We're in the last stages of fall now with November. It's also probably the latest I've ever been with a recommendation - we're halfway through the month already. I sincerely apologize, as I've been both busy and distracted. On such short notice, I'm going to recommend something for reading that's familiar to a lot of people, something uncomplicated, as well as a movie that's a particular favorite of mine.


Reading: The Hobbit (1937) by J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien's first book - the officially printed introduction to Middle-earth - should be well known by now. In fact, most of you have probably read it, maybe even a couple times over or more. But it's worth revisiting now and then. Before the later sagas made things more complicated, this book is simply a well-told fairy tale, suitable for both children and adults, as well as a cautionary tale of the corruption of greed. Bilbo Baggins is a lovable, quintessentially English character who discovers a knack for adventure, though others such as Gandalf the wizard, Gollum, Thorin the dwarf, or even the dragon Smaug may be someone's favorite. Whether your first or fiftieth time, this book is sure to delight if you have the heart for it.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0345339681/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-J-R-Tolkien/dp/054792822X/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-Illustrated-Author-Tolkien-Editions/dp/0063347539/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-75th-Anniversary-J-R-R-Tolkien-ebook/dp/B007978NU6/




Viewing: They Might Be Giants (Anthony Harvey, 1971)

George C. Scott plays a former judge who, upon his wife's death, deludes himself into believing he is the legendary Sherlock Holmes, when his brother tries to commit him to an institution, a psychiatrist tries to put him under analysis but ends up roped into the fantasy, meeting oddball characters and gaining a new perspective on life. Originally based on a play that was performed once in London and then pulled from circulation, this film's screenplay (as well as the discontinued play) was written by James Goldman, author of the award-winning smash play The Lion in Winter, and subsequently shows a great significance in writing, both quirky yet compassionate. It's a feel-good film without being cheap about it. Though it received mixed reviews upon release, I found it to be well worth the time; I would particularly recommend looking for a version that contains the original climax in the grocery store, removed in some home releases.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/They-Might-Giants-George-Scott/dp/B00PX7SVRY/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/They-Might-Giants-Special-Blu-ray/dp/B07Q9XZLT9/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/They-Might-Giants-George-Scott/dp/B01GULLI4Y/


Well, I actually managed to get November in. I apologize for the lateness. I'll try to do better in December. See you then!

October is here, and with it comes the start of the long holiday season. As usual, I've saved some particularly festive recommendations for this month, this time focusing on the general short form, as I've heard that horror is a genre best suited for the short story. I hope it keeps you suitably entertained in the following weeks.


Reading: Night Shift (1978) by Stephen King

Released not long after The Shining, this is King's first short story collection, composed of the pieces he had submitted to numerous magazines in the years prior to writing Carrie, in addition to four stories making their debut here. A classic of the genre, practically every story is a keeper - "Graveyard Shift", "I Am the Doorway", "The Boogeyman", "Strawberry Spring", "Quitter's Inc.", and "Children of the Corn", just to name a few.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Stephen-King/dp/0307743640/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Stephen-King/dp/0307947297/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B001BANK2S/



Viewing: Creepshow (George A. Romero, 1982)

This is an altogether fun movie, a collaboration between Stephen King's writing and the director of Night of the Living Dead. The gimmick is that it's an anthology film with an all-star cast told in the style of the notorious 1950's EC Comics horror titles like Tales from the Crypt, which means it's a mixture of genuine fear with a strain of macabre humor and even camp. It's a cult classic worth revisiting every Halloween.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Creepshow-Hal-Holbrook/dp/B084SWQNF5/
4K + Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Creepshow-Collectors-Ultra-Blu-ray-UHD/dp/B0BZCM3S54/
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Creepshow-Hal-Holbrook/dp/B008ROGJ2Y/


So that's it for October. Have a ghoulishly Happy Halloween!

