Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan

I actually had the honor of meeting Robert Jordan when this book came out.  He signed my copy and now finally years later I was able to read it.   Unfortunately out of all the books in this brilliant and yet over-long series this might be the lesser.   Nothing really happens.   I’m completely convinced that this was supposed to be half of a larger book and that the next book, Knife of Dreams, was the second half.  Yet, because he didn’t want to edit anything out and his publisher saw more dollar signs by adding an additional book to the series, they published it as is.  That’s not to say it’s a bad book.  The characters all have more adventures that are enjoyable to read.  But it’s like watching a month of a soap opera to realize everyone is exactly where they were months earlier.  Perrin is still trying to rescue his wife.  Mat is still stuck in Seanchan occupied lands with Tuon as his prisoner.  Ewgene is still trying to prove to the Whtie Tower that she’s deserving of the Armylyn Seat while working to unseat Elaida.  And Elayne is still doing the same with her right as the Queen of Andor.  It’s like the narrative is stuck in neutral or even going in circles.   I can understand why Mr. Jordan wanted to keep all of the events that are here intact.   It’s all character enriching material.   That said it really feels incomplete and because of that it’s a disappointment.  Still if you’ve come this far in the series, you’ll need to push through it.  Hopefully the events in Knife of dreams compliment this book.   Grade: B

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Before Gone Girl, there was this little novel, a grim book about a journalist named Camille Preaker who returns home on assignment to cover a series of murders.  It turns out her past will collide with the present and, while super coincidental as these kind of thrillers are, it’s also a dramatic read.   It’s Camille’s character flaws and her intriguing point of view that makes this book shine.  Unlike the last thriller I read (the Quiet Game) about a main character’s home coming crossing paths with a murder, this one is much more bleak.   That’s what I liked about it though.  It’s a good debut novel and demonstrates an emerging talent in the genre.  Grade: B+

The Quite Game by Greg Iles

Curious about these Penn Cage novels by Mr. Iles I decided to read the first book in the series.   It’s a pretty entertaining novel about a brilliant morally strong lawyer who returns home with his young daughter in tow after his wife dies only to get sucked into an old murder mystery.  There’s the evil racist judge, the ex- lover (who happens to be the evil racist judge’s daughter), the love interest and other decently crafted pawns.   Sure Penn Cage is a little too perfect at times (I mean he really does have it all); he is the hero lawyer we all want to be, so it works.   The love story is a bit annoying, the old guy getting the sexy smart young woman male fantasy made me gag.  Can’t male writers have their male heroes fall in love with women their own age?  Because it’s written in first person, the emotional road trip through memories of old can be a bit over the top at times.  But it’s a good read and there’s enough going on that I’d read another one if I happen to come across it.   To sum it up; this was a second-rate Grisham novel with a main character that is so likeable you might need to suspend your belief a little too much to believe he could exist.  Grade: B+

Jurassic World (2015)

This is the sequel to Jurassic Park we’ve been waiting for.  I enjoyed the last two but in many ways this is the real sequel.  First and foremost it’s really fun and exciting.  On top of that it reboots the story without it feeling like a remake.   Sure you have some of the same story points but it’s forgivable because of the amount of time that has passed since the first one and also because it’s really entertaining.  Then there are the new elements that seem to justify this film’s existence.  Here is a world where seeing a living dinosaur is no longer amazing but just a ho-hum experience.  Here is a world where using dinosaurs as a weapon might sound like a good idea.  What can I say, I didn’t know I’d enjoy this film as much as I did.  Congrats to  Colin Trevorrow and crew for delivering.  A-

Inside Out (2015)

I’m going to keep this short because you just need to see it.  This is one of the most inventive and playful looks at human development ever put on film.  Watching Riley and the Emotions in her head learn and grow is magical to behold.  It speaks truths everyone will be able to relate to while at the same time being funny, heartwarming and exciting.  This film goes to places emotionally that most animated film just can’t go.  This is not a “Herman’s Head” clone(yes, I remember that sitcom). This is a beautiful story told beautifully.  I loved it and cannot think of any other word but masterpiece to describe it.  Best film of the year so far.  A+

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The concept of this novel is wonderful.  I’ve seen it done before but never with such commitment.  What if you could experience the many alternate lives of an individual over the course of a life time.   See every life decision they made or did not make.  See their countless deaths based on where they were or what they did.  That’s what you get to do with Ursula Todd, a British woman born in 1910.  What makes this book work isn’t just that Kate Atkinson crafts a webbing of wonderful characters but that you get to see how characters change or don’t depending on the actions or inactions of the central character.   I adored this book and its writing which is superb.  A-

The Americans (Season 2)

The continuing saga of secret Soviet spy family the Jennings is one of my favorites right now.  I love this cold war drama set during the ‘80s so much.   There are no cellphones or hi-tech Mission impossible kind of gadgets.   It’s just two spies working with their contacts to steal as much info they can to help their country, which happens to be the Soviet Union.  Like Walt in Breaking Bad, Elizabeth and Philip are hiding the truth from their loved ones, as well as in many ways going against their own hearts.  It’s thrilling to see two people do such vile things only to turn out to be fairly complicated and passionate parents.  As well as the Jennings, there is FBI agent Stan Beeman and his double-triple agent Nina Sergeevna to seem to be setting up the show for even more drama in later seasons.   And then there’s poor Martha, oh so naïve and yet so committed.   I have no idea how her story will end but I’m assuming it will not be good.  I can’t wait to see the newest season.   A-