I’ve always been an anxious sort of person, but it really kicked in when I got to 5th grade. We had just moved back to California, and I enrolled in a school where all the other kids hated me. Oh, you can file this under paranoia, but fifteen years ago I met my wonderful 5th … Continue reading FINDING MY XANAX AT 148 BONNY MEADOW ROAD
Life
FIGHTING THE FIFTH COLUMN, GAD STYLE – PART ONE: Christie’s N or M
Last year, moviegoers and Netflix subscribers (I count myself as both) were inundated with mid-20th century British history. Beginning with Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, followed by The Darkest Hour, which covered the same events from Churchill’s point of view (and assured its star, Gary Oldman, of an Oscar), continuing on to Season 2 of The Crown, … Continue reading FIGHTING THE FIFTH COLUMN, GAD STYLE – PART ONE: Christie’s N or M
MY END OF THE YEAR RECAP
We open with a song, sung to the tune of Sinatra’s “It Was a Very Good Year”: 2017 It was a very bad year. It was a very bad year For politics in the U.S.A. Our president’s cray-cray! His act got very old, And the GOP turned cold. But I’d say ‘17 It was … Continue reading MY END OF THE YEAR RECAP
READER’S CHOICE: The Detective or the Egg?
About six weeks ago, I invited the blogosphere to suggest GAD topics for a mammoth group discussion between my blogging buddies Noah, JJ and me. The response was staggering. Okay, three people replied, but they were great suggestions, and I thank you! One of them came from my online friend rkottery: “How about the role … Continue reading READER’S CHOICE: The Detective or the Egg?
GENRE TRANSCENDANT: A Quartet of Great Films
Christmas is just around the corner (he said two days before Thanksgiving!), and that means movie studios are about to inundate the theatres with their “prestige” films, hoping these will receive consideration for the big awards (the Golden Globes, the Oscars, and the Independent Spirit). Every year, this period where good movies are released shrinks … Continue reading GENRE TRANSCENDANT: A Quartet of Great Films
APOLOGIA: In Which One Modern Mystery Causes Me to Reflect on Too Many Issues for One Post . . . and Asks You to Come Along for the Ride!
A few months ago, I told you I would never buy a Louise Penny mystery again, for a host of reasons you can feel free to check out here. But Penny is fun to listen to in the car, so last week I went to the library and checked out Glass Houses, the thirteenth in … Continue reading APOLOGIA: In Which One Modern Mystery Causes Me to Reflect on Too Many Issues for One Post . . . and Asks You to Come Along for the Ride!
POINT ME IN THE RIGHT MISDIRECTION (Part One: The Knave of Clubs and the Queen of Hearts)
The Golden Age of Detective Fiction, which was essentially borne out of the chaos of the First World War and began its slow decline partway through World War II, had a function beyond its power to entertain. The classic murder mystery served as a metaphor for war itself: a disruption of social order that tested … Continue reading POINT ME IN THE RIGHT MISDIRECTION (Part One: The Knave of Clubs and the Queen of Hearts)
LOOK AT ME, I’M TWO!
Well, what do you know? Today marks my second anniversary as a blogger. Words fail me (really, Brad?!?) in trying to express how much fun I’ve been having sharing my thoughts, mostly on classic mysteries (but occasionally touching on theatre, films and even some real world stuff) and trading ideas with so many brilliant people. … Continue reading LOOK AT ME, I’M TWO!
RUNNING OUT OF TIME: Reflections on an Out-of-Control TBR Pile
L’Shana Tovah, everybody! It’s the Jewish New Year, which means that I am not at school teaching the little monsters geniuses and am instead at home, ironically finding time to learn things for myself. Of course, this being a day of reflection, I find that I am learning about myself. And I’m a little nervous … Continue reading RUNNING OUT OF TIME: Reflections on an Out-of-Control TBR Pile
THE GUM GIRL (A Memory)
INTRODUCTION: I have a favor to ask of you. This summer, I took a class at Stanford University on memoir writing. To be honest, while I love writing classes, which force you to produce, work your discipline muscles, and offer you the chance for quality feedback from friendly people, I wasn't sure that I would … Continue reading THE GUM GIRL (A Memory)
Ah Sweet Mystery! 