Better Than Friday - 117 (Patreon)

Happy Friday ya'll, hope all is well. 

The photo (unknown creator/subject) was found by my wife in an antique store recently.

Have a great weekend, thank you so much for your support. 

1. Just arrived in the mail - The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela 

I've been interested in the Mexican revolution after reading Carlos Fuentes' 'The Old Gringo'. This looks solid. Hell of a cover, no? 

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The Underdogs is the first great novel about the first great revolution of the twentieth century. Demetrio Macias, a poor, illiterate Indian, must join the rebels to save his family. Courageous and charismatic, he earns a generalship in Pancho Villa’s army, only to become discouraged with the cause after it becomes hopelessly factionalized. At once a spare, moving depiction of the limits of political idealism, an authentic representation of Mexico’s peasant life, and a timeless portrait of revolution, The Underdogs is an iconic novel of the Latin American experience and a powerful novel about the disillusionment of war.

Mariano Azuela (1873–1952) studied medicine in Guadalajara and served during the revolution as a doctor with the forces of Pancho Villa, which gave him firsthand exposure to the events and characters that appear in The Underdogs.

- Amazon

2. Alla Baianova / Алла Баянова 

I was imagining what the soundtrack for a film adaptation of The Master and Margarita would be like, and I found her, what a great voice. 

3. An amazing vampire film I'm kicking myself for not having watched years ago 

Near Dark, a Southern Gothic Vampire Road Movie directed by Kathryn Bigelow. 

Bill Paxton steals the show. 

4. The only Batman I ever truly enjoyed 

I was never really into comics or superheroes, but...That beautiful Art-Deco animation and orchestral soundtrack...Made a big impact on me when I was like, 5. Apparently, all the Latin-y lyrics are actually not Latin at all, but the names of the film's staff sung backward.

Granted, I never watched the Keaton versions. Pretty sure I'd feel the same. 

5. Jorge Luis Borges' Favorite Short Stories 

I'm definitely going to be reading some of these.