Best of 2022 — Rereading and Rewatching

 How long's it been since you reread or rewatched these? Pardner, that's too long.

My top picks from last year. In no particular order.

Serenity

The perfect popcorn movie — a fantastic, fast moving adventure crackling with wit and set 500 years in the future.
(My review here.)

Haider

Hamlet — Indian style. Told as a statement about police action and terrorism in Kashmir in 1995.

(My review here.)

Master and Commander

Brilliantly conveys the essence of the first three of Patrick O'Brian's novels with  artistry,  realism, and wonderful acting and directing.

Hell or High Water

This heist film crossed with a modern western follows two West Texas brothers who begin robbing banks but only take loose bills and target branches of one particular bank. They are pursued by a crusty Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) nearing the end of his career. The opening with the deliberate framing of the three crosses begs the question throughout the film — is there a "good thief" and what does that mean beyond the easy Hollywood cliche of good intentions?

 

Lagaan

Peasants versus the Raj in an epic cricket match.
Charming and a celebration of the human spirit.

(My review here.)

Barfi

Barfi is a magical fairy tale of a romantic comedy, somewhat like an Indian-style Amelie.  We see four interwoven timelines, a rarity for Indian movies, chronicling a romance, a crime spree (of sorts), life in the big city with a childhood friend, and present day.

(My review here.)

Return to Me

As a lovely fable of romance, community, faith, companionship and humor it hits practically every mark. It shows Catholic community and life at its best without ever leaving the mainstream movie genre.

Adaptation

This is famous screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's meta-film about adapting The Orchid Thief novel into a screenplay. Above all it reminds you that Nicholas Cage is a great actor when he wants to be. Though it seems to drag as you approach the halfway point, it suddenly picks up and turns into an entirely different beast and you realize how the first half was necessary to setting up the inspired insanity of the second half. Not for everyone, but if you like an intellectual look at movies, then this is brilliant.

 

 

Bleak House

by Charles Dickens

I read this for my book club. Bleak House is a riveting blend of mystery,  horror,  romance, a look at character (or the lack thereof), and much more ... all laced with a self awareness that I find startlingly modern. O Dickens. 
(More here.)

The Man Who Was Thursday

by G.K. Chesterton

I read this along with the Pints with Chesterton podcast. This grabbed me by the throat all over again and I read it with delight at the humor, intelligence, plot twists, and adventure.

(My review here.)

The City Not Long After

by Pat Murphy

This tale of post-apocalyptic America had a dreamy, fantastic quality that I really liked. I especially liked Murphy's imaginings of how artists would shape the raw material of an abandoned city to show their vision.
(My review here.)

The Case of the Missing Servant

by Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, usually investigates candidates for arranged marriages. However, a serious case arises when he has to save a crusading lawyer's reputation while discovering what happened to the missing servant the lawyer is rumored to have murdered. This started me down the path of reading the rest of the series, which I highlighted in my Best of 2022 Books list.
(My review here.)

Prince of Foxes

by Samuel Shellabarger

Set in Renaissance Italy, this classic of American popular fiction is the story of Andrea Orsini, a peasant boy who rises to perform delicate political, military, and romantic missions for Cesare Borgia.

 

This description doesn't do it justice but it is a beginning. I absolutely love this author's historical fiction and this is my favorite of his books. He doesn't shy away from describing faith in attitudes proper to the time period which often leads to inspirational moments without being unbelievable to readers of any persuasion.

Best of 2022 — Podcasts

My top picks from podcasts I discovered last year. As always, they may be old, but my listening was brand new in 2022. In no particular order. Links are mostly in the podcast name.

The Art of History

Episodes from history, viewed through great works of art. No pre-reqs required! New episodes every month. Hosted by Amanda Matta, art historian.

Every so often I go looking for a good podcast on art. This one combines two of my favorite things, explaining the meaning of a painting beyond my cursory knowledge ("hey, I like that one!") and going in-depth into the history that prompted the art in the first place.

 

Library of Lost Time

Every week: two new books and an irresistible distraction. 

 

Sure, you have important things to do. But it takes just a 10 minutes or so to learn about two upcoming book releases and something fascinating about the world. 

 

 The Library of Lost Time is a weekly podcast where we share two new book releases at the top of our TBR, then celebrate a fun book- or travel-related distraction.

This podcast is short and sweet, with a wide range of books and distractions offered. I've discovered a lot of new things thanks to the Library of Lost Time.

Every Knee Shall Bow

Lay Catholic evangelists Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle bring you a podcast series that teaches you how to confidently share your Catholic faith with your family members, friends, co-workers, and the strangers you meet on airplanes. Every episode, Mike and Dave give you five steps you can take each week to become an instrument God uses to spread the Gospel, heal hearts, and renew his Church. Be inspired by stories of miraculous conversions and be reminded that God still powerfully intervenes to transform people's lives.

 

This is a podcast about how to evangelize, which always brings up memories of Hyde Park. No thank you. Then my daughter Rose, who listens to such things to help with RCIA conversations, recommended it. And she was right! The hosts have good chemistry and are fun to listen to. They understand the things that make most of us cringe away from evangelizing and have a lot of helpful tips — some of which I've actually used. Definitely give this one a try.

The Les Miserables Reading Companion Podcast

The Podcast about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. In each episode, professor Briana Lewis comments on a section of the book, to make it a bit less daunting, and hopefully help you enjoy it a bit more. This podcast is created with a non-academic, non-expert, non-French-speaking audience in mind--that is, anyone who'd like to dive into this classic!

Briana Lewis truly makes Les Miserables accessible and I especially enjoy the way she will read various French phrases, translating them herself, to make points. If you have ever struggled with Les Mis, and I'm one of those people, then this is a chance to make your way through the novel with help by your side.

Sticky Notes

Sticky Notes is a classical music podcast for everyone. Whether you are a beginner just looking to get into classical music but don't know where to start, or a seasoned musician interested in the lives and ideas of your fellow artists, this podcast is for you.

 

The host is a professional conductor but he could easily be a popular teacher because his love of music is infectious. He never forgets that most of us (me, anyway) don't know even the basics about music or what it's like to live around the classical music world. So I've learned that The Nutcracker Suite has a lot of marches in it that don't sound like marches. That the Schubert Cello Quintet was ignored until 50 years after it was first written. That film music began as the solution to cover up the really noisy film projectors. And much more.

Opera for Everyone

Opera for Everyone makes opera understandable, accessible, and enjoyable for all. Pat Wright hosts the show, inviting guest co-hosts for lively discussions of operas. Music soars. Epiphanies abound. Hilarity ensues.

I never figured I'd keep listening to this one but Pat Wright makes even a 2-hour opera podcast fun. Each opera's story is described so that the pieces of music we hear (all in order) make sense. It includes history, musical information, and a lot of good humor.

Unspooled

Each episode of Unspooled covers a single film and analyzes its artistic, thematic, and historical significance. It has been described as a "book club where we are watching movies once a week." — Wikipedia

 

I came across this when looking for reviews of RRR, which I was surprised to see getting so much coverage in the podcast world. Paul and Amy seemed to have the best take overall, as well as the most enjoyment. Among all those I tried this is the one that stuck with me through the year as I listened to them talk about other films. I especially like the the hosts' give and take as they talk over elements they disagree on. They cover both old and new so it's easy to find something you like.

The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the very world we encounter.
 

Pageau looks at symbolism in our culture (ancient and current) and shows us meanings that we had long forgotten but that make real sense. Any reader of Scripture will recognize the way he dives through layers of meaning and pulls out the essence for us to consider. He'll also do interviews ranging from Jonathan Peterson, Bishop Barron and many more. Simply fascinating. He does both videos and podcasts.

Best of 2022 — Movies and TV

Here are my top picks from our year of viewing. We watched  over 130 movies last year.  Our television viewing was not as extensive but we discovered some that were pure gold.

As always, the movies may be old, but my viewing was brand new in 2022. In no particular order.

I began my "Best of" lists way back in 2008. To see them, check the label cloud in the sidebar under "Best of ..."

2022 BEST MOVIES

Minnal Murali (Superhero)

We were interested to watch this as Indian films don't have superhero movies the way that we do. It was an origin story with both the hero and villain getting hit by lightning at the same time and developing super powers gradually. These parallel tracks were really interesting and villain's journey was as interesting as the hero's. In many ways, we could empathize with some of his grievances. I loved the little nephew who knew all about American superheroes (they're what makes America great) and glories as each new power is discovered.

The Best Years of Our Lives

We watched this as part of our occasional William Wyler series. It focuses on the aftermath in three American military men's lives after the war is over and they return home. Over 70 years later, some of the story lines may seem conventional at first, but we soon saw the relevance to modern life. For one thing it kept coming up in conversation around the house which is one of the surest sign of a movie that speaks to the universal condition.

(My review here.)

RRR

This was surprisingly well-loved in America as we saw review after review praising it. RRR is the director's dream about two revolutionaries who never met but might have been besties if they had. It has great choreography for singing and action, exciting dances, and a lot of heart. It delivers an over-the-top bromance the likes of which would be hard to top. It also embodies personal sacrifice and love of country, naturally, since these are celebrated revolutionaries who fought for India's independence.

(My review here.)

A Taxi Driver

In 1980, a foreign journalist hires a down-on-his-luck taxi driver to take him to Gwangju, South Korea. They soon arrive to find a city under siege by student protesters and the military. The taxi driver, Mr. Kim, is the perfect character through whose eyes we should view the military lockdown of Gwangju. We'd never heard of this event and were gripped by the movie.

(My review here.)

Dune

Let's face it, if someone says " Denis Villeneuve directs" then I'm saying "which theater do I go to?" I love his style. You've doubtless heard all the naysayers and champions of the movie so I won't go into that. I myself was nervous about him directing such a difficult story to transition from a novel to film but came very happy. It was simply amazing.

The Outfit

A gripping and masterful thriller in which an expert tailor (Mark Rylance) must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.

This little film is like a puzzle in a box. Every time you think you know how the pieces fit, another twist comes up to throw the viewer (and our master tailor) for a loop.

(My review here.)   

 

The Big Country

Another in our series watching William Wyler's movies chronologically. Gregory Peck's character was refreshingly different from the usual powerful Western hero. He had such self-confidence that he could turn down a fight in front of a crowd and not care what they thought of him. Charlton Heston was surprisingly low-key and subtle a lot of the time (good directing William Wyler!). I loved the themes and all the actors, especially Chuck Connors as the slimy bad guy and Burl Ives as the father bad guy who knew how to act honorable even if he didn't do it sll the time.

 The Admiral: Raging Currents

Based on a true story, this is the astonishing tale of a legendary battle against overwhelming odds: the embattled Koreans with 12 ships against the invading Japanese navy with 300 ships. And also of the extraordinarily talented Admiral Yi  Sun-sin who masterminded a victory. 

We'd never heard of this admiral or battle because it is from halfway around the world and long ago. It's always nice to find another fascinating story from history while you're watching a great movie.

(My review here.)

U Turn

This thriller is perfect for the wind up to Halloween. One of the most shocking things about it is something that Western audiences will find inexplicable — to have the divider between opposite sides of a highway made simply of large bricks which anyone can move so they can do a U-turn anywhere they feel like it. This blew our minds.

A young reporter, Rachana, is investigating the number of U-turns. Her theory is that this leads to a lot of accidents and deaths. She's right, but not in the way that she originally thinks.

(My review here.)

 

 

 

2022 BEST TV

The Brokenwood Mysteries

Set in the quiet New Zealand town of Brokenwood, this is a cozy mystery show that manages to avoid being too cozy. Following the three homicide detectives from case to case, it is more of a Midsomer Murders than a Murder She Wrote.

It's got a good amount of humor but always keeps the focus on solving the mysteries. The "kiwi" element is strong because the show was made for New Zealand audiences and that makes it just exotic enough. The murders always pull the detectives into a bit of local culture that is fun to see also, like the local Shakespearean troop or tours for the Lord of the Ringz filming locations. (That "z" in Ringz is important.) sometimes they just go for something everyone understands like playing Clue.

(My review here.)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

This was my favorite show of the year and one that never failed to leave me in a good mood all the rest of the day. I say that up front because the description can't convey the charm, humor, and optimism of the show. Woo Young-woo is a female rookie attorney with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who is hired by a major law firm in Seoul. A legal drama at its heart, each episode features an interesting  case that has to be won. If, like me, this description leaves you cold, just try it. It truly is an extraordinary show.

(My review here.) 

Crash Landing on You

A sudden storm leads to a successful South Korean businesswoman and heiress crashing her paraglider in the North Korean portion of the DMZ. She meets an army captain in the Korean People's Army who decides he will help her hide. How will she get back to her own life and escape prison in North Korea? Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.

I came for the accurate depiction of North Korean life. I stayed for the charming actors, the romance and the drama itself. Granted, the drama can be pretty sparse in some episodes when the romance is front and center, but there are some genuinely bad guys and interesting dramatic tension.

(My review here.)

Best of 2022 — Books

My top 10 picks from the over 120 books I read last year.

You may find old books here but if they're on this list, then they were new to me! In no particular order.

Note: I've been doing this since 2008 — check the label cloud in the sidebar for "Best of" to see other lists.

2022 BEST BOOKS

Damon Runyon Favorites

by Damon Runyon

This is perfect light-hearted reading along the lines of P.G. Wodehouse or O'Henry. These short stories are set on Broadway,  featuring gangsters, gamblers, guys and dolls who use a colorful vernacular like no other.

(Full review here.)

The End of the Affair

by Graham Greene

Both the prose and the novel itself are simply magnificent. Read it despite the topic. There is much more there than meets the eye so don't judge this book by its cover — or title.

(My review here.)

The Man Who Died Twice
The Bullet That Missed

(Books 2 and 3 of the Thursday Murder Club series)
by Martha Wells

The Thursday Murder Club is a group of four retirees who have become friends through weekly meetings to try to solve cold cases. When a real murder is dropped into their laps (so to speak) they quickly warm to the task of solving a real case. The first one, which I read in 2021, was funny, smart, and entertaining. The second and third books matched the first. This series is just a lot of fun.

