Book Review: The Strain

If you know me even slightly, you know I read a lot.  All the time. Normally about 3 or 4 books a week, depending on how intense they are, the subject matter, the writing. Mostly I read fiction but lately more non-fiction.  However, not since Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles (the best being "Interview with a Vampire" which is excellent reading) have I read a book about vampires.  Because of an article in the NY TImes book section regarding the best books of 2011, I just read "The Strain."  I want to make perfectly clear that this book was written in 2005 and thus NOT on their best book list.  But it was mentioned because the third book in the trilogy was published in 2011, "The Night Eternal" and a few reviewers liked it a lot.  "The Strain" is the first book in the trilogy.

I must say, vampires or not, it is a good, but gruesome, read.  The writing is tight, the descriptions are excellent and the characters, at least the non-vampire characters, are steadfast and oddly engaging. Who knew?  Me reading the first in a trilogy about vampires?  And these are not the vampires we have all come to know and hate. These don't have dark cloaks, nor do they have fangs, nor do they simply suck the blood from their victims.  That would be too easy, too neat, too tidy.  I won't describe what happens with these vamps but suffice it to say that they are a sort of walking hell, and we will leave it at that.

One of the authors, Guillermo del Toro, is a movie director who directed "Pan's Labyrinth."  The other author is Chuck Hogan, a writer, whose book "Prince of Thieves" was the basis for the movie "The Town."   So both authors have credibility in their chosen professions. It shows in the writing, the pacing and the subject matter. 

I am not recommending you read this book.  You might like it if you like dark, creepy, scary, Stephen King-like novels.  I may get the second book in the trilogy from the library, not sure yet.  But I found "The Strain"  oddly engaging, even if some parts went on too long. (I read about a third of it in one sitting, couldn't put it down.)  In the end it was a satisfying, if demented, read.  Sometimes it a good thing to get out of one's rut and jump into something totally different.  Or at least that's my justification for this creepy and rather scary novel.

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Merry Christmas!

Hope you are all enjoying the day, enjoying your friends and family, basking in the joy of the holiday season.  Gabe and Annie came over yesterday for some card playing, some crab eating and some champagne drinking and we had a great time.  They have gone off to other committments, Cooper and I are sitting on the couch watching old Bette Davis movies.  It's a good day.

Holidays

I haven't written too many posts lately, mainly because everything I would write about seems either seasonal (Happy Holidays!  Joy!  Shopping! Debt!) or trivial (the weather, the mind-numbing aspects of my jobs) or sad (the unemployed, the disenfranchised, politics.)  I am not one who gets worked up over the holiday season and we all are tired of talking about the lack of rain and really, Newt for President?  See, nothing worth mentioning.

But then again, it is worth mentioning over and over that especially at this time of the year we all need to take our joy and love where we can find it and we need to give it back whenever we can.  God, that sounds so unlike me, it almost makes me puke.  However, you know what I mean.  Small children (other people's small children) are good to have around this time of the year because until they are 4 or 5  years old they really get excited about the holidays.  After that, forgetaboutit, they are as consumed with consumerism as a teenager.  But to watch a kid stare at a Christmas tree in awe or rip open a two dollar gift, that's something to watch.

Baking cookies and bread: nothing lifts one's spirits like the smell of nutmeg and cinnamon, baking bread, toasted nuts.  Cook something good and eat it, or give it away and let someone else's cholesterol levels rise.  At least you get to fill your house with good smells.

Being nice:  it's difficult to do at this time of the year exactly because of this time of year.  Too much traffic, too many people wanting something of you, too much money going out the window on needless gifts if you aren't careful.  That doesn't matter, really, you can still be nice to those around you and try and be cheery. At least for an hour or two in the next week.  Smile. It doesn't hurt too much, just a little now and then.

Slothfulness:  I am a big fan of this virtue vice in the winter. It's OK to hang out in your pajamas on Christmas morning (or eve) and do nothing but drink hot coffee til 10:00 am and then hot cider and eat those baked goods.  (see above) And watch some schmaltzy holiday thing on TV like "A Christmas Story" or a good family movie like "Reservoir Dogs."  (just kidding about that one. about the family part, at least.)  Anything to get you into the spirit of being lazy for a couple of hours.  It is also the perfect time to drink a little white wine or eggnog with brandy or eat some of that See's Candy you didn't ask for but silently coveted and now can't refuse.

