One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review

The Cat Next Door by Marian Babson

Marian Babson's books always surprise me.  I have read quite a few, and with each new one, I remember that I really like them and should read more.  Usually I stop at just one though, so I get to have that surprise each time.

The Cat Next Door is one of the many books that were retitled for the American market.  Originally this book was published as Deadly Deceit and frankly that is a far better title.  It appears to me that publishers of books in the US, especially mystery books, have to have a unifying theme for the "series."  Whether the hook is the detective's hobby, the detective's business, the setting, or some other connection, every mystery book is described as a "something or other mystery."  There are chef mysteries, teacher mysteries, librarian mysteries, mom mysteries, crafting mysteries, tea shop mysteries, dog mysteries, vampire mysteries, Regency mysteries, Jane Austen mysteries, the list goes on and on and on.  I fully expect to see series of "One Eyed, Left-Handed, Vegan, Wedding Planner Werewolf" mysteries on the shelf the next time I'm in a bookstore.

Admittedly, I read many mysteries, and many mystery series with such dubious series descriptions.  But Marian Babson's books are not one of those.  If only because Marian Babson's books are not a series in the way the word is traditionally understood.  Marian Babson authored some 40 books, and of those, maybe 10 or 12 make up a couple of series.  The rest of her works are independent books, with no character, location, or plot cross-over or continuation.

I think the books have all been retitled for the US market, highlighting the "cat" aspect so that they can be marketed as a "series."  This is a disservice to both the author, whose works can surely stand on their own, and to the reader, as it gives the impression that the books are connected in some way.  They are not.  And what's more, the cats in the titles usually have very little to do with the mystery.  They are most often merely house-pets that are mentioned in passing, simply characters who pop and in out of the story as they float in and out of the main characters' days.

That was certainly the case here.  The title cat, a registered purebred Abyssinian cat named Tickety-Boo, called Tikki, was the family's pet, who had decided to move in next door for the duration of the plot events.  Beyond that, the cat had no real role in the story.  His scenes could have been completely removed and the book would have been no different.  So calling the book The Cat Next Door is quite misleading.

Anyway, the mystery was quite good.  Like all Marian Babson books I've read, the first two-thirds of the book is background information, situation set-up, and plot exposition.  Many readers get frustrated by this, but I find it interesting.  By the time that the actual murder occurs, I am usually so wrapped up in the back-story that it makes it difficult to figure out the killer.  And in my mind, that is what makes a good mystery.  For this one, I was pleased by the mystery, but there were some points made in the back-story that I wish the author had flushed out, so I was a bit disappointed by plot twists that went nowhere.

Overall, it was a very good book, and reminded me why I like Marian Babson's books so much and that I really should read more of them.

One Bear's Opinion:  Four cups of tea in a window seat with a purring cat on an autumn afternoon

Happy Reading Everyone, 
Oliver

Eurovision 2013: A Novice's Take

We were asked by our friend Tigger, who has gone Eurovision Crazy, if he could do a guest post reviewing the famous song multinational song contest.  We admit that we are not quite as gung-ho for the silliness as he is, but we decided it would be rude to deny him this platform.

Oliver & Spencer

Hello Everyone!  

Thank you for having me over to review Eurovision 2013 Song Contest from Malmö, Sweden.  I have been watching the festivities courtesy of the SBS television network and it has been an eye-opening experience.

My friends could classify me as the most fun-loving character they know, and I would not take offense at that description.  And as Spencer says, Eurovision was made for folks like me.  I think it is supposed to be a serious competition, and some entries treat it that way, but some just have fun with it.  It's those entries that I think are the best representation of the contest.

(Aside:  I am watching the final as I compose this post, so it may be interrupted with live-at-the-time observations.)

Song 01, France: Amandine Bourgeois - L'enfer Et Moi:  nothing special, definitely would not get my vote.

The first night (Semi-Final #1) was, as a housemate described, "pretty austere" and made me wonder if my first experience of Eurovision would be my last.  I'm not sure it was not a product of the austerity measures all over Europe, but it was generally depressing, and truly only had one fun act, and one worthy of my best bounces.

Song 02, Lithuania: Andrius Pojavis - Something:  eh, again, nothing special, but had a few bouncy bits

Song 03, Moldova: Aliona Moon - O Mie:  the special effects on the dress were the best part

The second night (Semi-Final #2) was much better and much more fun for those of us who wanted to be happy and have a good time watching the silliness.  There were many more chances for bounces, and there was a much happier tone, even from traditionally depressed countries.

My housemate, Oliver and I took a cruise of the Baltic in 2000 and we had calls at the ports of:  Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Visby.  When the tour guide in Tallinn asked where else the cruise was calling, and was told the next ports of call, she commented "Well at least you have a happy port after the depressing ones of Tallinn and St. Petersburg."  That was exactly how I felt after the second night.  At least we had the second night's fun to counteract the first night's melancholy.

Song 04, Finland: Krista Siegfrids - Marry Me:  maximum bounce-ability! this is a fun, fun song; and I really don't get the controversy about the end.

