The Woman in the Water by Charles Finch

The Woman in the Water by Charles Finch

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book had more drama than mystery. That said, I understand that this is a prequel and was probably written to establish the detective's backstory. However, for a first-time reader, I found the book not as enjoyable as I might have if I had dived right into the actual first book rather than this one.

I will persist!

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A Pleasurable Duty - Downton Abbey (2019) - Julian Fellowes, writer

Moving along at a fast clip, Downton Abbey, the movie, hits all the high points: the monarchy, the peerage, the advent of industrialism and the cognizance of homosexuality.

A fairytale of manners and silver, a sealed, handwritten letter leads us back in time, sending us to the Downton Abbey morning room.

We watch the letter pass from castle, to train, to jiggedy, gilded mail truck, to cyclist until the letter is passed from the young butler, Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier),  into the hands of the Earl of Grantham, Robert Crowley (Hugh Bonneville). As is true with so many dutiful domestics, the servants know of the letter well before their masters.

The letter deftly brings the familiar Crowley family and their servants into frame and sets the stage for the impending arrival of King George V and Queen Mary in a fortnight.

The Downton Abbey series, which thrilled, yet baffled, American audiences with its foreign manners and affectations, rises to even greater heights of pomp and circumstance with the impending monarchical visitation.

The movie again pits the familiar foils of Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith), against Lady Merton, Isobel Crawley Grey (Penelope Wilton); and Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier) against Mr. Carson (Jim Carter).

But before the arrival of the King and Queen, a feud erupts between the Downton servants and the royal staff. Americans may be astonished by the seeming pettiness of British class and manners, property and duty. But, remember, England is a small, island country--no bigger than Alabama--where honor and duty create invisible walls that define one's personal space, and manners are the social language of class.

Taking place in a period between WWI and WWII, we witness to the fraying edges of the British class system. This is most apparent in the storyline between Cora Crawley's widower Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and the Queen's lady's maid's maid, Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton).

The ending, neatly wrapped up in a perfect bow, pairs all off like the parade into Noah's ark. And like Noah, there will likely be a dawn to a new day and, perhaps, another sequel.

A pleasure to watch, with lovely settings, pastoral views and a rousing soundtrack, the movie is comforting in its predictability. And like all good fairytales, it is a story deftly grounded in hopeful morality.

Walken with the dead: Undertaking Betty - Alfred Molina, Brenda Blethyn (2002)

This farcical romance, Undertaking Betty, pairs dueling  mortuaries and philandering politicians to create a one-of-a-kind Welsh comedy.

Undertaking Betty has an all-star cast including Alfred Molina (Spiderman 2), Brenda Biethyn (Vera, Atonement), Christopher Walken (Hairspray, Pulp Fiction) and Naomi Watts (Mulholland Dr., The Ring).

Boris Plots (Molina) has been harbouring a 30-year crush on Betty (Biethyn), dashed when she chose to dance with Hugh (Pugh).

Thirty years later, Hugh is married to the blissfully unaware Betty but is catting around with his secretary (Watts).

And instead of Boris following his dreams to become a ballroom dancer, he ends up taking over his father's mortuary.

So begins this silly film. It is worth a couple of hours to see Christopher Walken in one of his sillier performances. His hair alone could be a character.

Kingsman is Krap (Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Jack Davenport)

I need to know how much they paid Colin Firth to be in Kingsman: The Secret Service.

It was a pure abomination to his reputation and his acting skills.

The thing is, it was actually pretty good up until the church scene. Then it turned into a "Kill Bill"-squared = KillBill².

And, really, I should have had a clue when, within the first 15 minutes of the movie, the first iteration of Lancelot (Jack Davenport) is cut in half--vertically.

It was the bloodiest, most violent, display of mayhem I have ever seen.

And I wouldn't necessarily characterize myself as a milquetoast or holier-than-thou; geez, one of my favorite movies is Reservoir Dogs.

But this movie was just foul, full of over-the-top violence, disgusting language and stupidity.

