Will's Book Nook: Narrator Scribblings

 

Audio book narrators draw you into the story, so they are a very important part of the experience. Jim Dale, who narrates the Harry Potter series, is one of the best, because I have never heard so many different voice from one guy. Fun fact: some of the actors in the Harry Potter films took inspiration from Jim Dale's voices and worked them into their own characterizations. I recently heard him as Phileas Fogg in a full cast production of Around the World in 80 Days. I also admire the work of Bonnie Turpin. She has done a lot of Christopher Paul Curtis' YA novels, including The Mighty Miss Malone. She is also really talented with different voices, and really conveys the struggle of African American characters. I also enjoy full cast audio books, like James Patterson's The Guilty, featuring John Lithgow. John Lithgow has an iconic voice that just makes me happy. I listen to a lot of audio books, and this list of narrators gets 5 out of 5 scribbles. 

Top Ten: Mark’s Favorite John Wayne Co-Stars

 

1.  Carroll Baker, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Fonda, Carolyn Jones, Karl Malden, Gregory Peck, George Peppard, Robert Preston, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, Eli Wallach, Richard Widmark (How the West Was Won, MGM/Cinerama,1962).

2.  James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien, Andy Devine, Ken Murray (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Paramount,1962).

3.  Ann-Margaret, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson, Christopher George, Bobby Vinton, Jerry Gatlin, Ricardo Montalban ( The Train Robbers, Warner Bros.,1973).

4.  Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey, Richard Boone (The Alamo, United Artists,1960).

5.  Dean Martin, Martha Hyer, Michael Anderson, Jr., Earl Holliman, Jeremy Slate (The Sons of Katie Elder, Paramount,1965).

6.  Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Russell (Rio Bravo, Warner Bros.,1959).

7.  Katherine Hepburn, Richard Jordan, Anthony Zerbe, John McIntire, Paul Koslo, Richard Romancito, Tommy Lee, Strother Martin (Rooster Cogburn, Universal ,1975).

8.  Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall, Strother Martin (True Grit, Paramount,1969).

9.  Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Arthur Hunnicutt, Michele Carey (El Dorado, Paramount,1967).

10.  Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, Richard Boone, John Carradine, Scatman Crothers, Richard Lenz, Harry Morgan, Sheree North, Hugh O'Brian (The Shootist, Paramount,1976).

Our Favorite Summer Foods

On the first day of summer, we are sharing our favorite foods. During the summer months we think about grilling out, ice cream, popsicles, milkshakes, wedding cake and parties.

 

Mark’s favorite is pizza all year, Little Caesar’s, specificially meat lovers. Oreo Thins are Mark’s favorite dessert.

 

Britannia loves summer food is pasta, specifically chicken alfredo. She likes to add garlic bread. She makes it at home with her mom. They add a regular salad. Pecan pie is her favorite dessert. She likes bananas.

 

Will thinks grilling is fun and loves to learn new recipes. He’s a sucker for a good hamburger, but he likes to help organize food. Will likes to use his own homegrown tomatoes on his burger with a side of french fries. He likes to share food with friends for summer get-togethers. Will’s family makes their own ice cream with an ice cream maker.

 

Lora likes green chilli and pinto beans in a tortilla. She likes to butter the tortilla and eat it. Watermelon is her favorite summer dessert.

 

Joseph likes potato salad with his hamburger for a summer meal, plus some french fries. Pecan pie is his favorite dessert.

 

This summer we want to try some new summer foods, like sushi, strawberry shortcake, grilled cheese at the Paddywagon, and seafood, but no seafood for Lora. We also want to learn to cook meatloaf, pork chops on the grill, fajitas and stir-fry. 

Will’s Book Nook: Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Treason Scribblings

 

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Treason by George Mann and Cavan Scott is an Audible Original production. The Queen of England has been kidnapped, so Holmes and Watson are trying to find out the culprit. Everyone is a suspect. I personally suspect Prince Edward because he is an extremely shifty guy. I don’t trust that man. He would be next in line to the throne. I like the diverse cast, for example Doctor Watson is played by a black man for the first time. And there is a lot more humor where you wouldn’t expect humor in this adaptation. So far, I would give it 5 scribbles because it’s one of those books that I was hooked into the moment I started listening. It kept me guessing from the very beginning. I haven’t finished it yet.

Top Ten: Mark’s Favorite John Wayne Characters

 

1.  U.S.Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn (True Grit, Paramount,1969; Rooster Cogburn, Universal,1975).

