Book Chat - 3/28/2024

I have two books currently on the go and both are good. Here’s some recent reads:

Golden Hills by Jennifer Weiner

This novella tells the story of a woman running for office. Everything is going well until a person from her past shows up and could possibly upend the campaign and her chances for winning. It was very good.

Blank by Zibby Owens 

After an awesome story idea gets stolen and published, Pippa has no ideas for a second novel. Her advance will have to be repaid. At the off-handed suggestion f her son, she decided to “write” a book containing no words. She will title it Blank. Get it? It was so good.

I’m off to finish one of the books I’m reading.

MK out.

 

Book Chat - 3/21/2024

Reading continues. It’s a nice way to pass the time when traveling or waiting. More importantly, it’s usually good entertainment. 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

A woman wakes up in the hospital after falling off a piece of exercise equipment thinking she’s 10 years younger and pregnant. The journey of the resolution of her amnesia follows. (Two thumbs up)

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Four young siblings visit a fortune teller who gives them the dates of their deaths. Can they each control their destinies? (Very good)

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin 

What happens in a small town when a beloved little girl who needs a heart transplant gets hit by a truck? And how did an onlooker know just what to do? (A 5 hanky read)

She May Not Leave by Fay Weldon 

A look at the issues working mothers face. I had a hard time getting into this book. It’s supposed to be satirical, and I guess it was, but it didn’t really grab me.

MK out.

 

Movie Monday - 3/18/2024

And now, we’re back to the normal movie watching period of the year.

After watching Priscilla, I finally realized why I’ve never really liked Elvis Presley. He was a jerk. The film portrays Elvis and Pricilla’s relationship. Since Pricilla Presley is listed as an executive producer of the film, I believe her. It was kind of sad to watch.

Suncoast, starting Nicole Parker, Laura Linley and Woody Harrelson is a semi-autobiographical story. Parker plays Doris, a young woman caring for her terminally ill brother. He is moved to a hospice facility where one of the other residents is Terri Schiavo. It was good.

Good streaming series:

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans - Hulu

The Gilded Age - Season 2 -Max

MK out.

The Academy Awards 2024

The Oscars are tonight. Again, there are too many films nominated for Best Picture. I would definitely delete Poor Things from the list right off the bat. Of the rest, one can argue reasons why a particular film deserves the nod. I prefer to stick with five and my nominations would be: American Fiction, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro and Past Lives (even over Oppenheimer). There’s wonderful acting in Oppenheimer, but Best Picture? No.  

I did get to watch The Color Purple! This adaptation is very good. I still like the one with Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey the best. 

In the acting categories, everyone nominated deserved the honor. I really don’t have any favorites.

For Best Picture, my vote goes to Barbie.

Y’all enjoy the show.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 3/5/2024

I’ve seen all the movies nominated for my favorite categories except for The Color Purple. I don’t think I’ll be able to watch it before the Oscars, but I’m not too worried about it.

Leeann Morgan I’m Every Woman is a filming of one of her stand up shows. It’s pretty funny, or should I say yummy? #ifykyk

In The Zone of Interest, the commander of Auschwitz and his family live right outside of the camp. They live a rather idyllic life next to the most horrific event in human history. It’s hard to watch them, actually. It was sobering.

Streaming Series:

Pachinko - Apple

One Day - Netflix

That’s it for now.

MK out.

Book Chat 2/29/2024

Y’all! I have one Elin Hilderbrand book left to read and then she publishes her LAST book later this year. What will I do after I read that one???

Reunion Beach by Elin Hilderbrand and others

This book is a collection of short stories to honor Dorothea Benton Frank by several authors she mentored or inspired. All are good.

Endless Summer by Elin Hilderbrand

This book is a collection of Elin’s short stories; some published before and some not. I have previously read all the published ones, but it was nice to read them again.

MK out.

Book Chat - 2/16/2024

I’ve been trying to savor the last few books by Elin Hilderbrand, that except for the first couple, I’ve been reading them roughly in order of publication. I don’t want it to end!!!

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

Mallory and Jake spend one weekend a year together, as in the movie Same Time, Next Year. For the rest of the year, they live out their respective lives apart. I loved this book so hard. I felt like I needed more…

And then…

The Sixth Wedding by Elin Hilderbrand

We get to hear what happens next with our beloved characters. It was a short story, but much needed, in my opinion. I loved how it ended.

MK out.