What Are you Reading, Watching, Listening To?

[Karen]

Great to hear this. I just bought a copy today, but haven't started reading yet. Looking forward to it.

[Antonella]

Marge wrote: "I'm currently reading the anthology Kind Hearts at Christmas, which is in support of two AIDS/HIV charities, one in the US and one in the UK."

Thank you for the rec.

Today Barbara Elsborg has a story free at Prolific Works, «The Mission»:

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...

[Josh]

I've deeply discounted a LOT of my audio over at my Author's Direct store. ;-)

https://shop.authors-direct.com/colle...

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

Thank you 😊

[Antonella]

Japanese Art Teacher Rakes Fallen Leaves Into Floor Illustrations of Beloved Pop Culture Characters

https://mymodernmet.com/fallen-leaves...

[Josh]

Josh wrote: "I've deeply discounted a LOT of my audio over at my Author's Direct store. ;-)

https://shop.authors-direct.com/colle..."

I'm not sure why I listed that here! LOL

[Josh]

We just wrapped up Magpie Murders on PBS and we finally finished Recipes for Love and Murder on Acorn. I enjoyed them both but neither were what I'd call...must watch TV. ;-D

Meaning, it took us weeks to finish both series although we did enjoy them both.

Which has me thinking about what makes for a "compelling" read. The kind of book you just can't put down. The kind of movie you can't stop watching.

Interestingly, I enjoyed the book Magpie Murders much more than the TV adaptation, although Horowitz did the adaptation. He changed it in subtle but significant ways that just, well, bored me a bit.

And, as is my wont this time of year, I've been watching (well, really, listening) to the Hallmark Channel. I felt it would be a good background for writing holiday codas.

They're...well, they're heartwarming. I'll give them that. I got a little misty a couple of times, I admit it. However, questions persist:

1 - WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE IN EVERY ROOM OF THEIR HOUSE?

2 - WHAT IS WITH ALL THE MUSICIANS AND FORMER MUSICIANS THIS YEAR? I mean, every other show has to do with musicians. I've got nothing against music or musicians, I'm just bafffled that this is apparently the year of The Musician. It used to be that one country singer stranded in an airport. Now... They're Everywhere.

3 - Does no one die without leaving an adorable precocious little daughter behind?

4 - Why the hell does the choice between a woman's dream job and the love of her life ALWAYS mean she's going to have to pass on the dream job?

5 - Did they really stop advertising their sole gay holiday movie this year or is that my imagination? In fact, did I imagine they were having a gay holiday movie this year?

6 - Why is the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony not a big deal in my village--er, town? In fact, I don't think we even HAVE a tree lighting ceremony. :-/

7 - Do any of these people have solar power? Because holy moly there is a whole light of beaming lights and glowing garland and dazzling decorations going on in these homes. The Martians observing us must be AGOG this time of year.

AGOG, I TELL YOU.

[Susan]

Josh wrote: "We just wrapped up Magpie Murders on PBS and we finally finished Recipes for Love and Murder on Acorn. I enjoyed them both but neither were what I'd call...must watch TV. ;-D

I did not read Magpie Murders, but very much enjoyed the televised version. After that, I read the sequel, Moonflowers Murders. Quite entertaining.

As for your Hallmark questions, I cannot answer them; trying to keep the swear words to a minimum!

[Josh]

Susan wrote: "Josh wrote: "We just wrapped up Magpie Murders on PBS and we finally finished Recipes for Love and Murder on Acorn. I enjoyed them both but neither were what I'd call...must watch TV. ;-D

I did no..."

LOL

[Jordan]

Those are EXCELLENT questions! I have NO ANSWERS. Alas.

I didn't know it was happening, but last weekend, when it was rainy and windy and chilly and miserable out, (you know, when I was walking to two different grocery stores... in the rain... and the wind... and the chill...) I discovered that the next neighborhood over was having a tree lighting ceremony and that our mayor was in attendance, on one of the tour trollies. Held up traffic a bit, but I was mostly grumbly, and wondering why the heck you'd insist on doing it that day. Hardly anyone seemed to be in attendance. I was just in a desperate need to get to the grocery store on the only day I had available to go. lol.

