Life

This image released by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows Sally Hawkins, left, and Doug Jones in a scene from the film “The Shape of Water.” Guillermo del Toro’s Cold War fantasy romance is a contender for the Oscar for best picture. (Kerry Hayes/Fox Searchlight Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: ‘The Shape of Water’ strange and beautiful

“The Shape of Water” Fox Searchlight Pictures 2 hours, 3 minutes This week marks the second of the major Oscar nominees I’ve seen in as… Continue reading

This image released by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows Sally Hawkins, left, and Doug Jones in a scene from the film “The Shape of Water.” Guillermo del Toro’s Cold War fantasy romance is a contender for the Oscar for best picture. (Kerry Hayes/Fox Searchlight Pictures via AP)
TOP: Leslie Byrd stands by her piece ‘Piping Hot.’ on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The triptych piece is just one of Byrd’s many pieces on display at the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Library in Soldotna through April. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) ABOVE: ‘Slinky,’ seen here, is a piece Leslie Byrd painted in acrylics. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Byrd)

Byrd on display at Soldotna Library

It’s easy to think of something you wish you had more time for, but it’s February and the New Year’s resolution to ‘read more’ or… Continue reading

TOP: Leslie Byrd stands by her piece ‘Piping Hot.’ on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The triptych piece is just one of Byrd’s many pieces on display at the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Library in Soldotna through April. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) ABOVE: ‘Slinky,’ seen here, is a piece Leslie Byrd painted in acrylics. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Byrd)
The Bookworm Sez: ‘Jefferson’s Daughters’ tells complicated tale

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Jefferson’s Daughters’ tells complicated tale

Which one is your favorite? That’s a question heavy with danger, as any parent knows. You might be asked, but you can’t choose one child… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Jefferson’s Daughters’ tells complicated tale
This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Frances McDormand in a scene from “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” (Fox Searchlight via AP)

Reeling it in: ‘Three Billboards’ interesting but inauthentic

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” 1 hour, 55 minutes I have to say at the outset of this review that, while (spoiler alert) I did… Continue reading

This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Frances McDormand in a scene from “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” (Fox Searchlight via AP)
This image released by Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures shows Christian Bale in a scene from "Hostiles." (Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: Performances carry ‘Hostiles’

“Hostiles” Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures 2 hours, 14 minutes At the beginning of this week’s grim and gritty western, “Hostiles,” Christian Bale’s Captain Joe Blocker… Continue reading

This image released by Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures shows Christian Bale in a scene from "Hostiles." (Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures via AP)
This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. shows Gerard Butler in a scene from “Geostorm”(Ben Rothstein/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. via AP)

Reeling It In: ‘Geostorm’ a disaster of a disaster flick

“Geostorm” Warner Bros. 1 hour, 49 minutes This week I didn’t make it out to the theater, not that there was a lot of choice… Continue reading

This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. shows Gerard Butler in a scene from “Geostorm”(Ben Rothstein/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. via AP)
The Bookworm Sez: ‘Real Magic’ is more than a memoir

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Real Magic’ is more than a memoir

Wow. Just … wow. Did you see that? Wasn’t it awesome? It was a once-in-a-lifetime sight and you almost missed it; now, you’ll never forget… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Real Magic’ is more than a memoir
District students start ‘Singin’ in the Rain’

District students start ‘Singin’ in the Rain’

You know, someone once told Don Lockwood “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all,” but it wasn’t true in 1952’s ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’… Continue reading

District students start ‘Singin’ in the Rain’
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows the character Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, in a scene from “Paddington 2.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: ‘Well done, Paddington!’

“Paddington 2” Warner Bros. 1 hour, 44 minutes Paddington, the ursine protagonist of a series of children’s books, never seemed like the ideal subject for… Continue reading

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows the character Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, in a scene from “Paddington 2.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
The Bookworm Sez: Ever wonder why? This book will tell you

The Bookworm Sez: Ever wonder why? This book will tell you

How come? It’s a common question, rather informal, with roots that go back centuries: how did something come to be? In other words… why? Why… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Ever wonder why? This book will tell you
Bill Laughing-Bear, author of “An Alaskan Adventure: Tales of a Musher” and his dog sled team take a passenger for a ride. Laughing-Bear has spent many years in the dog sledding tourism industry. (Photo courtesy of Bill Laughing-Bear)

Kasilof musher details adventures in new book

Bill Laughing-Bear stepped into a general store in Fairbanks on Sept. 9, 2002, the first big step in fulfilling his dream of living in the… Continue reading

Bill Laughing-Bear, author of “An Alaskan Adventure: Tales of a Musher” and his dog sled team take a passenger for a ride. Laughing-Bear has spent many years in the dog sledding tourism industry. (Photo courtesy of Bill Laughing-Bear)
This image released by Sony Pictures shows Ansel Elgort, right, and Jamie Foxx in a scene from “Baby Driver.” (Wilson Webb/Sony/TriStar Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: The good and the bad of 2017

2017 was an odd year for all of us. Outside, the world seems more divided than it ever has, though I can’t say I’ve felt… Continue reading

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Ansel Elgort, right, and Jamie Foxx in a scene from “Baby Driver.” (Wilson Webb/Sony/TriStar Pictures via AP)

What’s Happening

Events and Exhibitions • On display in January at the Kenai Fine Art Center is Art Teachers of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Before I Let Go’ one to let go

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Before I Let Go’ one to let go

Home is where your heart is. You’ve probably heard that before but is it true? Home is where you put your stuff. It’s where you… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Before I Let Go’ one to let go
Lynn Naden’s giant Root Ball in her Root shows. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

‘Root’ shows expand meaning of community, connection

The Pratt Museum’s Root shows invite lots of interpretations. Tree roots abound in both paper artist Lynn Marie Naden’s solo Root show, upstairs at the… Continue reading

Lynn Naden’s giant Root Ball in her Root shows. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)
The Bookworm Sez: ‘Grass Roots’ lays out history of marijuana

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Grass Roots’ lays out history of marijuana

Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence? It doesn’t seem to be. Your side looks just fine, healthy, and filled with… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: ‘Grass Roots’ lays out history of marijuana
This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows a scene from the animated film, “Ferdinand.” (Twentieth Century Fox via AP)

Reeling it in: ‘Ferdinand’: The book was better

“Ferdinand” Twentieth Century Fox 1 hour, 48 minutes It’s always a little dangerous to indulge in a large scale adaptation of something you loved as… Continue reading

This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows a scene from the animated film, “Ferdinand.” (Twentieth Century Fox via AP)

What’s Happening

Events and Exhibitions • For the month of January, Jay Goltz’s Solo Water Color Show will be on display at the Soldotna Senior Center. •… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Heart-pounding thrills in ‘American Radical’

The Bookworm Sez: Heart-pounding thrills in ‘American Radical’

Let’s pretend. Let’s be cowboys, in search of our lost herd. Or you be a dinosaur and I’ll be an alligator. Let’s pretend we’re cooking… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Heart-pounding thrills in ‘American Radical’
This image released by Lucasfilm shows Daisy Ridley as Rey in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” (Lucasfilm via AP)

Reeling it in: Lining up for ‘The Last Jedi’

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 2 hours, 32 minutes I don’t know if you heard, but there is a new… Continue reading

This image released by Lucasfilm shows Daisy Ridley as Rey in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” (Lucasfilm via AP)