Monthly Archives: July 2014

Begin Again and a Silkworm update

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Susan

Last week, my husband and I went to see the movie “Begin Again” with Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo. It’s by the same director who made the 2006 movie “Once” that’s about a pair in Dublin who collaborate on some songs and end up falling in love. Like “Once,” “Begin Again” is about an unlikely pair who end up working together to create a music album, although this time it’s set in New York City. Mark Ruffalo plays the down-and-out music producer who teams with a stage-shy songwriter (played by Keira Knightley) whom he happens to hear perform at a bar’s open mic night.

As it so happens, I almost skipped this movie because of rough reviews in various newspapers, but luckily I was steered back by the positive review on Nose in a Book’s blog and my husband’s apparent preference for films with Ms. Knightley. And come on, it’s a movie about the magic of music — listening, playing, creating music — with a few bankable actors set against a backdrop of the streets of the Big Apple by the same writer and director who did “Once.” Why wouldn’t I see it? Adam Levine is in it, too; the frontman for Maroon 5 plays Knightley’s rockstar boyfriend, so I was curious and thought it might be good.

Luckily it is. “Begin Again” turns out to be quite an enjoyable film, clearly better than the regular summer schlock out nowadays. Its message about how music can transform people’s lives comes across in an engaging, creative way, set against scenes in New York that bring the city vibrantly to life. I had trouble believing the singing was actually Knightley’s own voice in the movie, but impressively it is. Somehow she manages to pull it off, and it helps that Levine lends his considerable singing talents as well.

In the movie, both the music producer and the songwriter’s lives become transformed by the album they’re working on. Ruffalo’s character finds his purpose again and tries to win back his estranged wife and daughter, while Knightley’s character gains more confidence as a singer-songwriter and comes to realize her rockstar boyfriend and her are heading in different directions.

It’s a bittersweet story — one sparked by the music and performances. Although some critics say “Begin Again’s” music and songs are too weak and that it pales in comparison to the film “Once,” I didn’t get that feeling at all. Similar to “Once,” I thought the music had a transcendent effect. And while “Once” might be considered a more artful, off-the-cuff film, “Begin Again” felt more enjoyable and uplifting. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out for yourself.

And let me know what you think. Have you seen either “Once” or “Begin Again”?

Meanwhile in book news, I’m half way through the mystery “The Silkworm” by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) and like it quite a bit. Admittedly, I started “The Silkworm” before reading Galbraith’s first mystery with the same detective “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” but I plan to go back and read that one later. I can already imagine these books will make good movies, so I’m sure the bidding war is intense. I’m just trying to figure out which actor I would pick to be the private investigator Cormoran Strike from Cornwall. From the book, he’s very tall, a bit heavy and has slightly curly hair. He’s also a war vet who has a prosthetic right leg. For some reason, I want to say he’s in his mid-30s, but I’m not sure she really says. So who’s a tall British actor that could play him? Any guesses ??? I sort of want to say Benedict Cumberbatch from the show “Sherlock Holmes” but I’m sure he’s too typecast as Sherlock by now, so I’ll have to pick another. Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | 12 Comments

Eyrie

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Susan

I’m a big fan of author Tim Winton’s books, having read “Dirt Music” (2001), “The Turning” (2005) and “Breath” (2008), but his new one “Eyrie” tested me a bit and I wasn’t sure if it was ever going to get off the ground.

It’s a story about Tom Keely, 49, a disillusioned environmentalist who lives in a downtrodden high-rise building overlooking the harbor of Fremantle, Australia. He’s divorced and been disgraced in some incident that’s forced him out of his job as spokesman for an activist group. It’s a bit sketchy what’s happened but suffice is to say he used to be on the TV news and was a prominent somebody but now he’s unemployed and his wife is gone. Meanwhile his sister and mother worry about him since Tom spends his days in a drug and alcohol haze, looking back on his life, angry at the world and becoming more broke by the minute. He’s also prone to sleepwalking, feinting spells and often doesn’t remember these episodes.

But eventually Tom runs into a neighbor from his childhood days who incidentally is living in his building. Gemma was the beauty from back then whose Tom’s parents generously gave refuge to, but she’s 44 now and taking care of her six-year-old grandson, Kai, because her druggy daughter is in prison. Tom forms a bond with them, helping Gemma on her work nights by watching Kai who’s a strange, shy, intelligent boy who worries Tom with his dreams about death.

But it’s when Kai’s meth-addicted father starts blackmailing Gemma for money and threatening Kai that things turn dicey. Tom is pressed into action that he hasn’t been capable of in eons. But whether they’ll be safe from the meth-punk, you won’t know till the very end.

