Sunday Salon: Hi My Name is Sandy

 Yes, please allow me to introduce myself.  I am your long-lost blogger friend Sandy.  If I follow your blog (in theory) you may be wondering if I died or fell into a well or something.  No, I am alive, I've just been off the grid.  The main reason is because my kids did not have school on Thursday or Friday.  We rarely have even a half day of "free" time so I like to make hay while the sun shines.  And make hay we did.

But before Thursday, I was busy doing things to clear my schedule.  Lots of running around and scrubbing and parent meetings and stuff.  And hey, I tried Pilates for the first time and loved it!  Just keeping things interesting and different.  I have a friend that goes to a class every Tuesday, and I'm going to try to incorporate it when I can.

So because of the wacky-ness that normally ensues on the weekend, my running partner and I went out for an early 8 miles on Thursday.  (Just as an aside, every single time I get ready to do a long run, I'm almost frozen with terror...fear of pain, failure, injury.  I'm not sure if this will ever go away.)  I then took the kids to Target, primarily to get "stuff" for my daughter's Homecoming Week next week.  Then at 2:00pm, my daughter and I went to Universal and rode the rides for a few hours, then went to Halloween Horror Nights.  You all know how much she and I love our horror, and it is a SERIOUS amount of fun.  I was just totally exhausted by the time we left, which was about 11:30pm.  I would have allowed one of the roaming demons to carry me out to the car, willingly.  

On Friday, I took the kids to Sea World.  They have passes, and they had been dying to go.  Normally, I am racing with them to the front row of each ride, but this time I packed Jo Nesbo and read while they cavorted around.  It needed to happen, I needed some rest.  

Yesterday was sports day.  My daughter had to meet the bus at her school at 5:15am, and the meet was over on the coast in Titusville (an hour drive).  Despite all the theme park action on Thursday and Friday, she beat her PR by over a minute, which is incredible.  The boy played football later in the afternoon against the one team we thought might give us some competition, but we shut them out 22-0.  What an awesome day.  (Random thought yesterday...if my son plays High School football, we will have watched 11 years of the game from his sidelines.  Holy crap.)

So my reading = dismal.  I'm still reading Jo Nesbo's "Phantom" which is amazing.  Just no sitting time and when I do, I fall asleep.  I intended to post that review on Tuesday, but that ain't happening, so I will have to shuffle things around.  On audio, I finished "The Invisible Ones" by Stef Penney, and narrated by the flipping amazing Dan Stevens.  Audio lovers?  Listen to this one.  The story is great but the narration is UNBELIEVABLE.  I'm now pretty close to wrapping up Anna Quindlen's memoirish musings in "Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake" and I wish I knew her IRL.  She has her ducks in a row, this one.  Plus she is also kind of an amazing writer too.  Look for her to be on my list of top reads for 2012 for "Every Last One".

Let's hope for a more productive blogging week next week.  Hopefully I'll see you around, I'll get some books read and some reviews written.  There's always  room to aspire for improvement.

SIBA Recap: Books I'm Excited About Part 2

Last Friday I shared a long list of books that I discovered at SIBA and that I am terribly excited about reading.  Well, there is more.  Check it out.







Comeback Love - Peter Golden:  This is one of those books that I might never have considered.  But Sarah Pekkanen blurbed it (love her) and I had dinner with Mr. Golden and he spend considerable time talking me down off my ledge about raising sons.  Plus look at that cover.  The story is about two lovers who came of age in the 1960's, and were separated by circumstance.  Decades later, they find each other again.  

The Blessed - Tonya Hurley:  Again, not sure I would have considered this one, but I heard Ms. Hurley speak on a panel.  And I got a good look at the cover, which took my breath away.  It is a YA novel, first of a trilogy, about three girls, down on their luck, who arrive at a hospital to find that they might be the modern version of martyred saints.









Astray - Emma Donahue (October 2012):  I think if you have read "Room", you probably would not hesitate to read this, no matter what the topic.  This book was a rep pick, and describes a journey from Puritan Massachusetts to revolutionary New Jersey, from antebellum Louisiana to a Toronto highway, lighting up four centuries of wanderings.





Cover of Snow - Jenny Milchman (January 2013):  Jenny was sitting at the same dinner table as Peter Golden, and completely charmed the bloggers with her sweet demeanor.  Plus she loves Tana French.  So.  when she told me it took her 11 years to write this literary mystery about a woman seeking answers to her husband's suicide. 

Blood Beneath My Feet:  The Journey of a Southern Death Investigator - Joseph Scott Morgan:  A memoir of a guy who has BEEN THERE.  And OMG there are pictures.  This is totally up my alley, I admit, but I won't be reading it anywhere near food.  This gentleman spoke on a panel, and said that someone declared this book a new genre.  I was pretty much sold that that point.









