After my Mockingjay reading marathon, I find myself struggling once again to start/finish anything. I’m in the middle of two books, both of which are obligation reads, and while I’ve no doubt I will finish them, it just might not be too soon. Or, you know, before I have to. Not wanting things to go dark on the blog front, I’ll continue to post things like this: The 55 Question Meme, which I originally saw on and snagged from A Work in Progress. My goal is not to repeat myself or duplicate answers given to similar questions answered here before.
1. Favorite childhood book?
If the question were: Which book from your childhood stands in your earliest memory? Or: What was the first book you remember falling in love with? I’d be able to answer without hesitation: The Polar Express by Van Allsburg. My little self pulled that book off the library shelf and was quite literally enraptured with it. It wasn’t so much the story as the illustrations, see. The two page spread with the wolves running from the forest and alongside the train? I must have stared at it for hours.
But as for favorite – an impossible thing to ascertain, as we all know – I’d say maybe The Phantom Tollbooth. Or The Indian in the Cupboard.¹ I was also a big fan of Martin’s Babysitter Club series. Dawn was my girl; to this day, I’m not certain why.
¹My enjoyment of this book predates any of the controversy that later stirred up. I just thought it was neat that a toy could come to life, and snuck a few of my own in the cabinet behind our bathroom mirror to see if I had the same luck. Alas…
I have never claimed to be an expert in interpreting theme or the finer point of meaning inherent in “literature,” and that extends to film, as well. I almost feel like I’m unnecessarily putting myself out there by trying to “review” this film, the most recent adaptation of Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Years and years have passed since I read the novel, too, which does nothing to bolster my confidence. But…Here goes.
The actor who played Dorian Gray must have a touch of Jekyll and Hyde in him. He needs to be able to command two personas: The sweet, innocent Dorian that opens the film, and the debauched, cynical Dorian that he becomes. Ben Barnes, while absolutely convincing in the former, couldn’t quite pull off the latter. He tried, I’ll give him that, but it was a tough sell and one I never fully bought into. Therein lies my one real problem with the movie: I should have felt something for or towards Dorian, whether it be disgust or sympathy or a shade in between, but once he shed his ingenuous skin it was difficult to rouse anything at all. Perhaps my lack of sentiment for Dorian cements one of the story’s (possible) commentaries: that of man’s depravity being fed by a superficiality of feeling. Lord Henry (Colin Firth) insisting that man take every pleasure without thought to consequence, without any ties to bind the conscience to the act. Dorian followed Henry’s lead down that path and when regret came it was too little, too late. And yet…however successful the film was at staying true to Wilde’s intent – and I can’t say if it was, not really – Barnes never truly looked corrupted or jaded. Or haunted. His face, with all that bad boy potential, only once delivered on Dorian’s seductive, uninhibited grace. I guess I wanted more; I wanted all in. For Barnes – who I thought excellently cast after hearing his name tied to the part – to own the role. To my eyes, he didn’t.*
Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton; I never knew he could do smarmy so well. I loved that Firth literally acted as the devil on Dorian’s shoulder; he was always so close, whispering in Dorian’s ear, tempting him with the promise of pleasure and vice, pushing him over the edge, beyond redemption. Firth imbued Wotton’s character with a mixture of paternal command and conspirator’s wit, which made Dorian’s willingness to follow him easy to understand, even while you rail at the foolishness of such an action. For all that Wotton was hypocritically corrupting Dorian, in Firth’s hands his character’s anger at the end was convincing and somehow justifiable. I enjoyed seeing Firth in this role; he pulled it off.
Shortly after viewing the movie, I tweeted about director Oliver Parker’s decision to put the story’s excess and hedonism on display.** Because you really do get to see Dorian’s descent; the sex, the drugs and alcohol, the bondage and blood. It manages to stay just on this side of the explicit line, but make no mistake: Dorian Gray earns its R rating with bare breasts and backsides to spare. And the painting…
So beautiful and so very, very gruesome. Mostly the special effects with the painting were well done; it was like a living, breathing thing in its own right, gasping as it took on the ills Dorian inflicted on his body. And at the end? Shudder. Ghastly. (One aside: My viewing companion had never read the book and had a hard time grasping how Dorian’s age and damage came to be transferred to the painting. There is a brief, subtle scene that stands as the bargain, but it’s so subtle as to be unclear. A blink and you miss it moment. And it doesn’t do much, if you’re watching with a skeptic or someone who needs to understand the mechanics of things – whether it be by witchcraft, voodoo, or whatever – to explain how it came to be.)
What else? Well. London in the late 1890′s, Whitechapel, piano recitals and costume balls, the film was visually lovely (and suitably unsettling and dark, in Whitechapel’s case.) And the supporting cast was good; I especially enjoyed Ben Chaplin’s turn as artist Basil Hallward. He played the role of the smitten man quite well and you really felt as though, if there were one person Dorian could trust, it was him.
Overall, I’d have to say that the movie was good if not stellar; there’s certainly enough to commend it. If you like period pieces, adaptations, or just want to look at Barnes’ handsome face, give it a try. And then come back and share your thoughts.
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*While I did not particularly like Stuart Townsend as Dorian Gray in The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, I can say this for him: The confidence he conveyed was heady. It was the confidence of a man who knew his appeal, who took what he wanted without apology and without asking. I could never see him as sweet or believe that he had once been innocent, but he did happily corrupted well. If Barnes had mastered that arrogance, well, this review would have been very different.
**I understand why the focus was put on Dorian’s seedy encounters, but I can’t help but think it detracted from the film in some way I can’t articulate. Concentrating on the sex and drugs in the moment made it impossible to know the Dorian behind the mask; how did he feel as the painting began to disintegrate, became a revolting parody of himself? You never fully know, not until it’s all almost over. Maybe some would think it unnecessary to the story the film was trying to tell; I just know I would have appreciated it.
I ♥ This Art is a weekly feature on Tempting Persephone. Art, no matter the medium, buoys my spirit up. Each week I’ll spotlight a piece that speaks to me, makes me want to know more, or taps into some emotion or sentiment.
Jeaniene Frost posted both the cover and stepback image for This Side of the Grave. Have I mentioned that I can’t wait to get my hands on this book? It’s been far too long since we’ve had new Cat and Bones. So what do you think? The pose looks a little Wonder Woman to me (which isn’t to say I have a problem with it) – overall, I like both.
Based on Shannon’s “Shelves Are Groaning” segments on Giraffe Days.
Stormlord Rising – Glenda Larke The Last Stormlord has been sitting on my shelf since its release week. It’s not unreasonable to assume that I’ll get to it one day and that I’ll want to follow it up directly with its sequel. Plus, the covers. So pretty.
Barely a Lady – Eileen Dreyer
I can’t believe I fell prey to another starred review. And this one came with a review the book can’t possibly live up to. From Library Journal: “Vivid descriptions, inventive plotting, beautifully delineated characters, and stunning emotional depth ensure the success of Dreyer’s historical romance debut.” That’s just a sample sentence; the rest was equally glowing. And, okay, the snippet inside might have weakened my resolve to hold out for a library copy, too.
Rainbow Boys – Alex Sanchez
Given my deep-seated love of White Collar, is it any wonder that Matt Bomer on the cover of Rainbow Boys was a draw in its own right? That said, this book has been on my reading list for years. I not only feel as though I should be reading more LGBT books, I want to be reading more of them. (The Geography Club, Boy Meets Boy, and Annie on My Mind were my first forays; this novel by Sanchez kept popping up as a readalike. Who knows why it’s taken me this long to get to it.)
The Sea of Trolls – Nancy Farmer
Unfortunately, I can’t find an image of the cover that’s on the copy I bought; a stunner by Jon Foster. Cover lure aside, I’ve always thought I should read something by Nancy Farmer. Accolades seem to follow her books and several of my teen patrons have spoken enthusiastically about her novels. The Norse slant made The Sea of Trolls particularly appealing. Reading the first few sentences standing in front of the shelves clinched it.
