe because you saw in them, what you had always imagined you would be. There were certain things you wanted to experience. If only for just a short time. To be away from your parents. To be on your own. To try to make a life for yourself. A sort of maturity. A sort of redemption. Growth.
It was these kinds of things that “Saint John of the Five Boroughs” did for me. Reminded me of the growth that can occur in a short period of time. I really did enjoy this book. I guarantee that you will relate to some of the characters. You will be able to empathize with at least one of them. It is a story that will make you think, feel and remember…
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Land of the Free
A movie review of “Ghost Writer”
I am still thinking about the ending of the movie “Ghost Writer”. (Which I will not tell you.) It is a film to be watched from the beginning to the very end...Stay away from any loose lipped friends who may blurt out the ending to you. Be wary of any morning show radio personalities who may give away the story. Before you see this film, do not read any “movie-spoiler” reviews. In this film, watching how the twists and turns play out is pure enjoyment. In this film, ignorance is bliss.
We went to see it Friday evening instead of our usual Saturday late matinee. I like it when the theater is almost empty. There was a good crowd at this show. And everyone paid attention until the very end. And it is well worth it.
Ewan McGregor plays a talented ghostwriter hired to write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, Adam Lang. Lang, (the very handsome Pierce Brosnan) and his wife and staff, are staying in a secluded New England Coast beach house. His wife Ruth, is played perfectly by Olivia Williams. His chief of staff, Amelia Bly, is played by Kim Cattrall. Forget the hot Samantha Jones from HBO’s Sex and The City. Ms Cattrall”s performance in this movie is far more enticing. She is smart sexy. One of the most provocative scenes is when McGregor follows behind (literally and figuratively) as she walks up the stairs in a black pencil skirt…
In the beginning of the film, we learn that the previous ghostwriter has drowned under suspicious circumstances. The Ghost (McGregor) is hired and brought to the secluded beach house to look at the manuscript and interview Lang. The manuscript is kept very secure, as is everything else in the large house.
McGregor is staying at a local Inn a few miles away from the beach house. A scandal is unleashed about the ex-Prime Minister’s counter terrorism tactics. Once this hits every news network and he is discovered in America, the media is all over the island. The Ghost is brought to the beach house to stay and write the book.
McGregor is not comfortable staying with any client. The intimacy is a distraction. But this arrangement does allow him to dig a bit. He discovers some odd things about Lang. He is led down a trail that gets him more involved that he wants to be.
This film is thick with paranoia. All the characters involved with Lang, apart from the Ghost, seem to function so well in this uncomfortable environment.
There are many interesting twists in this film. Roman Polanski has created a superb piece. This is a film I want to see again in the theater. It is beautifully shot. The score is haunting. It gives you all the thrills without any over the top scenes. It is a movie filled with content and not a lot of glitz with a great finish. A must see…
I am still thinking about the ending of the movie “Ghost Writer”. (Which I will not tell you.) It is a film to be watched from the beginning to the very end...Stay away from any loose lipped friends who may blurt out the ending to you. Be wary of any morning show radio personalities who may give away the story. Before you see this film, do not read any “movie-spoiler” reviews. In this film, watching how the twists and turns play out is pure enjoyment. In this film, ignorance is bliss.
We went to see it Friday evening instead of our usual Saturday late matinee. I like it when the theater is almost empty. There was a good crowd at this show. And everyone paid attention until the very end. And it is well worth it.
Ewan McGregor plays a talented ghostwriter hired to write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, Adam Lang. Lang, (the very handsome Pierce Brosnan) and his wife and staff, are staying in a secluded New England Coast beach house. His wife Ruth, is played perfectly by Olivia Williams. His chief of staff, Amelia Bly, is played by Kim Cattrall. Forget the hot Samantha Jones from HBO’s Sex and The City. Ms Cattrall”s performance in this movie is far more enticing. She is smart sexy. One of the most provocative scenes is when McGregor follows behind (literally and figuratively) as she walks up the stairs in a black pencil skirt…
In the beginning of the film, we learn that the previous ghostwriter has drowned under suspicious circumstances. The Ghost (McGregor) is hired and brought to the secluded beach house to look at the manuscript and interview Lang. The manuscript is kept very secure, as is everything else in the large house.
McGregor is staying at a local Inn a few miles away from the beach house. A scandal is unleashed about the ex-Prime Minister’s counter terrorism tactics. Once this hits every news network and he is discovered in America, the media is all over the island. The Ghost is brought to the beach house to stay and write the book.
McGregor is not comfortable staying with any client. The intimacy is a distraction. But this arrangement does allow him to dig a bit. He discovers some odd things about Lang. He is led down a trail that gets him more involved that he wants to be.
This film is thick with paranoia. All the characters involved with Lang, apart from the Ghost, seem to function so well in this uncomfortable environment.
There are many interesting twists in this film. Roman Polanski has created a superb piece. This is a film I want to see again in the theater. It is beautifully shot. The score is haunting. It gives you all the thrills without any over the top scenes. It is a movie filled with content and not a lot of glitz with a great finish. A must see…
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A Gift of La Dolce Vita
Book Review of "dating da Vinci" by Malena Lott
I just finished reading “dating da Vinci” by Malena Lott. And I have all these words and memories swirling around my head as a result of it. I love it when I read a book and I immediately want to tell everyone I know to read it. It is almost as if someone is paying me to do it. (I can dream right?).
The book is written in first person, my favorite. It is a story about Ramona, who is an English language instructor to immigrants, and her life as it transitions from a “Griever” to a “Normal” over a period of time.
Ramona is a 36 year old widow with 2 young boys, William and Bradley. We learn that her soul mate husband, Joel, died suddenly about 2 years ago. And Ramona is definitely still a “Griever”. She has divided the world into “Normals” and “Grievers”. Since Ramona is a linguist, as readers we enjoy just how much fun words really are and the joy of choosing the right one. She is also currently working on her dissertation, “The Language of Love”.
So we follow along with Ramona as she finds her way back thru her grief. This book is not only a “Ramona gets her groove back”. It is a story of how Ramon turns her sorrow of her late husband’s untimely death into joyful memories of his presence in her life. This story is layered with humor and family gossip. A fun read. I became attached to Ramona and her journey. Many of us have a Ramona in our lives. Or we are Ramona…
We meet many people in Ramona’s life. Obviously a hot 25 year Italian immigrant named Leonardo da Vinci…And some memorable friends, past students and relatives. Each one has closet full of back story that is very amusing for the reader…
I found this book at my local library. Seems I always have some business there. I had just returned a boring book and was just glancing at the shelf and “dating da Vinci” sort of caught my eye. I am always drawn towards a book that is about being involved with an artist. My husband is a performer. An artist. A comic. And definitely different to be involved with. But that’s my other blog….
As I read the book I soon realized that it wasn’t about being involved with an artist. Like Ramona, I have separated the people in the world in two categories. My categories are “Artists” or “NonArtists”. And I try to often figure out which one I belong in…I think by merely grouping the population, it moves me closer to the “NonArtist” category. But then again, the creating and writing of this blog inches me towards the “Artist” category. Talk about frustration from over thinking…
Truthfully this book did many things for me. It made me think, feel, cry and laugh…I love that Ramona is a linguist. I love words and their origin. I always have a dictionary close. I have been known to rewrite a sentence or thought over many times. There are scribbles of notes all over my desk…Think “over thinking” again…
This book reminded me that I need to feel…I recalled the people that I have lost over the years. And like Ramona, I have learned to have joy inside of me instead of sorrow.
Evidently I know that too much of my time is spent thinking. There are times when I cannot shut off my brain. I need to live in the moment more. Enjoy more of life. My funny husband always tells me I analyze things too much. Well, truthfully, he really tells me I “over analyze” him. But as I mentioned before, that’s my other blog….
I want to thank the author, Malena Lott, for a fun and beautiful tale. I will miss Ramona…And thank you Malena for reminding me to be charmed by life and all it has to offer…
.
I just finished reading “dating da Vinci” by Malena Lott. And I have all these words and memories swirling around my head as a result of it. I love it when I read a book and I immediately want to tell everyone I know to read it. It is almost as if someone is paying me to do it. (I can dream right?).
The book is written in first person, my favorite. It is a story about Ramona, who is an English language instructor to immigrants, and her life as it transitions from a “Griever” to a “Normal” over a period of time.
Ramona is a 36 year old widow with 2 young boys, William and Bradley. We learn that her soul mate husband, Joel, died suddenly about 2 years ago. And Ramona is definitely still a “Griever”. She has divided the world into “Normals” and “Grievers”. Since Ramona is a linguist, as readers we enjoy just how much fun words really are and the joy of choosing the right one. She is also currently working on her dissertation, “The Language of Love”.
So we follow along with Ramona as she finds her way back thru her grief. This book is not only a “Ramona gets her groove back”. It is a story of how Ramon turns her sorrow of her late husband’s untimely death into joyful memories of his presence in her life. This story is layered with humor and family gossip. A fun read. I became attached to Ramona and her journey. Many of us have a Ramona in our lives. Or we are Ramona…
We meet many people in Ramona’s life. Obviously a hot 25 year Italian immigrant named Leonardo da Vinci…And some memorable friends, past students and relatives. Each one has closet full of back story that is very amusing for the reader…
I found this book at my local library. Seems I always have some business there. I had just returned a boring book and was just glancing at the shelf and “dating da Vinci” sort of caught my eye. I am always drawn towards a book that is about being involved with an artist. My husband is a performer. An artist. A comic. And definitely different to be involved with. But that’s my other blog….
