Monday, September 17, 2012

Genre Favorites Blogfest

This is another blogfest from Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Thanks so much for putting this together, Alex. 

For this blogest, we are to list our favorite genre of Music, Movies, and books. Then share a guilty pleasure from any of the three categories.

My favorite music is Country. Not the newest Country Rock, but the old classics like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Glen Campbell, and Patsy Cline.

Running a close second is folk and Americana. Among my favorite folk singers are Pete Seger, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Simon and Garfunkel. Their song, "The Sound of Silence" was written in 1964 by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy. (Note: I can sing every Peter Paul and Mary song on their greatest-hits album. Not as well as they do, but I've got heart.)

While on the subject of folk music, I'd like to introduce my readers to a terrific duo who also happen to be good friends of mine, Adler & Hearne. They live in my little corner of the world, when not touring, and they have some terrific songs. One of the songs Lynn wrote, "A Hundred Years From Now" has won several awards and has a terrific social message. (NOTE: I will be taking voice lessons from Lynn Adler. I'll never sing like her, or Mary Travers, but my goal is not to be a professional.)

My favorite movies are dramas that not only tell a great story but make me stop and think about life and social issues: "The Shawshank Redemption" "The Green Mile" "Philadelphia" "Sophie's Choice".  I think I see a pattern here. I really like stories, whether they be movies, songs, or books that say something significant.

I also love the classic black and white films: "Casablanca", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "The Maltese Falcon", "It's a Wonderful Life" "A Farewell to Arms".  (Captain Alex will note there is not a sci-fi movie listed. Sorry guy.)

While I do enjoy books that delve into social issues, my favorite genre to read just for fun is mystery and thriller. I first started reading Agatha Christie and Erle Stanley Gardner, then moved on to John D. McDonald, and Ed McBain.  (for a long time I did not know that Ed McBain was a pen name for Evan Hunter.) It was the 87th Precinct series that first stirred my interest in police procedural mysteries and the primary reason that I write them. 

My guilty pleasure is related to police procedural mysteries with continuing ensemble casts, and that is my addiction to the Law & Order series. All of them. I can waste an afternoon watching reruns of the earliest seasons. They don't stir my intellect and my consciousness the way some of my other favorites do, but it is always fun to see justice win out in the end. Well, almost always.

Visit Alex's Blog to see his favorites and get a list of all the bloggers participating in the blog fest.

17 comments:

Huntress said...

'Puff the Magic Dragon' was my fave of PP&M.

All great choices.

Jocelyn Rish said...

Thriller was my favorite book genre too, although I gravitate to the YA ones.

OMG, the L&O marathons are evil! If I just happen to pause for even a second, I'm sucked in for the afternoon. It's kind of scary.

I enjoyed reading about your favorite genres,
Jocelyn

LD Masterson said...

Soulmate! I also know the words to every song on the PP&M greatest hits albums and a lot of their others. I never mastered the guitar but I was always welcome to little folk group sign-alongs because I knew all the words.

Maryannwrites said...

I suspected we are soulmates, LD. Now it is confirmed.

Jocelyn, my husband watches TV a lot during the day and if I walk through from my office to the kitchen and catch a bit of L&O, I sometimes don't make it back to my office.

Huntress, Puff has always been one of my favorites, too. My kids always wanted me to play that when they were young.

Jocelyn Rish said...

Maryann, I just had to pop back by hear and thank you for not only watching my short film, but then taking the time to come back to my blog to leave such a sweet comment. I really appreciate it!

Unknown said...

i too prefer classic country to the squirrelly stuff out there.. this actually goes for all newer music.

Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
Howlin' Wolf Records: On-Line Magazine

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

If you like thrillers, have you read Preston & Child?
Thanks for participating in my blogfest!

Maryannwrites said...

You are so welcome, Jocelyn. the short film was wonderful.

Alex, I have not read books by Preson & Child. Thanks for the tip. I will check them out.

Jeremy, I don't care much for modern music either. I remember the first time my father heard hard rock. He asked what they were doing to that poor guitar to make it scream so. (smile)

Golden Eagle said...

I enjoy Thrillers and Mystery novels, too. It's fun to try figuring them out.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Law and Order is an addictive series, and so many others are off-springs of it.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Monti
Mary Montague Sikes

Patricia Stoltey said...

Oh, my, I had forgotten about movies lie Philadelphia. That one made me cry so hard.

The 87th Precinct series is also an old favorite. I just discovered a couple of those books had been made into movies and added the DVDs to my Netflix Queue.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I like the more meaningful stuff in my reading - things I can learn from - and lighter fluff in my movies.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Maryann,

Hopped over from the blogfest... It's nice to meet you.

Liked your pics. I am no a huge country fan, BUT I LOVE Patsy Kline.

You'd might be interest to know, since you love folk music, that Judy Collins had asked me to tour with her in the late 80's as her personal makeup artist.

Nice lady, and I was flattered, but she wanted me only for expenses. That wasn't going to work for me, so I turned her down.

Crime is fascinating. Imagine getting into the minds of the killers....

Maryannwrites said...

Thanks for coming by, Michael. I liked Judy Collins until you shared your experience.(smile) Why is it that some people try to take advantage like that?

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michelle said...

Suspense/Thriller is also my favourite book genre.
I taught my choir Sounds Of Silence - I'm talking about 11 to 13-year-old kiddies... and they LOVE it!
Shawshank Redemption is my ALL-TIME favourite movie... pity it didn't win an Oscar!

Jeremy Bates said...

I also enjoy the old B&W films and have seen all the ones you mentioned. Then there is "The Grapes of Wrath," "Public Enemy #1" and "The Man with the Golden Arm."

Now following your blog. Cheers!