Hi. I hope everyone is well. We’re supposed to have our first snowstorm this week, which is not too unusual considering it’s almost Halloween time, but am I ready for it? Nooo.
Last week we had a sunny day when I took this photo, yay. I had to get out for one more warm day. It felt nice and I liked using my Trek road bike for one more ride, which is what I trained on for our Italy bike trip. It’s my lucky chariot, lol.
Not much else new, but I see that the movie Killers of the Flower Moon, which I posted about last week, hasn’t received completely favorable reviews. Kirkus Reviews sort of panned it for being more focused on the bad guys and not enough on the Osage people, and Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post says the book’s suspense has been taken out of the movie. Uh-oh. I still plan to see it sometime — either at home or at the theater — but I will temper my expectations.
Perhaps the movie Nyad about long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster will be more enjoyable. It entails Nyad’s training and 2013 swim from Cuba to Florida. Has anyone seen it yet? It’s out in select theaters now and streams on Netflix beginning Nov. 3. Those two actresses should be a dynamo combination.
Speaking of movies, we watched the movie Golda this past week about the former prime minister of Israel Golda Meir (played by Helen Mirren) and the stakes she faced in 1973 when Egypt and Syria invaded Israel. It’s a pretty intense little war drama, and for the most part, we liked it. It shows the precarious position of Israel at the time, and Helen Mirren of course is excellent.
Though she sure has to smoke a lot of cigarettes in the role. Apparently Golda Meir was a chain-smoker who knocked off 70 cigarettes a day, which it seems the film’s director took to heart. It’s one big cigarette-fest that made us a bit sick. Still it seemed pretty true to life. Liev Schreiber plays U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his scenes talking with Mirren as Meir are apparently indicative of their close diplomatic relationship. It goes without saying: the timing of the film is pretty apropos with the awful recent events going on all over again. Isn’t it dreadful news. Is there an ounce of hope anywhere?
We also watched the documentary about spy author John le Carre’ called The Pigeon Tunnel, which just came out on AppleTV+ and is based on his memoir. It was filmed before le Carre passed away in 2020 and shows the famous British author giving his last interview, which is quite candid and revealing.
Whoa, he had a terrible family life. His mother left when he was like 5 and his father was a swindler/criminal, who had the author later in life bail him out a couple times. The film also delves into le Carre’s career during the Cold War and his time as a spy. It touches on the traitor Kim Philby and on the author’s books. So if you like those or are just curious, it’s quite interesting and worth seeing.
And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of the books that I finished lately.
The Observer by Marina Endicott / Knopf Canada / 255 pages / 2023
This is a bit of a quiet novel about a couple — Julia Carey and Hardy Willis — who move in the 1990s to a tiny town in northeastern Alberta, Canada. He’s a new recruit with Royal Canadian Mounted Police and she’s hired as an editor for the local newspaper The Observer.
Written in the first person from Julia’s perspective, the story starts off a bit slow as they’re meeting people in the town and learning their ways and trying make ends meet to pay bills. Julia feels like an outsider who’s not used to a rural community, though eventually they start making friends especially with the other RCMP members there and their spouses.
Hardy, as a new member, is given much brunt work and is on nights, seeing to wrecks on the highway, death notices, and other grim tasks. Julia tries to help him cope, but he doesn’t tell her much of what he encounters on the job. The story moves about like little episodes about town, from one thing to the next … with Julia handling sporadic work at the The Observer and becoming friends with a recent widow named Stephanie whose RCMP husband committed suicide. She wants to ask her more about it but holds off for a while.
As the novel goes along, I became more drawn into Hardy and Julia’s lives … as they have a baby and things become harder for Hardy on the job. You come to realize the stress and hardships these police members face as they endure threats, crimes, and victims in bleak circumstances, which take a mental health toll on them. It leads to a scare and down time in Hardy and Julia’s lives that they must face together. You’ll want to stay tuned to see what happens.
Apparently the novel is based on the author’s own life of her several years in Mayerthorpe, Alberta, (near where years later four RCMP members were killed tragically by a gunman on a rural property in 2005). By novel’s end, I found it pretty affecting and a bit of a haunting look back on one’s life … when some deeply impressionable events happened. It’s a quiet, small-town tale but still manages some poignant ripples. It’s my first novel by Canadian author Marina Endicott novel and won’t be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me the ARC to read and review.
Island Home: A Landscape Memoir by Tim Winton/ Milkweed /256 p / 2017
I’ve loved much of Australian author Tim Winton’s fiction, but this book was really more essay-like than what I was expecting as a memoir. Much of it includes the western coast of Australia — places Winton grew up, which I know he loves and essays on saving the environment and his environmental work, which I admire and I’m all for.
But I found the book episodic and the chapters brief and not all that well explained to an outsider whether in mentioning species or places. Parts of it flew past or beyond me, so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. Still I admire Winton’s love of nature, environmental awareness, and his work in the campaign to save the Ningaloo Reef and other wild places. But in terms of reading, I’ll stick with his fiction in the future.
That’s all for now — what about you have you read these authors, or seen these movies and if so, what did you think? Enjoy the week.
Too soon for snow! I’m not looking forward to it.
Now I’m inspired to read the book instead of watch the movie, Killers of the Flower Moon.
Harvee at https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com
Hi Harvee: the snow is coming! Beware.
I think some critics liked Killers of the Flower Moon and others did not. So it’s a bit uneven. I think reading the book first is a good idea! I still need to.
Have a great week.
Great post! I would love to read both of these books so thank you for bringing them to my attention. I’m looking forward to watching NYAD although I will likely wait until it’s on a streaming service.
Thanks Jodie. Yeah the Nyad movie looks good. We don’t get Netflix so we might see it at the theater. It looks entertaining. And wishing your mother well with her recovery. We had Covid a couple weeks ago after a trip. Luckily it is over now. It is not easy. Have a great week.
Very interesting selection of books and movies. I’m tempted by “Golda” but it’s too close to the horror show going on there right now.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, I can understand your feelings about Golda. Things are too disturbing there and scary right now. It’s a bit of an intense movie and Israel seemed really in trouble then. And now this is going on. Though the movie gave me more understanding perhaps. Still wait awhile. take care.
I’m glad you are still enjoying a few warm days before the onset of winter. I need to look for a good bike for me, but I really don’t know where to start.
Thank you for sharing your most recent reading. I’ve read most of the books I’d planned to read this year, so I think I’ll read whatever I like now.
I’m sorry to hear that Killers of the Flower Moon is disappointing to critics.
Hi Deb,
I guess some critics have reservations about Killers of the Flower Moon movie though others have really liked it, so it’s seems a bit of a mixed bag /reaction.
Perhaps if you go to a local bike shop they can help you get a bike that would be right for you. You can also try some out from there. I think a “hybrid” bike might be a choice for you — it’s a cross between a mountain bike & a road bike and is usually comfortable to ride. Bike riding is such a joy — I hope you will find it so. Cheers!
It’s actually a nice 66F here, so I’ve got the windows open and the cats and I are enjoying the cooler air coming in. I am glad you are able to enjoy a few more warmer days before the snow comes.
We haven’t seen any movies in awhile. I’ll have a lot of catching up to do when I do!
I haven’t read Island Home or The Observer, but both sound interesting!
I hope you have a great week, Susan!
Thanks LF. 66 degrees seems pretty nice for you right now. I hear the El Nino conditions might make Calif wet again this winter, which I hope helps ward off more drought. We might start Bosch Legacy Season 2 in a couple weeks … but we’re still in the middle of The Morning Show Season 3 …. so will finish first.
Enjoy your week too.
They’re saying we might get snow here at the end of the week, too. Not as much as you’ll probably get. And I am SO not ready for snow. Or winter. I want fall to linger a little longer. Haven’t seen any of the movies you mention. But I think The Observer sounds like a good read. Might have to check that one out. Have a good week! 😀
Thanks Lark. We got some snow/ice mix today and there’s more to come tonight. yikes. Hope your commute is not bad if it hits there.
