LONGMIRE | Thoughts | S.3 | Eps. 1-5

August 30, 2015, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Liebstering - That Works as a Verb, Right?

≪ Previous: Sarah MacLean-apalooza – 3 Books, Many Thoughts

A periodic post recording my ever so slightly obsessive watching of Longmire

Time to wrap this series of posts up in preparation for the release of Season 4 on September 10 on Netflix! So excited though I will sadly be in no-internet land but you can bet I will be binge watching as soon as I get connected again. Something to look forward to!

Each season of the show thus far has escalated the drama. I think folk's mileage varies as to how much they enjoy this and I fall mostly on the side of enjoyment. There is no denying that this season is pretty darn grim and depressing and it starts right off the bat. Branch has been shot and as he recovers his behavior quickly becomes erratic and obsessed. If I have one thing I don't like about the events of this season it is that we lose cocky but charming Branch. He does have a point of course but he unfortunately loses points for being increasingly unbalanced in his pursuit of the truth.

Also, Henry is arrested for the murder of a Denver drug addict and it quickly becomes clear that jail is not going to work well for him. To make matters work, the significant amount of money he's put by which should buy him a good defense has gone missing.

Vic also has a bad season as well but in the first half of the season, that mostly involves an increasingly complicated relationship with her boss and a deteriorating relationship with her husband. She's also developing some disturbing suspicions of her fellow deputy and is unsure how to deal with them.

So all in all a fraught start to the season and it's only going to get worse in the second half of the series. There is still some of the humor but it's definitely being overshadowed by the overall bleakness of people's circumstances.

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Episode 3.1 | The White Warrior

Short Synopsis: Walt has a VERY busy episode which starts with him saving Branch's life, then running down and trying to save Henry. He has to try and figure out how to help Henry and who shot Branch especially since Branch is insistent it's a dead guy.

Short Review: This is an exciting first episode but also pretty grim which signals a trend for this season. Also some things don't add up, like Walt being so blindly insistent that Ridges is dead even though he's usually the first to think outside of the box. Grade: A-

Random Thoughts:

Even in his franticness Walt notices details like Branch saying he tastes green.
Henry so admires and loves Walt. He kept the teeth so that there would be no way for Walt to take the fall if things went bad.
Interesting that Vic shuts down Ruby and Ferg so that she can grill Walt. More surprisingly Walt allows it and goes along with it. She follows him into the bathroom and they have an interesting interlude while he changes his shirt and Vic looks intrigued and embarrassed all at once. Walt then invites her along. It's an interesting scene because as we've seen he does not like to be pushed but he lets Vic push him here and is relatively cooperative. Okay sure, maybe it's because they need some exposition delivered but still.
It is a little odd that Walt so resists the idea that David Ridges is still alive. There was something hinky about the tape of his suicide and the scene and there is no body.
For how wise and noble Henry is, he has terrible taste in women.
I really can't help but like Jacob. He's an unconventional "bad" guy.
Barlow Connally: "Nothing like a little family trauma to remind you why you divorced someone."

Episode 3.2 | Of Children and Travelers

Short Synopsis: A Russian teenager is found murdered and Walt and Vic must untangle the complicated path that led her to Absaroka County.

Short Review: While I am a little confused about what exactly Polina's situation was, I really like the journey of this one and the teamwork between Vic and Walt. Grade: A-

Random Thoughts:

Is Walt the best bartender ever or what?
Walt finds Polina's passport in her boot:). A callback to a few episodes back when Cady indicated thatit was a rule of her mom'sto carry any money over $50 in her boot.
From the very beginning Vic's sympathy is entirely with Polina even though she hears all the terrible things the kid does. I think we're meant to understand that Vic really identifies with her but I seriously doubt Vic was this bad of a "bad girl".
So Vic just walks up and says she got the address for the school in Arizona and we should go check it out and Walt just nods and takes off. Aren't Wyoming and Arizona like seriously far apart??
Vic and Walt do a lot of play acting in this episode - they both read each other pretty well and I think it's a nice visual of how good a team they have become.
Ahhh... The weird bar scene. I have no idea what the subtext of this scene really is. Vic almost seems to be flirting with Walt, enticing him with her "I'm a naughty girl" reveal but it's almost like it's born of nervousness/awkwardness. Meanwhile Walt stares at her with a look that could mean "you're drinking my g-damn beer" or could mean "I'd like to rip your clothes off." It's very ambiguous but it does feel like a moment. Then there's the hijinks with opening their room doors and then the significant stare each of them gives the adjoining door of their rooms. Vic would totally like to jump him. Walt could be thinking the same thing or could be just puzzling on whether Vic was actually flirting with him earlier. It's a recognition of tension but not necessarily preference on his part.
Walt takes the measure of the security guard pretty darn quick - I love how they play him. "I know this looks bad but I'm actually a really good guy." When someone says that? They ain't a really good guy.
So I don't really understand who these parents at the end are? Why do they look out for troubled Russian girls? Is the father sexually abusing them? And the wife just goes along with it? Is Sofia Polina's real little sister or just someone she connected with? I find it all very confusing but I'm just going to go with...they were bad people.

Episode 3.3 | Miss Cheyenne

Short Synopsis: The death of a doctor distracts Walt while he is also trying to support Henry through his Bail hearing and serving as a judge in the Miss Cheyenne Nation pageant.

Short Review: This is one of the most intriguing of mysteries that also deals with a morally complicated issue. Again, there is a very strong supporting cast and also the suspense of Henry's bail hearing. Grade: A

Random Thoughts:

WALT: "Are you wearing makeup?" HENRY: "A little." the way Henry says it - all defiant is adorable.
Nice callback to the first episodes of the show with the girl who they saved from prostitution in that episode showing up as a contestant in the pageant in this episode.
Love the response of the nurse at the Res clinic to Branch - giving him a big hug, like an old friend.
It's great to see Cady in her professional capacity and not just as Walt's daughter. It's also great to see how Walt and Cady's relationship has evolved - they are pretty sweet together.
Love the testimony by Miss Stillwater - Henry is awesome.
Branch paying the remainder of Henry's bail is a little sketchy and Branch does of course take advantage in later episodes.
Again this show produces a very powerful and moving confession scene. They do a great job constructing these scenes and hiring guest actors that can really carry them.
Walt sure does end up carrying around a lot of injured people.

