#Everett McGuire

[nectro250]

Huevember Week Day 5

[brokehorrorfan]

Artwork from Gallery 1988's "The Masters" exhibit paying tribute to Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino is available online. I've highlighted 10 pieces:

E.T. by Kate Dykstra

Jaws by Lou Pimentel

Jaws by Zita Walker

Jaws by Augie Pagan

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 by Shane Houston

Taxi Driver by Jeffrey Everett

Bram Stoker's Dracula by Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn

Jurassic Park by Chris McGuire

Jurassic Park by Doug LaRocca

The Lost World: Jurassic Park by Miranda Dressler

[kalapacskapitany]

2024-es könyves

33 könyv, 2017 óta nem olvastam ennyire keveset, hát így alakult. Fénypontok:

Seanan McGuire továbbra is a kedvenc, elkezdtem két urban fantasy sorozatát:

Rosemary and Rue (ez az első, October Daye a sorozat, van benne vagy 20 könyv már, szezonon átívelő sztorival, egy darabig megnézem, merre tart, most olvasom a másodikat) féltündér magánnyomozó, úgy tűnik, tündérgyilkosságokat derít fel. Badass, edgy tinilány vibes. Egyelőre kicsit túl angsty, de elvileg jobb lesz hamar.

Discount Armageddon (InCryptid #1). A változatosság kedvéért badass, edgy tinilány vibes, ezúttal kriptozoológus, illetve békefenntartó a monsterek meg a new yorki lakosság között. És egy idő után monster-gyilkosságokat derít fel. Ebből is van már sok, angsty, és jobb lesz hamar.

Tükörlelkek, Papp Dóra. Itt van a szerző tumblin! (amúgy McGuire is). Párhuzamos tinidráma, tündibündi jókislány és érzéketlenné traumatizált problémás gyerek. Mindkét szál mélyre megy, élmény volt. A szálak egyelőre nem sokat érintkeznek, az majd a folytatásban jön, azt hiszem.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, T Kingfisher. Aranyos cozy fantasy, péklányról, aki kicsit tud varázsolni, értelmes kovász, táncoló mézeskalácsemberkék, ilyesmi, aztán elfajulnak a dolgok, ő meg felnő a feladathoz és odacsap mindenkinek, akinek kell

Discworld (újra)olvasás. Rengeteget olvastam már belőle össze-vissza, csomót többször is. Most módszeresen, publikációs rendben (ami természetesen az egyetlen elfogadható olvasási sorrend). Idén a 4-5-6 került sorra. Mort-ot valamiért szerintem már vagy harmadszorra olvastam, ennyire azért nem jó. Sourcery: kitűnő Rincewind feat. Luggage regény. Wyrd Systers: még jobb, mint az előző boszorkányos, nagyon élveztem az utalásokat, és így is azt éreztem, hogy a felük csak úgy elzúgott a fülem mellett

Dr. No, Percival Everett. Semmitudós matematikus kalandjai. Felbéreli a főgonosz, aki ilyen Bond-főgonosz, intellektuális rosszakarója a világnak, kifinomult ízléssel és túlbonyolított tervekkel. A főhős meg leginkább csak elmélkedik és megfigyel, mint egy matematikus, de nagyon szórakoztató. Egyetlen hibája, hogy kábé kétoldalanként szerepel a "What are you thinking about? Nothing." poén. Merthogy a semmit kutatja, haha.

Stories of Your Life and Others, Ted Chiang. Okos novellák, egészen furcsa stílusban, nem a nyugati 3/4/5 felvonásos struktúrával. Egészen frissítő volt. És rengeteg kurvajó scifiötlettel.

A többi az teljesen feledhető volt, nem volt egy jó olvasós év összességében.

