#Ruby Buxton

[forensicated]

Smiffina Episodes - Episode 143

We pick up from last episode with the bomb planted at the cinema and the first lot of uniform arriving with Gina to sweep the cinema. Gina's trying to sort evacuation of approx 100 plus people in the targeted screening. The manager is dumbfounded - they've been treating it as a hoax. Surely better to act like it's real and be wrong than the alternative? In the staff not acting, the people inside screen 3 are starting to get messages after the bomb warning is announced by the radio station who received the threat and they start to evacuate. The police try and assist it, however a little girl gets injured in the crush.

I'm amazed that they're only evacuating one screen and y'know - not the entire bloody building! Are only the people in that one screen getting the messages/calls about it? If you heard that there's a potential bomb in a building you were in, would you stick around? After all, how do you know how big/small it is? Why are they thinking it will only take out the one screen potentially? Also this is series 19 which aired August 2003. Yes it's 2 years prior to the 7/7 bombing in London but it is almost 2 years from 9/11. And in 2001 there'd been 5 terrorist bombs centered around London planted by The Real IRA.

CAD is inundated with calls. Smithy asks CSU to act as the call divert to reassure and to gather intelligence. Cathy agrees with a rather breathy and I imagine in her mind seductive "we're all yours" but given what we know about Cathy now - it's much more creepy.

Gina requests Smithy organise back up to her at the cinema. When the room is free, Gina asks Reg and Gabriel with Mickey and cinema staff to search it but not to touch any device if they find one. A male member of staff spots what looks like a bomb gaffertaped to one of the chairs. As they move slowly and carefully to alert Gina, the device explodes, sending everyone hitting the ground, injuring Mickey's shoulder initially and the male staff member and rendering Honey unconcious. As if she's not hurt enough, Gabriel has to perform CPR on her.

Gina updates the station and she and Smithy notify the relevant groups and divert more back up. FINALLY they start to evacuate the full building. Gina spots a woman smoking outsides and asks her to blow her smoke in her direction 😂 before she speaks to the press about the bombing and asks people to call in if they have any info.

"Puff it this way, darlin'!"

Gary, hopelessly in love with Honey, is worried about her and is angry that he's not getting more information about her and that Gina has asked Ruby not to update unless there's new information. Loose lips and all that - he ends up telling Gabriel about what he did for Gina after the little car accident a few episodes back, arming Gabriel with blackmail material right as he needs it, before he gets dispatched to an assault case.

The assault case leads him to St Hughes and Ruby where he can manipulate and intimidate her even more as she waits for Honey to come round. As they do, it becomes clear that the male member of staff is actually the bomber... and as they find him, he's sat at the side of Honey's bed with another bomb inside his bag. All because noone realises 'what he's worth' because he has 'more to offer than being an usher'. He wanted the police calling to the cinema so he could learn from them first hand because he's adamant he can be a police officer - but he was rejected.

After he and Ruby talk the bomber down and arrest him, Gina is very impressed and asks Ruby to reconsider her resignation, ripping the letter up without even reading it. (The second of Gabriel's infamously millions chances after Ruby reluctantly covered for him after he set one of her school friends up) . Gabriel sees this through the window and thinks he's gotten away scott free - however Ruby can't live with herself and she confesses to Gina that she lied on the stand. She knows she's committed perjury and that it means the end for her career... but she can't cover up any longer. After seeing Ruby out, Gina is desperate for a smoke and luckily finds one of her old cigarillo ends in an ashtray in her office, sneakily lighting it. After she's finished she goes to find Gabriel, seeing through all his bluster and telling him she knows exactly what he did.

Although it's not spoken, unfortunately for Gina, he knows exactly what Smithy got Gary to do without Gina's knowledge. She already told Gary she was keeping quiet for his and Smithy's sakes which gives Gabriel the perfect leverage to stop her making Ruby's confession public and reporting him... She does become aware that Gabriel knows next episode however. He applys for a driving course at Hendon and tells her he has a clean license including no drink driving convictions and she puts two and two together and nails Gary.

[blueharborhq]

hi lovely admins, here to pester you with another potential fc question for if/when spots open up: would molly gordon fit here/any potential wc’s you can see her in? thanks ❤️

Hello lovely! Both Soph and I, as well as many of our members, are big fans of The Bear — needless to say we'd absolutely love to have Molly Gordon here! In terms of potential connections, we asked and here's a list of some that she could fit. As usual, if there's any that we missed, members are more than welcome to add them in the replies!

Danika Chakravarthy's ex-fiance.

Oliver Ashford's ex girlfriend.

Saul Weissberg's secretary and/or a Weissberg relative ( unposted )

Jack Lynch's assistant gardener ( unposted )

Leonard Katz' publicist ( unposted )

Another good starting point for connections if you're really stumped is taking up an employee at any of our currently owned locations! On our location directory, we try our best to keep track of what is owned by who and any in-game employees at any location as well. Here's some that are owned by players that could make great options, depending on the character vibe you were going for!

Crystal Clear ( Giselle Finch ), Gulp 'N' Go ( Jude Buxton ), Honey Bee Tea ( Ruby Morrisey ), The Jade Palace / The Silk Road ( The Bailey Family / Nilay Bailey ), Latte Love ( Maya Jackson ), Lotus and Light ( Nydia Rivera ), MOREMUSIC Studio ( Elijah Falvey ), Nowak Equestrian Center ( Theodora Nowak ), O'Shea's Irish Pub ( Leon Wozniak ), Re-Chording ( Roman Daniels ), Thrift Haven ( Josie Finch ), Thunder Road ( CJ Welford ), Tres Amigos ( Antonella Ibarra ).

[zmkccommonplace]

I was asked to go on Questiontime & I said, “You don’t understand: I don’t know ANYTHING.”

Ruby Wax talking to Adam Buxton on his podcast

[brods21]

Day 6) Tuesday September 15, 2020

-Woke up at 10:00

-Had a turkey sandwich, toasted the bread with butter, added cheddar cheese with a side of cheetos and blue powerade for drink.

-watched the Minnesota Twins game. They lost to the White Socks 6-2. But Byron Buxton the center fielder (second fastest MLB player) scored an inside the park home run. Which was really cool to see. Cant remember the last time i saw one of those.

-Went to Mcdonalds for dinner. Ordered 2 mcdoubles plain and a med fry. I brought my dog Ruby with me. She had her head out the window the whole time so I'm pretty sure she had a great time.

-waited for Bailey to get off work. Played Fortnite for about 2 hours with Alex and Alden 

[juicyhammburger]

I just added this listing on Poshmark: Buxton cardex red distressed leather wallet.