I'm curious if any of you have heard any of these?  The hardest part is going to be how to decide which to read first!

A Wilderness of Error - Errol Morris

 True crime has always been "fun" reading for me.  It inspires me, it intrigues me, and usually propels me to dig deeper, to Google things, to obsess.  The ladies at TLC know this, and often approach me when books like this come on tour.

I'd never heard of this case, which originally occurred in 1970.  It is an investigation that has inspired books, a movie, and decades of bumbling trials that never really arrived at a satisfying answer.  Where on earth have I been?  I was dying for more info.

Synopsis:  In the middle of the night at Fort Bragg NC, in 1970, an esteemed doctor (Jeffrey MacDonald) called  the police.  He had been attacked, and his wife and two young daughters had been murdered.  The word "pig" had been written on the walls in blood, and MacDonald told a horrible tale of four drug-crazed hippies who had committed this crime.

Over a period of 9 years and numerous trials, a circuitous path is taken in the conviction of Jeffrey MacDonald for these murders.  The story he tells, which is supported by one guilt-ridden and drug-addicted woman who claims to have been at the home during the murders, is much different than the one told by the military and the prosecution.  

In the hands of Errol Morris (filmmaker and private detective), who not only pores over the original court documents, but interviews those involved long after the dust has settled, it becomes clear that a serious injustice has occurred.  Leads that were not pursued, a crime scene that was not preserved, lost evidence, errors in the transfer of notes, prejudiced judges...ultimately a team of lawyers that were so convinced of MacDonald's guilt, they turned their backs on facts that would have caused reasonable doubt in a court of law.  Morris has spent over 20 years researching a case that undoubtedly has imprisoned the wrong man.

My thoughts:  The premise of this work is beyond fascinating to me.  The idea that a murder investigation could go this wrong is terrifying, and brings back other stories with a similar result, like "An Innocent Man" by John Grisham or "The Monster of Florence".  Nearly everyone involved in this case (except the military and the prosecution of course) believes MacDonald is innocent!  But yet he still sits in prison to this day.  It is the kind of thing that blows one's mind.

Yet the material...the blood, sweat and tears of Morris that is the work of over two decades...is insanely dense.  The level of detail is something I really struggled with.  Diagrams, interviews, transcripts from the trials...it is all in there.  I was reading this book during a very busy time for me, and I could not get a solid purchase.  The reading requires concentration, and is not conducive to five or fifteen minute reading sessions.  This is a book that would be best digested in several long reading sessions instead.  But this is not the kind of time that I had.  So I labored, and it took me a solid three weeks to read.  It is a long book.

I was also disappointed there weren't more pictures.  True crime requires pictures, otherwise I have to do a lot of work on my own.  If these people exist, then I want to see what they look like.  

So while the idea of this book was mind-bending and thought-provoking, I got lost in the weeds.  I will most certainly keep the book for another read in a different year when I have the time to invest fully.

3 out of 5 stars

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Charleston #1

After a few days at Kiawah Island, we headed to Charleston.  It is impossible not to love Charleston.  It is the epitome of Southern Charm.  Gorgeous mansions, old money, palm trees, iron gates, flower gardens, and comfort food that could potentially make you gain 50 pounds in a week if you set your mind to it.

One thing that I always do when I'm in this town is walk the streets South of Broad, all the way down to The Battery.  Here are a few modest homes on The Battery.  You can stay at a few of these places overnight, or if you have $10 million or more lying around, you can buy one.

The Stand: Hardcases, No Man's Land, The Night Has Come

If you've been hanging out here and putting up with me long enough, you know I am a huge fan of Stephen King.  We go way back.  Over the last couple of years, I've also become acquainted with the joys of the graphic novel.  Two years ago for my birthday, my good blogger friend Molly Bumble sent me the first volume (ultimately of a set of six) of The Stand in graphic form.  I would define this gift as #1, the perfect gift for me, and #2, the gift that keeps on giving.  I ran out and bought the next two volumes, and anxiously 
awaited the rest.  The reviews of these three graphic novels can be found here:

The Stand Volume 1:  Captain Trips

The Stand Volume 2:  American Nightmares

The Stand Volume 3:  Soul Survivors

  
The beauty of this vision of The Stand is that it has not been influenced by the made-for-TV-movie (thank God, in the case of Molly Ringwald), but is an interpretation by apostles of Uncle Stevie's Magnum Opus itself, with The Man on the periphery offering his input.  Apostles that can write and draw.  They bring it all to life in terrifying, visceral illustrations that express every emotion experienced by the survivors of the King Apocalypse.  FYI, these are not for children.  There is language, gore and sexuality in these pages, which is as it should be.  I'm going to briefly talk about the events in each volume, and there will be minor spoilers.  In a novel that contains over a thousand pages, however, where the biggest surprise and delight is King's storytelling, I don't think I'm ruining anything for you.


In the fourth volume, "Hardcases", we are introduced to Trashcan Man, who is headed towards the Dark Man in Las Vegas.  He is wounded and mentally unstable, and has pledged his life to the Walking Dude.  He joins his ilk in Vegas, who are forming an unholy community of the worst of humanity.  Yet they demand loyalty and do not tolerate alcohol or drug abuse.  Offenders are publicly crucified. 

While Mother Abigail waits for the gathering of her flock in Boulder, various rag-tag groups are headed in her direction.  Larry is traveling with Nadine, Joe the wild boy, and Lucy.  Frannie, Stu, Harold and Glen Bateman are ambling in that direction too, but things are strained because Harold perceives that Stu is moving in on his woman.  A community is established in Boulder, and a governing committee is formed.  Frannie and Stu start to suspect Harold is up to no good, and Mother Abigail disappears on a religious pilgrimage.
  

In "No Man's Land", Nadine and Harold join forces, and ultimately commit a final act of terrorism before heading West to Las Vegas.  The Free Zone of Boulder sends three spies to Vegas as well to determine what the Dark Man is up to, knowing that these three may be walking towards their demise.  Larry and Frannie discover Harold's diary, which is a shocking wake-up call to those who thought they knew him.  Mother Abigail returns from her pilgrimage, weak and sick, and tells the people of the Free Zone that God has spoken to her and asked that a group of four must travel, on foot, without provisions, to Las Vegas to face the Dark Man.
  

And that leaves us with the final installment, "The Night Has Come".  The final showdown between good and evil.  I won't say too much about what happens.  If you haven't read the graphic novels, or the book, it is better to discover it for yourself. It is exciting, and dark, and sad, and hopeful, and appropriate for an apocalyptic battle.

I had to chuckle that in the final scenes, the artists (with Uncle Stevie's permission) included Stevie's likeness in a cameo part, a character named Rich Bachman (King's pen name).  In the scene, Bachman, who was part of the Dark Man's inner circle, grows a conscience and speaks out, and is struck down.  King loves his cameos in his movies, and enjoys allowing his characters from various books to visit each other.  So I thought it was only appropriate that he got to make his own stand against evil.

It has been many years since I've read the novel "The Stand", so I'm not 100% sure if the details are consistent here.  I'm not sure that the books end the same.  Hey, I don't even remember what I had for breakfast!  I will admit that the gregariousness of King's storytelling is lost.  The dialogue is distilled down to exactly what is needed.  But the story is epic, and the illustrations and jarring.  If you are a fan of the novel, I would highly recommend you get your hands on the set and nestle down for a weekend of visual entertainment.    

5 out of 5 stars

Monday Matinee: The Expendables 2 (2012)

Now don't roll your eyes.  Yes I saw this movie, almost against my will.  On Labor Day weekend, we found ourselves with a little bit of extra time on our hands.  Not something that happens often.  And I thought that we should take advantage of this anomaly and go to the movies.

The only takers I could muster were my son and his friend Scootie.  Well, they didn't want to see anything romantic or scary, and nothing too rated R, so that limited the field.  To this ONE MOVIE.  They did not want me with them, but there was truly nothing else going on.  

I did not see the first Expendables movie, for probably the same reasons I shouldn't have seen this one.

But let me talk about the positive aspects of the film.  The cast is totally loaded.  Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, plus a few more.  (Not that any of these fellows were challenging themselves on the acting front.)  There were a lot of six-packs and biceps.  It was only 1 hour and 43 minutes.  Those are the positives.    
   

 I'm not even going to talk about the plot.  Whatever it was, it was just an excuse for this mercenaries-for-hire to stab, shoot, blow things up, and destroy stereotypical bad guys from the Soviet Union.  

I couldn't decide if the movie was the stupidest thing I'd ever seen, or if the stupidity was intentional and I was to take it all in jest.  I DID laugh several times, because I just couldn't believe I had paid good money to see this stuff.  My son felt that they were making fun of themselves and the genre.  I certainly HOPE that is the case.  Let me give you a few examples of the cornball.

In one gun fight, Arnold and Bruce Willis and hiding behind a car, and taking turns unloading their ammo into evildoers.  Arnold says to Willis "I'll be back".  Willis says "No, you've been back enough.  I'll go."  And Arnold says "Yippee Ky Yay".  Uh huh.  Stuff like that.