[embossross]

2024 in books: fiction edition

literary fiction published 2014-2024

Nefando by Monica Ojeda (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) - book of the year but warning it is the most triggering book i've ever read. i sobbed and could barely function for a full day. it's so painful. csa tw

Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Tentacle by Rita Indiana (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Toño the Infallible by Evelio Rosero (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Maniac by Benjamin Labatut (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Outline by Rachel Cusk (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

La Bastarda by Trifonia Melibea Obono (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (⭐⭐⭐⭐) - rating this was the biggest challenge of the year because the highs are extraordinary but the lows are miserable. i literally hated it while reading it but then returned to it more than almost any other book this year.

black moses by alain mabanckou (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

crooked plow by itamar vieira junior (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

the north water by ian mcguire (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

dr. no by percival everett (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

birth canal by dias novita wuri (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

transcendent kingdom by yaa gyasi (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

my year of rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh (⭐⭐⭐)

the gospel according to the new world by maryse condé (⭐⭐⭐)

manhattan beach by jennifer egan (⭐⭐⭐)

the archive of alternate endings by lindsey drager (⭐⭐⭐)

the inheritance games by jennifer lynn barnes

(⭐⭐⭐)

the aunt who wouldn't die by shirshendu mukhopadhyay (⭐⭐⭐)

deacon king kong by james mcbride (⭐⭐⭐)

four minutes by nataliya deleva (⭐⭐⭐)

blood red gy gabriela ponce padilla (⭐⭐⭐)

boulder by eva baltasar (⭐⭐⭐) - i appear to be the only person not dazzled by this book and feel left out of the party, but i just don't get it.

burnt sugar by avni doshi (⭐⭐)

you glow in the dark by liliana colanzi (⭐⭐)

the pisces by melissa broder (⭐⭐)

our wives under the sea by julia armfield (⭐⭐) - another beloved sapphic book that left me bored out of my mind. the writing about bodies felt very 2018 tumblr (non-complimentary)

the touch system by alejandara costamagna (⭐) - just pointless. one star is probably harsh though.

divided island by daniela tarazona (⭐) - i will admit i might be too dumb for this book

fiebre tropical by juli delgado lopera (⭐)

a door behind a door by yelena moskovich (⭐) - and the razzie goes to...!

literary fiction published 1971-2013

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Kassandra and the Wolf by Margarita Karapanou (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Ahab's Wife, or the Star-Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

In a Free State by V.S. Naipaul (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

My Tender Matador (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Happiness As Such by Natalia Ginzburg (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Transmigration of Bodies by Yuri Herrera (⭐⭐⭐⭐) - the way he nails how people would react to the covid pandemic 7 years early is wild in an otherwise pulpy mob thriller

shalash the iraqi (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

the disaster tourist by yun ko-eun (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

mother to mother by sindiwe magona (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

the route of ice and salt by josé luis zárate (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

pussy, king of the pirates by kathy acker (⭐⭐⭐)

awake by harald voetmann (⭐⭐⭐)

the raven king by nora sakavic (⭐⭐⭐)

touch by adania shibli (⭐⭐⭐)

cold nights of childhood by tezer ozlu (⭐⭐⭐)

the foxhole court by nora sakavic (⭐⭐⭐)

akhenaten: dweller in truth by naguib mahfouz (⭐⭐⭐)

the rooftop by fernanda trías (⭐⭐⭐)

tell them of battles, kings and elephants by mathias enard (⭐⭐)

sea of lentils by antonio rojo benitez (⭐)

literary fiction published start of time-1970

The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Masks by Fumiko Enchi (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Girl Upon Heaven's Pier by Eeva-Liisa Manner (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Final Exam by Julio Cortázar (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Two Novels: J and Seventeen by Kenzaburö Ōe (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) - J is an easy 5 star but Seventeen is more of a mixed bag

The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

night on the galactic railroad and other stores from ihatov by kenji miyazawa (⭐⭐⭐)

the wild geese by Ōgai mori (⭐⭐⭐)

the phantom of the opera (⭐⭐⭐) - despised this while reading but my god did it leave an impression. the phantom swimming around with his reed just lying in wait makes me burst out laughing once a quarter "do you choose the GRASSHOPPER, Christine???" he's so stupid

madame bovary by gustave flaubert (⭐⭐⭐)

orlando by virgnia woolf (⭐⭐⭐)

mr. president by miguel ángel asturias (⭐⭐)

four stories by h.p. lovecraft (⭐) - the racist stench is just emanating off these stories and they're boring too for good measure

the mysterious correspondent: new stories by marcel proust (⭐)