From the director of X-Men and Kick-Ass, I should have anticipated the turn of events. However, it was the casting of Colin Firth and Michael Caine that lured me in. That and the lovely references to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; however, the use of a conference room table rather than a round table should have been the first big clue.

Don't waste your time. And surely don't take your children--it is rated R for a very good reason.

February Favorites!

I saw some great movies, binge watched some good TV and read some fun books. Learn more below!

Movies

The Way - Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez

This movie made me want to sell everything and walk the Pyrenes Mountains.

An unsentimental view of how man copes when his adult son decides to pursue his dreams only to lose his life.

Starring real-life father and son duo, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, the movie examines ambitions, dreams, grief and love.

If you love travelogues, don't mind a dose of spirituality and buddy movies, this is the movie for you. And, even though this does take place on a Catholic pilgrimage, it has a mild spiritual overtones.

Not Another Happy Ending - Karen Gillian, Henry Cusick

This British rom-com has Dr. Who darling Karen Gillian and French actor and Scandal star, Henry Ian Cusick.

If you love movies about writers, this one's for you. Jane has been trying to get her novel published. After a stream of rejections, finally the foul-mouthed editor, Willie takes her novel on. Together, they work to make it the "novel of the year". And that's when it all starts to go down hill.

Peruvian Henry Ian Cusick does a brilliant job of playing a bossy French man. And Kareen Gillian is delightful as the lovely first-time novelist, quirky menswear aside. Definitely one to watch.

Horns - Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple - instant view

A quirky morality tale starring Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe examines honesty, revenge and free will.

Ig falls in love Merrin when they are just children. Their love seems destined for marriage until she is found dead.

Traumatized and distraught, he is victimized by the town and his family who believes he is her murderer. After a night of debauchery, he wakes up to find he has grown horns.

Surreal and sad, this movie examines the nature of good and evil.

TV Shows

Justified - Timothy Olyphant - instant view

This 6-season series covers a volatile, recalcitrant US Deputy Marshall's return to his hom-state of Kentucky.

Fielding feuding hillbilly families entrenched in drug wars that would put the mob to shame, Raylan Givens picks up where he left off, running into old enemies, an ex-wife and an estranged father.

Bullets fly, bombs explode and alliances flip.

All in a single episode. Based on Elmore Leonard's short story, Fire in the Hole.

Bosch - Titus Welliver - instant view

Only available on Amazon Prime, Bosch is a video series based upon Michael Connelly's detective Harry Bosch.

Much like Justified's Raylan Givens, Harry Bosch runs along the edge of the law in LA. Described as new noir, the cinematography is shadowed and gritty.

Harry Bosch is maligned, shredded and accused from all sides.

Nevertheless, he solves crimes, closes down delinquents and generally cleans up the mayhem.

Books

Pilgrim Road - Albert Holtz, OSB - Kindle

Benedictine monk takes the reader through a Lenten journey through 40 days worth of pilgrim sites.

Illustrated by the author with small sketches of the pilgrim sites drawn during his journeys, his words will transport you to these saintly sites.

Traveling from Spain to Bogota, then France then England, this book is delightful, thought-provoking and will guide you towards a deeper Lenten experience.

To Catch a Bad Guy - Marie Astor - Kindle

Marie Astor's white-collar crime mystery follows former AG Janet Maple and financial investigator Dennis Walker as they stumble upon one another during their tenure at a financial investment firm.

Dennis is working under cover to investigate the firm's investments when Janet is hired by her friend to join as counsel after getting laid off from the AG's office. 

Sparks start to fly as both Janet and Dennis begin to realize their instincts are right.

A fun romp, there is no gratuitous sex and a smart read.



Kindle eBooks
Amazon Movies and TV

Stream TV via HuluPlus

Greenfingers - Clive Owen, Helen Mirren (2005)

Heart Rate: YYYY

Clive Owen stars in this charming story about British prisoners who landscape their way to redemption.

