Sunday, March 06, 2022

While Miz Kittling Knits: Reacher

 


One of my goals for 2022 is to knit three Christmas afghans, and I'm keeping them all, not giving them away. I find that I do some of my best knitting when I have a lot on my mind that I don't want to drive me nuts. Give me yarn, needles, a pattern, set me down in front of the television, and the pattern and the story keep my mind focused and well away from the tendency to worry about things beyond my control. I've sometimes wished that i was the type of person who could achieve the same results by jogging or some other form of exercise, but I'm not. Even if I listen to an audiobook while exercising, there must be some quadrant of my brain that's not adequately occupied and I find myself striding into major worry and fret mode. *sigh*

I am happy to report that the first of my Christmas afghans is complete. It is the one for Denis. Let's take a look.


It's such a deep, rich shade of green that it's difficult to photograph. I used a pattern I found on Etsy that's called "North of the River," size 15 (US) 36-inch circular needles, and a double strand of Lion Brand Homespun in Malachite.

It's a simple pattern with a seed (moss) stitch border on all four sides and alternating stockinette and cable columns. If you're just trying out cables for the first time, this would be an excellent project. 

What's Denis think of his afghan? I had to tell him it's off limits until Christmas! I have to admit that it's nice and snuggly warm-- always a benefit of Lion Brand Homespun yarn.

Now... what was I watching while I was keeping my needles flying? 
 


Yep. Reacher. Even though I was preventing myself from worrying, I guess I still wanted to kick butt and take names vicariously.

For those of you not familiar with the character of Jack Reacher created in a series of bestsellers by Lee Child, he's an ex- military policeman. A rolling stone that gathers no moss and has a code of ethics that you do not want to cross. He's also a mountain of muscle, six foot five (or is it six?) which made it laughable when five foot eight Tom Cruise cast himself as Jack Reacher. Sorry, Tom, the size of your ego will not make you taller or more muscular on screen...

I hadn't read any of Child's mysteries, but I knew I'd eventually give them a try. Well, what I did do was read a few short stories, and although I liked Reacher, when I read one that happened when the man was sixteen, the suspension bridge of my disbelief collapsed, and I was content not to read any of the books. No sixteen-year-old has that much presence of mind!

I'm happy to report that this series on Amazon Prime is good. I wasn't in the mood for a lot of violence, and although there are some very violent scenes, they are few and of short duration. (I found myself either shutting my eyes or really concentrating on my knitting, and that worked quite well.)
 
Plot Synopsis from IMDb:
 
"When retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy full of dirty cops, shady businessmen and scheming politicians. With nothing but his wits, he must figure out what is happening in Margrave, Georgia."

The story worked well, there's a bad guy who played a good guy in Rizzoli and Isles, and Alan Ritchson is an excellent Reacher. What I didn't expect was the presence of two excellent female characters: local cop Roscoe Conklin played by Willow Fitzgerald and the mysterious Neagley played by Maria Sten. It's really too bad about Reacher being a rolling stone; I'm going to miss Roscoe.

As far as I'm concerned, Amazon can bring on season two as fast as they want to.

23 comments:

  1. I didn't think I would particularly like Reacher as I haven't read the books apart from, like you, a couple of short stories in a book my husband has. Wrong! I loved the TV series. Like you I had to look away a couple of times but otherwise it was top-notch and I can't wait for more.

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    1. Amazon Prime seems to have a knack for televising crime fiction. I wonder which series they'll choose next?

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  2. That afghan is gorgeous, Cathy! Such a deep, rich shade of green, and it looks incredibly warm and comfortable. As for Reacher, I admit I've not seen it, but you're now the second person I trust to tell me it's good. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

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    1. It's just like waiting for the next book in a favored series: HURRY UP!

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  3. I'll add my praise for the Reacher TV adaptation as well. We really liked it. And my husband has read all the Reacher books. It's a series the he keeps up with. He said - finally, a Reacher that makes sense. Yes, bring on season 2.

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    1. It still defies all understanding-- just what in the world was in Tom Cruise's mind?!?

