Ghost in the Shell

Somehow the Anime version of this movie got on my list. Ok, I know how. I saw the live action one with Scarlett J in it and on the Nerds and Geeks FB page many people said that the Anime version was "awesome." Well, it was anime. I thought it was good, but not great. Japanese animation isn't my favorite.

Silent Night

Apparently this Spenser story had been started before he died. His long time editor finished it. It was ok, but seemed a little different than the other Parker written books. Especially Hawk. Too many word. But a decent story about a pair of brothers who seem to be doing good in the world. But which one actually is? Spenser will find out who's been naughty...

Pottersville

I thought that this movie would have something to do with It's A Wonderful Life and it did. Eventually. Good guy general store owner Maynard loves Pottersville even though it is a dying town. He would do anything to help. And he does. With mixed results. I mainly watched it because it was short - only 80+ minutes. And had two redheads in it. Sigh. I am very predictable. It was ok at best. But if you like the cast or feel good movies, it might appeal to you.

Painted Ladies (book)

Spenser in the world of Art and Art recovery - hired as a bodyguard, his protectee gets blown up. So of course, Spenser has to find out who did what to whom when why and where!

The Professional (Book)

Lots of twists and turns in this Spenser entry. A group of women are being blackmailed and want to get out from under without too much noise, so they hire Spenser. And of course, Spenser finds out a lot more than the people wanted him to. Go Spenser!

Rough Weather (Book)

Spenser novel - Spenser tangles with Rugar (again) and a kidnapping.

Dragonquest (Book)

This is the second Pern book that was written. It really ought to have been part of the first book. Pern has survived the initial onslaught of Thread - now things are starting to get squiggly because of the clash between the oldtimers and the modern Pernese. Good entry in the series!

Now and Then (Book)

Spenser novel - the story starts as a simple case of infidelity and turns into a hunt for terrorists - who are threatening Susan. Just as one oughtn't to mess with John Wick's dog, one mustn't threaten Susan Silverman!

Dragonsinger (Book)

This is the second Pern book in the Harper trilogy featuring Menolly. Interesting examination of the Craft System, at least in the harper hall. Introduces Piemur who I think shows up a lot in later books. I will not admit to reading two books in less than 12 hours.

Hundred Dollar Baby (Book)

Spenser has another encounter with April Kyle, whore turned madam.

Cold Service (book)

Spenser book focusing on how Hawk does things with an assist from Spenser. I like it when Hawk is featured!

Bad Business (Book)

Spenser book - There are a few interesting things about this one - all of the PI's involved and the convolutedness of the story. And still the same fun characters!

Hugger Mugger (Book)

Spenser goes to Atlanta to solve a horse shooting incident only to, once again, find more problems. And there was a second case as well, that had nothing to do with the first case. Showing that Spenser is, I guess, good at multi-tasking. Anyway, this one ended with not al of the bad guys getting their just deserts. I hope that Spenser goes there again and gets the bad guys. Still, a decent entry in the series.

Potshot (Book)

Spenser is asked to investigate a murder that of course opens a whole can of worms. Great because just about every thug/decent bad guy is in this one. Kind of like the Magnificent Seven. Except none of the people get killed. A couple get a little wounded. Still, it was interesting to have all of Spenser's sort of like minded tough guys with a code together in one house.

Dragonsong (Book)

The books in the Pern series can be read a multitude of ways, of course. The most common two being in an order that they were written or in order of time that the story takes place. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I am reading them an order I found on the internet. Yay. Anyway, this book was the first of three featuring a young woman named Menolly.  Menolly is a Seacroft Holder's daughter. She loves music and is a talented musician. Her musicianship is not held in high esteem by her parents so trouble ensues. I will admit to tearing up a few times while reading this book.

Widow's Walk (Book)

Spenser novel - A widow's walk is an architectural element, I thought. Hmm. Convoluted story of a man who is shot and killed in his bed - maybe a suicide? Maybe murder? Maybe the wife did it? Maybe she didn't? Fear not, Spenser will figure it all out, eventually.

Back Story (book)

Spenser Novel - Spenser is asked to look into the death of someone who was killed 30 years ago! And he manages pretty well. Which isn't surprising. He is Spenser, after all...

Chasing the Bear (Book)

In a seemingly random departure, Parker gives us a story of young Spenser, age around 14. It does give a good glimpse into how Spenser became Spenser.

Hush Money (book)

Spenser story - Hawk brings a client - a man denied tenure. Along the way, another case comes along, so Spenser is working two at once. They don't cross, which was surprising. Still, it was a decent entry in the series.

Sudden Mischief (Book)

Read this Spenser book out of Sequence. I think it was the first one that I read in fact. And then I got interested in the series and read them from the beginning. This book actually makes more sense in sequence, when one understands more about the relationship between Susan and Spenser. Susan asks Spenser to help her ex-husband who, it turns out, needs help really, really badly!

Small Vices (Book)

Spenser tries to prove that a black convict got put away for a murder he didn't commit. Do things go smoothly? Heaven forfend!

Chance (Book)

Spenser story about being hired to find a mobster's son in law. And when he does, well, things aren't swell.

Thin Air (Book)

Spenser looks for Frank Belson's missing wife. Nothing is as simple as it looks. What a surprise? Sigh. Ends with one of the more convoluted of Spenser's plans to save who needs to be saved.

Double Deuce (Book)

Spenser rides again. This time it is Hawk's mission and Spenser is his backup. An area of the ghetto is in need of help and Hawk and Spenser help out as only they can.

Pastime (Book)

Spenser book about Paul's mom disappearing, and of course getting in way over her head. Lots of back story about Spenser makes this an especially interesting entry in the series.

Ceremony (Book)

Spenser book featuring April Kyle, prostitute, who Spenser does his best to save. I think she appears in at least two other Spenser stories later on.

The Widening Gyre (Book)

Spenser helps out a politician's wife who is being blackmailed. As he digs, things, as usual, get much scarier than originally thought.

The Savage Place (Book)

Book 9 of the Spenser books written by Parker. Spenser goes to LA to protect a news anchor. Things don't go well, all things considered. Spenser does meet some people who appear in subsequent books.

The Hermit of Eyton Forest (Book)

I like Historical Fiction. Yes, I am easy, I like a lot of stuff. But this series is based in Medieval England and captures the time for me. In this story, our Hero, Brother Cadfael, tries to figure out who killed two different people! I just found out that there are a lot of these books as well. So many books, so little time!

Looking for Rachel Wallace (Book)

Spenser book featuring Spenser trying to protect a hard core woman and eventually succeeding. As he often does. Rachel Wallace shows up in a few more Spenser books along the way. Good stuff!

Mass Effect: Andromeda (video game)

I don't know why this game got such lackluster reviews. Yes, it was very similar to Mass Effect three, but I liked Mass Effect 3. Lots of things to do. Lots of places to explore. Some puzzles to solve (not enough - I like puzzled. Myst was really great!). Lots of action. Lots of story. I didn't get to hook-up with who I wanted to hook up with, but who I did spend time with was fun enough. If you like RPGs, or the earlier Mass Effect games. Or you like third person exploration games that are in the Science Fiction genre rather than the fantasy genre, you might just like this game. I know I did. I was even tempted to keep playing after I finished the main story line. I just wish I had realized how powerful one of the items was earlier in the game. Oh well. Life is that way sometimes.

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

I have never been a big Richard Gere fan. But I decided to watch this movie because it looked interesting in the trailers. Gere's character is a "fixer." Someone who knows someone (who knows someone) who might be able to help the first person accomplish what they want. And maybe down the road, that person can be the third person in another problem, etc. It is a well crafted story. Slightly depressing, but good. If you like Richard Gere, you might actually love this movie. Otherwise, I think you will just like it a lot.

Early Autumn (Book)

Spenser is tasked with protecting a boy and his mother, only to discover that the boy is not wanted by either parent. So Spenser takes him under his wing. Paul goes on to be parts of several books down the line. Good entry in the series and shows that Spenser can teach his way of being to others.

Stardust (book)

Next book in the Spenser series. Spenser is tasked with finding out who is bugging a bratty star named Jill. Of course, things go sideways.

Playmates (Book)

Sixteen in the Spenser series. Spenser goes to a college to try and help a kid who has gotten in with the wrong crowd and is shaving points in basketball. Rah rah!

Crimson Joy (Book)

Book 15 in the Spenser Series - Spenser is on the hunt for a serial killer who makes a fatal mistake - he targets Spenser's love: Susan! Ooops. Good entry in the series. A lot of Spensers pals show up in this one.

Dragonflight (Book)

First in the Dragons of Pern books. Lessa is a strong willed survivor who helps save Pern, a human colony somewhere and somewhen in the Universe. Interesting story, full of action. A little simplistic seeming but an entertaining story if one likes science fiction and fantasy rolled into one.

Paris Can Wait

Diane Lane and a French actor take a long time to drive from the South of France to Paris. Lots of interesting and delicious stops along the way. Not really sure what to make of the movie. It was entertaining, but really went nowhere, quickly. I do like Diane Lane still, though. And another Coppola does movie stuff. Yay?

The Santa Chronicles

I watched this on Netflix because I like santa movies, I like Kurt Russel and I like kids movies. This one, though not great, didn't disappoint. I thought the elves were a little too cute, even for elves. But other than that...A girl and her starting to turn bad brother have to help Santa rescue Christmas and a sleighing good time is had!

The Judas Goat (Book)

Spenser abroad in England tracking down terrorists (or just baddies) who blew up a man and his family on Spenser's watch. Hawk helps out.

Pale Kings and Princes (Book)

Book 14 in the Spenser series? Anyway, Spenser has to track down the murderer of a reporter who was investigating drugs in a small MA town. Of course, there is much more there than meets the untrained eye!

Sixkill (Book)

The final Spenser book written by Robert Parker. There are others, written by some person named Ace Adkins. I think I will try one and see if they are any good. In any case, this was a good entry in the series. Spenser is trying to determine whether or not a reprehnsible human actually is a murderer or not. In the course of the investigation, he takes on a new protege, Zebulon Sixkill. Fun stuff. No Hawk, but otherwise enjoyable.

Once Upon a Time (TV series)

I only watched this because Alice had watched it. Ok, not the only reason. I had seen a few episodes when the show was first broadcast. I like Fairy Tales (I wrote my baccalaureate essay on them, in fact), I like fantasy stories in general and the cast seemed ok. The stories were usually a bit convoluted. And I must admit to not being super thrilled with some of the acting or actors. But it was a decent show and there were a lot of episodes! And I think the ending was decent. I will admit to a few tears here and there throughout the run of the show. Glad I watched it overall.

Walking Shadow (Book)

Spenser helps out a theatre's artistic director at Susan's request, only to find out a lot more troubling things. It all works out in the end. This is the book I had missed because of its unavailabilty in Belfast. Funny, there have been more mentions of Belfast in a few Spenser Books. And he talk about Andover (though he miss named it slightly) in another. And this one mentioned Rochester. Small world.

Far Cry 4 (video game)

Another game from the people who make Assassin's Creed. This series of games takes a loner who goes to a downtrodden area and rescues it from the baddies. This version took place in a country that was sort of modeled on Nepal (I am guessing, having never been). The animals in this game were intent on eating people at all times! Lots of fun vehicles, an ok story, and lots of things to do. I like these games and look forward to playing Far Cry 5 one day.