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/