Day 2,336, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Keeper" Serves As Perfunctory End To Trilogy Of Ex-Pat Ex-Cop In Ireland

 

“She looks like she popped out of Instagram by mistake and someone should put her back in before she gets smudged.”

In the finale of the Cal Hooper trilogy, the former Chicago cop finds himself embroiled yet again in an unlikely crime in rural Ireland. 

As part of a rather on-the-nose farmers-vs.-townies encounter, he helps unravel the mystery surrounding the death of a young women torn between her fiance and the village she loves.

While most of French's plots require some suspension of disbelief (see my review of "The Searcher"), this one felt even more difficult to entertain than most. The narrative wanders and the characters feel a little too one-dimensional, leading to a novel that ends up feeling like the conclusion of a trilogy that was proposed and wrapped up all in one motion.

“She says, ‘C’n Kate come for dinner as well?’

“Cal is hit by a sudden sense of wonder. ‘Sure,’ he says. ‘She like tacos?’”

Day 2,331, Quasi-Quarantine: Greek Bacchanal, Mysterious Professor, And Insular Clique Drive Uneven "The Secret History"

“I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories, but now there is no other. This is the only story I will ever be able to tell.”

Elitism and accountability clash at a small liberal arts college in New England, as a group of impressionable students gravitate to an iconoclastic professor in Donna Tartt's first novel. The narrator, Richard, ends up there from California almost without agency, falling under the spell of his classmates and their teacher.

“After class, I wandered downstairs in a dream, my head spinning, but acutely, achingly conscious that I was alive and young on a beautiful day; the sky a deep deep painful blue, wind scattering the red and yellow leaves in a whirlwind of confetti.”

"The Secret History" often feels like a fever dream, with interiority being a challenge for the novel. Richard is often bullied, but he is also comes off as a bit of a fraud, which detracts from his reliability as a narrator.

“It was one of the reasons I loved him: for that flattering light in which he saw me, for the person I was when I was with him, for what it was he allowed me to be.”

The intense connections made between the characters can feel rushed and misunderstood. The dominant female character, Camilla, is granted little in the way of voice or autonomy, leaving her feelings about the events of the story unexamined.

As the action escalates out of control, a reader might wonder why Richard didn't just leave, especially as his place within the group feels unsecure and unnecessary. 

“He had never seen a gunshot wound. He kept asking what it felt like? dull or sharp? an ache or burn? My head was spinning and naturally I could give him no kind of coherent answer but I remember thinking dimly that it was sort of like the first time I got drunk, or slept with a girl; not quite what one expected, really, but once it happened one realized it couldn’t be any other way.”

As an unabashed fan of "The Goldfinch" -- the Scooties award winner in 2021 -- I was expecting a bit more from this work, but acknowledge that it may simply feature the growing pains of a new novelist. "The Secret History" is certainly absorbing, but some may be left with a sense of incompleteness and a wish that Tartt had spent a little more time exploring the interpersonal dynamics.

“Religious slurs, temper tantrums, insults, coercion, debt: all petty things, really, irritants–too minor, it would seem, to move five reasonable people to murder. But, if I dare say it, it wasn’t until I had helped to kill a man that I realized how elusive and complex an act a murder can actually be, and not necessarily attributable to one dramatic motive.”

Day 2,329, Quasi-Quarantine: Remembering San Fran Along The Outer Banks

 

A beautiful new tradition we've started is an anniversary-week getaway to Duck for some restorative quiet time.

During this year's visit, we tackled a 500-piece Puzzlefolk puzzle. The subject was San Francisco, to commemorate the recent spring-break visit to the amazing city.

The puzzle featured a stellar design and unique art, and we actually ended up starting and finishing it in a single evening. I would have preferred drawing it out a little more for prolonged enjoyment, but my partner was incredibly motivated.

8.6, would jigsaw overlooking the Atlantic again

Day 2,325, Quasi-Quarantine: Confusing Confluence Of Characters And Plots Mark Pynchon's "Shadow Ticket"

 

“The city had a long history of suicide, attracting pilgrims from all over the world seeking a Lourdes not of hope but of despair, assuming that suicide in Budapest, like love in Paris or greed in New York, would be somehow more authentic.”

A dizzying cast of characters and plots marks this late-career offering from Thomas Pynchon. "Shadow Ticket" is a hard-boiled noir detective novel that follows Hicks McTaggart as he spans the 1930s globe.

Much of the work feels tongue in cheek, as McTaggart tackles Fascist goons, the mob, and cheese syndicates amid the Depression and the looming specter of war. Pynchon nails the dialogue and the rapid-fire pacing, amping up the entertainment value.

“‘MPD says they’re on the case, some think it’s the Outfit, some say the Nazi Youth.’

‘Two different kinds of trouble, ain’t it, one you end up dead, the other dead and in hell.’”

However, "Shadow Ticket" feels like it's trying too hard at times, making for a dense, confusing read. Shifts in perspective, geography, and timelines can leave a reader searching for safe ground, but the myriad characters make it difficult to find it.

