Taking A Break

Artwork by British Golden Age illustrator, Racey Helps.Taking a few days off to rest and relax. Working on the 101 Master List took a lot of  time and energy and I find I need a break from self-imposed posting deadlines. I'll be around though, catching up on your blogs and leaving comments which I've been very lax to do lately.But mainly I want to spend a bit more time reading. Life is short and my TBR pile is starting to overwhelm. I hope to...

Read More

101 Favorite Mysteries and/or Thrillers

Let me first say that this is a fluid list. Nothing is written in stone around here. If I read something tomorrow that should be on the list, well, then I'll deal with it then. If I've forgotten something fabulous (more likely to happen than not) I'll make adjustments when and then.This is not, necessarily, a list of the Best ever written so don't be perturbed if you don't see the usual critically accepted favorites here. (You're sure to find them...

Read More

Tuesday's Overlooked (or Forgotten) Film: COTTAGE TO LET starring Leslie Banks, Alastair Sim, John Mills and Michael Wilding

COTTAGE TO LET (1941) is an obscure, but terrific little movie (based on a play) and directed by Anthony Asquith. It's a perfect entry for Overlooked (or Forgotten) Film day, the weekly meme hosted by Todd Mason. Don't forget to check out Todd's blog, SWEET FREEDOM, to see what other films other bloggers will be talking about today.The one drawback to COTTAGE TO LET is the film's silly title which had actually kept me from watching it until...

Read More

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

SourceBelieved born (or baptised) today in 1564 and died on the same date in 1616. The older I get, the more I seem to appreciate Shakespeare 's genius.I found a brief but interesting post online from April 23rd of last year by Robert McCrum for The Guardian on the effect of Shakespeare on the brain. Here's the link.A good day to share two favorite sonnets:SONNET CXVILet me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not loveWhich...

Read More

Saturday Salon: A Favorite Painting or Two....or Three!

Lady By A Window - sourceEarly Morning Sunshine - At the Window, Giverny   - sourceInterior - 1918  sourceDormitory Breakfast - sourceEarly Morning - sourceSunlight - sourceMademoiselle Gaby - sourceSunspots - Arranging Flowers - sourceLouis Ritman - From Chicago to Giverny by Richard H. LoveLouis Ritman (1889 - 1963) was born in Russia, but he and his family emigrated to the United States when he was a child. He grew up in Chicago and...

Read More

Foreign Film Poster Friday

The French movie poster for the iconic noir film, 'This Gun For Hire.' starring Alan Ladd and Veronica La...

Read More

Say it isn't so....!

The end of the world is here, my friends. I'll be the one lost in the crowd saying, "I don't get i...

Read More

Friday's Forgotten Books: The Joshua Croft books by Walter Satterthwait

I'm not quite sure if this is the last Croft book or not. It may be just a Brit. title change.Today is Forgotten Books day, a weekly meme hosted by Patti Abbot at her blog, PATTINASE. Every Friday we gather round and dish forgotten or overlooked books we've known and loved. Don't forget to check in over there and see today's listing. LINK.My choice for today is not just one book, but a whole series. Author Walter Satterthwait is a prolific writer...

Read More

The Worst Film Casting Upset of This or Any Other Year.

Atlas sculpture at Rockefeller Center by Lee Lawrie.This is kind of how I view Jack Reacher in the series of books by Lee Child. **********************Okay, so we're dishing about Vince Vaughn playing Jim Rockford and have decided that maybe it's not the best idea in the world. Though I initially didn't think it was actually THAT awful I've decided to revise my thinking.But this latest casting 'coup d'etat' is nothing compared to what I...

Read More