Category: Entertainment

Wind River

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

wind riverThis movie is tough to review. To say that Cathryn and I enjoyed it, would be using the word to describe that fact that it was well received. The plot is deep and dark, but like my novel, Finding Hope, the Highway of Tears, it’s another sad and true story about the lack of caring and respect for aboriginal women across our continent.

This story is about two women who die on the Wind River Reserve in Northern Wyoming. A fish and wildlife tracker, reserve cop, and a lone FBI agent team up to investigate the latest rape/homicide. The remote location of the crime challenges the team.

Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, and Graham Green play the dream team. Stellar performances were delivered by all. I’m personally tired of seeing the plight of first nations people on reserves –  all other previously oppressed races have learned to move on. Having said that this movie will drag you into their misery and make you wonder why this type of crap still goes on in this day and age.

Cathryn and I both give the move an 8 out of 10.

The Clinic

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

ClinicThe Clinic (Alex Delaware, #11) 
by Jonathan Kellerman, John Rubinstein (Narrator)

 

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Sep 18, 2017

 

Big yawn!
I really tried to finish this book just to see who did it, but three quarters of the way through I didn’t care any more and gave up. I’ve read previous works by Kellerman and love his characters, but for a murder mystery novel, this one made want to fluff my pillow instead of turning the page.
There was way too much fluff…useless descriptions of everyone, hypothesizing between characters, and painfully dull dialog.
If you’re looking for a good read to help you sleep, The Clinic is for you.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

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The Hitman’s Bodyguard is an action movie that allows you to laugh out loud in certain scenes and with certain dialogue, comparable to to Bruce Willis’s Die Hard series. The action is pretty well non-stop throughout the movie, an on-going pursuit plot with a couple of outstanding car chases.

Does anyone know why bad guys on motorcycles think they can somehow stop a speeding car? You know they’re always going to lose. The cinematography showcases Amsterdam and the Netherlands, with a lot of the chase footage filmed along and in the canals and narrow streets alongside.

Ryan Reynolds’s character is a bit of a sap, but it’s a perfect fit with Jackson’s opposite and bad-ass character. Gary Oldman always makes a good bad guy, and doesn’t let us down in this movie. I think Salma Hayek’s character is over the top and a bit ridiculous, but it adds to the comic relief.

Cathryn and I both enjoyed viewing this flick on the big screen, but had trouble rating it. We both settled on a 7 out of 10.

 

The Country of Quebec

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, TravelLeave a comment

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Look closely at this picture and you’ll see one of the very few Canadian flags hanging limp, in the province of Quebec. The lovable red maple leaf is notably missing from government buildings, businesses, and homes across the French section of Canada. Are separatists still at work there, trying to divide our country.

Cathryn and I spent twelve days on the road, motorcycling from Windsor to Quebec City, and back. We spent the Canada Day weekend in the Kingston/Gananoque area, where civic and country pride were evident everywhere. Red and white banners, Canadian flags, and the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary flag were everywhere.

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Muy Bien Melaque

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, Food & DiningLeave a comment

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We’ve been in Melaque, Mexico just over a month now, our second visit to this undiscovered gem on the Pacific coast. The towns of Villa Obregon and San Patricio help to form what is known as Melaque, a little known destination for many Canadian snowbirds. Although tiny in comparison to places like Puerto Vallarta, Melaque has a great selection of bars and restaurants to quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger. Although we’ve tried many different establishments in the last month, I am only mentioning three of our favorites in this blog post.

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Unintended Adventures

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, TravelLeave a comment

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            What exactly is an adventure and where do you find one? Touring companies offer them all the time—they must know. Usually, for a tidy sum of money, they promise unique adventures that anyone can go on. Is that being adventurous—going where everyone else has gone before? Sure it is, but we don’t need to spend our hard earned money to have someone else show us something different, off the beaten path.

            We call ourselves tourists, when we venture off to discover something new and different from the norm. Unfortunately, many of us become sheep, using travel agents and guide services to tell us how and where to find what we seek. For hard working individuals who need to get away from it all, there is nothing wrong with that.

            For real travelers, or adventurers, we know what is required. We know that you have to get off that beaten path, peek over that fence, look around the next corner, and drive down that next road to see where it leads. It’s not rocket science, it’s a yearning, curiosity, and desire to enrich ourselves and learn something new. It’s enlightenment.

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The Men of Melaque

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, TravelLeave a comment

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Who are the elusive men of Mexico? To us Gringos who flock south for the winter, if we pay attention, we might just catch a glimpse of the homosapien species. Our first exposure was at the Puerto Vallarta airport, where throngs of eager males threw themselves at arriving snowbirds in the hopes of snagging fares for the taxis and shuttles that were stacked up out front.

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Favorites – Venice

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, TravelLeave a comment

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I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked where’s my favorite place I’ve visited. And, for those of you who know me personally, I don’t really do favorites. So why, you ask, am I posting Venice as one of my favorite places? Well, I must shyly admit that it is. Right now it’s the number one tourist destination in the world. That’s big.

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More Reviews for Finding Hope

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

High Res4 & 5 Star Reviews from Goodreads and Kobo:

My favorite book thus far by Ed. I intended on reading just a few chapters today but his writing kept me so captivated and wanting more, I finished the book in hours. Looking forward to the next novel by this wonderful story-teller.    Dawn S.

 Captivating story based on the circumstances which unfortunately continue to occur on the infamous Highway of Tears in Northern British Columbia. While reading this book, I found myself re-processing the events well after I had put the book down, and then I couldn’t wait to get back into it! Compassion for the victims, as well as trying to analyze the thoughts of an isolated bushman, topped off with a touch of romance, Finding Hope will not disappoint.  Brenda B

This novel is based on the abused and murdered women in British Columbia. Precisely route #16. It held my interest, trying to figure out one of the killers—which I was able to do early on. It’s a Norm Strom book by Edmond Gagnon. Norm is a retired police officer who gets caught up in the search for one young woman who disappears. He helps the RCMP to find her and to solve some of the murders. It’s a hard book in some parts as the language is crude and some violence graphic. If you’re into crime and resolve you will enjoy this book of fiction based on fact.  Jackie R

The book was a good read, fast, and kept my interest going. The characters were just enough to identify with each one. A human story of all the girls that were lost and never found. The main characters were serious and funny. The writer wrote about highlights along the highways that made you feel like you were right there. The ending was suspenseful and kept me wondering. Edward G

See Early Acclaim for Finding Hope