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.

Happy New Year, everyone! I apologize for the lateness.

So winter is officially here, but at least in the States, the days are slowly getting longer already. I sincerely hope that, with everything going on in the world, we will reach a point of relative peace.

I thought a bit about what to recommend this month, and I decided to go with a couple rather dark entries this time, perhaps suited for those cold winter nights.


Reading: The Witches (1983) by Roald Dahl

This a rather late title in Dahl's catalog and arguably the darkest, being centered on witches - REAL witches, who are loathsome, human-like creatures who take delight in killing and torturing children. The plot follows an English boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who stumble upon a plot by the Grand High Witch to turn all of the children in the world into mice. Called misogynistic by some and frowned upon by some parents due to its macabre streak, the book is nevertheless a devilish dark fantasy that's delightful in its own way for both children and adults.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Roald-Dahl/dp/014241011X/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Roald-Dahl/dp/1984837168/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Roald-Dahl-ebook/dp/B00INIYHJQ/



Viewing: The Dark Crystal (Jim Henson and Frank Oz, 1982)

Having done Muppet-related works for years, Jim Henson took a stab at epic fantasy with this film, which featured a cast made completely of puppet creatures with a voice cast outside of the usual Muppet troupe. An elf-like lad named Jen is sent to find a shard of a large magic crystal whose shattering has given rise to the cruel vulture-like Skeksis, who use the crystal to extend their own lives, while their good counterparts, the Mystics, seek the ways of peace; to heal the land, Jen has to return the shard to the crystal before the conjunction of the planet's three suns, while the Skeksis - responsible for the near-extinction of Jen's race - seek him out for their own ends. Considerably darker in tone than any of Henson's previous works, this is a film that would probably scare younger children, but it is a rich story with incredible puppetry and lavish costumes, designed by illustrator Brian Froud, set against marvelous landscapes. It is well deserving of its cult status.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Crystal-Kathryn-Mullen/dp/B00000JPH6/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Crystal-Blu-ray-Jim-Henson/dp/B0016BWACI/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Crystal-Blu-ray-Kathryn-Mullen/dp/B077ZQMVQZ/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Crystal-Stephen-Garlick/dp/B008Y6M3KW/


Once again, have a Happy New Year!

Not only have we reached the end of the year, but we've also entered the 5th year anniversary of Recommendations!

As a side note, for those unaware, the forum was down for an entire month, thus November was skipped, but we seem to be back (for the time being).

Anyway, Merry Christmas, everyone! I'm sure glad to put this year behind us. Enough has happened that I feel in need of a fresh start. As winter gets underway, here are a couple recent pleasures I've experienced that I hope you find just as entertaining.

Reading: Till We Have Faces (1956) by C. S. Lewis

This novel, a retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, was Lewis's final work of fiction, subsequently considered his best and most mature by the author himself as well as friends and fans. The narrator of the story is Orual, a homely princess of the kingdom of Glome and half-sister of Psyche, who rails against the gods for what she considers the unjust suffering of both herself throughout her life and of Psyche when she is offered up as a sacrifice to the God of the Mountain and taken as his bride; a deep misunderstanding of the situation leads Orual to convince Psyche to disobey the command of her new husband, resulting in her exile and Orual's years of misery, only to find that the gods may not be as cruel as previously perceived. A rich tale told arguably better than any of his previous and more better-known works such as Narnia, it is a meditation on love in all its forms, with the Christian themes much more subtle than seen before, representing (perhaps) the pinnacle of the form of fiction for the veteran author.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Till-We-Have-Faces-Retold/dp/0062565419/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Till-We-Have-Faces-Retold-ebook/dp/B01EFM8NMK/



Viewing: Jumanji (Joe Jonston, 1995)