As I read the book I soon realized that it wasn’t about being involved with an artist. Like Ramona, I have separated the people in the world in two categories. My categories are “Artists” or “NonArtists”. And I try to often figure out which one I belong in…I think by merely grouping the population, it moves me closer to the “NonArtist” category. But then again, the creating and writing of this blog inches me towards the “Artist” category. Talk about frustration from over thinking…
Truthfully this book did many things for me. It made me think, feel, cry and laugh…I love that Ramona is a linguist. I love words and their origin. I always have a dictionary close. I have been known to rewrite a sentence or thought over many times. There are scribbles of notes all over my desk…Think “over thinking” again…
This book reminded me that I need to feel…I recalled the people that I have lost over the years. And like Ramona, I have learned to have joy inside of me instead of sorrow.
Evidently I know that too much of my time is spent thinking. There are times when I cannot shut off my brain. I need to live in the moment more. Enjoy more of life. My funny husband always tells me I analyze things too much. Well, truthfully, he really tells me I “over analyze” him. But as I mentioned before, that’s my other blog….
I want to thank the author, Malena Lott, for a fun and beautiful tale. I will miss Ramona…And thank you Malena for reminding me to be charmed by life and all it has to offer…
.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Spend seven days with a few of Brooklyn's Finest
Brooklyn's Finest Movie Review
One of my favorite all time HBO series is “The Wire”. God I miss it….
Brooklyn’s Finest reminded me of that series. Very intense. Very emotional. And you wanted more of it.
The audience is partnered up with three of Brooklyn’s finest as they go thru a week of work. But it’s not a week of DUI arrests and trailer park domestics as in the reality show Cops.
It is seven days in Brooklyn’s 65th precinct and its drug problems. Three different cops in three different positions. Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere), Sal Procipa (Ethan Hawke) and Clarence “Tango” Butler (Don Cheadle) do an outstanding job of portraying these cops.
We are along with them for some hourly tests of judgement on and off the job.
Dugan is a week away from retirement and burned out. Gere plays this short timer very well and you are not sure whether you are going be able to empathize with him as the movie moves along.
Sal is struggling with the responsibilities and pressures of trying to raise a family. Pregnant wife,(Lily Taylor) and a several more kids live in a house they are about to bust out of. Ethan Hawke always does a superb job of playing a guy strung out. The audience will have no problem empathizing with him as he struggles to make ends meet on a cop’s paycheck.
When“Tango”Butler first appears in the movie, you are not sure which side he is on. The good guys or the bad guys. And that is clearly his problem in the movie. Don Cheadle is excellent as he portrays a man who has been undercover too long. He not only wants to get out, he needs to. The lines are blurring.
There are many promising scenes and appearances in the movie. Ellen Barkin is FBI Agent Smith. Tough but not messy. Wesley Snipes is Caz, who has some history with Tango. And Michael Kenneth Williams is Red. (he played Omar in The Wire). Great performances, especially Barkin.
Director Antoine Fuqua gives you seven intense days with Brooklyn’s Finest. He is accomplishes it without over the top scenes. He really nails the idea that the stress that police work provides bleeds everywhere in a cops life. It changes them from the idealist rookie cop they were on day one, to the apathetic cop they have become one week short of retirement. Fuqua also provides the in between job/life struggles of a cop on the job for ahwile. And he manages to do it well in just over 2 hours. You get sucked into their lives during this film. You will spend a lot of time thinking about this movie and talking about it afterwards. And that’s a good thing. Isn’t that why you go to see a film in the first place?
One of my favorite all time HBO series is “The Wire”. God I miss it….
Brooklyn’s Finest reminded me of that series. Very intense. Very emotional. And you wanted more of it.
The audience is partnered up with three of Brooklyn’s finest as they go thru a week of work. But it’s not a week of DUI arrests and trailer park domestics as in the reality show Cops.
It is seven days in Brooklyn’s 65th precinct and its drug problems. Three different cops in three different positions. Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere), Sal Procipa (Ethan Hawke) and Clarence “Tango” Butler (Don Cheadle) do an outstanding job of portraying these cops.
We are along with them for some hourly tests of judgement on and off the job.
Dugan is a week away from retirement and burned out. Gere plays this short timer very well and you are not sure whether you are going be able to empathize with him as the movie moves along.
Sal is struggling with the responsibilities and pressures of trying to raise a family. Pregnant wife,(Lily Taylor) and a several more kids live in a house they are about to bust out of. Ethan Hawke always does a superb job of playing a guy strung out. The audience will have no problem empathizing with him as he struggles to make ends meet on a cop’s paycheck.