Episode 3.4 | In the Pines

Short Synopsis: Branch loses his mind while the rest of the Sheriff's department investigates the murder of a youth wilderness adventure leader.

Short Review: The mystery in this episode didn't really grab me but it has some interesting guest actors. I wish Branch wasn't going insane and that Vic and Walt and Sean weren't quite so angsty. Grade: B-

Random Thoughts:

The episode where Branch really starts to go off the rails.
Poor Walt realizing that one of his enemies may be responsible for his wife's death.
Oh Sean. And Poor Walt - this is all he needs with everything else going on. Again I think Sean is mostly reacting to a read of his wife and his own baggage jealousy issues and not from any preference for Vic he's witnessed coming from Walt.
Vic has told Walt that she and Gorski were lovers - why lie about not knowing what 32 means? She's definitely trying to play things down and keep Walt out of it.
Trey's mom is a little over the top but pretty perfect as the clueless mother of a troubled kid. The actor who portrays Trey is also very good. Creepy and off.
And then Vic brings the whole 32 thing back up at a really inappropriate time. It's like she has good intentions of keeping Walt out of it but she wants to lean on him and have his protection. And Walt seems a little irritated with her for bringing it back up and that he has been dragged into Vic's personal problems. He keeps encouraging her to spend time with Sean. I notice that Vic now wears her wedding ring.
I like the conversation between Sean and Vic - they really sound like a husband and wife who are having problems. Sean admits that he knows Walt and Vic are not fooling around but that doesn't make him less jealous of Walt.
Go Ruby. "I want you to hurt 'em." She's got some Wyoming in her after all:0)!

Episode 3.5 | Wanted Man

Short Synopsis:Walt teams up with Lucian to visit some of his cleverest and most devious enemies in an attempt to figure out who might have killed his wife and her killer. Vic is left in charge and investigates the kidnapping and drugging of a Cheyenne Man.

Short Review: I don't like how separate everyone is but there are some great scenes and I do love a Walt-Lucian team. We also see the emergence (out of jail) of Malachi who promises to be a sinister adversary indeed. Grade: B+

Random Thoughts:

WALT: "Character is Fate. The philosopher Heraclitus said that. I think he meant, Man makes his destiny through his choices and his values."
Walt's testimony againstMalachi is pretty damning and he's the damn sheriff. It's pretty bad that the parole board still decided favorably for Malachi.
Yay for Walt teaming up with Lucian:)!
I kind of like Travis and feel bad for him. His mother is hilarious as is Vic's bossiness.
Vic is SO suspicious of Branch at this point - she can smell the bullshit for sure. Interesting that Walt pauses to make sure all is well.

***************

What do you think about the darker and more drama-filled tone of season 3? What was your favorite of the above five episodes? I really love the first three episodes. How do you interpret Vic and Walt's little interlude at the hotel? How excited are you about season 4??

↧

Liebstering - That Works as a Verb, Right?

September 1, 2015, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: REVIEW | Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

≪ Previous: LONGMIRE | Thoughts | S.3 | Eps. 1-5

I am ridiculously bad at jumping in to the spirit of these awards but I was excited to be tagged by the awesome Rebekah over at Wordsmithing and Worldbuilding AND she asked some pretty great (and difficult) questions. If you haven't checked out her blog before, please do and you will find out that if possible she wouldn't mind being an elf, Autumn is by far the best month, and she's about to be a published author:)!

Here are the questions with my answers:

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what? If not, why?

Only very occasionally and it can't have any words (so mostly classical). I think it's an introvert thing and my brain doesn't do well with too many stimuli at once.

Do you have a certain type of character that you always love/root for? (I. e., the orphan hero, the bad boy/girl with a heart of gold, the loveable rogue). Why do you like them?

I actually really like all three examples provided in the question:). But to give a less boring answer, I am a sucker for "gray" villains - villains that aren't as bad as they seem or have some depth to them beyond just being eeevvvil. For this reason, I love books that flip well known stories and tell them from the villain's perspective.

Has your taste in books changed much in the past ten years? Do you find that you like a certain type of book now better than you did then?

It has certainly changed over the course of my life but in the last ten years? I don't think so. At least not too much. I did start reading romances again after a 15-20 year hiatus. I've also discovered graphic novels in the last couple years. And I've kind of dropped off a little in my reading of "important" books and classics - enjoyment has become more important than enrichment, sadly. I'm getting shallower as I get older. *sigh* So...I guess my taste in books has changed a bit after all! Also another big change, though not really related to book content is that I listen to way more audiobooks these days and that helps me read so much more which is awesome.

What literary trope or cliche do you hate the most? Which one really doesn’t bother you?

The thing about tropes is that all of them can be made palatable, at least to me, in the hands of a good writer. I suppose there are a few that require the hand of a master for me to swallow them. Most of the tropes that bother me are romance related. Alpha Male Heroes in romance. Love triangles particularly with a female character being chased after by multiple hot guys. Conflict that arises from characters not communicating with each other or withholding some crucial piece of information for irrational reasons. I really dislike the whole Italian Mafia, Mobster culture so don't like books that a steeped in that. I joke that I must have been eighty-sixed by the mob in a former life because of how much I don't want to watch or read anything Mafia related.

Name one book that you love that no one else seems to have read. Include a picture and a link so the rest of us can check it out.

Just one? Well I'm totally going to cheat and say check out this Top Ten Tuesday post on "The most underrated books and authors". But to pick just one I'll go with Doc by Mary Doria Russell. She is best known for her novel The Sparrow which is also pretty darn great but Doc is such a gem and I feel like it was a little more under the radar. It tells the story of Doc Holliday and a sequel just came out!

Do you prefer contemporary novels or historical fiction? Why?

Historical fiction definitely. I've never really thought about why actually but I suppose it's because I like history:). That's not a smart ass answer! Honestly, I really have always loved history and I like how fictionalizing it allows for a more intimate exploration of the time period. Also, historical fiction simply feels like more of an escape to me.

If you write (stories, novels, poetry, anything other than blog posts), do you write with the hope to publish, or just for fun?

