Movie Monday - 8/16/2021

I have so many movies I want to watch. I wonder what would happen if I set a goal to watch one movie a day. I realize that I may sometimes be too busy, or be on vacation, but I think it’s a worthy goal. 

Bill Nighy stars in Sometimes Always Never about a family estranged over a game of Scrabble. It was cute.

The documentary That Summer is about my favorite mother-daughter duo, Big and Little Edie Beale. It seems that a couple of years before the documentary film, Grey Gardens by Albert and David Mayles, Lee Radziwill wanted to document her family history with the help of Peter Beard. Part of that involved interviewing the famous pair. Footage from her project became this documentary. Lee soon scrapped the endeavor, but the Mayles brothers were so charmed that they decided to take on the Beales all on their own. I too was charmed.

Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary about The Villages. It’s a ginormous retirement community located in Florida. Some people liken it to Disneyland, but for seniors. The film follows around a few of the residents whose lives aren’t as wonderful as the promotional material depicts. They are quirky! I enjoyed watching.

And in another film (though fictional) about retirement communities, Poms was hilarious! Diane Keaton plays a rather introverted woman who moves to a senior community. She isn’t comfortable joining in any of the clubs or activities, until her neighbor convinces her that they should start a cheerleading squad. Jacki Weaver, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier and Celia Westin also star. I loved it.

Binge worthy:

My Unorthodox Life (HBOMax)

Back to Life (Hulu)

MK out.

Book Chat - 8/12/2021

My goal is to read 24 books in 2021. So far, I’ve read 25!

By Invitation Only by Dorothea Benton Frank

Fred comes from South Carolina farming stock. Shelby’s family are movers and shakers in Chicago. Shelby’s mother is acting as if she is the bride. Can these two families come together? Cute book.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker works for DICOMY, aka the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. As a case worker, he visits the different orphanages where they are housed to investigate incidences, or to examine the general living conditions. One day, he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and sent off to investigate one particular orphanage that is classified level four - only the people that need to know about it, know about it. The story reminded me a bit of the Harry Potter series. I really enjoyed reading it.

MK out.

Book Chat - 8/5/2021

I’m still in vacay mode.

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

Lucy has a complicated relationship with her mother-in-law Diana. When Diana turns up dead, things really heat up. Great read!

Leave the World Behind by Roman Alam

The novel deals with answering who and what can you trust in the face of adversity. As I was reading the book, I wasn’t particularly enjoying the story. I kept reading because I wanted to know what was going on. I need my answers, after all. The very last chapter brought it all home, but I still feel cheated in some way.

  

Paper Doll Lina by Robin Lucas

Lina is in an abusive marriage, but she doesn’t necessarily realize it. She knows she’s not really happy, but it takes a stranger to open her eyes. It was good.

MK out.

Book Chat - 7/29:2021

I’m back with some selections I think most will enjoy:

Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived The Tennessee Children’s Home Society by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate

I know I told y’all about Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. It was a novel based on the scandal of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. It was about children were taken from their birth parents by nefarious means and sold/adopted out. After she wrote the book, the author started hearing from people who were affected by the operation in real life. She and her friend, Julie Christie record the accounts and it led to this book.

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber

The book is about a girl who has to go settle her grandmother’s estate, thinking it would be a quick task. However, the will stipulates that she must run her grandmother’s cafe for sixty days after which, she can decide about its disposition. It’s a cute romantic comedy with a some magic mixed in. If you like Hallmark movies, you will like this book.

The Magic of Found Objects by Maddie Dawson

Two life-long friends, who’ve been unlucky in love, decide to get married. They are both in their mid-thirties and tired of the New York dating scene. They think that skipping the fireworks part of the relationship and settling down to the comfortable part will be a piece of cake because they know each other so well. Very cute!

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 7/28/2021

It’s been a while since I’ve shown you all my latest project. 

I’m working on another Elwood. It makes such a darling grumpy old man sweater for a little one. 

I’m using scraps of Cascade 220 Superwash from other projects.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 7/26/2021

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo is a very silly, little movie about two Midwestern women who go off on an adventure. It was funny, but again, silly. It hit a spot. 

 

Amy Adams stars in The Woman in the Window, adapted from the novel of the same name. An agoraphobic women witnesses a crime committed across the street at her neighbors’ house, but the neighbors deny anything happened. Were her eyes deceiving her? It was good.

Echo in the Canyon is a documentary about the music scene in the mid-1960s. It was very interesting. I learned some things and gained an appreciation for some groups like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and even, The Beach Boys. It’s hosted by Jakob Dylan (who looks and sounds like his daddy, Bob). I enjoyed it.

Good Binges:

Mare of Easttown (HBOmax)

The Kominsky Method (Netflix)

Younger (Hulu)

Hacks (HBOMax)

Virgin River (Netflix)

That’s all I got. 

MK out.

Book Chat - 7/8/2021

Since I’ve been on vacay, I’ve been able to read more than usual.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles 

This novel is based on the true story of the librarians of the American Library in Paris during World War II. They sent care packages of books to soldiers, and would bring books to their Jewish patrons when they were forbidden to come in to the library. 

The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar

The book examines the relationship between a psychologist and her patient.

Rage by Bob Woodward

Woodward returns to document the Trump Administration’s management of the Coronavirus pandemic.

MK out.

P.S. I remembered that this week marks my 14th Blogiversary. It all started with this post.