[nithrissa]

Questions & Commands

In the three years since Sebastian had met MC he had seen her display every emotion that one could have. He had seen her eyes light up with mirth as laughter pealed from her lips. He had seen great sorrow overtake her as tears streamed down her soft cheeks, and rage wrinkle her brows and nose into fury. He witnessed her glazed stare of boredom, the knot between her brows when she tried to work out a problem and her mischievous grin when she was being cheeky. Being the academic he was - and for no other reason - he had studied each turn of her lips and quirk of her brow. He considered himself to be an expert when it came to her face, which is why he was so caught off guard by her current expression. One that he had not seen before. Her eyes were wide, lips pressed flat and a deep blush covered her cheeks and nose. She was embarrassed.

Sure he had seen her flushed before whether from the cold air, a warm butterbeer or a passing compliment from someone she had helped, but he had never seen her so…flustered, and it stirred something in him. Mostly outrage that it was Garreth's question that caused her current predicament and not his own. 

They were currently seated in The Three Broomsticks enjoying a night out amidst their rigorous N.E.W.T study for a few drinks and some lighthearted fun with their classmates. Sebastian sat beside Ominis and MC around a large wooden table that also contained Garreth, Leander, Imelda, Poppy, Samantha and Everett. The group had spent the last twenty minutes playing 'Questions and Commands', a game wherein they take turns being the 'commander' and ask a question everyone has to answer or they would be commanded to do something silly or embarrassing. The game had started easy with people asking questions about what people planned to do when they left school then graduated to questions about embarrassing moments and secrets, most of which had not phased MC in the least. Not until Garreth took his turn and asked the table, "who was your first crush?" 

The table erupted into a fit of giggles as they each revealed their first school aged crush, usually someone innocuous that they held a candle for when they were eleven or twelve. Sebastian gave a cheeky grin when he revealed that Professor Garlick was his first crush and Leander shared his sentiments. 

When it was MC's turn to answer she smugly replied, "Cecil McGuire." To the confused stares of her friends. 

"Who?" Garreth questioned.

The look of utter satisfaction on MC's face was one of Sebastian's favourites. "He was a boy at my muggle school." 

"That's not fair!" Leander complained. "No one knows who that is!" 

Garreth agreed. "Sorry, MC. I should have specified. First Hogwarts crush." He said with a wide grin.

That's when it started. The growing blush that formed on her cheeks as her lips grew tight. "Too bad, Gaz, you should have specified for the muggleborns." Her confident smile was trying to break through, but the blush remained. 

Garreth raised his hand into the air. "Not so fast, MC. I do believe as commander I get to decide if your answer was sufficient." He was now the one with the smug look. "If you really don't want to answer, I suppose I could command you to…sit on one of the lads' laps for the rest of the game." 

The tension in the air immediately shifted as Sebastian watched MC's expression form into one of embarrassment for the first time. He could see the gears turning in her head as she weighed the options. He, too, weighed her options based on what he would prefer her to do - not that his opinion mattered. On one hand, she entered Hogwarts when she was fifteen, not eleven like the rest of them, so her first crush was not only much more recent, but - he realised to his chagrin - could be sitting at the table. That thought bothered him more than it should. What if she had the misfortune of having a crush on Leander before she came to her senses and he found out? Would he pursue her? Even worse…what if she didn't say anything and Garreth commanded her to sit on Leander's lap? Unacceptable. 

Sebastian caught MC's eye quickly before she looked away, her blush darkening. She picked up her mug of butterbeer and muttered something into her drink as she finished it off. 

"What was that?" Garreth teased, his hand held to his ear. 

MC slammed her mug down onto the table. "Sebastian." She hissed indignantly at the redhead.

He hadn't expected that, but Sebastian couldn't fight the self-satisfied smirk that pulled at his lips.  He clocked the disappointed looks of his male counterparts at the table before he glanced her way once more. Her face was scarlet as she stared at the table like she was trying to will it to swallow her whole. He swallowed thickly as the butterflies he had long repressed began to flutter in his chest. Was it wrong that he wanted to see her like this more often?

 "I'm a little offended that wasn't everyone's answer." He quipped in an attempt to break the tension that hung in the air. It seemed to work as Imelda retched sarcastically and MC rolled her eyes, but pointedly would not look at him. 

As Samantha took her turn as Commander and began to pose a new question to the table, MC excused herself to the lavatory, and did not return.

____________________________________________________

[wyn-n-tonic]

thank you for the tag, @nicolethered

top five comfort characters:

1.) Lizzie McGuire 2.) Moon Boys 3.) Winston Bishop 4.) January Andrews/Gus Everett (THEY COUNT AS ONE) 5.) Leia Organa

i'm never sure who to tag in these things, i kind of feel bad tagging people even when i say 'no pressure tags'. it's that anxiety thing, ya know. but if you'd like to do this, please say that i tagged you if you want to.

[yourdailyqueer-spreadsheet]

Changelog November 3-9

Rebecca Root - Added bisexual

Remi Wolf - Added ADHD

Renato Russo - Changed to pansexual

Renee Rapp - Changed to lesbian, added ADHD

Ricky Rebel - Moved for being a huge Trump stan

Rin Chupeco - Changed to they/them and nonbinary

Rivers Solomon - Added ADHD and autism

Angel Haze - Added two spirit

Rupert Everett - Moved due to transphobia

Sandra Bernhard - Moved due to racism

Santino Rice - Moved due to being anti-vaxx and a covid denier

Saoi O'Connor - Added autism

Sara Facio - Died in June

Sarah Keyworth - Added ADHD

Sasha Lane - Added schizoaffective disorder

Seanan McGuire - Added pansexual and ADHD

Courtney Act - Added polyamorous

Shannon Purser - Added OCD

Shaparak Khorsandi - Added ADHD

Sharice Davids - Moved due to Zionism and direct involvement in providing arms to Israel

Peach PRC - Added BPD and ADHD

Shawnacy Barber - Died in January

[latestmoviesblog]

How It Happened – Hollywood Life

View gallery Image Credit: Everett Collection Hilary Duff‘s two worlds collided in the March 7 episode How I Met Your Father, which featured a callback to her days on Lizzie McGuire. During the episode, Hilary’s Sophie recalls her worst Valentine’s Day experience, which turns out to be from the beloved Disney Channel show, as footage plays of Hilary’s Lizzie flirting on the phone with her…

[johngarfieldtribute]

JULIE DOING “STUFF” WITH FAMOUS PEOPLE (8th post)

Judy Garland and Gloria DeHaven sandwich Julie in lively conversation above.

Julie made three films with director, Jean Negulesco. Above they are chatting on the set of their first together, NOBODY LIVES FOREVER.

Above the director chats with Julie and costar, Joan Crawford between scenes of HUMORESQUE.

Monica Bannister who had an uncredited role in FLOWING GOLD cuts a rug (or rather wood floor) with Julie off camera. I CAN’T LOVE THIS PHOTO MORE!!!

Julie got Low, Low, Low, Low!

Julie lugs that accordion around between scenes of DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS. He is shown with two of the Lane sisters, Lola and Priscilla above.

Julie’s rolled up his sleeves for kitchen duty in publicity still for GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT. Gregory Peck and Dorothy McGuire are listening intently.

Julie is with Edward G. Robinson in a gathering of some type for their film, THE SEA WOLF. Above them is Everett C. Callow who worked in advertising.

Julie is shown shaking hands with Warner Bros. studio head, Jack L. Warner.

Above Julie shakes his gloved hand with professional heavyweight boxer, James J. Jeffries during the making of THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL.

[theowritesfiction]

Here's something for those of you reading White Lotus Gambit: the official WLG Spotify Playlist!

