Author: Alex Diaz-Granados
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Books, Friends, and the Weight of Quiet Ambition
Late Morning, Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – Bithlo, Florida It’s a warm, humid, and mostly cloudy morning in Orlando with a current temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winds are from the east-northeast at 4 MPH (7 Km/H), and humidity is sitting at 90%, making it feel closer to 90°F. Scattered light showers are expected today, with…
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Book Review: ‘The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev 1960–1963’
📘 Review: The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev 1960–1963 by Michael R. Beschloss Michael R. Beschloss’ The Crisis Years is that rare gem in historical nonfiction: a book that not only illuminates a pivotal era in 20th-century geopolitics but does so with the narrative drive and emotional texture of a finely wrought novel. Published in…
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Movie Review: ‘The Battle of Britain’ (1969)
The Battle of Britain Written by: James Kennaway and Wilfred Greatorex Directed by: Guy Hamilton Starring: Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Edward Fox, Curt Jurgens, Ralph Richardson, Ian McShane, Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews, Patrick Wymark, Michael Redgrave, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York, and Robert Shaw The Battle of Britain (1969): A War Epic That Soars, Stalls, and…
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Being Seen in Kenya: A Quiet Thank You to Pooja
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Book Reviews, Book Reviews, Books, Comings and Goings (Short Story), Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Garratyverse, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Pooja (P.J.) Gudka, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, ReviewsThere are moments in a writer’s life when the work speaks louder than the person. When a reader—not just any reader, but one who truly listens—echoes back the emotional architecture you’ve spent years building. Pooja Gudka, the voice behind Lifesfinewhine, has done just that. Her review of Comings and Goings – The Art of Being…
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Book Review: ‘The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’
The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Five Novels in One Outrageous Volume By: Douglas Adams Publisher: Del Rey Publication Date (Reissue): April 30, 2002 Genre: Humor, Space Opera, Science Fiction 🛸 Know Where Your Towel Is: A Hitchhiker’s Primer for the Mildly Panicked Blog Reader If you’re reading this and you know where your…
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Movie Review: ‘The Princess Bride’
The Princess Bride (1987) Written by: William Goldman, based on his eponymous novel Directed by: Rob Reiner Starring: Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, Wallace Shawn, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Peter Cook For millions of television viewers who came of age during the original run of All in…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Rewards of Being a Storyteller
✈️ A Chewed Cover, a Plane Ride, and the Gift of Lost Love: Gratitude Reflections Sometimes, the most meaningful moments begin with a bit of chaos. Last night, my friend Dayna Pitcher shared a story that touched me deeply—not just because she praised Reunion: A Story, but because of how the book found its way…
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Midweek Update: M-Day Plus Three in Orlando
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in 4K UHD Blu-rays, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Blogging, Blu-ray Box Sets, Blu-ray Collection, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Movies, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaMidmorning, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Orlando, Florida Hey there. It’s my third day living in Bithlo, a suburb not far from Orlando. Florida’s autumn weather is as usual—warm and humid. This Wednesday morning, it’s about 77°F (25°C) with partly sunny skies. Humidity’s at 90%, and there’s a light breeze coming from the south-southwest at around…
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Echoes of Emotion: What a Thoughtful Review Reveals About ‘Reunion: Coda’
💬 Echoes of Emotion: What a Thoughtful Review Reveals About Reunion: Coda When Thomas Wikman reviewed Reunion: Coda on his Leonberger Life blog, I expected kindness. What I didn’t expect was emotional precision—the kind that doesn’t just summarize a book but listens to its heartbeat. Thomas called it “a love story complicated by life.” That…
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A New Chapter Begins: From Miami to Orlando
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Creative Writing, Garratyverse, GoFundMe, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Life in South Florida, Life in the Tampa Bay area, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaMidday, Tuesday, September 2, 2025 – East Orlando, Florida Hello, friends. As you may have noticed from the heading, I’m no longer in South Florida. After decades rooted in Miami, I’ve relocated about 200 miles north to the Orlando area. The move wasn’t smooth—our first attempt on Saturday was derailed by trailer issues that left…
A Certain Point of View, Too 