Lovely Books and Things - 5.22.22

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

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

~*~

HAPPY THINGS:

1. Winner of Syrie James Sanditon/Masterpiece Theatre swag - totebag and socks
2. Pre-screening film tickets to Downton Abbey: A New Era
3. Blogging time at the Garden Cafe

~*~
Library: audiobook

Certain Dark Things
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fantasy, Horror, Vampires, Mexico | Published: 2021 (first 2016) | Goodreads

Library:

The Doloriad
by Missouri Williams
Horror, SciFi | Published: 2022 | Goodreads

Nightshift
by Kiare Ladner
Thriller, London | Published: 2021 | Goodreads
~*~
AND watched: theatre

Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
Director: Simon Curtis
Screenplay: Julian Fellowes
Stars: Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville
Drama, Romance | imdb | my rating: 5
lots of smiles
Follow-up to the 2019 feature film in which the Crawley family and Downton staff received a royal visit from the King and Queen of Great Britain.

AND watched: virtual theatre for CAAMfest40 (xxx">details)

Anita (2021)
Director/Screenplay: Lok Man Leung
Screenplay: Wai Lun Ng
Stars: Louise Wong, Louis Koo
Biography, Drama, History | imdb | my rating: 5
amazing superstar
Traces the life of Anita Mui, Hong Kong's legendary Cantopop star.

Silent River (2021)
Director/Writer: Chris Chan Lee
Stars: West Liang, Amy Tsang
Drama, SciFi | imdb | my rating: 5
Wha...what just happened... must re-watch
Desperate to reconcile with his estranged wife, Elliot stops at a desert motel where he encounters Greta, an uncanny woman on the run from a mysterious past.

Drifting (2021)
Director/Writer: Jun LI
Stars: Francis Ng, Cecilia Choi
Drama, Hong Kong | imdb | my rating: 5

Just out of jail, Fai finds a spot on a street corner where other homeless people welcome him. But he doesn't get much time to settle in. The police soon chase them away, and their possessions disappear into a garbage truck. Young social worker Ms Ho thinks it's time to fight this in court. In the meantime, Fai and his friends have other concerns.


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

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Explore: Oaxaca

Explore The World 2022
through books, films, etc. May: Oaxaca

READ: set in Mexico

Hurricane Season
by Fernanda Melchor
translated by Sophie Hughes
Literary, Mexico | Goodreads
AUDIOBOOK: set in Mexico

Certain Dark Things
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fantasy, Horror, Vampires, Mexico | Published: 2021 (first 2016) | Goodreads

WATCH: filmed in Oaxaca

Nacho Libre (2006)
Director/Writer: Jared Hess
Writers: Jerusha Hess, Mike White
Stars: Jack Black, Ana de la Reguera, Héctor Jiménez
Comedy, Family, Sport, Mexico | imdb
Berated all his life by those around him, a monk follows his dream and dons a mask to moonlight as a Luchador (Mexican wrestler).

FLIP THROUGH:

Oaxaca
The Spirit of Mexico
by Judith Cooper Haden
Travel, Mexico | Published: 2002 | Goodreads
"A riot of color and commotion, Oaxaca is Mexico at its most authentic and spontaneous."
—Travel & Leisure

Each year, a quarter million Americans visit the Mexican state of Oaxaca, an ancient land where indigenous, pre-Columbian, and colonial worlds exist side by side. Photographer Judith Haden offers a pictorial love letter to Oaxaca, illuminating its everyday life in supersaturated blues, dazzling yellows, and pinks so hot they vibrate on the page.

Compelling portraits of market vendors, folk art and artists, fiestas, and historic sites are matched by insightful prose. More than a dozen essays explore the street markets, religious festivals, artes populares, music, architecture, gastronomy, history, and language, tracing the palpable features of the faces of Oaxaca.

With more than two hundred breathtaking color photographs, this volume captures the spirit and traditions of a valley whose dynamic culture, hospitable people, and rugged beauty have bewitched travelers since the time of Cortez.

PEEKABOOK:

VISIT: someday...

La Proveedora Bookstore
(details)
~*~
* part of Explore the World (here)

Summer Getaways

~*~

Untamed Shore
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Historical, Thriller | Published: 2021 | Goodreads
getaway: Baja, California
Baja California, 1979. Viridiana spends her days watching the dead sharks piled beside the seashore, as the fishermen pull their nets. There is nothing else to do, nothing else to watch, under the harsh sun. She’s bored. Terribly bored. Yet her head is filled with dreams of Hollywood films, of romance, of a future beyond the drab town where her only option is to marry and have children.

Three wealthy American tourists arrive for the summer, and Viridiana is magnetized. She immediately becomes entwined in the glamorous foreigners’ lives. They offer excitement, and perhaps an escape from the promise of a humdrum future.

When one of them dies, Viridiana lies to protect her friends. Soon enough, someone’s asking questions, and Viridiana has some of her own about the identity of her new acquaintances. Sharks may be dangerous, but there are worse predators nearby, ready to devour a naïve young woman who is quickly being tangled in a web of deceit.

