Talking about books, TV, podcasts & more. Brought to you by the magic of chocolate wine.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There was a time in my life, my younger life, when it might've been cool to know these people. To sit around a table, pretending to sip wine I don't really like, and having conversations about anything. Getting annoyed, being annoying, circling back. Flirting, wondering if you're being flirted with. They aren't all likeable, but they seem to have interesting lives.
Now I'd probably find these people annoying, but to everything there is a season. The one thing that hasn't changed, since I first discovered Sally Rooney, is that I really love her writing.
It's uncomplicated, yet layered at the same time. It feels like the thoughts, actions, fears and failures of real people. Uncertainty, longing, insecurity — it's all there, like real life.
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Trevor Noah knocked it out of the park with this one.
Not only did he describe his difficult early years with humor, but he served up a clear history lesson about apartheid and it's aftermath in South Africa.
There are a few troubling tales involving animals. Somehow, the suffering of animals can hit harder than the suffering of humans; maybe it shouldn't, but I think it's true for many that they can't stand to hear of an animal being mistreated. There were a few rough passages along those lines in the book; just a warning that it's there, but it's also easily skipped past if you want to, and worth it to experience the rest of the book.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
House of Hilton: From Conrad to Paris: A Drama of Wealth, Power, and Privilege
House of Hilton: From Conrad to Paris: A Drama of Wealth, Power, and Privilege by Jerry Oppenheimer
My rating: 3 of 5 starsThis gossipy tale of the Hilton clan is fun trash.
Heavy on the gossip, not light on the trash, either.
Look, I enjoy the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Which didn't exist at the time this book came out in 2006 to capitalize on Paris Hilton's notoriety, but went on to eventually include all three of the Richards sisters and ample mentions of their late mom, Big Kathy, who floats through the reality series and into our homes like the ghost of Dysfunctional Hollywood Momager Past.
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
What to Watch June 2022
A slew of new shows and movies are landing on streaming and TV in June! Netflix is going comedy crazy all month with specials filmed at the Netflix is a Joke Fest, in addition to airing the sixth and final season of Peaky Blinders. Hulu's got season two of Only Murders in the Building in addition to Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World. Highlights from HBO Max include Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, a new Father of the Bride remake, and season four of Westworld. Amazon Prime Video rolls in hot with the latest 007 flick, No Time to Die, as well as a new season of The Boys.
As always, I've compiled my top picks and I'm sharing them here, along with links to everything new, so you can make your own picks for must-watch viewing. Most of what I've collected is on streaming, but a few shows can be found on good old-fashioned network TV. And away we go!