I don't write any kind of fiction. I do write quite a bit of general interest and scientific articles for work which leads to....

Why did you start your blog? What keeps you posting?

Well, I started because I wanted a creative outlet and a way to work on my writing. First of all I used to be relatively creative when I was younger but felt like I had lost that skill. Also, as I said, I'm not a Writer (with a capital 'W') but I think in the past I was a pretty fair writer just in general. Then I went to grad school for Biology and got all the regular writing beaten out of me as I learned scientific writing which is quite different. It's terse, with no wasted words and all in the passive voice. Then I became a government employee and in that role, I do a little scientific writing and a lot of morphing scientific concepts or ideas into something the general public may find interesting. Hence, my writing has gotten very very confused and I don't feel like I'm very good at any of it any more. The blog got started as a way to flex those writing muscles in a formal way. As I've continued with it, I have enjoyed the more casual writing even more than I thought I would. I also really enjoy being part of the book blogging community and all the great people I've "met" through it. It's enhanced the enjoyment and depth of my reading. That's what keeps me posting:).

If the internet disappeared overnight, how would you feel? Do you think life would be better or worse, and why?

This is an especially opportune moment to answer this question since I've just spent ten days off in the woods with no internet and will spend much of the next month that way. I like to think, because I'm old(ish) and have experienced many years with no internet, that I would deal just fine. That said, I would very much miss the blog and how easy it is to connect with others. I hate talking on the phone so much prefer e-mail as a way of communicating even though I know in many ways it's not as effective. I think it would be very hard to go back to a time before the internet but I think I would adjust. Would life be better or worse? I am not not sure I can say because as soon as I think of something that would be better, I think of another thing that would be worse. I lean slightly towards better only because I think without the immediacy of the internet, the pace of life might slow a little bit which would not be a bad thing.

If you could have tea (or coffee) and a chat with any author living or dead, who would you pick? What would you want to ask them?

Again I'll cheat again and refer you to my top ten tuesday post on this topic but as I said in that post, I actually like to know as little about authors as possible. If I have to pick just one, it's going to be a little bit of a cheat because his status as an author is only part of why I'd want to meet him; Aldo Leopold. He is an author and an incredibly eloquent writer. However, he was also a scientist and is the modern father of wildlife management, conservation biology and restoration ecology. He was living and writing in the first part of the century but he embodied and put into the words the idea that humans are a part of the natural community and not above it so we should stop acting like arrogant, thoughtless asshats. Umm... but he said it a lot nicer and more eloquently. I would just like to have a deep conversation with him about how his philosophy evolved and what advice he would have for modern biologists who are facing many of the catastrophes he predicted back in the 1940s. Finally, I'd like to urge folks not to shy away from A Sand County Almanac thinking it might be technical in nature. It's not and it has some of the most beautiful essays about nature that you will ever encounter.

What do you like best about your writing or your blog? Why?

The thing I like most about my blog is probably a reason for it not being terribly popular - it's unfocused. I don't read or post about a single genre or even just about books. It's part book blog, part other media (TV, Film) blog, part garden journal. I like that it's all over the place!

At this point I am supposed to post some questions and tag some other blogs. I am not going to tag anyone but will post some questions that I urge anyone to answer one or eleven of in the comments! Because I'd like to know!!

1. What is your favorite genre of book and why do you think you love it?
2. What kinds of Characters do you love the most? How about hate the most? What are your representative examples of these character types?
3. What are your top five TV shows? Movies? Books?
4. Do you judge people based on the books they read even if you think it's not a great thing to do? What kinds of books?
5. If you were in charge of designing a high school reading curriculum what books would be on there and why?
6. What food would be included in a perfect meal?
7. Beach or Mountains?
8. If you could teleport anywhere in the world right now where would you go? (someone needs to invent this technology!)
9. If you had a time machine where would you go?
10. What do you hope people remember you for?
11. What do you wish someone would invent?

Thanks again Rebekah! And to all y'all that make blogging so rewarding and fun!

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REVIEW | Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

September 4, 2015, 3:00 am

≫ Next: Saturdays in the Garden - Dogs!

≪ Previous: Liebstering - That Works as a Verb, Right?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8058301-ghost-story

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
Publication Year: 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Dresden Files #13
Awards: NA
Format: Audiobook on CD from Library
Narrator: John Glover

I did something I rarely do with books that I KNOW I’m going to read; I delved into some of the reviews for this book on Goodreads before reading it. I think I was nervous about it – Harry being dead? How was that going to work? And a lot of folks really didn’t like it. Thankfully I was not one of those people! I don’t know how much of my liking for the book was in reaction to the more emo and Happenings-of-Import tone of Changes which I wasn’t crazy about. Ghost Story, even with Harry dead, had more of the action-packed, devil-may-care tone of your usual Dresden book.

It’s important to know however, that while it returns the series to more business as usual, it is also an immediate continuation of Changes. It is the middle book in a trilogy of connected books that ends with Cold Days. It’s like the massive three episode arc that happens in the middle of many tv show seasons. I tend to love those deep dive mid-season trilogies and my enjoyment of the strategy here is also great. In Ghost Story, Harry is having to face up to his actions in Changes and all the repercussions: there is a power vacuum with the destruction of the Red Court of vampires which is causing lots of problems, and he is not around to help his friends deal with it. The book also has some flavor of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, with Harry realizing just how important he was to his friends, to Chicago and to the world. The more mundane purpose of the story is for Harry to work out who murdered him at the end of Changes– the answer to that mystery is a big “Dun, Dun, Duuuuun” moment.

The best thing about this book for me was the exploration of what life is like for the spirits of Chicago - it’s like a whole new world is opened up. It places limitations on Harry which he is not used to having, including being unable to do magic at least in any way that effects the physical world. Figuring things out and being creative when the chips are down is one of Harry’s strengths so it’s a blast to watch him work it all out. I also liked his ghost mentor, Sir Stuart Winchester and the re-appearance of the little medium Mort, who turns out to be stronger and more heroic than he appears. The pacing is back to normal (I thought it was uneven in Changes) with the usual impossible deadlines and frenzied action that makes me turn the pages (metaphorically speaking since I was listening to it) needing to know how Harry and the gang will save the world this time.