The Observer is really a rural community tale … I thought it started off slow but picked up towards the end. Since it’s set in Alberta that helped since I rarely read books set here. Cheers!
I want to see Killers of the Flower Moon since my book club read the book — we had the same complaint about the book. Given its running time, I’ll wait until I can watch it at home over a couple of evenings.
Nyad looks good. That wasn’t on my radar — thanks!
Hi Joy, yes I agree … watching the Flower Moon movie over a couple nights seems the best option. I like splitting really long movies up. And I still plan to see it. See what you think.
I just found out about Nyad. It snuck under the radar … check it out!
Cheers.
Can’t believe you are expecting a snowstorm already. We don’t get snow down here at all, but I’m not ready yet for the bitter cold they are predicting for us this winter. We’re really enjoying the cooler evening temperatures at the moment, but the highs are still in the mid-eighties range.
I’m really disappointed to hear that about the Flower Moon movie. I loved that book, including all the suspense it included, and not closely following that blueprint seems to be a very poor decision on the producers of the movie version. The book is particularly fascinating because of the Native American victims and the culture that allowed it all to happen for so long – not because of the villains who are the most predictable people in the whole book. Sounds like an at-home movie to me now rather than a trip to the theater.
I haven’t seen Golda yet, but I have to say I would NEVER have recognized Helen Mirren in that movie poster/cover. That’s wild.
Thanks for the info on The Observer. Hadn’t heard of that one before now, but I’m definitely going to give it a closer look now.
Hi Sam, yeah Helen Mirren is really transformed for that role; hard to recognize. She’s pretty amazing as usual … though the smoking is endless. Still it’s a movie worth seeing. And portrays some tense times in 1973.
I am a bit worried too that the Flower Moon movie is more about the bad guys — I still plan to see it but might watch at home too. See what you think. Some critics liked the film / so I guess it’s split among critics. Hmm. We’ll see. I should get to the book!
Enjoy your week & happy reading.
Snow… ugh! I’m hoping there won’t be any here before we head back to FL after the holidays, but you never know.
The reviews aren’t great for Killers of the Flower Moon, but I’ll probably watch it when we can stream at home. I knew absolutely nothing about this part of US history before reading the book. Nyad is new to me, but it sounds good and I’d also like to see Golda eventually.
I’ve wanted to read something by Tim Winton, but have a feeling this is not the place to start. Beautiful photo!
Thanks JoAnn. It was so pretty that day I had to take the photo. Now tonight we are getting snow! How quickly it changes.
I hope Nyad is good — I could use a movie like that right now. Not sure when we will see the Flower Moon movie.
I have liked several of Winton’s novels … perhaps Breath is one to check out. It’s sort of a surfing movie and coming of age tale.
Wishing you all the best with the wedding this weekend. I think it will be wonderful. Cheers.
Snow in October is definitely too early. December seems more appropriate for snow. Most winters we barely get any snow in London, which is good, since we can’t cope.
Too bad about the Tim Winton book. Essays about Australia and saving the environment sounded very promising. I’ve never been much of an essay reader, but since I read (and loved) Ann Patchett’s These Precious Days, I’ve been more open to try more.
Hi Stargazer. You are right : Patchett is one of the few writers that can really write essay books. You’ll like her first one too: The Story of a Happy Marriage. I don’t read essays much either. Winton is better with novels I think.
We often get snow on pumpkins around Halloween … which ruins the pumpkins if they are left outside. We have snow tonight, yikes! I hear Scotland had a bad storm (Babet?) recently — did you get any of that? It sounded terrible.
Stay well.
Luckily, we didn’t get much of the bad weather, which hit Scotland, but we did get heavy rain in amounts unusual for London (a constant drizzle is more our thing…).
