Showing posts with label Jacqueline Winspear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacqueline Winspear. Show all posts

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Lovely Books and Things - 7.18.21

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update


Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

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HAPPY THINGS:

1. Fresh french bakery croissants
2. Paris in July (here)
3. Old San Francisco buildings - SF Chronicle building (1924)
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Library: audiobook
A Paris All Your Own
Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light
edited by Eleanor Brown
contributors: Michelle Gable, Jennifer Coburn,
Cathy Kelly, Julie Powell, Lauren Willig,
Therese Anne Fowler, Maggie Shipstead
Essays, Memoir, Travel, France | Published: 2017 | Goodreads

Library:
Persuasion
An Annotated Edition by Jane Austen
edited by Robert Morrison
Classics, Historical, England | Published: 2011 | Goodreads

The Lost Books of Jane Austen
by Janine Barchas
History, Jane Austen theme | Published: 2019 | Goodreads

Freebies: from Free Little Library
Maisie Dobbs
by Jacqueline Winspear
Historical, Mystery, England | Published: 2004 | Goodreads


Virtual Author event: hosted by Third Place Books
See archive of this (here)
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
by Becky Chambers
SciFi, Novella | Published: 2021 | Goodreads

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AND watched: theatre
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
Director: Morgan Neville
Documentary | imdb | my rating: 5

A documentary about Anthony Bourdain and his career as a chef, writer and host, revered and renowned for his authentic approach to food, culture and travel.

Enjoyed learning about the other parts of Bourdain's life apart from food and travel.

AND watched: DVD
Watchmen (2019)
tv series
Creator: Damon Lindelof
Based on DC characters by: Dave Gibbons
Stars: Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Action, Drama, Mystery | imdb | my rating: 5

Set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name, while attempting to break new ground of its own.

Got me thinking... what is saving the world, what is saving humanity?

fyi: jigsaw puzzle sighting at episode 4.
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* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Lovely Books and Things - 5.17.20

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

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HAPPY THINGS:

1. Sunday New York Times Book Review section

2. Pancakes with Guittard chocolate chips - yum

3. CinemaSF Stay-at-Home Saturday night: Clueless dvd, movie snacks from Balboa theatre popcorn pop-up sale and Balboa theatre movie chat room


~*~

Library: audiobook

The Henna Artist
by Alka Joshi
Historical, India, Reese Book Club May pick | Goodreads


Virtual Author event: hosted by Alta Magazine
Check out their calendar for future free author events (here)
The Lightest Object in the Universe
by Kimi Eisele
Dystopia | Goodreads


Virtual Author event: hosted by BookShop West Portal
Check out their calendar for future free author events (here)
A conversation between Cara Black and Meg Waite Clayton

Three Hours in Paris
by Cara Black
Historical, WWII, Mystery, France | Goodreads

Last Train to London
by Meg Waite Clayton
Historical, WWII, London | Goodreads


Virtual Author event: hosted by Book Passages
Register and listen to the archive of this or to future Book Passages author talks for free (here)
A conversation between Jacqueline Winspeare and Jennifer Barth

The American Agent
(Maisie Dobbs #15)
by Jacqueline Winspear
Historical, Mystery | Goodreads


Virtual Author event: hosted by Green Apple Books
Check out their calendar for future free author events (here)
A conversation between Phuc Tran and Que Mai Phan Nguyen

Sigh, Gone
A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
by Phuc Tran
Memoir, Vietnamese-American | Goodreads

The Mountain Sings
by Que Mai Phan Nguyen
Historical, Vietnam | Goodreads


AND watched: online

Deerskin (2019)
Le daim (original title)
Director/Writer: Quentin Dupieux
Stars: Jean Dujardin, Adèle Haenel
-Comedy, Horror, France | imdb | my rating: 5

A man's obsession with his designer deerskin jacket causes him to blow his life savings and turn to crime.

