August 15, 2011

The King's Speech was quite good. Liked Timothy Spall's Churchill. Now, I will attempt The Last Lion.



I had read Manchester's The Glory and the Dream: A Narrative History of America, 1932–1972 and American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880–1964. He was a good writer and biographer.



Running The Books by Avi Steinberg looks real interesting. Harvard Grad works as a Prison Librarian. The opening: "Pimps make the best librarians. Psycho killers, the worst. Ditto con men. Gangsters, gunrunners, bank robbers - adept at crowd control, at collaborating with a small staff, at planning with deliberation and executing with contained fury - all possess the librarian's basic skill set. Scalpers and loan sharks certainly have a role to play. But even they lack that something, the je ne sais quoi, the elusive it. What would a pimp call it? Yes: the love."



Will be reading this for the ideas presented.



A well-executed movie and the view is Mattie Ross not Rooster Cogburn. I have to say that Wayne is better than Bridges. This movie is truer to the book. Mattie Ross ends up with an arm missing and LaBoeuf doesn't die.
Great Line:
[after older Mattie enters The tents of the The Wild West Show]
Cole Younger: Yes’m, I am Cole Younger. This is Mr. James. It grieves me to tell you that you have missed Rooster. He passed away, what, three days ago, when the show was in Jonesboro Arkansas. Buried him there in the confederate cemetery. Reuben had a complaint what he referred to as "night hoss" and I believe the warm weather was too much for him. We had some lively times. What was the nature of your acquaintance?
40-Year-Old Mattie: I knew the marshal long ago. We too had lively times. Thank you, Mr. Younger.
[as she turns to go she addresses Frank James who's been staring at her]
40-Year-Old Mattie: Keep your seat, trash.



John Brown Smokehouse: 25-08 37 AVE, Long Island City, NY 11101. The Pulled Pork Sandwich and Beans were great. Smoky and Tasty.Will try the brisket next.