Here's the breakdown of the songs and where they appear in the story:

Fun Fun Fun - The Beach Boys / Chapter 3 tournament after party

You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes / Chapter 3 tournament after party

It's My Party - Leslie Gore / unreferenced, from a deleted scene

The Locomotion - Little Eva / Chapter 15 tournament after party

California Girls - The Beach Boys / Chapter 15 tournament after party

Sealed With A Kiss - Brian Hyland / Chapter 27 Katara writes letter to Azula

I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops /  Chapter 35 tournament after party

California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas / Chapter 42 Iroh's car

It's In The Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song) - Betty Everett / Chapter 74 Katara's birthday

Lake Shore Drive - Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah / Chapter 74 Katara's birthday

Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire / Chapter 81, Ba Sing Se protests

Right Down the Line - Gerry Rafferty / Chapter 102, headcanon for Ursa and Ikem's wedding

[outoftowninac]

APPLAUSE

1988 

Applause is a musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green based on the 1950 film All About Eve and the original story “The Wisdom of Eve” by Mary Orr.  

The story centers on aging star Margo Channing, who innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wing, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and her man.

The musical opened on Broadway on March 26, 1970 at the Palace Theatre and played 900 performances. It was staged and choreographed by Ron Field and starred Lauren Bacall as Margo Channing. She was replaced by Anne Baxter (who had played Eve in the film version) and Arlene Dahl. Bacall, Field, and the show itself all won 1970 Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards. 

Bacall reprised her role in the 1972 London production as well as a 1973 television adaptation. 

On August 11, 1988, a ‘tab’ (90 minute) version of Applause opened at the Palace Theatre at Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City NJ. It was produced by Maynard Sloate, directed by Jack Bunch, and choregraphed by Penny Sloane. It starred Phyllis McGuire as Margo and Susan Hartley as Eve. It closed on November 27, 1988. 

The cast also included Joe Warfield, Stephen Everett, Pi Douglass, Patricia Forestier, George McCulloch, 

Phyllis McGuire (1930-2020) was one third of a trio with her sisters Ruby and Dorothy. Among their most popular songs are "Sincerely" and "Sugartime", both number-one hits. They performed together from 1952 to 1968, and often reunited, including just two years earlier in Atlantic City.

"I feel very, very comfortable in this play, and the reason is it's a play written for someone just like me, someone just like Bacall. Someone who's a pretty good singer, who's a pretty good actress, who scores via stage presence, not via Shakespearean performance."  ~ DOROTHY McGUIRE

Jack Lloyd of the Philadelphia Inquirer found the choice of material “a downer” with no hummable songs, but praised McGuire’s musical skills, and hinted that Hartley might steal the show. Bill Kent of the Bergen Record echoed these sentiments. 

"I've got nothing but fond memories of Atlantic City. I jump at the chance to come back here again. Dorothy, Chris and I have been at Resorts and Harrah's a few times, and we'll be at the Showboat in the fall." ~ DOROTHY McGUIRE

Clearly the production was not set in the original time period - if in any time period at all - because A Chorus Line did not open until 1975. 

During her stint as Margo, McGuire announced that she was penning an autobiography that would talk about her relationship with mob boss Sam Giancana. The book was reduced to a 1989 article in Vanity Fair, with only brief mentions of her years with Giancana. 

As the closing date approached, her sisters came to Atlantic City. 

In the fall of 1996, the musical was revised for a Broadway-bound tour that began at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey starring Stefanie Powers (Margo, above) and Kate Jennings Grant (Eve) under the direction of Gene Saks, and choreographed by Ann Reinking (above). Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, the tour visited Tampa, Baltimore, Grand Rapids, and Columbus where the closing notice was posted on November 24, 1996.

New York City Center's Encores! presented a staged concert of Applause from February 7 to 10, 2008. It was directed by Kathleen Marshall and starred Christine Ebersole and Erin Davie. Christine Ebersole is a resident of Maplewood, New Jersey, bringing this blog full circle. Hopefully, to applause! 

[nectro250]

They have found a treasure chest full of shiny things, and Captain Scrapbeard was the one holding a map.

But what are they going to do with their fair share?

[thewidowstanton]

The Widow's best of 2021

Compiled by Liz Arratoon

2021 was the year Blackpool Pleasure Beach celebrated its 125th anniversary, and the magic world marked 100 years of sawing a woman in two. Hmmm! For us, spending more time at home meant we watched more films and read more books so both will feature more heavily in our list than usual, along with other stuff we’ve seen and enjoyed this year.

