I think this month's list is an especially good one. Books, movies & television show ideas for the month of May including a tv show that I'm obsessed with - yet cannot find a single OTHER person who is watching it. Unless you are?
For any of my readers who prefer reading material that's longer than 140 characters, and movies that surpass 30 seconds.
For anyone new, I like to include a quick review of things I do and do not love.
Table of Contents
Love
Books
TV
Movies
Geek Love, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Book of Negroes, Lonesome Dove, Middlesex, A Man Called Ove, Little House on the Prairie series
Shameless, Sex in the City, Doc Martin, Call the Midwife, anything with Chris O'Dowd, Please Like Me, Downton Abbey, VEEP
The Menu, Women Talking, Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Sing Street, any horrible Hallmark Mystery Movie, The Princess Bride
Didn't Love
Books
TV
Movies
Remains of the Day, A Gentleman in Moscow, self-help books, American Dirt, Where the Crawdads Sing
You, Game of Thrones, Grey's Anatomy, Fleabag, Westworld, Better Call Saul,
Titanic, Hamilton, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Banshees of Inisherin, Avatar, Deadpool, Where the Crawdads Sing (omgsoawful)
So now you know a tiny bit about my tastes you'll have a better idea if what I like might be something you'll like.
Just kidding. There is NO predicting what people like or don't like. Even *I* think I should have liked Game of Thrones. I didn't. At all.
Books
Currently Reading ... and undecided on it.
I knew I might end up being disappointed by this novel from Alice Hoffman because this genre is one of my favourites; circus folk. I've only read a few hundred pages and although it's good, I'm not finding the characters to be nearly as compelling as some of my other favourite circus themed novels.
I'll reserve judgement though (no seriously I will) until I've finished the book.
BUY or read more about The Museum of Extraordinary Things
If you're interested in circus themed books, these are my 3 absolute favourites.
The Spoon Stealer
Mercy House
I'VE READ IT
(an Art of Doing Stuff reader recommendation)
I'VE READ IT
Emmeline, a resilient woman, escapes her troubled family in rural Nova Scotia and settles in England. Living with her best friend Vera, a small white dog, she joins a memoir-writing course where her life story and personality captivates her classmates.
Emmeline is also a compulsive spoon stealer.
★★★★☆
Renegade nun Sister Evelyn and her fellow sisters protect abused women in a historic Brooklyn row house. An investigation jeopardizes their sanctuary where they employ methods forbidden by the Catholic church.
★★★☆☆
I liked The Spoon Stealer a lot. Be warned that it has so many typos and editing mistakes that I looked into whether it had been self published. It was not. This writer deserves a more attentive publisher.
I liked but didn't love Mercy House.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women
Horse
Lessons in Chemistry
WANT TO READ
WANT TO READ
WANT TO READ
In ancient China, Tan Yunxian defies societal expectations as she learns the art of Chinese medicine from her grandmother, becoming determined to help women despite the limitations imposed on her.
(I got an advance copy of this book courtesy of Simon & Schuster. This book will be available to buy as of June 6th, 2023 - but you can reserve a copy now)
"Horse" is a compelling novel that draws inspiration from the incredible true story of Lexington, a record-breaking thoroughbred. It delves into the realms of art and science, explores themes of love and obsession, and confronts the lingering issue of racism that still demands our attention
Set in 1960s California; Lessons In Chemistry is the brilliant, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is derailed by the idea that a woman's place is in the home - something she most definitely does not believe - only to find herself the star of America's best-loved TV cooking show. (from Goodreads)
Horse has been on my "next to read" list for 3 months and Lessons in Chemistry for 2 months.
I'll get to them. I'm still very excited to read them.
The problem is - as I'm sure you can relate - I want to borrow it from the library but every time it's available, I'm already in the middle of reading something else.
Movies
I'm really not a movie person, mainly because movies can never seem to hold my attention.
I prefer the time a television series allows for character and plot development.
Now that we've established I'm super-smart with elegantly worded opinions on television, I will also say that I like tv series because they're rarely longer than my attention span for such things - 1 hour.
The first movie today, Tetris, held my attention.
The second movie The Mother, did not, but I watched it anyway while wandering around the house and working on my computer.
Tetris
The amazing story of Tetris. Yes, the game Tetris.
The Mother
A good movie to watch if you are just wondering if it's at all possible to make Jennifer Lopez look average and bland by putting her into khaki green with minimal makeup.