[endernadra]

i fucking love books so here is my Book List

Book List

Cinderella Boy - Kristina Meister

Of Fire and Stars - Audrey Coulthrust

Symptoms of Being Human - Jeff Carvin

You Know Me Well - David Levithan, Nina LeCour

Gena/Finn - Hannah Moskowitz

The Love Interest - Cale Dietrich

The Ghost of Buxton Manor - Jonathan L. Ferraro

Autoboyography - Christina Lauren

Tattoo Atlas - Tim Floreen

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzie Lee

My Year Zero - Rachel Gold

Weird Girl and What’s His Name - Meagan Brothers

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Highly Illogical Behaviour -  John Corey Whaley

I’ll Give You The Sun - Jandy Nelson

Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

We Are Okay - Nina LeCour

Our Own Private Universe - Robin Talley

The Dark Wife - Sarah Diemer

Because You’ll Never Meet Me - Leah Thomas

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit - Jaye Robin Brown

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Allbertalli

Bone Gap - Laura Ruby

Inkmistress - Audrey Coulthurst

There Will Be Other Summers - Benjamin Alire Sáenz

[verdiprati]

Upcoming Performances by Dame Sarah Connolly

[NOTE: this post is now out of date. Check the schedule tag on my blog for the most recent version of this list.]

After the jump: an unofficial schedule of Dame Sarah Connolly’s future performances. Those of you in Britain may catch a performance in London, Oxford, Worcester, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Buxton, Deal, or Lewes. Those on the Continent may see her in Berlin, Vienna, Brussels, Barcelona, Rotterdam, Stuttgart, Bordeaux, Vilabertran (near Figueres, Catalunya), or La Foce (Siena). Plus, Dame Sarah’s agency has mentioned future performances in Paris, Madrid, and New York, though no details are available yet. Don’t live near one of these places? Take in a concert from afar: I am adding online broadcast and livestream details as they become available.

This is not an authoritative list. These are the upcoming performances by Dame Sarah Connolly that I have been able to learn about from Dame Sarah's website (not currently being updated), her agent's website (Askonas Holt), Operabase, Bachtrack, Dame Sarah's Twitter, and generally ferreting around the web.

Some of these listings are not yet officially confirmed; you should of course check official sources before making plans and be aware that cast changes and cancellations can happen at any time.

I have added links to venue, ticketing, and broadcast information where available. Tips on new information are always welcome! Please contact me via email (verdiprati [at] selveamene [dot] com), Tumblr messaging, or ask box (plain prose only in the ask box; anything with links or an email address will get eaten by Tumblr filters) with corrections or additions.

Brett Dean, Hamlet (Gertrude) at Glyndebourne, last performance on July 6, 2017. Also starring Allan Clayton (Hamlet), Barbara Hannigan (Ophelia), Rod Gilfry (Claudius), Kim Begley (Polonius), and John Tomlinson (Ghost of Old Hamlet). With the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski.

[Livestream] The July 6 performance of Hamlet is scheduled for livestreaming to cinemas and online; the online stream will be free to watch and will remain online for a week. The streaming of the first part of the performance will be delayed about an hour in order to avoid imposing Glyndebourne’s traditional 90-minute “long interval” on online and cinema audiences; the second part will be relayed live or with minimal delay, according to my understanding. Hat tip to Avis Melodia for mentioning the livestream in the Sarah Connolly fan group on Facebook.

Recital at the Deal Festival, St George’s Church, Deal, Kent, July 8, 2017. With Joseph Middleton in a program titled “Love and Life.” Update: although Dame Sarah’s recital is still listed on the festival website as of this writing, the Astor Community Theatre has announced that she has withdrawn from the festival on advice of her doctor. Ruby Hughes will appear in recital with Joseph Middleton instead. Update update: although the recital date has come and gone, I want to note that I belatedly found an announcement about Dame Sarah’s withdrawal and Hughes’ substitution on the Deal Festival website.

Wagner, Das Rheingold (Fricka) at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusets, July 15, 2017. Update: as of July 4, Dame Sarah has been replaced by Stephanie Blythe in the role of Fricka. The BSO site has been updated to read, “Due to ill health, and on the advice of her doctor, Dame Sarah Connolly regretfully has had to withdraw from the BSO's performance of  Das Rheingold.” Operawire took note of the withdrawal and WBUR has published a short interview with Blythe about her stepping in. In a concert performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Nelsons. Also starring Thomas J. Mayer (Wotan), Kim Begley (Loge), David Cangelosi (Mime), Jochen Schmeckenbecker (Alberich), Morris Robinson (Fasolt), Ain Anger (Fafner), Malin Christensson (Freia), Jacqueline Echols (Woglinde), Catherine Martin (Wellgunde), Renée Tatum (Flosshilde), Patricia Bardon (Erda), David Butt Philip (Froh), and Ryan McKinney (Donner).

[Broadcast] As usual, this Saturday night concert by the BSO will be broadcast live by WCRB [update: without Dame Sarah’s participation] and presumably will be made available for listening on demand afterward.

Recital at the Buxton Festival, Buxton, July 22, 2017. Update: Dame Sarah is no longer listed on the Buxton program; she seems to have been replaced by Sir Thomas Allen, who will be performing in recital with Joseph Middleton.

Solo performance in a fundraising concert for Common and Kind, Union Chapel, Islington, London, July 25, 2017. Update: Common and Kind has tweeted that “Sarah Connolly has a bruised cord and is unable to sing indefinitely,” which I take to mean that she has withdrawn from this performance. 

Torsten Rasch, A Welsh Night at the Three Choirs Festival, Worcester, July 26, 2017. Update: Susan Bickley’s name now appears on the Three Choirs website in place of Dame Sarah’s. In a concert with Strauss’s Metamorphosen and Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass. Conducted by Frank Beermann. A newly orchestrated version of Rasch’s song sequence A Welsh Night will be premiered at the 2017 Three Choirs Festival; Sarah Connolly performed the original version for mezzo-soprano and piano with Joseph Middleton at their 2015 Three Choirs recital.

Recital at Incontri in Terra di Siena, La Foce, Siena, Italy, August 5, 2017. With accompanist Julius Drake. Songs by Mahler, Berlioz, Poulenc, and Debussy. This is a small festival and advance booking is recommended.

Recital at the Schubertíada Vilabertran, Vilabertran (near Figueres), Catalunya, August 24, 2017. With Malcolm Martineau. Songs by Strauss, Zemlinsky, Eisler, Korngold, Copland, and Britten. Broadcast possibility: many recitals from the 2015 Schubertíada Vilabertran, where Connolly made her festival debut, were broadcast either live or deferred on Catalunya Música. There is a PDF on the CatMúsica website showing this recital on the schedule of summer festival recordings being made by the radio station, but it does not give an air date; the recital does not appear on this PDF schedule of broadcasts for July and August. We’ll have to keep an eye out for it in the coming months.

