Not the greatest of actors on the Hallmark shows! LOL  They usually look good though!

Tonight I watched a couple of Jessie stone movies with Tom Selleck on the Hallmark Mystery Channel.  I think he is a good actor.  He is aging but still looks pretty good. 

Ditto to what you said, Callie.  Still, I watch once in a great while when I don't want to see any violence, blood and guts like every other show seems to feel is necessary.

FlaJean, the Jessie Stone movies were favorites of mine.  Perhaps now that "Blue Bloods" has finished T. Selleck will make another Jessie Stone movie for TV.  I hope so.  I thought he was perfect for the character.  I always enjoy reading Robert Parkers books. 

I see that Blue Bloods is on Netflix, but I haven't seen any Jesse Stone movies listed there?  I haven't read the Parker  books, but AJ read them and liked them a lot. 
He just finished reading, The Revenant, based on the true story by Michael Punke.
Leonardo DiCaprio, won the Best Actor Oscar this year, for his lead role in the movie.  Now AJ is anxious to see the movie, but I'm not sure if I can stand to watch it?  Supposed to be very graphic, re, violence, suffering, redemption, etc. 

Marilyne, I watched the Jesse Stone movies on Hallmark Mysteries. If you put Tom Selleck in the Netflix search the Jesse Stone movie should come up if there are any on Netflix.  I did watch one on Netflix a couple of years ago, but they do change their movies from time to time.

A big enthusiastic recommendation for, Still Life With Bread Crumbs, by Anna Quindlen.  I think most of you who read or post in this discussion will like it. 

I've only read two other books by Anna Q - One True Thing and Blessings, both of which were very good. "True Thing" was made into a good movie, starring Meryl Streep and Renee' Zellweger. "Blessings", is a wonderful story that has stayed with me over the years.  A rather common theme, but written in a memorable way.

I see that she has written lots of other books, both fiction and non-fiction, which I hope to get to before long.  I still have one library book here to read . . . The Summer Before the War), as well as a paperback called, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake.     

I am now on the third book of Estelle Ryan's Connection series. I like the characters, but think this third book is a bit much. It concludes efforts to bring one particular bad guy to justice, so the first three books are a trilogy. I hope, are each of the rest are separate mysteries.

The main character and narrator of the novels is a high functioning autistic who works for an insurance company as an investigator. She uses her expert skills in nonverbal communication, something  I am told is usually lacking in an autistic person, to solve art thefts and forgeries. Her unofficial/official team include a thief, a criminal knowledgeable in weaponry (possible former mercenary), a expert computer hacker, and an Interpol detective.

I read the first of Ryan's Connection series and thought it was very well done.  I have intended to go back and read more of this series.  I think there are about 7 or 8?

She is up to nine now, Jean. I've finish book 3 (The Braque Connection). Braque and the rest of the artists named in the series are unfamiliar to me except for Morisot whose paintings I have seen. No surprise about Georges Braque. He was a cubist; I don't like cubism. 

I couldn't face another series right now!!!!     Since I finished The Clifton Chronicles and the Maggie Hope Mysteries  I've been reading various authors.    I'm just finishing one by Jan Karon.    I've read a few of her books but hadn't read this one called  In The Company of Others.   This story takes place in Ireland where Father Tim and Cynthia have gone for a vacation.    I think it is more  involved  than the earlier books and there is a story within the story as they have come across an old journal telling about the mansion that is part of the property of the B&B where they are staying.   

My f2f book club just read "The Elegance of the Hedgehog".  We all agreed it was NOT an easy read...very philosophical/metaphysical.  However, those of us who had not finished the book, all said we were determined to finish it!  I was the moderator for this one, and had a list of discussion questions, which helped a lot to further our discussion.  Now, the real kicker is:  There is a movie of the book, but it is not titled "Elegance of the Hedgehog", but only The Hedgehog.  Wow, wow, wow. I watched the movie yesterday with a dear friend who is also a member of our book group.  It is in French, with English subtitles (very easily read, I might add).  The acting is superb.  The movie gets into the kernel of the book, without having to read/reread the philosophical parts, which seemed to slow the reading process.  One member said she had finished the book, but was going to read it again.  Lots of classic book titles mentioned in the story, which will prompt some of us to find and read them.  Get this movie from your library's collection,  on Netflix or however you get your DVD's. 

Tome - Your comments on The Elegance of the Hedgehog, are very encouraging!  I've thought about reading it over the years, but most reviews say it's difficult, boring, and lots of other negative adjectives!  Since you recommend the movie, I may watch it instead.  I'll check my On Demand, and see if it's listed. 

For some reason, I'm reminded of Watership Down.  I remember trying to read that book, and being bored out of my mind. (Looking back, I probably wasn't astute enough to see all the symbolism, etc?)  When it was made into a movie, I went to see it, but didn't enjoy it. I think I probably had my mind made up, and didn't give it a chance.     