Snow on the pumpkins!! Whereas snow is completely appropriate for Christmas, it doesn’t really feel right for Halloween.
I need to find a copy of The Story of a Happy Marriage.
Ha, Stargazer. I like hearing about London & the UK from you — you give me a bit of insight into what’s happening there. And I’m glad London is ok after the bad storm that hit Scotland, yikes. They seemed flooded a bit there.
I’ll share some pics of our snowstorm in the next post. Luckily I haven’t bought pumpkins yet — so they aren’t ruined …. yet. but it should be warm by Halloween.
Have a great week.
Nice pic you got there, so Fall-esque! I’m interested in watching all your mentions. Annette Benning is such a force; I can’t believe she hasn’t an Oscar yet! I read one review of the Scorsese movie saying what you said, but I read another saying that it’s the best film of his ever, and DiCaprio’s performance is outstanding. Anyway, based on the length alone I’ll probably watch it once it hits streaming/renting, and same with the others. Out of your two reads, and both sound interesting, I think I’d choose The Observer. Now you left me wondering what that couple went through.
Hi Carmen, yeah the critics seem quite mixed on Killers of the Flower Moon, so perhaps it’s still good. We will see it sometime … to see for ourselves. I’m sure parts of it will be better than other parts. Visually it should be good but will I get tired of seeing the bad guys? hmm.
I agree about Bening … it seems a bit crazy she doesn’t have an Oscar. I wasn’t even sure if she hadn’t. If you see Nyad, let me know. It looks enjoyable and I think it’s normal length too! Not sure we’ll get to see it as we don’t get Netflix but perhaps will get it for one month. We’ll see. Enjoy your week.
Interesting reviews as always. I would say I would add some to my TBR list but frankly, that list is already so long I’m not sure I can get to the end of it in my lifetime! I love that picture of the bike in the landscape. It makes me wish I could be there. And it’s hard to even imagine snow when our daytime temperatures are still in the 80s. Enjoy your autumn.
Thanks Dorothy. On the nice days you’d like it out here — but then our winters would end that. We just got three inches of snow last night! Ouch.
I’m trying to narrow my TBR list to the several I want to finish before the year’s end. We’ll see if that works. Your 80s seems hot for Halloween time. Maybe we’ll send you some cooler weather. Enjoy your week.
Hi Susan, Beautiful picture from where you live, a sunny day and wide open spaces. Hopefully the snow won’t be too much this winter.
Helen Mirren really does seem transformed as Golda Meir. As with Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher the great actresses and actors know how to play famous figures. It’s not just that they look the part they get at the core of the person. Agree this is a timely movie and the news is so disturbing these days. Surprised to hear Golda Meir smoked 70 cigarettes a day. I can understand why with all the pressure she had. I know my father was a chain smoker and it’s such a dangerous habit. Hopefully more and more are quitting because it shortens their life.
Thanks Kathy, we are so happy that we moved away from the city and have some wide open spaces now. It’s been a great change for us. But now we had 3 inches of snow overnight, whoa! So it no longer looks like the photo.
I agree with you about these actresses playing such iconic political figures — they’ve really done well in the roles and transformed themselves. Sorry to hear your father chain smoked — I’ve heard it’s the most addictive habit of all. I’m so glad I never got into it. The Golda movie is one cigarette after another — but see what you think of it. Meir really was pushed to the wall during that invasion. Have a great week.
We’re getting our first snowstorm this weekend too! I’m actually excited for it because it makes my day job easier. 🙂
Hi AJ. Woohoo. Let it snow! We have about 3 to 6 inches at the moment. I hope you get some for the ski resorts … I wonder if this first snow will stay till April now … or will it melt away in a week … Hmm. Have a great week.
I live about an hour southwest of Tahoe/Truckee area in Northern California and it seems they’ll be getting their first snow storm up there too. We’ll get rain, but I suspect it won’t be long before we get snow as well. Love your sunny field picture. Looks like some nice weather.
Wow, both Jodie Foster and Annette Benning look so different in Nyad. I love Helene Mirren! She smokes a lot in Prime Suspect as well, but 70 cigarettes a day is awful! Yuck! The Observer sounds like an interesting read. I’ll have to check it out.
Hi Rachel, wow your area must be beautiful in Northern Cal. I’ll share some pics next week of the snow here. We got about 3 to 5 inches, so it’s pretty white out.
I’m hoping maybe to see Nyad this weekend if I can find it. All the cigs in that Mirren movie were pretty gross but she seemed as good as usual.
Thanks stopping by. I just found your site. And will keep checking it out.
Thanks for the review of The Observer by Endicott. I will look into finding a copy.
I read The Little Shadows by Marina Endicott back in 2014. It is historical fiction about some sisters (in their teens I think) who were working in vaudeville. I liked it a lot and would like to read more by the author also.
TracyK at Bitter Tea and Mystery
Oh good Tracy. Glad to hear you have read Endicott before. The one you read sounds interesting. And there’s a couple of others that I might pick up — maybe As the Voyage of the Morning Light and Good to a Fault. Hmm.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m new to your site and will continue to visit. Cheers.
I had my fill of snow in Arkansas and I am now over it. LOL
Nyad – added to my calendar
Golda – can’t find where that one is streaming???
The Pigeon Tunnel – I was just reading about le Carre in his editor’s memoir, Avid Reader by Robert Gottleb so I definitely want to watch that one. Apple TV+ you say? Perfect.
Added The Observer. Sounds good!
Hi Jinjer. Yeah I think I might see Nyad soon — it’s not about war! And Golda was streaming — I think it’s on AppleTv. Mirren is pretty amazing in the role.
And The Pigeon Tunnel is on AppleTV+ … it’s a documentary and it’s a bit sad to see le Carre in the interview in it. But it’s informative and what a life!
The Observer is a small town tale that starts slow but picks up towards the end.
Hope you have a great week.
Love that gorgeous picture with your bike! Glad you had some more time with your bike before the snows set in…yuck.
I read Killers of the Flower Moon a few years ago and it was so depressing. There is no way I plan on seeing the film. Just death, murder, and corruption. So awful.
Golda is on my list. Definitely need to see that one.
I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Hi Heather, thanks for the report on the book of Flower Moon. The case against the Osage people seems very grim … though I’m glad the author was able to uncover it. I have not read the book but I heard the author talk about it.
See what you think of Golda — it’s streaming now.
Happy Halloween!
I wonder if you’ve had the snow that was predicted for your area. I saw photos from RV friends we met on Vancouver Island and one picture showed snow in Nanaimo. Glad we missed that, although are temps have been dropping rapidly and I think winter is almost here. Sigh.
I have Nyad on my to-be-watched list. Both of those actresses are outstanding and favorites of mine, so I’m looking forward to it. I’d like to see Golda, but the chain-smoking is a big turn-off.
The Observer sounds like a book I might enjoy. Adding it to my list. Thanks!
Hi Lesley, yes we had a pretty big snowstorm on Tuesday and have about 4 to 6 inches of snow everywhere. It’s been a cold week, like 15F ouch! But it could melt away by next week. I’ll share some photos next post. Good thing you’re out of Nanaimo, could be chilly. I like seeing all the boats there.
I hope you like those movies. I think we’ll have to get Netflix for a month to see Nyad. And The Observer is a quiet small town tale … I think it’s about a 3.5 rating. Nothing fantastic but subtle and a bit poignant.
I hope all is well at the Cove and you have a great weekend.
I am so far behind on blog visits. Sigh. I think Nyad looks like a good one, but I do not want to see Killers if it isn’t done well.
Hi Helen, thanks for your comment. Yeah I hope to see Nyad too. I guess most critics still think Killers has some excellent parts to it. …. but I agree. I hope it’s not all about the bad guys. Hmm. We’ll see.
Pingback: EBike Tour Of KTown | The Intrepid Angeleno