“Eyrie” paints a vivid picture of disillusionment and place, the past and the present: the high-rise and the harbor in Fremantle, Tom’s childhood and current unwell state. But the story’s plot doesn’t seem to pick up until after page 200. For awhile, I wasn’t sure anything was going to happen in it. At the beginning it was just Tom going in and out of his apartment, drifting off to sleep, or listening to the building’s noises. I couldn’t take it much longer. So I was thankful for Gemma and Kai’s appearance and the novel’s last 100 pages when things indeed speed up.

Thank goodness. The second half with the meth-blackmailer dad are pretty gripping. Although the characters aren’t that likable, particularly the foul-mouthful Gemma who isn’t very grateful to Tom, I was into it by then and wasn’t sure how or if they’d escape. The ending turned out to be pretty abrupt (I had to read it over a few times), but it seemed real.

Judging from comments on Goodreads etc., other readers were either big fans of “Eyrie” or were really disappointed in it. Funny how that happens, such a wide dichotomy. I’d say I didn’t care much for the first half and liked it more in the second half. But overall, I didn’t think it his best book. From those I’ve read, I liked his books “Breath” and “The Turning” better. I’ll still read whatever he writes next. I haven’t read his 1991 novel “Cloudstreet” yet, which many say is his finest. I’m excited though that Tim Winton’s coming to our town’s book festival in October. Wow, now that’ll be good. I’ll have to get him to sign all my copies of his books.

How about you — have you read this author before or do you plan to? Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 4 Comments

A Preview of July Releases

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Susan

On average July brings the warmest temperatures of the year here in western Canada and with all the sunshine come active, busy days. I’ve been a bit here, there, and everywhere, except blogging lately. I had company staying for awhile, but now I’m back and ready to check out what’s releasing for this summer month.

If you hadn’t noticed, there’s quite a few heavyweights due out with books right about now (see list at right). Such reliable, strong-selling authors as Jojo Moyes, Liane Moriarty, and Rainbow Rowell have new novels out this month, which could be perfect for the beach. It might be just the right time to sink my teeth into “Big Little Lies” or perhaps “Landline.” Have you read these already?

 

I’m also curious about four highly praised books coming out from debut novelists. Elizabeth Little’s book “Dear Daughter” introduces a protagonist recently released from prison for the murder of her mother who goes undercover to find out what really happened to her. Author Tana French says the book is “an all-nighter and the best debut mystery I’ve read in a long time.” Kate Atkinson calls it a “really gutsy, clever, energetic read” and a “breath of fresh air.”

Then there’s Mira Jacob’s popular debut “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing” about an Indian American family dealing with tragedy and loss. It goes from India to New Mexico and Seattle and expands on the family’s difficulties living in America and with each other. Both multigenerational and alternating from past and present, the novel’s been called “epic” and “dazzling” and everyone seems to be rating it highly.

 

But my attention is also captured by Rufi Thorpe’s debut “The Girls From Corona del Mar,” a story about a complicated friendship between two complex women over decades and continents, which author Maggie Shipstead says is “generous, soulful, and tough.” Ann Packer says “what’s most impressive is its incredible vitality, its searing intensity.” I’m taken, too, by its title since I used to go to the beach there as a kid. Could that also be its allure?

 

Lastly in enticing debuts is Will Chancellor’s “A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall” about a professor of classics and his son, captain of Stanford’s water polo team who is blinded during a match and flees to Berlin. His father follows trying to find him in Greece, Germany and Iceland. While in Europe, both son and father undergo a summer of personal and professional transformation, which author Molly Antopol says is “at once a psychological journey and a terrific page-turner.” Hmm. Count me in.

Meanwhile in movies this month (see list at left), it’s the usual summer fare, which I can’t say that I go to watch much anymore. For some reason, I’m not even psyched for the latest Planet of the Apes movie, despite its favorable reviews and seemingly excellent special effects. The apes look eerily real, do they not? But gosh I once was riveted to the ’70’s TV series and Cornelius back in the day. Planet of the Apes did rule for me back then.

But for now I’m picking the espionage thriller “A Most Wanted Man” based on the John le Carre novel. It looks intriguing and includes one of the last roles played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, which seems rather disconcerting seeing him, knowing that he’s longer around, but he’s so good in these parts. And I did like the film for le Carre’s novel “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” so I’m hoping I’ll like this spy flick, too.

 

In albums out this month (see list at bottom right), there’s not one that calls out to me strongly, but I’m glad to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are back with a new one. And I’m also curious by Jason Mraz’s new album “Yes!” which I think will have some good songs on it. So I’ll pick this one.

Enjoy your summer days of new books, movies and albums! Which ones are you most looking forward to? Continue reading →

Posted in Top Picks | 6 Comments