Cold Magic – Kate Elliott
A pre-order. It seems like the wait for this one has been unending, especially in light of the positive feedback that’s been cropping up left, right and center. This will be my first Kate Elliott. Has anyone read a title from her backlist? Any good?
The Doctor and the Diva – Adrienne McDonnell
Seven day library loan periods and I just don’t get along. It’s not that I can’t or don’t read quickly; it’s more like I can’t or don’t want to force myself to get something right away. That’s why a library copy of The Doctor and the Diva got returned unread. But I knew I still wanted to read it, so when I saw it deeply discounted, well, I couldn’t leave it sitting there.
Vampirates: Empire of Night – Justin Somper
The release of the latest book in the Vampirates series caught me by surprise. I saw it on the shelf and literally scooped it up, held it against my chest; ask my husband about the must-have-been-giddy-stupid smile I was surely sporting. I love this series but for some reason thought the latest installment wasn’t being released until next month. Anyway. I purchased it immediately and can’t wait to get back to Grace, Lorcan, and the rest of the crew.
The Defector – Daniel Silva
I’ve heard good things about Silva’s Gabriel Allon series. Chalk this one up to one of my rare flashes of impatience; I couldn’t wait for the library copy of The Rembrandt Affair I have on hold to come in. While typically not one to gravitate towards espionage, it’s good for me to push at the boundaries of what I’m comfortable reading.
“After local firefighters pull Clare out of a blazing café, she happily comes to their rescue by teaching them the finer points of operating their newly donated espresso machine. But matters really heat up when somebody is torching cafes around the city and firefighters begin to die in suspicious ways…
Believing the two events are related, Clare investigates, staking out a five-borough bake sale and sniffing out clues in the pizza ovens of Brooklyn. When her detective boyfriend, Mike Quinn, is pulled into the fire of a false accusation, Clare is desperate to put out the flames. But will she be able to come to Mike’s rescue before someone tries to extinguish her?” [Publisher's Summary]
Roast Mortem is the 9th book in Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series featuring amateur sleuth and coffee expert Clare Cosi. While it is not imperative to read the series in order, if you’re looking for a solid cozy and think you might like to give this one a try, I’d urge you to go back to the beginning. I’ll get to the why behind that suggestion in a minute.
When it comes to cozies and amateur sleuth mysteries, I’ve always believed that the would-be detective must be a strong, sympathetic character. How else could you forgive her or him for bumbling about, poking at the wrong people with a pointy, circumstantial stick, and generally doing irrational or questionable things? And even then you might find yourself asking: “Seriously? Did she/he really just [insert arguably stupid action here]?” Having spent countless pages in the company of Clare, I’m willing to forgive her bouts of faulty judgment because she is likable, and her heart is always in the right place. So that, perhaps, is the primary reason behind my devoted following of this series: I want to see Clare succeed, to see her happy, and to see how she gets out of her latest scrape with the bad guy.
Reason two would be the relationship between Clare and Detective Mike Quinn. And that is the reason behind my previous suggestion of starting with book one: The relationship develops over the course of the series; the reader is privy to every tentative step they take towards each other, every misunderstanding, every almost moment, and where they are now is so much sweeter for having been with them the whole way. For all that, though, the relationship is not the focus of each novel; it’s a wonderful bonus.
A first for the series, the murders in this particular installment got to me. Not because they were violent or gruesome – this is a cozy, after all – but because Coyle got the reader close to the victims through their interactions with Clare. Despite the fact that the victims’ thoughts are their own, and despite the fact that their presence in the novel was limited, I cared enough to feel saddened by their deaths. Wanting to ensure that the villain was brought to justice – as if I ever thought he or she wouldn’t be! again, cozy – meant that the pages turned quickly and almost without ceasing.
Along with the crime, the relationship(s), and the banter comes a healthy dose of coffee history and brewing techniques. Due to Clare’s position as manager of the Village Blend, the – sometimes long – paragraphs on flavor, grinding and so on never feel forced or out of place. These sections may make some readers’ eyes cross if they’re in it for the mystery alone, but I sort of find it fascinating, all the ways the “perfect” shot can go wrong, the different flavors beans from various regions of the world will produce. Like most mysteries with a food/beverage angle, recipes are included at the back of every novel, and this one had several I want to try out.
