Classic Movie Friday!

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Keir Dullea

Gary Lockwood

Oh my word! Ok all you sci-fi fans out there, I might need your help with this film. A movie ahead of it’s time ~ to be sure.

Earth has a colony on the moon and a strange object has been discovered there ~ a monolith. It gives off a strange, loud ringing sound. Several months after the monolith is discovered, a spaceship, from Earth, is headed for Jupiter with a computer called, HAL, three scientists who are in a cryogenic state, Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Dr. Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood) on board. During the journey to Jupiter, HAL malfunctions and Dave is the only survivor. Dave quickly shuts down HAL and then finds himself in an extraterrestrial experience. There seem to be strong elements of evolution in this film. I don’t want to get into a discussion on evolution at all. Maybe, evolution of the mind??? If this is a story of mankind vs. the computer, I would suggest, even if the computer was successful and killed everyone, including Dave, mankind would still have won because mankind created the computer and programed it.

So! What happened to Dave? Is time travel involved? Is he traveling at the speed of light? Did he die? Is he alive in the monolith? I can think of several questions about the monolith. Until one solves the mystery of the monolith . . . well . . . I do want to add the music in this film is wonderful and the filming (cinematography) is amazing!

Enjoy!

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The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

Publication Date: October 9, 2018

Publisher: Atria Books

Complimentary copy from NetGalley through Atria Books.

When I started reading, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, I thought it was slow going and a little confusing. There are many characters and the story moves across time. It’s a mystery, a mystery involving a valuable jewel, murder, a missing person, love, loss and art. As I continued on in the story, the characters became more clearly visible, engaging and everything came together nicely in the end. I have read a few books by this author and this was not my favorite, however, I did like it. This book took me quite awhile to read, it’s not a story you will zip through. 4 **** stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Rancher’s Second Chance by Brenda Minton

Hello Peoples! Recently Laurie at http://www.cozynookbks.wordpress.com had a giveaway on her blog and I won a book! It was a nice surprise.  🙂  The book arrived safely and I decided to take a few hours from my incredibly busy schedule *ahem* and read it.

Grace Thomas is fleeing from an abusive husband. She’s pregnant and scared. She runs to the one person she can trust ~ Brody Martin.

Brody isn’t physically healthy and Grace hurt him when she married his best friend. Brody is quiet. He doesn’t say much, but he cares and he’s willing to protect Grace and her unborn child. His mother abandoned him and his family when he was a small boy. He’s been searching for his mother. And! He has plans for his ranch.

Grace is a sweet woman. She made a mistake when she married Lincoln. She needs protection, support and she has plans to return to nursing school.

This is a sweet, gentle romance and I thought Grace and Brody had always loved one another. When Grace came to Brody’s trailer, pounding on his door, it was clear the attraction and love remained. I knew everything would work out in the end and I was happy it did. 4 **** stars!

Brenda Minton is a new to me author.

 

Classic Movie Friday!

Charlie Chan On Broadway (1937)

Warner Oland

Keye Luke

Joan Marsh   Louise Henry

J. Edward Bromberg   Douglas Fowley   Donald Woods

Harold Huber

Poor Charlie Chan (Warner Oland). He’s on a sea voyage and he doesn’t feel well at all. And! There’s a nefarious man skulking around on the ship. While on this sea voyage, Charlie and his son (Keye Luke) meet a lady screaming in distress. The lady is Billie Bronson (Louise Henry). She’s returning from Europe where she has been in exile. She has information regarding her criminal friends that can put them away for a long time. She left New York so she wouldn’t need to testify against them in court. Shortly after the ship arrives in New York, she is murdered! Charlie Chan and his son, along with New York’s Inspector Nelson (Harold Huber) are on the case.

I didn’t solve this mystery. I was surprised when all was revealed. It’s a good mystery. Have you seen any Charlie Chan films? Did you enjoy them? Which one is your favorite?

Enjoy!

