Stay Close by Harlan Coben and Netflix Book Club with Richard Armitage

Photo from Harlan Coben and Netflix 

 

What a great idea from Netflix.  To have a book club for their book-to-series "original" streaming offering.

Discovered the Book Club because of Stay Close series starring Richard Armitage, Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, Jo Joyner and others, from the book by Harlan Coben.

Uzo Aduba is a charming and well prepared host and guide for the book club.  She had a very easy rapport with the author, Harlan Coben, and with series star Richard Armitage.  

SPOILERS -  DO NOT WATCH THE VIDEO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK OR WATCHED THE SERIES (STAY CLOSE):

Happy 50th Birthday Dear Richard Armitage - August 22, 2021

 

Dear Richard,

Hope you have the happiest of Birthdays for your 50th.

Not only do you look younger than most 50 year old men I know, you seem to have the energy, and as you say, the curiosity, of someone decades younger.  You are also young at heart, and that is what counts.

Thank you for thinking about us, your fans (well wishers), on your birthday. This year is very special for us too, between your donation to the fan auction of Guy's Iconic Leather Jacket,  and using Orcrist to cut the cupcake on your early birthday video (look forward to seeing it again today). You know us well, and that's nice. 😚

I enjoyed my 50's and I think for you the best is yet to come.

Memories of Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne - BBC America Days - And RA Birthday Auction - #RA50Auctions

 

The first time I saw Richard Armitage was as John Thornton in North & South back in 2005.  My local PBS TV station was one of the few that aired North & South in the US back then.

The second time I saw Richard Armitage was in 2006 (I think, or 2007?) when I saw him as Guy of Gisborne in BBC's (BBC America) Robin Hood.  

At the time I didn't know much if anything of Richard as a person, other than I liked him as an actor and I thought, and still think, he's the most beautiful man I've ever seen.  (I had bought the DVD of The Impressionists from a UK TV Show DVD catalog, but hadn't watched it yet.)  

What made me truly fall for this man Richard Armitage was an interview he gave on BBC America to publicize Robin Hood, I think for Season 2.  The interview is what drew me to seek out more about this man, beyond John Thornton and Guy of Gisborne.  And I've been a fan (well wisher!) of Richard Armitage ever since.  

Below is a link to the interview.  I'm reluctant to post the video because they seem to "disappear" when I post videos on my blog.

https://youtu.be/QWtHWXcR0I0

Still one of my favorite RA interviews.

Another favorite RA interview is also connected to his role of Guy of Gisborne (Series 3), and also Lucas North (Spooks)  He was filming both shows almost at the same time.  It can be found on RA Frenzy's channel on You Tube (interview from 2009).

So this brings me to Richard's 50th Birthday Auction organized by RA Super Fan Guylty Pleasure.  See link below to her blog for more information and follow the blog in the next few weeks for all the details.

 https://guylty.net/2021/08/02/the-big-reveal-ra50auctions/

The most amazing has happened.  The man himself has donated Guy of Gisborne's iconic black leather jacket from Season 1 and 2 for his birthday auction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to benefit LOROS.

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I wish I had the funds to bid for this legendary leather jacket.

I will confess that I'm surprise and alarmed at how many fans have mentioned wearing Guy's leather jacket if they purchase it in the auction.  HORRORS!  

If I had the money to purchase the jacket I would have a special case built to mount it on the wall and display it in my apartment.  Make sure that the case would store the leather so it would stay in good condition.  And I would certainly keep a record of the provenance of the item, as well as attach a copy to the back of the display case.  (And make provisions in my Will to go to a good Armitage fan home so my relatives don't give it away to someone that wouldn't appreciate it!).

But this is just daydreaming really.  I pray whoever has the winning bid for Guy's Iconic Leather Jacket takes good care of it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Let us all enjoy the auction and the fandom, bid and buy many items in addition to Guy's Leather Jacket, and celebrate Armitage's Birthday this month.

Below is Richard's Tweet about the Auction:

.@LOROSHospice Sonja has organized an auction for my 50th birthday: A costume item from @BBCOne Robin Hood is part of the auction. I’ll match the winning bid for LOROS. 🥳 🎂 🎉 https://t.co/QU57AS0ANa

— Richard Armitage (@RCArmitage) August 3, 2021

Some Days On Twitter Are Interesting

 

A very interesting tweet from Yael Farber to Richard Armitage:

https://twitter.com/yfarber/status/1412119993534193685?s=2

Time to see you again soon pls. Miss your way.