The result is a whirlwind of concepts and what-ifs, alongside an appreciation for the genre and the author that doesn't quite match the final product.

“ … While in the back at any moment might be standing in wait some hopeful kid, his own instrument bouncing back highlights, his face still in shadows he’s never felt at home in, as if, when the spot finds him at last, as he steps into the full light, he’ll turn out to be somebody we already think we know …”

Day 2,322, Quasi-Quarantine: Miami Targets Big-School Flyers On Busy Third And Final Day Of Draft

Following busy first and second days in Pittsburgh, the 'Fins picked a whopping seven players on the third day of a marathon draft.

Miami chose two fourth-round linebackers in Texas's Trey Moore (6-1, 243, No. 130 overall) and Pittsburgh's Kyle Louis (5-11, 220, No. 138 overall) and three fifth-rounders in Texas safety Michael Taaffe (5-11, 190, No. 158 overall), Missouri wide receiver Kevin Coleman (5-10, 179, No. 177 overall), and Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore (6-3, 233, No. 180 overall). In the sixth and seventh rounds, the Dolphins selected Texas guard D.J. Campbell (6-3, 313, No. 200 overall) and Iowa edge Max Llewellyn (6-5, 258, No. 238 overall), respectively.

The pluses: Moore is a versatile 'backer, with some demonstrated ability to both rush the passer and play the run. He's athletic (4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash) with short-area quickness, relying on a constant motor and understanding of leverage. 

Louis is a decisive playmaker with skills to play at safety or strong-side 'backer. Strong athleticism (4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash, nearly 40-inch vertical) and body control match well with his natural instincts, allowing him to find the ball and punish the opposition. He earned first-team All-American honors as a junior, racked up six picks and 10 sacks in his final two seasons, is a film junkie, and served as captain. Notably, analyst Dane Brugler had him rated the seventh-best linebacker and No. 75 overall player in the entire draft, giving the Dolphins tremendous value out of the pick.

Taaffe was a former walk-on and three-year starter at a premier program, earning All-SEC honors on the strength of his seven career interceptions. He is known for being a hard hitter with good anticipation, instincts, and straight-line speed (4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash), adding blitz skills as his career progressed.

Coleman has quick feet, steady hands (2.9% drop rate), great after-the-catch running ability, and a natural feel for changing route speeds. He was tabbed as the No. 25 wideout and No. 184 player in the draft by Brugler, so he was picked in an appropriate spot. His work ethic, Senior Bowl participation, and production (140 catches over the last two seasons) made him attractive to the 'Fins.

A former goalie in soccer, Traore has lateral quickness, strength (25 reps on the bench), and agility (40-inch vertical, 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash), making him a plus blocker in space. He's tough at the catch point (just three drops in his final two seasons, with 69 receptions), a solid red-zone threat (10 career touchdowns across Arkansas State and Mississippi State), and committed to continuous improvement.

Another three-year starter at Texas, Campbell is a former five-star recruit who earned All-SEC accolades in a consistent senior campaign. Displaying good leg drive and long arms, he's powerful in the run game, solid on second-level blocks, and uses a good first step to absorb bull rushes. He's also dependable, starting 43 straight games in college.

Brugler considered Llewellyn a fourth-rounder as the No. 18 edge and No. 130 overall player in the draft, making him a tremendous value pick in the final round. The Iowa product is considered a relentless, high-effort rusher, using a great get-off, ability to convert speed to power, and refined pass-rush moves to rack up 45 pressures as a senior. Llewellyn has solid size and athleticism (4.81 seconds in the 40-yard dash), posting a dozen sacks, nine batted passes, and three forced fumbles in the past two seasons. The honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice stood out in the Senior Bowl as well.

The minuses: Moore is considered a bit of a 'tweener who doesn't possess a dominant trait, meaning that his spot was pretty rich, considering Brugler had him rated the No. 25 edge and No. 188 overall player in the draft -- nearly 60 spots lower than the 'Fins drafted him. Due to issues in space, a lack of counter moves, short arms, and mediocre explosiveness, he lost playing time in his final season with the Longhorns.

No matter where Miami uses him, it will be difficult to hide Louis's lack of size. There were times when he was overpowered and overwhelmed in college, struggling to get off of blocks in the run game. He can over-pursue when chasing the ball and was less productive as a senior, partially due to injury.

Brugler rated Taaffe as the No. 13 safety and No. 170 overall player in the draft, making him a slight overpay where he was chosen. The analyst cited "underwhelming physical traits" (short arms and a lack of strength) and a tendency to "get trampled in the open field" -- suboptimal traits for a free safety. Taaffe is considered a liability in man coverage due to his over-aggression and a tendency to hold when plays are extended.

Coleman lacks ideal size and speed (clocked at 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine), has a limited route tree, does not stretch the field, and hasn't demonstrated much ability in the red zone. He played at four schools (Colorado, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Missouri), has a tendency to short-arm balls over the middle, and seems locked in at a slot position he may not be ideal for. 

