Why we read:

Recommended reading - The Age of Dimes and Pulps: A History of Sensationalist Literature, 1830-1960 (2018):

The Age of Dimes and Pulps:
A History of Sensationalist Literature, 1830-1960

By Jeremy Agnew.

Published by McFarland.

Published 2018.

Illustrated edition.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1476669481

ISBN-13: 978-1476669489

Description:

From the dime novels of the Civil War era to the pulp magazines of the early 20th century to modern paperbacks, lurid fiction has provided thrilling escapism for the masses. Cranking out formulaic stories of melodrama, crime and mild erotica – often by uncredited authors focused more on volume than quality – publishers realized high profits playing to low tastes. Estimates put pulp magazine circulation in the 1930s at 30 million monthly.

This vast body of "disposable literature" has received little critical attention, in large part because much of it has been lost – the cheaply made books were either discarded after reading or soon disintegrated. Covering the history of pulp literature from 1850 through 1960, the author describes how sensational tales filled a public need and flowered during the evolving social conditions of the Industrial Revolution.

Ann Patchett, on writing:

That's the way I work.

I get it all plotted in my mind, and then I write it down.

- Ann Patchett.

On this day in movie history - Sniper: The White Raven (2022):

Sniper: The White Raven

directed by Marian Bushan,

written by Marian Bushan and Mykola Voronin,

based on the true life and experiences of Mykola Voronin,

released in Ukraine on August 24, 2022.
Music by Nadiia Odesuk / Nadya Odesyuk.

I first saw Sniper: The White Raven back in April (2024), on The Movie Channel.

After watching it, I had to include and recommend it in my book: What's On?

Based on the true life and experiences of Mykola Voronin, an ecologist, teacher and writer.

He lived a simple life off the grid with his wife, Nastya, in Donbas, Ukraine.

In 2014, Russian soldiers invaded and murdered his wife.

Mykola, fueled by rage and the need for justice and vengeance for his wife, enlisted in the Ukrainian Army.

He trained, became a sniper, and fought back.

He switched from idealistic pacifist to warrior, assigning himself the codename Raven, in reference to the White Raven symbol his wife placed in stones outside their home.

Mykola vowed to defend Ukraine.

Russia senselessly invaded Ukraine again in 2022.

This movie and true story couldn’t be more topical or important.

Powerful.

Real.

Raw.

Tragic.

Heartbreaking.

We stand with Ukraine.

Victory to Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine.

Slava Ukraini.

Cast:

Pavlo Aldoshyn, Maryna Koshkina, Andrey Mostrenko, Roman Semysal, Oleg Drach, Roman Yasinovskiy, Oleg Shulga, Vadim Lyalko, Vadim Kurilko, Vladyslav Dmytrenko, Eugen Volosheniuk, Oleksandr Bykov, Serhiy Artemenko, Egor Kozlov, Zachary Shadrin, Olena Chervonenko, Demyan Radzivilyuk, Alina Karpenko, Anatoly Tikhomirov, Yanina Andreeva, Evhen Chernykov, Igor Parkhomenko, Vitaliy Kovalskyy, Oleksiy Storozhuk, Vitaliy Belskyy, Aleksandr Dyumin, Oleksiy Nakonechnyi, Andriy Yakubov, Kyrylo Goz, Vitaly Kalyuzhny, Mike Parish, Adrian Petriw.

On this day in music history - Change, by Sue Foley (2004):

Change

Album by Sue Foley,

released August 24, 2004.

Track list:

Goin’ Down the Road Again; Hardworking Woman; Doggie Treats; Careless Love; Change; Bad Luck Woman; Mournin’ in the Morning; Sugar in My Bowl; Here Comes the Sun; Me and My Chauffeur; You Don’t Have to Go; Shake That Thing.

On this day in movie history - Strangers Kiss (1983):

Strangers Kiss

directed by Matthew Chapman,

written by Blaine Novak, Matthew Chapman,

released at the Montréal World Film Festival in Canada on August 24, 1983.

Music by Gato Barbieri.

Cast: Peter Coyote, Victoria Tennant, Blaine Novak, Dan Shor, Richard Romanus, Linda Kerridge, Carlos Palomino, Vincent Palmieri, Jay Rasumny, Sloan Roberts / Jon Sloan, Joe Nipote, Larry Dilg, Leo Impellizzeri, Jeanette Joseph, Cecil Hill, Frank Moon, Arthur Adams, Joe Pompa, Alexander Hendrie, Larry Maggart, Michael Haywood, Ken Gerson, Rob Petersen, Mark Wendell, Eric Bartsch, Brian Maguire, Jack Dolan, William Schwalbe, Calvin Greenfield, John Bennet, Paul Duncan, Annely Uherek, Sharon Doss, Shelbie Alvarez, Jo Lynn Anderson, Bella Bremer, Pamela Bailey, Kay Bryant, Sheila Colligan, Camille Crim, Tina Challey, Maria Campese, Laura DeStefanis, Lisa Gold, Julie Grandpre, Della Hafner, Kim Jakwerth, Ella Johnson, Diana Kavilis, Sheryl Marshall, Kristine Marx, Judy Rae McIntosh, Becky Marcus, Shirley Moon, Tanya Moreau, Courtney Nichols, Susan Penn, Jo Ann Quinlan, Rosa Rios, Teresa Rispoli, Janet Stevens, Stacy Slater, Kathy Torsak, Cheri Thomas, Carmen Yadao, Mary Yadao, Sergio Arthur Arocha, Mauricio Azcarate, Jim Baldwin, David Bremer, Dennis Cadena, Jerome Courshon, Christopher Cory, Marc Cherry, Ted Diggins, Andrew Divoff, Taffey Edwards, James Frable, Glen Falls, Jim Fredricks, Sean Francis, Jeffrey Hutchinson, Leroy Hardy, Sean Hale, Martin Keegan, Gil Larson, William Mintz, Ken McWilliams, Gerald E. Miller, Kenny Morris, Kenneth McCarthy, Lionel Petrilli, James Petzoid, Don Parker, Jeff Rutkin, Milton Robinson, Walter Smith, Robert Sugar, Steve Thomason, John Welsh, Jamie Wooten, Edward Yeager, Hercules Bellville, Keegan Marty.

On this day in movie history - A Strange Adventure (1956)

A Strange Adventure

directed by William Witney,

written by Houston Branch,

was released in the United States on August 24, 1956.
Music by R. Dale Butts.

Cast:

Joan Evans, Ben Cooper, Marla English, Jan Merlin, Nick Adams, Peter Miller, Paul Smith, Emlen Davies, Frank Wilcox, Thomas Browne Henry, John Maxwell, Steve Wayne, Wendell Niles, John Pickard, Jack Shea, Ken Terrell, Al Wyatt Sr.