Finally, family:  whether it's the family you were born with or the family you created along the way, the holidays were made for sharing nasty tales about the past with friends and family, sharing decent bottles of wine, sharing good food, laughing and crying at the movies you watch while being slothful.  Sharing life's bizarre and beautiful moments with people you can sort of relate to while wearing crappy, comfortable clothes is what it's all about.

That's my list of how to make the holidays better:  kids, baked goods, smiling, laziness and friends and family.  Throw in a little whiskey, some crab and champagne, a dog with fake reindeer ears and that might be as good as it gets.  At least for this year.

Movie Review: "Reservoir Dogs"

Yes, this movie is almost 20 years old but I just watched it in its entirety for the first time that I can remember.  (Which means that perhaps I saw the entire thing previously but because of those pesky brain cells that keep vacating the premises, I didn't remember the whole movie.) What I remember from previous viewing interludes is that the movie was very violent.  Now, in the 21st century, it doesn't seem all that bad.  It is a Quentin Tarantino movie, so yes, there is blood and yes, there is the famous scene where the bad guys cut another guy's ear off, but it's just bloody, not overtly violent.  James Bond is more in-your-face violent than these crooks.  And hey, it's a movie with bad guys so you have to expect a little gun and knife action.

Basically, it's about a jewelry heist that ends up in the weeds, a couple of guys dead, one shot and bleeding and the rest of the crew running around trying to salvage the operation while trying to figure out what went wrong.  A few characters are not what they seem to be and that revelation slowly unfolds for us, the viewer.  It is a simple plot, simple story of best laid plans going awry.  The thing about "Reservoir Dogs" that makes it worth seeing again is the dialogue.  Tarantino is responsible for most of the writing and it almost seems like a one-act play.  Most of the action takes place in an abandoned warehouse and all of the characters talk, a lot.  It is quick, jumpy, smart and never lags. Yes, there is a lot of cursing and plenty of use of the f-word, but again, what can you expect from Tarantino. The cast is amazing: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Quentin Tarantino, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen.  No women, too much testosterone for that.

Bottom line, a good caper movie with excellent dialogue.  Definitely worth seeing, definitely worth seeing again if it's been awhile since you checked it out.

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Old

Quick post:  went to Sacramento to visit my  Mom who now lives in a "Senior Community." She loves it, she has lots of new friends, it is a clean and well cared for place, there are no dying people there so it isn't depressing (hmm, that is a subject for debate) and the people who work there are nice and caring.  The lobby is decorated for Christmas with a beautiful tree and poinsettias and lights and candles and sparkly stuff.  Nice.  Very nice.  Very cheery.  Very old people-ish.  A bit out of the land of reality.

But that's just my innately cynical commentary.  I will leave that alone.

Mom and I and my sister Kate had a good dinner, Mom insisted on paying and Kate and I let her pay.  She has more money rolling in right now than we do, at least more discretionary money, of which Kate and I have none.  It was a good visit but it was good to leave and drive home. Staying in the land of the very old was very tough. 

More on that to follow, once I digest it all.

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Movie Review: "Andrew Zimmer"

Realizing that probably very few of you reading this will watch it, I still have to plug a movie from 2005, French, subtitled and the basis for the American crap movie "The Tourist."  The French movie of which I speak is "Andrew Zimmer."  Very smart, very sexy, very quick.  Sophie Marceau is so much more real and much hotter than Angelina Jolie and yet trickier and without the pouting lip thing. The  movie moves quickly and it wasn't until three quarters into it that I figured out a major twist, but then, I am slow on those things. I buy into everything and trust everything, as you know, so am always surprised by those plot devices designed to throw the viewer into the weeds.  I am always digging out of the weeds at the end of the movie but this time I got one thing before it was handed to me on a trowel, to continue that metaphor.

The story is about mistaken identity and mis-taken identity.  Innocent victim falls prey to greedy siren who has a couple of tricks up her sleeve but said victim agrees to go along for the ride.  It's a good ride, all in all and we, the viewer, are happy to hang in there for it. Can't say much more without spoiler alerts, so will just leave it at this:  two thumbs up, check it out.

It isn't on DVD but you can instant watch on Netflix and I advise you do.  Good entertainment.  And hey, it is always nice to hear French spoken and see some of the area around Nice. 

Bonne nuit!

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Tree, Texas, Christmas and Damn Good Bread

In Texas with Jenn for a couple of days, actually flying home later today.  It was a delightful time, partly because we bought a xmas tree and decorated it and it is so, so lovely.  It has been a while since I got to sit and stare at a tree for a couple of days in a row.  Nice, very nice.  Texas is, of course, just like I left it at the beginning of September, only a bit colder, days are in the 40's, nights much lower. But still a land of fast food, slow people and the Christian right. 