AND watched: online for CAAMFest 2020

And She Could Be Next (2020)
part 1 of 2
Director: Grace Lee, Marjan Safinia
Documentary | my rating: 5

Filmed from 2018 through 2019, the episodes center individuals at the heart of the movement behind the New American Majority, including: Stacey Abrams (Georgia), Bushra Amiwala (Skokie, IL), Maria Elena Durazo (Los Angeles, CA), Veronica Escobar (El Paso, TX), Lucy McBath (Atlanta, GA), Rashida Tlaib (Detroit, MI) and Nse Ufot, Executive Director of the New Georgia Project.

The Half of It (2020)
Director/Writer: Alice Wu
Stars: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
Comedy, Romance| imdb | my rating: 5

When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.

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* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

*** THANKS to those on the front line during these times ***
Shelter In Place - Day 62, Week 10

Mask Bear
by fnnch
see more honey bears (here)

Stay healthy! Be safe!

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Lovely Books and Things - 6.8.19

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

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HAPPY THINGS:

1. Yummy dinner outings to celebrate my birthday

2. Preparing and creating post for arm-chair book traveling to Paris, France ;-)

3. Monthly chocolate happy hour at Fog City News!

It poses here with Angie Kim's Miracle Creek which I picked up a couple weeks ago and the program for the CAAMfest37.


May pick:
chocolate - SOMA chocolate based in Canada
Crazy 88, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, 88%
Origin: Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador + Ucayali. Peru + Canoabo, Venezuela
Cacao content: 88%
Tasting notes: black tea, balsamic vinegar, fresh cream, lemon, jasmine, apricot, walnut

description:
Canoabo Ucayali. Hacienda victoria. if these names mean something to you then you are on of us: nutty. cacao-obsessed. and ready to infiltrate the world of chocolate flavor.

Crazy 88s seek out the best cacao from all over the globe.

Secret mission: to skillfully blend different origins to make a potent, and beautifully nuanced extra dark chocolate.

Crazy 88 is our secret flavour weapon.

Crazy 88 ninjas cast a shadow in the form of a cat.


Updated posts:
Hamburger post includes an extra picture of something I found (here)
Bloom post includes a picture of what I created inspired by Martha Stewart Living magazine (here)

~*~

Author event:


Bookshop in West Portal hosted a celebratory event (with some bubbly) to cheer for Cara Black's 19th book in the Aimee Leduc mystery series. Fellow mystery writer, Jacqueline Winspear was also in the house for a conversation and Q&A with Cara.

Murder in Bel-Air
by Cara Black
-Mystery, Paris | Goodreads

The American Agent
by Jacqueline Winspear
-Mystery, Historical, WWII | Goodreads


Library:

Killing November
by Adriana Mather
-Mystery, Thriller, YA | Goodreads

HYPE got me curious about this one. Listening to the audio version.


AND watched: in theatre

The Third Wife (2018)
Director/Writer: Ash Mayfair
Stars: Long Le Vu, Mai Thu Huong Maya, Nguyen Phuong Tra My
-Drama | imdb | my rating: 5

19th century rural Vietnam, fourteen-year-old May is ready to become the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Little did she know that her hidden desires will take her by surprise and force her to make a choice between living in safety and being free.

LOVED the lush scenes and scenery of daily living in the country.

Booksmart (2019)
Director: Olivia Wilde
Writers: Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein
-Comedy, High School | imdb | my rating: 5

On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.

SUPER fun ensemble cast. Light and comedic side of high school.


AND watched: in theatre for SF DocFest (here)

Candice (2019)
Director/Writer: Sheona McDonald
Star: Candida Royalle
-Documentary, Biography | imdb | my rating: 4

Now a sexagenarian, adult performer Candida Royale tells her story as a "godmother of feminist porn," who began thirty years ago to direct films of her own focusing on women's sexual enjoyment.

WHAT a lady, what a life. She rocks!


~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Lovely Books and Things - 3.31.18

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Stacking the Shelves (details)
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~

HAPPY THINGS:

1. Hanging out with the kid who is home from college for spring break :-)

2. Grilled Cheese sandwich made with cheese from Cowgirl Creamery - yummy in the tummy

3. Crafting projects - from craft magazines mentioned in a previous post (here)


I made my first pom pom creature with a pom pom maker from Mollie Makes #88 spring edition. It turned out scrappy looking - so dubbed it the zombie chick.