— yaël farber (@yfarber) July 5, 2021

 Now, does this mean a new play together in the works?  They've wanted to work together again for a long time, since The Crucible,

They are friends, so it can also just be her saying she'll be near where he is again soon.  But I note the "Time to see you again".   Oh, I can only hope it is a new play, though unless it is in New York I won't be able to see it on stage.

*************

The other interesting one is by author Arturo Perez-Reverte, an indirect reply Richard's tweet of earlier today that he is reading The Seville Communion novel.  Now it's been quite a while since Richard has been listed at Father Quart on IMDB for a movie based on this Perez-Reverte novel.

 

A @RCArmitage, que me parece un actor magnífico, lo están tanteando para ver si le apetecería hacer de padre Quart. Ojalá fuera él. Parece que le gusta la novela.https://t.co/28Cd8rILRU

— Arturo Pérez-Reverte (@perezreverte) July 5, 2021

He says Richard is a magnificent actor, and he feels is being courted to see if he wants to play Father Quart.  And he hopes that's the case, and he thinks it seems Richard likes he novel.

________________

I don't know.  But as a fan of Richard Armitage, Yael Farber, and Arturo Perez-Reverte,  I hope Richard is working with both soon, as per Twitter today.

Good start to July for Armitage fans. 

 

Audiobook Challenge 2021 - May/June Audiobook

 

My next Listening Book 2021 Challenge Audiobook for May/June is

DRACULA by Bram Stoker

With this audiobook/audioplay by a full cast I can check off the Listen to a Dramatization or Full Cast Audiobook on the challenge list.  

The reason I selected DRACULA by Stoker is that I plan to also listen to some of the Rosenbach Museum's  Sundays with Dracula videos on YouTube  (https://youtu.be/wNLLluLLKpc).  I say "some" because I doubt I'll get through all the videos in May and June,

I read DRACULA by Bram Stoker when I was in my late teens. 

I've watched many TV and movie versions of Dracula and vampires, even before reading Stoker's work.  It will be fun to listen to the full cast audiobook and see how I feel about the book now decades later.

Frank Langella as Dracula

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ARMITAGE AUDIOBOOKS UPDATE:

For May and June I'm also planning to listen to two new audiobooks narrated by Richard Armitage.

Listening now to Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie (Audible US).

Later in May,  Mania by L.J. Ross  (Dr. Alexander Gregory, book 4).  (Publishing expected May 16, 2021).

Mania by L.J. Ross, narrated by Richard Armitage, not available until August 2021.

Richard Armitage Winner of Audie Award 2021 for The Chekhov Collection of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov - You Know Why This is Special To Me!

 

That’s lovely🙏 (thanks to Ian Rickson for helping me choose the stories) https://t.co/h4rgqJiZmn

— Richard Armitage (@RCArmitage) March 23, 2021

 

WINNER! The Short Stories/Collections #AudieAward goes to THE CHEKHOV COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES by #AntonChekhov, narrated by @RCArmitage, published by @audible_com. Congratulations! #Audies2021 pic.twitter.com/BdkCX2BUzc

— Audiobooks (@audiobooks) March 23, 2021

If you don't know why this win is special for me you can click below for my previous post on this audiobook.

https://whiterosewritings.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-answer-to-my-question-chekhov.html

Congratulations Richard Armitage on a great selection of Chekhov short stories and on a marvelous narration.  

 

Happy Valentine's Day 2021 Richard Armitage and Sean Bean

 RETRO VALENTINE

Happy Valentine's Day 2021 to my two 

favorite actors

Richard Armitage and Sean Bean

They both continue to challenge me and surprise me with their work and their project choices.  I admire both of them for being their own person and following their own instincts in their careers, and not following someone's idea of what a "star" should be or should do.

In a career where some actors flash a big success for a brief time and are never seen again, both men have accomplished long and steady careers in a very fickle business.  There is much to admire in that and I do admire it very much.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day with those you love, Richard and Sean.  💗

Favorite Narrator: My Top 20 Richard Armitage Audiobooks (2006-2020)

 I was looking through my Audible library this week checking my two new Richard Armitage narrated books.  I'm just starting the new David Hewson book, happy that author and narrator (Hewson/Armitage) are collaborating again.  The new C.J. Tudor book I plan to start in March, part of my 2021 Audiobook Challenge.  But I couldn't help but notice all the Armitage Audiobooks in my Audible library, and also a few that I've read/listened to that are not there. I also have several CD's of Armitage narrated audiobooks, dating back to 2006.  

