#James lee Burke | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

clatterbane · 6 months

Text

Gotta say, on a more blatantly overthinking autistic note? That actually touches on one of the reasons I have always resonated pretty hard with James Lee Burke's extended Robicheaux arc--with anger and otherwise uncharacteristic violence standing in for alcohol, as a trauma response. As clumsily described by someone who is very bad at summaries.

Even though I have not yet been to Southern Louisiana or Montana and have very little context to draw on there, am still never quite sure where some of Burke's dialogue and interactions are going or what they're trying to convey in the moment, and have never personally had more than the occasional flirtation with self-medication before deciding that it's less livable than whatever I am having trouble dealing with directly. I can definitely understand how a person might head down that road, however. I've known more than a few folks who have.

It is still too often easier to jump straight into anger than some anxieties, which kinda also seems to just come as part of the Family Curse. (However one prefers to interpret that. My own take has varied a decent bit.)

And yeah, I did actually get into that series myself through reading my mother's books when I was growing up. Going to be sorry when they come to an end.

#personal #rambling #james lee burke #dave robicheaux #addiction mention

6 notes · View notes

ogmosis · 2 years

Text

CRIME FICTION INTERVIEW: VALERIO VARESI (ENGLISH VERSION)

Italian author Valerio Varesi has been a shining light in European crime fiction since the publication of his first book Latest news of a fugue in 1998, the Turin native switching seamlessly between his novels and his role as a journalist for the likes of la Repubblica.

His Commissario Soneri stories have been adapted into the TV series Nebbie e delitti , while he has also written historical-political novels collected in the volume Trilogia di una Repubblica .

His latest Soneri tale The Unseen has been translated into English by Joseph Farrell for UK audiences through Patrician Press and sees the Parma detective investigate an unsolved case of a dead body found in the Po River three years before.

Matthew Ogborn: Valerio, your evocative descriptions of the Po in The Unseen and previous tales are such a crucial part in the enjoyment of this series for me so how much research do you undertake to capture the unique atmosphere of the river and the quirky characters that live and work there?

Valerio Varesi: “Essentially this is based on my long observations of the river and my walks along its shores. I use the same method for the city of Parma and for the Apennines. In this way I incorporate these sensations which I then translate into images and put on paper. It's as if I photograph the scenery in my mind and record my impressions. As well as this, I talk to people at length. In the case of the Po, I visit sailing clubs and chat to the boatmen. I have made friends with the captain of a tourist ship sailing on the river. "

Much like Florida for Carl Hiaasen and Louisiana in James Lee Burke's Robicheaux novels, the setting serves as a character in itself. What is it that fascinates you about the Po?

“The river is a metaphor for life - 'everything flows' by Heraclitus. It also represents the power of nature: the mighty and apparently calm current concealing the mystery in the depths of its waters. The river which gives and takes away life. As in the presence of a great mountain or an endless sea horizon, we feel small and limited. We return to our mortal human nature in the face of what appears immortal. For this nature approaches the divine and represents it. "

You have a brilliant knack of making each character come alive in idiosyncratic ways, whether through offbeat description or natural dialogue. How important is that part of the writing process outside of the plot machinations and do you visit with people from all walks of life to nail it?

“Every writer is rather schizophrenic in the best sense of the word, namely that they know how to be someone other than themselves, identifying with their characters and experiencing different lives to their own. Writers steal other people's lives. Only in this way can I create credible characters. I often draw benefit from meeting people and observing them. In other cases I make use of widespread human typologies. This work is key because every storyline and every vision of the world needs characters to make them come alive. "

The Soneri books are also notable for the brutally honest descriptions of the passage of time and how it affects both Soneri and the people around him such as Angela. How cathartic is that for you and how does your background in philosophy influence the types of issues that you address?

“Soneri is a work in progress, he develops, he gets older, and he changes with time. Time is the most precious thing we are given and our life is a sort of countdown before the void. My commissario is conscious of this and is saddened by the passing of the years. He tries however to carry out his worldly tasks by him well as the stoics advised and, as Heidegger teaches us, he plans his life by him by being aware of death. Let's say that my studies have influenced his vision of reality - considering that Soneri is partly my alter ego. "

How important is it to you to receive recognition from the likes of international organizations such as The CWA here in the UK for your novels whether you are placed on a longlist, shortlist or win something outright?

