HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Kwanzaa!

Shalom!

Merry Christmas!

And may the Gifts

of the Spirit be yours in 2014!

BOOKS: Christmas Wish List 2013

Once again it is time for Santy Patty to help you with your last moment gift shopping...at least for the readers on your list. Some of these books I have already reviewed, but either I want to jog your memory or make you aware of more recent publications. So, here are my personal picks for your consideration.

I have been waiting for Greg Isles to release THE BONE TREE. His books are not really series even though some characters are recurring, but THE DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL finished on a cliff hanger; then Isles was in a serious accident and it seemed to take ages before his next book. Well, now we know that THE BONE TREE is available. He is one of my favorite authors and for the reader who has not tried him, I recommend THE BLACK CROSS, a gritty Second World War story, or BLOOD MEMORY. This is an author who does not depend on a formula. Each book is unique and a genuine page turner.

Twisted Seth Grahame-Smith, author of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE KILLER, has a new release just in time for Christmas titled UNHOLY NIGHT, a story dealing with the three wise men as we have never seen them. If your list includes very twisted people, you can not go wrong with Grahame-Smith.

David Baldacci can be counted on for a fast moving action book. My favorite is still ABSOLUTE POWER, but for a change of pace, his tender WISH YOU WELL is a more gentle read. His newest best seller is KING AND MAXWELL. I have not read this yet, but probably will.

Lani Dianne Rich says that she does funny books for women or maybe books for funny women (or men). I enjoyed her THE FORTUNE QUILT and will be looking for more by her. Her books are light but with a twist. WISH YOU WERE HERE sounds good.

Right now I am reading THE COLLECTION by Bentley Little. It is a collection of very short, short stories and they are intense enough that I read several, put the book down and go do something normal before I pick it up again. His THE MAILMAN was the book that started me on this “thinking man’s horror” author.

Two women’s authors who are always a sure thing are Nora Roberts and Mary Balogh. Balogh writes fun, historical romances set in Regency England. I loved her quintet about the Huxtable family, but have had trouble finding the final installment, A SECRET AFFAIR. It is needed to pull the other four books together. ( Was that hint subtle enough?)

Nora Roberts needs no explanation. She creates extremely enjoyable characters whether she is writing basic romance novels, page turning suspense books or futuristic “detective” stories under the pen-name of J. D. Robb. She is extremely prolific, so there is always something new and popular from her. Personally I wait until a series has been published in its entirety before I start reading them. I hate waiting several months to see what is happening.

The movie version of Markus Zusak’s THE BOOK THEIF has been released. After reading the reviews of the movie, I will pass on the movie. This is one of my all time favorite books (it is ranked next to TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on my list) and I refuse to see Hollywood butcher it. Although this is considered a “youth” book, it would be an excellent gift for anyone. Zusak is a brilliant author. I have his WHEN DOGS CRY on my want-to-read list.

This has been a good year for reading. I hope that at least one of my blogs has intrigued you enough to try an author that you had not thought about before. If nothing else, I hope that you found something to entertain you. I love hearing from you. So please let me know if you agree ,or not, with me. Controversy can be fun!

BOOK REVIEW: Appointments With Heaven

I am very skeptical of books about people who have died and had experiences in Heaven or Hell. Usually there is so much hype surrounding the book that I wonder how much is simply publicity to put the author on the best -seller lists. The experience may be true, I just read with a pinch of salt on hand.

As a result when I was loaned APPOINTMENTS WITH HEAVEN by Dr. Reggie Anderson, I gathered my salt shaker and started reading. In no time Dr. Anderson had my attention.

APPOINTMENTS WITH HEAVEN is the story of Reggie Anderson’s journey of faith as well as his experiences as a doctor who is present at the beginning as well as the ending of life.

Raised on a farm in Tennessee by parents of deep faith, Reggie lost his belief when part of his family was brutally murdered. His question of “ if there is a God how could he allow such a horrible thing to happen?” is one that most of us have asked. The story of how his faith was renewed is well told, believable and fascinating.

But that is only part of the story that Reggie wants to share. The first time that he is asked by a patient to sit by her bed as she died made him uncomfortable. He was still a medical resident and was not sure what to expect.The experience of watching the veil part and receiving a glimpse of what awaits on the other side was one that would be repeated many times in his career.

Reggie’s family had to deal with the suicide of a young teenager. Helping other family members deal with the guilt and hurt of knowing that the loved one’s pain had been so intense to cause him to take his own life, came close to challenging his faith.

In the book Reggie reveals the true stories of his experiences as a doctor and as a family man. It is a journey of courage, confidence and one that will give us hope to face the death of a loved one and to expect the miraculous in life.

Doctor Reggie Anderson has practiced family medicine for over twenty-five years. He has received the First Humanitarian Award by the Centennial Medical Centre in Nashville. He is a physician First Clinic, Chief of Staff of TriStar Ashland City Medical Centre, and medical director of three nursing homes. He and his wife Karen have four adult children.

APPOINTMENTS WITH HEAVEN was a warm, human story. It is about a man who has made his lifework that of helping the poor and the elderly as a physician. His journey is not only soul-stirring, but a hope-filled one for all of us. I like that, though the subject may sound depressing and one that we might want to avoid, the book is honest and human. You will feel that you know this not so ordinary country doctor and maybe the shaker of salt was not necessary.

BOOK REVIEWS: 2013 Gift List

Like most of you, I keep a drawer of gift books in my spare bedroom. In that drawer are the little gift books that I find on sale and save to give instead of a card. A book is so much more personal, and if you watch for sales, they can be less expensive than a card.

Usually my stash consists of little books of inspirational quotes about love, faith, women, and the good things that make up life. Mister Rogers is often there, as is Thomas Kinkade, the “Master of Light”.

THE BLUE DAY BOOK by Bradley Trevor Greive is a regular purchase. As soon as I give it to someone, I hunt for another copy. Any of Greive's books fit my criteria, but this is my favorite. Subtitled “A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up”, the book is a series of animal photographs explaining that everybody has blue days. The captions are so perfect for each photograph that even if it is your worst day ever, you have to smile. Check it out, or wait until I know that you need cheering up and I give you my copy.

My other must have is by children’s author Sandra Boynton. Ms Boynton started as an illustrator for a greeting card company and went on to be a very successful author of books for young children…think BUT NOT THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. On her son’s graduation from high school, she wrote YAH, YOU for him. I love this book. It has been perfect for a friend who lost her job, for another friend  who was going through a divorce, and I cannot think of a better gift for a graduating student no matter the age. If you have a friend who is going through imminent changes in his or her life, you will want this lovely book.

Recently I was loaned Cynthia Rylant’s GOD GOT A DOG.This is a delightful collection of poems telling of God discovering the wonder and pain of the world He created. With titles like “God Goes to Beauty School” and “God Goes to the Doctors” you get an idea of the charming humor. My favorite was “Got Got Arrested”. Seems God was in this bar, he liked the jukebox, and someone said something about Jesus and that caused a fight. The lesson is “watch what you say about someone, he might have a relative nearby”. Adding to the fun are the illustrations by Marla Frazee. I know so many friends who will love this collection.

Of course any of these little books would be a good Christmas gift. As someone said of the Boynton book, “No chapters, no index, no graphs, no study guides”. Now that sounds like a perfect gift!  

This is your friendly reminder that Christmas is coming and many of us love to find books under the tree.

THEATER REVIEW: Waiting For Godot (Broadway)

Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Billy Crudup, and Shuler Hensley in Samuel Beckett’s WAITING FOR GODOT directed by Sean Mathias. That information says it all; there should be no need for an actual review. But, this blog is titled Pat’s OPINIONATED Review and that means that I get to give my opinion.

Our first born daughter told me that she would take me to New York to see a show of my choosing; this was to be my Christmas gift for the next kazillion years. There was very little choice when I saw that the Cort Theatre on 48th Street in NYC was hosting a stellar cast in WAITING FOR GODOT.

My first impression was of the theatre itself. I have a weakness for smaller, older theatres - the type that is beautiful and where the actors do not need amplification to be heard in the cheap seats. The Cort Theatre was perfect for this intimate play.

The set design flowed from the ornate proscenium to the “bare” stage so well that it was hard to tell where the arch stopped and the set began. Usually ...GODOT is done on a practically empty stage with only the tree and some random rocks. Here we were looking at a multi-level set with interesting rocks and what looked like an old cemetery to the side with open graves. The result was still that of emptiness in the middle of nowhere.

I am sure that the reason for the sold out house was partially the play itself. WAITING FOR GODOT has been described as the “ most significant play of the 20th Century”. The trouble with it is how to summarize the plot. If you are familiar with the play, you know the problem; if you have never read or seen it, there is no way I can do it justice. I heard one description that said the first act is about nothing and the second act is a repeat of the first therefor it is nothing happens- twice. Actually, it is two men waiting for Godot and while they wait we hear some theology, some philosophy, some Laurel and Hardy, and some vaudeville routines. There is both tragedy and comedy wrapped in these men.

Which takes us to the, I suspect, the main reason for the success of the evening: Sir Ian, Sir Patrick, Billy Crudup and Shuler Hensley.

To my shame, Shuler Hensley’s name was unknown to me, but I will be watching for it in the future. His stage credits are very impressive so much so that he has been awarded the Stage Performer Of the Year by New York Magazine. While on stage as Pozzo, he appears bigger than life; his physical presence and his voice take over the stage--no mean trick when you consider his co-stars.

Billy Crudup has been the receiver of a Tony as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier Awards. He might be best known though for his roles in movies such as  Eat, Pray, Love and Almost Famous.  He was physically unrecognizable as Lucky, the worn-out, much put upon slave. The end of his “thinking” scene was the only time the action had to stop for applause. He was very impressive.

For me to critique the argumentatively two best classical actors in modern English theatre seems pretentious on my part. If Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are only known to you through the X-Men series, The Lord of the Rings,or Star Trek,The Next Generation, you have only the smallest glimpse of their talent.Their combined careers cover almost 100 years and between them they have won almost every award available for stage and screen work. (That also includes hosting Saturday Night Live).

A true indication of their talent is that never during WAITING FOR GODOT did I ever think of either actor as anyone except Estragon and Vladimir. Sir Ian’s Estragon’s character is a down-to-earth tramp-like person while Sir Patrick played Vladimir as pretentious, but with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. During the extended curtain call, the audience had a chance to see the humor as well as the great respect and friendship between these two men.

I am extremely lucky to live in an area with exceptionally fine theatre and I take in as much as time and budget allows, but it was a dream to see Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart live. They really are “Knights to remember”.

WAITING FOR GODOT is playing in repertory with No Man's Land through March 2, 2014. Information can be found at http://www.twoplaysinrep.com/.

BOOK REVIEW: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky’s novel THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER confirmed several of my literary theories.

My first theory is that belonging to a book group enriches a person’s reading enjoyment. Other members often have insights that either reaffirm your ideas or make you look at the material in a new light. Belonging to a group also stretches you. I have overlooked the perks of being a wallflower, thinking that it was a piece of teenage fluff, but it was the Friday Book Group at the Centre County Library’s choice for the month and I felt obligated.

The second belief, and this is one that is getting stronger, is that some of the best new writers are writing for young people. The Book Thief is high on my list of favorite books, as are The Giver series and The Hunger Games. These all have an insight that has become lacking in most of the “adult” best sellers.

Also, I have found that “banned” books are frequently worth checking. It always intrigues me why some books make the list. It seems that too many times it is because the author spoke a truth that is unpopular or that it contains honest language. The perks of being a wallflower  has been on the banned list for both reasons.

Through letters written to an unnamed person, Charlie shares his fear of starting high school and the fact that he does not fit in with any of the groups. His older brother is at Penn State and his sister is a senior at the high school. Although his parents are very nice people, they are not aware that Charlie is so alone.

At a football game, Charlie takes his teacher’s advice to “ participate” more and starts a conversation with seniors Patrick and his step-sister Sam. The two of them take Charlie under their wing and soon he has friends and the complications that go with relationships.

This is a strong coming-of-age book. Charlie is very bright and has the ability to stand back observing what he sees. These are not  traits that would make him popular with his contemporaries. It does give the reader a chance to travel the road through high school. The journey that includes first dates, family problems, drugs, sex,suicide, and never feeling truly connected to any of it.

I am so glad that I read the perks of being a wallflower. The characters were so well done. The author has the ability to make even secondary characters well rounded. Each one of them would be worthy of his or her own sequel,  But please, I hope that never happens; sequels have a way of watering down the original.

The author made the correct choice in telling the story through Charlie’s voice. His thoughts on the great books that his English teacher, Bill, assigned as extra readings were perceptive. So were his comments on the actions of his fellow students.On senior prank day, Charlie could not understand what filling the school swimming pool with grape Kool-aid had to do with graduating.

Stephen Chbosky did an excellent job of portraying the trials and loneliness of being a teenager. This book should be required reading, along with  Catcher in the Rye, by any teenager as well as anyone who wants to better understand that difficult time of life.  

Consider it for your reading list, but be aware that it does contain some language and situations that might be controversial.

THEATER REVIEW: Leaving Iowa

Bald Eagle Area High School Drama Club did it again. Starting with their choice of play to the energy of the cast and crews they provided a fun evening. The play, LEAVING IOWA, was unfamiliar to me, but I have learned to trust directors Eric Brinser and Lindsey Allison.

The plot revolves around Don Browning, played by Matthew Blaylock, taking his father’s ashes back to the old family homestead. In flashbacks, we meet the younger Don, Cody Mandell, his rather bratty younger sister, Abbey Crago, his mom, Kourtney Vermillion, and Dad himself, David Gawryla, on a car trip. These four actors captured the squabbling, the boredom, and the less than educational aspects of an extended family outing almost too well.

Kourtney’s patience with her family was well done, making her “ blow up” something mothers everywhere could relate to. I also loved David as the father who was determined to make this trip fun AND education! Cody and Abbey as the squabbling siblings were so believable that if we were not familiar with their work from earlier plays, we could accuse Mr Brinser of exceptional type casting. These seniors will be missed next year.

Holding the show together was Matthew Blaylock as the adult Don Browning. Charged with taking his father’s ashes to their final resting place, Matthew acts as the narrator for the play. Fortunately, we should see Matthew for the next few years.

These leads deserve more credit for their hard work and talent, but I have to save space for what made this show a stand out. If a high school drama coach is worthy of the title, his or her problem becomes what to do about a large group of students who all deserve to be featured in the few plays that get produced. This is one of the joys of Leaving Iowa. There were so many bit parts that were glowing...and I do not use that term lightly.

Meghan Shields was a believable drunk lady. Too often young actors over-do dunk scenes. She was confused, a little flirtatious, but never over the top. Maya Eppley as the very talkative waitress at Gabby’s restaurant was delightfully “over the top”. Rattling off lines with that type of speed is a difficult thing for experienced actors to do. Maya never missed a beat. I also liked the bored museum assistant played by Margaret Cowen. How often have we run into her type at what should be an otherwise interesting historical site? Luke Besong was fortunate to have had some very good, cynical lines and delivered them so that the audience “got them’. Many young actors have a tendency to throw one- liners away.  

The list could go on, as I said it was an exceptionally large cast, as well as an exceptional cast. This was a group of Thespians who proved that there are no small parts. Good work, guys!

