Carl > Recent Status Updates

Slow to get going. Lots of exposition on Noah and Flynn's childhood. Abusive step-father for Noah who kills his mother. Car crash kills Flynn's parents. Uninspired telling of the next 8 years, then Kaiya, Flynn's sister, goes missing in a fire and Flynn and Noah are thrown together. Hopefully the second half will be stronger. Have like McTiernan very much, but not this one so much. . . . yet

Prince Hal is now King Henry V and he's laid aside the foolish ways of childhood. Disavows Falstaff, orders the execution of another drinking crony who stole from a church, at war with France. Noble, merciful, brave--open to criticism.
Play/move by Branagh. Excellent so far

Gussie Fink-Nottle, newt lover, comes out of the country to woo Madeline Bassett. Normally Jeeves would sort this out, but Bertie is miffed with Jeeves, so he'll solve the problem of Fink's shyness. Bertie also takes on prize-giving at Market Snodsbury School, the broken engagement of his cousin Angela, and the resignation of Anatole, his aunt's genius chef. All without (so far) Jeeves!

WWI started almost accidentally but continues due to greed of various countries, all hoping to come out better in land if they choose the right side. In the midst of the bungling of the politicians, soldiers fight bravely and die. Very bleak.

Excellent recounting of TVA disaster mishandling of coal ash in the Tennessee Valley in 2008. Poorly managed site, clean-up even worse. Workers denied protective gear (masks!) so breathing in coal dust. Lung problems, cancers, etc. TVA and Jacobs (contractor) deny everything, so the book is a recounting of the court battles.

Superb. I read Gilbert's THE HOLOCAUST years ago, and it was great. His scholarship is impressive, but what distinguishes his books in my mind is that he never loses sight of the fact that real people are involved in these battles, not just troops. He includes letters written home, interviews with survivors, etc. I'm going to read this in sections, 20% at a time.

Industrial north v intellectual south. Margaret is forced into Milton (Manchester). She meets textile factory owner Thornton. Harsh man in a tough business. She's appalled, but attracted. EX. He beats a man who he catches smoking in his factory and fires him. She is outraged. He tells her of a fire caused by smoking in another factory that killed 30.

Son, whom father considers a bumpkin of sorts, is sent to Europe to become a man . . . and collect some of the great art of the period to bring back to Dad and NYC. Sign of his wealth and culture.

Subplot involves son's love of his plain cousin -- so out of the question as a marriage possibility that Dad doesn't even consider it, let alone forbid it.

Hardy on vacation from his dour outlook on life. Fancy Day,educated school teacher, returns to her father's village to look after him. She turns the head of the Pastor (also educated, so suited), the richest man in town who is also kind, and Dick Dewey, a carrier who is the most attractive but the least suited. Dad gets his foot caught in trap; DD rescues him; Dad tells Fancy it was the rich guy, hoping for marriage

Enjoying this very much. Don't think I ever read it. JE is neglected child who becomes governess of Rochester . . . R. has an abandoned child in his care, daughter of a French mistress. Strange noises in attic. R. depressed. Friend visits, gets bitten by someone . . . of course I know about the crazy woman in the attic; main interest is relationship of R. and J. She has no coyness about her, which attracts him.

Oliver back with Fagan, part of the gang. Bill Sykes nearly gets him killed in a robbery. Evil grandson, deceiving his grandfather, is out to kill OT while all the while pretending to be looking for him. Grandfather mistreated Agnes . . . regrets it, wants the girl and her child back.

Orphan "sold" to carpenter who makes coffins. Low man always, but plucky

Solid, if a little predictable. Anne Elliot followed the advice of her too proud father and her friend and turned down marriage possibility with Naval officer, proud, kind, talented, but poor. Years have passed. Anne remains unmarried; naval officer returns with all the same qualities and rich.She regrets being persuaded as he (seemingly) has no interest in her anymore since he regards a backbone as key.

After reunification, riots in former E.G.against immigrants. Guns not available, arson is the crime. Gruesome stories of families burned alive. Riot in Rostock for four days . . . police unable (:?) to stop it. Hundreds of Vietnamese nearly burned alive (brought in when E. G. was communist.) Many arson attacks in W.G. as well. Police monitor protest march against Rostock riots with more cops than at the riot.

Grim reminder of frequency of right wing terror targeting people of color and Jews. Book then investigates the growth of neo Nazis in former East Germany. Bleak lives, little hope for a future,banding together into violent groups.

Agatha Christie type novel set in Harlem. Our dead conjure-man isn't dead after all. he was in a trance of sorts and comes back to life. The question remains -- who "killed" him. All participants will be reassembled with the conjure-man and the detective both using their own special abilities. Uneven. . . Some scenes terrific, others a bit of a yawn.

Moll taken in by rich family as servant/sorta sister. She is seduced by one brother, but marries the other more naive brother. He dies, she gets money and goes. 2nd husband rich . . . they spend until they're broke. He flees. 3rd husband is Virginia planter. All looks well until MF discovers he is her half-brother. It's suggested she just grin (not tell him) and bear it, but she can't. Back to London

Recommended by The American Scholar. Black doctor/author who was the leading light among Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, etc., Fisher died in his 30's. This is considered the first mystery set in a Black community. Solid start . . . mysterious death of Conjure Man, fortune teller.

Helen's past . . . brutal husband, drunkard, philanderer, abusive
thus the break . . . However, as he lays dying, he calls for his son and Helen returns so he can see the boy one last time.
Will he die? Probably not . . . conflict with her true love is coming.

Sci-Fi with interesting characters, fast-moving plot.
Citadel prepared by robots for human visitors. Humans arrive to find robots in disarray. Has one gone rogue? Is there another visitor on Mars from another planet? Either way, the intentions of this unknown are to kill the humans. Reminds me of Childhood's End . . . sci-fi but very human

They land, barely, on Mars, after failure to connect with robots sent ahead. They are fortunate to find the Citadel, their home on Mars, but can't get in. Codes changed. Robots let them in (barely in time). Investigation starts. These robots are acting strangely. Assign gender to one another, make decisions, etc.

Helen Graham is the tenant. Removed from the community, living in rundown Wildfell Hall, is subject of gossip in the community. Is she really Mrs. Graham, or was her son born out of wedlock? Her surly manner doesn't help her position. What's the truth?

Solid story.