My audio library list review prompted me to start my personal top  RA audiobooks list: 

My Top 20 Audiobooks Narrated by Richard Armitage

(2006-2020)

                         

1.    Lords of the North by  Bernard Cornwell

2.    David Copperfield  by Charles Dickens

3.     Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel by A. J. Hartley and David Hewson 

4.     The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde  by Robert Louis Stevenson

5.     Venetia by Georgette Heyer

6.     *His & Hers: A Novel  by Alice Feeney

7.     *The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter 

8.     *A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

9.      The Jackman &Evans book series by Joy Ellis (Read books in order)

10.     The Other People by C.J. Tudor

11.     *The Other Queen: A Novel  by Philippa Gregory

12.      The Chekhov Collection of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov

13.     Robin Hood: The Siege  by Simon Guerrier  (Big Finish)

14.     The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

15.     The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer

16.    The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett

17.     The Hiding Place (The Taking of Annie Thorne) by C.J. Tudor

18.      Bedlam by L.J. Ross

19.      The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

20.      Romeo and Juliet: A Novel by David Hewson 

* Narrated by Richard Armitage and additional narrator(s)

I believe Richard Armitage has over 50 audiobooks (audio plays, and podcasts included) as of this moment.  And a new project announced today.  But I thought 20 was a good number to start out with.

I love Richard's voice and performance in all his audiobooks and learned from them all. I've discovered new genres I hadn't explored before. I just mean these are my top 20 favorites for various reasons at this particular moment in time. 

Richard has more audiobooks just published in 2021 and I have just started listening to the new David Hewson book he narrated (see my post on my Audiobook 2021 Challenge).  And there are also some audiobooks I haven't listened to because they are not available in the US, or not yet, and some that have just become available.  I do sometimes buy the CD's for these, but sometimes I wait to see if Audible will eventually have them.  What I'm trying to say is, this list of my top 20 favorites is ever changing with new Armitage Audiobooks.  

I also have not included the children's books and the Love Poems and Meditations because to me they belong in a separate categories.  Also the audio plays with Big Finish and podcasts (Wolverine) belong in a separate category.  

I'm looking forward to starting Gallifrey - Time War 4 (Big Finish) soon, downloaded and ready for listening.

 

Audiobook Challenge 2021 - February and March Audiobooks

 Listening Books Challenge for February and March

Turbo Challenge

Listen to Two Audiobooks from the same Narrator in Different Genres

Narrator:  Richard Armitage

The Books

    FEBRUARY:

The Garden of Angels

by

David Hewson

Historical Fiction

MARCH:

The Burning Girls

by

C.J. Tudor

Mystery/Horror

(Narrators Richard Armitage and Gemma Whelan)

It was because of my Book Guru,  Richard Armitage, that I discovered authors David Hewson and C. J. Tudor.  They are now two of my favorite contemporary authors.  

They are also two of my favorite people on Twitter.  Wonderful interacting with their fans and lovely people.  (And Richard too, of course.)

Happy Boxing Day - Happy Holidays 2020 Everyone

 

Happy Boxing Day December 26

Happy Holidays Everyone

Now as an American (US), we don't celebrate Boxing Day as they do in the UK and other places.

But I've always thought that we should. So for years I have celebrated the day on my own, in my own mind. 🤣

I used to say that in my life I lived in the US during the work day and then at night I lived in the UK in my mind, since I watch lots of British TV programs

Many in the US celebrate Kwanzaa (December 26 - January 1).  You can read about it at the link: 

https://www.almanac.com/content/when-is-kwanzaa

I became acquainted with Kwanzaa during my years as a weekend volunteer at the  museums.  If my volunteer weekend in late December happened to fall on Kwanzaa we would celebrate it with visitors, staff, and other volunteers. 

As a Cuban (Cuban-American) I grew up celebrating the holidays until January 6, Dia de Los Reyes Magos.

https://cuban-christmas.com/3kings.html

(Now, as a kid, I always received presents from both Santa Claus on December 25 and then the Three Kings on January 6)

This has been a solitary holiday season for many, myself included, because of COVID-19.  But we all know that it is the right thing to do, for our own health and the health of others.  

My two favorite actors favored us with unexpected gifts this Holiday Season

Photo by An Le

Richard Armitage with a lovely Audible Q&A. Below is a bit of the almost 30 minute interview:

Reading & listening purely for leisure is something we all deserve, even (perhaps especially) busy narrators like @RCArmitage. What are you indulging in this holiday break? pic.twitter.com/OEXycLDg67

— Audible (@audible_com) December 23, 2020

Sean Bean as Mr. Wilford surprised us with a familiar, yet unexpected, holiday poem:

 

Snuggle in and listen to Sean Bean read you the story of how Mr. Wilford will destroy Christmas and what's left of humanity.
'Twas The Train Before Christmas pic.twitter.com/c2SjjnVP89

— Snowpiercer on TNT (@SnowpiercerTV) December 24, 2020

Happy Holidays to Richard and Sean🎄

Armitage Inspiration - My Inheritance Tracks?

