Bookcover Spotlight #224

One of my fave magazine covers- the sea serpent with those sinuous coils enveloping the ship, the rough sea and just the whole atmosphere. 

The Castafiore Emerald

The Castafiore Emerald is unique in the Tintin series for taking place entirely at Marlinspike Hall. Most of this series takes place around the world, in various exotic locations- that's one of the draws of the series- but here we get intrigue a little closer to home for Tintin and Haddock. It's more a comedy of errors than an adventure at times- but they also get their fair share of the usual shenanigans. Picking up after the events of Tintin in Tibet, this one examines the aftermath of a gypsy camp sprouting up near the Haddock estate. Tintin and Haddock are relaxing after their adventures in Asia, and while out for a walk they discover the camp situated near a landfill. They soon discover that the gypsies, who are looked down upon by the communities they pass through, have been forbidden to camp anywhere other than the landfill. Haddock, offended by this, offers to let them camp on his property near a stream.

Returning to the house Tintin and Haddock soon discover they are about to have a houseguest- Bianca Castafiore, the opera diva (and nemesis of Haddock). Chaos ensues when Bianca descends upon the house with her entourage, the jewels she constantly misplaces, and a bevy of gossipy journalists who snoop about the grounds. The plot gets zany from there with an obnoxious parrot and a missing emerald- the crown jewel of Bianca's collection- and of course there is no shortage of suspects, including the gypsies of course. The truth turns out to be a little more complicated however.

This one is a lot of fun and I loved seeing all the action take place at Marlinspike. It's a nice change of pace from the usual travelogue style adventures, and there are enough red herrings that you almost certainly will not guess the identity of the jewel thief. Most of the usual supporting cast makes an appearance, and this of course only adds to the zaniness. To top it off, the ridiculously hard of hearing Professor Calculus is also staying at the mansion, and Thompson and Thomson, the bumbling detectives, inevitably make an appearance when the emerald goes missing. Even Jolyon Wagg, the dapper insurance salesman, shows up. 

This episode pokes fun at the journalistic excesses of celebrity culture and also examines the social stigma endured by gypsies. In fact even that word is falling out of favor as people realize it can be pejorative and inappropriate. Otherwise this is a fun adventure with madcap humor and the usual goofy plot developments. This episode takes place after Tintin in Tibet but as with most of the Tintin books it can be read as a standalone with no problem. 

Tuesday Tagline #163

Kneel Or Bleed   

Okay then!!      

  

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted. Everyone is welcome to join. Link back so everyone can check out other bloggers' lists. It's a fun way to get to know fellow bloggers.

This week is Top Ten Books I'd Give Different Titles To. Another title post, although I think this one's a little tougher than last week's- at least for me.    

It's Been A Long, Long Autumn 

Is winter EVER coming???    

Yet Another Clone Book 

Although I did like this one 

Number One DNF 

Okay maybe that's harsh, but this one was a big disappointment. I was expecting a book with a lot of heart, and yeah maybe some Chinese restaurant goodness too, but this was kind of depressing. 

Need More Hippos

Seriously- too much talking, not enough hippos

Song Lyrics #21 Flesh For Fantasy

 

This week I'm looking at Flesh for Fantasy by Billy Idol. This song is different, and I'm not even sure what it's about (well, I have an idea, obviously, but with the Idol one you never truly know). I mean on the surface it's obviously about sex, but if you dig deeper? Okay, sex haha. Apparently this was on an episode of Miami Vice as well, as a song playing in a strip club. Hmmm... okay. So it's not very deep maybe lol, but... I like the beat, and just the general groove. I mean, strip away the lyrics (see what I did there?) and it's just a powerful, driving tune regardless.         

So what do you think?   

Lyrics

There's a change in pace 
For fantasy and taste 
Do you like good music? 
Do you like to dance? 
Oh yeah
Hanging out for a body shop at night 
Ain't it strange what they do to feel alright? 
Oh yeah
So when will you call? 
I am experienced 
Oh yeah 

Face to face and back to back 
You see and feel my sex attack 
Sing it 
Flesh, flesh for fantasy

We want

Flesh, flesh for fantasy 

It's after midnight

Are you feeling alright 

Oh yeah

Turn on the light babe

Are you someone else tonight

Neighbor to neighbor, door to door

Don't ask questions 

There's time for it all, oh yeah

Face to face

And back to back 

You see and feel

My sex attack, sing it 

Flesh, flesh for fantasy 

We cry 

Flesh for fantasy 

Fathers, love his sons 
Mothers, daughters too
It's an old, old story
Cries the new world too 

Flesh! Flesh! Flesh for fantasy 

We want 

Flesh, flesh for fantasy
We want 
Flesh, flesh for fantasy 

You cry

Flesh, flesh for fantasy 

Sunday Post #320

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Date 

  

So this week is the big invitational for marching band and color guard, and I'll be volunteering again as in past years. Not that it's really volunteering- everyone involved is supposed to help out, and that's fine really. No one minds- it's an amazing event. Should be a busy day tomorrow! And I was just thinking how much I love this time of year. The air is colder, the sky is often beautiful with cloudy, moonlit nights- and there's just something in the air. I love the colors, the smell of bonfires, everything else. I was coming home the other night and there was a huge moon in the sky- a harvest moon, I guess- and it was so beautiful, and also so atmospheric with the rapidly moving clouds and the bite in the air. I could have stared up all night. :)     

Do you want to know what happens in Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker? Probably not, but if you want to be spoiled, you're in business, because here you can see the ENTIRE outline of the movie. And from all accounts it's pretty darn accurate, including recent reshoots.           

Song of the week

PULP COVER OF THE WEEK: 

NEW ARRIVAL/ UPCOMING REVIEWS:

BOOKISH LINKS