Green Hornet

The question that comes to mind after seeing the Green Hornet is why do you need the Green Hornet and what is his actual purpose?  Not only was the so called hero upstaged by his partner Kato, he was also upstaged by the car.  Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos and Cameron Diaz were unfortunately dragged into this poorly written movie trying hard to play straight and serious parts in this pathetic movie.  On a short positive note, there were some scenes that were funny because they were a rip off of the Pink Panther.  There was the same idea in the Pink Panther of a love/hate relationship between Clouseau and Cato that was used in this movie.  The Green Hornet left me with a bad taste in my mouth and a question mark on the top of my head.

Polonia Restaurant

There is a polish retaurant in Houston at 1900 Blalock that needs some work done in the kitchen or just a new chef.  (No offense to the Polish).  Let's start on a positive note.  The waitresses and the staff were very nice and accommodating.  They were packed and could have turned us away but they brought out a table to seat us.  Also, when the food came, I have to say that it was hot.  Unfortunately, this is where the kindness ends.  We were given glasses of water that was clearly unfiltered tap water.  It had an after taste that was not pleasant at all.  Our first dish, the potato pancakes "Goral" style came out with pre-packaged cream cheese and apple sauce in little plastic to-go containers.  That should have given us a clue as to what we were in for.  The pancakes were overfried, not seasoned and greasy.  They were edible only by drowning then either with the cream cheese or the apple sauce.  The main course came and it was the Pierogi with sauerkraut.  The Pierogi tasted like spam wrapped in thick rice dough.  This reviewer played it safe and had the chicken sandwich.  The chicken was too deeply fried but it did have flavor and it was served hot.  The sauerkraut was sweet and overpowered  with vinegar.  This is not a good combination and could not be eaten.  We were invited to this restaurant and was under the impression that it served good food.  Perhaps the cook was having a bad night, unfortunately for them it will be a meal that we will not repeat.  After that experience, our much needed relief came from Tums.

Year of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks

Year of Wonder is based on the great plague of 1666 in a small mountain village outside of London.  A bolt of infected cloth carried by an unknown man from London brought this deadly disease to this village.  The people of the village and  Anna, a young woman with a strong heart and constitution all decide to quarantine themselves within the village to stave off spreading this deadly disease.  However, as death reaches every household in the village, all the faith people have start to become non-existent and the village disintegrates in front of Anna's eyes. The year of the plague becomes the most challenging, and deadly year of history.  Geraldine Brooks again transports you with vivid clarity back to the 1600's and the devastation of this plague and the people involved.

Recommended reading:  People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Wm. Paul Young tests your faith in The Shack.  The main character, MacKenzie Allen Philips's daughter Missy is kidnapped during a family vacation.  They finally find evidence of her being murdered in the "Shack".  MacKenzie and his family is devastated and finding it hard to move on.  The Shack makes you take a leap of faith in thinking outside the box on what you believe and don't believe as a christian or whatever faith you are.  The book is well written and fast reading.  The beginning is difficult emotionally but you will have a profound understanding as to what the author is trying to convey throughout the rest of the book.

March by Geraldine Brooks

March is set in the first year of the civil war in 1861 from New England to the south.  The story is of a man who leaves his home, his three daughters and his wife in New England and travels to the south to help and aid in the Union cause.  His discoveries with soldiers and, who are desperate for help to be free, changes his  opinion of the war.  At home, his family is fighting to help anyone who wishes or needs to be freed.  Geraldine Brooks take you into the horrible and devastating reality of the civil war.  She describes very vividly the horros and the shame of the time.  If you are curious about what went on during the civil war, this book will give you a strong sense of how it felt to live at that time and how much was sacrificed for our freedom today.

Cocaine Blues

Cocaine Blues (don't let the title scare you) by Kerry  Greenwood is a delightful and adventure filled series starring the Honourable Phryne (pronounced Fry-nee) Fisher.  She can fly a plane and has worked in the Great War.  She left England and started her life over in Melbourne, Australia where she is now a lady detective.  The time period is the late 1920's.  There are a cast of characters that bring color and life to her adventures.  Bert and Cec, heavy men for Phryne and cab drivers, Dot her personal assistant and a host of other characters that are introduced later throughout the series. The Phryne character can be a little risque at times.  Readers who are sensitive to women choosing their own way of thinking may think twice before reading this series.  The books are lighthearted, fun and a quick read.  If you are looking for something to relax the mind between classes or other stresses in your life, then by all means try out this series by Kerry Greenwood.  Cocaine Blues is this first book in the series.

You can find this book by clicking on the links below:

http://www.murderbythebook.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

An Impartial Witness

An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd is the next book to A Duty to the Dead.  Here again we find Sister Crawford in the summer of 1917 on a short reprieve from the trenches in Paris.  She left a badly burned pilot who talked of going home to see his wife back in London.  He shows a picture of his wife to Bess. She finally arrives at a train station in London and sees a distraught woman that happens to be the pilot’s wife.  Murder finds Bess again and she is reluctantly involved in helping Scotland Yard solve a case and the secrets behind this pilot’s family.  The author again transports you back to the Great War and the devastation behind it in vivid descriptions.  I finished this book in a day and a half.  I recommend this book as well and can’t wait for the next Bess Crawford book.

You can find this book by clicking on the links below:

http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/

http://www.murderbythebook.com/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

A Duty to the Dead

A Duty to the Dead is a historical fiction mystery set during the Great War in Europe.  A nurse, Bess Crawford was on the Britannic (a hospital ship) and the sister ship to the Titanic when it hit a mine on November 21, 1916 and sank.  A lieutenant who was dying under the care of Sister Crawford asked her for a favor.  He wanted her to relay a message to his brother in England.  “I did it for mother’s sake.  But it has to be set right.”  With this in mind and her “duty to the dead”, Bess Crawford comes across many mishaps and shameful secrets and murder to deliver this message.  Charles Todd draws you into one of the world’s most deadliest and devastating wars and also into this soldier’s family secrets.  It’s hard to put this book down.  

Recommended author is Jacqueline Winspear who wrote the Maisie Dobb series.


You can find this book at Amazon.com by clicking on this link

http://www.amazon.com/Duty-Dead-Bess-Crawford-Mystery/dp/0061791768

You can also find this book at Barnesandnoble.com by clicking on the link below:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?r=1&isbn=9780061791765&cm_mmc=Shopzilla-_-Category-_-Title-_-9780061791765&mr:referralid=36518586-22b5-11e0-af68-001b2166becc

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Kostova’s, The Swan Thieves was an intriguing read.  It’s 561 pages and if big books don’t run you off, then The Swan Thieves is the book to read when you have time to savor the contents.  The Swan Thieves is a historical fiction/love story/mystery.  Kostova takes you into the world of art, the love of it and the obsession of it.  There are four main characters.  Robert, who as a brilliant painter goes mad and tries to destroy a painting at the National Gallery.   Marlow is a psychiatrist, who treats Robert and tries to understand why this young man tried to destroy a painting.  Kate, Robert’s wife, is frustrated and confused about her husband’s act of violence.  Mary, a painter and teacher who may hold the key to this mystery.  Kostova is a very good descriptive writer.  The time period is from the late 1800 to 1999 just before the turn of the twenty-first century.  It takes you from Paris to the D.C area to North Carolina.  Kostova sweeps you off into a world of painters and sketchers and their love of the craft.  If you have a love for the arts or are intrigued by it, then you will love this book.  The author made this reviewer look for more information on the painters of that time.  The Swan Thieves is recommended for summer reads and book clubs.  Another book by Elizabeth Kostova is her first novel called The Historian.  It’s about the history of vampires and it’s a book I would also recommend.

You can find this book by clicking on the links below:

http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/

http://www.murderbythebook.com/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

Flora & Muse

Flora & Muse is a quaint bakery and restaurant located in our City Centre here in Houston.  I highly recommend both but the bakery have become one of my favorites.  They have cute garden tables where you can sit outside and enjoy a hot or cold coffee drink or tea.   I’ve become partial to their pastries.  Two of my favorites are their mini chocolate croissants and bear claws with shaves of almonds.  They are to die for.  They do small floral arrangements for those in need of something quick or for the boyfriend or husband who want to bring something nice home.  The staff is friendly, courteous and always smiling.  The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We mostly do lunch there.  One of my favorite items on the menu is the turkey and spinach Panini.  It has a green tomato in it that is so juicy.  It also comes with either a small garden salad or orzo salad.  I also had the salmon which is good as well.  For anyone who is lactose intolerant like I am, you will love the variety of non-dairy products they have to offer.  It is European in style and cuisine and a wonderful place for parties and get together especially for women.  So, if you are looking for a nice little escape from big city life and/or happen to be in the Houston area for a while, take a side trip to Flora & Muse.

Tron Legacy Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

Tron Legacy Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

True Grit

If you like westerns and you loved John Wayne back in the day, you will love this movie. Jeff Bridges did a wonderful job as the character of Rooster Cogburn hired to help a young girl revenge the death of her father. Other great actors under the fantastic direction of the Coen brothers are Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. A newcomer, Hailee Steinfeld was wonderful. Her freshness and grasp on the role of Mattie was refreshing and she fit right in with some very seasoned actors. The story is about a drunk Marshall (Bridges) and a sheriff (Damon) who helps Mattie and decides to come along reluctantly for the ride. Great acting, great story and the cinematography is great. Looking for a great feel good, humorous western then this is the movie to see.

Movie Review

Here is a movie review on the new movie called, Black Swan starring Natalie Portman.

This movie is a disturbing and psychological story about Nina who will do anything to be the perfect ballerina. She is trying out for the queen in Swan Lake. Her mother has tried to keep her in a proverbial "box" to be the perfect princess ballerina. This persona is what drives the character to do things outside of her box in order for her to play a dual good vs. evil role. The role of a lifetime. There is an intense sexual act in the movie for people who are sensitive to that type of act who may want to think twice before deciding to see this movie. The acting is wonderful and the movie will have you think twice about trying to be a perfectionist in anything you are passionate about.

Book Review

This is my first post so please be patient with me. I read this wonderful book and would like to share it. The name of the book is called, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

If you love historical fiction mystery stories, this book will intrigue you. It starts with a four-year old girl in England who is left on ship in 1913 heading to Australia. The only thing she had on her was a white suitcase with a fairy tale book and some money. There was no identification and the little girl refused to say what her name was or where she came from. She was named Nell by a couple who found her. The story follows her incredible journey to find out who she is and where she came from. The journey started at Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast in 1900 to Brisbane Australia and Nell’s special relationship with her granddaughter Cassandra that ended in 2005. Between the two, they find mystery and a lot of answers surrounding the world of Nell and her fairy tale book. Morton writes with compassion and sensitivity to her characters. She transports you to the time period nicely and gives vivid descriptions of the time period.