London's Calling

Checking in—this time with a bit more than the usual books and tv.  I made it over the Atlantic to London in addition to what I've been reading and playing, so I have some pictures for this post.

I thoroughly enjoyed the city that I can best describe, no offense meant by the disparity in historical ages, as an amalgamation of New York and Washington D.C.  Due to rebuilding after the bombing in World War II, London has a very modern city vibe, skyscrapers and all, with that financial, busy people doing business things energy.   At the same time, there are scores of tourists crowding the streets and around every corner is a monument, statue, or building that speaks to the city's place as a capital and the United Kingdom's storied and lengthy history as an Empire, Kingdom, and nation.

I had the Rick Steeve's book for London and he mentioned that for Americans traveling to London, and England in general, there is a sense of the familiar, almost a coming home.  I can definitely relate.  Despite some obvious differences, plenty for those like myself who relish the cultural nuances experienced when traveling, there is a great deal of comfort and ease about traveling in London.  There is of course a shared language, but it goes beyond that.  For many Americans, England provides our roots, not only in heritage, but in the formation of our country, its laws, and certainly in our culture.  In addition, I have seen London so many times on big and small screens, read about it through 56 Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and heard about it in history books, the whole trip had a visiting relatives feel about it.

And Summer is Knocking

June is upon us: the end of school, outdoor pools have opened, heat has arrived, and I, like many, am reminded that I'm on the wrong end of getting in shape.

Anyway, been a couple weeks and I thought I check in.

Reading


I'm going to start here because in addition to finishing Mythos, I also read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Landsing, and the later turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read—certainly one of the best non-fiction.  Not to take anything away from Mythos.  If you enjoy the Greek myths, it really was a terrific way to hear the stories of the God and Titans and Stephen Fry is as witty and funny as always.  Despite showing a remarkable knowledge of the subject, his book is very accessible.

As for Endurance, if you don't already know about Shackleton's Voyage to Antartica, don't look it up.  Just buy Endurance and start reading.  You will be riveted by what is not only fantastic writing—the whole book reads like the best of adventure fiction—but by the thoroughly researched true story.  Tears welled up in my eyes at the end and I am not, by nature, a crier.

Currently, I'm onto fiction and at the suggestion of my best of friends (the same friend that introduced me to Joe Abercrombie) I am reading Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

Television

Half a King and the Last Episode of Downton Abbey

Sadly, my wife and I have watched the last episode of Downton Abbey and have been forced to search for new binge watching options to fulfill our hour of TV watching in the evening.  After a small period of nomad scrolling through the Roku menus of Netflix and Amazon Prime, we have settled on House of Cards.  I'll let you know how it goes, but so far, it seems pretty good with a heavy focus on politics.  While I do appreciate the occasional political intrigue, I am a little dismayed that in August, well over a year until the 2016 presidential election, my Washington-Post-morning-coffee-ritual has been consumed by candidates for such a distant election.  I am resolved to the fact that the paper will be taken over by such "news" eventually, but in August?  Over a year ahead?  Come on.  Surely there are more important things going on in the world.

Amazon Link

I'm still working my way through The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, the first volume in the pulitzer prize winning biography by Edmund Morris.  It is an excellent book about a tremendous American, but it's dense in its scope and research.  Not boring, by any means, but dense.  Well worth the effort and I highly recommend to any young person (or old) as an example of what a person can achieve with hard work and a persevering spirit.

Amazon Link

I picked up Half a King from one of my favorites, Joe Abercrombie, whose previous books, despite being some of the best Fantasy novels of all time, I couldn't recommend to anyone under the age of sixteen.  Half a King on the other hand, is a young adult offering from the master of character development and raw, in your face action, and so far, it is quite good.  He has, for obvious reasons, toned down some of the blunt violence and language he is so brilliant at, but the book is quite entertaining nonetheless.

As for my writing and the forthcoming Queen of the New World: I'm slowly building the new series I mentioned in my last post.  I'm not throwing all my literary powers at the series just yet, but I'm excited about the direction it's taking.  I'm still hopeful that Queen of the New World (Book 3 in the Scarlet Hopewell Series) will be out by Christmas, but I am at the mercy of the publishers and have little control over the scheduling setbacks they are experiencing.

Hope the summer is finding all well and as always, I love to here from fans and critics.  Don't be afraid to drop me a line.