“Very important, especially if recognition comes in the country with the most spoken language in the world and with top quality level of publishing. At times, in Italy, there is a feeling of living and writing in a restricted and provincial orbit. For me, being appreciated abroad is vital. I've also had good recognition and excellent sales in France. "

In these increasingly chaotic global times that we live in, what do you see as crime fiction's role both from the writer's perspective and also the reader's perspective?

"I think that crime fiction, noir, polar [a French term for cross between crime fiction and noir] and other types of this genre, have the function of being 'fact' novels. Evil must be written about not purely as an end in itself, but also as a social outcome - the result of a sickness created by the inequalities inside a community. The crime must be analyzed, asking why it happened, and not only questioning who committed it. From this point of view, crime fiction is like a doctor, who observing a symptom, goes on to discover the source of the illness. "

Speaking with your journalist hat on, do you think we have reached a tipping point in terms of how news outlets try to seek the truth in the face of rampant corruption as the public are flooded with lies through social media by special interests and people become entrenched in paranoid delusions?

"This age is bursting with information sources. At one time people received their information from traditional media, namely newspapers and television, now news arrives from every part of the internet world. As this world is completely uncontrolled, people, organizations, and actual manipulators are aiming to direct and influence public opinion with unverified and specifically fabricated false news. The trouble is that these forces can change the course of history. For example, if Britain chose to leave the European Union, it was partly because of the false news circulating, as shown by an Observer journalist. "

What do you see as religion's place in society now, especially in a country like Italy where it has underpinned life for so long, and how do you address this in your novels going forward?

“We live in a world, the western world, where traditional religion as a model for life and learning is almost totally irrelevant. This doesn't mean that spirituality doesn't exist, but it is expressed differently compared to traditional religion. At the same time, religion for some people in the rest of the world often crosses over to fanaticism which can lead to clashes, terrorism and violence. The coexistence in the West between European people and immigrants isn't easy, especially with Muslims whose values are so different to ours. I have addressed this topic in a book not published in English - Commissario Soneri and the laws of the Koran. "

What have been the biggest positives from the TV adaptations of your Soneri novels and are you encouraged by the increased scope of stories allowed with the rise of the streaming services and their budgets?

“The positives are many. My character has entered the Italian collective imagination and the very 'noir' atmosphere, with the fog and the Po Valley towns in the background, have shown a part of Italy not normally represented. I, as the author, am proud of this televised adaptation which gives my work an extra value. And the series is currently being broadcast on television streaming channels. "

Which other authors have you been reading recently and what else do you do to unwind properly?

“At the moment I am rereading one of my passions: (Friedrich) Dürrenmatt. Soon I must devote time to reading Jean-Claude Izzo, another passion of mine. This is to prepare for a conference in which I'll be speaking about him. Otherwise I relax by reading and running. "

Read the Italian version of this interview HERE .

Find out more about Valerio's books on his website HERE .

Read my interview with Valerio's English translator Joseph Farrell HERE .

3 notes · View notes

swamp-witchs-blog · 2 years

Text

My horde of books have finally arrived! I love love love the Dave Robicheaux series and it's always great to support your local authors.

#booksbooksbooks #James Lee Burke #Dave Robicheaux #book hoarder #summer reading #louisiana #cajun #new orleans #new orleans authors #new Iberia authors

6 notes · View notes

mygrowingcollection · 1 month

Text

James Lee Burke

#james lee burke #signed book #author #thrift store find

0 notes

cathygeha · 3 months

Text

REVIEW

Harbor Lights by James Lee Burke

Dark and disturbing look at times, places, and people I had trouble relating to or liking. At times I wondered if the author saw himself in some of the characters he put into the stories and if so, what that said about him.

HARBOR LIGHTS: This story has a man’s son encounter things he would have been better off never seeing or thinking about. Infidelity, mental illness, abuse of authority, war, and secrets left a bad taste in my mouth at the end of the story.

GOING ACROSS JORDAN: Migrant workers, pushing unions for the workers, two men doing what they think is right, another man abusing status and power to rape a woman, a beating and death, MacCarthyism, and more. Not sure if two came out happy in the end or not.

BIG MIDNIGHT SPECIAL: Prison is not a place I would want to be and especially not in the South when this story was written. Choices were limited and freedom for Arlen rather difficult to achieve in a healthy manner.