[New!] Songs by Bridge and Brahams in a joint recital with Nils Mönkemeyer (viola) and Marcelo Amaral (piano) at the Liederhalle, Stuttgart, September 14, 2017. Sponsored by the Internationale Hugo-Wolf-Akademie.

Mahler, Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, September 20, 2017. Vladimir Jurowski conducts and Maria Bengtsson sings the soprano part. Also with the Rundfunkchor Berlin. Tickets go on sale July 17, 2017.

[Broadcast TBC] No details yet, but the Deutschlandradio Kultur logo appears on the page under the phrase “Concert with,” so I am assuming the concert will be broadcast either live or deferred.

Recital at Wigmore Hall, London, September 29, 2017. With Malcolm Martineau. The program includes songs by Strauss, Zemlinsky, Eisler, Korngold, Copland, and Britten.

Elgar, Sea Pictures, Royal Tunbridge Wells, October 1, 2017. With the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra conducted by Roderick Dunk. In a concert with orchestral works by Kodály and Brahms.

Mahler, Symphony No. 3 at the Opéra National de Bordeaux, October 6 and 8, 2017. With the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine and the women of the Chœur de l'Opéra National de Bordeaux. Conducted by Paul Daniel.

Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde at Kings Place, London, October 14, 2017. With Andrew Staples and the Aurora Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Collon. Das Lied will be played in an arrangement by Iain Farrington for sixteen instruments. This concert, oddly enough, is part of the orchestra’s “Mozart’s Piano” series, pairing Das Lied with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 11.

G. Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, plus songs by A. Mahler, Zemlinsky and Korngold at the Oxford Lieder Festival, St John the Evangelist, Oxford, October 20, 2017. With Eugene Asti. This recital program perfectly fits the festival’s theme for 2017, “The Last of the Romantics—Mahler and Fin-de-Siècle Vienna.”

Wagner, Tristan und Isolde (Brangäne) at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, November 28 and December 2, 4, 7, 10, 12, and 15, 2017. With Stefan Vinke (Tristan), Iréne Theorin (Isolde), Albert Dohmen (Marke), Greer Grimsley (Kurwenal), et al., in a production directed by Àlex Ollé and previously seen in Lyon. Musical direction by Josep Pons.

Handel, Ariodante (title role) at the Wiener Staatsoper, February 24 and 26 and March 1, 4, and 8, 2018. With Chen Reiss (Ginevra), Hila Fahima (Dalinda), Christphe Dumaux (Polinesso), Rainer Trost (Lurcanio), and Wilhelm Schwinghammer (Il Re di Scozia). In a new production directed by David McVicar with music is supplied by Les Arts Florissants conducted by William Christie. Note: although Christie, LAF, and many of the soloists from this Ariodante will be performing the opera in a concert tour following its staging in Vienna, Dame Sarah is not scheduled to join them; Kate Lindsey has been announced to take over the title role for the tour.

[Livestream] The opera is scheduled for livestreaming on Sunday, March 4. There is a fee of €14 to watch the livestream.

Mahler, Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand” at de Doelen, Rotterdam, March 23 and 25, 2018. With the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The other soloists are Angela Meade, Erin Wall, Lisette Oropesa Erin Morley, Mihoko Fujimura, Michael Schade, Markus Werba, and Christof Fischesser. On choral duty are the Groot Omroep Koor, Rotterdam Symphony Chorus, Orfeon Donostiarra, and Nationaal Kinderkoor. Tickets go on sale May 15.

Mahler, Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand” at BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, March 24, 2018. With the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra; same details as the Rotterdam performances listed above. Broadcast possibility: this concert is part of the 2018 Klarafestival sponsored by the Klara radio station, so it seems like a good candidate for broadcast.

[Masterclasses] Teaching duties for the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme at Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh, England, March 23-April 1, 2018. A course on Handel’s Theodora to be co-taught with conductor Christian Curnyn. Although this doesn’t really count as a performance by Sarah Connolly, I am adding it to my “unofficial schedule” of her work with the thought that fans who live in the area might want to attend some of the public masterclasses Sarah Connolly will be teaching or the culminating performance by young artists she will have coached. (Note that the first weekend of this program clashes with the Mahler 8 concerts in Rotterdam, above; it is possible the students will start out working with Christian Curnyn and will pick up with Sarah Connolly a few days into the program.)

Handel, Giulio Cesare (title role) at Glyndebourne, June 10 through July 28, 2018. In a revival of the legendary 2005 production by David McVicar, with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by William Christie. With Joélle Harvey as Cleopatra, plus Christophe Dumaux and Patricia Bardon reprising the roles of Tolomeo and Cornelia respectively; also starring John Moore (Achilla) and Kangmin Justin Kim (Nireno).

Wagner, Das Rheingold and Die Walküre (Fricka in both) at the Royal Opera, London, September 24 through October 28, 2018. A revival of Keith Warner’s Ring Cycle, with Antonio Pappano conducting. For cast and date details, see the ROH web pages linked above.

[Details TBA] Future appearances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Opéra national de Paris, and the Teatro Réal in Madrid are mentioned in the current bio that can be downloaded from Dame Sarah’s page on the Askonas Holt website (click “Publicity Pack”).

Previous versions of this list can be found under the schedule tag on this blog. This version published on July 2, 2017. Edited July 4 to reflect Dame Sarah’s withdrawal from the Deal Festival and Tanglewood, and to add a link to the Saint John the Evangelist website. Edited July 7 to reflect Dame Sarah’s withdrawal from the Common and Kind concert and to add the Operawire link to the Tanglewood entry. Edited July 8 to reflect Dame Sarah’s withdrawal from the Buxton Festival. Edited July 10 to reflect the replacement of Lisette Oropesa by Erin Morley in the Mahler 8 tour and to (belatedly) add a link to the Deal Festival announcement of Dame Sarah’s withdrawal. Edited July 15 to add the Stuttgart recital and some updates to the Tanglewood entry. Edited July 23 to reflect Dame Sarah’s withdrawal from the Three Choirs concert. Edited August 4 to confirm that Dame Sarah’s recital with Malcolm Martineau at Vilabertran is scheduled for recording. Edited August 10 to add that it does not appear on the CatMúsica broadcast schedule for August. I may continue to edit this list if I receive new information.