Traore was chosen more than 100 spots before Brugler had him rated (No. 294 overall as the No. 27 tight end in the draft), and he'll be 24 years old by the time the season starts -- which may not align with the perception that he's a developmental project. He struggles blocking in the run game, partially due to his size and partially due to the fact that he's relatively new to the game -- with just six years of experience in 11-man football. 

Campbell can struggle with stamina and balance in space, shows shaky technique, spends too much time on the ground, and doesn't have the agility to recover or stand out on pulling plays. Brugler had him rated as the No. 21 guard and No. 248 overall player in the draft, leading some to consider him a slight reach.

Llewellyn only started for one season, and struggled against the run and playing with leverage in college. Scouts described him as stiff and predictable at times, with too many "almost" plays and a relative lack of experience for a 24-year-old rookie.

The best-case scenario: New coach Jeff Hafley shows his creativity as a defensive coordinator by using Moore and Louis in hybrid ways, while minimizing the deficiencies of Taaffe and Llewellyn, maximizing their motors, and developing them into special-teams stalwarts. Coleman finds a role as a punt returner with some affinity in the slot to boost a depleted receiving corps, Traore carves out a role on special teams and as a supplementary blocking tight end, and Campbell shows enough to find a home as a depth guard on the roster.

The worst-case scenario: Moore and Louis can't escape their status as 'tweeners, Taaffe turns out to be a better story than an NFL fit, and Coleman can't overcome the lack of polish in his game to stick. Traore loses out in a numbers game as an over-aged project and Campbell proves to be missing the versatility you like to see in fringe offensive linemen (99.99% of his starts in college game at right guard). Llewellyn is determined to have reached his ceiling and doesn't demonstrate the consistency needed to join the defensive line rotation. 

The bottom line: Miami targeted Power 4 players at the end of the draft, looking for proven, isolated skills against top competition. My two favorite choices were easily Louis and Llewellyn, and I think both have an opportunity to see significant time defensively based on depth-chart holes. 

You can't throw a rock without finding a need on this roster, but the fact that the Dolphins didn't double up at cornerback and invested such little draft capital in a pure edge is surprising at the least. Of course, this rebuild is going to take more than a single draft cycle, but it's fair to question some of the positional value prioritized by the braintrust within this draft. 

Limerick Friday #651: The Soccer Manages To Overcome The Most Blatant Of Favoritism -- Day 2,319

The competition was heady

The excitement was steady

Despite FIFA's incessant corruption

And every water-break disruption

I miss the World Cup already

Despite toil and strife

Some signs of life

Won a series from the hated Braves

Can the Mets make playoff waves?

Not if the injured list says rife

"Idiocracy" looks normal in compare

To this admin's depravity laid bare

The world's laughingstock

Nothing can be seen as a shock

When these bitches show how little they care

Another year, another infraction

Lombardi getting in on the Cheaters action

A laughingstock is Chapel Bill

The Holes want to die on that hill

More ammo for the sell-your-soul faction

Training camp has begun

Another low-expectations one

For the struggling 'Fins

The rebuilds outnumber the wins

But still ready for that football fun

Last time ...

Day 2,318, Quasi-Quarantine: The Bells Toll For The Irreplaceable Glen Hansard

 

"That's another day over

Go to sleep now, my son

It's a full-blown solid gold

Miracle you've come

"And your mother's a beauty

Your dad's a fortunate man

And he'll be back to hold you

Just as soon as he can"

Like many lovers of Ireland and music and Irish music, I was gutted yesterday when news of the passing of Glen Hansard reached me.

So many of us fell in love with Glen and Marketa Irglova in the stunning, raw movie "Once," and I'll never forget watching the duo perform as Swell Season at Maymandi Music Hall in Raleigh on the heels of that film. The complicated relationship between the two was explored in a heart-wrenching movie, aptly called "Swell Season."

The two would go on to perform together in a strictly professional relationship, with Glen's rough approach blending beautifully with Marketa's grace. We would go on to see Glen perform five other times, including in 2008, 2010, and 2023. 

Every person who was touched by Glen's music has a different story that describes that impression. I will always remember his covers of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" and Pixies' "Cactus." I will always remember his audience participation, including allowing a fan to sing a verse on stage at the North Carolina Museum of Art. I will always remember seeing him last fall at the Durham Performing Arts Center and his rendition of "Parting Glass," which has taken on an even more poignant meaning today.

I will always remember his description of the origin story of "Factory Street Bells," which he wrote as part of the process of explaining to his toddler son why his father need to leave him and go on tour. I'll certainly never be able to hear that song again without crying.

Glen had a way of making you feel like you'd joined an impromptu jam at an intimate gathering of friends or stumbled across his appearance at a trad session at a pub in Doolin. 

He was a storyteller, a bard, a troubadour in the true Irish fashion. He meant a lot to me and the best part of me.

I'll miss him dearly.

Ar dheis De' go raibh a anam