Category: book movie review

  • Cosmos Movies TV Programs 2024 List

    Cosmos Movies TV Programs 2024 List

    Movie Watching Goals 2024

    movies watched during 2018
    night at the movies

    8 Best Sci-Fi Movies of 2024

    Here are 10 Must-Watch Netflix

    The Top 10 Best Films Of 2024

    top netflix movies of 2024

    best movies of 2024

    Master Movies Seen 1970- 2024

    movies master list

    Cosmos Movies Seen 2022

    Movies Seen 2021

    movies seen 2020

    movies seen 2019

    Movies Watched During 2018

    278  Movies/TV Series/Plays/Big News coverage, YouTube Documenatries , etc by the end of the year.

    At Least One Korean Movie Per Week

    At Least One Spanish Movie Every So Often

    One Bollywood Or Another Foreign Language Movie Every So Often

    A Mixture Of Thrillers, K Drama, Comedies, Romcom, Etc

    Make A List Of Oscar Movies And Watch Several.

    Resume Going To The Theater Later In The Year. Saw Wolverine And Deadpool And Wicked In Medford in the fall of 2024

    When Traveling To The US Watch Ten Movies Each Trip

    Including One Bollywood, One Spanish, Three To Four Blockbusters, One Classic, One Comedy

     

    Numerical List

    1. Confession K Drama A-
    2. Love In The Villa A
    3. Love At First Sight A
    4. Collectors K Drama B
    5. The Spy Gone North B K Drama
    6. Goodbye Mr. Black K Drama Did Not Finish
    7. My Demon Love K Drama Did Not Finish
    8. My Annoying Brother K Drama B
    9. Me And Me K Drama B
    10. Bodies British Sci-Fi B
    11. October Faction Vampire series
    12. Katyal Sci-Fi series
    13. Glass Onion Knives Out B
    14. Obliteration US Series C Did Not Finish
    15. Squid Game Season International Did Not Finish
    16. Squid Game Season Two Korean Series Finished
    17. Fair Play B-1 Is A Bit Too Violent And Dark
    18. In The Cold Netflix Series B
    19. Leave The World Behind Lots Of Stars But A Meh
    20. Gyesang Creature K Drama Part One
    21. Gyesang Creature K Drama Part Two B
    22. Manifest Season Four -Finished Series
    23. Stray UK Drama B
    24. Wednesday B
    25. Pretty Woman Classic Richard Gere/Julia Roberts A
    26. Somebody K Drama B
    27. Superbowl
    28. The Devil Plan Was Too Complicated To Follow K Drama
    29. Night Agent A
    30. VIP K Drama B
    31. Destined With You K Drama
    32. My Annoying Brother K Drama B
    33. Spy Gone North Did Not Finish K Drama
    34. Catering Christmas Gala B
    35. Watcher B
    36. Millionaire First Love K Drama A
    37. Lift Heist Movie American Meh
    38. Hyenna K Legal Drama A
    39. Badlands Hunters K Drama Post-Apocalypse Drama A
    40. Captivating The King K Historical Drama A
    41. Doctor Slump K Drama B
    42. The Trip Norwegian Dark Drama B
    43. Taken K Drama Movie B
    44. The Swindler K Drama Movie A
    45. Everything Happens Everywhere At Once Hoopla A Best Picture 2023
    46. A Transformers Compang TV B
    47. Golden Holliday K Movie Compang TV B
    48. Peacekeeper B
    49. Knock On The Cabin B
    50. Oppenheimer – Documentary – Not The Movie
    51. Don’t Buy The Seller K Drama B
    52. Tourist Love Affair Cute But Predictable Filmed In Vietnam B
    53. The Dude In Me K Drama Is Cute A
    54. Black Phone B
    55. Rebel Moon US Film Part One
    56. Rebel Moon US Film Part Two
    57. Silent Sea K Sci-Fi Series
    58. The Order US Werewolf/Vampire Occult Thriller Series
    59. Warrior Nuns
    60. Single In Seoul K Movie B
    61. Secret Obsession American Movie B
    62. Age Of Adeline A
    63. In From The Cold C
    64. Trip B
    65. Try To Kill Me I Dare You Polish Movie B
    66. Lee Kiwon K Movie About NK Refugees In Belgium
    67. Chronicle Sci-Fi Meh C
    68. Young Police K Drama B
    69. Sweat And Sour K Drama B
    70. Happiness For Beginners US Drama B
    71. Catering Christmas US Drama B
    72. The Gentlemen British TV Crime Series
    73. Killer Paradox K Crime Drama
    74. Queen Of Tears K Rom-Com Tbc
    75. Keeping Up With The Jones American Spy Comedy B
    76. Little Woman  British Is Based On The Classic Novel I Just Finished Reading
    77. Damsel American
    78. Secret Obsession US Film
    79. In The Shadow Of The Moon
    80. Tourist Guide To Love B+
    81. Art Of Love – Did Not Finish
    82. Three-Body Problem A Chinese Sci-Fi
    83. Paradise K Drama
    84. Awake US
    85. You Netflix Series B
    86. Night Teeth US
    87. Physical Season One K Reality TV Show
    88. Physical Second Season K Reality TV Show
    89. Parasite The Grey Korean Version Of Body Snatchers
    90. The Signal German Sci-Fi B
    91. Dark German Sci-Fi A
    92. Chicken Nugget Silly K Drama Did Not Finish
    93. Oppenheimer A Oscar Winner 2024
    94. Lady Chatterley’s Lover TBC
    95. Ripley A
    96. Last Days Of Earth K SF Drama – Did Not Finish
    97. No Hard Feelings US Romcom B
    98. Brazen B
    99. Brigands K Drama C Did Not Finish
    100. Lost Phone K Crime Thriller Repeated B
    101. Downsizing B+
    102. The Day I Died Undisclosed Case K Drama B
    103. Unfrosted K Drama Bit Disappointing
    104. Frankly Speaking K Drama B
    105. A Werewolf Boy K Drama Remake Of A French Movie B
    106. A Typical Family K Drama About A Scheming Family B
    107. Tidal Wave – Did Not Finish
    108. 12 12 – Day B D Drama About Chun Dohan’s Rise To Power – Which I Lived Through In 1979.
    109. Mother Of The Bride B
    110. Bring Me Home K Drama About Child Abuse B
    111. Tutor K Drama B
    112. Big Fat Greek Wedding Part 1 Seen Years Ago
    113. Big Fat Greek Wedding Part Part 2 Seen Years Ago
    114. Big Fat Greek Wedding, Part 3
    115. In The Depth Of The Ocean US Drama
    116. Zoo K Drama B
    117. 88 Minutes US Drama
    118. Artificial City B
    119. Keys To The Heart K Drama A
    120. Hit And Run Squad K Drama
    121. Love Struck In The City K Drama Did Not Finish
    122. Don’t Steel The Foggy Mountain Treasure B-1
    123. Sweet And Sour K Drama B
    124. Hustle US Drama
    125. Daily Dose Of Sunshine K Drama Series