It's been a strange summer, with as much rain as heat, but fall is around the corner now, and pumpkin spice has started appearing. For no particular thematic reason, I've chosen a children's classic and its subsequent film adaptation as September's recommendations. Whether you've experienced them before or are just discovering them, I hope they're worthwhile for you.


Reading: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl

This is probably Dahl's most famous book, as well as the most adapted to different mediums. Incredibly poor yet resolutely good Charlie Bucket lives in awe of the stories of Willy Wonka, perhaps the world's greatest manufacturer of chocolate, and one day, the opportunity arises to visit his private factory when a contest is held - five lucky children who find special golden tickets in select chocolate bars will be given an exclusive tour. The rest of the story is the result of the contest as the secrets of Wonka's mysterious means of making his confectionaries are revealed and the winning children are whittled away one by one due to their own disobedience or general unpleasantness. Filled with Dahl's trademark dark sense of humor and grotesque personae, the book has attracted as much controversy as praise, but it's a fine piece of entertainment nonetheless.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Chocolate-Factory-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142410314/
Trade (Deluxe): https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Chocolate-Factory-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143106333/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Chocolate-Factory-Bucket-Book-ebook/dp/B0093X805W/



Viewing: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Mel Stuart, 1971)

Though not without its own controversy due to Dahl himself disliking it intensely because of changes to the story, this remains the best known film adaptation of the book, beginning in obscurity but later beloved by many due to television and home video and even added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. Though the children are still a major focus, perhaps the most remembered part goes to comic legend Gene Wilder as the eccentric Willy Wonka, filled with a manic yet childlike energy; also of significant note are the memorable songs composed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, buoyed by a score from Walter Scharf. One way or another, it's an event that won't soon be forgotten.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Willy-Wonka-Chocolate-Factory/dp/B005G2OJX6/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Willy-Wonka-Chocolate-Factory-Blu-ray/dp/1419878573/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Willy-Chocolate-Factory-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B091GJD75T/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Willy-Wonka-Chocolate-Factory-Wilder/dp/B002YNKLJG/


I hope that fills up your month for the time being. Have a great fall!

Now comes August - only four more months left to go in the year! I've tried to work on getting more reading done lately, as well as enjoying the outside more. That said, I definitely have something that didn't take too much thought, and I hope you find it just as enjoyable.


Reading: The Pilgrim's Progress (1678/1684) by John Bunyan

The classic allegory by a simple Bedford pastor and tinkerer is an important book in its own right, because, aside from being one of the best known works of Christian fiction, it's a precursor to - if not an actual candidate for - the first English novel, has never been out of print, and has been cited as an influence by several noted authors. While rather didactic and perhaps not entirely theologically accurate (being of a narrow English Puritan persuasion), it's still a delight to read especially in its original diction, being a travel narrative that has captured the attention of both adults and children for generations.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141439718/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Penguin-Classics-ebook/dp/B002ZJSV64/



Viewing: Dead Poets Society (Peter Weir, 1989)

Beginning in his native Australia, Peter Weir broke into American cinema in the mid-80's, and this is a highlight of that effort. Set thirty years before the screen date in a Vermont boarding school, the film is an inspirational piece concerning how the students of the English class are encouraged to "seize the day" by their unorthodox teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), whose sometimes madcap methods clash with both the board of educators and some of the parents; one student in particular (Robert Sean Leonard) is driven to take up acting instead of medicine, which will later lead to both triumph and tragedy. It's been a favorite of mine since I first saw it in high school, and I hope that you get the same enjoyment out of it.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Poets-Society-Robin-Williams/dp/6305144168/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Poets-Society-Blu-ray-Robin-Williams/dp/B005TBQS3I/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Poets-Society-Robin-Williams/dp/B0BZL887B5/


So there's your August itinerary. I hope you find yourself with plenty to do!

July brings the heat of summer, but with wildfires up in Canada severely affecting the air quality, that may not be such a good thing this year, so many of you will probably be spending a lot of time indoors. What I have may not be the most inspiring material (I'm not intentionally insinuating anything), but I think it's still worth checking out.

Reading: 1984 (1949) by George Orwell

Orwell's final novel is one of the 20th century's most recognizable works of fiction, codifying both the term "Orwellian" for dystopias and the language of Newspeak for popular culture. Set in an alternate 1984 in which the world is dominated by massive dictatorships, the story is set in a severely run-down England - rechristened Airstrip One - where a government worker named Winston Smith is led to question the ruling Party and enter into a forbidden relationship with a like-minded associate, unaware of the extent to which the Party can go to enforce conformity. A masterpiece of satire, science fiction, and politics, the book has become a rallying cry for calling out government overreach around the world, although Orwell's personal politics may have been misunderstood (he was a democratic socialist).

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934/
Trade 1: https://www.amazon.com/1984-George-Orwell/dp/0452262933/
Trade 2: https://www.amazon.com/1984-George-Orwell/dp/0452284236/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/1984-George-Orwell/dp/1328869334/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/1984-George-Orwell-ebook/dp/B003JTHWKU/



Viewing: 1984 (Michael Radford, 1984)

Released to coincide with the year of the book's setting, this big budget feature film is quite faithful to Orwell's novel, portraying the misery and grunginess of Airstrip One as well as the casual insanity of the Party, without compromising the ending for Hollywood cheer. John Hurt is the everyman Winston Smith, and screen legend Richard Burton makes his final film appearance as the Inner Party member O'Brien. There's a sexual element that may make some viewers uncomfortable (it's definitely an adult movie), but it's an altogether great film that should probably get more attention than it has.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/1984-Criterion-Collection-Richard-Burton/dp/B07QLNX236/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray-Richard-Burton/dp/B07QLNVTMV/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/1984-John-Hurt/dp/B00993I6D2/


I'm glad to get this on time for once. Stay safe out there - don't spend any more time outdoors than you have to!

Summer begins as we enter June, and I'm glad for the good weather, although I don't look forward to the more uncomfortable heat. While my reading has still remained slow (near nonexistent, actually), I do have something for the month, in addition to a film that I should have recommended a long time ago.

Reading: The Book of Three (1964) by Lloyd Alexander

This is the first volume of the 5-book Chronicles of Prydain, which was one of the first successful series made in the wake of Tolkien's Ring books, as well as one of the earliest young adult fantasy series to start many of the tropes which would follow hereafter. Based on Welsh mythology, the story follows Taran, an assistant pig-keeper to a wizard, who, chasing after an oracular pig, meets a stalwart prince scouting for information on the formidable warlord called the Horned King; after their separation, Taran crosses paths with a stubborn princess and a strange bard, in addition to a bizarre always-hungry humanoid creature, and their journey will take them to the realm of the dwarven Fair Folk, the mystic sanctuary of animals, and the battleground of the Horned King himself. Beloved by readers for decades, this book was one of my own first experiences with high fantasy, and while it's been years since I've read it, I'd love to revisit it again someday, and I think you all would have some enjoyment as well.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Three-Chronicles-Prydain/dp/0805080481
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Three-Chronicles-Prydain-ebook/dp/B005JDR5PQ/



Viewing: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Steven Spielberg, 1989)

One of the last big hits of the 1980s, this film was, for many years, the conclusion of the trilogy, and is, for many, the best of the films (or at least second or near equal to the first). Set in the WWII era once more, this time Jones is recruited to search for the Holy Grail, which is (again) sought by the Nazis as well, but the quest is also personal because it involves someone from his past - his estranged, irascible father, Henry (Sean Connery), an expert in Grail lore. The journey becomes as much about them as it does the Grail as they must confront each other after many years and come to terms with their differences, the choices they've made, and their different approaches to life. The highlight of the film, of course, is the dynamic between Harrison Ford and the legendary Connery as the Joneses, providing as many laughs as they do tears, though it should be noted that the thrilling action sequences are back in full force, featuring a boat chase, a tank battle, and a final confrontation overcoming three trials to find the Grail. It's a classic adventure and a great last hurrah for a decade of grand spectacles.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Indiana-Jones-Last-Crusade-Special/dp/B0014C2FX8
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Indiana-Jones-Last-Crusade-Blu-ray/dp/B00FZIIPUO/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Indiana-Jones-Last-Crusade-Harrison/dp/B0BZ8N65J6
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Indiana-Jones-Last-Crusade-Harrison/dp/B00GIW0MT8/


I hope these can keep you entertained enough as it gets hotter. Have a great June, and keep the sunscreen handy!