Ramblings And What Not ~

Hello Peoples! I hope you are enjoying July! It’s been warm here. So, I’ve been enjoying my walks early in the mornings. It’s been nice to stroll along in the early hours of the day. The summer flowers are blooming in all different colors. I usually walk to the bakery and read for a couple of hours. Nice.  🙂

Rick and I have been watching the Father Brown Mysteries on NetFlix in the evenings. The mysteries are based on the stories by G. K. Chesterton. I have never read the mysteries. I think Chesterton’s stories are in my future though. As I write this post, we are watching the third season. Rick likes them. He says, some of the mysteries are easy to solve and some are not. Father Brown has a good group of friends who help him. They have their faults and their strengths, but they work together well. I think Father Brown has a big heart! He never betrays a confidence. When he solves a mystery and confronts the murderer, after confession, he expects the murderer to turn him or herself in. Some of the mysteries are very creepy.

Father Brown (2013 – )

Mark Williams, Alex Price, Sorcha Cusack, Nancy Carroll

As many of you know, I joined the cozy mystery challenge this year. My goal was to read 30 cozies in 2018. I’m happy to say, I’ve read 25, and it’s only July! Realizing I have five more mysteries to read by the end of December, this list might change, I thought I would list my five favorite cozies so far this year.

1.) O Holy Fright (Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery #2) by Jane Willan

2.) Chime and Punishment (Clock Shop Mystery #3) by Julianne Holmes

3.) Murder In An English Village (Beryl and Edwina Mystery #1) by Jessica Ellicot

4.) Kernel of Truth (Popcorn Shop Mystery #1) by Kristi Abbott

5.) Live and Let Fly (Kite Shop Mystery #2) by Clover Tate

Well! That wasn’t easy. I could have easily listed two more cozies!  🙂

I think I’ve mentioned in a past post, our neighbor has a beautiful flower garden. Last year she gave us a beautiful bouquet of red tulips. This summer she gave us a gorgeous bouquet of different colored lilies! WOW!

Rick and I are planning another short trip soon. We won’t be camping this time. We’ll be gone for one night and stay in a room.

Enjoy July!

Much love ~

Kathy

 

 

 

 

 

 

French Pastry Murder by Leslie Meier

Hello Peoples! This is the first book I’ve read written by this author. I plan to start reading these books in order. The first book in the Lucy Stone Mysteries is Mistletoe Murder. I’ll be checking our library in the near future for this book. In French Pastry Murder, Lucy and her friends win an unexpected trip to Paris! I know! Ooo la la!  🙂  Included with the trip, the friends will be having fun in a cooking class taught by a French Chef.

Well! Not long after they arrive in Paris and begin their cooking classes, the chef is discovered stabbed in his kitchen! *I think it’s very rude to stab a person.* As the French authorities investigate the stabbing, Lucy and friends are enjoying the sights and food of Paris. However, all is not fun. Paris seems to be a difficult city at times.

Lucy’s daughter Elizabeth is living and working in Paris, and Lucy is able to visit her daughter. I personally didn’t like Elizabeth! I thought she was rude and disrespectful. I hope to get a different impression of her when I start reading the earlier books.

The authorities are closed about the investigation and things become more difficult for our American’s in Paris. They are unable to return to the United States because the police took their passports! Harrumph! So, all they can really do is cooperate. 3 *** stars!

I did google many of the locations that were mentioned in the cozy mystery. I’ve seen photos of Paris many times, but I ‘ve never visited the city. I enjoyed seeing the sights on line with Lucy and her friends while they visited Paris.

The Reckoning At Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

Publication Date: July 3, 2018

Publisher: Bethany House

Complimentary copy from NetGalley through Bethany House Publishers.

I read The House On Foster Hill, and loved it, so when I discovered the author had written another book, I was eager to read it. The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond, is a dual time line mystery/suspense and a good one! It’s well crafted, with a consistent pace, full of secrets and the story flows nicely from chapter to chapter. The characters were interesting, I especially liked Annalise. She was full of determination and wanted the truth. I was suspicious of Garrett at the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed, I came to like him. The obituaries and the references to Edgar Allen Poe gave it a nice, creepy feel. I thought it was interesting that the author created a setting with revivalists. I don’t think I’d ever seen that before in a work of fiction, although the revivalists, according to the author’s note at the end of the book, were based on actual persons in history. It was an interesting story. 4 **** stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.