     

    On Plane To US

     

    1. Aquarman And The Lost Kingdom
    2. King Kong V Godzilla
    3. The Killing Of Flower Moon
    4. Barbie

     

     

    Oregon

     

    1. Atlas

     

    1. Atypical Family Swedish Drama
    2. War Of The Worlds Extinction Fubar
    3. Adams Family Re-Run On Pluto TV
    4. Beverley Hillbillies Re-Run On Pluto TV
    5. Military Prosecutor Doberman K Drama Featuring A Really Bad Ass Female Lead
    6. Fall Out Amazon
    7. Andromeda Free TV
    8. Hierarchy K Drama  Rich Teenagers Plotting
    9. Hit Man
    10. Flower Of Evil K Drama
    11. Reflection Of You K Drama
    12. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Real Life (Amazon List Each Episode) Real Life
    13. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Real Life (Amazon List Each Episode) Autofa
    14. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Real Life (Amazon List Each Episode) This Is Human
    15. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Real Life (Amazon List Each Episode)
    16. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Crazy Diamond
    17. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams The Hood Maker
    18. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Father Thing
    19. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams The Impossible Planet
    20. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams The Commuter
    21. Philip K Dick Electric Dreams Kills All Others
    22. Miss Night And Day K Drama Comedy
    23. Republican Convention
    24. Biden-Trump Debate
    25. Far Scape US Sci-Fi Classic Amazon
    26. Universe Spider Woman Drama B
    27. Love Next Door K Drama
    28. Romance In The House K Drama
    29. DNC
    30. Union American Spy Movie – Not Bad
    31. All Good Things Based On True Crime Stories Not Bad
    32. Frogs K Murder Mystery Series
    33. Dune Earlier Version
    34. Coming Blackout Right-Wing Paranoia Docudrama Commercial Youtube
    35. The Deliverance – Too Scary
    36. Discovery Of Witches
    37. Wolverine And Dead Pool Medford Cinemax
    38. Jane Eyre OSF
    39. The Silurian Hypothesis Youtube Documentary
    40. Harris Trump Debate
    41. Perfect Couple US Murder Mystery Series
    42. Green Tea Extra YouTube Documentary
    43. Why Is Marijuana Illegal YouTube Documentary
    44. Discovery Of Witches Vampire Witches US Series
    45. Spaccell British Black Sci-Fi Series
    46. 25 23 K Drama Did Not Finish
    47. Influencer Challenge K Reality TV
    48. Culinary Class War K Reality TV
    49. Spencer Confidential US Crime Comedy
    50. The Signal K Crime Series
    51. What Are Some Surprises Being Found On Jupiter YouTube Short
    52. Bad Boys Ride For Life Or Die
    53. Kamala Harris On Steven Colbert
    54. Tim Walz On Steven Colbert
    55. Tim Walz On Jimmy Kimble
    56. Virtuous Business K Drama
    57. Outer Banks Season 3
    58. Backstreet Rookie K Drama Series
    59. Run-On K Drama Series
    60. Letter From God God Pod -We Want The Black President
    61. Where NASA Believes Extraterrestrial Life Is Found In The Outer Solar System
    62. Family Pack YouTube Movie
    63. The Host YouTube Movie
    64. War Of The World BBC Series New To Me
    65. Don’t Move
    66. World Series 2024
    67. Beverly Hills Cops Alert
    68. Logan Lucky
    69. Look Both Ways
    70. Tarot
    71. Spaccell Uk Sci-Fi Series
    72. The Whirlwind K Drama
    73. Killing Eve
    74. Spenser
    75. 365 Days
    76. Time Cut Sci-fi
    77. The Gray Man James Bond Wanna Be Movie
    78. The Influencers K Reality
    79. Pixels
    80. Election Coverage
    81. Ten Trendy US Cities -Citynerd Youtube
    82. Find Me Falling US Romcom Set In Cyprus
    83. The Frog K Drama
    84. Vagabond K Drama
    85. The Little Things
    86. American Assasin
    87. Frankly Speaking K Drama
    88. Letter From God What Happened?
    89. Mechanic
    90. Misfits
    91. Wicked In Medford Theater
    92. Why Files Adam And Eve Story Youtube Documentary
    93. Just Go For It Did Not Finish
    94. Plankton K Drama
    95. Dangerous Lies Did Not Finish
    96. Wild Wild West Documentary About The Ranesh Case
    97. White Sky Forgettable Zombie Movie Tubi
    98. Last Seen Alive Thriller 2024 Thriller
    99. Predestination Time Travel Thriller
    100. Arkansas Noir Thriller
    101. Top Ten Countries Americans Are Not Welcomed
    102. Great Courses History Of Roman Empire – Goal One Course Per Month
    103. A Simple Favor Is A Good Thriller
    104. When The Phone Rings K Drama
    105. Your Lucky Day Is An Intense Crime Drama
    106. Father Figures Good Comedy
    107. Afraid Chilling Movie About The Future Of AI

