Neither "Dolce Vita" Or "Vida Loca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          After nearly breaking up, Corinne and Russell are back again.  Are they living "The Good Life?"  That question is up for grabs, because, after their boom and bust adventure in the Eighties, chronicled in "Brightness Falls," along comes 9/11, which irrevocably changed New York City, and not necessarily in a good way.  When the dust cleared, back came greed, greed greed!!!!!!!!!!

                                           As for Corinne, like Maria in Fritz Lang's "Metropolis," she goes down to the workers, volunteering at this soup kitchen, where she meets Luke McGavock, who is really some big pussy hound.  He is married to some fashionista named Sasha, but he and Corinne pine and pant for each other, throughout most of the book, having an affair, which no one knows about.  Meanwhile, Russell is no angel, either.

                                            In other words, not much happens, outside of 9/11.  It is the same old McInerney corn, though he does need a good editor.  When Corinne goes to visit her mother, who is a riot of a character, she mentions the film "From Here To Eternity," and that Deborah Kerr's character was a prostitute.  Wrong!  She was an adulterer; Donna Reed won an Oscar, for playing a prostitute, named Lorene.  Get your facts, right, Jay!  Ironic, really, what with Jay having been a fact checker, and the novel more about adultery, not prostitution.

                                            The best thing "The Good Life" does is to illuminate vividly how 9/11 changed life in New York City.  The encroachment of suburbia, the dumbing down of its populace, the loss of edginess that those of us young enough to remember came to this city to seek out, is gone, and McInerney demonstrates how and why.

                                             As for Corinne and Russell, well, they have another book ahead, called "Bright, Precious Days," which I will report on soon.

                                             McInerney is still one of the better Brat Pack writers.  Let's see how he wraps things up in the trilogy's conclusion, "Bright, Precious Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                             And then, that will be it--for him!   Enough is enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, I Have GOT To Find Out What Kind Of Moisturizer Jennifer Lawrence Uses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Not since the other Jennifer (Jones) of decades ago, has an actress had as creamy a complexion as Jennifer Lawrence, which is photographed to perfection in "Mother" (or "mother.!" however you care to write it).  It almost does not matter, because the film is essentially a two hour mind fuck, and there is no right or wrong to it.  But, there are two important points that have to be gotten out of the way first.

                             When Jennifer Lawrence takes that shower, and then steps out, oh, my God, how I wanted to look like her!  Be prepared for that, girls!  That we could all look like Jennifer Lawrence!

                               Second, when Michelle Pfeiffer--yes, darlings, Michelle Pfeiffer--offers you a cold, refreshing glass of lemonade, you had better damn well take it.

                                As for the movie, it seems to be two in one.  The first half is straight up Biblical allegory, and you can count them off one by one-- Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and The Flood, even Abraham and Isaac, though, in this version, Isaac does not get saved.  Is he some kind of Christ figure here?  That is one of many questions to ponder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                This is the first half of the movie, enlivened considerably by Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer, in a way unseen since Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer enlivened "Rosemary's Baby."  Any resemblance to that iconic classic ends here.

                                 So--Jen runs around the house, so her body can be adored, occasionally swallowing some liquid, orange concoction--weren't Pfeiffer's lemonades enough?  Is this Knox gelatin?  Some kind of Laxative?  Jen stops taking it when she becomes pregnant, after which the film pretty much becomes what I had been expecting--a homage to Polanksi's "Repulsion," with Jennifer, instead of Catherine Deneuve, going bat shit crazy in a house, not an apartment, with a human heart, instead of a mutilated, pre-"Fatal Attraction" rabbit.  But, then comes those last seconds, which turns all having gone before on its head.

                                 Caution--the film was made with a hand held camera, so, like my David, if this makes one nauseous, stay away!  No woman in any stage of pregnancy should see it!

                                   If you figure out any more than I can--or care--you are welcome to try.

                                    Meanwhile, I will retreat to my kitchen, and have a cool drink!

                                    If only Michelle Pfeiffer were there to give it to me!  We could drink, discuss hair, and  fashions!

We Have A New Reader, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               It is always gratifying to get a new reader, but in the face of this hurricane strewn September, it is more than refreshing.  With all my girls, I would like to welcome Pamela Purvis to these pages.  Welcome, Pam, and I am hoping you find things to enjoy on here.

                                As always, this blog goes best with morning coffee.  It is never far from me, when I write.

                                A perfect time to come here, as we are fast approaching all kind of holiday seasons.  That always makes for some good posts!

                                 And, as always, here is this blog's unofficial theme--

                                 It is always Deborah Harry's "Call Me!"  I cannot post it now, but give it a listen elsewhere!  Enjoy, and welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Found Some Gems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Yes, both David and I made it to the Brooklyn Book Festival, where, of course, I was on the prowl.  For books, what else?

                             Everyone, and I mean everyone, devoted to fiction, was looking for the new Jennifer Egan book, "Manhattan Beach."  Alas, that does not come out until October 5.  I found a table where it and some other gems were being raffled off, but that was a contest!  And there was a manuscript copy on another table, but if one was not a participant in the festival, one could not so much as lay hands on it.

                            Of course I was disappointed.  But, that did not stop me from finding the new Nicole Krauss novel, "Forest Dark," which I cannot wait to read.   I also managed to land the new Jesmyn Ward novel, "Sing, Unburied Sing," which is shaping up to be one of the most talked about books of the year, and then something I have heard about all year, but haven't had a chance yet to read--"Pond," by Claire-Louise Bennett.  All this, plus what I already have to read, should keep me busy, for a long time.

                            We met up with our friend, Judy, and made do with a light meal at "Teresa's," on Montague Street.  Even if I didn't score Jennifer Egan!

                              We will have to talk about that, on October 5, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You Have GOT To Be Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Just when I think films cannot sink lower, along comes this crap called "Battle Of The Sexes," featuring my least favorite actress, Emma Stone, as Billie Jean King, and Steve Carrell, whom I happen to like, as Bobby Riggs.

                                 The first question is, who cares?

                                  The 1973 pairing of these then tennis icons was the silliest media event in the time I have spent on this planet.  Who gave a damn, then, and who will, now???????????

                                    Emma Stone has enough trouble looking pretty when she is dolled up to the max, as she was in "La La Land!!!!!!!!!"   This film demonstrates it does not take much, to make her ugly; all it takes is glasses, and a faux wig.  Her impersonation of Billie Jean is the cheapest I have seen; belonging more as a Made For TV movie--remember those????--than on the big screen.  Even Billie Jean herself was not this unattractive.

                                     The one I pity most is Steve Carell, whom I consider to be an attractive man.  He is talented, but is he so desperate to prove he can transition from comedy to drama, that he will accept anything that comes his way?  And hasn't he already demonstrated this, in better films, like "Little Miss Sunshine," and "Dan, In Real Life?"

                                      Hang in there, Steve!  Your time is coming!  It is just not going to be with this film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Who is going to give a shit, now, anyway??????????????????????

                                        Besides, the best tennis scene in film history was when Celeste Holm, dressed as a nun, held her own on the court, in 1949's "Come To The Stable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I Want To See You There, Tomorrow, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           I mean, it isn't even Fall, yet, and things are kicking in, already!

                           Tomorrow wraps up the Brooklyn Book Festival, and I am telling you, right now, I am headed there to see if I can pick up some new literary gems.  I have got to read the new Nicole Kraus, and get my hands on the new Jennifer Egan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Not to mention some faves of mine--like Claire Messaud, Jonathan Safren-Foer, and Jonathan Lethem, will be there.  Don't expect Joan Didion; she's too busy drinking and smoking to venture outdoors.  The fresh air would probably kill her!  But you can count on Joyce Carol Oates; just like Sylvia Miles, whenever there is free food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            So, yes, I plan on being there to search, meet, and greet.  If you want to do the last two, I will be wearing my most conspicuous T-shirt--the yellow one, emblazoned on front with the poster for "Attack Of The Fifty Foot Woman."  It can't be missed, and it shouldn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            See you all there!  But, I am warning you--anyone who tries to snatch the new Jennifer Egan from my hands, I will fight tooth and nail for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He Was The Librarian Of Our Dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Say that word, "librarian," and, to the thinking populace, two images will come to mind--"Citizen Kane," and Donna Reed in the nightmare sequence of "It's A Wonderful Life."  For male librarians, it is the one in "Sophie's Choice."

                               Dan Cherubin's brilliance as a librarian rested not only on his leadership, intelligence, and humor, but that he defied every stereotype in the book.

                                He was also an LGBT activist, raised by two Mommies--Heather was not the only one, darlings!!!!!!!!--and he spoke out when needed with no apologies for his own sense of self-identity.  Which was one of the traits I admired him for,  That, and him understanding my sensibility, which hovers somewhere between Jacqueline Susann and Jennifer Jones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                To those of us who knew and/or worked with him, the announcement of his passing, earlier this week came as a collective shock.  I had no idea he had been ill, let alone having left the city for suburban Connecticut, to become the head librarian at Wesleyan University, in Middletown.
Which I am sure he did well.  He always did.  Does that mean I could end up at Miss Porter's?  Who knows?

                                 During one of my low periods, in 2001, Dan got me into a book group he not only belonged to, but had founded.  I met many lovely people, whom I still hold dear, and I know they share my sadness over Dan's passing.

                                   Dan had such a sense of humor, a funny outlook, some stories too wild to tell, even on here, but one I will share.

                                    The book group met once a month, at a different host's house.  One month the selection was "The Moor's Last Sigh," by Salman Rushdie.  As good a reader I am, I just could not get through it.  When we finally met, we all discovered each of us had stopped at different points. Only Dan finished the entire book.

                                      He also was not too bad in the kitchen.  I have memories of a casserole he would make that was scrumptious.  What a pair he and Julia Child would have made!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     To honor Dan is to recall all his facets.  Which is why the pic I chose for this tribute is somewhat irreverent.  But I think Dan would like it.  I think he would get it; it is something he would have expected from me.

                                       Dan had his ups and downs, but to lose him this way, too soon, is our own sadness.  I hold many fond memories of Dan, and shall miss him, as I am sure others who knew and loved him will.

                                        He always told me to "Sparkle, Neely, sparkle!"

                                        Now it is his turn to sparkle.  Rest In Peace, Dan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!