Hey Coir,

I didn't watch all ca. 20 minutes of the video, but I agree that it is good to read books you have before moving on to buying more.

As for bookshop.org, I see they are selling my books, but it appears they are probably sourcing them from Amazon, which is a bit of an irony.

In the early-to-midpoint range of this site, the subject of George MacDonald was brought up, both as one of the introductory subjects of the dormant MASTERS OF FANTASY series and as part of a topic discussing whether he was a Universalist theologically. To my knowledge, not much more has been said about him here, particularly because looking for his collected works can be tricky; his fantasy works are usually accounted for, but his considerable body of realistic Scottish novels seems to be neglected.

Well, while I would usually be at a loss and file MacDonald under the "out-of-print" category with the intent of looking him up if I ever broke into the printing business, I don't need to on this occasion because someone else has already taken care of it. David Jack, a Scotsman with a dream of sharing MacDonald's more difficult Scots-language works with a wider audience, has undertaken the task of translating those works in dual Scots-English editions as well as reissuing the rest of his catalog; to that end, he and his wife have set up a website, "The Room to Roam" (https://theroomtoroam.com/), to serve as the central hub of operations, in addition to traditional shopping sites like Amazon. I heartily recommend this site to those who would wish to explore MacDonald further or even read the Scots works in a more accessible fashion, and it saves you the trouble of digging through numerous Amazon pages if you're not using the right words or don't know where to look by sight.

It's been a while since anyone's posted here. Unfortunately, I don't have much good news. I'm not ready to come back to making regular recommendations, but that's not so much because of depression at the state of the world as it is that I have nothing to recommend. In the time since I made the post that I was stopping the recommendations, I haven't read anything - at all. I've started a couple titles, but I've found other things to occupy my time to the point that I've become bogged down and my entire library has gone unread. I don't know how I'm going to be able to catch up. I really do enjoy reading - when I do it, I'm amazed how much I enjoy it - but I prioritize other things, such as my laptop, which I'm on basically all day. When I'm "forcibly" separated from my laptop in another area outside of my house (like in a waiting room or another person's house) and I've taken a book with me, I find it easier to read; at home, it's easier to give my focus elsewhere. So I have that conundrum to work with.

Some time earlier this year, I found a video that pretty much sums up my situation, and I thought I would share it here, as it might be worth discussing, if anyone's willing to. I've seen a few videos by this guy since, and I really enjoy him.


However, I do have an update on the recommendations in general. Since I had nothing new to present, I decided to look over everything I've done in the past, and I found a few changes that needed to be made.

First off, it's a general fact of life that books and movies go through reprints/reissues/repackages, so some of the links led to out-of-date or discontinued products; over the past couple days, I've gone back and refreshed them, where possible, to send you to the right editions available, so all books/DVDs/Blu-Rays/Prime Video links should be up to date. Some links had to be removed entirely because a particular book/movie was no longer available in a specific format; others could be added in because I had missed that they were in yet another format. Keep in mind that Amazon is a fickle system, so they'll often list something in a way that makes it seem it's out of print but checking other shopping sites show it to be in stock, so you'll have to use discretion if any links come up empty (check Barnes & Noble, for instance, for a cross-reference).

Secondly, for the movies, I added the 4K option wherever I could. It isn't that big of a deal to me, but I know some movie lovers make higher resolution a deal-breaker, and in some cases, the regular Blu-Ray was issued with the 4K disc, so I streamlined the links where I could.

Finally, I added one more link to the book selections: Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/). This is a site I've seen advertised on Facebook, and I actually have an account there myself, having gotten a couple items there. Whether for political reasons or simple convenience or something else unspecified, some of you may not feel comfortable buying from a huge corporation like Amazon, and Bookshop is an alternative. From what I can tell, the site supports local independent bookstores, with the proceeds going to either a pool of general redistribution or a specific store of the customer's choice. They still carry titles from all of the big publishers that use Amazon, with some exceptions. Actually, the more I think about it, I actually like the way that they deliver books compared to Amazon - the couple titles I ordered came safe and tightly boxed as compared to a bubble wrap bag that the product can still be damaged in. I would highly recommend it. When I get to book buying again, I'm going to try to order more from them.

So everything is as up to date as it can be, as least as far as I know. If I've missed anything, let me know. When I get several books behind me, I might have a few recommendations for you, but until then, I just have to make the time for it.

I have no recommendations for this month, and frankly, I'm not sure why it should even continue. I don't read like I should, and I never will either, nor does it make any difference what I recommend as I don't get any feedback. I'm tired of books and reading - it doesn't bring me joy anymore. Therefore, I'm no longer going to be doing recommendations. If someone else would like to continue it, that's fine, but I just don't have it in me.