The love wasn’t universal of course. While I liked the overall answer to the question “Who shot Dresden?”, I thought the why of it, particularly what gets a certain heavenly creature involved, was pretty Deus Ex Machina (perhaps appropriate considering the apperance of an angel...). It felt like it was shoe-horned in there because Harry wouldn’t have taken the actions he did without some prompting. The book also got pretty repetitive in places. If I had to listen to Harry think about how sensitive Molly is and how thoughtless it was of him to involve her in the fight at Chichen Itza one more time, I was going to get super annoyed. As it was, I was only mildly annoyed. And since this book is all about regrets, it makes sense. Finally, while this isn’t particularly a complaint nor even specifically limited to this book, a new foe is introduced, the Fomor, and pretty much nothing whatsoever is done with them in this book nor the two books that follow. I’m sure they will get their chance to shine later in the series but I get all anxious when characters, plots, or major players are introduced and then they don't go anywhere.

And the Murphy Files? Murphy is struggling not just with Harry’s death/disappearance but also with the loss of her job/identity. Of course no one is the least sympathetic to this, they just talk about how hard she has become. In addition, our last view of Murphy is her breaking down with grief at Harry’s death and Harry, because he feels helpless, just says oh well, let me make sure everyone else is okay and then I’ll happily pass on from this mortal coil. I appreciate how mentally and physically strong Murphy is and how Dresden respects her strength and doesn’t coddle her but for a man who had been contemplating a relationship with her, Dresden is awfully blasé about her pain. He should at least want to comfort her even if he doesn’t think she needs it. File this under “what the hell is Butcher playing at with these two?” A file that is about to get very thick indeed in the next couple books.

Finally, a note about the audio. This version was narrated by John Glover, not James Marsters who had done all the other books. Glover is good but Marsters is better and I was happy to see that just this year they’ve released an updated audio with Marsters for continuity’s sake.

FINAL VERDICT: A solid installment with a creative premise that I think was handled really well. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Saturdays in the Garden - Dogs!

September 5, 2015, 4:17 pm

≫ Next: LONGMIRE | Thoughts | S.3 | Eps. 6-10

≪ Previous: REVIEW | Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

OUTSIDE

Another week in the wilds of western Iowa is done and I'm back in the cozy arms of my home for a short break. It was hot as snot most of the week and last weekend was plagued by Armageddon-like fog but I did stop and enjoy many wonders.

Many folks don't realize that grass has flowers with petals. This is Indian Grass in bloom.

The prairie is full of these crab spiders in a wide array of colors that blend in with a flower to sit and wait for some poor nectar gatherer to come along.

Hummingbird Moth!

LIFE

It's Labor Day weekend here in the U.S. and I'm taking a breather from field work to spend a few days at home. One of the motivators was that this weekend is the Des Moines Kennel Club Dog Show. Through the blog, I don't know if you have picked up on the fact that I am a serious dog nut. Besides having two myself, I own at least two picture books on dog breeds and can identify most breeds at 20 paces. If I am ever called upon to do a survey of dogs inhabiting a particular area, that's going to be a piece of cake:). (Dang it, now I want cake). Anyhow, as a young person I made a list of all the dogs breeds I'd like to have as companions at some point in my life and one of the saddest things about getting older is I realize a) I'm running out of time! and b) because my preferences run to the-larger-and-hairier-the-better, my actual physical ability to manage such dogs is quickly diminishing. Oh, to win the lottery so I can buy my hobby farm today.

So what's on my list?

Clumber Spaniel

(this is a rare breed, difficult to find puppies)

(NO Cropped Ears!)


This woman says she gathers the undercoat and weaves it!

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Newfoundland

Golden Retriever

(of course)


The Glamor Dogs from the show.

My goofy Jasper

My goofy Rudy

And then of course I always want to have at least one rescue/shelter dog. My two boys are from a local Golden Retriever rescue organization. So yeah. I like dogs. How about you? Do you have any groups of a animals you have obsessive interest in/knowledge of? Do you have any pets? Do you have a favorite breed? Yes, Heinz 57 counts;)!

Finally, this is happening in my little town right now:

Three blocks of the main street is blocked off and lined with classic cars. Ah, small town America.

READING, WATCHING and BLOGGING

Watching

I'm not watching much of anything these days, being out in the sticks, BUT I am SO flippin' excited about the 4th season of Longmire being released on Netflix Sept. 10!! I am also flippin' mad that I will not be anywhere near an internet connection on that date! I'll probably gabble about this a bit on my season 3 wrap up post tomorrow but in the meantime here's the season 4 trailer!

Reading
A few weeks ago I posted a stack of awesome YA audiobooks I got from the library in preparation for being on the road a ton. I'm almost done with all those - I only have 1.5 to go! So I went and got another awesome stack:). I am really trying to make some progress on series of which I am in the middle!

I'm finally continuing on with my Harry Potter re-read. I had stalled for a bit because I couldn't find Goblet of Fire with the other HP audios (in juvenile fiction) at the library and I illogically just assumed it was always checked out. Come to find out, from Goblet of Fire on up in the series, the books are shelved under YA instead of juvenile fiction. I had this revelation while reading the first three books, that J.K. was brilliant to kind of mature her books and their content with her characters. Apparently it's like an established, official thing and I'm a slow revelator:).

Finished (in the) Last Week (and a half):

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone: Despite my real misgivings about the number of series I'm in the middle of, I picked up a new one. It was great but I feel in love with Tara and looking at how this series works I doubt I will ever see her again:(.
The Duchess War by Courtney Milan: This is a historical romance novelist that I've heard great things about. This is my second book by her and while I totally get all the praise, her books and I aren't really getting along.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier: I actually read the second book in this series first (horrors!) while I was out in the wilds last year so it seemed appropriate to pick up book one this year while out in the wilds.
Doctor Who: The Art of Destruction: This was only a 2.5 hour audio so very quick listen.
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MaClean: This was another re-read prompted by my recent Sara MacLean post. It held up and maybe got better with a re-read.