[pookystolenkissworld]

#radioprogram #broadcasting #rerun #playlist #music #listening #pop #rock #indie #live #cool #catradioactive #series #easyday #hipster #shoegazer #anything #modernrock #dreampop #musicoftheweek #newrelease #flashback #britpop #jrock #jpop #jazz #citypop #instrumental Cat Radioactive by DJ Wasana Wirachartplee (DJ Ziggy) on every Saturday at 22:00 - 24:00 hrs. (+07:00 GMT) at www.thisiscat.com DJ Wasana Wirachartplee’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wasana.wirachartplee Catradioactive 19 Jan 19: Still Corners - The Photograph Holy Motors - Signs Buxton - Made For Now Winter - Sunshine Devine Cats Of Transnistria - Tunnel Ash Code - Disease (Hante Remix) Demons of Ruby Mae - Synesthesia cmfrtble. - Ocean Blue Grivo - C.A. Swervedriver - The Lonely Crowd Fades In The Air The Chemical Mind - Still And Silent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ldXd8ksN1s&list=PLU62MFne4NxAxBPW9157ChQhBc3f2t_8q Blind Moon - You Make Me Hate Myself Xeresa - Killer Easter Island - Always Room for Another An Ocean Of Embers - Last Night I Fell Again Soft Science - Enough Colourway - The Tide Rei Clone - Embarrassing Hollyhocks - Wilt https://soundcloud.com/pookystolenkiss/sets/catradiosctive-19-jan-19 Easyday 84: Seishiro Kusunose - 僕のうかぶ舗道い Senri Kawaguchi - The Phoenix Overrocket - Voice DORIAN - Señales The Summer Kills - Don't Go Away SUMMERMAN - White Ivy to Fraudulent Game - Parallel 米津玄師 - Lemon Yoshiki & Hyde - Red Swan Chimes & Bells - The Mole (Trentemøller Remix) Oscuridad romántico - Life The New Division - Jealous The Closer I Get To You - Herbie Mann Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth Ryuichi Kawamura - 古の炎 Playground - มุม The Killers - Land Of The Free Kygo, Miguel - Remind Me to Forget Seishiro Kusunose - Miss You Kahimi Karie - Elastic Girl Masayoshi Takanaka - Straight from the Heart Them Are Us Too - Amends Swervedriver - Drone Lover Radiohead - Fake Plastic Tree hide with Spread Beaver - Hurry Go Round. Queen - One Year of Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMJUd-86VB0&list=PLU62MFne4NxBMXdvTrNlaeJn8mloBkiDq&index=1 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs1-inuF3TG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=87dp3fl1wgu3

[sonicshocks]

Marc Almond’s impressive singles career is celebrated on 10th March 2017 with the UMC release of Hits And Pieces – The Best Of Marc Almond And Soft Cell, which comes available as a 2 CD disc, single CD disc or download and traces Almond’s singles career from Soft Cell through to his solo work and collaborations. Almond has always excelled at recording superb singles – he has secured a body of work that encompasses truly outstanding originals, covers and duets. Highlights of Hits And Pieces include Tainted Love, What!, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, the Number One reaching Gene Pitney duet Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart, his interpretation of Scott Walker’s cover of Jacques Brel’s Jacky with its epic kitchen sink production from Trevor Horn, a cover of Donna Summer’s I Feel Love with, Bronski Beat, Melancholy Rose and Ruby Red from the Mother Fist album, a Tony Visconti produced nugget The Dancing Marquis, last year’s superb The Velvet Trail, the glam stomper Varieté and another unforgettable cover in the form of The Days Of Pearly Spencer. 

Tour Dates

22nd March 2017 - London Roundhouse

25th March 2017 - Perth Concert Hall 

26th March 2017 - York Barbican

27th March 2017 - Buxton Opera House

28th March 2017 - Warrington Parr Hall

[hub-pub-bub]

Drawing on news and reviews, personal reading and publishers’ insights, LJ seasonally gathers the best forthcoming novels for your perusal. In this list, "Books To Get" covers titles published from June through September that have received the imprimatur of LJ reviewers, while "Books To Anticipate" ranges all the way to February 2020 to highlight the most promising titles, ones you should be considering now. As always, there are trends to note—a continuing boom in strong sf/fantasy titles, a concern with family, awareness of important contemporary issues from the refugee crisis to #MeToo, and more own-voices writing. For more June titles, see "Books To Antipcate" in Winter/Spring Bests," LJ 3/19.

Books To Get 

General Fiction

Coates, Ta-Nehisi. The Water Dancer. One World. Sept. 2019. 256p. ISBN 9780399590597. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780399590603. LITERARY/HISTORICAL National Book Award winner Coates portrays the enslaved Hiram Walker, guided by mysterious powers, who eventually rescues the family he made for himself at the Walker Plantation. "Coates cites Toni Morrison and E.L. Doctorow as huge influences in writing this book, and the scope and seriousness on display here would make them both proud." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Dukess, Karen. The Last Book Party. Holt. Jul. 2019. 256p. ISBN 9781250225474. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781250225467. LITERARY Aspiring writer Eve Rosen catches a break when she gets invited to an event at the Cape Cod home of New Yorker writer Henry Grey and his poet wife, eventually becoming Grey’s research assistant and landing at the couple’s oh-so-chic Book Party. But is publishing really that glamorous? "The ideal summer read for book people." (Web Exclusive, 6/14)

Folarin, Tope. A Particular Kind of Black Man. S. & S. Aug. 2019. 272p. ISBN 9781501171819. $26; ebk. ISBN 97150111826. LITERARY A Caine Prize winner and Rhodes Scholar, Nigerian American Folarin explores the difficulties of assimilation through the life of Tunde Akinola, whose family has immigrated to Utah. "Folarin deepens our understanding of cultural identity and race within the caustic malaise that is modern American culture." (LJ 7/19)

Horrocks, Caitlin. The Vexations. Little, Brown. Jul. 2019. 464p. ISBN 9780316316910. $28; ebk. ISBN 9780316316934. LITERARY/HISTORICAL Plimpton Prize winner Horrocks chronicles Erik Satie, the French composer whose elusive music helped usher in a new era, showing us a genius who could be a prickly friend, lover, and brother. "Horrocks turns what could have been a maudlin retelling into a heartbreakingly beautiful novel about the sacrifices people make for what they hold dear." (LJ 7/19)

Koe, Amanda Lee. Delayed Rays of a Star. Nan A. Talese: Doubleday. Jul. 2019. 384p. ISBN 9780385544344. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9780385544351. LITERARY/HISTORICAL In 1928 Berlin, photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captures rising stars Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong and soon-to-be-vilified director Leni Riefenstahl in a single frame, from which Koe spins a tale of racism, fascism, and the price of stardom. "Koe’s flawless and enchanting writing draws the reader directly into…this superb novel." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Montag, Kassandra. After the Flood. Morrow. Sept. 2019. 432p. ISBN 9780062889362. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062889393. LITERARY/DYSTOPIAN With America a mere string of mountaintop islands after massive flooding, Myra survives with her younger daughter by fishing and barter, then dodges pirates as she sets out to find her older daughter, taken by her husband to the cold North. "This postapocalyptic novel reads like a fast-paced screenplay: intense, visceral, and relentless." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Prescott, Lara. The Secrets We Kept. Knopf. Sept. 2019. 368p. ISBN 9780525656159. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9780525656166. LITERARY/THRILLER Two secretaries pulled from the mostly Seven Sisters–educated CIA typing pool are tasked with smuggling a manuscript of Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago out of the Soviet Union, their efforts intertwined with the love story of Pasternak and his mistress, Olga Ivinskaya. "Prescott writes with astonishing assurance, keeping the reader enthralled with tales of secret agents and intrigue, love and betrayal." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Ramzipoor, E.R. The Ventriloquists. Park Row: Harlequin. Aug. 2019. 544p. ISBN 9780778308157. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781488035142. HISTORICAL In 1943 Brussels, a group of dissident journalists and resistance fighters captured by the Germans are told to write Nazi propaganda but instead risk everything as they secretly produce a single-edition newspaper called Le Faux Soir lampooning Hitler. "First-novelist Ramzipoor bases her engrossing novel on real-life events and extensive research. Highly recommended." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Tomar, Ruchika. A Prayer for Travelers. Riverhead. Jul. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9780525537014. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780525537038. LITERARY In a hardscrabble desert town, Cale’s friend Penny has gone missing. But the real mystery is Cale herself, raised by her grandfather, friendless in high school, then looped into arrogant her former classmate’s glow until one fierce, mysterious moment shoves them apart and sends Cale on a quest to find her Penny. "Gorgeous if relentless and heart-ripping." (Forthcoming LJ review)

In the Family

Bobotis, Andrea. The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt. Sourcebooks Landmark. Jul. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9781492678861. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781492678878. HISTORICAL Bobotis unfolds the complicated relations binding the white Kratt family and African American members of their South Carolina community in a saga that’s both deeply affecting and thrillerlike twisty as it discloses dangerous secrets the characters have held close over decades. Finally, there’s the question, Who killed Judith’s brother, Quincy? "Rich in detail, this novel will transport readers between past and present, presenting historical issues of race, class, and belonging." (LJ 6/19)

Raheem, Zara. The Marriage Clock. Morrow Paperbacks. Jul. 2019. ISBN 9780062877925. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062877932. FAMILY LIFE Leila Abid’s parents want to find a husband for her in their South Asian–Muslim American community, so Leila finally agrees that if she can’t find true love in three months, they can play matchmaker. "This charming and humorous novel will appeal to a wide audience." (Web Exclusive, 6/14/19)

Savage, Lila. Say Say Say. Knopf. Jul. 2019. 176p. ISBN 9780525655923. $24; ebk. ISBN 9780525655930. LITERARY/FAMILY LIFE Nearing 30, once-aspiring artist Ella wonders if she’s wasting her capabilities by working as a caregiver yet feels she makes a difference every day. Currently, she tends to sixtyish, brain-injured Jill, who can barely speak yet whose retired carpenter husband Bryn shows her a tenderness that teaches Ella a lesson about enduring love. "Graced with quiet drama." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Smith, Sarah Elaine. Marilou Is Everywhere. Riverhead. Jul. 2019. 288p. ISBN 9780525535249. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780525535263. COMING OF AGE Scraping by in rural Pennsylvania with two older brothers after their mother finally wanders off for good, 14-year-old Cindy is mistaken for vanished glamour-queen teen Jude by Jude’s burnt-out hippie-artiste mom and enters a whole new life. But it’s not a lush Cinderella story. "Unexpectedly hard-edged and engrossing." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Tilley, Jim. Against the Wind. Red Hen. Sept. 2019. 296p. ISBN 9781597098359. pap. $16.95. LITERARY/FAMILY LIFE Six characters, from a transgender teen being raised by his grandparents to a Quebec separatist politician caught between her French Canadian lover and English Canadian suitor, grab at second chances. "Unbelievably, this is a first novel from an author with a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard. One can hope there will be many more." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Vatner, Jonathan. Carnegie Hill. St. Martin’s. Aug. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9781250174765. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250174772. FAMILY LIFE Newly married Penelope, still unfocused at age 33, has married Rick despite her parents’ misgivings. Now she’s looking at other couples in her fancy Chelmsford Arms building in New York’s Carnegie Hill neighborhood, wondering how they manage their relationships. "An excellent read for those seeking an explorative look at marriage in all of its various stages." ( LJ7/19)

Wall, Cara. The Dearly Beloved. S. & S. Aug. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9781982104528. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781982104542. LITERARY Two men are appointed co-ministers of a much-loved New York City church in the 1960s, with Charles a true believer though his wife is an atheist and James more interested in the social change religion can bring though his wife is a traditionalist. "Written with compassion and care, this book will be beloved by book clubs." (Forthcoming LJ review)

Sf/Fantasy

Beckett, L.X. Gamechanger. Tor. Sept. 2019. 576p. ISBN 9781250165268. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250165244. FANTASY In a 22nd-century world that has "bounced back" from 2060’s environmental devastation, people embrace highly regulated stability over privacy, and Rubi, a famed VR gamer–turned–lawyer for the mentally ill, finds newest client Luciano Pox a challenge. "Richly imagined, fast-paced climate change fiction." (LJ 7/19)

Buxton, Kira Jane. Hollow Kingdom. Grand Central. Aug. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9781538745823. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781538745816. lib. ebk. ISBN 9781538732571. FANTASY Buxton introduces a brave, smart, loyal, and caustically witty domesticated crow named S.T. (that’s short for Shit Turd), who wheels into action in hopes of saving owner Big Jim—and finally the whole human race—when apocalypse-by-virus hits. The result is an intriguing and humbling animals’ perspective on our world and just as intriguing a view on theirs. "Buxton’s unique sense of dark humor takes center stage." (LJ 5/19)

Fehst, Zach. American Magic. Atria. Aug. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9781501168611. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781501168628. FANTASY Incantations posted on the dark web could allow people to use magic—for evil as well as fun. So the CIA yanks back a difficult operative they let go and asks him to contain the problem. "Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan meet Harry Potter in this wild thrill-a-minute ride." (LJ 7/17)

Muir, Tamsyn. Gideon the Ninth. Tor.com. Sept. 2019. 448p. ISBN 9781250313195. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250313171. FANTASY In a world of lesbian necromancers and reanimated skeletons, an indentured young orphan named Gideon could win her freedom serving as the swordswoman for the Ninth Necromancer, herself answering the emperor’s call to fight. "At once sarcastic, sincere, heart-wrenching, and honest pulpy enjoyment, … Muir’s debut is a fantastic sf/fantasy blend." (LJ 7/19)

Naslund, Brian. Blood of an Exile. Tor. (Dragons of Terra). Aug. 2019. 416p. ISBN 9781250309631. $29.99; pap. ISBN 9781250309648. $16.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250309624. FANTASY A disgraced if brilliant dragon fighter is asked by Princess Ashlyn to rescue her kidnapped sister and, coincidentally, assassinate the Balarian emperor, who wants to drive up the price of dragon oil by killing all the dragons coming to breed in his kingdom. "Dynamic characters…, and the environmental impact of dragon extinction adds a new dimension" ( LJ 7/19)

Turnbull, Cadwell. The Lesson. Blackstone. Jun. 2019. 275p. ISBN 9781538584644. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781538584668. SF Technically advanced aliens called the Ynaa have landed on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, declaring peaceful intentions yet ferociously ripping apart any human who crosses them. Then, on the first anniversary of a teenager’s killing by an Ynaa, a vividly depicted group of interlinked characters are drawn into the escalating anger. "A compelling read....The author, who crafts speculative stories featuring black characters on par with Octavia Butler, is definitely one to watch." (LJ 5/19)

Suspense

Matthews, Owen. Black Sun. Doubleday. Jul. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9780385543408. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9780385543415. SUSPENSE In early Cold War days, as the Soviet Union races to create its own atomic bomb, a key engineer appears to have committed suicide via radiation poisoning, and the KGB sends a special agent to investigate. "Based on the lives of real dissident Soviets, [this novel] balances techno-thriller realism with human ambition, greed, and ultimately, love." (LJ 7/19)

Nieh, Daniel. Beijing Payback. Ecco: HarperCollins. Jul. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9780062886644. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062886668. crime When Victor Li finds a letter among his murdered father’s possessions confessing that he wasn’t just a hard-grubbing restaurateur but part of a globe-stretching Chinese crime syndicate he eventually defied, Victor determines to take up what his father couldn’t do. "Nieh’s tale grabs the reader early and doesn’t readily let go." (LJ 6/19.)

Vilhauer, Ruvanee Pietersz. The Mask Collectors. Little A: Amazon. Jun. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9781503903678. $24.95; pap. ISBN 9781503903661. $14.95; ebk. ISBN 9781503958654. SUSPENSE When former classmate Angie Osborne is found dead, Grace McCloud learns to her dismay that Angie, a journalist, had been investigating the miracle drug Grace’s anthropologist husband is now being asked to endorse. And the race to uncover a conspiracy is on. "An unsettling and visionary novel of suspense." (LJ 6/19)

Books To Anticipate

Angelo, Megan. Followers. Graydon House: Harlequin. Jan. 2020. 432p. ISBN 9781525836268. $26.95. ebk. ISBN 9781488051296. SPECULATIVE Dream-dashed Orla must blow off her literary fiction to write about movie stars and yoga influencers until she and new roommate Floss come up with a mind-blowing social media plan that pushes past current online ethics (such as they are). Decades later, in a sealed-off California village, the government-proclaimed famous live their entire lives on camera: "The black gem on her wrist nicked her gently. " I have a message from production, came the voice in her brain. I should return to an on-camera space….I have lost seventy-eight followers during this off-camera-time. " A deftly drawn futuristic setting creating au courant shivers.

Bump, Gabriel. Everywhere You Don’t Belong. Algonquin. Feb. 2020. 272p. ISBN 9781616208790. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781643750224. LITERARY Young African American Claude Mackay Love comes of age on Chicago’s South Side, raised by his Civil Rights–era grandmother and contending with the strains caused by vanished parents, familial expection, school bullies, a struggling neighborhood, and all-American racism. A riot convinces him that he had better leave, and he heads to journalism school in Missouri. But Claude will spend a lot of time trying to find where he belongs. "And my life went on like that: people coming and going, valuable things left in a hurry." An affecting story told in brisk, sometimes witty language with dialog that positively snaps, crackles, and pops off the page.

Colvin, Jeffrey. Africaville. Amistad. Dec. 2019. 384p. ISBN 9780062913722. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062913739. LITERArY/HISTORICAL Moving from the Great Depression to Sixties social protest to the economically unsettled 1980s, Colvin’s story of family, race, identity, and aching dreams unfolds in a small town in Nova Scotia settled by former slaves. "Not a single grandparent that she can remember was ever as mean as her parents," reflects put-out young Kath Ella as the narrative begins, and we see he life shaped by struggle and the continuing prejudice against those with dark skin, even as her son and grandson move beyond their home and family. An openly written, finely wrought family saga.

Goldin, Megan. The Escape Room. St. Martin’s. Aug. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9781250219657. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 978125021967. THRILLER Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are hyper-competitive Wall Streeters who wouldn’t think of refusing a weekend summons to corporate headquarters, where they are thrown into one of those ubiquitous team-building exercises. This one features escape from a locked room, but it "[takes] the concept up a notch by putting the experience in an actual elevator," with participants eventually tearing one another apart in that small space as a dark secret wills out. A twisty, harrowing tale of comeuppance with a backstory highlighting the divide between the rich and the rest.

Innes, Kirstin. Fishnet. Gallery: Scout: S. & S. Oct. 2019. 352p. ISBN 9781982116156. $27. ebk. ISBN 9781982116170. THRILLER/PSYCHOLOGICAL On the outs with her own life, Fiona gathers steam as she begins investigating the sex industry and those sucked into it from all sides. She’s just learned that her sister had been working as a prostitute before her disappearance six years previously. "When does it slide over? When do the walls rebuild themselves around you? The first time you have sex for money?" Published in Scotland in 2015, this Not the Booker Prize winner is caustic, arresting, and vividly written in multiple interlocked narratives.

Lefteri, Christy. The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Ballantine. Aug. 2019. 304p. ISBN 9781984821218. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780593128169. LITERARY In fluid, forthright language, Lefteri brings us humbly closer to the refugee experience as beekeeper Nuri and his wife, an artist named Afra who has gone blind from the horrors she’s witnessed, escape Aleppo and travel dangerously to Great Britain. "If they see me again, and I don’t join them, they’ll kill me. They said I should find someone to take my body," says Nuri to persuade the stubborn Afra to leave. There’s no overloading the deck with drama; this story tells itself, absorbingly and heartrendingly.

Pufahl, Shannon. On Swift Horses. Riverhead. Nov. 2019. 320p. ISBN 9780525538110. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780525538134. LITERARY In post–World War II San Diego, restless newlywed Muriel misses rural Kansas and wry, sly brother-in-law Julius, now working in a Las Vegas casino. While Muriel quells her anxieties by sneaking off to the Del Mar racetrack—"When she begins, secretly, to bet on the horses and, shockingly, to win, she feels strangely unready to share"—Julius goes looking for secret love Henry, who’s been run out of town. Smoothly written and attentive to detail, with an insightful focus on LGBTQ+ life in mid-century mid-America.

Reid, Kiley. Such a Fun Age. Putnam. Jan. 2020. 320p. ISBN 9780525541905. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780525541929. LITERARY Following a late-evening emergency involving her family, high-profile white blogger Alix calls her African American babysitter, Emira, who leaves a birthday party to babysit toddler Briar, wheeling her off to a fancy neighborhood market. It doesn’t take long for another customer to suspect a kidnapping, security gets involved, and soon Emira is on the phone with Alix’s husband: "In the same controlled panic that started her night, she said, "...They think I stole Briar.’ " What follows is a contemporary drama of social mores and racial attitudes, told in sharp, sparkling prose.

Russell, Kate Elizabeth. My Dark Vanessa. Morrow. Jan. 2020. 384p. ISBN 9780062941503. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062941527. LITERARY When Vanessa was 15, she entered into a relationship with her 42-year-old English teacher, Jacob Strane, who claimed to love her for her emotional intelligence and writing skills. Now, nearly two decades later, he’s been accused of sexual harassment by another former student, and Vanessa must decide whether she was a willing participant or a victim. "I hang my head, suck in my cheeks. What does this mean, what he did to me?" Rich, dramatic, and emotionally involving.

Watt, Holly. To the Lions. Dutton. Sept. 2019. 440p. ISBN 9781524745455. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781524745479. THRILLER Topnotch reporter Casey Benedict overhears a conversation in a London nightclub about the suspect suicide of a wealthy young man and follows the clues to a refugee camp in North Africa, a group of too-powerful men, and terrible acts that will shake readers to their bones. Meanwhile, Casey’s own actions raise ethical issues worthy of consideration. "Your trip out to Libya. Sounds pretty wild what you get up to out there," says one character, and it is. Fraught, swiftly written, and chilling.

Barbara Hoffert

Barbara Hoffert (bhoffert@mediasourceinc.com, @BarbaraHoffert on Twitter) is Editor, LJ Book Review; past chair of the Materials Selection Committee of the RUSA (Reference and User Services Assn.) division of the American Library Association; and past president of the National Book Critics Circle, to which she has just been reelected.

[maryjoo441272635-blog]

Rustlin’ Up A Lot More Bulges!

The Giornate del Cinema Muto honours the half a century existence of The Ceremony's Gone By. English movie historian Kevin Brownlow's classic oral history questionnaire was very first released in 1968. IT solutions provider having offices in Kharadi knowledge Park and also Weikfield IT Citi Info Playground, Nagar Roadway in Pune. By 2004, nearly all of Australia's narcotics addicts in treatment were on methadone or buprenorphine, and the country had lowered its own overdose fatalities. Excessive time had passed in between my very first enjoying "Tomorrow is One More Time" and also the date when I installed the breast images of Steve and also my thoughts fuzzed out on the film's label. If there are more than 25 individuals in the bust, as well as you don't wish to find anything previous placement 25, you must eliminate teams 6, 7 as well as 8 coming from the door under Options-Move!. I am sure there are actually Olympus celebrations to permit consumers to try the brand new E-M1 Score II in your region? I possessed a wonderful opportunity checking out (and, in many situations, rewatching) each of these. Put together your times (as well as if you wish, your hots) and then provide the account a title, tick off box that mentions Specification 1 and also struck Save. See Neighborhood Rail Walks' Webpage for path information. - absolute forerunner in between motion picture streaming sites for a long time, as well as additionally most commonly made use of and also very most prominent internet site for viewing motion pictures. Satisfy take note that the Community Rail Walk on Saturday, September 15th is actually cancelled as there is a strike on Northern about that day without any trains to Bromley Cross. Twenty one individuals ended up for today's Rail Rambler to Alderley Edge along with instead darkened health conditions however not too bad underfoot. NB The Ribble Valley Rambler learn will certainly run as in the schedule On Sunday the train to Blackburn is leaving behind Bolton at reserved time thus will certainly get in touch with the Ribble Lowland Rambler train.

Occasionally the binary time clock gets out by ten hrs after specifying it by doing this, I can not keep in mind the particular sequence of vents right now, yet I managed to redo it a number of times. Initially one is color for structure if the player is targeted (by nonpayment white. Total information of walks and times on the pertinent web page. The parrot shots has diminished or even also removed lots of hesitations concerning convenience of that electronical shutter abilities and the velocity genuinely is remarkable, great work that Olympus has carried out. Want to find you on this Saturday's Rail Rambler to the Buxton region. I removed it down entirely this morning and web-Beautyann.info also remade it. 3 of the ds1307 modules were actually certainly not maintaining the amount of time when I unplugged the clock from the power as well as connected it back in once again. If having said that, you like your macros to do quite specific things, you as if adjectives and also streak combinations etc., you can easily either help make the macros on your own in the nonpayment macro blizz menu, as well as tie to the mouse buttons or drag all of them to the action bars and also make use of as any kind of routine mouseover macros or even you can easily use the Options-Spells-Keys Resident section of vuhdo to use less macro space.So connecting the +5 V and GND pins coming from the show board to the ELECTRICAL POWER +5 V and also GND pins should work? IT as well as program solutions firm. Some of the info in the imprinted paper copy of the Rail Rambler Program associating with 'Ticket Info' errs.Deals software program services using Ruby on Side rails. They had free snacks and lots of movies, featuring all sort of B movies and also bizarre creed movies you can not locate anywhere. Our company haven't as yet created a walks' programme in case the service experiences routine terminations as carried out DalesRail.He possesses likewise possessed momentous duties in various cult faves, including John Woodworker's films The Thing (as Childs) and They Live (as Armitage), the Riddick movies Sound Afro-american as well as The Chronicles of Riddick (as the Imam), and also as Master in Oliver Rock's Army.

[agladman]

2017 is almost over, and like lots of you, no doubt, I find myself looking back over the year and thinking about some of the memories that stand out.

This year saw lots of beery beginnings for me. 2017 was the year I began my training as a beer sommelier. It was the year I began home brewing, after a friend and I bought a Grainfather together. And it was the year I began writing about beer on this blog.

Although I love drinking local and will always champion British beer, the beers on this year’s list are all from further afield: German beers provided some welcome discoveries while Belgian beers featured strongly in the upper reaches of my untappd ratings. A couple of beers from the USA were real revelations.

My beers of 2017

This list isn’t necessarily beers that were released in 2017. Rather, it’s a round up of the beers I enjoyed the most in the last year.