     

    Father Brown – see separate listing for synopsis and my commentary

     

    1. Father Brown BBC Series The Hammer Of God
    2. Father Brown BBC Series  The Ghost In The Machine
    3. Father Brown BBC Series The Madness Of All
    4. Father Brown The Pride Of The Pryde
    5. Father Brown The Shadow Of The Scaffold

     

    On Plane

    1. Blink Twice B
    2. Dune B
    3. Ghostbusters B
    4. Beetlejuice B
    5. Fly Me To Moon B
    6. The Strangers C

     

    Back In Korea

     

    1. Run On K Drama Series
    2. Captivating King K Drama Series
    3. Chief Of Staff K Drama Series
    4. The Visitor Hoopla
    5. What If Return Of The Ice Age You Tube Short Documentary
    6. Tenet SCIFi Netflix B
    7. Fall Guy Netflix B
    8. Trunk K Drama Series
    9. Reptile US Crime Drama
    10. Beef Asian Immigrants In LA
    11. Silente Sea K Sci-Fi Series
    12. The Last Lovecraft Relic Of Cthulu Hoopla
    13. The History Of The Roman Empire Great Course Course
    14. Carry On US Movie
    15. It’s What Inside Did Not Finish
    16. Bringing Back Extinct Animals Short YouTube Documentary
    17. Slyth Thai Sci-Fi Did Not Finish It – I Understood Some Of The Dialogue But Not Much C
    18. Count Down To Jerusalem Movie C
    19. Pilot K Comedy B Movie
    20. Check-In Hanyang K Drama
    21. The Hunt Did Not Finish US Drama
    22. Trouble Swedish Drama C
    23. Robert Reich’s Ten Economic Myths Debunked
    24. Squid Game 2 B
    25. Squid Game International Game C
    26. NYE coverage
    27. Yoon Impeachment news coverage
    28. NYE terror attack coverage
    29. CNN Best and Worst of the Year
    30. BBC end of the Year Coverage

    Oscar Winners

    Bold –  Seen

    Last Year Everything All At Once

    BEST PICTURE

    American Fiction
    Anatomy Of A Fall
    Barbie
    The Holdovers
    Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Maestro
    Oppenheimer
    Past Lives
    Poor Things
    The Zone Of Interest

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Jonathan Glazer, The Zone Of Interest
    Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Martin Scorsese, Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Justine Triet, Anatomy Of A Fall

    BEST ACTRESS

    Annette Bening, Nyad
    Lily Gladstone, Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Sandra Hüller, Anatomy Of A Fall
    Carey Mulligan, Maestro
    Emma Stone, Poor Things

    BEST ACTOR

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Colman Domingo, Rustin
    Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
    Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
    Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
    Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
    America Ferrera, Barbie
    Jodie Foster, Nyad
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
    Robert De Niro, Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
    Ryan Gosling, Barbie
    Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Justine Triet And Arthur Harari, Anatomy Of A Fall
    David Hemingson, The Holdovers
    Bradley Cooper And Josh Singer, Maestro
    Samy Burch, May December
    Celine Song, Past Lives

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
    Greta Gerwig And Noah Baumbach, Barbie
    Tony McNamara, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Jonathan Glazer, The Zone Of Interest

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

    Io Capitano, Italy
    Perfect Days, Japan
    Society Of The Snow, Spain  On Netflix See
    The Teacher’s Lounge, Germany
    The Zone Of Interest, United Kingdom

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    The Boy And The Heron
    Elemental
    Nimona
    Robot Dreams
    Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

    BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    Bobi Wine: The People’s President
    The Eternal Memory
    Four Daughters
    To Kill A Tiger
    20 Days In Mariupol

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    El Conde
    Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Maestro
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things

    BEST EDITING

    Anatomy Of A Fall
    The Holdovers
    Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Barbie
    Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Napoleon
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things

    BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP

    Golda
    Maestro
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things
    Society Of The Snow

    BEST SOUND

    The Creator
    Maestro
    Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One
    Oppenheimer
    The Zone Of Interest

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    The Creator
    Godzilla Minus One
    Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
    Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One
    Napoleon