Currently Reading:

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: So maybe some day I'll pick this up again? Until then it will sit here on the currently read and look encouraging.
The Founding (The Morland Dynasty #1) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles: This is the first book in a series that follows a single British family through numerous generations into modern times. This first book takes place in the early 15th century. This is such a fascinating idea and I have high hopes but I have to say the characters in this first book are shallow and are doing nothing for me. I made some progress this week in this book!
Of Noble Birthby Brenda Novak: Despite the presence of pirates it is not making me happy mostly because of deficient humor and boring main characters. I also made some progress in this one which I had kind of been avoiding.
Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work, Family by Anne-Marie Slaughter: This is a non-fiction ARC addressing work-life balance and feminism.
Abarat by Clive Barker: Reminding me a lot of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland... which in turn reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Fun, strange book.

On the BLOG LAST WEEK:

FRIDAY: Sarah MacLean-apalooza | Three Books, Many Thoughts. I think I have found my favorite historical romance writer!
SUNDAY: Sixth Longmire post featuring the first 5 episodes of Season 3!
WEDNESDAY: A Liebster Award post! Thanks to Rebekah at Wordsmithing and Worldbuilding for tagging me!
FRIDAY: Review of Ghost Story by Jim Butcher.

On the BLOG NEXT WEEK:

SUNDAY: Final Longmire post covering season 1-3. This will be about the last 5 episodes of season 3 and speculate a little on season 4.
Beyond that I hope to write and schedule some reviews but not sure what yet.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful and fun weekend!

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LONGMIRE | Thoughts | S.3 | Eps. 6-10

September 6, 2015, 1:37 pm

≫ Next: REVIEW: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

≪ Previous: Saturdays in the Garden - Dogs!

A periodic post recording my ever so slightly obsessive watching of Longmire

The latter half of season 3 sees a lot of drama and signals some really major changes for almost all of the characters. Cady finds her legs as a litigator, Henry is freed, Branch goes through hell and back only to discover his true enemy is closer to home, Vic's marriage dissolves but her persecution ends and Walt stays really busy and stressed but is finally brought to a place where he can say goodbye to his wife, Martha. For me this is an incredibly strong set of episodes and I gave 4 out of 5 of them a grade of A or A-. I'm obviously a fan of season 3!

Here's my thoughts on the episodes:

*************

Episode 3.6 | Reports of My Death

Short Synopsis: Walt re-enacts Weekend at Bernie's after finding a dead body in the town square who may be the long lost heir to a fortune.

Short Review: A slightly lackluster episode but it does post some interesting quandaries about family loyalty, wealth and happiness. Walt works mostly on his own this episode which is also kind of a bummer. GRADE: B

Random Thoughts:

It's no fun seeing Henry so down in the dumps and angry. It' a big contributor to the overall grimness of this season.
What WAS Walt like when he was 12??
So I guess Branch and Nighthorse are officially broken up?
What do you think about Welles? Selfish asshole or brave idealist? He's probably somewhere in the middle. I do feel some sympathy for Penny and think Welles is somewhat cruel to his brother and sister. After all they were all in the same boat and he escaped without a backward glance to them.
Well Branch is breaking up with everyone in this episode - I think he and Vic are also through.
Vic: "Don't you compare yourself to Walt!" Branch: "I forgot. You two have a special relationship." I think Branch probably idolizes Walt as much as Vic but he's been corrupted by being raised by Barlow.
Branch actually makes a pretty coherent argument defending his actions but there is also a big helping of self-justification.

Episode 3.7 | Population 25

Short Synopsis: Vic and Sean stumble into a really bad part of rural Wyoming on their way to vacation and end up getting kidnapped by anti-government extremists.

Short Review: There is a lot about this episode that doesn't make sense but that doesn't change the fact that it is Tense with a capital 't' and very exciting. Grade: A

Random Thoughts:

Vic and Sean just really don't fit even when they are trying.
Vic's lack of respect for her husband comes out in the patronizing way she talks to him and controls the situation after the accident. Her plan is actually kind of ridiculous - Sean has the better idea but she has to take charge and act. Interesting that Chance points out the lack of logic to Vic walking to his house when they had a phone.
Walt to Gorski: "If you hurt her, you're a dead man."
So anti-government extremists eat fried bologna sandwiches. Who knew?
Gorski: "The names out here. We just don't get them out East."
I actually kind of like Gorski in this episode which highlights how inconsistent and ridiculous this whole Vic storyline has been. I like it because it causes Vic and Walt to become more personally entangled BUT it is kind of a mess. They seem to be rolling with the idea that Gorski's a little off therefore we can have him act inconsistently and explain it away as he's crazy. He and Walt actually make a pretty great team.
So why does Chance think that Sean isn't Vic's type right off the bat? Sean is kind of preppy looking but it's not like Vic has her shitkickers on or anything. Sean is actually pretty ballsy in the initial scene with Chance.
It is obvious in the scene that Vic cares about Sean and is genuinely scared for him.
Katee Sackhoff does an excellent job of losing her shit when she thinks that Walt may be in the body bag. You can pretty much see her marriage dying right at that moment.
So why do we even get the scene with Branch at the scene of the accident? He does nothing of importance and we never see him again.
Vic: "God I hope so, you crazed nutjob."
So the final vibe from Gorski is 1) that he actually did care for Vic and 2) he realizes that Vic has "lost everything" (as he wished for in the last episode he was in) with the presumed death of Walt.
This episode was apparently longer than the others and it could actually have used at least 5 more minutes to explain what happened to Branch and really deal with the fact that Vic, with a serious concussion and a traumatizing experience, heads back into the fray to go after Walt.
Vic and Walt Update: So I think a lot of folks feel like this is where Walt shows his feelings and there are perhaps a couple of subtle things that suggest that Vic is special to him but again I think most of Walt's actions, including the duel challenge, he would take for anybody in danger from Chance. He almost blew the whole rescue earlier in the day to save an unknown state trooper - if Gorski hadn't been there, Walt, and Vic with him, would likely be dead. So I don't really see that most of his actions really reveal any preference or personal feelings for Vic. The two things that might be indicators? 1) His quote above to Gorski threatening to kill him if Vic was hurt - perhaps not meant to be taken literally but there is a lot of force in Walt's delivery. 2) He takes his eyes off of Chance for several seconds to lock eyes with and watch Vic as she is driven away. This episode, does more to solidify even further that Vic is in love with Walt. It's not just admiration and attraction. She loves him. And Sean knows it now too.