From the Make Special Cards magazine kit, I made a spring card themed card by assembling some of the kit ingredients into a layered piece. Sending it off to one of my nieces.

FYI: I ended up using the stickers, washi tape, etc. from the My Creative Journal kit for my Happy Planner and will use the journal for something else later.

~*~

Bought:

Tokyo Hearts
by Renae Lucas-Hall
-Romance, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads

FOR a Japanese reading binge I will be doing in April.

Death Going Down
by María Angélica Bosco
-Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Argentina
Amazon | Goodreads

FOR Foreign Intrigue Book Club April pick (here).

Author event:


Book Passage, Corte Madera hosted a Q&A with Jacqueline Winspear for the release of To Die but Once (Amazon | Goodreads). She mentioned that this book was inspired by her Dad and his war experience.

For Review:

Perfectly Misunderstood
by Robin Daniels
-Romance, YA
Release date: April 4, 2018
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Library:

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
by Balli Kaur Jaswal
-Women's Fiction, India
Amazon | Goodreads

FOR Reese Witherspoon's book club March pick (here).


UNBOXING:

From Owlcrate package (details & signup):
OwlCrate is a subscription service that sends you magical monthly boxes tailored to a chosen theme. Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish treats to help you get your nerd on. @owlcrate


MARCH Box includes:
theme: Across the Galaxy

- Owlcrate spoiler card
- Owlcrate button - monthly theme
- Owlcrate booklet - includes Q&A with author
- Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
- Signed edition, letter and character poster from author
- Candle inspired by Kady Grant character of The Illuminae Files from Wick & Fable.
- Rocket of Guardians of the Galaxy FUNKO pint-sized hero
- Bookmark inspired by Star Wars created by Lexy Olivia
- Infinity scarf by Owlcrate
- Ceramic mug inspired by Lunar Chronicles designed by Sasha Natasha.

Heart of Iron
by Ashley Poston
-Fantasy, SciFi, YA
Amazon | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.

Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.

When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.

What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives—and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana’s past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?



AND watched: in theatre

A Silent Voice (2016)
Koe no katachi (original title)
The Shape of Voice
Director: Naoko Yamada
Writers/Screenplay: Yoshitoki Oima, Reiko Yoshida, Amanda Winn Lee, Clark Cheng
Based on comic: Koe no katachi by Yoshitoki Oima
Based on book: Curry and Rice by Kiyoshi Shigematsu
-Animation, Drama, Romance, Japan | imdb | my rating: 4

A young man is ostracized by his classmates after he bullies a deaf girl to the point where she moves away. Years later, he sets off on a path for redemption.

INTERESTING take on the consequences of a bully.


Ready Player One (2018)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay: Zak Penn, Ernest Cline
Based on book by: Ernest Cline
Stars: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn
-Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | imdb | my rating: 5

When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.

LOVED the book, so had to see this. Although not as detailed as the book, it was adapted well for a fan like me.


AND watched: on DVD

Whisky Galore (2016)
Director: Gillies MacKinnon
Writer: Peter McDougall
Stars: James Cosmo, Eddie Izzard, Naomi Battrick
-Comedy, Romance, Scotland | imdb | my rating: 4

Scottish islanders try to plunder cases of whisky from a stranded ship.

THIS was part of the Mostly British Film Festival selection that I missed seeing last month. So, I got the DVD to complete that viewing session.

Loved the small town island community and the humorous trials and tribulations that surround the love of whisky during a time when it was scarce.

Marshall (2017)
Director: Reginald Hudlin
Writers: Jacob Koskoff, Michael Koskoff
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens
-Biography, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
Oscar 2018 nominee

The story of Thurgood Marshall, the crusading lawyer who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.

GEM of a film that is a good bit of history about Thurgood Marshall.

~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Thanks for stopping by :-)
 
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