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.




Friday, November 5, 2021

Blacklist Season 8

 

I had given up on this show because it sucked for four years running. But the reason it sucked, as I explained many times, was because the role of the female lead, Lizzy Keen, was written so poorly, and the storylines around her were so bad, it was painful to watch. And since I'm not a masochist, I stopped watching. But then, as I explained, I heard they were getting rid of the character at the conclusion of Season 8, so I watched it for that reason.


And yes, by the end of season 8 she was killed. But it was just when they finally resolved the characters' issues. And at that point, I would have been fine with her staying in the show. My entire problem with the character of Liz Keen was her stupidity. She was so stupid to believe a strange woman was her mother. But she wasn't her mother. Liz Keen was just stupid enough to believe she was, in spite of the fact that the woman had lied to her. And in spite of the fact that the woman had put Lizzy's own child in danger by gaining Lizzy's trust to babysit the kid.. And in spite of the fact that the woman had murdered two of Lizzy's fellow FBI agents. And worst of all, for me at least, was how Lizzy was so quick to side with a strange woman just because she claimed to be her mother and then believing she had to hate Red Redington--the man who had saved her life many times over. 

It was just so stupid. Of course I don't blame Megan Boone. As I've explained. It's the writers who made the character so stupid. It was so old to hear how Lizzy wanted to kill Red, or whatever. So the final episode, when even Red wanted her to kill him, she couldn't, and that was good. So then a bad guy shoots and kills her. But I don't quite buy it. I haven't started watching season 9 yet, but Lizzy had been killed once before. But then she wasn't. Even the phony mother had been killed before. But then she wasn't. So now these stupid writers want their audience to believe Lizzy is killed now?

I won't hesitate to say I could have been a great collaborator for this show and the plot lines that have been happening. And I still could be. But shows don't run for much more than nine seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if this season is the last season. I'll watch it. And I'll see.

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