I sincerely apologize for keeping you all waiting for so long - I bet you thought I was going to skip this month. Well, my reading has been considerably bogged down, and I had some things to attend to, so I was a bit at a loss as to what I could recommend. Since the last vestiges of winter have passed for now, and I bet some of you are itching to get outside, I decided to go with a rather short choice for the reading, as well as a film that I hope isn't too taxing.

Reading: Animal Farm (1945) by George Orwell

This brief fable - so short it can be read within a day - was Orwell's first book to intentionally fuse fiction with politics, satirizing the ascension of Stalinism through the tale of farm animals who rise up against their oppressive owners to form a more equal society, only for some of them to seize power for their own purposes, thus dooming the great experiment. The relevance may never be lost, sadly, though the names have changed, and Orwell demonstrates astute criticism as well as engaging storytelling.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Farm-George-Orwell/dp/0451526341/
Trade 1: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Farm-Fairy-George-Orwell/dp/0452277507/
Trade 2: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Farm-George-Orwell/dp/0452284244/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Farm-Fairy-Modern-Classic-ebook/dp/B003K16PUU/



Viewing: Witness for the Prosecution (Billy Wilder, 1957)

Based on a play by Agatha Christie, this is a courtroom drama in which a prestigious barrister is called upon to defend a man accused of murdering a widow for money, made complicated by the prosecution calling his current wife to testify against him. But nothing is as it seems. Headed by the triple leads of Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich, the film is yet another stellar outing from the veteran Wilder, an entertaining and often comic thriller worth several rewatches.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Witness-Prosecution-Tyrone-Power/dp/B00K6D1QV8/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Witness-Prosecution-Blu-ray-Tyrone-Power/dp/B00K6D1S7A/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Witness-Prosecution-Tyrone-Power/dp/B00BWA6HZ4/


The month may be half over already, but I hope these can fill out your time. Enjoy the weather!

Now we're officially in spring again, and it's great to be getting warmer weather (though that's subject to change). While my own reading has slowed down considerably due to being consistently distracted, I have a title in mind, plus its film adaptation, that might suit your tastes.

Reading: The Four Feathers (1902) by A. E. W. Mason

This adventure novel is the best-known work from a now nearly forgotten British writer whose works were the subject of numerous films during his lifetime. On the eve of the 1882 Sudanese Mahdist War, a young officer resigns his commission and is subsequently branded a coward by three of his friends as well as his fiancée, receiving four white feathers to signify their distaste. Upon reflection, the officer undertakes a lone journey to Sudan to covertly work behind the scenes and disprove their accusations, leading to a rescue at the notorious prison at Omdurman. A meditation on masculinity and bravery, the novel may not be discussed too much today, but I believe it still warrants high appraisal.

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Feathers-Classic-20th-Century-Penguin/dp/0142180017/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Feathers-Classic-20th-Century-Penguin-ebook/dp/B0030H7U80/



Viewing: The Four Feathers (Zoltan Korda, 1939)

Of the many film versions of the novel, the 1939 Technicolor epic produced by Alexander Korda and directed by his brother is the most highly regarded, considered one of the best British films ever made. Filmed on location and featuring spectacular battle scenes, it's a testament to old style filmmaking from the pre-war days and should probably be viewed more than once (if time permits - it's 130 minutes, after all).

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Feathers-Criterion-Collection-Clements/dp/B005DI9906/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Feathers-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B005DI994W/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Feathers-John-Clements/dp/B009B6Y8RK/


I hope that fills up your April. See you next month!