DEPORTEES: Three generations with issues to deal with. Alcohol abuse, rape, deportation of illegal immigrants, another corrupt cop, and a murder again didn’t leave a speck of light for any at the end of the story

THE ASSAULT: A widowed professor with a daughter who is beaten outside a bar does some sleuthing that gets more than one person in trouble. Another story with bigotry, murder, and consequences that no doubt follow those that survive

THE WILD SIDE OF LIFE: Elmore, a seismographer, is a Vietnam veteran who realizes some he works with are corrupt and evil, he tries to save a woman in an abusive relationship, and seems incapable of dealing with his demons and settling down.

A DISTANT WAR: Strange story of a father and son having car trouble and ending up in what seemed to be a time-warp-alternative-dimension. Creepy and disturbing with historical elements, racist people, and a feeling of disconnection. Not sure what happens to the main characters.

STRANGE CARGO: Ghostly story with Broussard talking to his daughter’s ghost, another corrupt cop, murder of an innocent man, mixed messages, and the feeling at the end that nobody in the story was happy and there was no hope for anyone.

Did I enjoy this book? No

Was it well written? Yes

Would I recommend it to others? Only if they like dark unsettling stories without hope

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the ARC - This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

BLURB

A dynamic, gripping collection of short stories from “America’s best novelist” ( Denver Post ), the New York Times bestselling James Lee Burke Harbor Lights is a story collection from one of the most popular and widely acclaimed icons of American fiction, featuring a never-before-published novella. These eight stories move from the marshlands on the Gulf of Mexico to the sweeping plains of Colorado to prisons, saloons, and trailer parks across the South, weaving together love, friendship, violence, survival, and revenge A boy and his father watch a German submarine sink an oil tanker as evil forces in the disguise of federal agents try to ruin their family. A girl is beaten up outside a bar as her university-professor father navigates new love and threats from a group of neo-Nazis. A pair of undercover union organizers are hired to break colts for a Hollywood actor, whose “Western hero” façade hides darkness. An oil rig worker witnesses a horrific attack on a local village while on a job in South America and seeks justice through one final act of bravery. With his nuanced characters, lyrical prose, and ability to write shocking violence in the most evocative settings, James Lee Burke’s singular skills are on display in this superb anthology. Harbor Lights unfolds in stories that crackle and reverberate as unexpected heroes emerge.

#James Lee Burke #Atlantic Monthly Press #NetGalley #Stories #Dark #Gritty #hopeless #bigotry #rape #corruption #unionization #migrant workers #deportation #murder #crime #prison

0 notes

eliziczac · 5 months

Text

Withdrawal from booze and pharmaceuticals is a bit like white-knuckling your way through a rough flight in an electric storm. Unfortunately, there’s another element involved, a type of fear that doesn’t have a name. It’s deep down in the id and produces a sense of anxiety that causes hyperventilation and night sweats. You don’t get to leave your fear on the plane. Your skin becomes your prison, and you take it with you everyplace you go. You walk the floor. You hide your thoughts from others. You eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. You crosshatch the tops of your teeth in your sleep. Every mistake or misdeed or sin in your life, no matter how many times you’ve owned up to it, re-creates itself and takes a fresh bite out of your heart the moment you wake.

That’s why mainline cons say everybody stacks time; it depends on where you stack it, but you stack it just the same.

When the house finally comes down on your head, you conclude that ice cream is a poor surrogate for that old-time full-throttle-and-fuck-it rock and roll, and there’s nothing like four fingers of Jack in a mug filled with shaved ice and a beer on the side or maybe a little weed or a few yellow jackets to really light up the basement.

For those who don’t want to run up their bar tab or put themselves at the mercies of a drug dealer, there’s another recourse. You can go on what is called a dry drunk. You can stoke your anger the moment you open your eyes in the morning and feed it through the day, in the same way that someone incrementally tosses sticks on a controlled fire. Your anger allows you to mentally type up your own menu, with many choices on it. You can become a moralist and a reformer and make the lives of other people miserable. You can scapegoat others and inflame street mobs or highjack religion and wage wars in the name of a holy cause. You can spit in the soup from morning to night and stay as high as a helium balloon in a windstorm without ever breaking a sweat. When a drunk tells you he doesn’t have a problem anymore because he has quit drinking, flee his presence as quickly as possible.

(James Lee Burke, 2012, Creole Belle)

#james lee burke #creole belle

0 notes

thekimdelacreme · 1 year

Photo

Finished reading Every Cloak Rolled in Blood yesterday.

