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    Home » More Stuff

    My Favourite Book of 2023 plus Things To Read & Watch

    February 11, 2024 by Karen 78 Comments

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    Just a few of the things I enjoyed immensely recently. A book I love, but am only 5 pages into so that could bottom out quite easily, & a tv show I HATED the first 4 times I tried to watch it.

    It's been a while since we exchanged recommendations on things to read, watch and listen to because we've all been very busy reading, watching and listening to things.

    I have one month before seed starting season begins & I descend into my troll-friendly, rubble basement of Fred Flintstone's dreams. I won't come up until I hear the robins singing. Or Philip needs out.

    I have 30 more days to indulge in entertainment so we're doing this and we're doing it right now.

    It is February so I recommend you pair these selections with a snowstorm and pajamas made out of sleeping kittens.

    Not sure if our tastes align or at least overlap?

    SEE A QUICK REVIEW OF MY LIKES & DISLIKES HERE

    Now that you know a tiny bit about my tastes you'll have a better idea of whether we like some of the same things or not.

    Just kidding. There is NO predicting what people do or don't like.

    Table of Contents

    • Books
    • My Favourite Book of 2023
    • Television

    Books

    Click the photo to buy or read a preview of the book

    I've read a lot of books I was solidly unenthusiastic about over the past few months including a few I was looking forward to reading. I couldn't even finish the book Lessons in Chemistry but after some persuading I watched and reasonably enjoyed the series.

    I read the first 5 pages and loved it?

    Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars  - 3851 ratings
    Goodreads rating: 4.18 out of 5 stars — 45,869 ratings
    Google Users: 95% liked the book

    The Collected Regrets of Clover

    I read & really enjoyed the first chapter of this book about Clover, a death doula in NYC before the preview ran out. I tried to borrow it immediately from my public library but, as is often the case, it wasn't available.

    Or maybe it is. At the moment my Kobo and my library are in some sort of fight and won't talk to each other therefore I can't borrow any books.

    If they don't make up by tonight, I'll pay the $16.99 to buy it.

    BUY or read more about The Collected Regrets of Clover


    None of This is True

    The Winners

    My Rating: ⅘

    Amazon: 4.3 from 27,000 reviews
    Goodreads: 4.2‎ from 310,000 reviews
    Google: 87% liked this book

    My Rating: 3.5/5

    Amazon: 4.6 from 12,000 reviews
    Goodreads: 4.5 from 103,000 reviews
    Google: 80% liked this book

    "None of this is True" follows the life of Alix Summer, a popular podcaster, who befriends Josie Fair, a woman with the same birthday. Josie convinces Alix to feature her on her podcast, but as their relationship deepens, Alix discovers Josie's dark secrets. When Josie disappears, Alix realizes she's become the subject of her own true crime podcast, uncovering a terrifying legacy left behind by Josie.

    The third in the Beartown hockey trilogy set in a wintery, remote area of northern Sweden.

    You can read it as a standalone, but it's better to have read the 2 previous books, Beartown and Us Against You.

    BUY None of this is True

    BUY The Winners

    WANT TO READ

    WANT TO READ

    WANT TO READ

    This has been on my list for almost a year
    Winner: National Book Award
    Black author

    Amazon: 4.4 from 12,000 reviews
    Goodreads: 4.2‎ from 80,600 reviews

    Amazon: 4.5 from 5,000 reviews
    Goodreads: 4.2‎ from 24,000 reviews

    Amazon: 4.4 from 27,000 reviews
    Goodreads: 4.2‎ from 77,000 reviews

    Mary Jane tells the story of a teenage girl named Mary Jane Dillard, who takes a summer job as a nanny for a wealthy family in Baltimore during the 1970s. Mary Jane's conservative upbringing clashes with the unconventional lifestyle of her employers, leading her to question her beliefs and discover her own identity.

    BUY Mary Jane

    The Berry Pickers July 1962, a Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.

    BUY The Berry Pickers

    The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

    is Set in the 1920s and 30s, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store follows the fortunes of a group of Jewish immigrants and African Americans who live together on Chicken Hill in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. 

    BUY The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

    My Favourite Book of 2023

    I liked a lot of books last year but picking my favourite was easy. There was no other choice for me, it was the story of an octopus and his human friend.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    Remarkably Bright Creatures

    At its most basic this book is about a captive, mischievous octopus and a widowed cleaning lady at a small town aquarium. The story addresses grief, loneliness and how small acts can create big change.


    Television

    This year 2 series that I had abandoned a few seasons ago got my attention again.

    True Detective lost me after the fantastic first season with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. It got me back this season with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis.

    Fargo lost me after the second season but I'm back for the 5th, with Juno Temple and Jon Hamm.

    True Detective


    True Detective Night Country, set at the edge of civilization in a small town in Alaska, is turn the lights off, cuddle in, winter storm fantastic.

    Fargo

    Fargo stars Juno Temple (who you might know from Ted Lasso) and Jon Hamm (who you might know from everything). This series really is a stand alone season that doesn't have much of anything to do with the original movie or series. But it doesn't matter. It's good.


    This next show on the other hand I didn't like at all. No matter how many times I tried to watch it I never got past the first episode. No matter how many times I was sent a meme from the show, heard how fantastic it was or saw the cast and creators fly up and down awards show stairs - I didn't like it.

    Until, last week when encouraged by my neighbour I tried it once again.

    This time I gave it all of my attention. I closed my laptop, pushed my phone away and sat on the seed catalogue.

    About 10 minutes in I realized my mistake.

    This was funny.

    How did I not realize the first 5 times around that this show was hilarious? I watched the first season within a few days and I'm now telling everyone I see about how good this show is. I don't get a lot of surprise reaction.

    Telling people this show is good is like telling them having elbows is good.

    Buckle up f*cklehead. It's time for the reveal.

    I initially couldn't get through the masterpiece that is Succession because I was stupid.

    Maybe I was in a bad mood for the past 5 years. It's possible.

    But if you haven't watched Succession or tried but didn't like it - give it one last try. Without devices. And with a sense of humour.

    I went in without really paying attention to what I was watching and definitely didn't pay attention to the fact that it was satirical. I was just paying attention to the fact that I hated every single thing about all of the characters.

    Each and every one of them is a completely broken, car wreck of a human spewing the most outrageous, ridiculous, hilarious lines ever written for tv.

    And I'm so glad I hated it. Because now, while everyone else in the world is lamenting the end of one of the best shows ever produced, *I* still have 3 seasons of it to watch.

    I still hate Game of Thrones and no neighbour or amount of undivided attention I give it is ever going to change my mind on that.

    Unless ... is GOT also actually hilarious?!

    Now it's time for you to give your recommendations along with a couple of things you also like so we have an idea of your tastes. Feel free to mention genres I don't normally mention, like romance novels or sci fi fantasy. I don't like those things so I don't rate them, but I'm sure there are tons of other readers who are interested.

    ~ karen

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    1. KimS

      April 08, 2024 at 3:54 am

      Well at least I’ve got you tagged right…I searched your website to recommend “Remarkably Bright Creatures”. I KNEW you’d like it.
      I did too!

      Reply
    2. Pat

      February 15, 2024 at 7:17 am

      I also loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and hated Lessons in Chemistry and I also hated Where the Crawdads Sing, but I really liked American Dirt. Succession is on my watch list but first I have to finish rewatching all of Schitts Creek because it's simple the best!

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 16, 2024 at 12:36 am

        It really is. Ohhh Canada. ~ karen!

        Reply
    3. Kristin S.

      February 14, 2024 at 6:34 pm

      I love Resident Alien, which is just now on Netflix in the US. Alan Tudyk is delightful in everything, and if you feel like an outsider often, this is a wonderful show. Snorted coffee out my nose level funny.

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 16, 2024 at 12:35 am

        Good to know! I've seen it but never would have thought to try it. ~ karen!

        Reply
    4. GinaG

      February 14, 2024 at 11:40 am

      I just finished The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. It was awesome. I would have given it 6 stars on my 5-star scale. I've had Remarkably Bright Creatures show up on my Amazon recommended list multiple times and didn't understand what it was about. Now, thanks to you, I do and will read it post haste.

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 16, 2024 at 12:33 am

        That makes me happy! ~ karen

        Reply
    5. Cassie W

      February 14, 2024 at 11:02 am

      Those books sound pretty good! I am going to have to look into some of these. Have you tried bookbub? Sounds crazy I know but they email you when books you may like based on what you tell them you like are on sale cheap or free from Amazon to download. It helps me find new books I would have never found otherwise and free! Can’t beat that!

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 16, 2024 at 12:33 am

        Thanks Cassie, I know of Bookbub but I've never looked into it or really knew what it was. :) ~ karen!

        Reply
    6. Babs

      February 13, 2024 at 10:08 am

      The "King and I" watched "Succession". The most interesting part, continuing through the seasons, was between Tom and Greg. Way, way tooooooo much foul language which was completely unnecessary. My husband has worked with c-suite individuals and they do not use such language. Perhaps in the world of the super rich hateful and cruel interactions is acceptable. Then again, the decline in the culture of the US of A seems to prefer cruelness and hate and so the rot is everywhere.

      Thanks for the book suggestions. I cannot wait to read a couple. Have your read any Alan Eskens? Fantastic books. Give "The Life We Bury" at try first.

      Reply
    7. SH

      February 13, 2024 at 10:07 am

      Highest recommendation: Unforgotten
      Hilarious and twisted: Bad Sisters
      Hilarious: Catastrophe
      Excellent Spy Series: Slow Horses

      Reply
      • Rhonda Abel

        February 17, 2024 at 7:38 pm

        OMG you nailed it...I could not agree more with your choices!
        I would add Guilt to your list - not sure of the category, but definitely crazy funny.

