Reading Megan's EL DORADO DRIVE, which comes out in June. This one takes place in Grosse Pointe on around 2008, which is both eerie and fun.
Watching the most recent season of SHETLAND on Britbox. Still not crazy about Ashley Jensen-the two women run together for me. I wish they had promoted Tosh and brought in a personable male for her. Jimmy Perez is hard to replace.
Watched the final episode of BAD SISTERS, which was a disappointment. I think they have played that show out in two seasons. SHRINKING fared a bit better.
Had a nice holiday. Can't believe in was close to 60 here yesterday. So much rain though.
How about you?
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Glad you had a good holiday. I agree with about SHETLAND. Looking forward to Megan's new book.
Has a quiet relaxing holiday. Lots of food on Christmas Eve. Walt made his very sassy chile -- no beans but all the jalapenos in the tri-state area. Jessie and Amy made their traditional hot chocolate, rich enough to bring you into cholesterol overload. Some presents were opened and everyone was extremely happy. Robert, a friend of Jack's, stopped by and ate and ate and ate. Christmas Day saw more presents, more food (Jessie and Amy made their traditional Rolo cookies), and much-needed naps.
Had my annual physical Monday and am happy to report I am still alive and evidently healthy, pending a blood test. Will be getting various seasonal inoculations this week.
The weather turned cold and rainy for most of the week. some of the storms did damage in neighboring counties, but we remained warm and snug.
Christina and Walt traveled the five hours to Jacksonville on Saturday to buy all the furniture in the world, but were foiled because some of the items they wanted were out of stock. Still, they spent close to $2000. Now the living room is cluttered with large, empty cardboard boxes and half-assembled furniture, as well with the four large tables containing Christina's Christmas village. Order will be resumed over the next week. They are also looking for a large cat scratching post in hopes of saving all the new furniture from destructive beasties.
Wonky cat is still blind but doing well; Newcat still likes me -- what's not to like?
Caught the new DEATH IN PARADISE and am reserving judgement about the latest Inspector.
Books read include Dean Koontz's THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS (he's getting even more mystical), ANTIQUES FOE by "Barbara Allan," Volume 5 of the COLLECTED MS. TREE: HEROINE WITHDRAL by Max Allan Collins & Terry Beatty (courtesy of George), Ed Brubaker's "Recklesss" graphic novel FRIEND OF THE DEAD, Mickey Spillane's first TIGER MANN novel DAY OF THE GUNS (my FFB), and the last three volumes of Ken Bruen & Jason Starr's Max Fisher saga from Hard Case Crime, SLIDE, THE MAX, and PIMP (violent, sexy, satirical crime romps -- very meta, with many references to crime writing and publishing, including a number references to Megan) -- highly recommended.
Wishing you a happy New Year! I'll be doing my typical celebrating by going to bed early. Stay safe, and buckle up for an interesting 2025.
The habit of shooting guns and fireworks off at midnight on the 31st, insures I make it to the New Year.
It was 60 here yesterday too. The rain ended and the sun came out. More rain overnight, but it is supposed to be warm again (normal high: 41) through Wednesday. As long as it stays dry through Friday (that is, no white stuff), I'm happy. We leave Friday morning after breakfast.
We stayed in for 4 days because of the cold, but it's been better since. We can use the rain, of course. We ate at a new Vietnamese restaurant (it took over the spot of one of our favorite Greek restaurants, which - sadly - closed in June, though we have three others), and it was very good, though we over ordered a bit. We're eating at several favorite restaurants this week, as we won't be able to return there until April. Got Chinese takeout on Christmas.
I'm past 900 short stories read, but a lot was the very short stories of Lydia Davis. Getting some reading done as the year ends.
We finished BLACK DOVES (Netflix), which we enjoyed, and there will be a series two. Also finished the second series of LIONESS (Paramount+/Showtime), very well done. I enjoy Nicole Kidman in these change of pace roles rather than the "chick flick" TV stuff I can't watch. Series three will be coming. We have one last episode of EARTH ABIDES (MGM+), which we are also enjoying, despite the improbabilities (like, them still being able to drive on the gas 20 years later).
I'm sorry we watched THE AGENCY (Showtime) week by week as it came out. First, two many story lines and too damn confusing. Too many characters. I like Michael Fassbender, but...we're really not enjoying this as much as we feel we should. Jackie watched the first episode of NO GOOD DEED (Netflix, I think), as she likes Ray Romano and some of the others, but she quit in the second episode as she hated all three of the other couples who wanted to buy the Romano/Lisa Kudrow house. Not for me.
We're watching SHETLAND (Britbox) and will have to finish it in Florida, I guess. Ashley Jensen is not a favorite, but she's grown on me this year. I keep wondering what Jimmy is up to these days.
Still watching SILENT WITNESS and MI-5 (SPOOKS) on Saturday nights. We watched the CALL THE MIDWIFE (PBS) and BEYOND PARADISE and DEATH IN PARADISE (Acorn? Britbox?) Christmas specials, the latter of which introduced the new Inspector (played by Don Gilet, the first black cop).
Also watched the final GAVIN & STACEY Christmas Special, which we enjoyed a lot more than the last one, five years ago.
I should have watched THE LIONESS before ditching Paramount for Britbox
We thought it was definitely worth watching.
We had a nice Holiday and my mother drove up from IL. She's 81 and I'm glad she is still mobile and able to drive safely. Because of her I watched a few episodes of MIDSOMER MURDERS and they were some really well done stories and acting in there. I also ate a lot of candy and chocolate.
I watched 3 BODY PROBLEM and enjoyed it much more than I expected I would. Been watching DECAMERON on Netflix. Netflix also tells me season 3 of EVIL is available starting tomorrow.