Based on the children's picture book by renowned illustrator Chris Van Allsburg (of The Polar Express fame), the film centers around a mysterious supernatural board game that, when played, causes an African jungle and its deadly inhabitants to cross over into the regular world. The main action of the story takes place in the then-contemporary year of 1995, when two children, recently moved to a New Hampshire home, discover the game, unaware of its powers, and end up releasing a man from twenty-six years earlier who became trapped inside its world; together with the man's old childhood friend - who had been the other player at the time of his disappearance - they have to complete the game that started in 1969 in order to stop the chaos unleashed on an unsuspecting public. It's a rather clever film that, at times, is much darker than the usual expected children's fare and, subsequently, viewing with considerably young children should be approached with caution. Still, it makes for an interesting experience, the kind that makes you feel that they don't make them like this anymore.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Jumanji-Kirsten-Dunst/dp/B073VS8VCG/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Jumanji-Remastered-Blu-ray-Digital-Williams/dp/B075FZF161/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Jumanji-4K-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B075G3J9HB/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Jumanji-Robin-Williams/dp/B00170GYES/


Happy Holidays!

The fall season is officially here, as are the Halloween holiday seasonal traditions. As the weather changes, I'd like to once again dip into the spooky side of things with some recommendations suitable for chilly nights and ghostly happenings. May you find as much enjoyment out of these as I did.


Reading: 'Salem's Lot (1975) by Stephen King

King's second published novel tells the story of writer Ben Mears, who returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem's Lot, Maine (affectionately nicknamed "'Salem's Lot" or "The Lot") to exorcise some old memories by writing a book about the derelict Marsten House which looms over the town on a hill; coincidentally, the same house has recently been purchased by Austrian antiques dealer Kurt Barlow, though he is never seen publicly. The disappearance of a local boy one night becomes the catalyst for strange happenings, as Ben comes to the realization that the town population is slowly being transformed into a brood of vampires. A mix, in the author's words, of Dracula and Peyton Place, the novel is significant for being one of the first instances of some of King's recurrent themes, such as the underlying corruption of small-town America and the politics of the time represented by the story (in this case, the crimes of the Nixon administration and government subterfuge). A major work of vampire fiction, it remains a favorite of many constant King readers.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Salems-Lot-Stephen-King/dp/0307743675/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Salems-Lot-Stephen-King/dp/0345806794/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Salems-Lot-Stephen-King/dp/0385007515/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Salems-Lot-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B0019LV31E/



Viewing: The Lost Boys (Joel Schumacher, 1987)

This black horror-comedy finds a divorced mother and her two sons moving to the California town of Santa Carla, where the elder brother falls in with an eccentric biker gang which invites him into their fold. Eventually, the gang is revealed to be a group of vampires, which the elder brother is slowly transforming into, and the younger brother seeks out the help of two young self-professed vampire hunters to take down the gang and rescue both his family and two other half-vampires who wish to escape the curse. A success with critics and moviegoers, the film is something of a turning point in popular vampire fiction, being aimed more towards a youth culture as opposed to the distinctly middle-age Gothic tales of Hammer, for instance; it manages to balance traditional horror scares with a winking self-awareness, aided by a sleek contemporary visual design and an excellent cast.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Boys-Richard-Donner/dp/B004FQX5D4/
4K+Blu-Ray+Digital: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Boys-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B0B7PZDYFW/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Boys-Corey-Feldman/dp/B003F44QRQ/


Happy Halloween, everyone! Enjoy the fall!

I don't think I've ever found a book that I didn't enjoy. I know I said in the past that my high school reading left something to be desired, but I feel that time and age can change perspectives. For instance, I didn't enjoy The Scarlet Letter when I first encountered it in 10th grade(?), but I picked it up again about 5 years ago and absolutely loved it. It encourages me to seek out what else I read during that time and give it another chance.

As for difficulty, advanced non-fiction is something I'm willing to try, though I make no guarantees of understanding it. There's a lot of philosophy that I want to sample. Fiction-wise, I'd like to tackle Joyce someday - Ulysses, to my knowledge, ranks high among that pantheon of challenging books, and I want to see if a casual reader can get as much out of it as a dedicated academic.

Raven's choice is fine, actually. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why intellectual higher circles are determined to write so obtusely, as if their only audience is peers in ivory towers, and writing anything less that can be understood by "common" folk is beneath them.

I think books, above all else, should be enjoyed. This isn't to say that they can't instruct or shape our minds in any way, but I think the act of picking up a book should be one we can have fun with, that there should be a delight in doing so. That being said, there are some books that take an extra effort to enjoy fully due to some difficulty with the text. It doesn't mean they're bad but rather that you can't treat them like "ordinary" books. They take extra diligence and concentration, and in the end, there's a different type of enjoyment - you've conquered a challenge, in a way.

There's a certain canon of books that are considered difficult when compared to typical texts, and I'm wondering if anyone has ever encountered them. So, for the fun of it, what are those books that you have found a challenge to get through? What books gave you the greatest trouble? What are, currently, the hardest texts you've ever encountered, that you feel you've had to struggle to get through them?

Normally, I would just be asking this question and stepping aside, waiting for someone else to answer first (usually Raven), but I think I've found my own peak, at least for the time being: Clarissa (1748) by Samuel Richardson. I first discovered this book through Raven, as he says he once studied this work as part of a college class, and I've learned a good deal since then about both Richardson's importance to English literature as well as the book itself in particular. Having had it on my list for some time (and wanting to try it out since Raven said he never read it completely), I recently purchased it and started it out. It isn't the massive length of the book (1500+ pages) that's intimidating but rather the way it's written - it's a really prosaic novel with large, rather unfamiliar words, constructed in a sophisticated manner outside of common speech. I've found myself having to reread parts of it merely for comprehension. That being said, it's quite fascinating and enjoyable in its own right, and while it's going to be slow going, I intend to get through all of it. As of writing this post, I've gotten through 70 pages of it and reached Letter 11 (for those unaware, it's an epistolary novel - composed of a sequence of letters between individuals - made up of 537 letters); I'm aware of what happens due to the summary on Wikipedia, but even when knowing what happens, the act of the telling itself often makes it worthwhile.

I don't ascribe the difficulty to the age of the book - I read Robinson Crusoe some time ago, and that predates Clarissa by 29 years, and yet I found that book quite easy by comparison. It's just Richardson's style of writing, I guess. But I can see myself gradually getting used to it.

So what's your most difficult book? Did you manage to get through it, or was it just so hard that you had to give up? Do you find difficult books enjoyable in any way, or are they more a burden than a recreation? Or is there another answer I'm missing?

It's September, so fall and pumpkin spice are just starting up. We still have some warm days, so as you're enjoying the weather, I thought I'd recommend some classic adventure stories to keep you excited for the time being. These stories have been around all my life, but I've only come to appreciate them rather recently (having encountered the actual unabridged text for the first time just this year, in the book's case). I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I have.


Reading: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) by Jules Verne

One of the best-known stories by the man considered by many to be the father of modern science fiction, this novel has thrilled the world for over 150 years since its publication and continues to influence new generations of storytellers. The hunt for a sea monster leads a French scientist and his two companions to an amazing discovery: a revolutionary submarine powered by electricity, entitled Nautilus, helmed by the enigmatic Captain Nemo, who has exiled himself from the land and human civilization; the three men, forced to remain aboard the submarine to keep its secrets safe, are taken on a tour of the uttermost depths of the oceans of the world, slowly discovering that the captain has an agenda of revenge and may not be entirely sane. Beloved by all ages, it's been unfairly pigeon-holed to the ghetto of children's literature and ill-served by subpar translations, but time has been kinder and critical appraisals continue to speak well of it. The edition recommended below comes from translator David Coward and released by Penguin in 2017.

Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0241198771
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0141394935



Viewing: King Kong (Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933)

This is the original classic, one of the most groundbreaking films ever made, a thrilling mix of adventure, fantasy, and horror that has inspired numerous filmmakers and is regarded amongst the greatest motion pictures ever made. An ambitious director charters a ship into the unknown region of Skull Island, populated by long-extinct dinosaurs and other wildlife, while his lead actress becomes a sacrifice to the mysterious god-figure of the island - a giant gorilla called Kong. Surprisingly, the beast becomes infatuated with the actress and violently protective of her, which the director uses to his advantage to capture Kong and transport him to New York City; unfortunately, Kong breaks free of his restraints and goes on a rampage in the city, leading to a legendary climax on top of the Empire State Building with the frightened actress in tow. Featuring pioneering camera techniques and tricks to superimpose the cast onto the film for the illusion of size, astounding stop-motion animation from industry legend Willis O'Brien, and a thundering score from composer Max Steiner (one of the first of its kind), this is the film of films, a testament to the uniqueness of the medium that can be taken for granted today and should be viewed by everyone of all ages. It's a moment in time that will never be forgotten.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/King-Kong-James-Ashmore-Creelman/dp/B000EHQTZO/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7CJC7QS
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/King-Kong-Fay-Wray/dp/B001R6AW18


