Dancing Queen Cover In Medieval/Byzantine Greek BARDCORE (Original by ABBA)

"The Andromeda Strain" by Michael Crichton (1969)

 

Boldly going where I have not been before and continuing with my decision that 2026 I will read authors that I never read before, after old fashioned 1902. western, I decided to check out something completely different and took The Andromeda Strain". It was not the first novel by Michael Crichton but first he published under his own name (until than he was publishing what he was calling "airport books" - "I write them fast and the reader reads them fast and I get things off my back."). There is also a movie, but I really wanted to read the novel. The change of pace was very welcome and it was so refreshing to switch from old fashioned western to something relatively modern - even though it was published in 1969, it was still super exciting.

In the middle of the night, group of scientists are quickly summoned to a secret place in Nevada desert where they have to research satellite that brought some kind of lethal microbes to earth. The little town where the satellite had landed was completely wiped out, except some crazy old man and a crying baby. It turns out the deaths were caused by an extraterrestrial microbe transported by a meteor that crashed into the satellite, knocking it from orbit. The miracle of all of this is that Crichton packs his novel full of technicality and medical jargon that would usually surely be boring but in his capable hands it somehow turns into extremely exciting thriller and I found myself totally immersed and reading it until 2:30 a.m. last night. Just briliant!

"The Virginian" by Owen Wister (1902)

 

Because I enjoyed "Betty Zane" so much, I got carried away with my enthusiasm for Western genre and decided to continue with more of the same - after some research, i found out that the very first best-seller in that genre and the one that inspired the countless authors who came after, was 1902 "The Virginian" so I gave it a try. To my biggest surprise, it was nothing like Zane Grey - in fact, it was extremely slow-burning, old fashioned and occasionally even flowery prose that had more in common with 19th century literature than action-fuelled Western. I even wondered what did I got myself into, but than something strange happened: once i got used to Wister's old fashioned style, I started to enjoy myself. It simply took some perseverance, discipline and curiosity, until I actually really liked it. Strangely, it is the only novel by this author that is still remembered and apparently, despite its huge success, he never continued in this genre. 

What I found here are many clichés used later in subsequent decades: a greenhorn who is new to all of this and tells the story from his perspective (“the Tenderfoot"), the silent and basically good cowboy ("The Virginian") in love with strong willed schoolteacher (Miss Molly), a bad guy ("Trampas") and the whole supporting cast of citizens, cowboys, etc. Since author had actually spend some time in the Western Frontier, his descriptions of rough lives these people lived sounds very authentic and I even got a kick out of descriptions how they bathed (using same pitcher of water and some rag, just like in documentaries about Tudor lives I have seen on TV). There are many interesting stories that sometimes feels like short story collection and that was not accidental - Wister initially wrote some short stories and than decided to put them together as a novel. There are cattle thieves, lynching, an duel and everything you could expect from a Western novel - once you get over the old fashioned style, it actually worked beautifully and I finished the novel with the greatest pleasure. 

"Rental Family" by Hikari (2025)

I watched really unusual movie last night - in the cinema! - it was international co-production between US and Japan and it introduced me to Japanese actress/director Mitsuyo Miyazaki who goes by the shorter name Hikari. What actually surprised me was my friend's choice, because I wanted to introduce her to a newly opened, De Luxe cinema Vue that offers huge screens, laser projections and extremely comfortable, big chairs - and than she selected this little drama with no explosions, computer animation or anything that we are accustomed nowadays, it was just a simple, warm, human story.

"Rental Family" from the title is a Tokyo-based company owned by ambitious businessman Shinji (excellent Takehiro Hira) who arranges his staff to pose as the rented members of the families for funerals, weddings and whatever the customers need. This is how we meet lonely American actor Phillip (Brendan Fraser) who came to Japan seven years ago to appear in some toothpaste advertisement and is apparently stuck in a small roles - Phillip desperately needs a job and is reluctantly accepting to act as a fiancé on a fake wedding, organised to appease the bride's parents. As the story progresses, Philip feels more and more uneasy about how ethical all of this is, because he must lie and pretend to people who trust him - there is a little schoolgirl Mia who believe he is her father and a retired actor Kikuo who has dementia and thinks Philip is a journalist who wants to talk to him out of genuine curiosity about his life and work. As expected, emotions get  in the way, Phillip gets attached to his clients and the whole "rental family" affects not only him but also his colleagues (there is an excellent Japanese actress Mari Yamamoto in a small but very effective role of another employee). 

The story was well tailored for everybody involved, it was very believable and surprisingly deep (we learn that even businessman Shinji actually lives alone and the family we see is simply rented), there are some beautiful shots of busy Tokyo and this small human drama was so powerful that I am still thinking about it a day after. Excellent. 