5. Schneider Weisse Mein Aventinus (TAP6)

Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn Weizenbock // 8.2%

“Dark ruby, glistening mysteriously, streaked with fine, top-fermented yeast, this beer has a compact, stable and long-lasting head. It has an intensive, typically top-fermented clove-like aroma. The palate experiences a gentle touch, on the tongue it is very full-bodied, compact and yet fresh with a hint of caramel. It finishes with a light and delicate taste of bitters leaving behind a strong, smoothly rounded, sour impression.”

Schneider Weisse Mein Aventinus has a beautiful malty sweetness with pronounced fruit notes from the yeast.

I paired this one night with a Tarte Tatin and some custard and it was amazing. The malt sweetness and fruit paired with the pastry and caramelised apple, plus the slightly spicy notes. The vanilla in the beer echoed the custard, before the carbonation came to cut through the lot and clear my palate.

4. Oude Kriek (Vieille) (2013)

Brouwerij Oud Beersel Lambic – Kriek // 6.5%

“Oud Beersel Oude Kriek has a pleasant sourness of champagne. The real cherries unveil an overwhelming fruitiness and the touch of almonds of the pip completes the joy. The spontaneous re-fermentation marries the cherries with the lambic and form together a pleasant tasting experience.”

I’ve long loved a Kriek. There’s something about the combination of sour lambic and cherries that really appeals to my palate.

Oud Beersel Oude Kriek has the full, rounded cherry flavour and the almond and marzipan notes from the pits that lift it above other examples. It displays just the right level of tartness and fruit character. This is definitely a sophisticated, grown up drink rather than a crassly sweet fruit beer.

https://twitter.com/agladman/status/935659226067881985

3. Trappist Westvleteren 12

Brouwerij De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren Belgian Quadrupel // 10.2%

Westy 12, the beer with a reputation that is hard to ignore

“The heaviest of the Westvleteren beers, the 12 is a quadrupel style beer, which can be recognized by its yellow cap. Like the other Westvleteren beers, the bottle does not have a label, and the cap therefore has all the required information.

I’d heard plenty about this beer of course; show me one beer nerd who hasn’t. I’d read the blog posts and watched the videos online of people tasting and reviewing this beer. But I’d never got hold of any until earlier this year.

When I finally tried this for myself I found it full of rich dark sugars and dark fruits. It was rich and malty with a bready sweetness, and also yeasty and packed full of esters. I found flavours of toffee, vanilla, dark boozy cherries, dates, plums, raisins, fruit cake, and just the tiniest amount of hops to balance it all and give a gently drying finish. It was was silky-smooth and balanced.

Despite being just over 10% ABV it did not taste like a strong beer. I had to pay close attention to find signs of its strength in the way it coated the glass, and in the stickiness it left on my lips, mouth and teeth; and also in the alcohol warmth in my throat.

The Westvleteren 12 has always been rated high on beer reviews, and is by some considered to be the best beer in the world.

Yes, some people claim this is the best beer in the world. And yes, it’s certainly a good beer; a great one, even. But personally I wouldn’t say this is the best beer I’ve ever had.

2. Mash & Vanilla

The Bruery Barleywine // 13.3%

“This is our classic bourbon barrel-aged barleywine – kicked up a notch. We took Mash, already oaky, sticky and sweet, and amplified its barrel character with the addition of fresh vanilla beans. This vanilla prominence is complemented by the woody bourbon flavors and coconut notes that are imparted to the beer as part of its extensive maturation in oak bourbon barrels. Mash & Vanilla is best enjoyed fresh to experience the vanilla flavors at peak strength.”

When I tasted this beer I encountered vanilla, caramel, coconut, oak, and bourbon. It was rich and smooth with a pronounced alcohol kick giving warmth in my throat long after that first stupendous mouthful.

What really impressed me was how intense, crisp, and clean the flavours were. Each one was pronounced and distinct; there was no muddiness or mixing. This was clearly a very accomplished beer from brewers who really know their craft.

Mash & Vanilla is a big beer in a big bottle, and definitely too much for one person, so find someone special to share it with.

  1. Noyaux (2015)

Cascade Brewing Company (USA) Sour ale // 8.3%

So this for me was the flavour revelation of the year. It was everything I’d been hoping for and more.

I bought a 750ml bottle of Cascade Noyaux 2015 to take to a bottle share. I wanted something special of course, but in particular I wanted something light and refreshing.

This bottle share was in the depths of November, so there would most likely be lots of dark heavy beers on offer. I chose this sour ale to cut through all of these and provide a flavour counterpoint.

“Blond ales aged in oak wine barrels with raspberries and apricot noyaux.”

The plural ales there suggests an element of mixing and blending – perhaps in the same way a gueuze is made by blending old and young lambics. The wood ageing also points to similar methods being used.

The addition of fruit is, again, well known territory for anyone familiar with Belgian beers. But what about these mysterious noyaux?

Noyaux is the French word for the kernels found in the pits of stone fruits, namely cherry, apricot, plum, and peach.

Sometimes you know a beer is going to be good to second you open it. There’s something in that first volatile aroma escaping from the bottle, when it hits you even from so far away, that tells you this bottle in your hand holds no ordinary beer.

It had a vivid immediacy and striking character that I can still recall clearly in my mind. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

So, before I forget… Nose was wet wood, (maybe white) wine barrels and funk, similar to Rodenbach without the depth of red fruit… Taste was wood and funk, apricot, almond, green apples, white grapes, tartness and a drying finish, carbonation and body all in point, superb balance, immensely moreish, amazingly well brewed, wonderful wonderful stuff.

A post shared by Anthony Gladman (@agladman) on Dec 8, 2017 at 3:28pm PST

When it was gone, I continued sniffing my glass for quite some time afterwards, still enjoying the aroma that lingered there. I’ve come to know this as a reliable sign of a really great beer.

Other honourable mentions

Here are some other beers that I also enjoyed very much over the course of 2017. While these didn’t stick in my mind quite as much as the ones above they were still all exceptional beers for one reason or another.

    Yellow Belly // Omnipollo x Buxton // Imperial Stout // 11%

Arabier // Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers // Belgian Strong Golden Ale // 8%

Original Texas Pecan Ice Cream // Omnipollo // Imperial Porter // 10%

Oerbier // Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers // Belgian Strong Dark Ale // 9%

Vintage 2012 (Barrel No. 170) // Brouwerij Rodenbach // Sour – Flanders Red Ale // 7%

DIPA V13 // Cloudwater Brew Co. // Double IPA // 9%

  Your best beers of 2017

Have you tried any of the ones I mentioned above? What did you think of them? Perhaps you had something fantastic that wasn’t on my list. Let me know in the comments what beers really stood out for you in 2017.

Here's a list of some of the beers I've enjoyed the most in 2017. 2017 is almost over, and like lots of you, no doubt, I find myself looking back over the year and thinking about some of the memories that stand out.