But before we get to any of that let’s start with the most beautiful thing we saw in 2021. It was right at the start of year – and nothing since has come close to it – when the London International Mime Festival directors Joseph Seelig and Helen Lannaghan managed to put on a brilliant event against the odds by going online.

MOST CREATIVE: Vertigo, a short film by mixed-reality artists Kristin and Davy McGuire of Studio McGuire commissioned by the London International Mime Festival. Four minutes of heaven as Kristin performs on a shiny pole, enveloped in a gossamer haze of digital images that are protected on to gauze. Stunning! Watch it here. Pic: Studio McGuire

BEST SHOW: David Byrne’s innovative concert/dance production American Utopia.

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Annie-B Parson’s thrilling moves in American Utopia.

FAVOURITE ACT: The Shandong Acrobatic Troupe’s plate spinners from 2019’s Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. In a refreshing break from tradition, it used the main theme music from Wong Kar-wai’s 2004 film 2046. Also watch out for Laura Borrelli's hula-hoop cameo in the film The Hand of God.

BEST TWITTER CIRCUS PIC: La Charmeuse de Serpents at the Folies-Bergère, posted by @PablosCircus.

BEST PROMO: Hula-hoop star Marawa the Amazing's delightful 'calling card', produced by her husband. Watch it here.

BEST SHOWBIZ STORY: Christine Walevska's stolen cello in The Tale of the Little Countess’ Little Cello on BBC Radio 4’s Outlook.

BEST SHOWBIZ TV SERIES: Hacks, with the incredible Jean Smart as a 'senior' Vegas stand-up comic.

BEST TV CHARACTER: Nunzia Schiano as Donna Nunzia in Gomorrah, the Naples-set Mafia saga, which also gets MOST STYLISH TV SERIES for its breathtaking lighting and locations. BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES: Fran Lebowitz’s Pretend It’s a City, directed by Martin Scorsese on Netflix. BEST INTERVIEW: Sylvie Guillem by dancer Daniil Simkin. Watch it here.

BEST EXHIBITION: Noël Coward Art and Style at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London.

BEST SERIES: Spending the War Without You: Virtual Backgrounds. Laurie Anderson’s stunningly intelligent Norton ‘lectures’ – in reality, shows – from the Mahindra Humanities Center, six of them given to the world for free!

BEST MUSIC: The score for the TV series ZeroZeroZero by Mogwai.

BEST WEEKLY MAILOUT: David Mills’ Quality Time – “a five-point bulletin of curated curious content” – in which he scours the world for things to interest, surprise and delight us. Above is the original rhinestone cowboy Loy Bowlin, who covered his life and house, the Beautiful Holy Jewel Home, in glitter, tin foil, tinsel and so forth. What could be more showbiz? Subscribe for free here.

BEST DANCE: The Ballets de Monte-Carlo White Darkness by Nacho Duato and The Lavender Follies by Joseph Hernandez.

BEST COSTUMES: Russian synchronised swimmers Svetlana Kolesnichenko and Svetlana Romashina’s spider-themed outfits at the Olympic Games. BEST FILM: Apples, a Greek Weird Wave first feature film from director Christos Nikou concerning… um… a different sort of pandemic.

BEST ANIMATION: Hungarian 1976 short Scenes with Beans, directed by Ottó Foky, about a cosmic metallic hen that lands on a planet of beans and observes their daily lives.

BEST DESERT ISLAND DISCS CASTAWAY: Sophia Loren, by a mile.

MOST FUN: Stump the Guesser, a short film by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson.

BEST SHOWBIZ BOOK: My Rock ’n’ Roll Friend by Tracey Thorn, and To the End of the World, Travels with Oscar Wilde by Rupert Everett.

BEST BOOK: Two more memoirs share this spot… Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes by Rodrigo García, and Linn Ullman’s Unquiet. Both concern ageing and death, which leads us on to…

GONE TOO SOON: Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Mike Nesmith of the Monkees and actors Michael K Williams (above) and Helen McCrory. And those we knew personally: our friend circus impresario Gerry Cottle, Spymonkey’s marvellous and unforgettable loon Stephan Kreiss (below), and lastly Lord Christopher Laverty of the magnificent @clothesonfilm, who was one of the most knowledgeable, and certainly the best, speakers we’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to, who died desperately young in a canoeing accident.

But so as not to end on too sad a note SPECIAL MENTIONS go to the Lucille Ball film Being the Ricardos, the kick-ass women in the TV series The Nevers, and the simply spectacular documentary House of Cardin, about genius fashion designer – among many, many other things – Pierre Cardin.

[mr-craig]

Tagged by @shimyereh. Thank you!

List 7 comfort films, tag 7 people.

~~~

1. The Odd Couple (1968) I've probably told this story before, but in my early 20s I survived a car crash. Nobody was seriously hurt, but my feet received some soft tissue damage. I was in immense pain for the next few weeks, as well as being horribly shaken up. The day after the crash, I was watching telly, trying desperately to find something to distract me. The Odd Couple came on. For the next couple of hours, I was able to laugh and smile and feel kind of normal. This is still the first thing I reach for when I'm going through rough times. It's so endlessly quotable, and Lemmon and Matthau are a delight.

2. The Muppet Movie (1979) Another film that I watched during my recovery. Call me a sentimental old fool, but the story of Kermit and his disparate friends finding each other and going on a quest to make people happy with their art... it means a lot to me. And the sight of Kermit riding a bike never fails to amaze and delight me.

3. Top Hat (1935) I love Fred Astaire. If he's singing and dancing, I'm probably happy. The film doesn't even have to be that good, I'm still happy. But this film IS good. Really good. The plot is the typical mistaken-identity farce, but the masterly comedic performances of Fred, Ginger, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, and Helen Broderick make the non-musical bits just as glorious as the song and dance routines. And (nearly) every song is a classic (admittedly The Piccolino is a bit shit), with beautiful dance routines to match. 'Isn't This a Lovely Day (to be Caught in the Rain)' is one of the best musical sequences ever committed to film, not to mention 'Cheek to Cheek'... I once watched this film twice in one week, which is very rare for me.

4. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) I could pick any number of Miyazaki films. His work creates a world all of its own, a world it's a pleasure to escape into. The animation is delicate and beautifully-observed, and combines with Joe Hisaishi's music to weave a unique spell. Kiki gets special mention for the very relatable theme of creative block (through the metaphor of magic block), and how things that came naturally in childhood seem to require more effort in adulthood. It's kind of reassuring to realise that even someone as mind-bogglingly talented and driven as Miyazaki can relate to that.

5. Sherlock, Jr. (1924) As above, I could pick any number of Buster Keaton films. This one wins out for a few reasons: 1) It is quite short, and 2) it squeezes so much wild inventiveness into that short runtime. The dream sequence where Buster climbs into the cinema screen and the scene changes around him, the chase with him riding the handlebars of a riderless motorbike, the game of pool with (perhaps) an explosive ball that he manages to miss with each shot... and the smaller moments of tentative romance between Buster and Kathryn McGuire... I love every second.

6. To Be Or Not To Be (1942) I guess screwball comedy is one of my comfort genres, and it's amazing how they managed to make such a delightful comedy out of a situation so grim. So many memorable lines ("what he did to Shakespeare, we're doing now to Poland"), fantastic performances that dance between comedic and dramatic, and of course I'm a sucker for a good Shakespeare reference. And Carole Lombard was just great.

7. Paddington 2 (2017) Both Paddington films are fantastic, but the sequel just wins out thanks to Hugh Grant's gloriously hammy turn as the villain. Despite using very little story material from Michael Bond's books, this screen version of Paddington really captures the spirit of the characters. It's sweet, gentle, funny, heartwarming, and hopeful. Just what I need when things are grim.

~~~

If you'd like to share your comfort films, consider yourself tagged.

[sunflower-and-storms]

2021 Book Releases

Hello gentlefriends ! Today is a merry day because I finally come to you with the books that are coming out (many of them are queer so puns!) in 2021 that are on my radar. I’m going to divide them in 1st book in series, sequels and standalones and then inside those categories, I’ll organize them temporarily. The ones in orange is the ones I’ll be preordering or buying. Open the post for the list.

