Lovely Books and Things - 8.2.20

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update
Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~
HAPPY THINGS:

1. Falling into the internet rabbit hole about puzzles. And then, starting a 1,000 piece summer themed puzzle that I won from Marlene M. Bell's book tour in June.

2. Mason Jar Smoothies - made without a blender (details) and trying out recipes from Pick Up Limes (here) - so far loving the Mango Spinach combo

3. Grabbing a burrito from local eatery next door to the laundromat on wash day.

~*~
Library: audiobook

The Jane Austen Society
by Natalie Jenner
narrated by Richard Armitage !!!
Historical, Romance, Jane Austen theme | Goodreads

Writers & Lovers
by Lily King
narrated by Stacey Glemboski
Literary | Goodreads
For Review:

Courting the Stationmaster’s Daughter
by Juli D. Revezzo
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Historical, Romance, England | Goodreads
~*~
Virtual Author event: hosted by Book Passages
Listen to archive of this and check out their calendar for future free author events (here)

A conversation between:
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich | Historical, North Dakota | Goodreads
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett | Historical, Literary, Family | Goodreads

A conversation between:
Deacon King Kong by James McBride | Historical, Literary | Goodreads
The Library Book by Susan Orlean | History, True Crime | Goodreads

~*~
AND watched: online virtual theatre, Roxie

Around the Sun (2019)
Director: Oliver Krimpas
Writer: Jonathan Kiefer
Book reference: Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle
Stars: Cara Theobold, Gethin Anthony
Drama, set in France | imdb | my rating: 5
Touring a repossessed French chateau, a film location scout falls for its flirtatious representative, who recounts the story of an influential book written there. But is their connection for real, or just a projection of the book's characters?

ROMANTIC and cerebral rendezvous and déjà vu moments as a couple walks through a beautiful setting in France.


AND watched: virtual theatre for SFFILM Hong Kong Cinema (here)

Lion Rock (2019)
Shi zi shan shang (original title)
Director: Nick Leung
Screenplay: Man-Ho Cheng, Cheung Chung-Leong, Nick Leung
Stars: Alex Tak-Shun Lam, Michelle Wai, Kevin Kam-Yin Chu
Drama, Hong Kong | imdb | my rating: 4
In 2011, Lai Chi-wai - one of the top rock climbers in Asia - lost everything when a motorcycle accident took away his ability to walk. Rather than succumbing to his fate, Lai found his own way of scaling those dizzying peaks again. With his second feature, Nick Leung offers a remarkable change of pace, eschewing the macabre humour of his debut Get Outta Here for an inspiring and touching tale about how a human being overcomes adversity. Featuring a career-best performance from Alex Lam as the wheelchair-bound athlete, this incredible fact-based story is a rousing tribute to Hong Kong's never-say-die spirit.

VIBRANT positive human spirit is inspiring. Surreal scenes brought in a touch of dark humor.

~*~
* 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 139, Week 21
Stay healthy! Be safe!

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Lovely Books and Things - 7.5.20

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update
Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~
HAPPY THINGS:

1. Strawberry Drop Biscuits from NYT cooking (here) - added chocolate chips for extra yummy

2. Hadestown musical - performed pieces on NPR Tiny Desk Concert (here) - hope this show goes on tour with a stop in San Francisco

3. Honey Bear Scavenger Hunt by artist fnnch - something fun to look for on my walks about town

~*~
Bought:

Don’t Send Flowers
by Martin Solares
Mystery, Crime, Mexico | Goodreads

The Nickel Boys
by Colson Whitehead
Historical, Pulitzer Prize 2020 | Goodreads
Library: audiobook

The Night Watchman
by Louise Erdrich
narrated by author
-Historical, North Dakota | Goodreads
Freebies: from Free Little Library

Stamboul Train
by Graham Greene
Classics, Mystery, British lit, train travel | Goodreads
Don't have this cover version, but cover love this one.