This isn’t rocket science and these stories aren’t meant to be life-changing; they’re light, always enjoyable, and Roast Mortem got this concentration-shot reader reading again. If I wasn’t a fan before, I would be now. Lucky for me I got in from the start. Now I just impatiently wait for each new installment.
Shannon asked me if I wouldn’t mind posting a list of shows and what have you that Richard Armitage has appeared in; I was only too happy to oblige. But why do one post when you can do two? So here’s the first, about the shows and movies I’ve had the pleasure of watching our beloved Armitage in. [Note: The clips in this post might include spoilers if you haven't seen the movie or shows.]
Many of us are, of course, familiar with North and South. (If you’ve never seen it, get yourself a copy!) And so because no Richard Armitage post would be complete without a taste of Thornton…
*Swoon* So you’ve seen North and South; what next? Well, I immediately went for The Vicar of Dibley – A Holy Wholly Happy Ending. It’s Richard Armitage at his most unconsciously charming. He’s wearing sweaters, talking books and kissing, and making me very much want to be in Dawn French’s shoes. Did I mention it’s funny as all get out? This one is best experienced in its entirety, so I’ve chosen the clip that introduces Harry to the Vicar’s audience.
From there, I tracked down MI-5 Season 7 (or Spooks Series 7.) Armitage plays Lucas North, a man reacclimating himself to life outside of a Russian prison; he’s once again an active MI-5 agent, but his loyalty is in question. It took me by surprise just how much I enjoyed this show. This is a great clip, but it definitely contains a spoiler for this particular season.
After burning through all the MI-5 episodes I had I got my hands on The Impressionists (in which he plays a young Claude Monet) and watched the first two seasons of the BBC’s Robin Hood (which, if I’m honest, I didn’t care for so much, despite the fact that Armitage is appealing in his bad boy role.)
Part two will be up soon; I did this one quickly, and I’ll definitely need to take my time finding all of the things I haven’t yet seen. If you know of other shows/movies, chime in!
I ♥ This Art is a weekly feature on Tempting Persephone. Art, no matter the medium, buoys my spirit up. Each week I’ll spotlight a piece that speaks to me, makes me want to know more, or taps into some emotion or sentiment.”
I only very recently discovered Katie Melua and the timing could not have been more perfect. Her music has this hushed quality to it, this melancholy loveliness, that has met my mood and matched it. The two songs I’m posting here are from her new album The House.
First up, “I’d Love to Kill You” -
I could only find live versions of the song; the album version is more evocative, haunting even, which the live version hints at but doesn’t capture fully.
And finally, “The Flood” -
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the video – or the change in tone the song takes a bit past the half-way mark – but overall the song really works for me.
In my life, I could count on one hand the number of times reading has failed to provide me with an escape, a reprieve, a moment of much needed solace. After a dry spell running on three weeks, it appears that the aforementioned count might now require two hands.
The last week of May delivered a piece of news that shook up my family, and we’ve been dealing with the big and small ways it has changed our lives ever since. Some days are better than others; some days I realize I’m adapting, and others I feel as though I haven’t even begun to. Usually I’d turn to books. But I find I can’t.
All those posts on distractions? Half the time I wonder if I’m walking a straight line. I can’t pin myself down; I literally cannot pick up a book without setting it right back down. My concentration is shot, my ability to choose a book non-existent, and my desire to actually see a story through to its end just not there right now. And that bothers me in a way I can’t express.
I’ve got one book I absolutely have to read for review and I will do it. I’ve also got several titles that I need to get to for work; I’ll force myself if necessary. In this case, obligation reading might save me, might sharpen my concentration, freeing me from feeling as though the slightest current will send me off in another direction. Fingers crossed at least.
In the meantime, my apologies for the lack of reviews and non-book related posts.