2.  The Ringo Kid (Stagecoach, United Artists, 1939).

3.  John Bernard Books (The Shootist, Paramount,1976).

4.  General William Tecumseh Sherman (How the West Was Won, MGM/Cinerama,1962).

5.  Colonel John Marlowe (The Horse Soldiers, United Artists,1959).

6.  George Washington McLintock (McLintock, United Artists,1963).

7.  Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Vandervoort (The Longest Day, 20th Century Fox,1962).

8.  Tom Doniphon (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Paramount,1962).

9.  Ethan Edwards, (The Searchers, Warner Bros., 1956).

10.  John Chisum (Chisum, Warner Bros.,1970).

Will’s Book Nook: My Own Scribblings!

I’m going to take a sharp turn from British radio shows and talk about short story I wrote, called “Red and Green.” I took inspiration from Tony Hillerman, whose books I had been reading. Its about a detective in a wheelchair who, with the help of his physical therapist, solves a chile heist. I liked flexing my creative brain muscles. I also liked including characters inspired by my real life friends and featuring real places in New Mexico. It was fun to inject humor into the stories. I wrote these stories awhile ago, but I’ve been thinking about getting back to it recently, since I’ve been to some new places that I want to write about. I’d especially like to write about Tinkertown.

Our Top 5 Boy Bands

 5. Boyzone: This boy band was very popular in the 90s in the UK, and Robbie Williams had a fairly successful solo career at the end of the decade, but they weren’t as popular in the US.

4. One Direction: Another group from across the pond, most members have gone on to have solid solo careers, and Harry Styles is topping the charts and becoming a movie star.

3. *NSYNC: This group launched the superstardom of Justin Timberlake, and we have plenty of nostalgia for songs like “Bye Bye Bye” and even spawned a meme featuring “It’s Gonna Be Me.” Even the other members show up on reality television from time to time.

2. New Kids on the Block: The OG group of the 80s, New Kids faded fairly quickly, but now that millennials are all grown up, they are touring again with classics, like “Step By Step.”

1. The Backstreet Boys: Nick Carter is really cute, and we all love rocking out to “Backstreet’s Back” and singing along to “I Want It That Way.” Backstreet’s back, alright!

Top Ten: Mark’s Favorite John Wayne Movies of the 1970s

1.  The Shootist (Paramount,1976)

2.  Rooster Cogburn (Universal,1975).

3.  Brannigan (United Artists,1975).

4. McQ (Warner Bros., 1974).

5.  Cahill, United States Marshal (Warner Bros., 1973).

6.  The Train Robbers (Warner Bros., 1973).

7.  The Cowboys (Warner Bros., 1972).

8.  Big Jake (Cinema Center Films/National General Pictures, 1971).

9.  Rio Lobo (Cinema Center Films/National General Pictures, 1970).

10.  Chisum (Warner Bros., 1970).

How to Celebrate Juneteenth

Last week we wrote about the history of the Juneteenth holiday, but because it just became a federal holiday, some people aren’t sure how celebrate. According to junteenth.com, “It is a day, a week, and in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future.” Juneteenth celebrations include rodeos and Miss Juneteenth competitions, essay contests and cookouts featuring soul food. Traditional songs by African Americans, such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” are also associated with the holiday. Hopefully these celebrations become more integrated and celebrated by all communities in the US.

Will’s Book Nook: The Inspector West Scribblings

The BBC Radio series Stand By for West which ran from 1967 to 1971, was based on John Creasy’s character, Inspector Roger West. It starred Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson. It was the first series that employed the “cliffhanger,” leaving listeners guessing at the end of every episode. I liked a glimpse into the mind of the inspector and how he asked the audience to help him by breaking the 4th wall. One episode I really enjoyed involved a plot about a ring of smugglers, because it particularly difficult case and he really had to exercise his brain to figure it out. I also like how it borrows from earlier series, like  Sherlock Holmes. I’m not that far into it, but I give it 6/5 scribbles so far!

Top Ten: Mark’s Favorite John Wayne Movies of the 1960s

1.  True Grit (Paramount, 1969).

2.  The Undefeated (20th Century Fox, 1969).
3.  Hellfighters (Universal, 1968)/The Green Berets (Warner Bros-Seven Arts, 1968)(tie).
4.  The War Wagon (Universal, 1967)/El Dorado (Paramount,1967) (tie).
5.  The Sons of Katie Elder (Paramount,1965)
6.  In Harm's Way (Paramount, 1965).
7.  McLintock! (United Artists, 1963)/Donovan's Reef (Paramount, 1963) (tie).
8.  How the West Was Won (MGM/Cinerama, 1962)/Hatari (Paramount, 1962)(tie).
9.&10. The Alamo (United Artists, 1960)/North to Alaska (20th Century Fox, 1960)(tie).