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Barbie
    Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Napoleon
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    “What Was I Made For?”, Billie Eilish And Finneas, Barbie
    “I’m Just Ken,” Mark Ronson And Andrew Wyatt, Barbie
    “The Fire Inside,” Diane Warren, Flamin’ Hot
    “It Never Went Away,” Jon Batiste, American Symphony
    “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People),” Osage Tribal Singers, Killers Of The Flower Moon

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    American Fiction
    Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny
    Killers Of The Flower Moon
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things

    BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT

    The After
    Invincible
    Knight Of Fortune
    Red, White, And Blue
    The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar

    BEST ANIMATED SHORT

    Letter To A Pig
    Ninety-Five Senses
    Our Uniform
    Pachyderm
    War Is Over! Inspired By The Music Of John & Yoko

    BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

    The ABCs Of Book Banning
    The Barber Of Little Rock
    Island In Between
    The Last Repair Shop
    Nai Nai & Wai Po

    Golden Globes 2024

    Winners bolded

    *Seen

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

    • Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez” — Winner
    • *Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
    • Selena Gomez, “Emilia Pérez”
    • Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”
    • Margaret Qualley, “The Substance”
    • Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy

    • Jean Smart, “Hacks” — Winner
    • Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
    • Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
    • Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
    • Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”
    • Kathryn Hahn, “Agatha All Along”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

    • Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” — Winner
    • Yura Borisov, “Anora”
    • Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”
    • Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
    • Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice”
    • Denzel Washington, “Gladiator II”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama

    • Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun” — Winner
    • Donald Glover, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
    • Jake Gyllenhaal, “Presumed Innocent”
    • Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
    • Eddie Redmayne, “The Day of the Jackal”
    • Billy Bob Thornton, “Landman”

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Series

    • Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer” — Winner
    • Liza Colon-Zayas, “The Bear”
    • Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
    • Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”
    • Allison Janney, “The Diplomat”
    • Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series

    • Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun” — Winner
    • Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
    • Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
    • Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”
    • Diego Luna, “La Maquina”
    • Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy

    • Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear” — Winner
    • Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
    • Ted Danson, “A Man on the Inside”
    • Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
    • Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
    • Jason Segel, “Shrinking”

    Best Screenplay — Motion Picture

    • Peter Straughan, “Conclave” — Winner
    • Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”
    • Sean Baker, “Anora”
    • Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, “The Brutalist”
    • Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”
    • Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”

    Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

    • Ali Wong, “Single Lady” — Winner
    • Jamie Foxx, “What Had Happened Was”
    • Nikki Glaser, “Someday You’ll Die”
    • Seth Meyers, “Dad Man Walking”
    • Adam Sandler, “Love You”
    • Ramy Youssef, “More Feelings”

    Best Motion Picture — Non-English Language

    • “Emilia Pérez” — Winner
    • “All We Imagine as Light”
    • “The Girl with the Needle”
    • “I’m Still Here”
    • “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”
    • “Vermiglio”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

    • Colin Farrell, “The Penguin” — Winner
    • Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
    • Kevin Kline, “Disclaimer”
    • Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
    • Ewan McGregor, “A Gentleman in Moscow”
    • *Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

    Substack

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/cosmos-tvmovie-list-for-2024?r=3i9lm

    Medium

    https://medium.com/@jakealler/cosmos-movie-tv-list-for-2024-c2b13d582be8

    Wattpad

    Your story can be found here

    #movies #news #tv

     

  • Review of Harlan Coben’s Think Twice

    Review of Harlan Coben’s Think Twice

    Review of Harlan Coben’s Think Twice

    think twice
    think twice

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-38e

    Review of Camino Ghosts

    Cosmos Reading List 2023

    Reading the Classics Updated Lists

    I just finished reading Harlan Coben’s Think Twice, the 12th novel in the Myron Bolitar series. The plot is intriguing. Greg Downing, a “frenemy” of Myron Bolitar, a sports agent, and one of his clients died three years ago, but his DNA was found at a crime scene. The FBI is convinced somehow he faked his own death three years ago. The relationship between Greg and Myron is complicated. They were basketball rivals in high school and college.  Myron blamed Greg for the foul that knocked him out of a championship game when he played for Duke and he played for the University of North Carolina.    Myron’s girl friend left him for the charismatic Greg Downing.

    Myron retired before he could start his NBA career, went to law school, and became a sports agent with his partner, Win, who is from a prominent family. Win handled financial advising for their clients who ran a private investment firm and was an amateur PI as was Myron. They are determined to track down Greg and find out why he faked his own death. They find him and the reasons he faked his death are shocking.

    Joey the Toe, whose full name is Joseph Turant, is a significant character in “Think Twice.” He is a mob boss who was imprisoned four years before the events of the novel due to DNA evidence linking him to the murder of Jordan Kravat.

    A side plot has to do with the decline in serial killers in the world due to the increased use of mass surveillance and DNA testing, in short, it is harder to get away with being a serial killer.  Most serial killers are men who are lone wolves, a couple engaging in serial killing is very rare as are female serial killers.  I learned a lot about the psychology of serial killers from this novel.

    Witty Dialogue

    Coben is a master of witty dialogue.  Co-Pilot provided a few choice quotes

    “She wore pearls and bold colors4. Her blouse and skirt were both super-tight4.”

