‘Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay’ (2000) a super novel about superhero comics
Book club book report: Michael Chabon’s classic about the Jewish-American condition in the 1940s is a Great American Novel.
History
‘Slasher’ Season 5 ‘Ripper’ overly ambitious, but still brutal
First episode impressions (TV review): The kills are gore-ific and the mystery is respectable, but “Slasher” isn’t quite convincing as a period piece.
‘Come, Tell Me How You Live’ (1946) digs into Mideast cultures
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): The first of Christie’s two autobiographical books shows the 1930s Middle East through a surprised Englander’s eyes.
Preston & Child go back in time for ‘Cabinet of Dr. Leng’
Book review: The plot thickens as Constance and Pendergast hop through dimensions, and the authors make it seem plausible.
‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ a ripping critique of religion
TV review: One of 2022’s best murder-mystery miniseries is also an honest study of how religion shapes people’s minds and lives.
‘Don’t Drink the Water’ adapted poorly (1969) and, well, better (1994)
Woody Wednesday (Movie reviews): Neither version is outstanding, but if you watch one, definitely track down the 1994 movie that comes directly from Allen.
‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ manipulative but undeniably pretty
Movie review: Although too beautiful to be a shunned “Marsh Girl,” Daisy Edgar-Jones steals hearts in this adaptation of a Sixties-set murder-mystery novel.
Rockwell, Ronan make ‘See How They Run’ a comedic delight
Movie review: Great actors team up with a sharp screenplay by Mark Chappell that understands the humorous side of Agatha Christie’s whodunits.
Penn starrer ‘Sweet and Lowdown’ (1999) turns out sour
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Penn and Morton are decent, but where are the laughs in this faux-historical piece that’s structured like a comedy?
‘Cry of Thunder’ (2008) has Holmes, Kolchak … and messy plot
‘Kolchak’ flashback (Comic book review): Holmes, Watson and Kolchak are in fine form, but the plot of this three-issue series borders on incomprehensible.