Just a few of the things I enjoyed immensely last month. Other than the bag of Frito corn chips I polished off this morning.
Because it's winter and you're stuck inside, it's dark out at like 3 o'clock and they're all the perfect accompaniment to flannel pajamas.
I try VERY very hard to download books from the library onto my Kobo (Libra) but sometimes waiting 2-28 weeks for a book I want to read seems torturous.
Yes, I've switched at least partly, to using an e-reader. I know. BOO. HISS. I made the switch when certain books I wanted to read were ONLY available as downloads.
After years of thinking of e-readers as miserable soul sucking inventions not unlike electronica or the office cubicle, I have not changed my position one bit.
I still prefer to read a book-book. I actually, genuinely enjoy the book more.
BUT the e-reader wins when it comes to reading while falling asleep because you can turn all the lights off in the bedroom and read by the glow of the plastic object.
Table of Contents
Books
Click the photo to buy or read a preview of the book
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
The Vanishing Half
Black author
I'm about ¾s of the way through this book and I'm loving it. I liked, Zevin's previous novel The Storied Life of A J Fikry, but it was one of the few books where I actually, for some unknown reason, preferred the movie adaptation which is available to watch for free if you have Amazon Prime.
I knew this kind of thing happened but to read about it was amazing, alarming and eye opening.
Washington Black
Black author
The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo
Not your average slave trade book with some of the most perfectly crafted sentences I have ever read. Beautiful, beautiful writing.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has a premise that I had NO interest in. But something compelled me to read it and I'm glad I did.
It's an easy read perfect for a night on the sofa or laying on the beach.
Horse
Pulitzer prize
I Have Some Questions For You
Pulitzer finalist
Go ahead and TRY to stop me from reading this. It's next on my list when I finish Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
Coming February 21st
I don't know when I'm going to read this. I just know that i am.
Movies
I'm more of a television show enjoyer than a movie enjoyer. But these movies I LOVED.
The Menu
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Triangle of Sadness
Television
The Last of Us
I haven't watched this. It's my weekend plans. By all accounts (from snobby tv critics to regular folk) this adaptation of the Playstation video game The Last of Us is genius.
That 90's Show
I watched every episode - but mainly top see the cameos from the cast of the original That 70's show.
Loot
I love Maya Rudolph. If you do as well that's the only reason you need to watch Loot.
If you have recommendations leave them below in the comments because there is ZERO chance everyone is going to like everything I do.
And the more tv, movie and book recommendations the better. We still have a bit of winter ahead of us.
The Inspector Gamache series of books by Louise Penny. It's set mostly in the fictional village of Three Pines outside of Quebec. A high percentage of people in the village are murdered. There are currently 18 books in the series and season one is on Netflix. Or Amazon Prime. Wonderful characters, beautiful setting, funny places and things sometime happen.
Three Pines is located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec just north of the Vermont border. Louise Penny writes with deep insight into psyches, but, happily, most of the residents of three Pines are still alive. The murder victims are often outsiders with deep secret histories that have to be discovered. Gamache is a truly great fictional character in the same league as, but quite unique from Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. (so far, only on Amazon Prime)
Can’t believe you left off Lessons in Chemistry. I’m pretty sure the main character shares many of your traits. Maybe you’ve already listed it?
Hi Tory! Nope, I haven't listed it or read it. I'll add it to my list! ~ karen
For your viewing entertainment, I highly recommend Sky Rojo. Yes, it's a Spanish speaking series, but it is dubbed for us non-Spanish speakers. It is one of many foreign Netflix series that we just love!
The lovely story of power, greed, money, sex, drugs, love, and revenge! It's got a great set of characters, and it's very entertaining! We binged 3 seasons in the course of a month... Easy to watch and follow!
I was strict books only until i relented and went to ebooks- then i switched to audio books and now cant look back. but in fairness i have a 1 hour commute and being read to is my little luxury.
All these are some of my favorites and all are very different.
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen (funny)
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman (mesmerizing)
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (magical)
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (thriller)
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (non-fiction)
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (beautifully written)
Mr. Mercedes (series) by Stephen King (thriller)
Prince of tides. In my top 5 favourite books of all time. The movie was beautiful as well.
Also loved Beach Music.
Loved three pines,hated glass onion ,banshees is in my top ten fave movies ,Shetland is awesome ,broadchurch , Bosch. Excellent. Went to see women talking the other night. Amazing.
Bad Sisters. It’s hilarious.
Three Pines! (Never like Alfred Molina until now.)
Agreed !!
Amazon prime....Based on Mick Herron's books, 'Slow Horses' (Slough House UK). where M15 failed spies are sent. Horrible farting obnoxious boss but wait... good acting, clever plots, action. But a small warning...language is rather rude in a Brit way if you are easily offended. loved both series.
Great list, thank you
Hi Bet! If they're reading my blog they won't likely be the kind of folks who are easily offended. ~ karen!
We just started Barry - loving it so far!
I tried Barry! I couldn't get into it for some reason. Weird. Because it's very much a show I would think I'd like. ~ karen!
I’m going to give a shout out to the TV Series “Ghosts” (BBC) version. This series has really grown on me and gets better with each episode. It’s a perfect blend of comedy, costume drama and, um, home makeover I suppose. The lead character Alison is a perfect foil for all the zany characters about her. Can’t wait to start watching the new season; it’s on CBC this month.
I like almost any British series. They always have a cozy feel to them. I'm a bit confused by the home makeover description, lol. But I'll have a look. ~ karen!
Watched both The Menu (interesting! Liked it a lot!) and The Triangle of Sadness (ummm…I don’t get it. At all.) last night. We saw Glass Onion already and loved it! Thanks for the recommendations Karen. We’ve got The Last of Us on our list now too!
Loved The Menu. Triangle of Sadness is on my list.
HIGHLY recommend Everything Everywhere All At Once. It's absurd, heartwarming, silly, kung-fu, and just very lovely. THE COSTUMES ARE FANTASTIC. I laughed and cried, and I don't do that often in the same movie, but it's not cheesy to me.
Will make you want bagels.
I'm so happy to see Washington Black on your list! It was one I found on accident but truly loved! Hope more people will read it based on your recommendation!
I feel like I found it a little by accident as well. The writing is just beautiful. ~ karen!
The Last of Us is amazing. I also loved The Menu. Strange twist to it. I binged Chernobyl (I don’t advise that) but it was excellent. Jared Harris was also in the miniseries of The Terror and was amazing. I didn’t like the way they veered from the book on that one. Dan Simmons is a great author. Just a little Steven King like. I’ve been home with a broken ankle and have managed to read myself out. I never thought that could happen.
Chernobyl WAS fantastic. ~ karen!
Recently read Horse and really glad I did. Much of it is set in Lexington, KY (USA) where I live which added another interesting dimension for me.
I have a few more pages of T&T&T and then I'm hoping to read Horse. :) So probably by tomorrow. ~ karen!