Recommended reading - To Die For

To Die For

by Joyce Maynard.

First published 1992.

Published by Open Road Media.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1497643821

ISBN-13: 978-1497643826

Description:

“That’s the beauty of television. It’s like an eye that’s on you all the time…. Kind of like God, if you want to get heavy.”

Local weather reporter Suzanne Maretto craves nothing more than to transcend life at her suburban cable television news station and follow in the footsteps of her idol: Barbara Walters. When she concludes that her unglamorous husband is getting in the way of her dream of stardom, the solution seems obvious: Get rid of him. She seduces a fifteen-year-old admirer, Jimmy, and persuades him to do her dirty work. Mission accomplished, Suzanne takes to the airwaves in her new role as grieving widow, in search of a TV deal. If that means selling Jimmy down the river, she’s ready.

Maynard’s brilliant, funny, and groundbreaking novel – adapted by Gus Van Sant into the cult classic movie of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman – was first published in 1992 before the era of manufactured stardom and the phenomenon of televised murder trials as entertainment. The book still stands as a razor-sharp satire of celebrity-fixated culture and the American obsession with TV – a novel that imagined the phenomenon of reality television before its creation, with alternately bone-chilling and hilarious accuracy.

“A seductive page turner.” – The New York Times Book Review.

“A triumph.” – The Boston Globe.

“A powerful novel of murder and sexual obsession. . . .  Chilling.” – The Star-Ledger. 

On this day in movie history - Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blade Runner 2049

directed by Denis Villeneuve,

written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green,

based on a story by Hampton Fancher,

was released in the United States on October 6, 2017.

Music by Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer.

Cast:

Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto, Edward James Olmos, Barkhad Abdi, Hiam Abbass, David Dastmalchian, Wood Harris, Tómas Lemarquis, Sean Young, Loren Peta.

Jean Craighead George, on books:

 

Be you writer or reader, it is very pleasant to run away in a book.
- Jean Craighead George.

Born on this day - Benjamin Stoloff:

Benjamin Stoloff 

Director

Producer

Production Manager

October 6, 1895 – September 8, 1960

Credits:

Home Run Derby (1960); Footlight Varieties (1951); It's a Joke, Son! (1947); Johnny Comes Flying Home (1946); Take It or Leave It (1944); Bermuda Mystery (1944); The Mysterious Doctor (1943); The Hidden Hand (1942); Secret Enemies (1942); Three Sons o' Guns (1941); The Great Mr. Nobody (1941); The Marines Fly High (1940); The Lady and the Mob (1939); The Affairs of Annabel (1938); Radio City Revels (1938); Fight for Your Lady (1937); Super-Sleuth (1937); Sea Devils (1937); Don't Turn 'em Loose (1936); Two in the Dark (1936); To Beat the Band (1935); Swellhead (1935); Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round (1934); Palooka (1934); Night of Terror (1933); Obey the Law (1933); The Devil Is Driving (1932); The Night Mayor (1932); By Whose Hand? (1932); Destry Rides Again (1932); Just Pals (1932); Perfect Control (1932); Slide, Babe, Slide (1932); Goldie (1931); Not Exactly Gentlemen (1931); Soup to Nuts (1930); Rough Romance (1930); New Movietone Follies of 1930 (1930); The Girl from Havana (1929); Happy Days (1929); Protection (1929); Speakeasy (1929); Mind Your Business (1928); The Bath Between (1928); Plastered in Paris (1928); Horseman of the Plains (1928); Silver Valley (1927); The Gay Retreat (1927); The Circus Ace (1927); The Canyon of Light (1926); It's a Pipe (1926); A1 Society (1926); Matrimony Blues (1926); The Mad Racer (1926); Pawnshop Politics (1926); The Fighting Tailor (1926); East Side, West Side (1925); The Heart Breaker (1925); Love and Lions (1925); Sweet Marie (1925); On the Go (1925); A High Jinx (1925); Papa's Darling (1925); Say It with Flour (1925); Help Yourself! (1925); The House of Flickers (1925); Lion Love (1925); Grief in Bagdad (1925); Roaring Lions at Home (1924); Stolen Sweeties (1924); In-Bad the Sailor (1924); Stretching the Truth (1924); When Wise Ducks Meet (1924); On the Job (1924); Be Yourself (1924); Highly Recommended (1924); Slow and Sure (1923); Full Speed Ahead (1923); Play Ball with Babe Ruth (1920).           

Born on this day – Mitchell Leisen:

Mitchell Leisen

Director

Art director

Costume designer

October 6, 1898 – October 28, 1972

Credits:

Spree (1967); The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966–1967); Adventures in Paradise (1961–1962); Follow the Sun (1961); Wagon Train (1961); Open Windows (1960); General Electric Theater (1955–1960); Thriller (1960); Markham (1960); The Twilight Zone (1959–1960); Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958); The Girl Most Likely (1957); Bedevilled (1955); Tonight We Sing (1953); Young Man with Ideas (1952); Darling, How Could You! (1951); The Mating Season (1951); No Man of Her Own (1950); Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1949); Song of Surrender (1949); Bride of Vengeance (1949); Dream Girl (1948); Golden Earrings (1947); Suddenly It's Spring (1947); To Each His Own (1946); Masquerade in Mexico (1945); Kitty (1945); Practically Yours (1944); Frenchman's Creek (1944); Lady in the Dark (1944); No Time for Love (1943); Take a Letter, Darling (1942); The Lady Is Willing (1942); Hold Back the Dawn (1941); I Wanted Wings (1941); Arise, My Love (1940); Remember the Night (1939); Midnight (1939); Artist and Models (1937); The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938); Easy Living (1937); Swing High, Swing Low (1937); The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936); 13 Hours by Air (1936); Hands Across the Table (1935); Four Hours to Kill! (1935); Behold My Wife! (1934); Murder at the Vanities (1934); Death Takes a Holiday (1934); Bolero (1934); Cradle Song (1933); The Eagle and the Hawk (1933).

Born on this day – Janet Gaynor:

Janet Gaynor

Actress

October 6, 1906 – September 14, 1984

Born on this day – Carole Lombard:

Carole Lombard

Actress

October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942