Baking smells are wafting up the stairs right now, there is Damn Good Bread in the oven and it smells..... well, it smells damn good. I will leave it for Jenn, a little something to remember me by for the next couple of days.  (In return, I stole some of her oatmeal cookies out of the freezer, already stashed them in my suitcase.  She has no idea of this treachery, and I have no intention of telling her!) 

All in all, a great visit.  Cheap airfares may allow me to return in late January when there may be snow on the ground.  Bottom line, it is always good to get out of town, and even better to get out of town and see one's kid!

Adios, more tomorrow.


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Cold

Not to state the obvious, but boy was it cold this morning.  It isn't the first time in the past few weeks I've had to pour warm water on my car windows to melt the frost but it seems that the temps aren't warming up much as the day goes on.  It's friggin cold.

But then, what babies we are here in California when it comes to cold weather.  59 degrees isn't really that cold when you think of the states (and countries) that get down to way below freezing for days and days at a time.  That's cold.  Makes you almost glad to pay the PGE bill when you think about what those folks pay during the winter.

It's that time of year when we should think about people without homes and we should try to imagine what they are going through.  It's time to reach into our pockets and find a little extra money and give it to the charity of our choosing.  Even $20 helps places like St. Anthony's Dining Room or any of the local food distribution places that exist in every city.  Just do a google search for "Marin county food bank" or any county, of course, and you can donate on-line in two minutes.  If we can afford to buy a Christmas gift, if we can afford to have a good meal over the holidays, we can afford to help others out.

I am going to Texas on Wednesday morning to visit Jenn for three days, and that makes me very happy.  I know I swore I wouldn't return to that state for a while after my long, hot summer, but I need to see my girl.  Hopefully we can put up a Christmas tree and decorate the dog for the holidays, have some good eats and watch junky TV for an afternoon or two.  Jenn wants to get a canning pot and jars and we might see about doing that as well, make some jam for gifts.  All in all, it will be a very nice couple of days.

Give, give, give.......

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Movie Review: "McCabe and Mrs. Miller"

The fact that this movie was made in 1971 shouldn't deter you from renting it.  I probably saw it in the theater but didn't remember much about it except that it was really good, but in a way I couldn't describe then.  (Come on, I was 21 and my movie skills were very poor, just starting to come around.)  It is one of Robert Altman's earliest films and it is worth seeing just for that reason, especially if you have followed his movies over his lifetime and can appreciate the progression in his directing.


The movie stars two iconic figures of that time, Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.  The supporting cast is made up of character actors that we still see in support roles today.  The scene is a cold, bleak Western town, very small, very poor and very muddy.  This is probably a fairly true depiction of how some of those small towns were in those days, no wood sidewalks, no sheriff office, one saloon/boarding house and one saloon/whorehouse.  Lots of dirty men, no women to speak of except for those in the brothel.


Into this town comes John McCabe (Beatty), intent on opening a whore house and making some money.  His business sense isn't great, he isn't too smart about anything but he is smart enough to know he isn't doing a great job.  He struggles and his "girls" know nothing about whoring.  Quick on his heels comes Mrs. Miller (Christie) who is a professional prostitute and she brings her stable of women with her.  After a few episodes of butting heads, the two form a partnership and thus the brothel is in business.


The plot is simple up to that point but is complicated by a large corporation who wants to buy the entire town.  McCabe doesn't want to sell,  Mrs. Miller does, and things take a turn towards the darkness.


Beatty is excellent as the guy trying to make it big in a hard, cold world.  He has this way of talking to himself as he walks towards a building or as he mounts his horse, and it is the perfect indication of the character's uncertainty, hesitation and, at the same time, determination.  Christie is gorgeous as a tough madam who is concerned for her girls but also concerned about making money and getting out of the business.  The weather in the film is always cold, raining or snowing; the color palette is fairly monochrome and everyone, except Mrs. Miller, looks dirty all the time.  You can almost feel the cold seeping into their clothes.  In one scene, the girls are taking a bath and you can really sense their joy and relief in getting into a warm tub.


The end of the movie is as cold as the weather.  There is no justice, of course, but that was part of the lawlessness of the West.  Altman made a very good film here, a precursor of his later work.  (As a point of interest, he directed a great deal of the early TV series such as "Bonanza" and "Maverick."  His depiction of that era in this movie far surpasses anything in those series.)


The movie holds up well, the performances are excellent and it is a true study in character and place.  Check it out.

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