For Review:

Falling for Provence
by Paulita Kincer
courtesy of France Book Tours -Thanks!
Women's Fiction, France | Goodreads
~*~
Virtual Author event: hosted by Booksmith
Listen to archive of this and check out their calendar for future free author events (here)
Tune in Tuesdays 11am pst VIRTUAL: ZYZZYVA & The Booksmith Present: Lockdown Lit @ Lunch

A conversation with:
Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui
Nonfiction, Swimming | Goodreads
The Firsts: The Women Who Shook Capitol Hill by Jennifer Steinhauer
Feminism, Politics, History | Goodreads


A conversation with:
Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why by Alexandra Petri
Essay, Politics, Humor | Goodreads
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washingtonby Alexis Coe
History, Biography, Politics | Goodreads

We Want Our Bodies Back: Poems
by Jessica Care Moore
Poetry, Feminism | Goodreads
Virtual Author event: hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore
Listen to archive of this and check out their calendar for future free author events (here)

The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump
by Mary C. Jordan
Biography, Politics | Goodreads
Virtual Author event: hosted by Book Passages
Listen to archive of this and check out their calendar for future free author events (here)

Rebel Chef: In Search of What Matters
by Dominique Crenn, Emma Brockes
Memoir, Food | Goodreads
~*~
AND watched: on YouTube

Sanditon (2019)
The Musical 200 Years Later
Creator: Chris Brindle
Based on book by: Jane Austen, Anna Lefroy
Stars: William Hastings, Rebecca Huish
Musical, Jane Austen-theme | my rating: 4
In 1817 Jane Austen left an unfinished novel full of characters, issues and situations for posterity to finish sometime in the future. After she had inherited the manuscript in 1845 her niece Anna Lefroy added a continuation, similarly unfinished. In 2014 Chris Brindle put both fragments together and finished them as a play whilst also filming a documentary in Hampshire and Berkshire about the rivalry between niece Anna and nephew James Edward to honour and build the literary reputation of their late aunt. To mark the bicentenary of the death of Austen and the writing of 'Sanditon' Chris wrote and filmed two versions of 'Song For Jane Austen' and then kept on writing songs for all the characters in the book. Gradually the Play became a Musical with assistance of the recording studio of guitarist David Edward Booth in Bedfield Suffolk, and the piano genius of Vicky Clubb in Colchester. Finally with the assistance of Angie Diggens the whole thing was reduced to a show that could be premiered on the small stage of the Studio at 'The Other Palace' in Victoria, London on July 26th 2019. This filmed version is the work of more genius from Steve Dorrington, Tristan Syrett and Roger Allen at Colchester film-makers Aura Films.

AND currently binge-ing:

on Netflix:
Schitt's Creek, season 5
Marcella, season 1
Breaking Bad, season 5

on Crunchyroll:
Zombie Land Saga (Japanese anime)

~*~

Happy July the 4th weekend
~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently
* Shelter In Place - Day 111, Week 17
Thanks for stopping by :-)

Camp ToB 2020

Camp ToB 2020
summer reading program (details)
from the Tournament of Books
Camp bylaws are the same as last summer:

- Every week we’ll read half of each book, then discuss here on Wednesdays.

- We’ll be joined in the commentary booth each week by a different member of the Commentariat. (Please volunteer for that in the form below!)

- At the end of each month you decide which of the two books we just read heads to the end-of-summer finale, where you’ll cast one final vote to decide which of our summer reads heads to the 2021 Tournament of Books.

~*~
WINNER: Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
~*~

The City We Became
by N.K. Jemisin
-Fantasy, New York | Goodreads | my rating: DNF

Sharks in the Time of Saviors
by Kawai Strong Washburn
-Magical Realism, Hawaii | Goodreads | my rating: DNF

The Night Watchman
by Louise Erdrich
-Historical, North Dakota | Goodreads | my rating: tba

Such a Fun Age
by Kiley Reid
-Contemporary | Goodreads | my rating: 5

Weather
by Jenny Offill
-Literary, New York | Goodreads | my rating: 4

Writers & Lovers
by Lily King
-Literary, Massachusetts | Goodreads

Camp ToB 2020 Reading Schedule:

June 3: The City We Became, first half
June 10: The City We Became, second half
June 17: Sharks in the Time of Saviors, first half
June 24: Sharks in the Time of Saviors, second half
July 1: VACATION
July 8: The Night Watchman, first half
July 15: The Night Watchman, second half
July 22: Such a Fun Age, first half
July 29: Such a Fun Age, second half
Aug. 5: Writers & Lovers, first half
Aug. 12: Writers & Lovers, second half
Aug. 19: Weather, first half
Aug. 26: Weather, second half
Sept. 2: Announce summer champion