• My Inheritance Track 1
• 
  

Richard Armitage was on  BBC Radio 4  on December 12 and shared his Inheritance Tracks (See link below):

https://twitter.com/RCArmitage/status/1337784307725852672?s=20

What are Inheritance Tracks?

"Inheritance Tracks Podcast. Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations."  BBC Radio 4

So it made me think.  If I had to select two pieces of music that I cherish and would like to bestow on future generations, what would they be?

I've chosen two:

La Comparsa by Ernesto Lecuona  

My Cuban side

My mother played the piano quite well after studying for many years, and until we emigrated to the US we always had a piano at home.  My favorite piece of the ones she would play most frequently was La Comparsa by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona.  

Comparsa:  a masked company of street dancers in Cuban carnival processions. Merriam-Webster

I feel the melancholy of a time lost forever when I listen to it now.

(see video at the top of the page and below)

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

My second choice reflects my US-American side.

The energy, vitality, heart, and promise of the US is what I feel whenever I hear it.

I also think of New York City.  A city I lived in for a bit when I was a child and still one of my favorite cities today.  

What are your inheritance tracks?

Audiobook Challenge 2020 - October Audiobook - Update October 2, 2020 - Second Update - October 7

October 7 -  Those of you that follow Armitage news on Twitter and Facebook already know that both of the Christie books narrated by Richard have now suddenly and mysteriously appeared in Audible Plus.

Initially it seemed purchasing the audiobooks was not a possibility.  Thanks to other Armitage fans with the same problem, the solution seemed to be to uninstall and then install the Audible App on your phone or tablet.  I unfortunately was able to purchase only Book #2 since I made the mistake of adding Book #1 to my library and downloading it on my tablet before I knew the trick. Very weird all around by Audible.

Why purchase the books since they are "free" on Audible Plus?  Because on Audible Plus they have an expiration date.  It's like borrowing from a library, except you are paying for your membership. I don't really understand how Audible Plus is a good business  move for Audible?  I'm missing something.

Anyway,  I'm now happy to have the two books back with Richard Armitage narrating and have started to listen to Book #1, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  

        OCT 2 - PLEASE READ MY UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS BLOG POST.  I'M TOO DEPRESSED RIGHT NOW TO MAKE ANOTHER OCTOBER SELECTION.

 

October Audiobook Challenge 

An Audiobook Narrated by a Famous Narrator

My Choice 

Two audiobooks narrated by my favorite narrator

RICHARD ARMITAGE

I have been waiting for the October challenge since I started this in January.  I was really hoping Richard would have one new audiobook out just in time.  Imagine how happy I was to find out he would have two books out on October 6.

Both books, The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Murder on the Links are Book #1 and #2 of the Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie.  

The release of both books this October commemorate 100 Years of Agatha Christie Stories: 

https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2020/the-making-of-the-mysterious-affair-at-styles

As a mystery lover, Agatha Christie reader, and admirer of Richard Armitage I am very much looking forward to listening to both books in October.

Thank you Audible.

📚📖📱💻

Another wonderful thing about the October Audiobook Challenge is that Listening Books has selected an audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage as one of their "October Listening Challenge - Listen to a Book With a Famous Narrator" suggestions:

https://listening-books.overdrive.com/collection/1117621?page=1&sortBy=listorder&availableFirst=true&collectionId=1117621

Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

Click below to find out more about this audiobook:

https://listening-books.overdrive.com/media/717133?cid=1117621

"Richard Armitage turns in a stellar performance of the lovelorn and hasty hero of Heyer's Regency romance. Even better, Armitage creates wonderful voices for the female characters--from the stern society matrons to the giddy debutantes. Armitage moves the narrative along at a breezy, gossipy pace that is perfectly suited to the novel's action and scene descriptions..." 

"The charm of Heyer's characters and Armitage's skillful performance will have the listener longing for more." R.F. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Update October 2, 2020

So today I received a mysterious email from Audible (see below) and contacting them today they can't tell me what has happened, or even when the two audiobooks, scheduled for October 6, will be published.  