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  4. Gorgeous afghan! I haven't watched any episodes of Reacher yet, but it looks good. (And I do love the books!)

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    1. You should have even more reason to like the TV series then! :-)

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  5. I have to admit that it took me a bit to get into Prime's Reacher series (haven't read the books) because the first two episodes seemed a little too "super hero" to hold my attention. But in the third episode, that aspect of the character was toned down just enough to be more believable to me.

    BTW, didn't Tom Cruise do a movie version of Reacher? I'd love to see that little shrimp standing next to this fellow.

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    1. I agree. The third episode was when the series really kicked in. Yes, Cruise did a movie version of Reacher. I don't think he's ever going to live that down.

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  6. Kick butt vicariously! Now that's a line to keep for future use.

    The afghan is beautiful. You know you really could make money on this hobby, but you'd have to knit a lot to make money and then it would be an exhausting, not fun endeavor.

    I do have Amazon Prime. Interesting about Reacher. I may watch an episode or two. Tom Cruise isn't the character to me. But I might as well try it out.

    I'm kicking butt and taking names vicariously tonight. As fast as I can.

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    1. You hit the nail on the head. I could make money by my needles, and I actually tried it once, but then it became work and then it became drudgery. Once in a while, I'll knit something for someone who will pay for the yarn, and that's good enough for me.

      Fortunately, Cruise's movie where he thought he could play Reacher can sink into oblivion. The actor on this series on Amazon Prime fits the part.

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  7. Why do I have to sign into Google to comment?

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    1. It's been like that for a long time, Kathy. I learned the hard way that if I let anybody and their dog leave comments, I wound up with spam coming out of my ears. If people have to have a Google account, it filters most of the spam out. It doesn't catch it all, but it is much more manageable.

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    2. Aha! Someone gave me a reason that is plausible for this. I certainly don't want spam to teem down on this blog. It's awful.
      Lately, every time I go onto a blog or Facebook or do just about anything, I have to put in user name and password. It is annoying. But if it filters spam, then I get it.
      I got into a mess with Amazon, but a kind rep helped me out. If I even breathe while trying to get on Amazon to buy anything, I have to give my name, rank and serial number, etc. It is annoying.

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  8. That afghan is in my favorite color! Good thing I'm on the other side of the country, or Denis would have competition for it.

    I've been enjoying the Reacher novels for years (willingly suspending disbelief), and refused to see the movies involving that pipsqueak of an actor. Your comment about the size of his ego hits the nail on the head. So I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed the new series. The trailer passed the 'eye test' of Alan Ritchson looking the part, which was a good sign. Now I either have to sign up for a Prime trial, or wait to buy/borrow the season on DVD ...

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    1. The next thing I know, Denis is going to want to put his afghan in a vault! LOL

      The suspension bridge of my disbelief is usually quite sturdy, but this one incident in that short story blew my mind. As far as this series, I'd say sign up for a Prime trial.

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  9. My husband is a big Reacher fan and, I think, has read all the books. I read a few just to see what he liked. I never really could get into them, but I've heard nothing but positive things about the series so I'm putting on my watch list.

    That afghan is beautiful - my favorite shade of green.

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    1. With people making such appreciative noises, Denis is beginning to feel nervous about his afghan. I'm almost expecting it to be locked up-- especially since the woman who cuts our hair is coming to the house next week, and that's her favorite color, too!

      As far as Reacher goes, I'm content with the short stories I read; I don't want to read the novels. And I'll be content to stitch and watch the man mountain on TV.

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    2. I am impressed that someone comes to your house to cut your hair. How can I get that done?

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    3. This is the first time she'll be coming to the house, and I hope it's the last because it would mean that Denis is well. She offered, and she's not the only hair stylist I know who does this. I suppose we're just lucky.

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  10. I haven't watched the new series and wouldn't watch the films because of Tom Cruise. I liked the early books, but the last one I read just didn't work for me!

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    1. I'm like you--I'm not about to watch the Cruise film because it just seems so ludicrous!

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