March 14th's Friday Post

Look at this, two weeks in a row!  Time for another Friday Post.  I'll be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

My quotes for the first three will be coming from Homicide in the Indian Hills by Erica Ruth Neubauer.

This is the sixth book featuring Jane Wunderly.  The time is 1927, and, obviously, she is traveling to India.  She has really managed to get around in this series, thanks in part to her new husband who works for the Crown.

Here's how this book begins:

It was a good thing that I wasn't afraid of heights, only enclosed spaces, since the steam train we were on was clacking up an incredibly narrow track along the side of a mountain.

As someone with a fear of heights, this one does hit home.  Usually, I'm in okay in a train or something like that, on a track.  But it can still be hard, depending on what the track is like.  I might have to sit on the other side from the drop off, for example.

Meanwhile, on page 56, we find this:

"You're looking for Savithri Kumari?" The voice was British and cultured, and I turned slowly to find that Lady Goshen was its owner.
I could feel my face flush with pink. I had no quick answer as to why I was looking for her husband's mistress.

I finished this book earlier on Thursday, and enjoyed it.  My review will be up on Wednesday next week ahead of it's release day of March 25th.  I hope you'll come back to read what I thought.

Meanwhile, let's look at this week's Book Blogger Hop.  The question is:

Do you only feature reviews on your blog?

Well, considering I'm doing this post, the answer is no.  I do have this and my Sunday/Monday Posts, which aren't reviews.  My Weekly TV Thoughts on Saturdays aren't official reviews, but they are kind of mini reviews in a stream of consciousness sort of way.  Outside of those posts, I do just feature reviews.  I don't do spotlights or interviews.  Of course, I do review things other than books, which helps me provide something every day.

That wraps things up.  Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron (Jackson Davis Mysteries #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong characters in an intriguing mystery

Cons: Any small ones shattered by the Pros

The Bottom Line:

Returning to work

Still processing tragedy

Intriguing story

Can Jackson Handle Returning to Work?

So far, I’ve only read Liz Milliron’s historical Homefront Mysteries. That’s not from lack of interest; I just have too many books calling my name. But since she is starting a new series, The Jackson Davis Mysteries, I jumped at the chance to read Shattered Sight. 

When we meet Jackson, it is his first day back as a homicide detective for the Niagara Falls police department. He’s been on desk duty for six months after an accident blinded his last partner. Now’s he’s saddled with a new partner, Rodney, who just got promoted to detective, and everyone is watching to see if he’s really ready to handle the job again. 

Their first case out of the gate is a dozy. A woman’s body is found at the bottom of the falls. Jackson and Rodney must try to figure out if it was murder, suicide, or accident. Complicating matters are all the people in the victim’s life who have motive and different theories on what happened. Can Jackson figure it out? Or will the pressure get to him?

In case it wasn’t obvious, Jackson’s mental health is a strong subplot in this book. I’ll admit, there were times his behavior was a bit stressful for me, which means the writing was excellent. It did help that we got his thoughts on everything since the book is told in first person. It allowed me to see that he was aware of the issues. Ultimately, I was satisfied with where this storyline ended. 

Since this is the first book in the series, we are meeting all the characters for the first time. We got to know some of them better than others, but there are hints of deeper characters in what we do see for them. On the whole, I liked the cast and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better. 

Since this is a police procedural, the line between series regulars and suspects is much clearer than it can be in the first book in a cozy series. The suspects we met here were interesting and kept me guessing.

As did the mystery itself. I loved how the clues and red herrings kept pointing in different directions, confusing Jackson, and us, until we reached the end. 

Since this is a police procedural, there’s more content than in the cozies. There are really only a few scenes that might be issues and they are fairly obvious when they are coming. Personally, I found the book worth it. 

I’m still hoping to get to Liz’s other contemporary series this year. But I’m already looking forward to revisiting these characters in the future. Shattered Sight is a strong debut. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Movie Review: Fast & Furious 6

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Unbelievable but enjoyable action sequences

Cons: Plot and characters just service for the stunts

The Bottom Line:

Gang back in action

Working to stop a cartel

Action still the star

Fast and Furious: Europe

It’s taking me a while, but I am slowly getting hooked on the Fast and Furious films.  It helps that I’m finally beginning to get to know the characters.  After the end of the fifth film, which left the characters pretty happy, I was wondering where things would be in Fast & Furious 6.  If you are a fan of the franchise, you’ll enjoy it.

When we last saw Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), and the rest, they had successfully pulled off a giant score and retired to foreign countries without extradition treaties.  Also, Brian and Mia (Jordana Brewster) were expecting their first child.  When this movie opens, their son has been born, and they are enjoying a quiet life.  Well, as quiet as life as you can have as new parents.

Then Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) comes back into the picture.  He’s tracking a cartel run by a man named Shaw (Luke Evans) across Europe. The Cartel is working toward a big score.  He wants Dominic to reassemble his team and help him take this cartel down.  And he has one thing he thinks will inspire Dominic to do it, a recent picture of his supposedly deceased girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).  How is she still alive?  Will they be able to take down Shaw’s organization?

As always, let’s be clear that the plot is just an excuse for over the top stunts.  Maybe that’s why it has taken me so long to really get into the franchise.  It probably hasn’t helped that I usually watch a movie every year or two, so it is hard to keep in mind what has happened before.  For example, I wish I could remember what happened to Letty the last movie she was in so I could see if what they said here makes sense.

Not that it matters.  With these films, it is best to just go with the flow and accept whatever they give you.  After all, why else would Brian take a flight from London to LA, spend 24 hours there, and be back for the climax when they supposedly only have 72 hours before the big score.

And let’s be honest here, we are here for the stunts and action sequences.  We get two amazing ones as well as some other, smaller ones.  (And I can’t believe some of what I’m calling smaller ones.)  As I’m watching I’m thinking about how impossible they would be in real life, but I’m still completely caught up in them.  The work all the teams put into these is amazing.

This series continues to attract big names.  Joining the ranks this time is Gina Carano.  I enjoyed seeing her.  Many of the others from the last one are back as well.  Despite what I’ve said about the story and characters being weak, the actors do a good job of helping us believe all the over the top things we are seeing on the screen.

And yes, I am wondering where they are going to go with the characters from here, especially since I know the next one is the last with Paul Walker’s character in it due to the actor’s untimely death.

This franchise continues to be the definition of mindless entertainment.  If you are looking for an action film that fits the bill, you’ll enjoy Fast & Furious 6.

Book Review: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early (Murder, She Wrote #60)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Characters we love expertly captured in a good mystery

Cons: Pacing in the beginning off a few times

The Bottom Line:

Jessica at home

With mystery on her street

Characters perfect

Jessica Fletcher Finds Murder at Home

I’ve dipped in and out of the Murder, She Wrote novels over the last few years. When I saw that Barbara Early was joining the franchise, I knew I had to give her efforts a try, so I picked up Snowy with a Chance of Murder. 

If you’ve missed the novel, yes, they are tie-ins to the TV series. Yes, they’ve expanded on the world of the show. This is book 60, after all. But you don’t need to read them in order. I certainly haven’t. I figure there is the occasional reference I am missing by not doing that, but there is nothing that has seriously impacted my enjoyment of these books. 

This book opens with Jessica Fletcher getting ready to head out on a mystery themed Caribbean cruise as a special guest, the perfect thing to counter the cold of February in Cabot Cove, Maine. But a slip on the ice lands her in a wheel chair instead. 

Trapped inside, her new neighbors catch her attention. The man is a snow sculptor, although his sculptures are in questionable taste. They are drawing the attention of people in town, resulting in crowds. Meanwhile, there’s been a murder in a food truck, but Sherif Metzger has a suspect, if only he can locate her. Will Jessica get drawn in even though she’s stuck in a wheel chair?

If you are getting Rear Window vibes, you wouldn’t be too far out of line. In fact, the characters make that connection at one point. However, the action isn’t limited to Jessica’s house. She still gets out and about quite a bit, which keeps things from feeling too claustrophobic. 

It also keeps the story from being a clone of the movie, which I appreciated. I did find the beginning a bit uneven. There are multiple storylines being introduced, but even so, it felt like we were treading some of the same ground we’d already covered. However, when the plot really kicked into gear, it was fun watching everything fall into place. 

As any fan of the series (TV or book) knows, the joy of the Cabot Cove episodes is the community of characters we get to know. I’m thrilled to say this book captures that perfectly. We see lots of names fans will recognize, and they all felt just like they did in the show. I could picture the actors delivering the lines. I especially liked Jessica’s relationship with Mort Metzger, which the books haven’t always captured well. I even laughed at some of the character interactions. 

While spring may be just around the corner, there’s still time to curl up with a good book. If you want to capture some of those winter vibes, you’ll be glad you picked up Snowy with a Chance of Murder. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book

TV Show Review: Poker Face - Season 1

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Charlie, second halves of the episodes are creative and fun

Cons: First half of the episodes are slow; season finale had issues

The Bottom Line:

Charlie on the run

She’s finding murder to solve

The show has some flaws

“You Ever Gamble?  ‘Cause You Can Make a Killing.”

Being the mystery fan I am, naturally I heard about Poker Face when it first premiered on Peacock.  And many people seemed to love it.  Not being that impressed with Rian Johnson, the creator of the show, I was skeptical, but I decided to give it a chance when I got a subscription to Peacock.

When we first meet Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), she is working as a cocktail waitress at a casino.  Then a friend dies, and Carlie’s super power comes into play.  She can instantly tell if someone is lying or not.  As a result, she unravels the truth of what happened to her friend.

And she finds herself on the run.  She takes whatever odd job she can working for cash so she is harder to track down.  She takes a job at a BBQ joint.  She becomes the merch seller for a band trying to make a comeback.  She takes a job as an assistant to a movie maker.  And she becomes a waitress at a dinner theater company.  However, at each job, she finds herself involved in a murder.  Can she bring justice while also not drawing publicity to herself so those chasing her can’t find her?

Each episode of the show starts out by introducing us to the new characters and showing us the death and who was responsible.  That’s not anything new.  Most people compared it to Columbo, which I haven’t watched (I know, I know), but I’m familiar with this type of mystery telling from Diagnosis: Murder, and Monk.  My issue with it here is that it takes a long time to introduce Charlie into things.  It’s usually after the first act before we see her, sometimes even longer.  And, when we do, we flashback to what we’ve already seen and watch how Charlie interacted with the characters we’ve just met.  In other words, we watch the same thing twice.  There wasn’t enough new insight to make it worth it for me.

Once the story really gets going, it is interesting.  I liked seeing how Charlie pieced things together and brought her own version of justice to things.  No, she’s not acting as a vigilante, but she’s often being creative in how she makes sure the guilty are punished.  I appreciated that.

Keep in mind that the content on this is not safe for broadcast TV.  It is on a streaming service, after all.  Each episode is roughly an hour in length – some shorter, some longer.  There are ten episodes in the season.

Natasha Lyonne is the only person to appear in every episode.  She is great as Charlie, and I found myself really caring about her by the time the season was over.  The rest of the cast is fun as well, but she really carries the show.  Quite a few famous names popped in over the course of the season.

Which brings us to the season finale.  It fell completely flat for me.  There was a big twist that didn’t make any sense given what had come before.  And I get why they gave the season the ending they did, but it infuriated me since it meant nothing had changed for Charlie.  It really felt uncreative.

As with most Rian Johnson products, Poker Face had promise, but the execution left something to be desired.  The second season is dropping soon, but I doubt I’ll go out of my way to watch it.

March 9th's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It was quarter end close at work this last week, so it was busy with the extra reporting we have to do.  But I think we got things done.  As long as people don't come back to me with more questions, I should be good and can move on to the next part of the my monthly work.

In other news, Today (Saturday) is my birthday.  I've talked to my parents so far, and I need to get started getting ready to go because today is also game day.  (I'm typing this just about noon on Saturday).  Quite often, I spend my birthday at work, so it's nice to be able to do something fun for it this year.

Pun of the Week:

The rotation of the Earth really makes my day.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: A Deadly Prescription - A Jane Mystery

Tuesday - Book Review: Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles

Wednesday - Movie Review: Man of La Mancha

Thursday - Book Review: Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford

Friday - Friday Post featuring Shattered Sight

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - TV Show Review: Poker Face - Season 1

Tuesday - Book Review: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early

Wednesday - Movie Review: Fast and Furious 6

Thursday - Book Review: Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron

Friday - Friday Post

Saturday - Weekly TV Thought

Book Haul:

Buckle in, we've got seven books to talk about this week.

Up first is the preorder I mentioned as arriving soon when I posted last week.  That is The Final Draw, the third Kingdom Keepers Inheritance book, and, according to author Ridley Pearson, the final book in the saga period.  But he's said that before, so we'll see if he sticks with it this time or not.  Overall, these middle grade books have been uneven, but I do love all the Disney stuff in them.  I'm curious to see how it is going to end this time around.

Meanwhile, I've gotten two books for my birthday.  Both have been on my radar for a while, so it is nice to have them.  Now to find time to read them.  The books are The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths and Winter Witness by Tina deBellegarde.

The rest of the books are sale books.  Gemma Halliday Publishing put a bunch of books on sale at Smashwords through Saturday the 8th.  I snagged three books I'd been thinking about for a while. Resort to Murder by Annie McEwen is the first in a series I've been hearing good things about.  Meanwhile, I enjoyed the first book in Rosalie Spielman's Hometown Mysteries back in January, so I snagged books two and three, Home is Where the Murder Is and Murder Comes Home.

Finally comes my Kindle sale for the week.  Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek is the third in a series from Kris Bock.  I have yet to read book one, but I now have the first half of the series.  Maybe I need to fix that soon.

What I'm Currently Reading:

I'm currently working on Helpless by Annette Dashofy.  We've got a kidnapped little girl as a huge rainstorm is bringing flooding to an area.  I'm not quite a third of the way into the book and enjoying it so far.  I was hoping to finish it Sunday, but I don't think that will be happening at this point.  Too many pages yet to read, and I won't be home reading some of them on Saturday.  As always, I'm enjoying the book, but it is definitely a bit dark for me.  Then again, this series is often darker than my typical reading choices, so that isn't a huge surprise.

That's it for me.  Have a great week!

March 8th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Tracker – I missed something.  I didn’t remember that Reenie had a boyfriend.  And I wonder why they’ve written Bobby out for multiple episodes.  At this point, I’m wondering if Velma will be out for more than one.  As to the case itself, it was a bit dark for my taste, and I hated the teaser to the flashback.  At least it wasn’t a scene from the climax of the episode.  Overall, not one of their best.

Suits LA – A bit better episode story wise.  I feel like I get a feel for where things are going, and, even with all the storylines, I didn’t feel like the episode was that far out of there.  I cared about the various elements and wanted to see where they were going to wind up.  Interesting bit there at the end.  But I still didn’t feel like the acting was really all there.  Not sure yet if it is the actors or the writing.

Poppa’s House – I enjoyed seeing Coby Bell in something again.  But other than that, this episode was just cringe inducing.  Neither storyline worked for me, and I really didn’t laugh.

Rescue: HI Surf – Maybe it was me, because the second show I watched in one night, and I wasn’t that impressed with this one either.  Maybe it was because the storylines they are focusing on are ones I really don’t care about.

Deal or No Deal Island – Well, the family finally suffered a loss.  Dixon was the obvious one that would go first, too.  Sorry to see him go, but I’m curious to see if the other two can make it to the end.  Given the preview for next week, probably.  I’m ready for CK to go.  We will see if the double elimination gets her.  Are there going to be two rounds of Deal or No Deal?  I’m assuming only one person will be safe.  We’ll find out, I guess.

Shifting Gears – That was pretty fun.  Nice to find a way to gets at least one of the kids interacting with the guys in the shop.  Pretty heart warming at the end of both of the storylines as well.

Wild Cards – The set up with the friend took so long, I wasn’t aware of how far into the episode I was, so the ending too me a bit by surprise.  You can tell so often where the plot is going by how much time is left, right?  The friend angle was fun, although she annoyed me for much of the episode.  Still, fun overall.

The Challenge – Finally, the one team didn’t have to go into the jungle!  I figured the star would be given out again at the first challenge.  Interesting to see how everyone did it.

Survivor – I think the team is going to be sorry they kept Sai.  At least her idol is gone, but wow is she full of herself.  I mean, I get not being happy when someone goes against you, but she doesn’t seem to want any dissention from her plans.  I so wish people wouldn’t betray when those I want out are on the chopping block.

The Amazing Race – After the talk about the Fork in the Road, I was a little underwhelmed.  I though they were going to have the teams racing longer side by side.  But I do get it from a production stand point.  And part of me does like the fact that no matter which side you pick, if your task is harder, you don’t need to worry about the other teams, just the teams at your own task.  Still, sorry to see two teams leaving early.  Not that I thought either team would last very long in the race.

Happy’s Place – That was a very heart warming episode.  Not the funniest of the season, but it made up for itself with the great character moments.  That final scene of the episode especially was great.  I’m a little surprised they didn’t end the season with that scene.  Not that I’m complaining.  We only have a few episode left, and I’m already dreading not having it on my Friday nights.

March 7th's Friday Post

Well, it's been a few weeks since I did a Friday Post.  Let's fix that today, shall we?  I'll be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

For the first three, I'm sharing quotes from Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron.

This is the first in a new series featuring a cop in Niagara Falls, New York.  I will admit, the first line isn't exactly grabbing.

I stood in front of my open closet and shuffled through my tie selection. “Amy, have you seen my red tie?” I called to my wife.

As an accountant, I completely sympathize with what we find at 56% into the book:

After a moment, he spoke. “Are you going to send those to the accountants?”

I flipped a page. “Eventually. I want to look at them first. See if anything pops.”

Of course, it didn’t. The columns of numbers stayed columns of numbers. Money in, money out. I checked my watch—quarter to five.

There are days tracking down what you need to find feels like that, even if you are trained.

I enjoyed this book.  I'm working on my review, now, which will be up next Thursday ahead of the book's release on the 18th.

But for now, let's finish this off with the Book Blogger Hop.  This week's question is:

What fantasy or Sci-fi should be part of the literary canon?

I haven't read much, but one that stands out to me is The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.  They are such rich books even as an adult.  But they are probably already semi part of it anyway, right?

That's it for today.  Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford (Wine Country Cold Case #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Characters drawn us into a compelling novel

Cons: Mystery takes a back seat, some minor details

The Bottom Line:

Crime leads to drama

And movement on a cold case

This book drew me in

Murder Among the Rich

It was the location that first drew me to the Wine Country Cold Case series from Karin Fitz Sanford. I’m glad it did since I enjoyed Running on Empty, the second. 

This series features Anne McCormack, a former FBI agent who is now running an estate liquidation business in Santa Rosa, California, and getting involved with the occasional cold case for the local police as a part time detective.  She often finds herself working with her uncle Jack, who was a detective for the city before he retired, since he still comes back to work on the occasional cold case as well.

This book finds Anne getting involved with the Pardini family just as Lino Pardini dies unexpectedly.  While most of his family is involved in a winery in the area, Lino had set himself apart as an attorney turned financial adviser.  His death brings one of the cases Jack couldn’t solve back to the forefront.  Lino’s previous wife vanished and then her remains were found almost exactly a year later.  Jack always suspected that Lino was involved, but couldn’t prove it.

While Jack begins to poke around in the old case again, Anne finds herself drawn to Renee, Lino’s younger widow.  As the Pardini family is pulled into shocking news, can Anne help figure out what is happening?