#book #every cloak rolled in blood #james lee burke #montana #thriller

1 note · View note

marcellathecheesemonger · 2 years

Text

Every Cloak Rolled In Blood by James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke. Copyright Frank Veronsky I read. I read a lot. And finish only books I enjoy. If a book lose my interest, I move on. If a book is not well-crafted, I move on. Once in a while, a book affects me profoundly. Every Cloak Rolled in Blood by James Lee Burke is one of the few that touches my soul and doesn’t let go. James Lee Burke is an American treasure. His body of writing combines…

View On WordPress

#Dave Robicheaux #Every Cloak Rolled in Blood #James Lee Burke #Montana

0 notes

badmovieihave · 2 months

Text

Bad movie I have The Onion Field 1979

1 note · View note

accuratepicuresofanthropologists · 10 months

Text

Wenner-Gren's 100th symposium, Symbolism Through Time, was a chock-full of Famous Anthropologists.

Here is their caption for the event: "Back: J. Clifford, L. Drummond, J .Fernandez, J. Peacock, J. Boon, E. Leach, P. Burke, V. Valeri, B. Kapferer, N. Watson Front: D. Krupa, D. Handelman, N. Miyata, K. Blu, K. Komatsu, P. Rabinow, M. Sahlins, E. Ohnuki-Tierney, S. Ortner, C. Geertz, F. da Silva, L. Osmundsen"

Another image in which Sahlins is in the front row -- I'm keeping track of that.

via Wenner-Gren.

#Wenner-Gren #James Clifford #Lee Drummond #James Fernandez #James Peacock #James Boon #Edmund Leach #Peter Burke #Valerio Valeri #Bruce Kapferer #N Watson #David Krupa #Don Handelman #Noboro Miyata #Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney #Sherry Ortner #Lita Osmundsen #Clifford Geertz #F da Silva

1 note · View note

bluebellofbakerstreet · 5 months

Text

Number 50 in a series

Others in this series: Basil Rathbone (Fox), Martin Freeman, Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Jonny Lee Miller, Vinette Robinson, Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Andrew Scott, Nigel Bruce (Fox), Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Michael Hill, Two Violets, Mark Gatiss, Basil Rathbone (Universal), Nigel Bruce (Universal), Rupert Graves, Evelyn Ankers, Louise Brealey, Lucy Liu, Edward Hardwicke, Christopher Plummer, James Mason, Una Stubbs, Gayle Hunnicut, Hugh Laurie. Robert Sean Leonard, Yasmine Akram, Ronald Howard, Martin Freeman (TAB), Benedict Cumberbatch (TAB), Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan/Richard Larke, Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock, William Gillette, Edward Fielding/Burford Hampden, Kay Fielding, Rosalie Williams, Andrei Panin, Ingeborga Dapkunayte, Igor Petrenko, Rosalyn Landor, Gareth David-Lloyd, Ben Syder, Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Jared Harris, George Zucco/Ida Lupino

@randomnessoffiction

#myart #miss sherlock #yuko takeuchi #mypaperdolls #paper dolls

79 notes · View notes

battyaboutbooksreviews · 9 months

Text

💜 Queer Book Releases Coming Out September 2023

🦇 Trying to read queer all year? Make sure to check out these queer September releases!

❤️ Forget I Told You This by Hilary Zaid 🧡 The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans 💛 The Lonely Book by Meg Grehan 💚 Every Star That Falls by Michael Thomas Ford 💙 Fly With Me by Andie Burke 💜 Wound by Oksana Vasyakina 🖤 Into the Bright Open by Cherie Dimaline ❤️ A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee 🧡 Straight Expectations by Callum McSwiggan 💛 Herc by Phoenicia Rogerson 💚 Deephaven by Ethan M. Aldridge 💙 The Mossheart’s Promise by Rebecca Mix

💜 Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson 🖤 The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars ❤️ Ryan and Avery by David Levithan 🧡 What Stalks Among Us by Sarah Hollowell 💛 Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass 💚 The Meadows by Stephanie Oakes 💙 A Hundred Vicious Turns by Lee Paige O’Brien 💜 Monstrous by Jessica Lewis 🖤 OKPsyche by Anya Johanna DeNiro ❤️ Cursebreakers by Madeleine Nakamura 🧡 The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu 💛 Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz

💚 You, Again by Kate Goldbeck 💙 Godkiller by Hannah Kaner 💜 The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven 🖤 Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo ❤️ A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey 🧡 A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney 💛 In the Ring by Sierra Isley 💚 How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok 💙 This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin 💜 The Free People’s Village by Sim Kern 🖤 Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas ❤️ Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in NYC by Elyssa Maxx Goodman

🧡 Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner 💛 Mall Goth by Kate Leth 💚 The Siren, the Song, and the Spy by Maggie Tokuda Hall 💙 This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson 💜 A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles 🖤 The Problem with Gravity by Michelle Mohrweis ❤️ Alex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker

#books #reading #book releases #book blog #booklr #batty about books #battyaboutbooks #queer book recs #queer fiction #queer books #queer #queer community #read queer all year

126 notes · View notes

ogmosis · 2 years

Text

INTERVISTA ALLA NARRATIVA POLIZIESCA: VALERIO VARESI (VERSIONE ITALIANA)

L'autore italiano Valerio Varesi è stato una luce splendente nella narrativa poliziesca europea sin dalla pubblicazione del suo primo libro Ultime notizie di una fuga nel 1998, il nativo torinese è passato senza soluzione di continuità tra i suoi romanzi e il suo ruolo di giornalista per artisti del calibro di Repubblica.

I suoi racconti del Commissario Soneri sono stati adattati nella serie tv Nebbie e delitti, mentre ha scritto anche romanzi storico-politici raccolti nel volume Trilogia di una Repubblica.

Il suo ultimo racconto di Soneri The Unseen è stato tradotto in inglese per il pubblico britannico attraverso Patrician Press e vede il detective di Parma indagare su un caso irrisolto di un cadavere trovato nel fiume Po tre anni prima.

Matthew Ogborn: Valerio, le tue suggestive descrizioni del Po in The Unseen e dei racconti precedenti sono una parte così cruciale nel godimento di questa serie per me, quindi quante ricerche intraprendi per catturare l'atmosfera unica del fiume e i personaggi eccentrici che vivono e lavorano lì?

Valerio Varesi: "Mi baso essenzialmente su lunghe osservazioni del fiume e su passeggiate lungo le sponde. Lo stesso metodo vale per la città di Parma e per l’Appennino. In questo modo introietto delle sensazioni che poi traduco in immagini che riporto sulla pagina. E' come se fotografassi con la mente il paesaggio e ne registrassi le impressioni. Oltre a questo, parlo a lungo con la gente. Nel caso del Po, frequento i circoli nautici e dialogo con i barcaioli. Ho un rapporto di amicizia con il capitano di una nave che percorre il fiume portando in giro i turisti."

Proprio come la Florida per Carl Hiaasen e la Louisiana nei romanzi Robicheaux di James Lee Burke, l'ambientazione funge da personaggio in sé. Cos'è che ti affascina del Po?

"Il fiume è una metafora della vita, del tutto scorre di Eraclito. Inoltre rappresenta la potenza della natura: la corrente possente e apparentemente tranquilla che cela il mistero nella profondità delle sue acque. Il fiume che dà la vita e che la toglie. Di fronte a esso, come al cospetto di una grande montagna o allo sconfinato orizzonte del mare, ci sentiamo piccoli e limitati. Ritorniamo alla nostra umanità di esseri mortali al cospetto di ciò che appare immortale. Per questo la natura si avvicina al divino e lo rappresenta."

Hai un talento brillante nel rendere ogni personaggio vivo in modi idiosincratici, sia attraverso una descrizione insolita che un dialogo naturale. Quanto è importante per te quella parte del processo di scrittura al di fuori delle macchinazioni della trama e visiti persone di tutti i ceti sociali per inchiodarlo?

"Ogni scrittore ha un elevato tasso di schizofrenia nel senso buono del termine, vale a dire che sa essere altro da se stesso immedesimandosi nei suoi personaggi come vivendo altre vite differenti dalla propria. Gli scrittori sono ladri di vita altrui. Solo così riesco a creare personaggi credibili. Spesso traggo giovamento dalla frequentazione e dall'osservazione. In altri casi mi avvalgo di tipologie umane frequenti. Questo lavoro è fondamentale perché ogni trama e ogni visione del mondo hanno bisogno di personaggi che le facciano camminare."

I libri di Soneri sono anche notevoli per le descrizioni brutalmente oneste del passare del tempo e di come colpisce sia Soneri che le persone che lo circondano come Angela. Quanto è catartico per te e in che modo il tuo background in filosofia influenza i tipi di questioni che affronti?

"Soneri è un personaggio 'in itinere', si sviluppa, invecchia e cambia in ragione del tempo che passa. Il tempo è ciò che di più prezioso ci è dato e la nostra vita è una sorta di conto alla rovescia prima del nulla. Di questo è cosciente il mio commissario e sente con dolore il trascorrere degli anni. Tuttavia cerca di svolgere bene il suo compito nel mondo come suggerivano gli stoici e progetta i suoi anni consapevole della morte come ci ha insegnato Heidegger. Diciamo che i miei studi hanno lasciato una traccia nella sua visione della realtà considerando che in parte Soneri è il mio alter ego."

Quanto è importante per te ricevere riconoscimenti da organizzazioni internazionali come The CWA qui nel Regno Unito per i tuoi romanzi, sia che tu sia inserito in una lista lunga, in una lista ristretta o che vinca qualcosa a titolo definitivo?

"Molto importante, soprattutto se i riconoscimenti vengono dal Paese con la lingua più parlata nel mondo e quindi con una produzione editoriale di assoluto livello. A volte, in Italia, si ha l'impressione di vivere e scrivere in un orizzonte ristretto e un po' provinciale. Il fatto di essere apprezzato all'estero è per me vitale. Anche in Francia ho avuto buoni riconoscimenti e ottime vendite."

In questi tempi globali sempre più caotici in cui viviamo, quale vedi come ruolo della narrativa poliziesca sia dal punto di vista dello scrittore che dal punto di vista del lettore?

"Penso che la letteratura poliziesca, il noir, il polar e altri generi di questo tipo, abbiano la funzione d'essere i romanzi della realtà. Devono raccontare il male non come vicenda fine a se stessa, ma anche come prodotto sociale frutto di malesseri creati da squilibri all'interno di una comunità. Un delitto deve essere analizzato chiedendosi il perché accade e non solo interrogarsi su chi l'ha commesso. Da questo punto di vista il romanzo poliziesco si comporta come il medico che, osservato un sintomo, va a scoprire qual è l'origine della malattia."

Parlando con il tuo cappello da giornalista, pensi che abbiamo raggiunto un punto di svolta in termini di come le agenzie di stampa cercano di cercare la verità di fronte alla corruzione dilagante mentre il pubblico è inondato di bugie attraverso i social media da interessi speciali e le persone si trincerano in deliri paranoici?

"La nostra epoca pullula di fonti d'informazione. Un tempo le persone si informavano dai media tradizionali, vale a dire i giornali e la televisione, adesso le notizie arrivano da ogni parte del composito mondo di internet. Siccome tale mondo è del tutto incontrollato, vi agiscono persone, organizzazioni e veri e propri manipolatori con lo scopo di orientare l'opinione pubblica con notizie non verificate o con vere falsità fabbricate appositamente. Il guaio è che queste forze possono cambiare il corso della storia. Per esempio, se la Gran Bretagna ha scelto di uscire dall'Unione europea è anche per le false notizie che sono circolate, come ha dimostrato una giornalista dell'Observer."

Quale vedi come posto della religione nella società di oggi, specialmente in un paese come l'Italia dove ha sostenuto la vita per così tanto tempo, e come affronti questo nei tuoi romanzi in futuro?

"Viviamo in un mondo, quello occidentale, dove la religione come modello di vita e insegnamento è quasi del tutto ininfluente. Ciò non significa che non esista una spiritualità, ma che essa si esprime con modalità diverse rispetto a quelle della religione tradizionale. Contemporaneamente, la religione per alcuni popoli del resto del mondo, sconfina spesso in una forma di fanatismo che genera scontri, terrorismo e violenza. La coabitazione in occidente tra i popoli europei e gli immigrati non è facile, specie con i musulmani i cui valori differiscono molto dai nostri. Ho affrontato questo tema in un libro che però non è pubblicato in lingua inglese ('Il commissario Soneri e la legge del Corano')."

Quali sono stati i maggiori aspetti positivi degli adattamenti televisivi dei tuoi romanzi Soneri e sei incoraggiato dalla maggiore portata delle storie consentite con l'aumento dei servizi di streaming e dei loro budget?

"Le cose positive sono tante. Il mio personaggio è entrato nell'immaginario collettivo italiano e le atmosfere molto noir, con nebbia e città padane in sottofondo, hanno mostrato un pezzo d'Italia che normalmente non viene rappresentato. Io, come autore, vado fiero di questa traduzione in immagini che conferisce alla mia opera un valore in più. Tuttora la serie viene trasmessa sui canali televisivi in replica."

Quali altri autori hai letto di recente e cos'altro fai per rilassarti correttamente?

"In questo momento sto rileggendo una delle mie passioni: (Friedrich) Dürrenmatt. Presto dovrò dedicarmi a Jean-Claude Izzo, un'altra mia passione, per preparare una conferenza in cui parlerò di lui. Per il resto mi rilasso a leggere e a correre."

Scopri di più sui libri del Commissario Soneri di Valerio sul suo sito QUI.

Leggi la mia intervista al traduttore inglese di Valerio Varesi Joseph Farrell QUI.

1 note · View note

bked0n-lorazepam · 1 month

Text

My Requests are open!

Hi guys, I know it's been a while, but I'm back, and with new people who I'll be happy to write for you; here's my list!

The Walking Dead:

Rick Grimes, Carl Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Negan Smith, Glenn Rhee, Maggie Rhee, Enid Rhee, Michonne, Rosita, Simon, Abraham, Carol, Jesus "Paul", Shane, Sasha, Dwight, Beth

House MD:

Gregory House, Lisa Cuddy, James Wilson, Allison Cameron, Robert Chase, Eric Foreman, "Thirteen"

CreepyPasta:

Jeff The Killer, Toby Rogers, BEN Drowned, Eyeless Jack, Laughing Jack, Jane The Killer, Nina The Killer, Hoodie, Masky, Liu, Sally

Slashers/Creepos:

Billy Loomis, Stu Macher, Chucky/Charles Lee Ray, Brahms Heelshire, Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, BeetleJuice

Criminal Minds:

Aaron Hotchner, Emily Prentiss, Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Elle Greenaway, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Tara Lewis, Cat Adams, George Foyet

White Collar:

Peter Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Neal Caffrey, Alex Hunter, Diana Berrigan, Lauren Cruz, Clinton Jones

Hannibal NBC:

Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter, Alana Bloom, Beverly Katz, Freddie Lounds

Marvel Universe:

Loki Laufeyson, Mobius Mobius, Thor Odinson, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanov, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfied, and Tom Holland), MJ Watson, Sam Wilson, Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, Prince T'Challa, Princess Shuri, Okoye, Carol Danvers, Gamora, Peter Quill, Nebula

IT (2017 and 2019):

Patrick Hockstetter, Henry Bowers, Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak, Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, Mike Hanlon, Beverly Marsh, Stanley Uris, Pennywise

Stranger Things:

Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Steve Harrington, Joyce Byers, Jonathon Byers, Jim Hopper, Max Mayfield, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Karen Wheeler, Dr. Brenner, Argyle, Billy Hargrove

Once Upon a Time:

Rumplestiltskin, Emma Swan, Prince Charming, Snow White, Regina Mills, Henry Mills, Killian Jones, Baelfire, Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Belle, August/Pinocchio, Ruby/Red, Zelena

Good Omens:

Crowley, Aziraphale, Gabriel, Anathema Device, Newton "Newt" Pulsifer, Beelzebub, Muriel

Avatar:

Jake Sully, Neytiri, Kiri (No smut), Lo'ak (No smut), Neteyam (No smut)

And that's it so far! I'll add more as I go, I swear <3

25 notes · View notes

bestmusicalworldcup · 1 month

Text

The drag-ball reimagining of Cats (officially titled Cats: The Jellicle Ball) now has its full cast with the following newly announced cast members: Xavier Reyes as Jennyanydots, Bebe Nicole Simpson as Demeter, and Dava Huesca as Rumpleteazer, along with understudy Shelby Griswold.

Previously announced cast members from the world of ballroom include Baby as Victoria, Dudney Joseph Jr. as Munkustrap, Capital Kaos as DJ, Junior LaBeija as Gus, Robert "Silk" Mason as Mistoffelees, "Tempress" Chasity Moore as Grizabella, and Primo as Tumblebrutus, along with understudies Dominique Lee and Kendall G. Stroud.

Previously announced musical theatre and dance names in the company include Jonathan Burke as Mungojerrie, Emma Sofia Caymares as Skimbleshanks, André De Shields as Old Deuteronomy, Sydney James Harcourt as Rum Tum Tugger, Antwayn Hopper as Macavity, Shereen Pimentel as Jellylorum, Nora Schell as Bustopher Jones, Garnet Williams as Bombalurina, and Teddy Wilson Jr. as Sillabub. Rounding out the company will be ensemble members Tara Lashan Clinkscales and Frank Viveros.

The production is directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch.

Performances begin June 13 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, with opening night set for June 20. Closing night is July 14.

#cats musical #musicals #not a poll

26 notes · View notes

cathygeha · 10 months

Text

REVIEW

Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke

War brings death, destruction, corruption of morals and physical bodies. It brings out the best and worst in men and women who fight, endure, and live through it. This look back is dark and grim…but then…war is just that though some say there is honor and glory to be found…I doubt it.

Having read this author’s work in the past, I was eager to read this book without even knowing what the topic was. As I began to read, I thought it was beautifully written with descriptions of the south that painted a lovely picture…until the picture changed, and one dark ugly scene followed another one.

The story is told by introducing one character at a time who spends a chapter telling what is happening in his or her life till the next character steps onto the stage. Each character returns later in the story to tell a bit more.

Who were the characters:

* Wade Lufkin: pacifist at the beginning of the war working with the wounded and dying, learned he could kill, was riddled with guilt, carries wounds both mental and physical, a bit of a loose cannon but also seems to care deeply about some odd and discrepant issues and people

* Hannah Laveau: slave, wife without her husband, mother who lost her son, abused, has a gift or two or three, accused of murder, strong, survivor, attractive, intriguing to more than one character in the book

* Pierre Couchon: constable, carries out his duties according to the law as stated by those in power, lost part of his foot in the confederate army, born poor but well educated and wants more, a bit conflicted about more than one thing, grows a lot in this story

* Darla Babineaux: once enslaved, free woman, stays on the plantation, has big dreams, sees something in Pierre, keeps her eye on the prize no matter what it might require, taken in by a sweet talker more than once, survivor with a strong sense of justice

* Florence Milton: northerner, abolitionist, strong, pushes boundaries, conflicted about actions she has taken, educates and nurses others, does what needs to be done

* Colonel Carlton Hayes: rather off-putting, charismatic, previous choices has left him riddled with a disease that will eventually kill him, strong, ruthless, difficult to like or admire

* Endicott: heinous evil despicable creature

This story, in some ways, told of the horrors of war but did have me feeling it was more a dark fairy tale than a factual rendition of the past. The times were perhaps much as described but the characters in this story were bigger than what I would imagine was possible at the time and the ending the part that seemed too good to be true.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes and NO

Am I glad I read it? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

From New York Times-bestselling author James Lee Burke comes a novel set in Civil War-era Louisiana as the South transforms and a brilliant cast of characters – enslaved and free women, plantation gentry, and battle-weary Confederate and Union soldiers – are caught in the maelstrom In the fall of 1863, the Union army is in control of the Mississippi river. Much of Louisiana, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge, is occupied. The Confederate army is in disarray, corrupt structures are falling apart, and enslaved men and women are beginning to glimpse freedom. When Hannah Laveau, a formerly enslaved woman working on the Lufkin plantation, is accused of murder, she goes on the run with Florence Milton, an abolitionist schoolteacher, dodging the local constable and the slavecatchers that prowl the bayous. Wade Lufkin, haunted by what he observed—and did—as a surgeon on the battlefield, has returned to his uncle’s plantation to convalesce, where he becomes enraptured by Hannah. Flags on the Bayou is an engaging, action-packed narrative that includes a duel that ends in disaster, a brutal encounter with the local Union commander, repeated skirmishes with Confederate irregulars led by a diseased and probably deranged colonel, and a powerful story of love blossoming between an unlikely pair. As the story unfolds, it illuminates a past that reflects our present in sharp relief.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Lee Burke is an American author best known for his mysteries, particularly the Dave Robicheaux series. He has twice received the Edgar Award for Best Novel, for Black Cherry Blues in 1990 and Cimarron Rose in 1998. Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked at a wide variety of jobs over the years, including working in the oil industry, as a reporter, and as a social worker. He was Writer in Residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, succeeding his good friend and posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner John Kennedy Toole, and preceding Ernest Gaines in the position. Shortly before his move to Montana, he taught for several years in the Creative Writing program at Wichita State University in the 1980s. Burke and his wife, Pearl, split their time between Lolo, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana. Their daughter, Alafair Burke, is also a mystery novelist. The book that has influenced his life the most is the 1929 family tragedy "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.

#james lee burke #netgalley #atlantic monthly press #historical fiction #american civil war #war #slavery #abuse #murder

0 notes