Books & Screens
I have not been read as much as I would like, since my last confession. There has been way more watching and listening. I know I said that last time, but I have again failed. My coloring obsession has again taken hold and so I have been furiously coloring like a four year old. Very therapeutic, I must say.
I’m going way back - to the last time I did this, which was May. I’m talking about things you may not have seen. (Like I’m not going to tell you I watched Bridgerton.) And I’m going to share my best Spotify playlists, if I can figure out how to by the end of the post. 😉
REading…
Amazing. You’ve probably read it, but if you are the other person on the earth besides me that hasn’t - get to it. It’s the haunting story about a woman coming of age in Afghanistan.
This was not on the same scale, but also very, very good. And cool to read after being there in May. It’s about a woman who is a wine expert in training and she returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in France. She discovers the 75 year old diary of an unknown family member…
I am just finishing this up. This was tough to read, but oh so good. And amazingly a true story. Just incredible what these women lived through. Like thousands of others. They escaped one of the death marches when the Third Reich was in its’ own death throes. And lived to tell the story.
My travel group has formed a book club, and we are reading books about places we’ve been or hope to go. One member in our group has a connection to the author, who is the niece of one of the women. She lives in France and when we do our next Zoom book club (we live all over the place), the author is joining us! HOW COOL, right? I highly recommend the book.
watching…
This was fantastic. It’s on Apple TV and was incredibly realistic and interesting. Obviously great to watch with kids, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are five episodes, and each one covers a type of terrain or water, and the creatures that called it home. Loved it.
This was very good. It was a little slow but a good story. It’s about a woman who escapes an abusive marriage, and ends up in the small Victorian town of Essex, and stays to explore the mystery of a mythical sea serpent in the area. I’m a sucker for a period piece and plus it stars Tom Hiddleston. ;) Again Apple TV.
I loved this. You may have seen it, and if not, I recommend it. It is on HBO. It stars Jean Smart, who I have loved since her days on Designing Women. She is a legendary Las Vegas comedian, who is mentoring a 20-something entitled writer.
I loved this one. It is similar to The Durrells in Corfu, which was wonderful. (If you haven’t seen that - you should - so good.) It stars Bella Ainsworth as an ex-pat hotelier on the Italian riviera in the roaring 20’s, as Mussolini and his fascism is on the rise. It is on PBS.
This was very good. And my husband even liked it. It’s on Netflix and is based on the true story of the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. The British intelligence uses a corpse and fake papers to outwit the Germans. And it stars Colin Firth, and Matthew Macfadyen.
This was also one hubby liked. Because it’s about the mob… it takes place in the 30’s in Chicago. It’s about a master English tailor who owns the corner tailor shop and makes beautiful clothes for people who can afford them - a family of gangsters. One night the tailor is thrown into a game of deception with them. Great story, and stars Mark Ryland, who I really like. It’s on Amazon Prime.
This is a short series that was dark but fascinating. It shows you the underworld of fashion, the billionaire class, and how Jeffrey Epstein was intertwined with the two. It’s traces the rise and fall of the brand. It’s on Hulu.
This was excellent. A four part documentary on the trillion dollar beauty and personal care industry in the US and how it is, for the most part, at least compared to Europe, unregulated. I am going to do a full post on this later - what an eye opener. It talks about the hazards in all the stuff we slather all over our faces, hair, and bodies every day!
Ok Chip loved this one too. Because, well, again with the mob. It was good, but in my humble opinion took a long time to tell the story. It is producer Al Ruddy’s untold story about the making of The Godfather, in 1972 with Coppola. I will say that Matthew Goode is amazing as producer Robert Evans and the soundtrack is really great. It is somewhat incredible but true. It is on Paramount+.
A great documentary that tells the story of the everyday lives of 10 master chefs across the globe, that have Michelin three star restaurants. Who are these men that work 14 hours a day for decades to earn these stars? It’s fascinating and it’s on Amazon Prime.
Now this was creeeeeepy. Well Ryan Murphy is involved so you know it’s scary. Take my advice and don’t watch at night, alone. Just sayin.
It was really good tho - AND BASED ON A TRUE STORY! Get out…. It’s the story of what happened to a couple who bought an old home in New Jersey - what they thought would be their dream home. Then strange letters started coming and things went downhill after that. Stars Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale. Oh and Jennifer Coolidge, who is always great. On Netflix.
Excellent. But then you probably already know that. It’s the true story of the early life of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and how she came to be empress. The acting was good, the sets and scenery were beautiful and the costumes were magnificent. It’s worth watching just for Duchess Sophia’s wardrobe. Really good - if you haven’t watched it, start now. On Netflix.
Have you heard of this one? It was a great thriller, if that’s your jam. (It is mine, but I scare the bejesus out of myself watching this stuff when Chip’s not here.) Anyway, this is about a woman who has a head injury, loses her memory and is trying to put her life back together. The people she is counting on for help may not be who they seem. On Apple TV.
*PSA - I think Apple TV turns out some great stuff - and it’s only $4.99 a month.
And lastly, but by no means, least…One of my favorites for the year. This is excellent and was also filmed at Chambord and Chenonceau - the Loire Valley chateaus we went to in June!! So fun to see them as the setting!
It tells the story of Catherine de Medici’s marriage into french royalty, as an orphaned teen - she expected to bring money and heirs with her…Samantha Morton is excellent as Catherine, but the french actress who plays Diane de Poitier steals the show. So good! Put it on your list. It’s on Starz, which you can watch through Amazon Prime.
other mentions -
If you have not watched this summers’ Only Murders In The Building (on Hulu), The Dropout (also on Hulu), Sanditon - Season 2 (Amazon Prime) or Bridgerton (on Netflix) - all are good.
And if you like paranormal sci-fi stuff, The Shining Girls starring Elizabeth Moss was good (on Apple TV).
On My Radar -
The Sinner - Season 4 (Netflix)…..The Crown - Season 5 (Netflix)…..The White Lotus - Season 2 (HBO)…..The Patient (Hulu)…..The Peripheral (Amazon Prime)…..Dangerous Liasons (Amazon Prime)
Whew - I am not going to link to my playlists after all. You would nod off and fall out of your chair. We will do that in another post. Now you see why I’ve been coloring so much and not reading enough. Oh the shame…