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Review of “Reading Like a Writer” by Francine Prose

In discussing writing workshops and classes, author Francine Prose writes, “But that class, as helpful as it was, was not where I learned to write. Like most—maybe all—writers, I learned to write by writing and by example, by reading books.” (p .2) But using what the author calls “close reading,” a writer can learn variousContinue reading “Review of “Reading Like a Writer” by Francine Prose”

Review of “Attack the Block” (2011)

This was our Saturday pizza and bad movie night movie, a little something different. I’m glad it came with subtitles. Plot:On Guy Fawkes Night in South London, nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker) walks home after work, on the phone to her mother, explaining that she got stuck at work. Young gang members— Pest (Alex Esmail), DennisContinue reading “Review of “Attack the Block” (2011)”

Review of “Banned Books: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present”

The Stuff This is a survey of approximately one hundred books that have been banned or challenged, beginning with the fourteenth-century work, The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, and ending with the 2021 book by Chinese author Ai Weiwei, 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows. The entries are arranged chronologically. One or two pages are dedicatedContinue reading “Review of “Banned Books: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present””

Review of “The Curse of the Demon” (1957)

This is this week’s Saturday night pizza and bad movie offering, a decent movie with a goofy-looking but punctual demon who seemed to pop out of some sort of firecracker explosion and liked to hang out in the trees. Plot:Professor Henry Harrington (Maurice Denham) drives through the dark woods to arrive at Lufford Hall, theContinue reading “Review of “The Curse of the Demon” (1957)”

Review of “In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692”

The Stuff:Author Mary Beth Norton, Professor Emerita at Cornell University, writes that the Salem witch crisis took place in the midst of another crisis—the devastation of the First and Second Indian Wars (King Philip’s War) of the late seventeenth century, which wreaked havoc. Traumatized refugees fled south. While the “afflicted” people spoke of the devilContinue reading “Review of “In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692””

Review of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” 2022

This was a different sort of Saturday night pizza and bad movie fare for us. The dearly beloved took a recommendation from The Critical Drinker (more on him at a later date), who spoke highly of the flick. Plot: The opening scenes tell a fairy tale about a star that fell to earth, scorching aContinue reading “Review of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” 2022″

Review of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972)

This was our Saturday pizza and bad movie offering. Garlic pizza. Yum. But, aside from that, I remembered watching this flick on something called broadcast television back in the day. It’s one of those movies that’s so bad it’s almost good. Plot:Brilliant surgeon and icky racist Maxwell Kirshner (Ray Milland) is dying but wants hisContinue reading “Review of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972)”

Review of “War of the Worlds” (2005)

Svengoolie showed The Ghost and Mr. Chicken this week. We gave it a pass. Regular readers of this blog (both of you) may be surprised that there is a movie too cheesy for me. Truth is, I saw it a couple of years ago and didn’t see the need to watch it again. Ever. Plot:DivorcedContinue reading “Review of “War of the Worlds” (2005)”

Review of “Blacula” (1972)

I’d long heard of our Saturday pizza and bad movie feature but had never seen it. We watched it with Svengoolie, who issued several warnings for explicit scenes and “stereotypes.” The violence isn’t the-top for a horror film, but it’s definitely not one for the kiddies. Plot: In 1780, lightning streaks across the sky, andContinue reading “Review of “Blacula” (1972)”

Review of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968)

This is our pizza and bad movie offering for this week, one that squeezes just about every Japanese monster into a single flick. Plot: By 1999, the United Nations Scientific Committee (UNSC) has established an exploratory base on the moon. Spacecraft come and go between earth and the moon daily. Why, the rocket ship MoonlightContinue reading “Review of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968)”