Future events at Bald Eagle include the Middle School production of  James and the Giant Peach January 31st and February the1st. The big spring musical will be Shrek  running April 24-26. I will want to be there if only to check out the costuming.

BOOK REVIEW: Starship Titanic

The novel STARSHIP TITANIC was fascinating on several levels, at least for me.

In the first place it is based on a computer game developed by Douglas Adams. The fact that Adams was involved at all, was enough to tickle my interest. There was a time in my life that his The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe was the most talked about book in our house. Badges saying “Don’t Panic” were worn daily and questions were answered with “ Don’t worry Mom, I know where my towel is”. The book had, and still has, a large cult following.

The introduction to STARSHIP TITANIC is written by Adams. Here he explains that when his editor asked him to write a novel based on his adventure computer game version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide, he realized that such a book would help sales for both the game and the book. Although he was best known as a novelist, time was a factor. That lead him to his good friend Terry Jones.

For those of you not familiar with the name Terry Jones, allow me to explain that he also has been a big part of the “artistic” life of the Park household. If you have watched any Monty Python’s Flying Circus programs, Terry is the “ Naked Man Playing the Organ” in the opening credits, as well as the “Naked Hermit in Pit” in the movie Life of Brian. Adams points out that Terry’s face may not be as recognizable as other parts of him.

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All of the above information is given only to prepare you for the fact that Starship Titanic is a silly, naughty, wonderful novel, that never comes close to making any sense. Of course, the title alone should have given you a hint of that.

Simply put, the plot involves Professor Leovinus of the plant Blerontin who has become an international hero by designing the ultimate spaceship, one with all of the luxuries ever dreamed of. The “brain” of the ship is beyond human conception...if indeed the people of Blerontin were human. The trouble is that Leovinus has been so busy doing the media interviews and the publicity luncheons, he had no time to do a final check of the ship before the initial launch.

As a result, to make a short story shorter, the starship ends up on Earth where it picks up three stowaways. Earthlings, Dan, Lucy, Nettie, and the Blerontin, known as The Journalist, find themselves on an intergalactic trip that involves all types of dangerous situations.

It was fairly easy to see why this would make a fun computer game. The fights are very cartoonish and with lots of action. If you are looking for a deep read with life changing insights, this may not be the book for you. But, if your sense of humor allows for pure nonsense, it might be your cup of tea.

Last note: RIP Douglas Adams and thanks for all of the fun you created for your ever-growing group of fans.

BOOK REVIEW: Wish You Well

David Baldacci is known for his fast paced thrillers. The reader can depend on a protagonist up against an evil that seems unbeatable. WISH YOU WELL is not what we would expect from a Baldacci novel.

Twelve-year- old, precocious Louisa Mae Cardinal is happily living in New York City with her timid younger brother Oz, her loving mother and her adored father. Lou’s father has found acclaim as an author, but very little pay.

After a terrifying accident, Lou finds herself on a train heading away from New York and into the mountains of Virginia. The rustic way of living is completely foreign to Lou and Oz. The work is hard and there are dangers that did not exist  in New York. The remarkable part of their new life is the great-grandmother who is now responsible for the young brother and sister.

WISH YOU WELL is a coming of age novel warmly told by an author who obviously loves the area of his own youth. In true Baldacci style the characters are well drawn. It is hard not to fall in love with Lou’s new best friend Diamond Skinner or the only lawyer on the mountain Cotton Longfellow.

But the person who will stay with you long after the book is closed is Great- Grandmother Louisa. With almost unbelievable strength and patience, she teaches her new family the life lessons that are important to all of us. Because her work ethics are so strong, and because such work ethics are vital for existence on a rural farm in 1940, Lou, Oz and the reader learn “ ... from the great and little miracles that can change lives- or save them”.

It took me several pages to stop looking for the evil characters that I expect from David Baldacci and realize that the characters in this book are heart- warmingly real. There are bad characters just as there are in real life, but most of them are written with a touch of humanity. Wish You Well gives us a glimpse into the range of a talented author.