If you pick this book up looking for a traditional mystery, you’ll be disappointed.  Now, please read what I’m saying very carefully.  The drama going on with the Pardini family takes up much of the page time as well as what it means for Anne and others in the community.  Yes, we do get resolutions to the mysteries I’ve teased and some others that pop up.  And this doesn’t mean that the book is any less compelling.  I was drawn into the story and usually had a hard time putting the book down.

You can think of this more as a crime drama than a mystery.  Crime and mystery are involved, but it doesn’t dominate the story.  Having said that, I did find the resolutions to the mystery elements as satisfying as the rest of the story.

And it works because of the characters.  We see the story from several different character’s points of view, and that helps pull us into the drama.  These characters are well drawn and we can’t help but feel for them and want to see them come out on top despite the circumstances they find themselves in.

I will say there were times a few minor details the author got wrong bugged me.  It’s funny, I’ll read right by some things, but others stick out to me.  But they weren’t a big deal overall.

The author freely admits that she uses a fictional version of Santa Rosa for these books, and I certainly understand that.  Having said that, I got a kick out of seeing real places and road names pop up in the book.  That’s always fun.

Yes, this book is a little darker than a typical cozy, with some of the language, etc. that goes with it.  However, it is kept to a minimum, which is nice.

While mystery purists might find Running on Empty frustrating, those looking for a compelling crime novel will enjoy it.

Movie Review: Man of La Mancha

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Inspiring message

Cons: Dark and sad along the way

The Bottom Line:

Great literature

As uplifting musical

With a dark journey

Impossibly Somber Yet Uplifting

I first saw the movie version of Man of La Mancha in high school, then a few years ago I saw the stage play.  I’ve had a mixed reaction to it both times I’ve seen it, so when I sat down to watch the movie again, I hoped to figure out why.

The movie is a musical retelling of the story of Don Quixote, but with a twist.  We first meet his author, Miguel de Cervantes (Peter O’Toole) as he is being arrested for mocking the Spanish Inquisition.  When he and his manservant (James Coco) are cast in a dungeon, Cervantes has to figure out a way to keep his fellow prisoners from destroying his chest of costumes and props, but especially his manuscript.  And so he starts to tell them the story of Don Quixote and his faithful squire Sancho Panza (also Peter O’Toole and James Coco) with various prisoners taking on other characters in the story.

Don Quixote is a nobleman who has lost his mind, thinking he is a knight on a noble quest.  After fighting giants (windmills), he lands at an inn he thinks is a castle and meets a maid he thinks is the fair lady Dulcinea (Sophia Loren).  Are his delusions harmless?  Or will he return to reality?

I must admit that I don’t know the true tale of Don Quixote, so I can’t tell what they left out of the book or how they twisted stuff together for this adaptation.  I can tell you that the story presented here works.  Outside an overly long prologue getting Cervantes thrown in jail, the film is well paced with enough events happening to keep us engaged in both stories.  Yes, we do jump back to the jail every so often, but the result works for the story.

This musical is best known for “The Impossible Dream,” which is an inspiring ballad as Don Quixote attempts to explain his mission to Dulcinea.  Personally, I find myself humming “Don Quixote” the most when I think of this film.  What the musical doesn’t have is big dance numbers.  The rest of the songs are good, but nothing that really sticks out to me.

But back to how I started this review.  You may have figured out by now that I love upbeat stories and happy endings.  This movie leaves more open than it resolves, and what little it resolves isn’t happy.  And yet, I still find it inspiring.  Ultimately, I think the reason it works is the message that one person can make a difference in the life of one other person just by believing in them.

However, the journey to get there isn’t always pleasant.  This movie earns its PG rating.  Dulcinea is quite obviously a prostitute when Don Quixote first spots her, not that we are told in explicit terms.  The movie does a good job of hinting at some of the more somber parts of the story without showing them, something that truly impresses me.  Still, parents will want to know about that before they let their kids watch it.

Ultimately, Man of La Mancha inspires us to go out and help those around us.  Is there anything better in a work of art?