If you can't bring yourself to watch it I'll answer the question for you. It is not.
Television
BEEF
A near collision in a parking lot ignites a fierce competition of revenge. The type that you would never openly admit to wanting to engage in yourself.
I LOVED this series. I wasn't sold during the first episode, but then couldn't stop watching it.
The Power
The Power, adapted from the bestselling novel, explores the extraordinary phenomenon where women gain the ability to unleash electric power at their command, causing a global shift in the balance of power between men and women.
I don't know a single other person who watches this and I DON'T KNOW WHY.
It's one of my favourites from the past few years of television.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Shonda Rhimes pulled this offshoot of Bridgerton out of her pocket several months before the 3rd season of Bridgerton is set to air.
Based on the story of Queen Charlotte from the series Bridgerton. It's worth watching for many reasons, not the least of which is the scenery, gardens, set design and lighting. And acting. I mean all of it I guess so let's not pigeonhole it.
If you have a recommendation leave it below along with a couple of other things that you like for comparison.
Also - the costumes. I almost forgot the costumes.
Howard Frank Mosher “Northern Borders “ about a boy who has gone to live with his grandparents in northern New Hampshire. Great characters
If you're a fan of Chris O'Dowd, you'll love The Big Door Prize on Apple+. Season 1 is available and they just got renewed for a second season. It's sweet and funny and whimsical and hopeful and melancholy all at once.
When I find a good writer with a good character, I find myself getting every book in the series and read from the beginning. The ones who have had me neglect housework, the garden, eating, pretty much everything are: Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins beginning with "Devil in a Blue Dress" (but there are offshoots of some of those worth another tangent - like Fearless Jones), Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone beginning with "A is for Alibi", Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee beginning with "The Blessing Way", James D. Doss's Charlie Moon beginning with "The Shaman Sings", Rudolfo Anaya's Sonny Baca beginning with "Zia Summer" (but then I went back and read all of Anaya beginning with his first book), Joan Hess's Arly Hanks beginning with "Malice in Maggody", and everything Larry McMurtry beginning with Horseman, Pass By. All of those have secondary and even minor characters who make the stories worthwhile.
I do not read much science fiction, AT ALL, but I kept seeing the book, Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, on many of the "best of" lists from a few years ago. I don't put much stock in those lists, because it seems like they are mostly pushing an agenda. However, I broke down and got this one from the library, and it was one of my favorite books ever. I've recommended it to so many people. It's a great read.
I enjoyed episode one of the power, but as I also read the book I kept trying to match things up, even though besides the broad strokes, I don't really remember the book (which I prefer for NOT comparing!)
The book was written under the mentorship of Margaret Atwood, so lots of themes in The Power make sense :)
Interesting! I didn't know that about the Margaret Atwood mentorship. ~ karen!
I tried to watch Women Talking on the plane - just couldn’t . All they do is tallllllllllkkkkkk. Watched A Man called Otto, cried my eyes out . And Larry McMurtry is/was one of the greatest authors of the century- not just Lonesome Dove. Terms of Endearment also .
I can't find many who watch The Great on Hulu and I have no idea why. It's so....great!
Never heard of it! I'll have a look. ~ karen!
Since I enjoyed many of the same books and TV as you did, I’ll be interested to hear your take on Lessons in Chemistry. I started it but couldn’t get into it.
I'm glad I've grown up to the point that if I don't like a book I don't feel like I *have* to force myself through it. I put it down and move on. ~ karen!
We just watched The Night Manager - we don’t typically pick spy stuff, but I’ve been hearing about this for years on British talk shows and now it’s available to American audiences and it is AMAZING. So, so good. Also currently watching The Diplomat, also a bit of an atypical pick for us and also extremely well written.
I think "The Power" is very good, quite clever in some of the innuendos made. "Smile, not like that, a real smile - you look so good when you smile." As a 50 something year old female, I could really relate to that comment and the emotion it evoked.
SUCH a gross thing to tell a woman. ~ karen!
Have you watched any of the "The Marvelous Mrs Mazel"? Super funny series on Prime.
Yep! It's on a previous list. :) ~ karen!
I've watched The Power! Loved it.
Oh thank God. You and I are in it together. ~ karen!
I loved "Lessons in Chemistry". Read other Geraldine Brooks novels, so this is on my list.
Don't watch much TV, but will look for Tetris, and The Power (sounds like a great concept.)