Julie's Journal : Longmire

Have you watched the Longmire series?  My husband Jason was told by his coworkers that he "had" to watch it.  They were just sure he would love it.  So during Christmas break, I took the first season home and we were hooked.

Longmire is based on a series of books by Craig Johnson.  They follow a small-town Wyoming sheriff, Walt Longmire, and his small staff as they solve crimes, navigate small town politics, work with the nearby Reservation, and deal with their personal dramas.  We particularly enjoyed the setting, as we spent quite a bit of time in Wyoming during our vacation last year.

Although Walt is dealing with the demons left behind by his wife's death, we like his no-nonsense approach to law enforcement and investigation.  His friend, Henry Standingbear (played by Lou Diamond Phillips) - who speaks with no contractions, is a favorite too.  

The first three seasons revolve around Deputy Branch Connelly's bid to unseat Longmire as sheriff and Walt's attempt to solve the mysteries surrounding his wife's death.  However, the campaign and election have to take a back seat to the various murder's and crimes that are happening in Absaroka County.  

The last three seasons are more focused on Walt's obsession with proving that Native mogul, Jacob Nighthorse, is up to no good.  I actually got a little tired of the Sheriff's obsession with Jacob.  I found the episodes where they were solving new crime more enjoyable that the constant attempt to prove Jacob was a criminal mastermind.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our binge watch of Longmire.  In something of a reversal for me, I actually sought out and read the first book AFTER we had finished the series.  It was definitely different from the show, particularly in character descriptions and in the resolution of the first case.

If you want to try either the show or the books, they are available for checkout here at Franklin County Library.  Now I need something new to binge watch.  Any recommendations?

Christian's Cozy Mystery Recommendations

This is the perfect time of year to grab a blanket, the warm beverage of your choice (black coffee for me), and snuggle up with a Cozy Mystery. 

Cozy mysteries tend to be light, bright “who done its.”  We carry several cozy authors here in the library and no less than 32 pages of these books can be found when searching on Overdrive or Libby.

Some of my favorites are:

Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mysteries (Some available in Library &  some on Overdrive/Libby)

Brooklyn Wainwright is a bookbinder living in San Francisco.  Through great characters and zany capers, Carlisle keeps the reader entertained. Also available on Overdrive/Libby, her series Fixer-Upper Mysteries.

Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lovers Mystery

Lindsey Norris is the newish director of the Briar Creek Public Library.  Together with her best friend/colleague, Beth Stanley, the crafternooner, and Captain Sully, she learns the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) art of sleuthing.

Miranda James’ Cat in the Stacks Mysteries (Some available in Library & some on Overdrive/Libby)

Librarian, Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel live in Athena, Mississippi.  James pulls the reader in with charm, wit, and a particularly adorable kitty cat.  Also available between the Library & Overdrive/Libby, James’ series Southern Ladies Mysteries.

For those who like a little magic with their mystery:

Heather Blake’s Magic Potion Mysteries (Available on Overdrive/Libby)

Here we join Carly Bell Hartwell, owner of Little Shop of Potions, on her adventures in Hitchingpost, Alabama.  Blake grabs her readers attention with blundering mishaps and often, outlandish characters. 

Sofie Ryan’s Second Chance Cat Mysteries (Available on Overdrive/Libby)

In her hometown of North Harbor, Maine, Sarah Grayson has opened a re-purpose shop, Second Chances.  With a little help from her friends, Charlotte’s Angels and her cat, Elvis, she embarks on a murder solving odyssey.  The question is, “What is it about that cat?”

Carol Perry’s Witch City Mysteries (Available on Overdrive/Libby)

After her husband’s death, Lee Barrett moves back home to Salem, Massachusetts to live with her Aunt Ibby.  Through fateful circumstances she learns of her suppressed psychic ability. 

These are only a few of the quaint and charming books in our onsite and online cozy mystery selections.  Stop in the library and ask for Christian for more info.

*ALL BOOK COVER PHOTOS PROCURED FROM AUTHORS’ WEBSITES

Chance's Corner: Mary Poppins Returns Review

The very idea of Mary Poppins returning to us after a 54 year absence is enough to make anyone want to step in time, but the Mary who ever-so-delicately touches down here, a posher, perhaps sterner, incarnation brought to life by Emily Blunt, feels like a being from The Twilight Zone episode "The Parallel". In that episode, an astronaut comes back home from space, but something doesn't quite feel right. His wife and daughter are the same, but they feel off, just as he feels off to them. After a few more bizarre encounters, the episode ultimately suggests that the astronaut has entered a parallel universe, and that's just what it feels like in Mary Poppins Returns.

The film wants you to believe that Mary is back, but the Mary I saw didn't feel like her. She didn't even pronounce her trademark words quite right! A minor quibble, I know, and impossible to avoid. I do give Blunt credit for being courageous enough to fill the shoes so well worn by the indelible Julie Andrews. While she doesn't quite have the range that Andrews possessed, she makes a suitable successor. Lin-Manuel Miranda also proved to be suitable, although a lot of the burden was off his shoulders, as he's a new character entirely. Still, I don't think he carried the same energy as Dick Van Dyke did as Bert. That's hardly a fair comparison, though, seeing as Van Dyke is a dancing machine whose gears still appear to be well oiled!

Continuing with the parallel universe argument, Mary Poppins Returns takes several scenes from Mary Poppins and inverts them... literally, in one instance! Whacky Cousin Topsy (Meryl Streep) is the inverse of Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn). The cartoon world inside the cracked bowl (a bowl which Topsy never returned) is the parallel to the cartoon world inside the street chalk. The lamplighters' song and dance routine "Trip the Light Fantastic" cribs from the chimney sweeps' "Step In Time". I could go on. I think Mary Poppins Returns leans a little bit too much into the familiarity of the original film, so much so that I kind of just wished I was watching the original film - just as the astronaut wanted to return to his real home.

Still, I can't deny that Mary Poppins Returns has its heart in the right place and doesn't mean any malice towards the legacy of Mary Poppins, although I'm sure P.L. Travers would absolutely disagree. Oh well. The story is charming enough, bolstered by three likable and fiercely independent children, but it’s really a bit flat and uninspired underneath all the “stuff and nonsense”, as Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) would put it. The stakes of the film rest on Colin Firth’s villainous banker, who is really just a one-dimensional scoundrel whose only motivation is money (who could have guessed?). Firth’s talent is wasted in the role, and he doesn’t even get to sing. A shame! Anyways, while the film isn't exactly supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (sorry, I had to), it still manages to have a touch of magic to it.