Well, whoopdedodahday… I’ve managed to jettison the sling and the big bandage, and now it’s just a small dressing covering the stitches on my right hand. I can use the mouse with my right hand again, but I can’t ride my bike, drive, or lift anything with that hand for a few weeks or get the dressing wet.
I’ve had a lot of time to sit and read over the past few days, and so here’s a couple of reviews for the books I’ve read recently to pass the time:
Take the Gun, Leave the Cannoli, by Mark Seal:
Mark Seal has written a wonderfully researched book here about the making of ‘The Godfather’, the most successful film of all time (and my favourite film too). Within a month of its premiere it was making 1 million dollars per day, leaving movie-goers stunned after watching it for nearly 3 hours.
But the beginnings back in 1971 were less than successful. New director Francis Ford Coppola’s ideas for the film were ridiculed to the extent where he thought he’d be fired. Al Pacino, not known at the time, was so nervous being around greats such as Marlon Brando that he couldn’t think straight and thought he’d be fired as well. Diane Keaton had no idea why she had been cast as Kay. All the while dark shadows of Mafia henchmen loomed over the set (some had bit parts in the film), making sure nobody uttered the word ‘Mafia’ at all throughout the whole film!
We learn of Brando’s transformation to Don Corleone via the application of padding around his washboard figure, a mouthpiece to make his jaw jut forwards, and 10lb weights on his feet to make him walk slower. We’re told of James Caan’s terror at being fitted with stunt explosives for his death scene. We’re told a lot, lot more. The detail in this book is tremendous, and it’s a must for all Godfather fans.
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LIVE AND LET, by Judith Barrow.
Judith Barrow and her husband turned part of their Pembrokeshire home into a holiday apartment back in the 1970s. This delightful but short book (that I read in one sitting) consists of some amusing stories about several people who rented it. There were the two elderly sisters who blocked the sewage pipes with something unusual, the hippies with their free-loading friends, the naturists, the Bingo players, and the philandering TV reporter to name but a few. Reading this, it made me rather relieved that I only let my caravan out to people I know!
The Barrows stopped letting out the apartment after some years, and Judith’s Aunt Olive moved in. Aunt Olive’s slide into dementia and eventually into a care home is described in the book, which also gave Judith the inspiration to write another story, ‘The Memory’, which was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year 2021. She has also added a short story regarding dementia and poem to ‘Live and Let’.
Yay on the hand! Interesting book about making of the Godfather. And glad you enjoyed Judith’s book. ❤
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I once worked with a doctor who grew up in New York and used to stand with spectators and watch the film being shot. x
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Wow. I’ve added to my read list. xx
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It’s a great read! x
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Thanks again. 🙂 x
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Good news about the hand. What happens backstage is often more interesting than what’s on the screen, even if what’s on the screen is good. They’re people. With the same fears, superstitions, bad (insert habits here)…I knew a guy in Galveston, great surf guitar player (if there is such a thing) and also Steve McQueen’s personal motorcycle mechanic. Between him and a few retired from bands and TV shows people at Island Music became an afternoon worth listening to.
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I can well imagine.
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Glad you’re healing, Stevie.
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Thanks Jennie.
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You’re welcome.
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Hi, Stevie! Thanks for the great reminder by checking these books. Oh, i am sorry for your hurt. But it’s wonderful to read about your recovery. Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks for your comment, Michael.
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A pleasure to me, Stevie! Sorry, but the last weeks i’d lost the line and missed so many postings. xx Michael
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One step at a time. Congratulations on being on the mend. I’ll bet it will feel extra good to get back on your bike when you’ve healed some more.
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It will. Thanks Pete.
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Super reviews, Stevie. Glad you hand is getting better. Congratulations to Mark and Judith.
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Thanks John.
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😊
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I own the Cannoli book – haven’t gotten to it yet but will soon…glad all is healing well!
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Thanks John. You’re in for a good read!
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Take the Gun, Leave the Canoli sounds interesting. I read the book and saw the movie when they came out. (Sure wish I could unsee the horse’s head in the bed scene.)
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There’s two places in the film where I always look away; one is the horse’s head in the bed, and the second one is where Luca Brasi gets garroted.
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*shudder*
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Hi Stevie, two good reviews. I’ll be reading this book of Judith’s soon.
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You’ll enjoy it I’m sure.
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I was really chuffed my small book was included by Stevie, Pete.
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It must be such a relief that you have jettisoned the sling and the big bandage, Stevie. x
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Yes indeed. I can type – yay! Finger is improving as the days go on.
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Good. Unfortunately, I find myself almost in your postion today, Stevie. Gardening yesterday caught my hand on a rose thorn. Today my hand has ballooned! It’s painfull and very hot, and I’m typing with one finger. Must be coming out in sympathy with you, in some way. 😊
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Infected? Maybe you need antibiotics? Maybe let your GP have a look?
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I’ve taken piriton. See what tomorrow brings. I might have to join the ‘finger-fastest first’ in the GP phone queue. Ah, the days of just turning up at the surgery!🙄🙂
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I don’t bother phoning anymore. I stand there and wait until it opens at 8am then run to the reception desk!
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Thank you so much, Stevie. And, Robbie, I do hope you enjoy the read.
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You’re welcome, Judith. It got me through the long, boring day in hospital waiting for my surgery.
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glad you’re doing better and really want to read take the gun
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It’s very entertaining!
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Thank you, Stevie.
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Great news on your hand. Just don’t take up boxing 😉
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Lol, but I think my left arm has become a bit stronger.
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That’s to be expected, in the circumstances. Hope it keeps improving.
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Thanks Clive.
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Good news about the hand, and thanks for the interesting reviews, Stevie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Glad you are healing and can use the hand somewhat. I loved Live & Let.
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Yes, very entertaining!
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It is good news that Stevie’s hand is (slightly) on the mend, isn’t it, Darlene. And i am so grateful she was entertained by Live and Let.
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Reading your book, I was the only one laughing intermittently amongst my group of ladies waiting for surgery.
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Hahaha … I wonder if they thought you were in the wrong department!😊
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Maybe, lol.
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