I'm sorry it had to end this way. Things change. This is probably a long time coming, anyway. In this environment, I probably won't be able to afford books, so I just want to be done with it altogether. I haven't been truthful with myself.

So farewell. I hope you'll find someone else - someone more faithful in reading - who can deliver a fuller experience for yourselves.

I may come back later, but I have to get some books behind me and rediscover my passion. Until then, I have to disappear.

Fall has officially begun, as has the witching season. In honor of that, and as an annual tradition, I present to you a work of classic horror, both in book and film, to hold you over. Sure, there are lots more out there, and you should check them out too this season, but let these recommendations serve as a starting point!


Reading: Psycho (1959) by Robert Bloch

This novel is the best-known work by veteran horror author and screenwriter Bloch, so much so that pretty much all of his other works have remained out of print for a few decades (until recently, when small press Valancourt Books has acquired the rights to reprint several significant titles). It's a comparatively short but fun title, an early dive into the psyche of a serial killer before the genre became extremely popular and filled with morbid content. Time may have softened the subversiveness of the text, but it's good to experience a cornerstone of pop culture in its original form and context.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Novel-Robert-Bloch/dp/1590203356/
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/psycho-robert-bloch/14934157?ean=9781590203354&next=t
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Novel-Robert-Bloch-ebook/dp/B07MXD9L2M/



Viewing: Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)

The novel is a great piece of fiction, in my opinion, but what really cemented it in the popular consciousness is its film adaptation under the direction of the legendary Hitchcock, with its schizophrenic title credits from Saul Bass, film noir black-and-white cinematography from John L. Russell and all-string soundtrack from Bernard Hermann, as well as its famous cast (including Anthony Perkins in a watershed role as Norman Bates) and twists both mid-film and at the end. A landmark in cinema considered one of Hitchcock's best works, it still holds up on repeated viewing, both for its contribution to the horror genre and as a piece of sophisticated suspense.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B0087ZG7UW/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Blu-ray-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B08CPLDRQH/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-4K-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B08Y49Y66T/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B009CGRGDC/


I hope that fills your October, at least as a start. Happy Halloween!

We're now in the final third of the year, with fall just around the corner. This time around, I'm going back to Tolkien accompanied by a film that I've had on my mind for quite some time.

Reading: The Silmarillion (1977) by J. R. R. Tolkien

This is less of a novel as it is a chronicle of myths that form the implied backstory for both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, edited by Christopher Tolkien (and an uncredited Guy Gavriel Kay), and, as a result, it's a bit less complete than the two previously published works, being constructed from notes in various states of completion and revision, but altogether it's an important milestone in Tolkien's writing. Showing inspiration from the Kalevala of Finland, Norse and Greek sagas, and Germanic poetry, the vast assortment of gods, heroes and villains form a lively saga that shoould keep any lover of mythology spellbound.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0345325818/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0544338014/
Hardcover 1: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0063280779/
Hardcover 2: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-Collectors-J-R-Tolkien/dp/006339619X/
Bookshop (Mass Market): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silmarillion-j-r-r-tolkien/9031904?ean=9780345325815&next=t
Bookshop (Trade): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silmarillion-j-r-r-tolkien/7084205?ean=9780544338012&next=t
Bookshop (Hardcover 1): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silmarillion-illustrated-edition-illustrated-by-j-r-r-tolkien-j-r-r-tolkien/18356106?ean=9780063280779&next=t
Bookshop (Hardcover 2): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-silmarillion-collector-s-edition-j-r-r-tolkien/21020777?ean=9780063396197&next=t
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-J-R-R-Tolkien-ebook/dp/B007978PGI/



Viewing: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1943)

This is the story of a British soldier's career over the course of the 20th century up until World War II, satirizing the changing norms of the codes of conduct while remaining pro-British. Through the use of impressive Technicolor camerawork, wonderful makeup and an outstanding cast, the 2-hours-and-43-minute runtime doesn't feel long at all - in fact, not a moment in the film feels wasted or unnecessary. In the modern age of quick popcorn entertainment, it's the kind of film that doesn't seem to be made anymore, artistic without being pretentious, perhaps even timeless.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Colonel-Blimp-Criterion-Collection/dp/B00AQ6J64O/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Colonel-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B00AQ6J5CC/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Colonel-Blimp-Roger-Livesey/dp/B00BH1C90U/


Have a great September, everyone!

August signals the last stretch of summer - it seems to have gone so quickly! These are tough times, but there's also reason to hope, so I'm feeling pretty good myself. For this month, I'd like to continue Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain and accompany it with a fantasy film that's always been a favorite of mine.

