Book Chat - 6/24/2021

Even if y’all didn’t know, I’ve read quite a few books over the last many weeks.

Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton                               In her second book, Doyle shares about her marriage to Craig Melton. It’s more chronological than the first book. It is full of many inspirational pearls. 

Untamed by Glennon Doyle 

In this third book, Doyle writes about her meeting and then subsequent marriage to Abby Waumbach. 

The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

An agoraphobic woman spends her days drinking, watching old movies and spying on her neighbors. Things go south when she sees something she shouldn't have.

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak tells the stories of an Armenian American girl, a Turkish girl, their families and a secret connected to the Armenian genocide.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

This novel is about an apothecary who lived in 1700s London, making poisons for women to use against the oppressive men in their lives AND about  a present day woman who finds a clue to solving the mystery of the Apothecary Murders of long ago.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the story follows a family trying to survive at all costs. 

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

A family starts to fall apart after the death of one of the children.

In The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth the more responsible twin has spent her life protecting the other from their psycho mother. The book examines lies that bind. 

Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory is about a family with different psychic abilities. 

All were very good. Spoonbenders was fun.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 6/21/2021

People! I have many movies on the “to watch” list, but as I was mentioning to friends recently, I haven’t been feeling “it.” You name it, and I’m not doing it.

I did rewatch Pieces of April the other day. This film may have been the first time I noticed Katie Holmes. I like her. She’s a pretty good actress. Patricia Clarkson, one of my all time faves stars in this film too, and she was really good, as usual. I liked it the first time and I liked it this time. It’s about the black sheep hosting her somewhat estranged family for Thanksgiving. The story is sweet and the characters are awesome. 

MK out.

Movie Monday - 6/7/2021

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams is a silly but cute parody of the real Eurovision Song Contest. The pair played a couple of musicians chosen by default (you’ll see why) to represent Iceland in the contestInterestingly, the film's opening was supposed to coincide with Eurovision Song Contest 2020 that was cancelled due to Covid-19. I liked it!

In Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always, a teen and her cousin travel to NYC to terminate an unintended pregnancy. Sydney Flanigan and Talia Ryder star. It was good.

Kodachrome tells the story of a son (Jason Sudeikis) and his estranged father (Ed Harris) who finally get together after a long time. The dad is quite ill, but wants his son to drive him to Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas. It’s the last shop in the country that develops Kodachrome film and the dad has some rolls that he’d like to have developed. Elizabeth Olsen also stars. It was pretty good.

Binge Suggestions:

The Woman and the Dale (HBOMax)

Allen v. Farrow (HBOMax) 

Shrill - the 3rd and final season (Hulu) 

MK out.

FO Friday 5/28/2021

Part of the reason I’ve been incommunicado lately is that I’ve been a little busy the last few weeks. I made 21 things in just under three weeks:

MK out.

FO Friday - 4/30/2021

It’s finished!

I used Berroco Remix Light in purple to make Derecho, by Allison Green. I did a slight modification with the shaping instructions. I also modified the sleeves a bit. If you wanna see the details, go here. Sorry for the silly face.

MK out.

FO Friday - 4/23/2021

I am almost finished with my top that I've been knitting for over a month. Y'all - I've been busy sewing! So, no knitting FOs. I have finished watching all the films that were nominated for Academy Awards in the five top categories. 

I don't think I'm going to pick my "want to wins" this year. I just don't have the bandwidth. I will say though, I’m really impressed with the nominations this year - especially for Best Picture.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a biopic based on the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. It's about Billie Holiday being targeted by the government, mostly because of her song Strange Fruit. The song is a description of some racist practices in America's southern states. Andra Day delivers a very good performance.

I only watched the Borat film because Maria Bakalova was nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role. The movie was silly overall, but it had a few funny moments. Maria did a nice job.

I loved Promising Young Woman. Carey Mulligan plays a young woman out for revenge for the rape of her best friend. It was a delicious role. Carey Mulligan was so good.  The film was quite entertaining. 

If you were confused watching The Father, then the makers succeeded in presenting how having dementia might feel to the person who has it. Olivia Coleman plays a daughter trying to find a caretaker for her father. Anthony Hopkins was phenomenal playing the title role. It was a good movie.

Ok, I lied - I think Minari should win Best Picture, even though Nomadland won the Golden Globes, the Spirit Awards, and the BAFTA - (plus more). Minari did win the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, but I think it's so good that it deserves to be crowned best overall. It's about a South Korean family who came to the US in the 1980s, chasing the American dream. The film is loosely based on the life of the writer/director Lee Isaac Chung. 

The show is this Sunday! Happy viewing! 

FO Friday - 3/6/2021

 I finished this beautiful sweater:

Pattern: Silver White Winters by Mary Annarella

Yarn: West 7th Wool Yarn Hunters Sock in Apple Seed and Madelinetosh Impression in Fatal Attraction

Comments: Mary’s patterns are always clearly written and fun to knit. West 7th is my LYS and they started dyeing their own house line in fabulous colors. It’s really nice and of course, red is my default choice. I can’t wait to wear it, but it may not be until next year.

MK out.