Pretzel Bites: Still finding time to consume
Between streaming shows and books, my plate was full of entertainment
It’s been a busy April! I released my novel Lose Yourself (now available), produced a large event for my employer, celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary, accompanied my hs senior to her university’s admitted student day, and, oh yeah, finished a first draft of my third novel.
And yet, I still consumed several creative products through streaming, reading, podcasts, etc. Here are some of the highlights:
Books
Citizen Vince, Jess Walter. I loved Beutiful Ruins and the Cold Millions, so naturally, I’m going to read his book with Vince in the title. A credit-card scammer who is in witness protection and bakes donuts discovers that his new partners have links to his former life. Vince has to navigate his old life, his new life, and survive without drawing suspicion from the cops. Recommend.
A Gingerbread House, Catriona McPherson. Three women go missing. Another is investigating her father’s involvement in human trafficking. At times creepy, other times unrealistic, I think I would have enjoyed this more if the author would have focused more on the three women’s relationship and their ability to escape their captors. I feel the fourth woman’s storyline and investigation was written only to help discover the woman. Not bad.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kids, Bill Bryson. This memoir covers Bryson’s childhood in the 1950s. All parts nostalgia, it provides insights of a boy looking for mischief, whether it is looking to get into a stripper show at age 12, to the mystique of comic books and television, to standing on the tailgate of the family station wagon while his father drove 50 miles per hour. I laughed at points, and understood the march of progress at the cost of innocence. Recommend.
Streaming
Apple Never Falls, Peacock. A family drama and mystery. When the matriarch of a well to-do Florida family disappears, the facade of a united front crumbles. Where is she? Who is lying? Who is this mystery woman who enters their lives? And did the husband do it? Each episode takes the perspective of the main characters. Annette Bening is the star of this series and she brings several layers to the character. Alison Brie is delightful as the free-spirit older daughter. And while Jake Lacy has played several cads (See White Lotus) in recent years, I still can’t think of him more than “new Jim” in the last season of The Office. Recommend.
The Bear, Hulu. Yes, Season two is so 2023, but caught up with it. Not as frantic cringe as season 1, but there are a couple of episodes where I found myself half wishing/half not wanting it to end. I wasn’t a fan of Richie until we got to one later episode. Then, he’s a badass. Recommend.
The Gentleman, Netflix. Guy Ritchie loves violence. Guy Ritchie loves criminals. Guy Ritchie loves England and the contrasts of British life. In this Netflix series, Ritchie smashes the criminal underworld and British nobility together to great effect. Expect gun porn, blood spatters, an excessive use of various vulgarities, and if that makes you smile, then this show is for you. Recommend.
Past Lives, Paramount Plus. I always enjoy surprising stories. I didn’t know much about this movie, other than one of the stars, Greta Lee, also starred in The Morning Show. The premise is that two best friends (one male, one female) separate when her family decides to emigrate to the United States from South Korea. They reconnect 10 years later and engage in an online relationship, but break it off because of the demands of their careers. Ten years later, he comes to New York to visit her and her husband. They still love each other, but understand that their love does not translate into a “happiy ever after” with each other. Who hasn’t googled a former boyfriend/girlfriend and wondered “what if?” And that realization that it’s just not meant to be this time. Recommend.
Palm Royale, Apple TV +. Palm Beach in the 1960s. Exclusive country clubs. High Society. And a former beauty queen (Kristin Wiig) trying to slide into that lifestyle despite the efforts of the establishment (Allison Janney) to keep her out. It’s an all-star cast and comedy legend Carol Burnett steals every scene she is in, even with limited material. The art direction of Palm Royale is all facade, while showcasing Wiig’s character’s outrageous authenticity trying to break through. A delight. Recommend.
A Side of Mustard…
Reviews are starting to come in. I like to read reviews, particularly those that are as sincere as this one. I know I will run into some unfavorable reviews. That’s ok. All creative endeavors are subjective. But I think Lose Yourself is an overall enjoyable novel and I hope you can find some time to write a few sentences. I appreciate it.
The Next Project
As mentioned above, I completed a first draft of my third novel, tentatively called “Landslide.” More to come in a future Salted Wetzel, but this is the one that will test me for sure.
What recommendations do you have and want to share?