Under a Red Roof

September

September 19, 2008 in Reading, Spotlighting by Colleen | 1 comment

I am a pretty voracious reader who is not terribly concerned about genre. I will read about any topic, fiction or non, as long as it is well crafted and holds my interest. With a few exceptions, I do not tend to read multiple books from one author.

Today’s post illustrates one of these exceptions. Two of my favorite books of all time are from the Scottish author Rosamunde Pilcher. The Shell Seekers, which I posted about early in my blogging days, and September, the subject of today’s Spotlight. Though it is not a sequel to The Shell Seekers, they are rather good read one after the other, having one character in common.

September actually begins in May in various places around the world, painting a detailed portrait of very diverse characters and their inward and outward journeys to one rather lavish dance in the Scottish countryside. The story centers around the widowed Vi, and radiates to include her friends, family, neighbors, current and former servants, and mere acquaintances.

It is a modern tale, steeped with fun, the remnants of old wounds, family secrets, and the everyday goings on of a diverse cast of characters. It’s the kind of book that will entertain, give a little education (from Scottish Reels to the IRA) and keep you guessing until the end.

Much like the Shell Seekers, though not quite as good, in my opinion, September is a realistic portrait of imperfect people as they move through life – loving, learning, and making mistakes.

Tags: Books

A Moment of Forever

September 5, 2008 in Inspiring, Listening, Spotlighting, Watching by Colleen | 4 comments

Sometimes it is really difficult for me to put my feelings into words because they feel so inadequate or they just seem silly, and in this case, both. I do not tend to get starry eyed about celebrities. Yes, I do find them interesting, as I do all people, and occasionally get the gossip via magazines, but I know that, ultimately we are all human in the end. We all eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom every day.

One exception to this rule is this fella here. Good golly, Gregory and I were so darned excited to see him last week at the Oregon State Fair. I mean, the guy’s done so much – Farm Aid, Bio-Fuel, and all that singing! When we first arrived and perused the various sites, we’d look at each other and ask, “Do you think he’s here?” Then, after we’d seen the Honeysuckle Rose and knew he was, indeed, at the Fair, we wondered aloud, “What do you think he’s doing now?” And then, when we finally got to take our seats and his roadie brought out Trigger, we just about burst. “Willie Nelson is back stage and he’s gonna sing – for us!”

Well, my friends, he did not disappoint. The man, who is seventy-five, played for an hour and forty-five minutes without stopping. When the band played “Bloody Mary Morning,” I thought old Trigger might break at the seams. Willie was strumming so wildly, and me, right there with him, whoopin’ and hollerin’, hands drumming on my thighs, feet stomping to the pulsing beat. Hot damn, he is good! Sometimes, he didn’t even finish a song before starting the melody for another. The man was on fire.

He played old favorites, like “Whiskey River,” “Crazy, ” and “On the Road Again,” and new songs, like “You Don’t Think I’m Funny Anymore,” and “Over You Again.” Of course he played “Georgia,” and of course, I cried, but sweetly, because the night was so magical there in Salem. Big clouds threatened us and a cool breeze blew, but the sky turned starry, and the people were so kind, happy as clams to be in the presence of this sweet, generous, and funny man. Oh Willie, it was a delight to spend a “Moment of Forever” with you.

The Passenger

August 29, 2008 in Spotlighting, Watching by Colleen | Permalink

Do you know how old you will be when you grow up? Do you know who you are now? If presented to you, would you take the opportunity to be someone else?

These are just a few of the questions explored in Michelangelo Antonioni’s beautiful and beguiling filmThe Passenger, released in 1975.

I like to think of this film like a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly, with Jack Nicholson in the lead role. It is Jack before he was “Jack.” Smooth, all the mannerisms and quirks we’ve come to expect from him are only shimmers on the horizon, scarcely perceptible to this viewer’s eye. He is handsome, too, shirtless and wiry, very easy on the eyes.

As our caterpillar, he’s David Locke, an award winning journalist, devouring life, but never really appreciating all that he has and sees. He’s trudging around the Sahara, hungry for a story, looking for the right person, looking for himself. Despite his critical success and his marriage, he is impatient, edgy – immature.

Then, when a man bearing a certain resemblance to David dies, he assumes his identity, faking his own death, entering the chrysalis and the shady world of arms dealing. Still somewhat unsure of himself, he proceeds slowly, traveling around Europe, dodging people who know him from his past life, and those who believe he is the new man.

When the butterfly finally emerges, it is with beauty, conviction, and self assurance. This is ME. This is what I do. Such a glorious journey.

Tags: Movies

Spotlighting: Lee Pace

August 22, 2008 in Spotlighting, Watching by Colleen | 1 comment

Greetings Gentle Readers,

I don’t remember where I first saw that written, but I have always loved it. Calling a reader gentle feels so kind and inviting, like home. When I think about it, this isn’t far from the truth. In this space, we are all Under a Red Roof.

Anyway, welcome to my very first formal category: Spotlighting. Each Friday, I will focus on some aspect of film-making, books and reading, or music. I might tell you about a movie (or, like today, an actor), a book that I love, or the soundtrack playing in my head. I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts about topics that really get me jazzed. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Sincerely,

Colleen

The first time I saw Lee Pace was on one of my all-time favorite television shows to not get a chance – Wonderfalls. He played Jaye Tyler’s underachieving big brother Aaron. Despite being a “genius,” he lived with his parents, had no job, and a penchant for dirty movies. I liked his interactions with Jaye and the rest of the family, and found the character and the acting very authentic.

Since Wonderfalls, I’ve seen Mr. Pace in a host of other roles, representing a marvelously broad range of characters. He was rather creepy in Infamous, the second film about Truman Capote and his quest to write In Cold Blood. I recoiled every time his slimy murderer with scarcely a hit of remorse came on screen. In another film I saw with my movie buddy Bridget, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, he played the loyal and dedicated ex-boyfriend Michael Pardue. He’s the one who really loves the heroine Delysia Lafosse – plays no games, but does tickle the ivories and sing. He’s the one I’d want, too.

In another television series, which appears to have a chance – Pushing Daisies, he is Ned, the handsome and charming Piemaker, the man who can bring the dead back to life with a touch, but sadly, only once, or they are dead again. The show and his character are a little old fashioned (a Lincoln Continental with suicide doors! The height of coolness and sophistication, my friends), yet have a modern edge, with a streak of mischievousness and sentimentality – a bit like this writer.

Perhaps it was the magic of that evening, but until I saw him in The Fall last week, I did not take him very seriously. Yes, I thought he was fine and his work true, but that is all. Were it not for his great skill in this film, I would only have seen Lee Pace, the guy from those other things I like. Instead, I watched the broken Roy suffer through his losses, retreat into utter darkness and despair, and come out hopeful and willing to see the world with new eyes (and me to see this actor with new ones as well).

Well done, Mr. Pace, and thank you for a magical time at the movies.

p.s. You look great in eye-liner.