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
by Elyssa Friedland
Chick-lit | Published: 2021 | Goodreads
getaway: Catskills
A family reunion for the ages when two clans convene for the summer at their beloved getaway in the Catskills--perfect for fans of Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel--from the acclaimed author of The Floating Feldmans.

In its heyday, The Golden Hotel was the crown jewel of the hotter-than-hot Catskills vacation scene. For more than sixty years, the Goldman and Weingold families - best friends and business partners - have presided over this glamorous resort which served as a second home for well-heeled guests and celebrities. But the Catskills are not what they used to be - and neither is the relationship between the Goldmans and the Weingolds. As the facilities and management begin to fall apart, a tempting offer to sell forces the two families together again to make a heart-wrenching decision. Can they save their beloved Golden or is it too late?

The Last Resort
by Marissa Stapley
Mystery, Thriller | Published: 2019 | Goodreads
getaway: Mayan Riviera
The Harmony Resort promises hope for struggling marriages. Run by celebrity power couple Drs. Miles and Grace Markell, the "last resort" offers a chance for partners to repair their relationships in a luxurious setting on the gorgeous Mayan Riviera.

Johanna and Ben have a marriage that looks perfect on the surface, but in reality, they don’t know each other at all. Shell and Colin fight constantly: after all, Colin is a workaholic, and Shell always comes second to his job as an executive at a powerful mining company. But what has really torn them apart is too devastating to talk about. When both couples begin Harmony's intensive therapy program, it becomes clear that Harmony is not all it seems—and neither are Miles and Grace themselves. What are they hiding, and what price will these couples pay for finding out?

Old (2021)
Director/Screenplay: M. Night Shyamalan
Based on graphic novel: Sandcastle by Frederick Peeters, Pierre-Oscar Lévy
Stars: Gael García Bernal, Vicky KriepsRufus Sewell
Drama, Mystery, Thriller | imdb | my rating: 4
A family on a tropical holiday discovers that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly reducing their entire lives into a single day.

certainly got me thinking of life, Lost vibes

~*~
* image source: Capri Da Luigi Beach Club by Gray Malin

* part of Summertime time (schedule)

Lah Lah La-La La La-La... A Little Bit Velvet

National Velvet (1963)
silkscreen ink and synthetic polymer on canvas
by Andy Warhol
136.25" x 83.5"
Ben Blackwell/S.F. Museum of Modern Art


READ:

National Velvet
by Enid Bahnold
Classic, YA, Horses | Published: 1953 (first 1935) | Goodreads
A butcher's daughter in a small Sussex town ends her nightly prayers with "Oh, God, give me horses, give me horses! Let me be the best rider in England!" The answer to 14-year-old Velvet Brown's plea materializes in the form of an unwanted piebald, raffled off in a village lottery, who turns out to be adept at jumping fences--exactly the sort of horse that could win the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National. Richly atmospheric of rural life in England between the World Wars, National Velvet has enchanted generations of readers since its 1935 debut. The heroine's grit and determination, backed by the support of her eccentric and loving family, offer an inspiring example of the struggles and rewards of following a dream.

WATCH:

Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
Director/Writer: Dan Gilroy
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton
Horror, Mystery, Thriller | imdb | my rating: 4 A satire set in the contemporary art world scene of Los Angeles, where big money artists and mega-collectors pay a high price when art collides with commerce.

HEADS UP:

Velvet Was The Night
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Historical, Mystery, Noir, Mexico | Published: August 17, 2021 | Goodreads
STATE OF BEING...

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
narrated by Frankie Corzo

Published: 2020
Publisher: Del Rey
Hardback: 301
Rating: 4
Historical, Horror, Mexico | Goodreads | Website
Travel destination: Mexico

First sentence(s):
The parties at the Tuñóns' house always ended unquestionably late, and since the hosts enjoyed costume parties in particular, it was not unusual to see Chinas Poblanos with their folkloric skirts and ribbons in their hair arrive in the company of a harlequin or a cowboy.

After receiving a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find - her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

My two-bits:

Slow burn surreal horror with that gothic vibe as the title suggests. Haunted house doings. Perfectly haunting for the season.

~*~

* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Armchair Autumn Travel (here)

Armchair Autumn Travel

Armchair Autumn Travel
September to December 2020


Starting out my trip with this while sitting in a virtual airport...

The Jetsetters
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Contemporary, Chick-lit | Goodreads | my review
Countries in this story include:
Greece
Malta
Italy
France
Spain

ASIA
NEPAL: The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen - my review

EUROPE
DENMARK: The Tenant by Katrine Engberg - my review
FRANCE: The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel - my review
SWEDEN: Beartown by Fredrik Backman - my review

MIDDLE EAST
Israel: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd - my review

SOUTH AMERICA
Mexico: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - my review
Argentina: Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez - my review

AFRICA
Ghana: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie - my review

OCEANIA

NORTH AMERICA
California, Los Angeles: The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson - my review
California, Los Angeles: The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyun Kim - my review
Virginia: Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby - my review

And when all is said and done with this travel interlude, I will catch a ride on...

The Last Flight
by Julia Clark
Thriller, Mystery | Goodreads | my rating: 4
my two bits: Really engaging with a good pace for a thriller mystery read. I liked how the switcheroo trope played out.

~*~

* header image source: Compartment C Car 293 by Edward Hopper

Lovely Books and Things - 9.13.20

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

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

~*~

HAPPY THINGS:

1. Discount coupon for fresh bagels at House of Bagels - oh yeah, going for garlic bagels!
2. Listening to KPop - back to my gateway band, MBLAQ :-)
3. Before the smoke alert days this past week on a daily walk I found this stencil in front of 4-Star theatre (miss movie outings). Dorothy and her famous last words...There's no place like home.

~*~

Library: audiobook

Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Historical, Horror, Mexican | Goodreads

~*~
Virtual Author event: hosted by Vromans
Listen to archive of this and check out their calendar for future free author events (here)

Nevertheless, She Wore It: 50 Iconic Fashion Moments
by Ann Shen
History, Fashion, Feminism | Goodreads

Virtual Author event: hosted by Green Apple Books
Check out their calendar for future free author events (here)
A conversation between: Sophie Yanow and Suzy Exposito

The Contradictions by Sophie Yanow
Graphic Novel, LGBTQ, Feminism, Travel, Paris | 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: Mary Ladd and Don Asmussen

The Wig Diaries
by Mary Ladd
illustrated by Don Asmussen
Memoir, Cancer, Humor | Goodreads

A conversation between: Rhy Bowen and Cara Black

The Last Mrs. Summers
by Rhys Bowen
Mystery, Historical, British | Goodreads

~*~ AND watched: on Netflix

Desperados (2020)
Director: LP
Writer: Ellen Rapoport
Stars: Nasim Pedrad, Anna Camp
Comedy, Romance | imdb | my rating: 3
A panicked young woman, with her reluctant friends in tow, rushes to Mexico to try and delete a ranting email she sent to her new boyfriend.

CRAZY feels, fun and friendship.

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Director: Craig Brewer
Writers: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps
Biography, Comedy, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.

LOVED Rudy's spirit, passion and drive.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Director: David Dobkin
Writers: Will Ferrell, Andrew Steele
Stars: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens
Comedy, Music | imdb | my rating: 5
When aspiring musicians Lars and Sigrit are given the opportunity to represent their country at the world's biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

DREAMERS doing it, gotta love it!

Readalong update:

The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen | Goodreads
co-read with Naida at the the bookworm

Aug 17-23: Prologue & chapter 1
I got halfway through the introduction and decided to stop as it was getting too spoilery for me. I will get back to it later along with the acknowledgments which was also part of the front matter of the book.

Enjoying the details of the trek and learning about the various members of the party and how they function.

Aug 24-30: chapter 2
Importance of a good comfortable pair of hiking boots made an impression. Similar to what I found when I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

Love his writing style. Felt the cold, danger and beauty of the Himalayas as the search for the Blue Sheep and Snow Leopard continue.

"I am here to be here, like these rocks and sky and snow, like this hail that is falling down out of the sun." -page 108

Liked the reference and thoughts about the Yeti.

Aug 31-Sep 6: chapter 3
Meditation and expectations.

Sep 7-13: chapter 4 & wrap-up
Final thoughts and observations by the author of the place and people left me ready for a new outlook on future travel adventures.

~*~
* 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 181, Week 27
Stay healthy! Be safe!

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Lovely Books and Things - 9.29.19

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

~*~
HAPPY THINGS:

1. Ed Hardy: Deeper than Skin art exhibit with his piece of 2,000 dragons at the deYoung museum

2. Monthly chocolate happy hour at Fog City News! -got truffles this time around as the tasting was a repeat for local chocolate artisans, 9th and Larkin

3. Indian summer with warm autumn colored evening skies

~*~
Bought:

The Execution of Justice
by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
-Mystery, Austria | Goodreads
FOR my face-to-face group, Foreign Mystery Book Club - November pick.

Monthly chocolate happy hour at Fog City News!
September pick: Oktoberfest truffles

Library:

Swiss Vendetta
(Agnes Luthi Mysteries #1)
by Tracee de Hahn
-Mystery, Switzerland | Goodreads
FOR my face-to-face group, Foreign Mystery Book Club - October pick.

The Handmaid's Tale:
The Graphic Novel
by Renée Nault (Adapter, Artist)
based on novel by Margaret Atwood
-Dystopia, Graphic Novel | Goodreads
REFRESH my memory before reading the sequel, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.

Celebrate ¡VIVA! Annual Celebration of Latino Hispanic Heritage:

Dinner
by César Aira
-Novella, Zombies, Argentina| Goodreads

Gods of Jade and Shadow
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
-Fantasy, Historical, Mythology, Mexico | Goodreads

The Shape of the Ruins
by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
-Literary, Historical, Columbia| Goodreads

Freebie: from Free Little Library

Sing To It
by Amy Hempel
-Short Stories, Literary | Goodreads
COVER love and heard good things about this one.

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

Thanks for stopping by :-)