I wish he’d do something without having to rely on the shock value of ultra violence.
Casting is excellent.
Theo James carries the show and almost makes the absurd story believable.
Michael Vu as James “Jimmy” Chang, Susie’s chief weed grower is my favourite.
Edward Horniman has unexpectedly inherited an estate of 15,000 acres (6000 hectares) and the title of Duke of Halstead at the reading of the last will and testament of his deceased father.
He learns that the land has become part of a weed-growing empire run by Susie Glass.
He must navigate a world of eclectic and dangerous characters with nefarious agendas, whilst also trying to protect his home and stay alive.
My goal is to ride the 18,000 miles in 110 days. The current women’s record is held by Jenny Graham at 124 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes.
At this point, in regards to the record, there’s no distinction between supported and self-supported rides. I’ll be carrying all of my own equipment and food and figuring out all of the logistics on and off the bike. That’s how I like to travel– with a sleep kit and winging it along the way.
I like open-ended adventures and I like competition and riding around the world as fast as I can feels like a great combination of both.
Rue will be documenting my ride and I’d love to encourage people to come out and share a few miles with me along the way.
Breathless is a murder mystery set on one of the 8000m peaks.
Manaslu
Not a great mystery — but I enjoyed hearing about the challenges of high altitude climbing.
When journalist and novice climber Cecily Wong is asked to summit Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world, it’s a career-making opportunity. She’s been personally invited by Charles McVeigh, one of the most acclaimed mountaineers in the world, who wants her to report on the final leg of his record-breaking series of summits. But there’s one caveat: he won’t give her the interview until she’s scaled the mountain as part of his climbing party.
Amy McCulloch actually knows what she’s talking about. September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt. Manaslu in Nepal — the world’s 8th highest mountain.
She also summited Aconcagua, in -45C and 90kmph winds, and has visited all seven continents.
Gudenkauf has created a memorable character in Amelia.
I do recommend this book.
After losing her hearing in a freak hit-and-run accident that also killed a woman, Amelia has struggled with alcoholism and unemployment and is finally striving to get her life together.
She finds peace on the water, kayaking or paddleboarding with her service dog, Stitch, another survivor and misfit, until the day she discovers a body left in a shallow channel.
Shocked not only by her discovery, but also by the realization that she used to be friends with the victim, Gwen, Amelia also worries that the publicity surrounding her 911 call might lead the killer right to her doorstep. …
Come for the mystery; stay for the taut suspense, the unique heroine—and of course, the ugly, loyal dog.
Cute title. I ASSuME it’s yet another British Cozy Mystery.
I asked Perplexity AI to generate some possible Cozy Mystery titles:
“A Stitch in Time for Murder”
“Perilous Potluck and the Puzzling Murder”
“Murder in the Misty Marsh: A Cozy Whodunit”
“Curious Case of the Corpse in the Cottage”
“The Mysterious Murder of Miss Marigold”
But this book is actually by an Australian comedian. A black comedy.
I enjoyed the humour far more than the murder mystery.
He speaks directly to the reader, as well, which I found very entertaining.
Of course a group of possible suspects are all stuck in one place, like Agatha Christie.
Oddly, they are Aussies all trapped due to a snow storm.
I’m Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
Watch it just for the cinematography. I sat in the 2nd row in IMAX so the images filled my vision.
YES a bit blurry, but it feels more like I was actually riding a sand worm. 😀
Dune (1965) is one of my favourite books. I read it for the 4th or 5th time in advance of seeing part 2 of the Denis Villeneuve adaptation.
The best character in Dune 2 is not my (alleged girlfriend) Zendaya, but Feyd-Rautha, Baron Harkonnen’s younger nephew. Perfectly played by Austin Butler.
What a transformation from Elvis to the epitome of evil.
Chalamet was inspired by Austin’s commitment to the role.
Casting is all good, however.
Javier Bardem as Stilgar, is better than in the book. And he’s great in the book. 😀
Stilgar given a larger leadership role on Arrakis in future books. So he’ll likely be back in the 3rd film.
As nearly all books were in 1965, the roles played by women are quite cliche. Powerful — but mainly in devious, backroom scheming.
In this movie, Zendaya is more independent than in the book. And she rides off into the sand at the end. Alone.
In the book she meekly follows Paul as his concubine.
Of course no film can include EVERYTHING in the book.
For the most part, I liked the changes.
It was better — for example — that Chani didn’t get pregnant. That’s quite confused in the books anyway.
In the Lynch, Paul’s sister Alia was one of the most interesting characters. She’s only hinted at in the Villeneuve – part 2. I suspect she’ll be central to the 3rd movie in the series.
Cal Hooper is a retired Chicago police detective who bought a derelict cottage in the west of Ireland precisely so he would never again have to chase down criminals or use his service weapon.
And things are quiet until the return ofJohnny Reddy, the absentee father of Trey, Cal’s now-15-year-old protégée and de facto child.
Johnny is a grifter. Gift of the gab but it’s all bullshit.
This time Johnny proposes a con to fleece a rich British nob named Cillian Rushborough.
He convinces his former neighbours to salt their river with gold — in order to convince the Brit to buy mining rights in their rural properties.
If interested, definitely get the audio book to enjoy the Irish lilt and local slang.
Rick McCharles 