My Love/Hate Relationship With Fall Premiere Week(s)

 

I love entertainment – may it be in a book or via the small and large screen, it is where my soul and heart lies. Creating my own stories, small and large, has given me a deep appreciation of the art of bringing stories to life. So every year, I am looking forward to discovering what is new to arrive – what new characters I can connect with, and what new stories make my heart pound just a little faster. I am looking forward to getting lost in them, their pace, different from our lives, and merge with the fabric of the story in front of me (if it is good one, that is).

There are just too darn many good stories on television this year.

Trying not to get sucked into this world I adore, too much, is the plight of someone who works from home, on her own schedule. I do not have anyone looking over my shoulder, deadlines are those of my own making, may it be for my writing, or for my designs. Yet the pull is strong, and I usually allow myself a little leeway during these few days of discovering pilots, but whatever happened to just one pilot week? I am counting three weeks now!

Time to eliminate some of the contenders, but which ones?

Minority Report already made space for the interesting and faced paced Blindspot. Apparently other people thought the same, considering that the second week viewing dropped by 17 %.

Limitless might not be limitless in its ability to keep my attention. If it would not have been for the little twist at the end of this week’s episode – no I will not tell you, watch it yourself – , I would tell you, that I am not watching it next week. Now I have to. For now.

Quantico has potential, but will it live up to what it can be? At least it does not compete with the middle week frenzy, like some of the other shows that are premiering this week – I am looking at you, Code Black!

So what are your favorite shows of this season so far? Have you decide to abstain from television (I commend you) completely or are you just watching your favorites from last year(s), like Criminal Minds or Castle?

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia

Entertainment, Cookies and Coffee – A Weekend Coffee Share Post

Friends and Coffee Poster by wildapple

If you would come over for coffee today, I would tell you about the books I have on my virtual shelf right now, waiting to be read. I would tell you that I love being a reviewer for NetGalley, but that the downside of that is, my reading list is usually very long. Seldom do I have less than 10 books waiting to be read and reviewed. Thankfully I have always been a fast reader.

One of the books is rather spiritual in a New Age kind of way. The Power Of Positive Living by Norman Vincent Pale is not a new book, rather an old classic, that is now being re-offered as a mass-market paperback. If you are interested in creating a positive life, I highly recommend checking his work out. I personally think we can always use more positive thinking practices in our lives.

The other one I want to mention is a book I got via Kindle Unlimited. Dollars Flow To Me Easily by Richard Dotts had raving reviews, declaring how great of a book about abundance it is. Considering that I was able to borrow it for free, I thought that it would do no harm to check it out.

When I am finished with both books, I will write a review promptly, sometimes in the next week.

Did I offer you yet cookies? How about some of these Brownie Roll-Out Cookies, a recipe I have come across recently. Enjoy!

If you would be over for coffee, I would start talking to you about the upcoming Fall TV season. While I do not see myself in having much time to watch television over the next few months, I make it a point to catch the premieres of my old favorites as well as the new ones coming up. I have collected a few trailers of the television shows I am most looking forward to watching:

Trailer “Blindspot”

Trailer “Code Black”

Trailer “WonderGirl”

Are there any shows, books or movies you are looking forward to watching or reading? What is on your list?

Before you go, I would urge you to join us with your own blog. Just follow this link, and sign up, so we can visit more often.

Happy Weekend!

Claudia

 

 

Book Review: Storm Front by Richard Castle

Title: Storm Front

Author: Richard Castle

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Publisher: Kingswell

Rating: 4.5/ 5 Stars

From Tokyo, to Bonn, to London, high-level bankers are being tortured and murdered. The killer, caught in a fleeting glimpse on a surveillance camera, has been described as a psychopath with an eye patch. And that means Gregor Volkov, Derrick Storm’s old nemesis, has returned. Knowing only one man can match Volkov’s strength and cunning, the CIA calls on Storm to track him down, figure out who he’s working for and why. With the help of a beautiful and mysterious foreign agent, Storm discovers a plot that could destroy the global economy bringing with it untold chaos and the time he has to stop it is running short. 

I am a fan of the show Castle and love the attitude that Nathan Fillion brings to the character, even if the storyline tends to be a little cheesy at times. But what intrigued me even more, is that someone took the time to write the books, that supposedly made Castle so famous, and created with that, actually enjoyable novels.

Storm Front, a spy thriller, is one of these books. Surprisingly well written, it is funny, tight and full of action, without losing the voice of Richard Castle, making it a story within a story, that is well worth diving into. At times a little too sarcastic and leaving me with the hint of the feeling that the writers of this book poked fun at the readers, I still enjoyed the novel, which reads like a well-crafted spy novel should. Full of twists, turns and romance, while always finding a way to make me chuckle in the most unexpected ways. I am glad I picked up this book, now I just wish, I could actually congratulate the person or persons who wrote this little gem, for a job well done.

Storm Front is available on Amazon now!

A List Of Don’t – Or – It’s A Matter Of Taste (A Daily Prompt Post)

Today we were asked to write about this:

When was the last time a movie, a book, or a television show left you cold despite all your friends (and/or all the critics) raving about it? What was it that made you go against the critical consensus?

I wish, that compiling this list would not have been easy. But it wasn’t. While there are many gems out there, whom also have had their acclaim, either by critiques or fans, some make me wonder: Where you and I watching/reading the same thing?

TV:

Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Seriously, what is up with the hype about this show? I could not stomach more than 10 minutes (and those where torture). Why would I want to watch rich people whom are sort of famous openly air their daily life and problems?

True Blood: I watched one episode. Okay, it was not terrible, but it was not enough to make me come back for a second one. So, no I am not going to grow to like it. Just like I never grew to like Tofu. It is not going to happen.

Movies:

World War Z: Another movie I could not sit through in one setting. I am just glad I did not go to the movies to see it. Netflix, you have saved me again.

Taken: I love action movies. Not this one. And they made a sequel? Taken 2? Just think about it. The chances of someone kidnapping someone in your family or people you know is (thankfully) rare, and you want me to believe, I should come back for another story that involves kidnapping? No thanks.

Books:

50 Shades of Grey: I am not even going to go there. That is just sad. So sad.

Twilight Saga: This series made my resolve to write my own books even stronger. If she can make millions of these books, than there is hope I can make millions of mine. Sparkling vampires, anyone?

What is your list of don’ts?

Here is what other bloggers posted for this prompt:

http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/bad-movie/

http://vexingpoint.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/daily-prompt-matters-of-taste/

http://dragoneystory.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/in-this-moment/

http://lindaswritingblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/swimming-upstream/

New Series “The Last Ship” Comands Attention

I was torn to watch last night between watching “Rising Star” or “The Last Ship” on TNT. Considering that I read the devastating reviews of the former, I am glad I met the decision to commit to the Drama.

And I think you should take a look at it too.

With the presence of a full force action movie, rather than an hour-long drama, the pilot pushed its way into our Sunday evening, never letting go, with dramatically and well performed roles, from the leads, all the way to the minor characters.
The man formerly known as McSteamy, Eric Dane, took control off every frame he stepped in, and not in the cartoonish annoying way he did in Grey’s Anatomy (can you tell I was not a fan?), to my surprise filling this role as the Commander of a Naval vessel with ease, without loosing his charm. Faced with a seemingly impossible situation – a pandemic killed off most of the Earth’s population, while they were on a mission that forced them into radio silence – the Commander and it’s crew, including a CDC Doctor, Dr. Rachel Scott (played well by Rhona Mitra) have no choice but to become a solution to a problem that seems to doom the world. They have become the only hope.

Here is the trailer:

Produced by Michael Bay

Reality TV, Guilty Pleasures And A Book (Of Course!)

I am not a fan of Reality TV shows (I am not talking about competition shows, but rather the Kardashian or The Housewives of…), but even I have a guilty pleasure in that category:

Million Dollar Listings LA! And to add to my bliss, it will return August 7th on Bravo. I love the peak into the Multi-Million dollar homes, the drama not so much, but that part is far less in this reality show, then in the others I had the “pleasure” of watching. The show focuses around high profile real estate agents, who compete, and sometimes battle for clients, sales and turf, understandably, if one sale can create more income then many of us make in a year.

Here is a sneak peak

But did you know that there is a published author in their midst? Josh Flagg wrote a fascinating book about his grandmother Edith Flagg, who is truly an inspiring woman.

Surviving World War II, by becoming a member of a Dutch Underground resistance to Hitler, at a very young age, she not only survived this trying time, but rather flourished, and created a Multi-Million dollar clothing company, once she made her way to the US. A truly inspiring story, told with care and love by her Grandson, a now successful business man in his own right. I recommend for you to check out: “A Simple Girl”. And watch him in action on August 7th on Bravo.

I will.