Song 05, Spain: ESDM - Contigo Hasta El Final (With You Until The End):  eh, I can take or leave it, there is nothing stand-out special (funny host comment:  nothing says Spain quite like bagpipes.)

Song 06, Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa - Love Kills: I remember him from the other night; he wasn't bad, but definitely had a boy-band feel

Both Semi-Finals the television station broadcasting the event here in Australia offered on-line voting.  I had fun checking thumbs up or thumbs down for each act, but had a really tough time deciding to whom to award my three final votes.

Song 07, Estonia: Birgit - Et Uus Saaks Alguse:  I really don't get the black & white aspect at the beginning of the song, surely that is only for the viewers at home, it would be impossible to pull off in the stadium.  But other than that, it was not bad, and certainly something I can hear as restaurant background music (and I do not mean that in a bad way).

I had trouble deciding how to allocate my votes for both Semi-Finals, but for different reasons.  The first night seemed to have nothing but melancholy, depressing acts, while the second night had an overabundance of fun and bouncy acts.  It was a case of feast or famine from one night to the next.  Tonight, in the final I am having an equally hard time as I can only award 3 votes over 26 entries!!! 

Song 08, Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya - Solayoh:  One of the few bouncy songs from the first night, definitely a fun entry.

Hmm.  I wonder why they took away the live music aspect and have the groups singing to backing tracks now.  It would be nicer to have live musicians, and it would put more people to work in Europe.

I much prefer the thumbs up or thumbs down voting.  I think over both Semi-Finals I only gave three acts thumbs down.  It felt like I was being mean unless it was a case of sure and certain channel changing when the song came on.  It's much nicer to be able to say yes or no to each, rather than having to leave someone deserving out.  I'm so glad my votes don't really count, despite the fun I've had trying to figure it out.

Time for nibbles.  My housemates got some nice cheese and crackers for nibbles with the Final, and they have a bottle of Moscato, but I'm not sure I'll have any of that.

(Aside:  I think this is the longest thing I have ever composed and written already and  we are only eight songs into the Final!)

Song 09, Malta: Gianluca - Tomorrow: Hands down my favorite so far!  It's so fun and bouncy. happy and joyful.  I'd love to have this on cd to bounce along to.  And the performers seem so happy to be there.

Song 10, Russia: Dina Garipova - What If: It's a nice song, but honestly this felt and looked very much like Russia, a bit plain and monochrome, and a lot depressing and unhappy.  Definitely not my favorite of the night.

Song 11, Germany: Cascada - Glorious: new act for Final night.  It has a Spice Girls feel to me, not my favorite, despite the dance- and bounce-ability.  Sorry, Germany.

The television station also has a Live Chat feature along with the voting.  I do not like it, mostly because most of the comments are mean-spirited.  There is no need for that, and if you don't like the act, take the lesson from Thumper in Bambi:  "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing [anything] at all."  (well, take the lesson in proper English, without the double negative.)

Song 12, Armenia: Dorians - Lonely Planet:  This entry has a stadium-rock feel, not terrible, but not the best entry of the night either.

Song 13, The Netherlands: Anouk - Birds:  This was another of depressing songs from the first night.  I would like it more if it were happier.

I realize that I am overly happy and excited, and want everyone to share my excitement at each moment of life.  I know that not everyone does, and that's why there are many different choices.  But I do hope no-one gets the idea that I am being mean to anyone.  Each and every performer, even the ones I do not like as much deserve applause if only for the effort of getting out on stage.  That's part of the reason the Live Chat feature makes me so mad.  It's one thing to make constructive comments, but it's completely different to just be mean.

Song 14, Romania: Cezar - It's My Life:  This was one of the most interesting entries of the Song Contest.  Cezar's voice is fantastic and deserves every second of applause, but I think this would be better suited in an opera rather than a pop-music contest.

Nibbles break.  I'd love to share my cheese and crackers with you, but I'm not partaking of the wine.  My housemates say I am plenty bouncy enough without help.

I can't say I like the behind-the-scenes bits in between the acts, but I can see the fun in them.

Song 15, United Kingdom: Bonnie Tyler - Believe In Me:  new song for tonight.  It's a Bonnie Tyler song, which is good because it is Bonnie Tyler, but I can't say much more.

Song 16, Sweden: Robin Stjernberg - You:  new tonight, and the host country.  Much cheering in the stadium.  I really don't know what to say about this entry.  I want to like it, but it just falls a bit flat of favorite status.

However the cheese and crackers are very nice -- we have a trilogy of sun-dried tomato, summer herbs and sharp cheddar, and a very nice buttery creamy, soft cheese, the name of which I cannot remember.  Ohh and some nice whole wheat crackers with seeds and some rosemary & sea salt lavash.

Song 17, Hungary: ByeAlex - Kedvesem:  Aside from the grunge-holdover costumes, there is nothing I do not like about this song.  Definitely a favorite of the night. 

Song 18, Denmark: Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops:  I really like the beat of this song, particularly during the refrain, but it feels like other songs I have heard out and about, there is nothing special or standout-ish. 