The book could be reviewed as difficult/boring, some parts more than others.  It is a treatise on France's "class society" as much as anything, and therein we find the two main characters' purpose...very basically, personally acknowledging while denying it in their own lives. (Did that make sense?)  In other words, in their very private lives, they make sure they don't live up to the way others stereotype them.

I loved "Watership Down" and I have been swearing to reread it, but keep forgetting.  I didn't care for the movie either.

I have said the same thing, Tome.  Watership Down was one of my favorite books and I keep saying I will re-read it.  My brother hated it saying that he just couldn't buy into the anthropomorphism.

I will go to Netflix and try to find Hedgehog.  I think I would like to see that.  Thanks for mentioning it.

I have found that so often the books that were the most difficult and boring to stick with are the ones that have stayed in my mind for years afterward.

phyll - I'm with your brother on Watership Down, but I would be willing to take another look and see if maybe old age has softened my opinion??  Another one that I tossed aside many long years ago, was The Hobbit series.  I don't think I'd be willing to give them another look. 

Some fantasy stories I really like, but not those involving animals or inhuman creatures.  I'm loving Game of Thrones, on HBO, and would like to read the series of books that it's adapted from, A Song of Ice and Fire, by  George R. R. Martin.

Marilyne, I definitely agree with you on The Hobbit.  Tried to read them but it just didn't work for me.  And I will say the same for the Hobbit movies.  However, I liked Avatar very much and it is in the same fantasy genre.  I have no good explanation for that!   

Couldn't find the movie "The Hedgehog" on Netflix and Amazon isn't playing it on movies/videos but will be happy to send me the CD for $9.99.  I don't think so.  When I go to the library later on in the week I'll check to see if they have a copy.

Netflix does seem to have/or intends to have "The Hedgehog". When I put it in my queue it dumps it down to the waiting list part.  Depending on the size of your library, they might have a copy.  Good luck.

Anyone here has read the books by Ann Mc Caffrey?  Her Pern series had me hooked for many years and I always enjoy re-reading them when I have nothing new at hand.

Bubble, I just finished reading the first of the Pern series. It was interesting enough to finish, but I wasn't that taken with it or the characters to continue. Maybe I will pick it up again later.

which one did you read?

Dragonflight (1968) I believe it was the first one written. The only character I really liked was F'Lar, the Wingleader of Brenden Weyr.

Tome, I have Netflix streaming where I can watch in HD on either my Smart TV or my computer.  However, I seldom watch any video/movie on my computer.  I prefer the bigger screen.  I used to get the DVD mailed to me but haven't used my DVD player for years.  I don't think it is even connected anymore.  I think the Netflix streaming library is not as extensive as the DVD library but perhaps The Hedgehog will show up in the list eventually.

phyll - Our DVD player is also just sitting and gathering dust.  Like you, we used to get the DVD's through the mail, but then went to the direct Netflix streaming instead.  Not a great selection of the older movies that I like, but enough to give me plenty of things to watch! 

Do you ever use Redbox?  The DVD's are only $1.50 for 24 hours, and they always have the very latest movies.  Also, my library has both new and old to select from.  However, I'm embarrassed to admit that I never get either one, because I've forgotten how my player works! LOL 

Quote from: MarsGal on June 05, 2016, 08:51:03 AM
Dragonflight (1968) I believe it was the first one written. The only character I really liked was F'Lar, the Wingleader of Brenden Weyr.

One of my favorites is Dragon singer and Dragon song, about the same character Menolly.
F'lar is there in all the books as well as his wife.  My dearest character is Robinton, master Harper of Pern.  He too is in all the books.

The first was not the best.  But they do not need to be read in order, which is a good thing

I've seen Redbox in several places here, Marilyne, but have never used it.  Too lazy to stir myself and take the dvd back, I guess.  And most definitely too lazy to dig out the old DVD player and dust it off and hook it up.       Oddly enough, our library system does not offer movies/tv shows on DVD.  They have a very large collection of Books on DVDs and an even larger collection of eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and other types of e readers so I don't know why they don't have any movies on DVD.

That is good to know, Bubble. I may get back to them later on, but, for now, I had other books that needed read before my library loans expired. We are doing The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry over on Senior Learn beginning today.  www.seniorlearn.org

MarsGal - A.J. Fikry, was a favorite in this discussion a couple of years ago. I think you're going to enjoy reading it!

I have the "Storied life of AJ Fikry" on hold at the library. Will maybe able to catch up with the Discussion.

I called The Storied Life of A J Fikry a "gentle" book.  I liked it very much but then anything about books, book stores, and literature will draw me like a magnet.  I have put an ebook version on hold at the library and will read it again.  This time I will link to and read all of the short stories that are mentioned at the beginning of each chapter.  I didn't do that the first time I read the book....in too much of a hurry to read the unfolding story of Fikry.   

Good idea phyllis!  I had forgotten about the short stories/books, mentioned at the beginning of each chapter in Fikry.  Also a variety of books touched on, throughout the story. I think I'll put a hold on it at my library also.