Reading: The Castle of Llyr (1966) by Lloyd Alexander

Set a little more than a year after the second book, this story finds Princess Eilonwy (who Taran finds himself falling in love with) being sent to the Isle of Mona to study being a proper lady, while also being possibly betrothed to a clumsy yet good-hearted prince. But it's more than just thwarted romance that's at stake, as Taran and his companions find that Queen Achren, Eilonwy's cruel sorceress aunt (last encountered in The Book of Three), is collaborating with the chief steward of Mona's kingdom to capture the princess and use her for her own ends. Personally speaking, this is the book I remember least, but to be fair, I had only read it once about a couple decades ago. It's still Alexander's great writing, mixing Welsh mythology with the story of the city of Ys from Brittany, and more of the backstory is revealed as well as furthering character motivations.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Llyr-Chronicles-Prydain-Book/dp/0805080503/
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-castle-of-llyr-the-chronicles-of-prydain-book-3-lloyd-alexander/8442595?ean=9780805080506&next=t
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Llyr-Chronicles-Prydain-Book-ebook/dp/B005KJV5E6/



Viewing: Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam, 1981)

Considered the first of Gilliam's "Trilogy of Imagination" (which includes Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen), this is a fine, funny family film in which a young boy with an abiding interest in history encounters a team of dwarfs, formerly employed by the Supreme Being of the Universe, who have stolen a map that shows holes in the fabric of space and time and intend to use it to steal treasure; unfortunately, the personification of evil (simply named Evil) desires the map to escape his confinement in the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness and usurp the power of the Supreme Being. It's an irreverent film, but it's got a good heart and great production value, filled with that trademark Monty Python-style humor (as well as featuring a couple Python alumni in cameos). I'd gladly return to it again and again, and I hope you will too.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Criterion-Collection-Connery/dp/B00NMUCHMY/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B00NMUCHNS/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Criterion-Collection-UHD/dp/B0BYLLNMCM/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Terry-Gilliam/dp/B0CXDS7TYJ/


Happy August, everyone!

Summer's underway and everything's heating up! (Sometimes uncomfortably so.) For this July, I can't say that my choices are necessarily seasonally appropriate, but for me, it's comparatively new and I wanted to share it. I hope you like it.


Reading: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) by Agatha Christie

On sick leave during the First World War, Arthur Hastings is vacationing at the old house of Styles Court in Essex when his hostess, Emily Inglethorp, suddenly dies overnight from strychnine poisoning. Amidst the rest of the family being thrown into turmoil, suspecting murder, Hastings takes advantage of the fact that a group of Belgian refugees is being housed nearby and recruits his old friend, former policeman Hercule Poirot, to investigate, leading to several twists and turns before the culprit is finally revealed. This was Christie's first novel, as well as the first of about 33 novels and 13 short story collections to feature the legendary Poirot, and it's a fine entertainment from a truly talented writer.

Trade 1: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Mysteries/dp/0062984632/
Trade 2: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Mysteries/dp/0063375907/
Bookshop (Trade 1): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-mysterious-affair-at-styles-the-first-hercule-poirot-mystery-agatha-christie/14842122?ean=9780062984630&next=t
Bookshop (Trade 2): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-mysterious-affair-at-styles-the-first-hercule-poirot-mystery-agatha-christie/14842122?ean=9780063375901&next=t
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B000FC12ZU/



Viewing: Murder on the Orient Express (Sidney Lumet, 1974)

This lavish film with an all-star cast, released a couple years before Christie's death and directed by Hollywood legend Sidney Lumet, was one of two films to meet with the author's approval as to faithfulness to her writing (her only gripe being the perceived less-than-magnificence of Poirot's mustache). Having booked the titular Orient Express from Istanbul to London, Hercule Poirot is accosted by a suspicious man wishing to hire him, but the detective turns him down; one morning, after a snowstorm, the strange man is found dead, having been stabbed twelve times. Suspicion turns to the motley assortment of characters aboard the train, leading to many shocking revelations and a strange end to a sad tale several years in the making. The movie managed to be a box office hit, earning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for co-star Ingrid Bergman as Greta Ohlsson, in addition to nominations for Actor (Albert Finney as Poirot), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, and Costume Design.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Lauren-Bacall/dp/B06XGG697H/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Lauren-Bacall/dp/B09M5CZN6B/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-4KUHD-Anniversary/dp/B0DBN8Z5N4/ref=tmm_frk_swatch_0
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Sidney-Lumet/dp/B0DPXR537V/



Keep cool, everybody!

