Week in Review #2

This week I read SEVEN books. (I'm shocked too!!!)

At Operation Actually Read Bible, I reviewed a delightful Christian romance--historical set in Canada--titled The Lawyer and the Laundress. This is a marriage of convenience story and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Of course, technically it's a bit predictable. BUT I fail to see how that's anything but a positive.

At Becky's Book Reviews, I reviewed three books. I reviewed two audio books: FAHRENHEIT 451 a dystopian science fiction novel that I've read and reviewed dozens of times AND Anne of Ingleside, L.M. Montgomery's last published novel in the Anne series. Both of these books are old friends. Though they are completely and totally different from one another. The third book I reviewed was a review copy, Westfallen: Into the Fire. This is the sequel to Westfallen. Three friends in the past (1944) and three friends from the future (2023) make a grand mess of things when they learn the heard way about loose lips. To be fair, the kids from the future had no idea the dangers of talking freely about their present. And it started innocent enough. This second book is INTENSE. And it ends in a cliffhanger.

At Young Readers, I reviewed two picture books and one board book. The Animals of Farmer Jones is a classic Little Golden Book from the 1940s. Squirrel Sits Still takes place at a library, I believe, and Squirrel has a difficult time sitting still. If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone is a great picture book. A child makes a phone call on a banana....what will happen next?!?!


Century of Viewing #2

1920s

• 1927 Metropolis (Tubi, loopy-loop jazz soundtrack) The version I watched (the first time, yes I'm already contemplating a second time) was on Tubi. It had a looped jazzy-jazz soundtrack. Despite the fact that the soundtrack did not in any way complement the movie, I found the movie intriguing--fascinating--interesting--enjoyable. I have found a better version to watch....soon. Will it be this week? Maybe. Maybe not. Will it be tonight? Possible. Anything's possible. The plot?! Well, I believe it's set in 2026. A case of haves and have-nots. The underground worker city is looking for a Mediator as foretold by Maria. The son of the city's creator may just be that mediator. He's certainly smitten? mesmerized? under a spell when he first meets Maria. And then he goes underground himself and takes the place of a worker for a day--or night. Time is tricksy. There's also a SUPER mad scientist type who's created a robot. He wants to destroy EVERYBODY and everything.
• 1927 Metropolis (KINO, original score) This is the KINO restoration which is the closest to the original film in length. It also has the ORIGINAL score instead of the jazzy-jazz loop. Definitely seek out this version. The music is by Gottfried Huppertz. Science Fiction. Set in the future of 2026. Haves versus Have-Nots in society. "Head" versus "Hands" according to the movie. The movie is about the search for a MEDIATOR between the two. Also robots. Don't forget the provocatively dancing robot.

1940s

• 1948 Easter Parade I do not care for this Judy Garland and Fred Astaire musical. Is it better than Camelot?!?! YES. Is it the worst musical out there? Probably not. So Fred Astaire's dance partner is leaving him....and he has to find a new one...and so he trains up the Judy Garland character. She falls for him--why?!?!--and he doesn't really know she exists until she yells at him again and again for NOT noticing her like that. In the end, they end up together--at least temporarily. Will it last?! I don't know that I care enough to imagine all the scenarios. (Unlike Music Man. I have imagined all sorts of things about those characters).

1980s

• 1987 The Running Man. It is VERY, VERY, VERY 80s. The plot seems over the top. But it is--repeat with me--very, very, very 80s. It is strange...but I suppose that's to be expected. The plot? Criminals get a "second chance" on a reality television show. But 99% of this world is a lie...and nothing is as it seems.

1990s

• 1996 Escape from L.A.  Is it cheesy-cheeseful? YES. Was it meant to be? I think YES. Is the soundtrack horrible? I think it was almost meant to be. Maybe. My best friend said all the money went to hiring this cast and not to the special effects. Snake is back and this time he's doing a favor for ANOTHER president for another city.
• 1998 Lost in Space Do I want my time back? I probably would have wasted that time anyway all things considered. Was it time worst spent than playing WordScapes or Solitaire Farm Village? NO, not really. This "movie" is based on a television show. Not having seen the show, I'm not sure if it's a) more intelligent b) less intelligent or c) about the same.

2010s

• 2011 The Captains. My first documentary of the year though definitely not my last. This one is a documentary about Star Trek Captains. William Shatner interviews other Captains in the Star Trek series. This one being released in 2011 misses out on several shows, of course. BUT the interviews can be surprisingly deep and cover a wide range of topics. You expect fluff....and there is *some* fluff. But it isn't only fluff.

2020s

• 2024 VHS Christmas Carols. I love, love, LOVE, love this musical. The songs--most of them--are living rent free in my head. This is a mash-up of A Gift of the Magi, Little Match Girl, and A Christmas Carol. IT is EMOTIONAL and wonderful. I love it so much!!! I watched this one many times in December 2024 and many times in December 2025.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews