Author Archives: Duff

Mystery: “The Hunt Ball” and “The Hounds and the Fury” by Rita Mae Brown

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Two more in the Sister Jane Hall/Jefferson Hunt Club series (got started a few years ago with an Xmas present).

I liked both of these for the things I’ve liked before: the intrigue and details of the mystery, the awesome dogs and horses and the foxes (I love the foxes) and their reactions and relations and really vital role in the story. Man I love reading the scenes with Cora and Dasher. The hunt scenes are really wonderful and atmospheric, take you right into the thick of things.

And I didn’t like the same stuff that bugs me in each of these books: Sister Jane’s incredible self-satisifed-ness and the “how to be upstanding and moral” lessons that crop up throughout. Often has a very pedantic feel. Too preachy and often those paragraphs aren’t even in any particular character’s voice so they really throw you right out of the action.

Short Stories: The Complete Stories by David Malouf

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The March selection in Dad’s and my reading challenge. I had read a few Malouf novels so this was one of my suggestions.

LOVED it. [Both of us did.] Had no idea going in, but the dude is a MASTER of the technique and these are certainly some of the best stories I’ve ever read, and probably the best overall collection. [Dad might not be QUITE as nutty about them as I am.]

Seems he can write from any angle, any point of view: young boy, middle-aged woman, loner, popularity queen, happy, sad, criminal, just. The atmosphere is rich and vivid (and reeks of Australia, I could feel myself there again). The language is thick and layered and sensual [reminded Dad of D.H. Lawrence stories]. Really beautiful. In many stories, a BIG event has taken place “offscreen” (never to be known), with the focus on the human reactions and following chain of effects.

My favorite stories were: “Every Move You Make”, “The Domestic Cantata”, “Sally’s Story”, “Great Day”, and “A Traveller’s Tale”.

Highly recommended.

The Curse of the Morning Drugstore Stop

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Since I needed a Mt. Dew this morning (ALL YOUR FAULT, AmandaJean), I had to make a quick nip into the drugstore on the way in. Thanks to their (ridiculous) ’80s (or was it early ’90s? or does it even matter) background music, I now have the following on repeat in my mind (and undesirably so):

After all the stops and starts, we keep coming back to these two hearts…

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Peter Cetera is really not what I want in my head today!

DadReaction: Leatherheads

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I thought it was a lot of fun. I don’t generally like Renee Zellwegger but I thought she was really good. And I thought Clooney really did that screwball comedy stuff that they were trying for. It was really funny and they played off each other really well. John Krazinski was good as this kid who’s a nice guy and is in trouble really through no fault of his own, so you kind of feel sorry for him.

I thought it was cool, and it had this really nice golden light. You know, that world still existed when I was growing up; these old railroad stations with wooden seats and the college stadiums with red brick around them, none of the glitz and the domes. That older slower world. I enjoyed the whole setting.

Randy Newman wrote the music and it was a great score; got the tone just right.

I enjoyed every part of it and I came out expecting to see a bunch of great reviews. I was in complete shock when I read EW’s negative review. They called it slow, said it drags? And not funny? My jaw dropped.

Thumbs up from me!! [Dad, that is. No GirlReaction YET! But clearly it’s now on my list!!!]

Songs I Would Do as Cover Encores Were I in a Band

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  • “Dancin’ Boy” Harry Chapin
  • “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane” John Denver
  • “Shook Me All Night Long” AC/DC
  • “Hole Hearted” Extreme
  • “Stroke Me” Billy Squier (Or “The Stroke” is apparently the correct name)
  • “Father and Son” Cat Stevens (I can actually play this one on guitar. So I’d have to include it, wouldn’t I?)
  • “Run for Your Life” Beatles

And of course, my #1 and #2 favorite all-time karaoke songs:

  • “Take It on the Run” REO Speedwagon
  • “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty

Rhetorical Question of the Day

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Why would a girl with a bum foot, bum knee, and sore back decide to walk home? (45 minutes)

Retorical Question of the Night
Does (uncooked) rice go bad? If it’s been at least 10 years since you bought it, will it kill you if you cook it now?

(Rhetorical because I’m eating it anyway so we’ll find out.)