Thursday, September 11, 2025

Ann Patchett, on reading:


Reading is a private act, private even from the person who wrote the book.
Once the novel is out there, the author is beside the point.
The reader and the book have their own relationship now,
and should be left alone to work things out for themselves.

- Ann Patchett.

Remembering September 11, 2001:


Honoring the victims of September 11, 2001 (9/11), their families and friends,
and the responders who risked their own lives to save others.

We will never forget.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

On this day in movie history - Pearl (2022):


Pearl

directed by Ti West,
written by Ti West and Mia Goth,
was released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on September 3, 2022.
Music by Tyler Bates and Tim Williams.

Cast:

Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, Emma Jenkins-Purro, Alistair Sewell, Amelia Reid, Gabe McDonnell, Lauren Stewart, Todd Rippon, Grace Acheson, Shaman Theron.

Monday, August 18, 2025

On this day in movie history – Factotum (2005 movie & books):


Factotum

directed by Bent Hamer,
written by Bent Hamer and Jim Stark,
based on the novel by Charles Bukowski,
released at the Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival in Norway on April 12, 2005.
Music by Kristin Asbjørnsen.
End titles song: Slow Day by Kristin Asbjørnsen.


Cast: Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, Didier Flamand, Fisher Stevens, Marisa Tomei, Adrienne Shelly, Karen Young, Thomas Lyons, Dean Brewington, James Cada, James Michael Detmar, Kurt Schweickhardt, Dee Noah, James Noah, Michael Egan, Terry Hempleman, Emily Hynnek, Wayne Morton, Tony Papenfuss, Lana Schwab, Sally Wingert, Robert Downing Davis, Bryan J. Walker, Dan Lee Jr., Peter Moore, Bruce Bohne, Larry Roupe, Chris Carlson, Stephen D’Ambrose, Emil Herrera, Michelle Hutchison, Andy Hubbell, Martin Marinaro, Raye Birk, Stephen Pelinski, Stanley Kipper, Brent Doyle, John Paul Gamoke, Jim Lichtscheidl, Jay Gjernes, Clyde Lund, Debbie DeLisi, George McGuire, Brad Madson, Gary Tournier, Esera Tuaolo, John Nadeau, Cathi Cooper, Carole Samuelson. #Drama

Recommended reading:


Factotum

By Charles Bukowski.

Published by Ecco.
First published 1975.
ASIN: 006113127X
ISBN-10: 9780061131271
ISBN-13: 978-0061131271

Description:

One of Charles Bukowski's best, this beer-soaked, deliciously degenerate novel follows the wanderings of aspiring writer Henry Chinaski across World War II-era America. Deferred from military service, Chinaski travels from city to city, moving listlessly from one odd job to another, always needing money but never badly enough to keep a job. His day-to-day existence spirals into an endless litany of pathetic whores, sordid rooms, dreary embraces, and drunken brawls, as he makes his bitter, brilliant way from one drink to the next.

Charles Bukowski's posthumous legend continues to grow. Factotum is a masterfully vivid evocation of slow-paced, low-life urbanity and alcoholism, and an excellent introduction to the fictional world of Charles Bukowski.


What Matters Most Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire

By Charles Bukowski.

Published by Ecco.
Published 2002.
ISBN-10: 1574231057
ISBN-13: 978-1574231052

Description:

The Walt Whitman of Los Angeles. – Joyce Carol Oates.

He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels. – Leonard Cohen.

What Matters Most Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire is the second posthumous collection from Charles Bukowski that takes readers deep into the raw, wild vein of writing that extends from the early 1970s to the 1990s.

Sunday, June 1, 2025

On this day in movie history - Total Recall (1990):


Total Recall

directed by Paul Verhoeven,
written by Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Gary Goldman and Jon Povill,
based on the novella We Can Remember It for You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick,
was released in the United States on June 1, 1990.
Music by Jerry Goldsmith.


Cast:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell, Mel Johnson Jr., Michael Champion, Roy Brocksmith, Ray Baker, Rosemary Dunsmore, David Knell, Alexia Robinson, Dean Norris, Mark Carlton, Debbie Lee Carrington, Lycia Naff, Robert Costanzo, Michael LaGuardia, Priscilla Allen, Ken Strausbaugh, Marc Alaimo, Michael Gregory, Ken Gildin, Mickey Jones, Parker Whitman, Ellen Gollas, Gloria Dorson, Erika Carlsson, Benny Corral, Bob Tzudiker, Erik Cord, Frank Kopyc, Chuck Sloan, Dave Nicolson, Paula McClure, Rebecca Ruth, Milt Tarver, Roger Cudney, Monica Steuer, Sasha Rionda, Linda Howell, Robert Picardo, Kamala Lopez, Morgan Lofting, Patti Attar, Bob Bergen, Joe Unger, Karlyn Michelson, Andy Armstrong, Elizabeth Dennehy, Thomas Ebert, Frank Allen Forbes, Allan Graf, Peter Kent, Joel Kramer, Steven Lambert, Bennie Moore, Terry Richards.