Incarcerated in a high-security prison, after 15 years, Colin Briggs, played by Owen, is transferred to a low-security prison to learn a trade. Hardened by guilt, he refuses to participate until his elderly roommate gives him a packet of violets as a Christmas present.

Colin carelessly plants this seeds in the middle of winter and forgets about them until some other prisoners nearly trample the violets during a soccer game.

He fights to defend his flowers and, in the midst of this battle, he suddenly realizes he wants to garden. One day, out of the blue, his little prison garden is championed by renowned gardener Georgina Woodhouse, played by Helen Mirren.

A charming tale based upon the true story of Her Majesty's Prison Leyhill in the Cotswolds, the real prison actually has won two which won several prizes for their garden prions.

Widow's Peak - Natasha Richardson, Mia Farrow (1994)

Heart Rate: YYYY


A quirky little film starring Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright and Natasha Richardson, the plot centers around a 1930s Irish town called "Widow's Peak".

So named for its predominantly widowed population, Mrs. Doyle-Counihan, played by Joan Plowright, governs the town with an iron fist.

With hilarious character actors Jim Broadbent as a smitten dentist and Anne Kent as Mrs. Doyle-Counihan's agressive female driver, there are plenty of laughs.

The shabby widow Miss O'Hare (Judith Plowright) and the newly arrived and seductive Edwina Broome (Natasha Richardson) take an instant dislike to one another. Broome is convinced that O'Hare hates her and is plotting to destroy her. O'Hare is convinced that Broome is trying to kill her.

Who is right? Who is harming whom? What evil is at the secretive root of it all?

I had semi-guessed it but was still a bit surprised by the ending. It was an enjoyable way to spend the evening.

Feast - Traditional English Cuisine in Houston, Texas

Heart Rate: YYYYY

UPDATE: Took my mother to FEAST after Good Friday Mass. Learned that FEAST is a 2009 semi-finalist for James Beard's Best New Restaurants. They were also covered by the NY Times.

My friend and co-worker had a traditional work anniversary lunch at Feast.

Self-described as "Rustic European Fare", I think most would us would recognize it as British food.

Now, I know most of you have heard that British food is sub-standard. To this I say, "not true!"

In fact, I think I would go as far to say that this was possibly one of the best meals that I have eaten in Houston.

However, a word of caution: a lesser foodie may be daunted by the menu. Purviewing it is not for the faint of heart. There are some rather extraordinary dishes ranging from oxtail to kidney pie, cheek and haggis.

But, before fear set in, logic prevailed: no man in their right mind would sell such awful sounding dishes unless they actually tasted good.

I am so glad that I pushed on.

What a gastronomic delight! It was lovely.

While I ordered a paper-wrapped fish (the name escapes me at the moment) with couscous and stewed tomatoes along with a side of bubble and squeak. The rest of the party ordered braised pork and fish and scallop pie.

May I say that I never thought stewed tomatoes could be so good? And the fish was amazing--very flavorful and rich with pungent, lemony tastes. I was excited about the bubble and squeak: I was not disappointed with its lovely combination of smooth mashed potatoes and crunchy bits.

The pork dish was at that top of every one's hit list--even though we all commented upon how thick and chewy the crust was, it stopped none of us from savoring it. The fish pie was equally as delicious, coming to the table bubbling over the top of its own ramekan.

For a bit of dessert, I ordered the whiskey prunes. Gaah! It was a tad strong and being a non-alcohol kind of gal, I would have liked a bit more of it burned off. That said, my friend's sticky toffee pudding looked divine--let's just say I have plans to return after Lent.

Overall the dining experience was fun and full of adventure. We got to meet two of the three owners: the husband and wife team of James and Meagan Silk. Such personalized service made me feel quite at home.

The ambience is perfect: set in lower Montrose near Mark's and Michaelangelo's it is in a sturdy, New Orleans-style house. Filled with planked floors, a traditional British hearth and dark moldings, you could very well be in London Town.

I would highly recommend that you make a visit and bring an open mind.

Prices range from medium to high.

http://feasthouston.googlepages.com/home

219 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77006 713-529-7788