Tag: books

Thursday Book Review: M.C. Beaton Mystery Series from Book to Screen

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Do you prefer the character of Agatha Raisin,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Raisin

The TV actress does not physically resemble the author’s portrayal of Agatha Raisin in her books

or Hamish Macbeth?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamish_Macbeth

Robert Carlyle is too short for the author’s portrayal of Hamish

I have read both series by the late M.C. Beaton aka Marion Chesney.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Chesney

I feel the reason the Hamish Macbeth series is so readable and likable is because the author grew up in the very country Hamish is from!

I love mystery doused with comedy, and if you do too, Hamish Macbeth is for you!

Whether you are on Team Agatha or Team Hamish, keep in mind the books are always way better than the shows on TV!

I like Ashley Jenner and I like Robert Carlyle as actors, nevertheless, I think perky, blonde Ashley Jenner would be an ideal in the character’s mind, but bears little resemblance to the close-set, bearlike-eyed, thick-waisted, and brown-haired Agatha Raisin of the Agatha Raisin novels!

Also, 5’8″ Robert Carlyle is no 6 foot plus tall police constable Hamish Macbeth. 6′ 1″ David Tennant would probably suit the role of Hamish Macbeth a whole lot better.

I imagine it would mean hiring shorter actors amd lowering ceilings to see the gangly Hamish bumping his head on door entrances!

(No. Unrelated to all this, I am not pleased with Anna Chancellor playing Lord Veternari either in Terry Pratchett’s TV rendition of, “The Watch.”)

To summarize, the books are way better, and sorry if I was harsh in my critique.

Nevertheless, M.C. Beaton is a fine writer and her books are a lot of fun!

Question: Have you ever been disappointed with a character’s film portrayal in comparison to the book?

Studying Commitment

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Bookish

I have a lot of books. Many times I scoop them up at library book sales, or just aquire them at book stalls.

Later on I discover them in the house, sometimes many years after I brought them home.

Sometimes the books are found not so neatly on a bookshelf, and sometimes I find them in a bag or a box stacked on a table or the floor.

I’ve started studying a book I found in a bag underneath a desk. It’s called “Commit to win,” by Heidi Reeder, PhD.

Get committed

It’s about how to harness the four elements of commitment to reach your goals.

She elaborates on the 4 areas of commitment that I never heard of.

They are: treasures, troubles, contributions and choices. Basically the 4 ingredients that go into any commitment.

It’s food for thought if you plan on making a commitment and plan on succeeding in fulfilling it.

I have 3 areas I am trying to get committed to doing.

I. I need to drop some excess fat; 35 lbs. exactly.

2. I need to get rid of a lot of old junk in my living space, so as to upgrade my style and feel happier at home. Yes, I have a lot of stuff.

3. Lastly, I need to get my music business organized.

That means finding, labeling, and organizing eveything from books to instruments, to recording units, and sound equipment not just for insurance purposes either.

There are also the intangibles of my band Molly and Sonny Boy that need attention like websites and digital photos, contacts and financial files

I would like to get all 3 commitments fulfilled in the next 5 months. However, there is a difference between deciding to do something and actually getting started. I will keep you posted!