I tried an audiobook of Ngaio Marsh's SPINSTERS IN JEOPARDY. My mind was constantly wandering and I would have to back up the audio track by 5 minutes to relisten. My mind would then start to wander at the exact same spot as before, necessitating more audio reversing. I decided this was a LOUD sign that I should bail out. (I also took some time to figure out if I meant "bale" or "bail". Cause you can certainly throw a bale.)
I also heard A LONG WALK TO WATER after I read a blurb that is was challenged at a school library. Story is written for middle grades (my assumption) about is about the Lost Boys of Sudan. I've no clue how the hell someone is complaining about the book.
Now listening to SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN! from Mystery Writers of America (with a Megan story in there) and presented by R.L. Stine. Enjoyable.
Someone online shared a paragraph from Elton John's biography. Elton took great pleasure in watching a TV interview of Johnny Rotten calling Rod Stewart a "useless old fucker". Elton made a note to call up Rod and tell him all about it. "Isn't that terrible? You're only thirty-two. How awful for you."
So I just put Elton's book on hold.
I don't remember reading that book or story before. Downloaded it.
SCREAM... was a new one on me, too. It came out in 2018 so I chalk it up to one of those forgotten "Before COVID Times" things.
Western NY enjoyed 60 degree temps--30 degrees warmer than Normal! But a weather "pattern" shift is coming our way tomorrow with colder temperatures and wind.
Patrick is flying to Houston today to spend New Year's Eve with a friend. Katie is celebrating in Boston with friends. Diane and I plan to watch Sara Bareilles' New Year's Eve Special tomorrow at 8 P.M. on PBS.
Happy New Year to everyone!!! Then fasten your seat belts for a bumpy 2025!
It is terrifying to think of 2025 with the people DT has put in place. The media is shaking in their boots especially. Free Press, not on his watch.
Downloaded but don't see a story by Megan.
The weather has been mild here. Today it is overcast. But I wish we had gotten some rain.
On Christmas day and the next day we watched three movies: RED (with Bruce Willis and Mary Louise Parker and more), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and BULLET TRAIN (with Brad Pitt). All of those are favorites in our house.
We also watched several Christmas specials: CHELSEA DETECTIVE, BEYOND PARADISE, and DEATH IN PARADISE. I liked the new Inspector for DEATH IN PARADISE, but only time will tell. Except for the first inspector, it took me a while to get used to each new inspector.
I finished two books in the last week. First was TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett. A very good book and an enjoyable read. Basically it is the story of a woman telling her daughters about an early love affair she had with a famous actor. After finishing the book, I did think of some things that did not work well for me. There was too much tying up of loose ends and some of the final reveals from the mother were hard for me to believe, but even so, I rate it very highly.
The most recent book I finished was A REDBIRD CHRISTMAS by Fannie Flagg. Set in Alabama, my home state, in a small town near Mobile. I avoid and resist reading books set in the southern US states (fiction or nonfiction) because I grew up there. Too close to home. But I really did enjoy this book, whether or not it was a realistic story. AND it was a very fast read.
Glen is still reading THE EARLY TUDORS AT HOME, 1485-1558 by Elizabeth Burton, getting close to the end. I want to read it sometime this year, since I recently read about that same period in TUDORS by Ackroyd.
He has also started another short story book, GHOSTS OF THE CHIT-CHAT, edited by Robert Lloyd Parry. Includes stories and more by members of the the Chit-Chat Club at Cambridge University. He is liking it so far. It has a good introduction overall plus good information before each story.
Nuts. I just checked as well and don't see her listed in the stories. I have the audio version. She is listed in the bibliographic record I saw, maybe she did an afterword? An interview? Maybe only on the audio? I presume she has become known as a solid go-to as interviewer.
I only know Sara Bareilles from GIRLS 5 EVA and which she and the rest of the cast are quite excellent.
I like Ann Patchett very much but this was not my favorite. BEL CANTO, an early one, is y favorite and I love her memoirs. Never heard of the Chit Chat Club but love the name.
Patti, I forgot to say that I like the idea of a book by Megan which takes place in Grosse Pointe. That does sound very interesting.
BEL CANTO is the only other book I read by Patchett and I liked it a lot.
I had not heard of the Chit Chat club either but there was a good post on the book at the Black Gate blog and it talked about it.
https://www.blackgate.com/2021/02/12/ghost-lovers-with-educated-minds-ghosts-of-the-chit-cat-edited-by-robert-lloyd-parry/
Thanks, Tracy!
Only 2 eps into THE AGENCY as they are slowly dropped on Showtime subbers, but agree, it doesn't quite achieve its goals. Did get to see all of HBO's HACKS so far, which is better.
Did it improve as it went along? I checked out after a "Lioness" went undercover in a Muslim plural wives situation with a large crucifix tattoo unremoved, in ep. 1.
Small "comfort" watching the TechBros and MAGAts go at each other. Hope the rest of us make Drumpf more miserable than he makes us.
I've liked what Flagg I've read...thanks for the pointer on CHIT-CHAT...
Decent hit single or two for Bareilles.
Definitely knows the territory!
Happy imminent birthday, Patti! Ellen Datlow shares it, as I've just been reminded...Alice's 22 December birthday is hard enough to build a party around...
Ah...Ellen's b-day is today, the 31st...sorry for my confusion.
January 1st is (was?) the rarest day to be born. I don't know why.
Wonder if labor tends to be triggered, if not externally induced, through some means to Get It Over With at year's end. Incentives in place that might override any desire to have the Year's First Delivery...
My mother thought she had ate too much pork on NYE.
Hmm.
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