Standalones:

Lore by Alexandra Bracken- 5th of January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53375824-lore

Happily Ever After by Elise Bryant- 5th of January (black mc)- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53086795-happily-ever-afters   

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner- 12th January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52448445-the-ruthless-lady-s-guide-to-wizardry                  

The Wide Starlight by Nicole Lesperance- 16th of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45011202-the-wide-starlight    

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley- 2nd of March (biracial mc)- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50762972-firekeeper-s-daughter 

Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft- 2nd of March- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46189814-down-comes-the-night

Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore- 9th of March (genderqueer protag)- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53138213-can-t-take-that-away   

Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley- 9th of March (f/f)- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43533785-sweet-bitter-magic   

Series Starters:        

Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder- 5th of January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43263361-crown-of-bones  

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick- 21st of January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51340378-the-mask-of-mirrors

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle- 26th January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304072-wings-of-ebony

Muse by Brittany Cavallaro- 2nd of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50622137-muse                                                   

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett- 9th of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54246977-a-lady-s-formula-for-love               

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna- 9th of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40024121-the-gilded-ones                                         

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J.Maas- 16th of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31050237-a-court-of-silver-flames                          

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth- 23rd of February (queer)- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53341666-a-dark-and-hollow-star

Sequels: 

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire- 12th of January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53205924-across-the-green-grass-fields   

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer- 26th of January- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53138253-a-vow-so-bold-and-deadly                    

The Bride’s Bet by Tessa Dare- 9th of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49975375-the-bride-bet

Curse of the Divine by Kim Smejkal- 9th of February <- Ink in the Blood- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49015472-curse-of-the-divine                                                  

Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron- 18th of February-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52460343-reaper-of-souls                                              

The Desolations of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs- 23rd of February- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41556895-the-desolations-of-devil-s-acre                  

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare- 2nd of March- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17699855-chain-of-iron 

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert- 9th March- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51824384-act-your-age-eve-brown                                                   

Delicates by Brenna Thummler- 16th of March <- Sheets- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42969318-delicates                                     

[starrlikesbooks]

Book Horoscopes for October! 🎃📖

Aries: You have a lot of energy this month, and you need to direct it somewhere. If you don’t have enough to triumph over in your actual day to day, read something you can live vicariously through. I suggest The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

Taurus: You’re going to feel very drawn towards the things you want this month, and some pressure to choose which you pick. Read something that proves you can have it all, like The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta.

Gemini: This month is going to make it harder to do you iconic switching in personalities. You’re feeling more defensive and insulated, and you’ll find it difficult to repress certain parts of you, for better or for worse. Read something focused on being yourself, like Sourdough by Robin Sloan.

Cancer: You’ve got a heightened sense of focus and understanding this month, and you’re going to be doing self reflection. Read a book about appreciating identity and coming to terms, like Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

Leo: This is a month of self-transformation and change, as you readjust what your goals are and recommit. Read something about triumphing over the odds and getting what you want. I suggest Middlegame by Seanan McGuire.

Virgo: You’re going to feel your connections with people more acutely than normally, and possibly feel them change. Things are shifting, sometimes uncomfortably, so read a book about how you can’t fight change, such as No One Here is Lonely by Sarah Everett.

Libra: Everything is kind of beautiful this month, there’s a lot that moves you, and you’re going to feel desire strongly. Read a book about love, figuring out what you want, and working to get it, like The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

Scorpio: This month is all about you- Mercury, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun are all in your sign! You’re in the spot light, and you’re heightened, so read something about someone else in the spot light, like The Poppy War by by R. F. Kuang.

Sagittarius: This month is all about desires and change, and for you that may mean wanting adventure. Read something about saving the world, and being on top of things. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is my suggestion.

Capricorn: You’ve got a strong focus this month, and a lot to think about. Read a book about pushing past illusions and finding the truth, such as The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson.

Aquarius: There’s a lot of energy around this month, and readjusted perspectives. Read a book about finding something to identify with, like The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

Pisces: You’re going to feel a lot of energy and emotion this month, which can be overwhelming. Expect a lot of different, conflicting ideas, pulling you towards something (maybe more than one things). Read a book about giving one last try to get the thing you want, like Bone Gap by Laura Ruby.