Now we're halfway through the year already, and in just a couple weeks, it'll officially be summer. It feels great to have warm weather again, though it might become too hot down the road. For this month, I've chosen to finish off Tolkien's epic in reading and finally recommend what many have probably been waiting for in viewing. I hope it makes for a good start to the summer season.


Reading: The Lord of the Rings, Part Three: The Return of the King (1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien

The final installment of Tolkien's Ring cycle brings the Fellowship to the city of Minas Tirith, capital of Gondor, where Sauron directs his armies in the last great battles of the War of the Ring, while Frodo and Sam draw ever closer to Mount Doom, the temptation of the Ring growing stronger while doing so. It's a tale with a nominally happy ending, but it's also about passings, featuring both the shadow of death and the end of an age - a conclusion of ambivalence with some hope on the horizon.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/0345339738/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Being-Third-Rings/dp/054792819X/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Collectors-Being-Third/dp/0063412632/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
Bookshop (Mass Market): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-return-of-the-king-the-lord-of-the-rings-part-three-j-r-r-tolkien/18844187?ean=9780345339737&next=t
Bookshop (Trade): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-return-of-the-king-3-being-the-third-part-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-j-r-r-tolkien/6861933?ean=9780547928197&next=t
Bookshop (Hardcover): https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-return-of-the-king-collector-s-edition-being-the-third-part-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-j-r-r-tolkien/21222160?ean=9780063412637&next=t
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Being-Third-Rings-ebook/dp/B007978P18/


Viewing: The Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson, 2001-2003)

It's only fitting to recommend the entire trilogy of films as one to accompany the last book. A massive undertaking once thought impossible, with years spent in the making, Jackson's films are technical marvels mixing practical effects with wonderfully rendered CGI and capturing the spirit of Tolkien's books, if not the exact letter. All three won Oscars in several categories and became cinematic milestones spawning several imitators (much like the books themselves), but only this trilogy has the real heart. Comparable with Star Wars, it comes highly recommended as essential to any filmgoing experience.

DVD [Theatrical Versions]: https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Collection-Theatrical-Version/dp/B00HFFE8HE/
Blu-Ray [Theatrical Versions]: https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Picture-Trilogy-Theatrical-Remaster/dp/B09CGBNKC2/
Blu-Ray [Extended Editions]: https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Trilogy-Extended-Blu-ray-Remaster/dp/B09CGMTF6R/
4K [Extended and Theatrical Versions]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KQBYM1Y/
Amazon Video [Extended Editions]: https://www.amazon.com/RingsTM-Motion-Picture-Trilogy-Extended/dp/B08TQXB4CC/


Happy June, everyone!

May is here, and with it comes the early graduation of high school seniors, Mother's Day, and (hopefully) fully blooming flowers. I'd like to take a break once again before we complete Tolkien's Ring cycle to continue a series I recommended some time ago, as well as a movie sequel long overdue.

Reading: The Black Cauldron (1965) by Lloyd Alexander

Picking up a year after the last book (The Book of Three), young Taran finds himself roped into a new quest: to seize and destroy the mystic cauldron which Arawn of Annuvin uses to create his undead soldiers. Things become complicated quickly when it is discovered that the cauldron has already been taken, and in pursuit of a young, arrogant prince seeking to claim the glory, Taran and his companions find themselves on their way to the Marshes of Morva, home of the three odd witches who are the real caretakers of the cauldron. They learn that victory can be achieved only at a high price, and it may come sooner than later, because the cauldron is valuable for other parties as well.

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-Chronicles-Prydain/dp/080508049X/
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-black-cauldron-lloyd-alexander/286241?ean=9780805080490&next=t
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-Chronicles-Prydain-Book-ebook/dp/B005EYXACW/



Viewing: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (George Miller, 1981)

Considered one of the greatest sequels ever made, this film seared the popular imagery of the post-apocalyptic wasteland where only the strong survive into the public consciousness. Max Rockatansky is left scavenging the Australian wilderness for both food and fuel when a chance encounter with the pilot of a makeshift helicopter leads him to a band of settlers under siege from savage marauders; initially only out for himself, bargaining for his necessities, Max is eventually coerced by circumstances into helping the settlers escape to safer areas by driving a semi-truck full of gas, leading to a long, memorable car chase down the highway when their enemies come out in full force. The movie was a tremendous success both commercially and critically, spawning a fan following that continues to this day.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Warrior-Keepcase-Mel-Gibson/dp/B002AT8KB0/ref=tmm_dvd_title_0
4K HD+Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-Warrior-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B09NRTPW7M/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-2-Road-Warrior/dp/B003DGZCLK/


I hope you enjoy my choices. Have a great May!