Episode 3.8 | Harvest

Short Synopsis: The murder of a local impoverished farmer doesn't add up but Walt and company have a hard time figuring out exactly what happened.

Short Review: So this episode was always going to get a great review from me on the strength of the first scene alone! Thankfully the rest of the episode earns that good rating. Branch has seriously burned all bridges, and Vic is faced with the same decision she had in Philadelphia. There is all kinds of angst in this episode. The "mystery" is also quite poignant and highlights Walt's compassion. GRADE: A

Random Thoughts:

Why has Branch turn into such a Grade A asshole. Vic was just kidnapped and terrorized and he's stuck in his little private world. And then there's his response to Cady.
Poor Ferg. Does Walt send him out to do the grunt work because he doesn't think he's ready to be the primary deputy on a case like this? Is he trying to get some alone time with Vic? If so he doesn't use it...
Walt's response to Vic's announcement that Sean is demanding her resignation is very cold. I think he's over-compensating because what he'd like to do is beg her to stay and he knows THAT wouldn't be professional.
After she leaves in a huff and Ruby comes in he actually looks fairly peevish.
I'm actually really surprised that Sean just goes along with Vic's seduction and then HOLY foot in mouth Vic. Final nail in coffin for Sean and Vic, that.
So what do you think of Nick Holman's attitude?
Walt's affection for Bob and the speech he gives him is touching and shows just how compassionate and empathetic Walt is - he has that perfect combo of tough guy who can wall off his feelings with a strong sense of duty and compassion.
Cady about Branch: "When I look him in the eyes all I see is this dark mean unstable man."
I love the final scene as Walt rolls in, sees Vic's clean desk and then his dread at her handing him a letter.
Poor Walt - One deputy going completely off the rails, best friend on trial for murder, having to duel crazed extremists in order to free his other deputy of whom he's overly fond of on top of all his cases. Man needs some down time.
Vic and Walt Update:Finally, Walt shows his hand. Up until the first scene of this episode Walt has done nothing definitive to reveal that he has anything but professional and perhaps friendly feelings toward Vic. His reaching out to Vic is prompted by the traumatic situation they've just been through but also a couple of other things. I think that what happened, and the fact that Vic is sitting with him and not her husband suggests to him that she has feelings for him. Up to this point, while Walt is not lacking in confidence, I think he was blind to Vic's feelings because he couldn't imagine her having feelings for him because of their age difference. The situation and his realization of her feelings push him past his natural repugnance of flouting marriage vows. It's also quite obvious that Vic needs a hug. And it's a really lovely hug.

Episode 3.9 | Counting Coup

Short Synopsis: Branch has yet another sighting of David Ridges which sends the whole Sheriff's department into an uproar. Meanwhile, Henry tries to burn the Red Pony down.

Short Review: The last two episodes of this season are busy. This episode does a good job of finally resolving the David Ridges story line and in dramatic fashion - the showdown with Walt is impressive. Grade: A-

Random Thoughts:

Poor Ferg.He's trying so hard but he's clueless. Has he not noticed Branch's wacko behavior. And then Uh Oh. It's not like Ferg is wrong to challenge Walt but... REALLY bad timing. And Walt throws a little hissy fit. Hee!
Ruby: "All you did was treat Branch the way you would want to be treated. Problem is, he's not you." Truth.
Walt is NOT happy when Branch attacks Vic. BUT he still gives Branch the benefit of the doubt which Vic does not.
Looks like Walt is kind of dreading coming to work these days. And again...Oh Ferg. Walt didn't assault Branch, he just pulled him off of Vic and put him in the cell.
Nice callback to the earlier snippet of information that David Ridges was a frequent blood donator at the Res clinic.
It kind of looks like Walt rehearsed his whole speech to Vic. His delivery is perfect..."The truth is Vic...I want you to stay."
Vic: "You got a pen?"
Seriously, it's one crisis after another. This is a truly very grim episode. I think it's Walt's turn to have a nervous breakdown.
The showdown between Walt and Ridges is seriously intense and Ridges seriously almost gets Walt - driving his car off, then attacking on horseback. A clever set up.

Episode 3.10 | Ashes to Ashes

Short Synopsis: So many things are mostly resolved. Miller Beck's killer is finally identified. It's enough to get Henry off but it's clear that the killer is just a pawn and that there was a conspiracy behind Walt's wife's death. Also Branch gets suspicious and paranoid with a new quarry.

Short Review: Cady comes into her own in this episode and it is awesome to see. Paired with Walt and Henry's emotional releases and the cliff hanger ending, it would have been a crime to not continue this show. Grade: A

Random Thoughts:

I really adore how Walt handles Branch. He honors his need for closure while firmly making it clear that he, Branch, still has a lot to answer for.
And seriously, Walt was just in a battle for his life and he just calmly drives himself back into town and logs the body into the morgue.
Walt is adorably protective of Vic here. Looking at her while he makes it clear Branch will not be coming back to the office any time soon, telegraphing clearly that going after her was the most unforgivable thing Branch did. Aww....
There was some mildly disgusted chatter that of course now that Vic is free there was going to be a big smooch between Walt and her. Instead he (accidentally) punches her in the face. That's why this show is so awesome. It also just kind of breaks the slight awkward tension between them.
The scene in the Red Pony is one of my favorites - all the interactions are funny and Vic's rather intimate way of tending to Walt's wound and the fact that Walt doesn't even register it as something weird or awkward is awesome. Cady on the other hand does a double take.
So how great is it to see Henry and Walt working together in this episode? Super great! I love them together and they are particularly good here.
Cady's smackdown is epic and I love that she gets to do it. I've enjoyed her character a lot this season.
Henry's first visit is to Hectors wall:(. Poor Hector. Henry takes the jar of pleas - does this mean Henry is going to take up Hector's mantle?
Oh...the scene between Walt and his wife. Really great scene and Robert Taylor knocks it out of the park. It is a little odd that he doesn't bring his daughter along but we needed this scene as did Walt.
And that ending. Holy Sh*&. Thank god for Netflix picking up season 4!!
Vic and Walt Update: In this episode, it feels like things have shifted between them. There's a settled intimacy and comfort between them. Nothing's happened between them but with Vic free and Walt likely in no doubt of her feelings for him, it's no longer a taboo idea so I think they have relaxed a bit. I also like to think that one reason for Walt finally beginning the process of letting his wife go, is the prospect of new love. His decision is more complicated than that for sure but I don't think Walt would truly feel right pursuing something with Vic when his wife still haunts him.

**************

Despite the slightly grimmer and more emotionally charged tone of this season, I still found it immensely entertaining and I like where the show is going. Folks that want a straight police procedural probably got a little disgusted, but I like a mix that includes relationship complexities and longer story lines.

Season 4 drops September 10 on Netflix and from what I've seen so far, my extreme excitement has not been diminished. The overall theme of the season is second chances which fits so well with where all the characters are at, at the end of season 3. Branch, if he's alive, will be out from under his father's thumb (maybe) and needing a new career, Vic is divorced and ostensibly free of her Philadelphia stalker, Henry has been exonerated and has his freedom back, Cady has gone from unemployed to gaining some confidence as a courtroom lawyer and Walt has ostensibly finally said goodbye to his wife though perhaps not to avenging her. I love the idea of each of them struggling with how to do the right thing with their second chance. Should be a very interesting season!

What am I hoping for? I hope we don't lose Branch and that he gets back to his old self (before David Ridges) a little bit. I'd like to see Cady continue to be bad ass and perhaps re-kindle some romance with Branch. I'm interested in the idea of Henry picking up Hector's mantle as vigilante and how that might bring he and Walt into conflict. I'd like to see more character development for Ferg. Finally, I'd like to see more air time/storylines for Vic and of course an exploration of a relationship between her and Walt. Walt has always been the center of the show and I don't have any specific hopes for him except that he really be over his wife's death (fat chance) and that he, at least once, makes a bit of a fool of himself over Vic because she deserves that, having to deal with his stoicism. More generally, I'd like to see more about the people and life on the reservation.

Here's the official season 4 trailer which I think illustrates one of my favorite things about the show - the music and how they use it:

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REVIEW: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

September 7, 2015, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: REVIEW: The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

≪ Previous: LONGMIRE | Thoughts | S.3 | Eps. 6-10

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Publication Year: 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Wildwood #1
Awards: NA
Format: Audiobook on CD from Library
Narrator: Kim Mai Guest

WHY: Appallingly and against my usually vigilant rules, I accidentally read book 2 of this series (Cybele's Secret) first. I didn't love it but was intrigued by the mentions of events in book 1. Plus I generally like Juliet Marillier and fairy tale re-tellings.

From what I've read Wildwood Dancing is Juliet Marillier's first foray into young adult fiction. The setting is a feudal Transylvania and the primary source for the story is the fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, though several changes are made and pieces from other stories and region appropriate folklore are also used.

Wildwood Dancing tells the story of five sisters who are allowed access to the fairy world and its revels during every full moon. This is a secret part of their lives and brightens up their otherwise content but rather mundane lives. Their story is told from the point of view of Jena, who is the second oldest sister (15 years old) and "the responsible one". Their mother is dead and their father is very ill and must spend the winter in gentler climes than the mountains of Transylvania in order to have any chance of recovery. The five sisters are on their own for the winter, with Jena and her older sister Tati left in charge. Almost immediately problems start to arise mostly in the form of their overbearing and chauvinistic neighbor and cousin Cezar and a forbidden love that develops between Tati and one of the more enigmatic denizens of the fairy kingdom.

As I have experienced with Marillier before, she does a good job of interweaving magic into a very believable and detailed "real world". The detail and life she breathes into what is otherwise a short folk tale is nothing short of wondrous. The life of the sisters, their relationship with others and the community they are a part of all feel very down to earth and historically accurate. The magic is entwined with the setting in a very natural way that is easy to imagine. This is a real strength of the book and was probably what I enjoyed most.

While the world building is easy to admire and praise, my feelings about almost everything else in the book are more complicated. I liked the book better after I had finished and digested it a bit but I have to admit to feeling frequently frustrated by it while listening. Most of my frustration can probably be chalked up to me being a pretty unfairly curmudgeonly reader of YA so take it with a grain of salt:).

While Jena is, for the most part, a wonderful main character; opinionated, ambitious, nurturing and perhaps a bit of a control freak. She's admirable but flawed. Unfortunately, I found her (and her sisters) at times insanely frustrating. The main element of her character arc that I struggled with was how naively she acts despite her exposure to a much wider world than most. This is really a pitfall of all fairy tale re-tellings. We the readers are usually very familiar with the tropes and themes that frequently dominate fairy tales and as such can see circumstances coming from miles away, while by necessity the characters living in the story shouldn't be expected to know these things and be wiser for them. When the witch of the wood tells you to "trust your instincts", listen to her and don't assume she's fond of meaningless platitudes! Even if a character's ignorance makes sense it doesn't change the fact that their blundering makes them look stupid. Again this is likely down to me being too critical a reader. However, there are also scenarios where Jena refuses to consider the possibility of something because it seems "impossible", all while she is traveling through a magic portal in her bedroom to the land of the fairies. Seems like that would open one's mind to all possibilities? Maybe a little? The fact that she is so dismissive of things that seem no more outlandish than her monthly experiences frustrated me to no end. It came across as heavy handed storytelling, and maybe aimed at a younger audience than typical YA?

All that grumbling aside, one of the main things that frustrated me while I was reading, but then became kind of awesome upon reflection, was the character of Tati and her love for Sorrow. Tati remains an exasperating character but I realized that, purposefully or not, Marillier had set up an elegant contrast between Tati's romance and Jena's. Tati's relationship with Sorrow is straight out of a fairy tale or medieval tales of romantic love. They fall in love at first site and become instantly obsessed with each other even though they've only spent 3 nights in each others' company. Tati becomes unable to do or think about anything other than Sorrow and ceases to be able to function in normal life. She becomes selfish and completely self-absorbed. When troubles arise, she stops eating until she starves herself to the point of death putting her family and her beloved in grave danger as well. Jena, on the other hand, falls in love with her hero over many years of friendship. When troubles arise, she continues to function mostly at full capacity and takes care of all her responsibilities. She is then brave and assertive and is the one to address and fix the problems between her and her fella. It's a lovely contrast between the courtly love that has been idealized in the past and a more modern and healthier approach to relationships. Kind of cool even if I did want to shake Tati every time she was on the page!