“Semele” by George Frideric Handel (2026)

 

A few months ago I decided to book the tickets for Dutch National Opera here in Amsterdam and treat myself and a good friend. Trough the years I had already witnessed a handful of performances here and I remember that the staging was always spectacularly modern and inventive, however it never overshadowed the musicians. Maybe back than I missed to see the full historic costume performances but now I changed my mind - anybody can put on historic costumes but it takes inspiration to present something classic and turn it into a modern day spectacle. 

“Semele” by George Frideric Handel comes from the times when staged opera was frowned upon and composer smuggled mythological text into Oratorio even though story of Jupiter and his amorous conquests has nothing to do with Catholic Church (the subject was considered scandalous and bad taste back than, hence the work being ignored and forgotten for a very long time). Frankly, the story is ridiculous and convoluted but can be explained like this: Jupiter steals a mortal beauty Semele from her wedding and jealous Juno (disguised as Semele’s sister) convinces her to ask Jupiter to show himself in his full glory, which naturally ends with Semele dying. And somehow she is dead but gives birth to a new God, Bacchus. 

We enjoyed the performance a lot - it was a bit overlong (three and half hours!) and I could easily do without the last act that was just going on forever - but the audiences lapped it up and awarded the cast with standing ovation. As I expected, the music was beautiful (I was already familiar with several most famous arias, like “Hymen, Haste, Thy Torch Prepare”,  “Your Tuneful Voice My Tale Would Tell” , “Oh Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me?” and “Where'er You Walk” ) and I enjoyed discovering the artists knew to me. The biggest discovery was a young Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński who not only possesses surprisingly strong and masculine countertenor voice but also a athletic physique and a special surprise - during one scene, he actually did a breakdance (!) and audience went wild. I had also noticed a brilliant lady who played jealous Juno (Jasmin White) who was excellent - now I must find more recordings of them. 

"Svjetla Pozornice" (Stage Lights) documentary 2025

Someone sent me this wonderful documentary and I watched it with the greatest pleasure. It is not often that I have opportunity to watch the latest TV programmes from my homeland, neither I was even searching for them, but this one sounded so interesting that I could not resist. "Svjetla Pozornice" ("Stage Lights") is a seven-episode documentary series chronicling the evolution of Croatian popular culture from 1950 to the present day. Each episode combines documentary footage, archival materials, and vibrant TV studio performances with interviews, offering an engaging portrayal of Croatia’s cultural history. The show is hosted by Željka Ogresta and Dubravko Merlić, who talk to expert interlocutors in the studio and present musical and dance performances related to themes from particular periods.

Since I don't live there anymore, I can only sense the feeling of uneasiness to talk, discuss or even mention the period from 1945-1991 when Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia - to my knowledge this is the very first TV programme that talks about pop culture trough these times and I must say that I was very impressed with seriousness, professionalism and objectivity both Ogresta and her husband  presented here. They weaved a very interesting story, explaining how the homegrown popular culture in Croatia changed and metamorphosed trough the decades - Film, Radio, TV, popular music, sport, etc - it was all mentioned here and I enjoyed it so much that I could watch it all over again. Naturally, I enjoyed the episodes about 1970s and 1980s the most, since this is a time period I can remember myself. The episode about 1990s was as expected somber because this was a war time, however I still need to see the very last episode that deals with a new millennium. Excellent!

Vondelkerk burned

 

During the New Year's Eve, beautiful old Vondelkerk burned down thanks to the fireworks that made a whole town into one big war zone. I have noticed with some alarm that New Year's celebrations here usually turn very violent and it seems that thousands of people really enjoy all sorts of mayhem, simply as a part of tradition. I clearly remember standing on a rooftops, watching the fireworks and hearing something very similar to bullets on every side - giving me flashback to war experienced decades ago - because I see no beauty, celebration or joy in it, I usually stay indoors and try to survive, while outside the mob revels in detonations, fireworks, burning and destruction. 

Sweet old church that stands quietly next to glorious Vondelpark has already burned once in 1904, so this is the second time it happened. There is absolutely no doubt it happened because of the fireworks that went completely out of control - video clips presented next day on TV show drunken mob clearly enjoying themselves, even whooping and applauding while church tower burned. There were some who were quick to see something deeper in this destruction of the Catholic church, but I genuinely believe it was accidental and probably a miracle that no more rooftops were damaged, considering how much the whole city was under the attack of fires everywhere. 

My connection to Vondelkerk is totally personal - besides working in that neighbourhood for many years, I went in there as a visitor, years ago when the place (long defunct as a church and used for exhibition and such) hosted projection of classic old black & white silent "Nosferatu" with a pianist providing music background. It was specially enjoyable evening for me and one of those memorable occasions when I had great time completely by myself, rather than bring a company that would not appreciate or understand it. Just like the first time around, the fire did not completely destroy the old church - it will be saved, but it takes time and donations. As for the fireworks, there is a new law that hopefully will be implemented and respected starting from now on. 