That should fill up your month. Enjoy the season, everyone!

It's the last full month of summer, with just four months left to go in the year, which is both sad and relieving at the same time. For this month, I've picked a favorite of mine in both literature and film that I hope you'll find equally enjoyable. It's dark but not entirely hopeless.

Reading: The Night of the Hunter (1953) by David Grubb

Davis Grubb is an author who may be largely forgotten today, which is a shame, because his first novel is a classic story that's equal parts noir and coming-of-age, a sort of "Harper Lee meets Cormac McCarthy" mash-up. Set during the Depression, it follows two children whose father has entrusted them with $10,000 that he stole out of desperation before being sent to prison and hanged; unfortunately, his cellmate - a deranged serial murderer convinced he is a preacher of God - tries to insert himself into the children's lives by marrying their mother and winning the trust of the townsfolk, leading them the flee into the care of an older woman who looks after lost children and isn't so easily deceived. It's a testament both to the dehumanization of the Depression itself and the resilience of children to weather dark times.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hunter-Thriller-Vintage-Classic/dp/1101910054/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hunter-Vintage-Classics-Classic-ebook/dp/B00QP3RP0O/



Viewing: The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)

While the book is an unfairly neglected classic itself, it's probably better known for the film adaptation made two years later under the direction of veteran actor Charles Laughton and starring Hollywood bad boy Robert Mitchum as the killer preacher, Shelley Winters as the children's tragic mother, and silent film legend Lillian Gish as the tough old caretaker whom the children come to. Initial response was negative (which led Laughton to abandon directing altogether), but posterity was much kinder, as it is now regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, influencing future generations of filmmakers with its expressionistic style reminiscent of the silent era; it has since been added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry in 1992.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hunter-Criterion-Collection/dp/B003ZYU3U0/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hunter-Blu-ray-Robert-Mitchum/dp/B00HVOFPD0/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hunter-Robert-Mitchum/dp/B01I0LLIRY/


So that's all for August. Stay safe out there!

I apologize for being even later than usual. I let time get away from me.

Anyway, now that July is here, the summer is in full swing. I'll admit to the recommendations this month being last minute, but the book, at least, has some connection to a past recommendation. I hope that these'll keep you occupied and fill out the month.


Reading: The Moon of Gomrath (1963) by Alan Garner

This is the sequel to the ever-popular fantasy classic The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, continuing the story of the children Colin and Susan and their relationship with the wizard Cadellin. This time, after the elves take a mystic bracelet of Susan's in the hope of it being an asset in battles for their own lands, she is possessed by a strange force which renders her catatonic, leading Colin to discover the Old Magic of the world in order to save her. Things become stranger when the children unwittingly unleash the Wild Hunt, leading to another fight between good and evil on the plains of Alderley Edge. This would be the last installment in the story for several decades, before Garner would finally complete it with Boneland in 2012.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Gomrath-Alan-Garner/dp/0008248516/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Gomrath-Alan-Garner-ebook/dp/B00DPZN3AG/



Viewing: Rope (Alfred Hitchcock, 1948)

Based on the play by Patrick Hamilton, this film is the first of Hitchcock's to be shot in Technicolor and is further significant for being constructed in such a way as to appear to be done in one continuous take. Ostensibly inspired by the 1924 Leopold and Loeb murder case, it follows two young men who strangle a classmate, hide his body in a trunk, and proceed to host a dinner party in the room with the trunk; everything goes according to plan until one of the main guests - the teacher who unintentionally inspired them to commit the murder - grows increasingly suspicious over the course of the evening. It's one of the more experimental films in the director's career, as well as his first collaboration with James Stewart, and should prove rewarding on multiple views.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Rope-James-Stewart/dp/B000ECX0O2/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Rope-Blu-ray-James-Stewart/dp/B00BM7A1AO/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Rope-Alfred-Hitchcock/dp/B002RPI2QK/


So that's July for you. Again, I apologize for the delay. I'll try to do better next time.

