Movie Monday - 11/4/2024

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m really tired of this election cycle. I am especially tired of politicians not looking past getting elected, then getting elected and still not getting helpful legislation passed. I thought going to the movies (yes, in an actual theater) to watch a film would take my mind off it all. I went to see Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. The pope has died, and the cardinals have gathered to elect a new one. Guess what? There’s politics at the Vatican. It was entertaining and the ending was surprising. It was good.

  

Recent Streamers:

Kevin Can F Himself, Seasons 1 and 2 - Netflix

 

MK out.

 

 

 

Book Chat - 10/24/2024

Coming in late, but better than never are the books I read in August.

 

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

The author writes about her nonconventional upbringing, in rural Texas, no less. She is a blogger with some degree of fame, allegedly. I read the whole thing, thinking cohesiveness might make an appearance, but it never did. It was bizarre, but her upbringing was bizarre. Meh.

 

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

This book is the first of four by Ferrante (which happens to be a pseudonym) about life in Naples, Italy. Set in the 1950s, the story follows the lives of two girls who are very close. The book was adapted into a series by HBO with four seasons, one for each of the books. The series is named after the first one. The plot structure is a little wonky. There are many characters of which to keep track. Overall, it was good.

 

The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine 

The delicious story of betrayal and justice continues, and although not quite as good as the first one, it is still an enjoyable read. I liked it.

 

Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand

I was able to read this new short story before I read the last book set on Nantucket Island. Sophia and her boyfriend are all set to go on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands together, until he bails at the last minute. It was good.

 

That’s all for now.

 MK out.

 

 

Movie Monday 10/14/2024

Hey, hey Peeps! Lots is always going on around here; so, movie watching hasn’t been a priority lately. I did watch one film this past week.

 

The Last of the Sea Women is a documentary about the Haenyeo divers on Jeju Island in South Korea who harvest seafood without diving gear – just their own breath. I talked about a novel here by Lisa See based on these women, The Island of Sea Women. The film explores how their livelihood is facing extinction. It’s a dangerous job and less people are willing to risk their lives to gather sea creatures. It was interesting.

MK out.

Book Chat - 10/3/2024

I promised y’all I would discuss the books I read in July a couple of years ago. Here they are:

 

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Two people, unlucky in love, make a pact to date for the summer and then move on to find their happily ever afters. If that sounds cryptic, read the book and it will make all kinds of sense. I don’t want to give too much away. It was pretty good.

 

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

This book is the sequel to It Ends with Us and picks up where the first one left off. Can Lily overcome her ex-husband’s hold? Will she be able to live the rest of her life fully and peacefully? It was very good.

 

The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine

A woman’s mother is found murdered. She reaches out to her estranged best friend for help. The two of them try to solve the mystery of who killed the mother. It was alright. I’ve enjoyed their other books more.

 

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger

This novel has nothing to do with music. The reference to green grass in the title has to do with appearances and perceptions. A man is arrested for attempting to buy his daughter admission into a prominent university. It was pretty good.

 

The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

I so enjoyed reading Elin’s next to last book set on Nantucket Island. I will be sad after I finish the last one. After her husband dies, a woman wants to gather her friends from different stages of her life to share a special weekend on Nantucket. It was so good.

 

I read four books in August. Stay tuned.

 

MK out.

 

 

 

Movies - 9/30/2024

How is everyone? I’ve been out and about, living the dash, celebrating the Birthday Season, but not watching all that many movies. My ADDness is better suited for streaming series these days. I have watched a couple of flicks recently, though.

 

Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story is about how an unlikely couple got together. It’s a mostly true version of how Mariette Hartley and her husband, Jerry Sroka came to be. It was cute.

 

In The Humans, a close family gathers for Thanksgiving. Of course, interesting dynamics tend to prevail at that time of year. Such fun. It was engrossing.

 

Will Ferrell goes on a road trip with long-time friend Harper Steele in Will and Harper. Will has known Harper for many years, but this adventure presented the opportunity for Will to get to know her better now as a trans woman. It was poignant and real. I like it.

 

Good Streamer Alert:

The Perfect Couple - Netlix

 

MK out.

Book Chat - 9/12/2024

I read these two books and a short story (besides the books I already told y’all about) in June.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

A young woman moves to Boston and starts her own business. She meets a handsome neurosurgeon who seems too good to be true. The two start dating and soon, his major flaw is revealed. This book has been adapted into a film. It was good.

Cut & Thirst by Margaret Atwood

Three women are bent on avenging the snub of their dear friend’s career by a group of male poets. This short story was very clever.

This Impossible Brightness by Jessica Bryant Klagman

A woman moves to an island to grieve the disappearance of her love. The community of Violette is quirky. They believe that they receive messages through their appliances coming from the radio tower, while the island is slowly being overtaken by the sea due to climate change. It was interesting.

I’ll try to tell you about the books I read in July next week.*

MK out.

*No promises have been made.

Movie Monday - 9/2/2024

It’s a Monday holiday Y’all! I hope you are having a good one!

In Find Me Falling, a rockstar with a comeback album that bombed, needs to recalibrate and change scenery for a while. Little did he know that his getaway in Cyprus would be so complicated. Harry Connivk, Jr., Ali Fumiko Whitney and Agni Scott star in this precious romcom.

Lily Rabe, Hampshire Linklater, Ed Harris and Vanessa Hudgens star in Downtown Owl. Based on the novel by Chuck Klosterman, it’s about three lonely-ish people who bop along, not knowing about the whiteout blizzard heading their way. It was a little quirky and entertaining.

Alice and Peter’s children have given them a cruise to celebrate Peter’s retirement in Golden Years. It’s a delightful film, that explores long term relationships and unconventional ways of continuing along. It was cute.

That’s all for this week.

Happy Labor Day!

MK out.