[Karen]

Josh wrote: ... "5 - Did they really stop advertising their sole gay holiday movie this year or is that my imagination? In fact, did I imagine they were having a gay holiday movie this year?
..."

https://deadline.com/2022/12/the-holi...

December 11, 8:00pm (what time zone?)

[Josh]

Jordan wrote: "Those are EXCELLENT questions! I have NO ANSWERS. Alas.

I didn't know it was happening, but last weekend, when it was rainy and windy and chilly and miserable out, (you know, when I was walking t..."

Maybe our modern life isn't really all that conducive to things like tree lighting ceremonies? I'd probably be impatient too, if I was trying to get my groceries. :-D

WE COULD BE LIKE THE GROUCHY CHARACTERS IN A HALLMARK SPECIAL TRANSFORMED BY THE POWER OF CHRISTMAS. :-D

[Josh]

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: ... "5 - Did they really stop advertising their sole gay holiday movie this year or is that my imagination? In fact, did I imagine they were having a gay holiday movie this year?
..."
..."

OH. Excellent.

[Jordan]

Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Those are EXCELLENT questions! I have NO ANSWERS. Alas.

I didn't know it was happening, but last weekend, when it was rainy and windy and chilly and miserable out, (you know, when ..."

Yes, I'd love to be transformed by Christmas! lol

[Antonella]

National treasure Sir Ian McKellen joined John Bishop and Tony for Three Little Words this week, where he gave a surprising and moving answer as to why he chose the word «love» (video, 3'):
https://www.facebook.com/johnbishopon...

I suspect that the long version (38') is not for free:
https://wondery.com/shows/three-littl...

[Josh]

Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Those are EXCELLENT questions! I have NO ANSWERS. Alas.

I didn't know it was happening, but last weekend, when it was rainy and windy and chilly and miserable out, (yo..."

;-D

[Antonella]

Tho Ha Vinh, author of A Culture of Happiness: How to Scale Up Happiness from People to Organizations by is interviewed here:
https://www.parallax.org/understandin...

and answering following questions:
- Happiness can be difficult to define. How do you define it in your book?
- What is the problem with conflating Gross Domestic Product with happiness?
- What metrics does Gross National Happiness use to measure happiness?
- How can Gross National Happiness be implemented across varied cultures?
- What change can readers make today in order to cultivate more happiness?

[Antonella]

Since 1976 the gay artist couple Pierre and Gilles realizes works between painting and photography, see this interview with lots of images (video, 3'):
https://www.facebook.com/francetvarts...
or a gallery here:
https://www.templon.com/new/artist.ph...

[Antonella]

The Best Queer Holiday Movies to Make the Yuletide Gay
from Vulture, December 2022
https://www.vulture.com/article/best-...

[Jordan]

I have FINALLY started the most recent Psycop novel in audiobook and I'm sooo happy to hear Vic's voice again.

I have also finally started reading the final book in Ginn Hale's Cadeleonian series.

Recently finished this queer alternate-history fantasy novel: She Who Became the Sun, which I do recommend and which my book group will be discussing tonight!

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "The Best Queer Holiday Movies to Make the Yuletide Gay
from Vulture, December 2022
https://www.vulture.com/article/best-..."

Oh cool!

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "Recently finished this queer alternate-history fantasy novel: She Who Became the Sun, which I do recommend and which my book group will be discussing tonight!"

I forgot to comment about this: it is one of those books which friends keep recommending, so sooner or later I'll buy it ;-).

[Jordan]

I hope you like it, Antonella! I hear the sequel is coming out late next year and it’s a duology, so that makes finishing the series quick and easy.

I just finished JCP’s Subtle Bodies, and boy was it good. She always manages to do awesome things with each Psycop book. I keep expecting this series to plateau and take a nose dive considering this is book 13 I think, but they never do. Each book is always fresh, and we learn new things about Vic and Jacob. This one was a rough one, heartbreaking at points, and highly creepy and Dark once I got into it. If you know this series, part of this story reminded me of Jackie’s story.

I have to admit that I wanted the one apartment manager to get what was coming to him for the state of that boiler room. I certainly hope he gets his due, even if it’s off the page. Lol.

In short, I’m super excited to see what comes next!

[Karen]

I listened to the audiobook version of Shutter by Navajo/Diné author/filmmaker/photographer Ramona Emerson.

My "review" is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... .

And here's an NPR interview: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/02/113345...

[SamSpayedPI]

I read The Scottish Boy and loved it. It was supposed to be my audio book for walking, but I liked it so much I had to get the ebook as well to read between walks. (Full disclosure: I never studied history beyond the bare minimum required to graduate high school, so I couldn't identify an historical inaccuracy if it bit me.)

I just finished Murder on Milverton Square and I can't recommend it enough: it's a delightful little cozy. I can't wait for book 2 to be released!

I'm currently listening to The Thursday Murder Club which is also a lot of fun.

[Jordan]

Oh, shutter is on my tbr list, though I’m not sure I knew the author was Indigenous. An extra layer of cool.

[Karen]

SamSpayedPI wrote: "I read The Scottish Boy and loved it. It was supposed to be my audio book for walking, but I liked it so much I had to get the ebook as well to read between walks. (Full disclosure:..."

Ooh, I just bought Murder on Milverton Square. Looking forward to it.

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "Oh, shutter is on my tbr list, though I’m not sure I knew the author was Indigenous. An extra layer of cool."

It's not easy reading, flawed, but fascinating. It's kind of like the novel you would write if it were to be your only novel and you needed to fit everything in to it.

Also I just noticed that I duplicated the link to my GR review above instead of the NPR link. Corrected that and added it here: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/02/113345...

I thought that I read somewhere that this is Book 1 of a trilogy. If so, I wonder if the next two books will continue Rita's story or introduce other MCs.

[Jordan]

Oohh, thanks for that link! It doesn’t sound like an easy read for several reasons, but I’m still intrigued.

[SamSpayedPI]

I finished The Thursday Murder Club and I highly recommend it (for a straight cozy). It's so funny and had me guessing until the end. I can't wait for the movie!

[Jordan]

I'm feeling very overwhelmed by reading right now, it's nuts. I'm seriously pulling back from most of the books I'd planned to read this year. It doesn't help that my library is doing a Winter Reading Challenge (read one book from each of six continents within 2 months) right now.

But I'm seriously enjoying The Whale Rider, which is super short. They made it into a movie a long time ago. The movie is REALLY GOOD. I'm only just now reading the book for the first time. I think the movie might be better, if only because it's a linear progression, but still, I am enjoying the book.

I am also in the middle of Master of Restless Shadows: Book Two, but it's going to take me forever to get through it. I'm just such a slow reader these days.

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "I'm feeling very overwhelmed by reading right now, it's nuts. I'm seriously pulling back from most of the books I'd planned to read this year. It doesn't help that my library is doing a Winter Read..."

That's a lovely movie!

I'm gliding through Harper Fox's Tyack & Frayne books... maybe I'll finish the series this time. :)

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I'm feeling very overwhelmed by reading right now, it's nuts. I'm seriously pulling back from most of the books I'd planned to read this year. It doesn't help that my library is doin..."

I've seen it at least twice, and I think I will need to rewatch it once I've finished the book.

[Jordan]

I just watched Hidalgo the other day. A very good movie about a real guy who liked to tell stories about himself, so the whole thing is probably all made up. But Viggo Mortensen plays Frank Hopkins and does a fantastic job. The horse that plays Hidalgo was also fabulous.

I also rewatched My Neighbor Totoro the other day. Most wholesome movie I think I've ever seen. lol. It's sooooo good! Also, I've now seen it with the subtitles on for the original Japanese voice actors and have now watched it with the American voice actors and I do think the American actors did a great job. When I read subtitles, I often miss some of the action, so hearing the voices and not having to read while I watch is my preferred method of watching Japanese anime.

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "..I also rewatched My Neighbor Totoro the other day..."

I got to see this on "the big screen" — meaning in a local multiplex back in 2019 with subtitles. Such a sweet story. I gifted the DVD, along with 3 other Miyazaki/Ghibli Studios DVDs to our older granddaughter for her 12th birthday. (Yikes, she turns 14 this year!)

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "I also rewatched My Neighbor Totoro the other day. Most wholesome movie I think I've ever seen. lol. It's sooooo good!"

Well, all Miyazaki films are soo good! I prefer the original version though.