Brandon

Xbox Drought, British Aristocrats, and Inside Out

Movies:

I am in constant amazement with Pixar.  I can honestly say that I cannot think of a studio that can boast such unparalleled consistency when it comes to not only producing commercially successful films, but quality ones.  Inside Out, the latest from the Disney Studio, is no exception.  The movie is remarkable, touching, and quite poignant.  It isn't easy to write a book, movie, or play that is both meaningful and entertaining, especially one that can appeal to younger children and adults, but I thought Inside Out did just that.  Not surprising, mind you, as it seems that Pixar owns the secret formula to such a balanced cinema concoction.  It reminded me a bit of UP!, although the story line was completely different.  There was the same very human story underneath the fantasy and excitement.  Turning the turbulent time of preadolescence into an animated movie is a seemingly impossible task that turned out brilliantly. Unfortunately, I don't get to the movie theater much anymore, and when I do, it tends to be a family outing.  That being said, I'm glad Pixar continues to offer up such great films.

I was able to escape to Antman the week it came out.  I try as hard as I can to get to the superhero movies, be it Marvel or DC.  Antman was solid in my opinion.  The special effects were unique and well done, and the movie itself had the "not take itself too serious" vibe that worked so well for Guardians of the Galaxy.  Unlike Guardians, however, I did not think it was fantastic.  Just solid and entertaining.  Guardians of the Galaxy remains number one on my list of funny Superhero movies.

TV:

This might not be interesting to the younger readers on the blog, but my wife and I have been marathon watching (one show a night—we are getting old) Downton Abbey.  We've made it to season five, and with two exceptions which I'll try to hint at without spoilers, I have to admit, I really enjoy the show.  It is so well acted that it took me until the third season to realize I was essentially watching a soap opera.  If you are looking for a bit of romantic escapism for yourself or you and your significant other, I can definitely recommend.

To those who have already watched the series here's my hints of displeasure.  Thomas: Need to have a character arch already.  Nobody is that nasty, even to people who go out of their way to help them.  At best he would just leave the helpful people alone.  Bates and Anna: What occurred in the fourth season is, in my opinion, a very worn out story line that had no place in the show.  It was shocking, but only because it nearly ruined the series.  My wife and I actually quit watching for several weeks.

But, aside from those two issues, a wonderful show that offers a view into a world most have only read about.

Xbox:

wiki

I don't really have the time to sit and play Xbox like I used to.  Comes with having a job, a family, and needing more than 3 hours of sleep a night.  So when I do play, it is specifically to socialize with my brother and my friends whom I don't get to see very often.  And since the Xbox One came out, I feel like there has been a drought in games to play with friends.  Other than Destiny, Titan Fall, and Call of Duty (I just can't play CofD as I am hopelessly out classed) there has been next to nothing to play.  We have dabbled at a recent rerelease from the Xbox 360 (not at all appropriate for younger readers so I won't mention it by name) but although it has a solid co-op, it is the same game I bought and played a couple years ago.  Xbox and Xbox Game developers, where are the games already!

Great Show Putting me to Sleep

In my constant pursuing of Netflix in search of new and interesting, hopefully bearable things to watch (as many of you know I am a chronic insomniac), I have recently stumbled across the BBC miniseries Wallander.  The series is adapted from Swedish novelist Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels and stars the Kenneth Branagh.  This would be the actor who in my humble opinion is the quintessential Shakespearean actor and one who can bring the Bard's tales to life in a way no actor can.  Watch Henry the V and you will be a fan for life.  Wallander is a great series.  Filmed much like BBC's Sherlock (one of the best series I seen in a long time and a personal favorite) as hour and a half long mini movies, the series follows the very human and fallible Wallander, a police inspector who, like one would expect, investigates crime in a small Swedish town.  What makes the show interesting however, is not the great acting, unusual location for a murder mystery series, or the well developed characters; it is the fact that despite all of these positive elements, I keep falling asleep while watching it.  Normally, this would be an event foretelling a negative review.  But that is not the case.  The show is well done and quite compelling.  All the more reason I can not for the life of me figure out why I keep falling asleep.  I mean, I've managed to stay unwillingly awake through some pretty spectacularly awful Netflix choices.
It took me two separate viewings to make it all the way through the first episode.  The third I haven't finished yet despite three separate attempts.   I can't help but be reminded of an old man falling asleep during his favorite episode of Matlock or Murder She Wrote.  Following the obvious logic string, I can only deduce that I must be getting old.  Prematurely old I might add as I thought my falling asleep during Murder She Wrote days were at least another thirty years away.  Ironically, I've seen Murder She Wrote on several occasions and not once fallen asleep.
In conclusion, I have, for the time being, discovered a cure for my insomnia.  Unfortunately, I really want to know what happens at the end of episode three, titled One Step Behind.  It may be that I'm gong to have to head to my local library and pick up Mr. Mankell's books.