When“Tango”Butler first appears in the movie, you are not sure which side he is on. The good guys or the bad guys. And that is clearly his problem in the movie. Don Cheadle is excellent as he portrays a man who has been undercover too long. He not only wants to get out, he needs to. The lines are blurring.
There are many promising scenes and appearances in the movie. Ellen Barkin is FBI Agent Smith. Tough but not messy. Wesley Snipes is Caz, who has some history with Tango. And Michael Kenneth Williams is Red. (he played Omar in The Wire). Great performances, especially Barkin.
Director Antoine Fuqua gives you seven intense days with Brooklyn’s Finest. He is accomplishes it without over the top scenes. He really nails the idea that the stress that police work provides bleeds everywhere in a cops life. It changes them from the idealist rookie cop they were on day one, to the apathetic cop they have become one week short of retirement. Fuqua also provides the in between job/life struggles of a cop on the job for ahwile. And he manages to do it well in just over 2 hours. You get sucked into their lives during this film. You will spend a lot of time thinking about this movie and talking about it afterwards. And that’s a good thing. Isn’t that why you go to see a film in the first place?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
meet my monkey...
after many postings on a particular social networking site about my opinions of various books, movies and comedy shows, i have decided to just blog about it. i have become "the review monkey". i average about 4 books a month and at least 2 trips to the theater a month. and since i am married to a comic and morning radio show cohost i have a ton of comedy in my life.
you probably think i have a lot of free time on my hands. i just pencil it in around my naps. how else would i get the reading done. the pressure...
my fav comic and i get out to the movies about twice a month. thats all the movie theater popcorn i am allowed in the winter. no popcorn, no movie. thats the rule. once summer is here, i can afford a little more popcorn on my girlish figure...but less about me and more about what i like to watch and read.
i usually want to see a new release like everyone does, but not the "feel good" movies. something at least PG- 13 or R is even better. there has to be some good f bombs in it for me. and my criteria for really liking the movie is whether or not the movie carried out the premise. and this my cyber friends, i am willing to wait for...and i am hoping that they carry it out, chew it up and spit it out. if you know what i mean...
as far as books go, i will read fiction or non fiction. i usually have to throw a teen book in there once inawhile just to keep up with what my kids are reading. with 3 kids, i spent a lot of time at the library. who can afford barnes&nobles with the price of school lunches. i do occasionally break down and buy a book at the local bookstores, but i am a huge fan of used books which they sell everywhere now. and i have gotten a few at the library that way. some pretty good titles for a dollar. book review on a budget. which would have been a pretty good title for an upcoming blog...
i hope you stick around and read this. i hope to post as often as i read or venture out to the theater or find a good one on demand. . i did see a movie today, but i need to digest it as it was pretty intense. you cant put don cheadle, ethan hawke and richard gere in an antoine fuqua film and not need a day to digest it. i needed a few days after seeing "training day" ...and thats a good thing about a film. if you cant get it out of your head or cant stop talking about it, you probably liked it more than youre will to admit. anyways...
i am gonna sleep with "brooklyn's finest" tonight. and then give you my review in the morning. til then...
you probably think i have a lot of free time on my hands. i just pencil it in around my naps. how else would i get the reading done. the pressure...
my fav comic and i get out to the movies about twice a month. thats all the movie theater popcorn i am allowed in the winter. no popcorn, no movie. thats the rule. once summer is here, i can afford a little more popcorn on my girlish figure...but less about me and more about what i like to watch and read.
i usually want to see a new release like everyone does, but not the "feel good" movies. something at least PG- 13 or R is even better. there has to be some good f bombs in it for me. and my criteria for really liking the movie is whether or not the movie carried out the premise. and this my cyber friends, i am willing to wait for...and i am hoping that they carry it out, chew it up and spit it out. if you know what i mean...
as far as books go, i will read fiction or non fiction. i usually have to throw a teen book in there once inawhile just to keep up with what my kids are reading. with 3 kids, i spent a lot of time at the library. who can afford barnes&nobles with the price of school lunches. i do occasionally break down and buy a book at the local bookstores, but i am a huge fan of used books which they sell everywhere now. and i have gotten a few at the library that way. some pretty good titles for a dollar. book review on a budget. which would have been a pretty good title for an upcoming blog...
i hope you stick around and read this. i hope to post as often as i read or venture out to the theater or find a good one on demand. . i did see a movie today, but i need to digest it as it was pretty intense. you cant put don cheadle, ethan hawke and richard gere in an antoine fuqua film and not need a day to digest it. i needed a few days after seeing "training day" ...and thats a good thing about a film. if you cant get it out of your head or cant stop talking about it, you probably liked it more than youre will to admit. anyways...
i am gonna sleep with "brooklyn's finest" tonight. and then give you my review in the morning. til then...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)