Begin Again

Posted on August 6th, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4.5/5} “What I love about music. The most banal scenes are suddenly invested with so much meaning, you know. All these banalities suddenly turn into these… these beautiful effervescent pearls.” Begin Again, released in 2013 Gretta is a songwriter who’s just found out her boyfriend cheated on her. Dan is a music producer who’s just […]

The Rewrite

Posted on August 4th, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{5/5} “I’m very, very, very, very cold, and I have to read a huge box of scripts, and I just got into a fight with Professor McGonagall about Jane Austen.” The Rewrite, released in 2014 Keith wrote an Oscar-winning movie years ago but has been having trouble getting work lately. His agent finds him a […]

Far From the Madding Crowd

Posted on August 3rd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4.5/5} “It is difficult for a woman to define her feelings in a language chiefly made by men to express theirs.” Far From the Madding Crowd, released in 2015 Bathsheba Everdene has inherited a farm from her uncle. She initially decides to run the farm herself, that she doesn’t need a husband. When three different […]

Spencer Gorge / Webster’s Falls

Posted on August 2nd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

Last weekend I visited Spencer Gorge / Webster’s Falls Conservation Area near Hamilton, with my friends Kev and Patrick. There are actually 2 waterfalls within the park — Webster’s Falls and Tew’s Falls. It’s a lovely spot. Here are some photos from that excursion.

Authors you can’t go wrong with, part 6

Posted on August 2nd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  1 Comment »

This list continues from part 5. It contains 60 authors, and I’m going to call it done for now. Ray Bradbury Bradbury’s masterpiece is a linked sequence of stories set on Mars, where humans are colonizing despite the Martian inhabitants. Masterpiece The Martian Chronicles Great book Fahrenheit 451 Good book Dandelion Wine David Brin Both […]

Authors you can’t go wrong with, part 5

Posted on August 2nd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

This list continues from part 4. Jeanne Cavelos In addition to writing some brilliant Babylon 5 novels, Cavelos is also the founder of the Odyssey writing workshop. Masterpieces Babylon 5 The Passing of the Techno-Mages — Casting Shadows The Passing of the Techno-Mages –Summoning Light The Passing of the Techno-Mages –Invoking Darkness Good book Babylon […]

Authors you can’t go wrong with, part 4

Posted on August 2nd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

This list continues from part 3. Joanne Bertin Bertin’s 3 fantasy books are all in her Dragonlord series. There was a 13-year gap between the second and third one. Hopefully she will now continue to write more. Masterpiece Dragon and Phoenix Great book The Last Dragonlord Good book Bard’s Oath James Clavell Clavell’s historical fiction […]

Authors you can’t go wrong with, part 3

Posted on August 2nd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

This list continues from part 2. James Alan Gardner All of Gardner’s science fiction books are set in his League of Peoples universe. Sadly he hasn’t published a book in the last 10 years. Masterpieces Radiant Gravity Wells (collection) Great books Expendable Commitment Hour Vigilant Hunted Ascending Trapped Frank Herbert Herbert is best known for […]

Authors you can’t go wrong with, part 2

Posted on August 2nd, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

This list continues from part 1. Douglas Adams Adams’ most famous work, the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, started out as a radio show. He also worked on TV shows and computer games. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the funniest book ever written. Masterpieces Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy […]

Authors you can’t go wrong with, part 1

Posted on August 1st, 2015 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

If you pick up any book by these authors, you will be well rewarded. There may be some off-by-one errors in my ratings for books I read many years ago, but this gives you a good idea of the books I like. Isaac Asimov Asimov wrote more books than just about anybody, in a wide […]