After a week’s hiatus, we’re back, and just in time for one of the best books in the series. From Russia With Love was the book that skyrocketed Bond into pop-culture stardom, thanks largely to a LIFE magazine interview where President John F. Kennedy listed it as one of his favorite books in 1961. Aside from finally achieving world-wide popularity, though, this book is one of the best-plotted in the canon, with a tense, cold-war premise and Fleming stepping outside of the formula he established with the previous novels.
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Friday Music
Hell week. Glad it’s over. Ready for a recharge.
This week’s selections:
First up — Shakira has a new album. Regular readers might recall that in the case of artists who record in two languages, I usually prefer the version in the native language. I’ve always preferred Shakira’s Spanish work to the English versions — but this track is an exception, entirely because of her featured guest. In the Spanish version of this song, she features Dominican rapper El Cato — but the English version features British rapper Dizzee Rascal, and I’m a big fan. Plus, the track is hot. Shakira – “Loca (English version, feat. Dizzee Rascal).”
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Friday Music
I know, I know. Late today.
First off — storms rolled through Kansas yesterday, marking the light-switch-flicking changeover from Summer to Fall. Upper 80s and low 90s with high humidity has given way to low humidity and mid-70s. In honor of the coming of my favorite season (and for those who might only be familiar with the singer’s more famous “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone”): Bill Withers – “Lovely Day.”
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