Somehow Form a Family

I love it when what I am reading, watching or listening to accidentally dovetail. (hello synchronicity!) That happened this week as we concluded watching "Deadwood Season 2" on DVD just as I was finishing listening to Kent Haruf's Plainsong on audio.

It seems to me that there are so many ways people can be shitty or cruel that when the theme you take away from the art you are taking in (doubled in this case) are the many ways that people come together it's nothing less than a balm.

"Deadwood"

Much has been made of "Deadwood" (season 3 also recently started)-it's dense Shakespearean language and Machivallian plots-but what struck me most from Season 2 was the ability of humans to form a family even in the oddest or most extreme circumstances.

This was borne out visually as well as in the story in the 3rd episode of the 2nd season, "Farewell to a Gleet". In it the mighty heavy, Swearengen, is brought low by a bladder stone. If the idea was to make the show less Swearengen-centric it was a failure as he emerged at season's end stronger and more prominent than ever. But we did have a few fascinating shows that demonstrated the chaos that ensues when there is a leadership vacuum. All of Swearengen's satellites bumped clumsily through their orbits absent his pull. Enforcer, errand boy, whore-all of whom we had seen him abuse daily, all wept with joy when the stone passed without the need for dangerous surgery. Then in a beautiful shot, they all tumble together on the bed in a chiaroscuro of light and limbs. It was some masterful filmmaking.

Plainsong

This is book is one of those deceptively simple ones you enjoy immediately but whose import comes back to wallop you days later. It tells the story of the inhabitants of the small town of Holt, Colorado. We have the schoolteacher coping with the mental illness of his wife and the pregnant down on her luck teenager who goes to live with two elderly bachelor brothers. Their stories mirror each other for the whole book finally joining in the most natural way at the end. I had read the book before but enjoyed the audio even more as it is a story that lends itself to being told aloud.

Despite the occasional (or frequent in the case of "Deadwood") violence in these works I was left optimistic and glad I came to them at the same time.



*"Deadwood Seasons 1 & 2" are available on DVD, Season 3 is now showing on HBO*

Judi Dench Kicks Ass

I've got another Netflix recommendation for you.

I was having a ooogy health day today and was immensely cheered by watching "Mrs Henderson Presents". It is a funny movie about a widow kicking up her heels while running a nude musical theater in London in the 1940s. Dame Judi seemed to be having a swell time flashing her eyes at Bob Hoskins (who even goes ''full monty" in this one) and delivering some belly laugh inducing one liners. It is a tribute to her spunk that when it was over I didn't want to be one of the comely nude beauties I wanted to be her. If you're looking for smart funny, Not "Benchwarmers" funny you should check it out.

George Pelecanos, Superstar

I was pleased, pleased, pleased to see my author crush's new book, The Night Gardener, honored with a "Book of the Times" review in today's New York Times. In addition, there was also a lovely sidebar article with a great new photo.

(Okay are you ready for the geeky fan asides? In the article his sons are described as African-American even though they are from Brazil. Now I'm just a white girl from Kentucky but I'm kinda confused where Africa comes into it. And Pelecanos is described as having a nice tan-he's Greek. Isn't he that color all the time? Just a thought.)


The publicity onslaught has officially begun.

Now as readers of this blog know this was not my favorite Pelecanos BUT even if I can't laud this particular title, I can applaud the choice of author. He is criminally underread if not under appreciated and more people need to know about him. I hope this is the one that breaks him out big. Then I can say (in a super casual cool way), "Yeah, I know him. I've been reading him for years." I'm rather bummed his tour (not as lengthy a one this time around) isn't coming anywhere close to me (though 7 months of steroids have left me worse for the wear and I'm just vain enough to mind). But if you are in the LA, NYC or DC areas get out there and support him. We need butts in the seats people. Trust me-you'll be glad you did.


*Check out georgepelecanos.com for complete tour info.*

Talkin About Evolution

Here we are in the 21st century still fighting about evolution and banning books. It just seems so 20th century doesn't it? So very "Inherit the Wind"...

And I thought we had evolution figured-all those bones, all that research.

If Hindus demanded that reincarnation be the only thing taught in the schools they'd be shot down in a second. To declare one group's religious belief the end all be all (especially in a different subject like science) is not only illegal, it's also just plain rude. We're a great big religious Bennetton ad in this country and schools should reflect that.

Isn't school supposed to be a lively exchange? Judging by the questionable behavior amply demonstrated to me on a daily basis I'd saying bringing up the next generation with more finely honed evaulation skills would be a good thing.

I agree with the bumper stickers that say "Intelligent Design is poor science." It reminds me of that cartoon where the mathematician has used the whole chalkboard for a particularly difficult problem except in the middle of the proof it says "then a miracle occurs".

So, all you people making all the noise use those family dinners you profess to be having to discuss with your kids where you feel the author or scientist went wrong. They'd be sure to get a good grade on that book or science report cause you can't get that stuff from Cliffs Notes. If there are books you don't want your kid to read fine, that's your call, but don't try and ban it for everyone. Keep your paws off my pages and my dinosaur bones.