Links I love

 

It's primary week here in New Hampshire so it's been crazy here.  I've started watching True Detective on Max and it's so good. Also lots of football! I'm slowly recovering from Covid - I have taken to getting back to being active but it's been slow.  I've been walking instead of running or spinning, which can be frustrating, but slowly I hope I'll get back to where I was. 

1. The 80's playlist of slow songs you never knew you needed.
2. Some books that came out in the 80's.
3. Best family drama books.
4. 6 things people pleasers report the most trouble with.
5. 10 famous nappers.
6. Oscar snub for Greta Gerwig and Margot R obie upset a lot of people.
7. Interesting ideas for wedding favors
8. what is the legacy of Helter Skelter?
9. Where to watch the Oscars.
10. A good way to stop stress in your life.

Links I love

 

Last week, I tested positive for Covid. BOOOOO!  I am on the mend (I think). I have one of these  water bottles and I made sure to drink at least one of these a day - I often got close to two (yes, I was going to the bathroom a lot!) and usually I drank 40 ounces of water with these electrolytes in the morning to make sure that I continued to be hydrated.  Here are some stories that I found very interesting this week:

1. Raw video of a tanker fire.
2. I was obsessed with this case, and this article asks how many seasons we really need?
3. Dark academic shows you might like.
4. Ten facts bout John Carpenter - the Halloween guy.
5. I'm not sure if this is a first for Buffalo or not.
6. Latest tumblers at WDW.
7. The top beach reads predicted for this year.
8. Not enough participants to have a debate.
9. This happens way too often. I hiked that loop in  the summer. He was literally in the middle of nowhere.  
10. Slow cooker soups. We're trying the French Onion soup.
11. The juror who found herself guilty.
12. Seinfeld was onto something with the double dip.

REVIEW: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

 

I have enjoyed all of Sittenfeld's works and this is her most recent so I picked it up at my library. Of course, it has helped her that it has been included in Reese's Book Club.

We meet the main character, Sally Milz, in 2018 pre pandemic NYC where she is a seemingly confident sketch comedy writer for The Night Owls, which is definitely based upon SNL. That particular week, the guest host is also the music person - a singer named Noah who is supposedly really hot. In their first meaningful interaction, he has asked her to assist him in rewriting/editing his sketch and during that interaction, Sally is impressed by his thoughtfulness and kindness, leading to a crush on him.  There is definite chemistry between them, that later on is dampened during a post show interaction between the two.  It is only two years later during the lockdown of the pandemic that they reconnect via email and begin to sort through their interactions.

I generally like Sittenfeld's writing - she's smart and funny without being condescending or appearing to have a chip on her shoulder and this novel didn't disappoint or stray for that. It was compulsively readable and a fast move. I did, however, expect more to go wrong - so yes, my biggest complaint is that there wasn't enough catastrophe and the novel was way too tidy. Though Noah is a recovering alcoholic and Sally has an insecurity streak as wide as the Mississippi, these flaws are seemingly smoothly overlooked or dealt with in a way that did not ring true with me. Having said that, definitely enjoyable and worth the read. 

Links I love

 

1. 5 books on psychology and self help that were notable in 2023.
2. The Popsugar reading challenge.
3. Awesome side hustle shop.  The hats look super cute.
4. Purple Rain is becoming a musical.
5. Don Scott is the first Black speaker in Virginia Legislative history.
6. Valentine's Day gifts for book lovers.
7. The story of the Baileys.

REVEW: The Passage by Justin Cronin

 

This book has been around a while and is a repeat for me, although I read it a long, long time ago. This novel has been accurately described as medical thriller, post apocalyptic and horror all in one, which is not inaccurate. The novel is split into three sections: medical thriller (in which we learn about how the apocalypse came to pass), post apocalyptic and then action.

The most interesting sections for me were the first and second sections. I enjoyed learning, in the first section, about the history of the events and being introduced to 6 year old Amy, who is the main, very much Christ like savior of this book (and the rest of the series).  The pace is quick and sucks you in, which I appreciated and enjoyed.

 In the second section, which is 93 years after the events in the second section, we learn that most of the world's population is dead or infected (making them vampiric). There is a colony of survivors living in a compound in California on borrowed time, utilizing crossbows and battery operated lights to  keep the "virals," as the infected are called, at bay. A completely new set of characters is introduced and I had to chart it out because there were only a few families, meaning that there were a lot of characters with the same last name. The pace is slowed down tremendously so that Cronin can give a picture of how life is different in this time. Life changes dramatically when Amy of the first section, barely older physically, appears at the Colony. 

In the third section, a handful of the Colonists elect to leave and make their way to various other parts of the country, including Colorado and Vegas, on foot culminating in an epic battle with one of the virals.

I enjoyed this book generally speaking; however the last section of the novel seemed like a slog to me. It took me a longer period of time  to get through it and wasn't very interesting to me, which is probably going to be an unpopular opinion. I really liked Cronin's writing style generally speaking and his character development was on point. It's not your typical horror novel, but is more of a look at what motivates people to do the things that they do. 

Links I love

 

Happy new year everyone!  I love the Rose Bowl parade and the games of course on New Year's Day. What do you enjoy?

1. Steamboat Willie is in the Public Domain. Listen to this story about other things entering the public domain.
2. Did your astrological sign change?
3. Why do Amish towns have lewd names?
4. Setting achievable reading goals.
5. Charlie McAvoy gets married at the Boston Public Library.
6. A 13 year old may have become the first person to beat Tetris. Good job kid!
7. Glynis Johns passes away. 
8. World of Warcraft account reveals missing teens location.
9. Our first winter storm is here.
10. 75 books to read in 2024 by Women of Color
11. 12 chilling podcasts to listen to when you need to recharge
12. One detective solves 8 cold cases. In one year. In his spare time.