"Betty Zane" by Zane Grey (1903)

 

For this year, I have created not one but two long lists "to read" with titles by the authors I have yet not read. I thought this might be a brilliant idea because it will force me to discover something outside of my usual reading choices and perhaps widen my perspective a little bit. So 2026 will be a year of discoveries and stretching to various genres I usually note but ignore. And than, just like that, I made a glorious mistake - from the top of my head, I said to myself "I never read Western fiction" and decided to go in that direction. Memories of my stepfather reading his beloved Western pulp novels published weekly came to my head - it was one of the rare things he ever read with passion and I have always subconsciously associated it with him. The only Western writer I have ever read was Zane Grey and actually it was "Betty Zane" that I remember reading as a teenager, decades ago. So I decided to re-visit it because after all these years, I only remember that the title character was running somewhere. 

When I say my decision was a glorious mistake, I mean it turned out not to be a classic Western Fiction because actually it was more a combination of Historical Fiction and Romance (true Western should probably be about cowboys and Indians, this one is about a siege of Fort West). However, it was apparently exactly what I needed at this moment, a brilliant escapism from the reality and for a few days of feverish reading I was transported in another time, mad adventures and genuine thrill of reading about likeable characters in a mortal danger. Betty Zane was a real historical character, remembered for her bravery during the siege, when she run out of Fort West into a nearby blockhouse of her brother to collect gunpowder needed for the weapons and back to Fort West, while combined forced of Indian tribes and British army shot at her. Now, Zane Grey (himself a descendant of Betty) had to built a story around this historical frame so he created a whole world with many exciting characters that builds and builds until it culminates in a siege. 

Honestly, I don't remember when was the last time I enjoyed reading as much - it might have simply have been a perfect choice to forget everything around me, the state of the world and alarming politics, I could not put the book down. There was of course element of romance (after all, the main character is a beautiful and headstrong girl) but it didn't bother me at all. Yes, there were also some elements that could be perceived as not politically correct nowadays, but gimme a break, the book was published in 1903. and it reflects its time in dealing with race, etc. - the very ending explains that author was very much aware of injustice: "Sad, too, is the thought that the poor Indian is unmourned. He is almost forgotten; he is in the shadow; his songs are sung; no more will he sing to his dusky bride: his deeds are done; no more will he boast of his all-conquering arm or of his speed like the Northwind; no more will his heart bound at the whistle of the stag, for he sleeps in the shade of the oaks, under the moss and the ferns."

Another example of Zane Grey's writing style, the moment he describes return of traitor Miller into Fort West and how he was closely watched by the hunter Wetzel: "At the arrival of Miller on the scene Wetzel had changed his position to one nearer the crowd. The dog, Tige, trotted closely at his heels. No one heard Tige's low growl or Wetzel's stern word to silence him. Throwing his arm over Betty's pony, Wetzel apparently watched the shooters. In reality he studied intently Miller's every movement." 

I absolutely loved everything about this book and for the sheer pleasure it gave me, I give it five stars, although it should probably be four (it was Zane Grey's first novel, after all) - just found out there is a sequel, so must definitely check it out! 

"Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel (2009)

 

The most unusual historic fiction book, in a sense that despite its obvious brilliance (Hilary Mantel is excellent writer) it felt like a task, rather than a pleasure - I was initially annoyed with the novel's density and verbosity - until I noticed that the book simply demanded attention. It didn't work if I read a chapter here and there, but it actually paid off if I focused and read properly, with attention. The more I dived into it, the more I enjoyed it, but it still felt like a hard work.

Mantel reconstructs the often-told chapter in a British history and bravely twists some perspectives upside down: until now, it was accepted that Sir Thomas More was a saintly chancellor and Thomas Cromwell an ambitious upstart in the orbit of notorious Henry VIII - Mantel toys with these perceptions and pose a question, what if More was actually a zealot, while Cromwell an silent manipulator? Along the way, she re-builds the whole court, together with hundreds of real life historical characters and its quite exciting up to the point BUT one must really focus hard on who is who and who said what. You see, Mantel loves using "he" often and gladly - there are many instances where this "he" is not clear and it makes you mad with irritation to question who "he" is, since there are usually several male characters involved simultaneously (at the end its just easier to assume "he" is Cromwell. Or Henry. Or one of the hundreds other Thomases.). 

To be honest, at this point I feel like I already read too much about Tudors - there is a whole publishing industry behind Henry VIII and his wives - Mantel did a great job by changing the perspective and poking at the characters in the background: yes, we deal with the king and his first two wives, but its all about Cromwell and his manipulations that catches our attention. Strangely, it does not make exciting reading, because it is so damn difficult to get into it - I literary struggled trough it and not so sure that I want to continue with the sequels.