Review: 'Bates Motel: The Man in Number 9'

'Bates Motel: The Man in Number 9,' 2013, Universal Television. Written by Kerry Ehrin. Directed by SJ Clarkson. Starring Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore. Rated TV-14 for suggestive dialogue, language, sexual situations, and violence. Airs 10.00 p.m. EST on Mondays on A&E. Or watch full episodes on http://www.aetv.com/bates-motel/.


The trouble Norman (Freddie Highmore, pictured) and Norma (Vera Farmiga) have been having because of the sex slave ring seems to be at an end: Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell)  is taking the credit for stopping the ring and killing Deputy Shelby (Mike Vogel) in the line of duty. This should make everyone happy (it makes Norma ecstatic); but Dylan (Max Thieriot) is miffed he doesn't get the credit for saving Norma and Norman's lives. And he's still going to move out when his arm heals in a few weeks. 

Meanwhile, Norman keeps having erotic dreams about Bradley (Nicola Peltz), who still isn't answering his texts or calls. Norma wants Norman to pay more attention to Emma (Olivia Cooke), who she's hiring to help out at the motel. Norman sees this as the manipulation it is: a way to get him and Emma together more so he might fall for her. But Norma claims it's because she needs the help. 

Norman also finds a stray dog under the porch, who he names Juno. Juno is quite unfriendly, growling and snarling at Norman before running away; but Norman decides he's going to lure her with food and kindness, and keep her. 

And, finally, the motel gets its first customer: a man named Jake Abernathy (Jere Burns), who knew Keith Summers (Earl Brown) and had a standing reservation when Summers owned the motel. Abernathy is less than forthcoming about the information he's asked to provide, and it's pretty clear he has something to do with the sex slave ring; but Norma ignores all the signs and rents him the rooms he wants. 

On the Bookshelf: Books to Be Read May 2013

We're trying a new author, Irene Radford: 'Chicory Up' is a book we got from N3F to review for the club.

Review: 'Southern Appalachian Wildflowers' by Barbara Medina and Victor Medina

Southern Appalachian Wildflowers, Barbara Medina and Victor Medina, 2002, The Globe Pequot Press, $24.95, softbound, 215 pages. Category/Genre: reference. Cover: attractive. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.


Colour-coded for your convenience, this book is meant to help people identify the many beautiful wildflowers found in Southern Appalachia. 

In the introduction, you will find line drawings of a few different types of leaves, flowers, and the reproduction system of a flower. 

Each plant has a colour photo alongside its name along with information about the flower; a description is given, plus the bloom season, habitat, and other comments. There's a section titled 'Places Cited,' in which all the places mentioned in the field guide are listed, along with addresses, phone numbers, and web site URLs. The book also lists other places where a large variety of wildflowers may be seen. 

There's a handy section on additional reading at the back, as well as a glossary and index. 

Although we have come across a number of wildflowers that are not in this book, this would be an excellent source to have along if one were visiting the area. 

If you like this one, try: The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden; An Instant Guide to Edible Plants by Pamela Forey and Cecilia Fitzsimons.