The Wil Wheaton Project – A SyFy Channel Original

Do you remember Wil Wheaton? The young nerdy, and way too smart kid from Star Trek: Next Generation?

Of course, you might remember him from Stand By Me, or more recently “The Big Bang Series”. SyFy has given Wil a new platform, “The Wil Wheaton Project”, a thirty minute show that highlights the current genre entertainment, in a comedic style.

I was happy to hear about this adventure, until I watched the first episode (which is currently available on the channel’s website as well as Hulu), and was incredibly disappointed. Lame jokes, bad laugh tracks, games that are supposed to be funny, but are really not, litter the show, and make it more of a waste of time, then honoring the genre that I love. The quality is that off a purely produced YouTube channel, and I must say, I have seen a lot better on YouTube.

Maybe the second episode will learn from the mistake of the first, but I will not stick around watching it, as the first experience was already too disappointing.

 

Summer TV Shows – Something To Look Forward To

Summer break – many things come to mind, when I hear those two words, good television is usually not one of them. It has traditionally for me been always the time of waiting between shows (okay, I don’t just watch TV and sit around at home, but I do find a good show a relaxing break from writing, and the stress of owning a business) for something good to watch, that does not require a trip to the theater.

This year seems to be different. Some shows have caught my attention.

1. Murder In The First (June 9th TNT)

Yes, you saw that correct, this show includes someone from the Harry Potter cast, all grown up! Tom Felton joins this highly anticipated drama. Sounds interesting!

2. Extant (July 9th CBS)

Halle Berry is coming to the small screen! I am looking forward to the new SciFi show. Here is taste:

3. The Last Ship (June 22nd TNT)

What if the only hope we have laid on a ship? Yes, this is another outbreak, epidemic story, and we have seen many of those (fail), but after watching the trailer I want to give it a try. At least Eric Dane (McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy) is an incentive to watch show that could be a good premise, if it has been realized to its full potential. Directed by Michael Bay, do I need to say more?

Happy Watching!

 

The Endgame (TV-Show) Review

As more and more providers of streaming movies and shows develop their own content, as well as feature exclusive content, I found it interesting to explore some of those options. The Endgame – streaming exclusively on Hulu is one of these options I came across this week.

The premise is interesting and promising: A middle aged Russian Chess Grand-master becomes the witness of the murder of his fiance. As a result, he develops Agoraphobia, a panic disorder that does dis-allows it sufferers to enter certain spaces, they perceive as dangerous, or in some cases leaves them stuck at home, as outside is the trigger for an attack. In the main character’s case, he is confined to a hotel building, unable to leave, but also unable to pay the luxuries accommodations. In order to make money, he takes a variety of cases, in which the police seem not be able or willing to help, all with the help of some hotel staff, a few friends and a genius mind.

I fell in the love with the show from its first episode. The main character, Arkady Balagan (played by Shawn Doyle) is witty, smart, self-centered, but with a trace of kindness and humanity, that allows the viewer to connect and emphasize with its plight. While he is trying to move on with his life, despite the condition he is in, he finds a way to build a world around himself, that reaches far beyond the confinements of this luxurious self-imposed prison. His bluntness raises eyebrows at times, but he always manages to not get too mean, or too personal, while at the same time getting to the core of each situation.

I am hoping that Hulu will produce more episodes of this show, which only last one season (13 shows). Check it out!

V Is For Variety

Last night, a new show premiered by the name of “The Black Box” promising a unique variety to the usual drama shows, that currently are shown on the small screen.

“The Black Box” follows a young Dr., who despite her age is an expert in her field – neuroscience,  carrying within her a pretty big secret – she is bi-polar. With this unique point of view she seems to be able to connect with her patients on a deeper level, while desperately trying to hang on to her own life, as a professional, as a fiance, and as a mother.

The premier in my opinion was great! Unique, out there, a little surreal and over the top, but different, which is such a refreshing aspect. The main character, Catherine Black (played fearlessly by Kelly Reilly) is eccentric to say the least, but her out of the box thinking is exactly what is needed within the field she specializes in.

Mental illness is an important subject, that is often overlooked in the creative cinematic arena, unless it makes a convenient serial killer, or used to explain behavior. This show has the opportunity to go deeper, to show how the day to day aspect of a live of someone with mental disorder is effected, and how it effects those surrounding them. I am exited to see what the producers and writers of the show will make out of this opportunity. I will be watching, and I hope you will give it a try.