I've just seen the excellent documentary by Giuseppe Tornatore «Ennio» about the life and work of legendary composer, Ennio Morricone, including interviews with renowned filmmakers and musicians, recordings from Morricone's acclaimed world concert tours, clips of classic films scored by Morricone and exclusive footage of scenes and places that have made up Morricone's life. See https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ennio

Little critic: given that Tornatore had some 11-12 hours interview with Morricone, I would have preferred more of that and less jumping from the opinion of one fan to the other, event though we are talking of people like Bruce Springsteen, Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, Kar-Wai Wong and so on.

But it is a moving, funny and wonderful film. I also loved how unassuming the great composer is, like talking to your neighbour. And I didn't know at all that he had put lots of his classical music studies in his music scores.

[Antonella]

I forgot to tell you about some Miyazaki news:

The new feature film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has been announced! HOW DO YOU LIVE (tentative title) opens in theaters in Japan on July 14, 2023.

Here you can see also the illustration:
https://twitter.com/JP_GHIBLI/status/...)

He was bored in his retirement ;-),

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "I forgot to tell you about some Miyazaki news:

The new feature film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has been announced! HOW DO YOU LIVE (tentative title) opens in theaters in Japan ..."

Oh! Interesting!

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "..I also rewatched My Neighbor Totoro the other day..."

I got to see this on "the big screen" — meaning in a local multiplex back in 2019 with subtitles. Such a sweet story. I gifte..."

That would be super cool to see it in the theater. The first time I saw it was at my friend's place and she's got a HUGE tv, so close enough. lol.

[Josh]

SamSpayedPI wrote: "I finished The Thursday Murder Club and I highly recommend it (for a straight cozy). It's so funny and had me guessing until the end. I can't wait for the movie!"

Oh! I have this on my Kindle somewhere!

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "I forgot to tell you about some Miyazaki news:

The new feature film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has been announced! HOW DO YOU LIVE (tentative title) opens in theaters in Japan ..."

Oh ho!!! That's great news!!!

[Josh]

Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "I forgot to tell you about some Miyazaki news:

The new feature film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has been announced! HOW DO YOU LIVE (tentative title) opens in ..."

BUT HOW CAN YOU BORED IN RETIREMENT???

[Antonella]

The prestigious The Comics Journal - that is prestigious for comic books readers ;-) - has a long a feature about my favourite Italian comic book artist, Zerocalcare:

https://www.tcj.com/zerocalcare-an-in...?

On Netflix you can see his successful animated TV series:
Tear along the dotted line (6 parts, each some 20 minutes).
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tear_Al...

[Antonella]

Interesting article by K.J. Charles:

What Is He Thinking? (or, how to make non POV characters show themselves)
https://kjcharleswriter.com/2023/01/1...?

[Jordan]

Ooohhh, that’s good! Thank you!

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "Interesting article by K.J. Charles:

What Is He Thinking? (or, how to make non POV characters show themselves)
https://kjcharleswriter.com/2023/01/1......"

Yes. Or even how to make POV characters show themselves. ;-) Because if there's one thing I love, it's a non-reliable narrator. Especially the narrator who is lying to himself.

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "The prestigious The Comics Journal - that is prestigious for comic books readers ;-) - has a long a feature about my favourite Italian comic book artist, Zerocalcare:

https://www.tcj.com/zerocalca..."

Oh! How very cool.

[Candice]

Been away for a long time. I kind of forgot what a great source for recs this conversation always is.
Has anyone read the new series by J. S. Cook? Kildevil Cove Mysteries. I just became aware of them and she's a special writer. Her own person, really talented. Don't love everything she does but I feel lucky to find something new.
Anyway, she has written a good bit of M/M. No indication in the synopses of the series whether these are.

Has anyone read them?

[Josh]

Candice wrote: "Been away for a long time. I kind of forgot what a great source for recs this conversation always is.
Has anyone read the new series by J. S. Cook? Kildevil Cove Mysteries. I just became aware of ..."

I have to be honest, Cook had fallen off my radar a bit. It's exciting to see she's been so busy! Lots to dive into.

[SamSpayedPI]

Candice wrote: "she has written a good bit of M/M. No indication in the synopses of the series whether these are.

Has anyone read them? "

I haven't read them, but Wind and Dark Water shows genres of MM Romance and LGBT.