Below is their email:

Dear

We have good news for you. The Agatha Christie title(s) you pre-ordered will now be available in the Audible Plus Catalog on their release day. That means they will be available for free. With that, we are canceling your pre-order, you won’t be charged.

Remember, you can keep your Audible Plus titles for as long as your membership is active and they remain in the Audible Plus Catalog. If you’d like to keep them forever in your library, you may purchase them on the day they become available.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have.

Happy Listening!

The Audible Team

10:34pm -

Another message from Audible tonight.  The two audiobooks have been "postponed indefinitely" 

Richard Armitage Introduces Us to Ken Follet's New Book

 

Richard Armitage greeted us today with a lovely video introducing Ken Follet's new book The Evening and The Morning. 

So good to see his handsome face. 

Research by several RA fans found out Richard is not narrating this book.  I wish he was.  But Richard gives us the news that he's working with Follet as a TV/film producer for one of his books, though he doesn't tell us much more.  

Searching on Audible I found that John Lee is the narrator of the book.  Lee is a very good narrator.  I know and enjoy his work, especially Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series.

Still,  I would prefer if Richard Armitage was the narrator.  I would certainly buy the audiobook if that was the case.  

So, is Richard producing The Man from St. Petersburg for TV or film?  Or a different Follet book?

Audiobook Challenge 2020 - September Audiobook

September Audiobook Challenge is

An Audiobook of a Classic Novel

My selection is Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Narrated by Emilia Fox

When I was a teenager the Bronte sisters were my favorite authors.   And my favorite book of the Bronte's was, and still is, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

But I've never read Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do so with the Listening Books Audiobook Challenge.

In September I will have a second classic to listen to.

I never read the tales of Beatrix Potter when I was a child. I'm looking forward to the audiobook,  

WONDERFUL NEWS - UNCLE VANYA PLAY WITH RICHARD ARMITAGE AS ASTROV COMING TO CINEMA AND BBC SCREENS

Richard also tweeted the following - good news for those of us outside of the UK:

I assure you that there is great ambition amongst everyone at @SFP_London and #angelicafilms to find a global audience and distribution of the film 🤞 What a thrill to be BACK!!! More to come....

— Richard Armitage (@RCArmitage) September 4, 2020

 Feels so glorious to have Armitage fans excited and looking forward to seeing this production on screen.  

-------------

One other bit of news in the announcement, Roger Allam replaced Ciaran Hinds in the production.  I'm a fan of both actors. But we can be happy that Roger Allam is a great actor and it's good news for fans of Endeavour.

Thank you Richard and all the Cast and Crew

FELIZ CUMPLE RICARDO - HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD ARMITAGE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

RICHARD ARMITAGE 

Looking wonderful at 49

August 22, 2020

I love listening to Richard's audiobooks. We've had a wealth of his voice narrating/performing a wide range of audiobooks.  And more to look forward to already in September and October.  Thank you Richard and Audible and the publishers, and oh yes, the writers.

Looking forward to the two new movie projects that have been announced for the new year. I admit that I miss seeing his face on my screen, in a movie or TV series.

As long as the filming can be done safely in this Covid-19 world.

Looking forward to Space Sweepers

Audiobook Challenge 2020 - August Audiobook

Listening Books Challenge August Audiobook

An Audiobook from a Series

A surprising announcement that I was lucky to see on Twitter and Facebook yesterday about the surprise release of Jackman & Evans Book (Audiobook) #7 in the series determined my pick for August.

They Disappeared by Joy Ellis

Since this is one of my favorite mystery series I was so happy to see this announcement, since I have been pondering what my choice would be for August. 

Not only a favorite book series but my favorite narrator, Richard Armitage.

Detective fiction and police procedurals are best when you have a great partnership in the main characters, and Jackman and Evans are a great detective partnership.  And one of the pleasures for me of following a book series is getting to know the regular characters slowly, from strangers to friends.  Yes they are fictional characters, but all book lovers know that fictional characters can become very real in our minds and hearts. This is one of the joys of reading (and listening to audiobooks).  

Richard has also optioned books from this Joy Ellis series for his new production company. I wish him well in bringing the TV series based on the books to life. Of course he has to play DI Rowan Jackman.  

TV production is difficult in the best of times, and these are not the best of times in the midst of a pandemic. I know Richard has a tough task ahead of him. 

Doing some fan casting, who would I pick to play Marie Evans with Richard as Jackman?  

I've thought about this since he said he had optioned the books for a TV series.  I'm still thinking, but right now I'm pondering these two (not that anyone will listen to me):

Rachael Stirling

Orla Brady

____________

I'm finishing another Richard Armitage narrated book today: