The Witcher

tags: action, fantasy, monster hunter, Netflix, supernatural, thriller

from Netflix

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. 

I finished the series in 3 days and I like it. A lot. The series is based on Polish Andrzej Sapkowski's short stories published in 1984 that were translated into English in 1996/1997. A video game was also created based on the stories. I had no idea what the story is about having not read the books nor played the games. A lot of the books and games fans are disappointed in the series because they expected the chronological telling of the story. I do believe from just watching and paying close attention to dialog and different characters that I understood them very well and therefore enjoyed it more for not having any preconceptions. 

I like Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia regardless of his way of speaking, and his grunts are cute, in a way. The series is bloody and gory with lots of heads and limbs rolling, but it also has a bit of humor. I was annoyed at first with the travelling bard but he grew on me that I actually miss him after he parts ways with Geralt on Episode 7. The series is worth a second watch and maybe a third.

Highly recommended.

The Silent Patient

 tags: mystery, psychological thriller

from goodreads

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

I read the novel because Goodreads readers voted it Number 1 in Mystery category for 2019. Umm, no. Not even close. Maybe 100 or lower, IMHO. The book is not written well and filled with all the things I don't like such as describing what characters do upon waking up. Just get on with the story, for Pete's sake! Don't describe clothing and other unnecessary stuff that don't add anything to the plot. It's as though the author is paid by the words. Sheesh.

The premise is interesting and because I am a fan of whydunnit mystery subgenre with unreliable narrators, I continued reading even after rolling my eyes at all the absurdities and inconsistencies. There are too many characters to throw off readers but they are shallow, not believable nor interesting, and went nowhere in the plot. It's exhausting to read the background of the main characters and all the flaws of the numerous minor characters. The author tried really really hard to be the new Gillian Flynn or Keigo Higashino but he failed BIGLY.

Most of the story is told from POV of Theo Faber and a small portion from POV of Alicia through her diary. I normally don't like first person narration and perhaps it added to my annoyance of the novel. The twist at the end is just meh and not really phenomenal as other readers make it to be. Theo's reason for trying to make Alicia talk again is weak. The whole story could have been told in 20 or fewer pages and it still will not be compelling nor engaging. There just isn't a good story to tell in this novel.

Not recommended.

Christmas Movies

Classic and new Christmas flicks and series

My DVDs

Streaming on Amazon -The Santa Clause Series

Streaming on Netflix

The Christmas Chronicles debuted last year. It is now on my annual must watch list. Kurt Russel is great as Santa Claus. 

The Knight Before Christmas is Vanessa Hudgens' second Christmas fantasy flick on Netflix. The movie is a time travel fantasy. A knight from the 14th century is transported to the present by a crone. It's a love story which I normally don't watch but once in a while is fine specially at Christmastime. Apparently even 14th century people are not immune to binge-watching Netflix and learn modern slang such as AF. The movie is super cheesy which is why I like it. 

Home For Christmas is a Norwegian series with 6 less than 30 minutes episodes. It's 2019 in Norway so expect it to be "diverse". The series being European has sex scenes and infidelity. The 30 something Johanne feels pressured to get married. She has 24 days to look for a boyfriend to bring to the Christmas dinner so she won't be sitting on the far end of the table with the babies of her married sibling. The potential boyfriends are less than desirable from the truly obnoxious to the weirdo, except for the doctor and the sports enthusiast. The series is tolerable, has a few laughs, and the ending is unexpected but sweet.

Merry Happy Whatever is probably the wokest Christmas series I've seen or maybe this has been the trend but I wouldn't know because I've not seen US sitcoms and dramas in almost 15 years. 8 less than 30 minutes episodes with laugh track (why???). People probably will like it. I watched so you don't have to.

A control freak Catholic widower white father✔, a pushover Jewish son-in-law✔, a smart alec Chinese daughter-in-law✔, the father started dating a black woman whose son disapproves✔, a daughter married for several years came out as gay on New Year's Eve✔.

Anna

tags: assassins, thriller, Luc Besson movie

from IMDB

Beneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins.

Anna has similarity to Luc Besson's earlier movie La Femme Nikita but has a different story line.  Anna was recruited by the KGB as an assassin and at the same time she works as a runway and print fashion model. The spy thriller kept me guessing where it's going. It gets twistier than a pretzel as it progresses and the ending is so satisfying. The assassination scene at the restaurant is bloody entertaining. Helen Mirren and Luke Evans are okay playing Russian characters; Cillian Murphy is also good as American CIA agent.

Streaming on Amazon. I watched the DVD; don't miss the extras.
Highly recommended

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store

tags: fantasy, Japanese, Keigo Higashino, mystery



from goodreads

When three delinquents hole up in an abandoned general store after their most recent robbery, to their great surprise, a letter drops through the mail slot in the store's shutter. This seemingly simple request for advice sets the trio on a journey of discovery as, over the course of a single night, they step into the role of the kindhearted former shopkeeper who devoted his waning years to offering thoughtful counsel to his correspondents. Through the lens of time, they share insight with those seeking guidance, and by morning, none of their lives will ever be the same.

The novel has a different tone from Higashino's usual mystery crime novels but is as engaging and hard to put down once you start reading. The story is sweet, heartfelt, and unforgettable. It's 1980 and the owner of Namiya General Store, Yūji Namiya, gives answers to people asking for advice. It began when Mr. Namiya gave verbal guidance to grade school students. He starts giving the answers on notes posted outside the front of the store when he becomes popular with residents and soon adults also start writing for advice. When the store is closed, they would drop their letters through the front door slot and they pick up the handwritten replies from Mr. Namiya from a milk box hung outside on the side of the store. In 2012, three youths who just committed petty thievery hide in the now closed and abandoned Namiya General Store. During the night, a letter seeking advice is dropped from the slot although nobody is outside. The boys become aware that it was written in 1980. When one of the boys decides to reply, the mysteries and secrets of the old General Store become apparent as their letters cut across time and space. The lives of various unrelated characters intertwine through the "miracles" occurring in the store.

Highly recommended.

900 Page Books Worth Reading

I rarely read books that are more than 500 pages with the exception of these 900+page books. I highly recommend them.

    
Middlemarch - George Eliot
The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
Ana Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
Complete Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

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I'm still contemplating if I should start reading these 1000+page tomes. I have started and abandoned several times Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. I'll read them when I'm in the right mood.

War And Peace - Leo Tolstoy
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Clarissa, or The History of A Young Lady - Samuel Richardson

Sturgill Simpson Presents Sound & Fury

tags: anime, country, electonica, pop, music video, Netflix

 

from Netflix official site

In this anime visual album, a mysterious driver heads deep into a postapocalyptic hellscape toward a ferocious showdown with two monstrous opponents.  

Although I've been listening to country music the past 3 years, I've never heard of Sturgill Simpson until this animation appeared on my Netflix streaming suggestion list in September of this year. Instant like because of the music genre bending and I love his Waylon Jennings voice, anime, electtronica, and bloody revenge stories. I've been watching and sometimes just listening and the video will probably stay on my Netflix list for forever. I turn the subtitles on to read the lyrics while playing. 

Track list

 1.  Ronin

 2.  Remember to Breathe

 3.  Sing Along

 4.  A Good Look

 5.  Make Art Not Friends

 6.  Best Clockmaker on Mars

 7.  All Said and Done

 8.  Last Man Standing

 9.  Mercury in Retrograde

10. Fastest Horse in Town

My favorites are 5 and 9. Great tune and lyrics.

Mercury in Retrograde

I got a haircut in Norway 
When all the weight started pulling me down 
Smelling like a waterlogged wet dog 
Ain't no way to travel 
But as soon as I chopped it all off 
It just grew back, thick and brown 
I keep tugging on the thread 
Hoping it all might come unraveled 
I keep trying to throw it all away 
But it comes right back around
They come backstage and on my bus
Pretending to be my friend
Shaking hands behind grandstands
All wearing the same old grin
Oh, but none of them bother knocking
Oh, they all just come on in
Asking me what all my songs mean
Wonderin' if they're all about them

Mercury must be in retrograde again
But at least it's not just hangin' around pretendin' to be my friend
Oh, the road to Hell is paved with cruel intention
If it's not nuclear war, it's gonna be a divine intervention

Living the dream makes a man wanna scream
Light a match and burn it all down
Head back home to the mountain
Far away from the pull
Of all the journalists and sycophants wielding their brands
And all the traveling trophies and award show stands
And all the haters wishing they was in my band
Sorry boys, the bus is plumb full

Mercury must be in retrograde again
But at least it's not just hangin' around pretendin' to be my friend
Oh, the road to Hell is paved with cruel intention
If it's not nuclear war, it's gonna be a divine intervention

And there's nothing for me outside this hotel room
But another letdown, lonely day
Tour is almost over, and I'll be home soon
And it's all been done two or three times anyway

Mercury must be in retrograde again
But at least it's not just hangin' around pretendin' to be my friend
Oh, the road to Hell is paved with cruel intention
If it's not nuclear war, it's gonna be a divine intervention

Nameless: Amazon Original Stories

tags: amnesia, clairvoyance, short story, thriller

ratings: 3 to 5 stars

from Amazon.com

 A Killer Serial

If our memories make us who we are, who is a man without any? Nameless has only a gun, missions from a shadowy agency, and one dead aim: dispense justice when the law fails. As he moves from town to town, driven by splintered visions of the past and future, he's headed toward the ultimate confrontation in this propulsive series of short thrillers by bestselling author Dean Koontz.

The new 6-short story series is available to borrow from Amazon Kindle Prime. Each book is a very short, an hour or maybe less than an hour, read. Nameless is nameless, has amnesia, can see the future (clairvoyant) but has glimpses of the past crimes by the people he is pursuing. He is provided various names by the agency, is given large amount of cash and a different car for each mission which is to hunt down and punish horrific evil people. You want him to succeed each and every time.

Highly recommended for Dean Koontz readers

Polar

tags: assassins, blood and gore, live action graphic novel, thriller



from IMDB

A retiring assassin suddenly finds himself on the receiving end of a hit, contracted by none other than his own employer seeking to cash in on the pensions of aging employees.

This movie has been on my queue for almost a year already but I found the time to watch it only yesterday because I have a million on my list on Netflix and Amazon.

I like the movie a lot. It is one of the bloodiest but having seen many gangster Japanese and Korean movies, I'm neither shocked nor horrified. The "battle" scene in the hallway is very similar to the 2014 Korean movie For The Emperor.

This movie is based on web comics or graphic novel, hence the vivid colors and odd characters.  I like the vicious reed-thin female assassin clad in tight leather clothing (remember Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman?) and the always cool and collected elderly secretary of the company boss. Many viewers compare it to John Wick series but I disagree. This movie is more fun and satirical, and really really over the top. Suspension of disbelief is a must when watching. Comparing it to real life is just dumb and you will end up disliking it if you do.

Recommended for fans of action flicks with lots of spilled blood.

Endless Night by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, classics, mystery, thriller




from goodreads

One of Agatha Christie’s personal favorites, Endless Night is a critically acclaimed classic crime thriller from the beloved queen of mystery.

When penniless Michael Rogers discovers the beautiful house at Gypsy’s Acre and then meets the heiress Ellie, it seems that all his dreams have come true at once. But he ignores an old woman’s warning of an ancient curse, and evil begins to stir in paradise. As Michael soon learns: Gypsy’s Acre is the place where fatal “accidents” happen.

I'm very disappointed with the books I read this year so I started reading old classics. Two Agatha Christie novels that I've never read before, Endless Night and And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians) are both very good. I also watched the movie adaptations of both novels.

It's difficult to review Endless Night without revealing the plot but I assure you it's a great read and while the ending is not jaw-dropping it is satisfying and the novel is worth reading.

BTW, the title is from William Blake's poem Auguries of Innocence
Every night and every morn
Some to misery are born,

Every morn and every night
Some are born to sweet delight.

Some are born to sweet delight,
Some are born to endless night

Highly recommended for Agatha Christie fans. 
Movie adaptation streaming on Amazon and Kanopy stars Hayley Mills. 

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I'm back after a 3-year absence from this blog. As of today, I have finished reading 66 books for this year, all fiction but 1. Half of them are not good at all. It's disheartening to read and rate UGLY my favorite authors' books specifically John le Carré's Agent Running in the Field and Lee Child's Blue Moon (Jack Reacher).

IMHO, John le Carré wrote this novelette Agent Running in the Field to rant against President Trump and the US. I knew he always hated the USA but I didn't mind it in his old books. I remember one or two books with short sentences against the Bushes and the Republican Party. He is still my favorite spy novel author regardless. This new book, however, is filled with f-bombs, vitriol, and obscenities against President Trump and Putin. It's as though I was reading leftist rags and Twitter feed and not a spy novel. It also lacks his trademark wry humor. I finished until the end which is anticlimactic. Sad. 

I hope at his ripe old age of 87, he lets go of his hatred of the USA and writes new excellent spy novels.