Sorry I'm late again.

It's June now, and it honestly feels good, at least where I'm at. It's been great to get outside, as it hasn't been that severe of weather so far. I can only hope it will last. I managed to find some recommendations, and as the books go, some may not be be historically fond of it, but from my own personal experience, a book can really be better the second time around under the right circumstances, so I really encourage anyone who doubts it to give it a second chance. For the rest of you, these recommendations may be old, but I think they hold up.

Reading: Don Quixote (1605/1615) by Miguel de Cervantes

Quite possibly the most influential novel in the world, and definitely considered Spain's crowning literary achievement, this is the one that gave new respect to the form and raised its author to international renown after years of setbacks. The main characters - the semi-mad idealist who chooses to become a knight errant and the simple-minded, down-to-earth farmer who becomes his squire - are beyond iconic and have been both given homage and parodied ever since publication. With this, the prose romances of the past gave way to a more realistic story, one in which it is still debated which side Cervantes himself was on. Old works like these sometimes need fresh eyes, so the edition I'm linking to is the 2003 translation from Edith Grossman, which has received significant praise from the likes of acclaimed Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes and renowned American literary critic Harold Bloom. If you haven't experienced it before, give it a chance; if you already have, give it another - it may be worth the effort.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Don-Quixote-Miguel-Cervantes/dp/0060934344/
Trade (Deluxe): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062391666/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Don-Quixote-Miguel-Cervantes-ebook/dp/B001R1LCKS/



Viewing: Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

This film was a commercial failure upon release (a first for director Wilder), but time has been much kinder, and this acerbically cynical carnival - a literal one, in a way - is now seen as one of the sharpest satires on the power of the media to manipulate and exploit tragedy for personal profit. Kirk Douglas, in one of his finest performances, plays a scrounging reporter always on the lookout for the next big scoop, and upon finding a man trapped in a cave due to an archeological incident, he turns what should be an efficiently humane rescue into a countrywide sensation, twisting the facts and prolonging the attempts to pull the man out in order to savor every moment of the attention America gives to it. Despite its less-than-hopeful mood, it remains surprisingly relevant even today, proof perhaps that journalism hasn't changed much despite technological advances, and as a human character study, it needs to be seen in spite of how uncomfortable it may make you.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Hole-Criterion-Collection-Kirk-Douglas/dp/B000PKG6OE/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Hole-Blu-ray-Kirk-Douglas-Sterling/dp/B07DS6S553/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Ace-Hole-Kirk-Douglas/dp/B00N43TBW8/


So there you have it. I hope the summer finds you in good spirits. See you next month!

https://www.tor.com/2022/05/11/patricia-a-mckillip-1948-2022/

I just got news of this on Facebook. It's a shame, not simply because any death is sad, but because I had read The Forgotten Beasts of Eld and even recommended it one month. It's one of the best fantasy books I've had the pleasure to read, so much so that I picked up an omnibus of her Riddle-Master trilogy soon after (though I've put off reading it, as usual). She's quite highly regarded in the field, and her passing is a significant loss.

May she always be remembered.

This one is probably easy, but I just liked the sound of it.


On my own, I am darkness, a black abyss.
But life brings me light with its gentle kiss.
I am quiet and cold, but warmth I can hold.
Alongside beauties and wonders, sights to be told.
My surface may be bare, this I'm aware.
But beautiful secrets I am eager to share.
My mouth so large, I swallow you whole.
To be in my belly is your goal.
What may lie within can drive men to sin.
Greed and desire, gluttony's kin.
For some, I am fear. For others, hope.
My perception shaped from life's scope.
From the earth I have come, and forever will stay,
even if parts of me crumble away.