I don't read many TV or movie tie-in novels, preferring to stick to source material. Give me the 70s Star Wars trilogy and the Star Trek TV and movie series over the endless tangents that have sprouted from them.
There are exceptions. I would read books based on Firefly or Vengeance Unlimited, in part because I miss the characters from those short-lived series. Another exception is Lee Goldberg's book based on USA's Monk.
The dramatization of Adrian Monk's personality and problem-solving habits is some of the freshest television I've seen. When Goldberg (who's written some episodes of the show) announced he'd been tapped to write original Monk novels, I knew the characters were in good hands.
In Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse, Julie Teeger, 12-year-old daughter of Monk's assistant Natalie, asks him to investigate the murder of firehouse dog Sparky. As often happens on the show, a seemingly unimportant event covers more insidious schemes.
Goldberg writes in first-person from Natalie's perspective. She's the practical partner doing her best to explain her eccentric genius friend, ala Archie Goodwin to Nero Wolfe or Chip Harrison to Leo Haig. She sheds some light on Monk's need for order while the inner workings of Monk's mind remain unknown until his trademark summation.
If Monk's hiatuses drive you crazy, Lee Goldberg's books are here to help.
A follow-up to Firehouse, Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii, is coming in June '06.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
"Have I got an act for you..."
Got together with friends from Hofstra's literary magazine, their significant others, and baby Emma Francine Ricotta in Queens last night. We watched Ghostbusters (endlessly watchable) on cable and played three closely-contested games of the DVD movie trivia game Scene It.
After a dinner of homemade tacos, followed by chocolate cheesecake and brownies for dessert, we watched the comedy documentary The Aristocrats (as grossly funny as it intends, but perhaps a tad long), then rounded out the night with Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (Eh.) on cable.
A wide selection of DVDs didn't get played, but these nights are about the company and seeing what happens.
After a dinner of homemade tacos, followed by chocolate cheesecake and brownies for dessert, we watched the comedy documentary The Aristocrats (as grossly funny as it intends, but perhaps a tad long), then rounded out the night with Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (Eh.) on cable.
A wide selection of DVDs didn't get played, but these nights are about the company and seeing what happens.
AP: Prolific Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83
By GREG RISLING, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Darren McGavin, the husky, tough-talking actor who starred in several TV series, played a grouchy dad in the holiday classic "A Christmas Story" and had other strong roles in such films as "The Man with the Golden Arm" and "The Natural," died Saturday. He was 83.
McGavin died of natural causes at a Los Angeles-area hospital with his family at his side, said his son Bogart McGavin.
McGavin made his film debut in 1945 when he switched from painter of movie sets to bit actor in "A Song to Remember." After a decade of learning his craft in New York, he returned to Hollywood and became one of the busiest actors in television and films.
He starred in five series, including "Mike Hammer" and cult favorite "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," and became a prolific actor in TV movies. Among his memorable portrayals was Gen. George Patton in the 1979 TV biography "Ike."
LOS ANGELES - Darren McGavin, the husky, tough-talking actor who starred in several TV series, played a grouchy dad in the holiday classic "A Christmas Story" and had other strong roles in such films as "The Man with the Golden Arm" and "The Natural," died Saturday. He was 83.
McGavin died of natural causes at a Los Angeles-area hospital with his family at his side, said his son Bogart McGavin.
McGavin made his film debut in 1945 when he switched from painter of movie sets to bit actor in "A Song to Remember." After a decade of learning his craft in New York, he returned to Hollywood and became one of the busiest actors in television and films.
He starred in five series, including "Mike Hammer" and cult favorite "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," and became a prolific actor in TV movies. Among his memorable portrayals was Gen. George Patton in the 1979 TV biography "Ike."
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