    “It had been Sadie Fisher’s idea4. When Sadie first started representing women who had been sexually harassed or assaulted, she had been told to ‘tone down’ the outfits, to wear clothing that was both drab and shapeless4. Sadie hated that4.”

    “The reason for Myron’s surprise is simple: Greg Downing died three years ago1.”

    “Fear and divisiveness offer engagement. Agreement and moderation do not.”

    “Sometimes the loudest cries for help are silent.”

    “It takes so much to hold on to hate—you lose your grip on what’s important, you know?”

    “Life may not always fall into neat chapters, and you may not always get the satisfying ending you’re looking for, but sometimes a good explanation is all the rewrite you need.”

      We all have secrets, but some secrets are heavier than others.”

      “Sometimes the truth is so ugly, you have to make it up.”

      “The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.”

      “Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to trust someone.”

    Myron Bolitar: “You expect me to believe that Joey the Toe is behind all of this?”

    Windsor Horne Lockwood III (Win): “Expect you to believe it? Myron, I expect you to do something about it.”

    Myron: “Right. Easy-peasy, just like taking a stroll through Central Park at midnight with a neon ‘Mug Me’ sign.”

    Win: “Precisely. Shall we?”

    Chat GP’s Literary Bet

    One criticism of Harlan Coben and other popular writers is that they are formulistic writers. One day, Chat GP’s developers issue a challenge – they would challenge top thriller and popular fiction writers to a challenge. Chat GP would write a novel in their style, and they would write their next novel. Both would be reviewed by literary critics and fans. The panel would be asked to evaluate both books and determine which were written by Chat GP and which were written by the human author.  If Chat GP won the bet they would pay the author 1 million dollars, if the author won they would pay Chat GP 1 million dollars.

    Harlan Coben and John Grisham took the challenge.  The panel voted that Chat GP wrote the books.   Harlan Coben and John Grisham paid the debt and issued a warning about the danger of AI to the literary world.

    Co-Pilot also provided a bio, and list of his books and movies. I bought the ones I have read.

     Author Bio: Harlan Coben

    Harlan Coben is an American author of mystery novels and thrillers. Born around 1962 in Newark, New Jersey, he has written over 35 novels, including the renowned Myron Bolitar series. His books have sold  over 80 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 46 languages.

    Coben has won several awards, including the Edgar Award, Shamus Award, and Anthony Award  He has also had twelve of his novels adapted for film and television.

    List of Books by Harlan Coben

    Myron Bolitar Series:

    Deal Breaker

    Drop Shot

    Fade Away

    Back Spin

    One False Move

    The Final Detail

    Darkest Fear

    Long Lost

    Live Wire

    Home (short story)

    The Innocent

    Stay Close

    Gone for Good

    Live Wire

    The Stranger

    Hold Tight

    The Woods

    Fool Me Once

    Stay Close

    The Innocent

    The Woods

    Safe

    The Five

    Run Away

    Win

    The Boy from the Woods

    Tell No One

    I Will Find You

    Think Twice

    Movies and TV Shows Based on His Books

     Netflix Series:

     The Stranger

    Gone for Good

    Fool Me Once

    Stay Close

     Safe

    The Woods

    The Innocent

    Hold Tight

    Run Away

    Win

    The Boy from the Woods

    Tell No One

    I Will Find You

    Think Twice

     

    1www.goodreads.com2

    en.wikipedia.org3

    www.harlancoben.com4

    http://www.goodreads.com

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  • Review of Camino Ghosts

    Review of Camino Ghosts

    grisham-camino-ghosts-7
    grisham-camino-ghosts-7

     

     

     

     

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-380

     

    Cosmos Books Read 2021 Update

    Review of Camino Ghosts

    I recently finished reading Camino Ghosts by John Grisham one of my favorite writers.

    The novel is based on a real case – the successful fight to preserve Dark Isle an island off the coast of Florida that developers wanted to pave over including a casino and condos at the turn of the century.  The problem was that the island was settled by escaped slaves whose descendants lived on the island isolated from the modern world until 1955 when the last resident left for the mainland and nearby Camino Island when due to pollution and over-development the fishing grounds and shrimping grounds failed.  One of the original settlers was a voodoo priest who arrived on the island when her slaver ship sank nearby. She put a curse on the island saying that no white man could survive coming to the island.  For almost 200 years no white person visited the island and survived except for one person who survived a massacre by the natives and was allowed to leave after the residents told him they were cannibals, part of their successful physiological warfare campaign to keep outsiders from visiting the island.

    Both Florida and Georgia state authorities and the public ignored the island for over 250 years because of its small size, isolation, small resident base (no more than 300 people ever lived there) and the legend of the curse.  The residents were left to fend for themselves and were subsidence farmers and fishermen, trading occasionally with black fishermen in Camino Island. They spoke their own dialect – a mixture of English and African dialects, and most were illiterate as they had no schools or public institutions on the island.

    When a hurricane swept through the island, it became feasible to build a bridge to the island and a big Florida property developer eyed taking over what was considered to be abandoned and deserted.  There are over 8,000 such small islands near Florida, many of which are barrier islands, which according to a 60-year-old law are considered to be State property, although the Bahamas claim some as well.  but most remain undeveloped and uninhabited, many are quite small, and many have disappeared over the years due to increased hurricane activity.

    Lovely Jackson the last resident is now 80 years old and filed a suit to stop development claiming she is the sole legal owner of the island.  A scrappy retired environmental lawyer, a local writer, and bookstore owners all step in to defend her claims to the island and they stop the development in its tracks.

    The story is a fascinating look at the interplay between history, development, corruption, and Florida politics circa 2010, and is also a fascinating slice of long-neglected African American history.  the characters are well developed and the dialogue is first rate.  It is as most Grisham novels a legal thriller, but this one with an African American history story as its basis. The book was made into a TV series a few years ago.

    Here’s some background from Co-Pilot on the true history of Dark Isle.

    Background on the Dark Isle Case

    The Dark Isle case revolves around the fight to preserve the island, which has a rich history tied to freed
    slaves and their descendants4. The island is said to be cursed, with a legend that no white person who sets foot on it survives. Lovely Jackson, the last resident, left the island as a teenager in 1955, but now she is the key figure in the legal battle against the developer, Tidal Breeze. The case highlights the struggle to protect historical and cultural heritage from commercial development.

    Here’s a list of some of John Grisham’s books and the movies adapted from them:

    Books  Bold Indicated I read it

    A Time to Kill

    The Firm

    The Pelican Brief

    The Client

    The Chamber

    The Rainmaker

    The Runaway Jury

    The Street Lawyer

    The Testament

    The Brethren

    The King of Torts

    The Last Juror

    The Summons

    The Broker

    Playing for Pizza

    The Appeal

    The Confession

    The Litigators

    Calico Joe

    The Racketeer

    Sycamore Row

    Gray Mountain

    The Rooster Bar

    The Whistler

    Camino Island

    The Reckoning

    The Judge’s List

    The Guardians

    Camino Ghosts

    Movies:

    A Time to Kill (1996)

    The Firm (1993)

    The Pelican Brief (1993)

    The Client (1994)

    The Chamber (1996)

    The Rainmaker (1997)

    The Runaway Jury (2003)

    The Street Lawyer (TV movie, 2003)

    The Testament (TV movie, 2004)

    The Brethren (TV movie, 2006)

    The King of Torts (TV movie, 2009)

    The Last Juror (TV movie, 2011)

    The Summons (TV movie, 2011)

    The Appeal (TV movie, 2014)

    The Confession (TV movie, 2014)

    The Litigators (TV movie, 2015)

    Calico Joe (TV movie, 2015)

    The Racketeer (TV movie, 2016)

    Sycamore Row (TV movie, 2016)

    Gray Mountain (TV movie, 2016)

    The Rooster Bar (TV movie, 2017)

    The Whistler (TV movie, 2018)

    Camino Island (TV movie, 2019)

    The Reckoning (TV movie, 2020)

    The Judge’s List (TV movie, 2021)

    The Guardians (TV movie, 2022)

    Camino Ghosts (upcoming)

    1www.goodreads.com2

    jgrisham.com3

    http://www.kirkusreviews.com4

    http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com

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  • Review of the Tenant at Wildfelll Hall

    Review of the Tenant at Wildfelll Hall

    Review of the Tenant at Windfell Hall

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-359

    windfell hall photo

    Wildfell Hall PhotoVersion 1.0.0

    Reading the Classics Updated
    Reading the Classics Updated Lists
    Reading the Classics

    I am still working my way through reading the classics, reading a three-volume series called Books You Have to Read Before You Die.

    I have read about 120 of the 150 books. I recently finished reading Anne Bronte’s The Tenant of Windfall Hall, which is widely seen as a proto-feminist novel. Anne Bronte is one of the three Bronte sisters who wrote insightful novels set in the English countryside of the early to mid-19th Century.

    This novel was a critique of the prevailing view of marriage in Victorian England, where divorce was very difficult to get for a woman, women were expected to do their wifely duty put up with their husbands no matter what and endure loveless marriages. Most marriages in the upper class were arranged marriages. The expectation was that the couple would grow to love each other, or at least tolerate each other. The wife was supposed to stay home and take care of the children and manage the household servants and the estate while their husband engaged in business pursuits or hung out with his buddies through the club. Many women felt stuck in a loveless marriage. Taking a lover was unthinkable, and divorce as well. After divorce, women often sank into the lower class. Re-marriage was not a realistic option either. For widows, if they inherited the estate, and were under the age of 45 could remarry.

    The heroine of the novel, Helen Huntington, runs away from her alcoholic, abusive, womanizing husband and supports herself through her art as she is a talented painter. She lives in a small rural area  with her son, ans her long term servant, Rachale. Her friends and relatives do not know where she is. Her brother helps her get set up, and she lives in an old mansion he owns. She calls herself Mrs Graham and lets people think she is a widow. In a way, she is as she feels her husband is dead to her to use a modern expression.

    She falls in love with a local farmer who is beneath her socially but not too far away because he has his farm and is doing well economically. They agreed to not meet any more for fear of a scandal if known. In the end, after her abusive husband dies from acute alcohol poisoning, they get married and he adopts her 11-year-old son.

    Throughout the novel, the women in the novel are all deeply unhappy, as are their husbands. Many of the husbands are like her husband, alcoholic womanizers. Several hit on her and she rejects their advances.

    A sub-theme of the novel is how the traditional Christian view on marriage destroyed marital happiness, that women should be allowed to leave abusive relationships and re-marry for love. And that women should be allowed to pursue an independent career after marriage. In her view, a true marriage is a partnership entered in with someone whom you love. She rejected the norms of her time.

    Right-Wing In the U.S. Movement to Rescind No-Fault Divorce

    While reading this novel, I read articles on how the contemporary right-wing in the U.S. including JD Vance, the Republican nominee for Vice President,  and Speaker of the House Johnson, are in favor of ending no-fault divorce and making divorce much more difficult to get. All to support promoting their twisted view of “family values”, and return to traditional Christian values. The project 2025 and Agenda 47 which outline proposals for the Republicans if they get elected also spend a lot of time on the idea of promoting the end of the no-fault marriage.  They blame a lot of contemporary social problems on the breakdown of traditional Christian values.  Many of them, would no doubt feel comfortable bringing back the norms of the Victorian era.  They have probably not read this novel, nor do they care that women would again be stuck in loveless, or abusive marriages.

    Parallels in Korean Society

    I also was struck by how in contemporary Korea, many marriages, particularly among the upper classes, are still arranged marriages. Family elders, mostly women, fix up their children to marry matching them with people from suitable family backgrounds and providing their astrological charts match (mostly according to Chinese astrology but also Western as well), the couple is allowed to date for a few dates, and if they like each, they get married, and like in Victorian times, women are often encouraged to have children and quit work. This is changing but divorce is still a social stigma and many women are advised to stick it out even if their husband is abusive or has a mistress. But, many women don’t want to get married and have children and many men don’t feel that they can afford to get married and have children. Korea has a declining population because fewer women are having children.

    Co-Pilot provided additional background information on this proto-feminist novel.

    Synopsis

    “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” is Anne Brontë’s second and final novel, published in 1848 under the pseudonym Acton Bell. The story is framed as a series of letters from Gilbert Markham to his friend, recounting his experiences with a mysterious young widow, Helen Graham, who arrives at Wildfell Hall with her young son. Helen’s reclusive nature and her career as an artist soon make her the subject of local gossip. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Helen is fleeing from her abusive, alcoholic husband, Arthur Huntingdon, in an attempt to protect her son from his influence12.

    Literary Reputation

    Upon its release, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” was considered quite shocking due to its unflinching portrayal of alcoholism, psychological abuse, and the constraints placed on women in the 19th century. The novel was an immediate success but faced significant controversy. After Anne’s death, her sister Charlotte Brontë prevented its re-publication in England until 18541Today, it is regarded as one of the first feminist novels, praised for its bold themes of gender equality and female independence23.

    Author Biography

    Anne Brontë (1820-1849) was the youngest of the three famous Brontë sisters. She was born in Thornton, West Yorkshire, England. Anne worked as a governess, which influenced her first novel, “Agnes Grey.” Her experiences and observations of the social issues of her time deeply informed her writing. Despite her early death at the age of 29, Anne’s work has left a lasting impact on English literature. She is remembered for her strong moral convictions and her commitment to addressing social injustices through her writing12.

    Would you like more detailed information on any specific aspect of the novel or Anne Brontë’s life?

    Themes

    “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Brontë explores several significant themes:

    1. Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards: The novel critiques the societal norms that impose different standards of behavior for men and women. Helen’s struggles highlight the limited rights and freedoms of women in the 19th century1.
    2. Christian Faith and Morality: Helen’s strong Christian faith guides her actions and decisions throughout the novel. Her moral convictions are tested by her marriage to Arthur Huntingdon, but she remains steadfast in her beliefs1.
    3. Love and Marriage: The novel examines the complexities of love and marriage, particularly the consequences of marrying for the wrong reasons. Helen’s marriage to Arthur is a cautionary tale about the dangers of infatuation and the importance of mutual respect and understanding in a relationship1.
    4. The Destructive Force of Alcoholism: Arthur Huntingdon’s alcoholism is a central element of the story, illustrating how addiction can destroy lives and relationships. The novel portrays the devastating impact of Arthur’s drinking on his family and himself2.
    5. Work and Idleness: Helen’s ability to support herself and her son through her art is a significant aspect of the story. The novel contrasts the value of hard work with the destructive nature of idleness, as seen in Arthur’s lifestyle1.

    These themes contribute to the novel’s enduring relevance and its reputation as a pioneering work of feminist literature.

    1litcharts.com2cou

    Here’s the list of the 50 books to read. Bold indicated I have read it.

    Vol 1 starts with Volume One

    Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women
    Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice
    Austen, Jane: Emma
    Balzac, Honoré de: Father Goriot
    Barbusse, Henri: The Inferno
    Brontë, Anne: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
    Brontë, Charlotte: Jane Eyre
    Brontë, Emily: Wuthering Heights
    Burroughs, Edgar Rice: Tarzan of the Apes
    Butler, Samuel: The Way of All Flesh
    Carroll, Lewis: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
    Cather, Willa: My Ántonia
    Cervantes, Miguel de: Don Quixote
    Chopin, Kate: The Awakening
    Cleland, John: Fanny Hill
    Collins, Wilkie: The Moonstone
    Conrad, Joseph: Heart of Darkness
    Conrad, Joseph: Nostromo
    Cooper, James Fenimore: The Last of the Mohicans
    Crane, Stephen: The Red Badge of Courage
    Cummings, E. E.: The Enormous Room
    Defoe, Daniel: Robinson Crusoe
    Defoe, Daniel: Moll Flanders
    Dickens, Charles: Bleak House
    Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations
    Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: Crime and Punishment
    Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: The Idiot
    Doyle, Arthur Conan: The Hound of the Baskervilles
    Forster, E. M.: A Room With a View
    Dreiser, Theodore: Sister Carrie
    Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers
    Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo
    Eliot, George: Middlemarch
    Fielding, Henry: Tom Jones
    Flaubert, Gustave: Madame Bovary
    Flaubert, Gustave: Sentimental Education
    Ford, Ford Madox: The Good Soldier
    Forster, E. M.: Howard End
    Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South
    Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von: The Sorrows of Young Werther
    Gogol, Nikolai: Dead Souls
    Gorky, Maxim: The Mother
    Haggard, H. Rider: King Solomon’s Mines
    Hardy, Thomas: Tess of the D’Urbervilles
    Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter
    Homer: The Odyssey
    Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
    Hugo, Victor: Les Misérables
    Huxley, Aldous: Crome Yellow
    James, Henry: The Portrait of a Lady

    Volume 2

    – Little Women [Louisa May Alcott]
    – Sense and Sensibility [Jane Austen]
    – Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy) [J.M. Barrie]
    – Cabin Fever [ B. M. Bower]
    – The Secret Garden [Frances Hodgson Burnett]
    – A Little Princess [Frances Hodgson Burnett]
    – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland [Lewis Carroll]
    – The King in Yellow [Robert William Chambers]
    – The Man Who Knew Too Much [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – The Woman in White [Wilkie Collins]
    – The Most Dangerous Game [Richard Connell]
    – Robinson Crusoe [Daniel Defoe]
    – On the Origin of Species, 6th Edition [Charles Darwin]
    – The Iron Woman [Margaret Deland]
    David Copperfield [Charles Dickens]
    – Oliver Twist [Charles Dickens]
    – A Tale of Two Cities [Charles Dickens]
    – The Double [Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky]
    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Francis Scott Fitzgerald]
    – A Room with a View [E. M. Forster]
    – Dream Psychology [Sigmund Freud]
    – Tess of the d’Urbervilles [Thomas Hardy]
    – Siddhartha [Hermann Hesse]
    – Dubliners [James Joyce]
    – The Fall of the House of Usher [Edgar Allan Poe]
    The Arabian Nights [Andrew Lang]
    The Sea Wolf [Jack London]
    – The Call of Cthulhu [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]
    – Anne of Green Gables [Lucy Maud Montgomery]
    – Beyond Good and Evil [Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche]
    – The Murders in the Rue Morgue [Edgar Allan Poe]
    – The Black Cat [Edgar Allan Poe]
    – The Raven [Edgar Allan Poe]
    Swann’s Way [Marcel Proust]
    – Romeo and Juliet [William Shakespeare]
    – Treasure Island [Robert Louis Stevenson]
    – The Elements of Style [William Strunk Jr.

    Vol 3  finished keeping for the historical record

    This book contains the following works arranged alphabetically by authors’ last names.

    Started with volume 3 then will go back and do volumes one, two, and the Harvard classics. The goal is to finish all of these by the end of next year.  I almost finished Volume One.  Will do some of the WC reading books as well.

    – What’s Bred in the Bone [Grant Allen]
    – The Golden Ass [Lucius Apuleius]
    – Meditations [Marcus Aurelius]
    – Northanger Abbey [Jane Austen]
    – Lady Susan [Jane Austen]
    – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Lyman Frank Baum]
    – The Art of Public Speaking [Dale Breckenridge Carnegie]
    – The Blazing World [Margaret Cavendish]
    – The Wisdom of Father Brown [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – Heretics [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – The Donnington Affair [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – The Innocence of Father Brown [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [John Cleland]
    – The Moonstone [Wilkie Collins]
    – Lord Jim [Joseph Conrad]
    – The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe [Daniel Defoe]
    – The Pickwick Papers [Charles Dickens]
    – A Christmas Carol [Charles Dickens]
    – Notes From The Underground [Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky]
    – The Gambler par Fyodor [Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky]
    – The Lost World [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Hound of the Baskervilles [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Sign of the Four [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Man in the Iron Mask [Alexandre Dumas]
    – The Three Musketeers [Alexandre Dumas]
    – This Side of Paradise [Francis Scott Fitzgerald]
    – Curious, If True: Strange Tales [Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell]
    – King Solomon’s Mines [Henry Rider Haggard]
    – The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Victor Hugo]
    – Kim [Rudyard Kipling]
    – Captain Courageous [Rudyard Kipling]
    – The Jungle Book [Rudyard Kipling]
    – Lady Chatterley’s Lover [David Herbert Lawrence]
    – The Son of the Wolf [Jack London]
    – The Einstein Theory of Relativity [Hendrik Antoon Lorentz]
    – The Dunwich Horror [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]
    – At the Mountains of Madness [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]
    – The Prince [Niccolò Machiavelli]
    – The Story Girl [Lucy Maud Montgomery]
    – The Antichrist [Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche]
    – The Republic [Plato]
    – The Last Man [Mary Shelley]
    – Life On The Mississippi [Mark Twain]
    – The Kama Sutra [Vatsyayana]
    – In the Year 2889 [Jules Verne]
    – Around the World in Eighty Days [Jules Verne]
    – Four Just Men [Edgar Wallace]
    – Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ [Lewis Wallace]
    – Jacob’s Room [Virginia Woolf]

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