Song 19, Iceland: Eythor Ingi - Ég Á Líf:  This song reminds me very much of the Celtic-inspired music of Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton.  I really enjoy it, and would not mind an entire album of his songs.

I'm not sure I've mentioned it, but now is as good a time as any to say that I really like the entrants who sing in their native languages, rather than in English.  I know the song contest is broadcast world-wide, and they want to appeal to as many people as possible, especially in Europe where the votes actually count, and English may be the best way to get the votes.  But I think it's awesome when they sing in other languages.  Maybe it's growing up in a predominantly English-speaking country, but I find the diversity in language as exciting as the diversity in entrants.  And to me it seems more embracing if there is more than just English spoken.  A great song, a great performance should transcend the language of both the artist and the audience.  The Eurovision Song Contest is a perfect forum to reinforce that truth.

Song 20, Azerbaijan: Farid Mammadov - Hold Me:  This was one my housemate liked because of the box guy.  And truthfully the guy in the box upstaged the singer.

Song 21, Greece: Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis - Alcohol Is Free: This song was voted into the final on the strength of the lyrics I am sure.  But beyond that, it's a fun song and a fun performance.

The commentator made a comment about the "kilts" the Greek entry is wearing.  I think he might be one of the people who has a middle-school giggle at men in "skirts."  But it is a very traditional costume for many cultures, not only the Scots.  Traditional national dress in Greece is a skirt for men, usually a white skirt, but a skirt nonetheless.  (Wikipedia indicates the skirt is called a fustanella and is traditional dress for not only Greece, but other Balkan states as well.)  I understand the idea that it is worn tonight to "unify Europe," but it has a deeper cultural meaning than that.

Song 22, Ukraine: Zlata Ognevich - Gravity: this was a forgettable entry for me, the only stand-out was Igor, the really, really tall guy who carried the singer onto the stage.

Song 23, Italy: Marco Mengoni - L'Essenziale:  another new performance for Final night. It's definitely stirring, but I'm not sure if it's the lyrics, the music, the artist's performance, but I like it.

Song 24, Norway: Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love:  This song reminds me of Pink, at least that's who I think it is.  There's nothing terrible about it, but nothing really special either.  Plus it's hard to time good bounces with the techno track.

I've been having a great time sharing Eurovision with everyone.  I hope you haven't been too bored reading along.  And don't the indentations for the song comments look like little bounces in and out of the story?

Song 25, Georgia: Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani - Waterfall:  this feels like a love theme to a romantic movie, when the couple finally gets together after trials and tribulations.  It's not bad, but it's not a stand-out either.

I wonder what the budget for dry ice is for the Eurovision spectacular?  And is it a requirement for the acts to have a feature of some kind?  It's not nasty to say that, because sometimes the spectacular add-ons take away from the performance rather than enhance it, as the smoke did in Georgia's performance.

It's time for the last song of the night, and the contest.  It is also the last of the butterfly-flags to mark each entry.  Those were some of the best artwork of the night.  And the butterfly for Israel (in Semi-Final #1) was great, with the stylized Star of David.  I'd love to get a book of just those; they were very nice artwork and would make a great collage for a hallway or other long blank wall.

Song 26, Ireland: Ryan Dolan - Only Love Survives:  I love the accompaniment to this song, the traditional drums are great.  The song is a bit same-ish, but the drums are wonderful.

Well, it's been fun.  I'm off to cast my vote for the best acts.  And then it's a long wait for the vote tally in Europe.  Whatever the outcome, I've had fun sharing this with you.

Keep bouncing everyone, 
Tigger.

One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review

A Death in Gascony by Sarah D'Almeida

This is the fourth book in the Musketeers Mystery series, and I think we read it only because the Musketeers are some of my housemate's favourite literary characters.  I know that my housemate has a literary crush on Athos, so this series was a perfect fit for her.  But that is not to mean that it is not a good fit for me either.

There is plenty of action and activity, and much swashbuckling.  It is after all a series with Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers as the main characters.  In most historical mysteries featuring famous people or famous fictional characters, the famous person is an amateur investigator.  That is not exactly the case in these mysteries.  The Musketeers are investigating mysteries that center around friends and family of the Musketeers but the books do not give the impression that amateur sleuth is the new profession of the "Inseparables."

This book features a mystery surrounding the death of D'Artagnan's father and a trip outside Paris for the Musketeers to D'Artagnan's home in Gascony (an area in the Southwest of France, on the Spanish Border, including the cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne, among others).  It was an interesting mystery, wrapped up in family history and secrets, but still had plenty of action for the Musketeers to practice their sword-play and knife fighting.

It was a fun and fast-paced mystery, with plenty of misdirections and questionable clues.  The author kept the character profiles that Dumas had carefully created for them, and nothing was out of character for either the Musketeers or their personal servants.  On the whole it was a great visit with old friends, and reminded both my housemate and me that we have never finished the Three Musketeers collection of books.  Perhaps it's time to pull them out and spend more quality time with Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan.

One Bear's Opinion:  Four Cups of Strong Tea and a Plate of Mini-Size Three Musketeers Bars

Happy Reading Everyone, 
Oliver