TCM Movie Matinees

On the third day of the four day heat wave, I only left our place as necessary--to walk Jace. Over breakfast, I turned on Fog over Frisco with Bette Davis. 

I like this movie.  The cast is good (except Douglas Dumbrille) and the story is fast-paced. Plus, one of the stars is Skippy, the portrayer of Asta in the Thin Man series. Unfortunately, I can't find the article I read the other day: it contrasted the bedroom styles of Arlene (Bette Davis) and Val (Margaret Lindsay) and how they reflect the sisters' personalities. How did I miss that?

I guess I have a reason to watch the movie again.

Crack-Up is the only art oriented noir I've ever heard of. After surviving a train wreck, George Steele (Pat O'Brien) breaks into the art museum where he worked and destroys a sculpture. But there was no train wreck, and Steele remembers nothing after that. Just what did happen? Steele is determined to find out, supported by Herbert Marshall and Claire Trevor (wasted in a blah role as the girlfriend.)

After another miserable loss by the Mets, we caught about half of Now Voyager. Bette is fantastic as repressed "spinster aunt" who finds herself through therapy, a makeover, love, and a new purpose in life. I love the whole cigarette lighting thing that she and Paul Henreid do. The whole cast is great. For the first time in years, I cried at the end. The power of a good movie. 

Two Stories Revisited

After I read Parable of the Sower, I remembered that I had previously read a story by Octavia Butler. It was from 1984 called Bloodchild. I can't say I enjoyed it--it was creepy, but well-written. It was in an anthology, Women of Wonder The Contemporary Years Science Fiction by Women from the 1970s to the 1990s. 

Then I re-read Nancy Kress's selection, And Wild for to Hold in.the same anthology. I recognized the title as a line from a Thomas Wyatt poem about Anne Boleyn as soon as I saw it I'm sure it was the first story I read. 

I enjoy re-reading stories and books. But there are many new things to read as well.

Book Nine: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

I picked up Parable of the Sower at the library last week. I was actually looking for a historical novel about Richard III, but didn't see it and wandered over to the science fiction section. 

Lauren Olamina is an African American teenager living in a walled community outside Los Angeles with her father, stepmother, and stepbrothers. The world is ravaged by climate change, poverty, and unemployment. Lauren explains that outside walled communities, most of the street poor (squatters, winos, junkies) are dangerous--desperate, crazy or both. 

Lauren's mother used drugs during her pregnancy leaving Lauren with hyperempathy syndrome or sharing. She feels sensations, especially pain, that she sees in others. 

When Lauren is 18, outsiders invade and destroy her neighborhood. Lauren is able to escape the fires and violence and later sees two other neighborhood survivors Harry and Zahra. The three head North together with no particular destination but with hope to find a better place. 

While on the road, they find others to share their journey. Lauren shares her new religion, Earthseed. Its core tenets are that God is change and that humans can shape God. 

Lauren's story continues in Parable of the Talents.

Another Reread: The Concubine by Norah Lofts

One night recently I wanted to read a book, but nothing from my dwindling TBR pile appealed to me. I picked up The Concubine by Norah Lofts. I  have fond memories of this book. I think I first read it when I was 17, and stole its format for my term paper on Anne Boleyn. 

I don't know if I would still rank it as one of my favorite books, but it's still a good book. 

It's Been A Lot

I decided three weeks (minus one day) is enough. I have to post. But it's 9:44 PM as I start this and I'm tired.

I'm not up to a detailed description of the past few weeks. We had several medical appointments and made a disappointing home hunting trip to Delaware. 

Sedona Tap House is closing at the end of June. Sedona has been one of our favorite places. We went to dinner there last night and will really miss it. 

The Mets were swept for the first time this season by the Rays. They still top the National League.

And so it goes.