        Reply
        • SH

          February 19, 2024 at 10:51 am

          Hey, thanks for the tip on Guillt; I will add to my list.

    8. CJ Charles

      February 12, 2024 at 7:43 pm

      Thank you for the recommendations, Karen! I truly adored Remarkably Bright Creatures and hope for more from this author. My other favorite books of last year are heavy on imagination - The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. The series we are deep into and love is Bear on Hulu. I can't wait to read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store or Needful Things. And watch Succession. Lovely times ahead!

      Reply
    9. CJ Charles

      February 12, 2024 at 7:40 pm

      Thank you for the recommendations, Karen! My favorite books of last year are heavy on imagination - The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. The series we are deep into and love is Bear on Hulu. I can't wait to read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store or Needful Things. And watch Succession. Lovely times ahead!

      Reply
    10. Cindy

      February 12, 2024 at 6:48 pm

      What are those large white orbs in your outdoor Christmas urns?
      Sooooo pretty

      Reply
    11. Helen

      February 12, 2024 at 1:48 pm

      I absolutely loved Mary Jane. To the extent that I bought two copies to give as Christmas gifts. Lessons in Chemistry was also a big hit in our house - the book and the series.
      So you’ve convinced me to give Succession another go. Although I have very low expectations.
      I heartily recommend two Australian tv series: Fisk and Colin From Accounts. Both quite different from the usual fare.

      Reply
    12. Kathy P

      February 12, 2024 at 1:34 pm

      I too hated the novel Lessons in Chemistry, and loved Remarkably Bright Creatures. I've tried several times to get into Fargo but it just has left me cold - I'll give season 5 a shot, maybe that will break the spell. I love the series This Is Us on Netflix - not sure why I never watched it when it was originally broadcast on NBC, but this is a wonderful TV - great writing, great acting - I highly recommend it!

      Reply
    13. Renee

      February 12, 2024 at 12:58 pm

      I loved Lessons in Chemistry!! Didn’t know that there was a series!! I’ll have to look for it!
      Thanks for the recommendations on books and shows!!
      I love reading your blog!!!

      Reply
    14. Jody

      February 12, 2024 at 11:59 am

      I loved Remarkedly Bright Creatures. I think octopus are amazing creatures so I read the book based on that. However the story is so much more! Here is a link to an obsticle course for an octopus

      Reply
      • Vikki

        February 12, 2024 at 2:24 pm

        This was So. Amazing!!! I'll never eat octopus again! Thank you.

        Reply
    15. renee pearman

      February 12, 2024 at 11:39 am

      The 'Heaven and Earth Grocery Store' is a complete rip-off of Stephan King's 'Needful Things'. At least the write up you posted of its' content.
      Buy King's instead. It was a VERY GOOD novel.

      Reply
      • Sandra D

        February 12, 2024 at 5:25 pm

        Sounded like it to me, too! I loved that book and thought it would make a great movie - but the movie was bad!

        Reply
        • renee pearman

          February 13, 2024 at 8:47 am

          LOL I'm never happy with any of S. King's stories turned into movies. Maybe esp. The Gunslinger. Probably because it's my favorite (the series) from all his works.

        • Sandra Dowkes

          February 13, 2024 at 9:17 am

          Carrie was my fave of his movies.

    16. Wendy

      February 12, 2024 at 11:13 am

      The podcast Ologies - Alie Ward. This is the most amazing podcast on the subject of science. She is totally knowledgeable and funny as heck!
      A must listen!
      https://www.alieward.com/ologies

      Reply
    17. Barb Hebert

      February 12, 2024 at 10:47 am

      Loudermilk (Netflix) is one of the best shows I've ever seen. It has humor, unexpected plot twists and deals with serious issues in a thoughtful way. At first the characters are sort of goofy but now I'm in love with all of them.

      Reply
      • Karen

        February 12, 2024 at 11:04 am

        O.K., that's the second recommendation for Loudermilk so I'll give it another try. ~ karen!

        Reply
    18. Genevieve Dee Gonsor

      February 12, 2024 at 10:28 am

      My favorite book this past year is called George A Maggpie Memoir by Frieda Hughes. A true story. Frieda is a wellknown artist with a famous dad who lives in wales and rescues a baby maggpie. So so good!

      Reply
    19. Carole Damske

      February 12, 2024 at 10:15 am

      I JUST watched the True Detective Series with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. So that made me jump to the North Country and I love it. Can't wait to see what the mystery is. Man those frozen guys, wild. The acting in both of those is fantastic!

      Reply
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    My name is Karen Bertelsen and I was a television host. In Canada. Which means in terms of notoriety and wealth, I was somewhere on par with the manager of a Sunset Tan in Wisconsin.

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