March signals the approach of spring, and while winter may last a good while yet, it's good to be getting to that time of year. This month's reading was easy to recommend, but the film took some thought; as a result, they may be a bit lopsided, but I hope you'll still enjoy them.

Reading: The Wind in the Willows (1908) by Kenneth Grahame

This is one of the best-known classic children's fantasies, filled with talking animals and an abiding love of nature that sometimes reaches into the transcendent. Mole, Rat, Badger, and the irascible Toad are legends amongst readers of all ages, their warm-hearted (and sometimes zany) antics etched into our collective memories. It's a rather quick read, but it lasts for life. Share it with your children whenever you can.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143106643
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074VTHAC



Viewing: To Be or Not to Be (Ernst Lubitsch, 1942)

One of the greatest comedies ever filmed - and quite daring considering the time it was made - this picture is also a firm statement against fascism underneath the lighthearted touch. Josef and Maria Tura (Jack Benny and Carole Lombard) are a renowned husband-and-wife duo of Polish theater actors in Warsaw whose lives are upended when the Nazis invade, and things become even more complicated when a romantic liaison of Maria's, who has joined the underground resistance, catches wind of a spy, forcing Josef and his troupe to abet the Allied cause by impersonating Gestapo officers; it all comes to a head when the group attempts to evacuate Warsaw for free territory - just as Hitler himself arrives for an official theater performance! Thankfully, I believe, this film stands up to repeated viewings, and I hope you'll give it a watch some day.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Not-Criterion-Collection/dp/B00CUKTGSA/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Not-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B00CUKTHHK/


I sincerely hope that we're turning a corner now. See you next month!

Happy February, everyone! The snow's finally caught up with us, but the days are getting longer, so not everything is bleak. This month, both my recommendations come from postwar England in 1946 and are highly regarded but don't get the attention they should from the average person. If you don't know them already, I'm glad to bring them to your attention.

Reading: Titus Groan (1946) by Mervyn Peake

This novel - the first in a surreal sequence left ultimately incomplete by the author's early mental decline and subsequent death - earned high praise from literary critics but may have been too early to catch on with a society shaken by World War II. Set in a sprawling yet sparsely populated city-size castle called Gormenghast, the story begins with the birth of a male heir to the ruling Earl, but the action instead follows the rest of the eccentric family and their servants, subject to a life dominated by endless, tedious rituals whose importance has been entirely forgotten; meanwhile, one servant - a kitchen boy of significant cunning and danger - manipulates his way up the chain of hierarchy to a greater position of power. Told in a rich Gothic style with the eye of an artist (Peake was a professional painter and illustrator), it's a special kind of fantasy that has rarely been imitated, at least in comparison with its contemporaries, and may not appeal to everyone, but it still should be experienced just to see what art is capable of.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Titus-Groan-Mervyn-Peake/dp/1585679070/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Titus-Groan-Gormenghast-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B07MW9PQ88



Viewing: A Matter of Life and Death (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1946)

Regarded as one of the greatest British films ever made by one of the best pair of collaborative directors in the business, this melding of fantasy and romance is a lavish production perfectly suited for the postwar period. An RAF airman survives being shot down and finds love with an American radio operator, only to find that he was scheduled for death by higher powers but escaped simply due to his provided heavenly escort missing him in the English fog; unaware that he may be suffering from a serious brain injury but having found new meaning in life, he appeals his sentence, leading to a tribunal in the afterlife - made up of people from all walks of life and periods of time - to consider whether to grant him additional time on Earth. Spectacularly designed and excellently cast, this is a wonderful example of the possibilities of the filmgoing experience as a serious artform in itself, thankfully restored to its full glory for the Criterion Collection.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Life-Death-Criterion-Collection/dp/B07C7JGL78/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Death-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B07CH6415W/


Have a Happy Valentine's Day! I hope that the winter will be as enjoyable as it can be.