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Review of “The Gorgon” (1964)

This was a fun little Saturday pizza and bad movie flick, not to be taken seriously. Plot:In the German (?) village of Vandorf in the early 20th century, Sascha Cass (Toni Gilpin), viewed from behind, is modeling for her artist boyfriend, Bruno Heitz (Jeremy Longhurst). She asks him when they’re going to get married. Oh,Continue reading “Review of “The Gorgon” (1964)”

Review of “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (1963)

For our Saturday pizza-and-bad-movie night, we watched an old-fashioned kaiju fest. It was as silly as advertised. It included everything: a train derailment, buildings smashed, Godzilla’s atomic breath, an earthquake, two monsters thumping on each other, and important-looking men in black-frame glasses proclaiming important-sounding nonsense. Plot: United Nations reporter (is there such an animal?) EricContinue reading “Review of “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (1963)”

Review of “Caught in the Pulpit: Leaving Faith Behind” by Daniel C. Dennett and Linda LaScola

Nicias:But can we? Oh, no, no,I’m frightened. Better go and cling somewhereTo a holy image. Demosthenes:Holy grandmother!You don’t believe in the gods! Nicias:Of course I do. Demosthenes:What reason have you? Nicias:Reason? Why, I knowI’m a God-help-us failure. That enough?–from The Knights by Aristophanes (c. 424 BCE), trans. Gilbert Murray The Stuff: This nonfiction book grewContinue reading “Review of “Caught in the Pulpit: Leaving Faith Behind” by Daniel C. Dennett and Linda LaScola”

Review of “Flight 7500” (2014)

Our latest Saturday pizza and bad movie offering was something of a departure. Though it’s called “supernatural horror,” this flick at first brought to mind 70s disaster movies like Airport. Plot:Vista Pacific Airlines flight 7500 departs from Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda. Lyn (Aja Evans) and Jack Hafey (Ben Sharples) are vacationing with their friends,Continue reading “Review of “Flight 7500” (2014)”

Review of “The Skull” (1965)

We’ve kept up our pizza and bad movie nights, but I’ve slacked off on reviewing the various gems. But by special request, I’ll add at least one more. Remember—you asked! 😊 Plot: In an early 19th-century graveyard, cloaked men carrying lanterns and shovels make their way toward a specific grave. At certain points, the treesContinue reading “Review of “The Skull” (1965)”

A Few Thoughts…

Oddly, a review I wrote for Goodreads in 2012 popped up on my radar. I excoriated a piece of anti-abortion propaganda disguised as a YA romance book. I can’t remember what induced me to read it in the first place—perhaps I lost a bet? I was all prepared to unleash a new and improved rantContinue reading “A Few Thoughts…”

Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose

A word upfront: when I bought this book at a used bookstore and started reading it, I was unaware of allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, and misstatements of fact made against this author. Some of the oopsies include the following book, so I can’t in good conscience recommend it, even if it were a fantastic read.Continue reading “Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose”

Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Plot: This book is more of a character study than a narrative with a plot. Ifemelu is a young Nigerian woman who comes to the United States for a postgraduate education. The book begins as she is about to return to Nigeria and stops in a hair salon to have her hair braided. This isContinue reading “Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”

Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Plot: In 1945, Barcelona, Spain, Daniel Sampere’s father, a bookseller, allows him to choose one book from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The father does this to comfort him after Daniel realizes he can no longer remember what his late mother looked like. He chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Barcelona author Julián Carax,Continue reading “Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón”

Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo

Plot: Widowed and about 70, Flor Marte asks her family for a living wake so she can enjoy it while she’s still here. She’ll get to see everyone again, especially her three sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila. They are originally from the countryside of the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at differentContinue reading “Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo”