The Cellist by Daniel Silva

On August 26, 2021August 26, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Excellent.

The Cellist is the 21st title in Daniel Silva‘s Gabriel Allon series.
It was released on July 13, 2021 and subsequently reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List …
The book draws heavily from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 American presidential election as well as the U.S. Capitol events of January 6, 2021. …

The plot is contemporary and interesting. Action is limited by COVID restrictions.

Dictator Putin and President Biden are important characters.

Some of my favourite characters from past books — especially Christopher Keller — are included.

I have no idea why Allon is still front and centre in the field. As leader of the Mossad he should be working behind the scenes. And should definitely RETIRE after this one.

Amazon

Gone HIKING — mostly offline in August

On July 30, 2021August 27, 2021 By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

I want to tell God about my PLANS …

We’re hiking a section of the Pacific Crest Trail out of Tuolumne Meadows, CA starting Aug 5th.

Nothing could possibly go wrong.

Dean Koontz – THE SILENT CORNER

On July 29, 2021July 28, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Koontz has published over 100 novels.

I did get into his Odd Thomas series.

In 2017 he began his current Jane Hawk series.

“I very much need to be dead.”
These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. …
Amazon

The book is well written. The plot hooks immediately.

Jane is a badass.

Great plot. Good writing.

Main complaints you’ll hear are about the rambling story with no clear ending. Apparently that’s how he puts books together. Starts without knowing exactly where he’s going.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

On July 25, 2021July 23, 2021 By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

A story of date rape.

Jon Krakauer wrote a book that much influenced my thinking:

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

The book follows several case studies of women raped in Missoula, Montana, many of them linked in some way to the University of Montana.

Many of the rapists were football players, protected from the justice system.

In Beartown, the 15-year-old daughter of a small town Swedish hockey team general manager is raped by the 17-year-old star of the Beartown junior team.

Fredrik Backman is an excellent writer. This is an important book, as is the Krakauer.

Themes of family, friendship, loyalty. Ethics.

I recommend Beartown.

I also read the sequel, Us Against You. Not nearly as good.

The book was adapted for TV and is available on HBO.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

We visited the NEW Malahat Skywalk

On July 24, 2021July 23, 2021 By Rick McIn McCharles family, travelLeave a comment

Day #8 since opening.

It’s a very impressive structure. A good experience.

We enjoyed ourselves — though the line-up for the slide was too long. If you want to do the slide, show up at opening.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My DAD in Hitchcock’s I CONFESS (1953)

On July 23, 2021July 22, 2021 By Rick McIn McCharles family, moviesLeave a comment

Just last night Dad told us the story of how he was an extra in an Alfred Hitchcock film called I Confess.

It starred Montgomery Clift as Michael William Logan, a Catholic priest, Anne Baxter as Ruth Grandfort, and Karl Malden as Inspector Larrue.

Filming took place largely on location in Quebec City with numerous shots of the city landscape and interiors of its churches and other emblematic buildings, such as the Château Frontenac.

Dad was in the Canadian military. Ann Baxter entertained the troops as part of the gig.

Here’s the scene. He (must be) soldier #17. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My FIRST Gmail message – Thursday 27 Aug 1998

On July 21, 2021July 20, 2021 By Rick McIn about Rick, GoogleLeave a comment

I was a Hotmail guy before switching to Gmail over 20 years ago.

Gmail launched 2004. I’m not sure when it started in Canada.

My very first email was a job inquiry from Cirque du Soleil. They wanted me to go on the road as Assistant Coach to Warren Connelly.

It did not happen. 😀

Never Have I Ever – season 2

On July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

“Never Have I Ever‘s fresh take on the coming-of-age comedy is hilariously honest, sweetly smart, and likely to have viewers falling head over heels for charming newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

There are a LOT of things I like about this comedy.

Great music. For sure.

The dialogue includes a lot of contemporary slang. And funny one liners.

Lily D. Moore as Rebecca Hall-Yoshida, too.