The story is also really engrossing and I found myself looking forward to being in the car and getting more of it. I got really sucked in and it was the auditory version of a page turner. The narrator, Kim Mai Guest did a lovely job. She spoke with a slight accent/lilt to her voice that really worked for Jena. She also did a seamless and mostly non-cartoonish job voicing all the male characters and the strange denizens of the wildwood.

FINAL VERDICT: Recommended to anyone who likes richly imagined fairy tale re-tellings. I found it to be a little uneven particularly in it's portrayal of characters but I'm not sure this would be an issue for the targeted reader. 3.5 out of 5 Stars.

A smattering of other Blogs that have reviewed this book: Book Smugglers, Tripping Over Books, The Silver Petticoat Review

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REVIEW: The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

September 9, 2015, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Sundays in the Garden | The Nomadic Life Starts to Lose Its Shine

≪ Previous: REVIEW: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
Publication Year: 2012
Genre: Historical Romance, roughly Victorian Era
Series: Brothers Sinister #1
Awards: RONE Award, Historical Post-Medieval (2013)
Format: eBook bought
Narrator: NA

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
Publication Year: 2012
Genre: Historical Romance, roughly Victorian Era
Series: Brothers Sinister #0.5
Awards: RONE Award, Best Historical Novella (2013)
Format: eBook bought
Narrator: NA

WHY: I am very picky about my romance reads so I am always on eagle-eyed look out for new authors. Milan has come up several times in several places as a talented writer of historical romance with feminist sensibilities. Sign me up!

First of all, I am reviewing two stories here. The Governess Affair is a novella that precedes the first Brothers Sinister book and it explains how two of the characters are connected and why they have the issues that they do. It's a good place to start. In it, Serena Barton is a governess who has recently lost her position because a noble guest at her employer's house, the Duke of Clermont raped her and got her with child. She is now determined to shame him and get what she needs to care for her child. She must first figure out how to outsmart the Duke's ruthless man of business, who, of course turns out to be a much better man than his employer.

Fast forward almost 30 years and the illegitimate and legitimate son of the evil Duke are fast friends and are brothers and more than name. The Duchess War's time frame is more Victorian than Regency era England and struck me as a little past Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South but before Edith Wharton's Buccanneers. What? You don't define historical periods by fictional settings? Anyway, this book focuses on Robert Blaisdell, the current Duke of Clermont as he struggles to right his father's wrongs and be a better person. His mind is engaged by a sharp-tongued and rather plain looking wallflower who obviously harbors many secrets. They have many obstacles to their inevitable union because of her scandalous past and very low social status. They make it work but not without a lot of strife.

I really admire and respect Courtney Milan but at least based on these two books, I'm not sure she is destined to be on my list of favorites. This book was really good and I appreciated so many unique elements about it. The heroine is not terribly attractive, there’s a great female friendship portrayed (among others), the hero is a virgin (gasp!) and the sex is not immediately mind blowing. The plot is a little far-fetched but complex and interesting. At one point she does that thing I hate where it appears a big conflict will ensue because one of the partners stupidly and incomprehensibly withholds some information but then she subverts that annoying trope by diffusing the conflict and using it as an “important learning moment” for the character.

As much as I admired he book however, I didn't love it. Mostly this is 100% a personal preference thing. Basically, my preferences in romance are incredibly and ridiculously shallow. Sure, I want a unique, independent sassy female lead and for the characters to be developed enough that I care about them. But that’s about as much depth as I want. Reality? Has no business being in my romance novel and if it isn’t making me laugh or smile affectionately at the witty banter in between swoons I want none of it. Milan definitely includes some humor in the book, there are a couple of scenes, interactions between Robert and his friends, that made me laugh out loud. However the overall feel of the book is too weighty for my preferences. I repeat, it’s ALL ON ME and I didn’t dislike the book, not by a long shot but I was not delighted or swept away by it. That said, I am totally interested in reading the next two books in the Brothers Sinister series because I was VERY intrigued by the other three characters that will be focused on: Oliver, and particularly Sebastien and Violet. Sebastien is an evolutionary biologist!! Eep!

FINAL VERDICT: A little too weighty for my romance-reading taste but a well-written and unique book so if you’re not as shallow as I am (so…most people) you’ll likely love it! I will be continuing the series. 3 out of 5 Stars.

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Sundays in the Garden | The Nomadic Life Starts to Lose Its Shine

September 13, 2015, 7:18 pm

≫ Next: Saturdays in the Garden | There's No Place Like Home

≪ Previous: REVIEW: The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

OUTSIDE and LIFE (because they are one and the same these days)

I ain't gonna lie. It has been a very frustrating week in the field though I'll let you decide if that really would even register on the scale of bad. I had to abort two surveys in the middle and take a 20 minute break in the middle of another because of weather and some bison that were feeling capricious. I am down to the final ten days to get my field work done and deadlines and pressures back at the office are starting to mount. I got a nasty-gram from the deputy head of the agency about something I hadn't done in the allotted time frame (because it requires a good bit of internet access and the time frame was established the day before I went into the field for 6 weeks with no internet). Hence why I am back in civilization to spend a day in the office tomorrow. Yippee! My job is awesome and I'm lucky to have it and have the opportunity to run around in the prairie as part of it so while I may whine a little I try not to really complain but the nomadic life? I am done with thee!

I love blue flowers.

They're pretty.

I'm not sure if you can tell but it is raining where I am standing, taking the picture. A mile to either side of where I was, it was blue skies with hardly a cloud. I paused my survey and just stood there for 15 minutes and got rained on while looking resentfully at the nearby blue sky.

Is it just me or can anyone else imagine a hand rising from the lake holding an enchanted sword...


These are the bison. They are standing right smack dab in the middle of my survey parcel looking at me nervously. For good measure, the herd was split and the other half was lounging right in the way of the survey parcel's exit. That, along with a brisker wind than I was expecting, scuppered my survey ambitions for today:(.

WATCHING, READING and BLOGGING

Watching

Nada. The thing I am most looking forward to when I am done with my field work is binge watching season 4 of Longmire on Netflix!

Reading