One member of our Expendables team is dressed like a priest so he can sneak up on the evildoers, then as he reveals himself, says "By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and knife".  Then he spears him.  

The final scene shows Stallone and Van Damme faced off in a final dual.  Stallone has all kinds of guns and knives on him, but he throws it all down so they can rip each other apart in the manly way.  I just laughed and shook my head.

Of course the boys thought this was all great stuff, but they didn't take it seriously.  The movie is rated R, but there is very little language.  Apparently Chuck Norris knew this movie would appeal to tween and teenage boys, and insisted the f-bombs be removed.  Good for him.  There is no sex, not even implied, or even a scantily-clad woman.  The rating is coming completely from the shooting and violence that was almost cartoonish.

So I've warned you.  How in the name of all that's holy did this film get 65% on Rotten Tomatoes is beyond me.  If you want a silly, brainless bit of testosterone, with a wisp of a theme of retribution, then look no further!

2 out of 5 stars 

     

Sunday Salon: Bring on Broadway!

 Good morning my friends!  So anything new going on?  As I think back through my week, only a few highlights come to mind. Generally, it was business as usual...driving the kids around to their practices, running and Andre abuse in the name of fitness, working in the yard and around the house (a wasp stung me in the face...does that count as a highlight?).  I had a very upbeat doctor appointment with good news.  Our nine hole women's golf league started a couple of weeks ago, and I was able to play for the first time this week, with not a half-bad score.  No complaints.

I was a featured guest post on She Reads this week, talking about audiobooks (shocking I know).  I didn't have a chance to direct you over there because it posted quicker than I expected...go check it out if you want to hear me ramble about my love for audios and Joshilyn Jackson.

I'm also on top of the world right now after a Saturday of AWESOMENESS on the part of my kids.  My daughter, a ninth grader, ran Varsity for her Cross Country team, on one of the toughest courses in Florida, and had her Personal Best time.  Plus the Varsity Girls took 1st place!  And my son's football team remains undefeated, shutting out the other team yet again 29-0 in a field that was a total mud pit.  It is so much flipping fun to see your kids kick butt.

But the biggest excitement in my tiny little brain is an upcoming trip.  In the past million years, my husband has always had a quickie trip to New York City in late November/early December.  I've never been able to go because of kid issues, but this year, we decided that the kid issues would resolve themselves and I've been booked on a flight to go.  It is only for two days, but while we are there for two days, we are scheduled to see two Broadway shows. 

The first show we are going to see is "Rock of Ages", a tribute to '80's big hair and the bands that supported the revolution.  This is OUR GENRE people, and while I didn't see the movie (Tom Cruise as a rock God, no thanks), I will revel in my 6th row seats center stage.   I shall bring a lighter to flick at the appropriate times, and will scream at the top of my lungs "POUR SOME SUGAR ON MAAAY (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)".  And dammit, I will mean it, even though my mall hair is long gone.

The second show I will be seeing by myself while my husband does his business dinner thang.  I shall be seeing..............after premiering only one week prior............THE MUSICAL VERSION OF "REBECCA".  Manderley!  Mrs. Danvers and Mrs De Winter!  OMG!  Twists and darkness and singing!  I cannot stand it.  I am having such a tremendous geek attack, I am not sure I'll be able to sit still in my seat.  Holy crap.  Anyone want to join me?  November 29th, 7:00pm, Row K, seat 108.  Be there.  

OK, so I will talk quickly about my reading week because now I am rambling.  I finished both "Bucolic Plague" by the GayGentlemenFarmersWhomILove and "One Last Thing Before I Go" by JonathanTropperWhomILove on audio, AND also "Drop Dead Healthy" by A.J. Jacobs.  All in this week.  I rocked the house on audio.  I am now a couple of discs into "The Invisible Ones" that all audiophiles say is a must listen.  I have to comment that the narrator is pretty amazing so far.  I'm a sucker for British accents.  

In print I plowed through "Code Name Verity" for my book club meeting on Thursday night.  I have to tell you that two people didn't even finish and the rest of us had our issues.  There were some pretty amazing things about this book, but it wasn't flawless.  Now I am reading my beloved Jo Nesbo's newest book "The Phantom".  Which releases on October 2.  Plow, plow, plow.

So I am picking up my reading pace.  If only I could catch up on the reviews!  Ha!  That will be next week's goal, although the kids don't have school on Thursday or Friday so I'm wishing myself good luck on that front.  On the potential agenda is Sea World and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.

Hope you all have a relaxing day of reading today.  I'm currently headed out for some Sunday morning running before church.  What do you have going on today?  Any good books I need to know about?