Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Blacklist is on my Blacklist

 I haven't watched any episodes of The Blacklist since that last post, and I don't miss it. I do feel disappointed that the producers or the writers of the show ruined what was my favorite show. Or maybe it wasn't quite that high on my list in the first place. After all, Star Trek remained my favorite show even during its poorly written third and final season. But to be fair to Star Trek, there were some pretty well written episodes during that final third season. So it wasn't a complete washout by then.

But I understand that Lizzy or Megan Boone hasn't even been on the show lately. Still I don't care. It had become a lousy show. It failed its audience. What the Blacklist failed to realize is that the audience didn't give a hoot about Lizzy or Megan Boone. It was a story about Red Reddington, starring James Spader.

And the first three seasons were great. But the writers, or whoever was in charge of the storylines, tested the patience of the audience and way too much. We needed to know by season 4 that Red is the real father of Lizzy. Sheesh, season 8 is getting ready to be wrapped up and STILL no one has a clue. Sure it's been made clear that Red has some super secret. And he has gone to great pains keeping that secret. Even from the TV audience. It was okay during the first three seasons. But it's not okay to keep this secret any longer.

Make it known once and for all that Red is Lizzy's father. It's the only thing that can make this show have any sense. And if they can do that by the end of this current season, I might just come back and watch this show again. But that's what it would take. I'm not holding my breath.


So you see that photo of Red to the left? That's not just Red turning his back. That's me turning my back. I'm turning my back on the Blacklist. And the Blacklist is staying on my blacklist. A blacklist of shows I don't watch, that is. We'll see if that changes. But like I said. I'm not holding my breath.

Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)