Travels on My Elephant

by Mark Shand

Started on a whim and pursued with a passion, modern-day adventurer Mark Shand's remarkable journey through India on the back of a 30-year-old elephant named Tara covered 800 miles, from the Bay of Bengal to the world's largest elephant bazaar at Sonepur on the Ganges.

 

This delightful book gives a good behind-the-scenes look at what elephants are like, what it is like living among Indians, and some of the different cultures are that make up this vast and diverse nation.

(My full review.)

Unexpected Tales form A to Z

by Robert Wenson

These light, funny stories are very appealing and not just for children. They are just a few pages long, featuring quick-witted children who must overcome unlikely, whimsical predicaments, often with equally unlikely solutions. The titles give you a sense of the range but not of the author's comic imagination: Alexandra and the Argumentative Alligator, Hendrik and the Horrible Hollyhocks, Neville and the Negligent Neanderthal, and Yolanda and the Yak Yoghurt.

(My full review.)

The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis

by Jason M. Baxter

I am interested in the medieval mindset and this book does a great job of showing how different it was, and also how logical which is not something the modern reader expects. Baxter is equally masterful at laying out the argument for how  Lewis's work is imbued with medieval concepts and acting as a bridge between that time and our own.

(My full review.)

A Beginner's Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

by Jason M. Baxter

What makes A Beginner's Guide shine is the way Baxter bridges the gap between our different ways of thinking. He explains the theology, the poetry, the context (both historical and literary), and makes Dante more accessible than any other guide I've read — and I've read a lot of very good ones. I really appreciated the way that he kept connecting different parts of the poem to each other for contrasting so that we could get the deeper message as well as appreciate Dante's artistry.

(My full review.)

A Retreat for Lay People

by Ronald Knox

I now can see why C.S. Lewis called Ronald Knox the wittiest man in Europe. At times I kept forgetting I wasn't reading Chesterton but was reading a collection of Monsignor Knox's talks he'd given on many retreats for us regular folk - a.k.a. lay people. These are really wonderful because Knox seemingly effortlessly combines practical advice, inspirational thoughts, and unexpected ways to think about God and our relationship with him.

(My full review.)  

Barchester Towers

by Anthony Trollope

No wonder this is one of Trollope's best loved books. It is a lot of fun and perfect light reading. It makes me think of Thackeray's Vanity Fair although this book is gentler than that but it has the same vibe for me. He carefully builds a complicated tangle of characters who come clashing against each other quite naturally as each works toward a single-minded goal.

(My full review here.)

Praying the Rosary Like Never Before

 by Edward Sri

This is an amazingly thorough book on the rosary which includes so much for meditation. The second half of the book, focusing on the mysteries, was simply amazing. I especially loved the way that Sri didn't focus on just one moment for each mystery but would look at it from many angles. For example, in the Presentation we are shown how Luke is pointing us toward the story of Samuel, how Simeon is responding to the Holy Spirit, and how Simeon's phrasing has special prophetic resonance.

(Read my full review here.)

Meditations onVatican Art: Angels

 by Mark Haydu

These are coffee table sized books with gorgeous reproductions of paintings and lovely page design. They contains the scripture which is being considered along with the painting, insightful commentary and good reflections. They are wonderfully inspirational daily reading and meditating on what the artists were conveying was fascinating.

(My full review here.)

 

The Feast

 by Margaret Kennedy

Midsummer 1947. Pendizack Manor Hotel is buried in the rubble of a collapsed cliff. Seven guests have perished, but what brought this strange assembly together for a moonlit feast before this Act of God -- or Man? Over the week before the landslide, we meet the hotel guests in all their eccentric glory: and as friendships form and romances blossom, sins are revealed, and the cracks widen.

There was equal tension as some characters changed in ways that allowed for growth and redemption of the trajectories their lives had been on. This book is not just about the mystery of who will live and who will die. It is also about spiritual realities by which these people live their lives.

(My full review here.)

 

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing
The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken
The Case of the Love Commandos
The Case of the Reincarnated Client

(Books 2-5 of the Vish Puri detective series)
by Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, does what is needful to solve his cases. They usually involve investigating prospective brides and grooms for arranged marriages, but there are also big, serious cases. The serious cases often highlight a big problem in Indian culture or society. The first book in the series is The Case of the Missing Servant (reviewed here) which I read long ago.

Puri is a judiciously quirky Indian detective (meaning realistic) and his operatives are highlighted, as well as his Mummy who sets out to solve a mystery that her son does not take seriously. These books all get my thumbs up as serious, interesting mysteries which also are enjoyable "cozy" sorts of mysteries, like a trip to India.