Finally Friday - Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

 Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson tells a layered tale - it's a story of how inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names can shape  relationships and history. It's an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch. (cover blurb)

Eleanor Bennett has died. Now her grown children, Byron and Benny listen to a taped message she left for them, along with a signature black cake - a Caribbean tradition.  Eleanor's story is surprising. She escaped her island home under suspicion of murder. She's held onto a different identity and tells about herself as a young woman named Covey. 

The siblings have been estranged and now hear about another long lost sister. Will they unite and find her? Or will they stay lost in their own versions of their lives? 

I really enjoyed the journey of the black cake, this history it holds, and how it draws a family together. Wilkerson's debut novel is superb with rich characters and a lot of twists and turns to the family saga. Treat yourself to a slice of good writing. 

Whatever Wednesday - What Will February Bring?

Amanda Gorman, a poet laureate, has a way with words.

 Let's see what February brings.  At least it's a short month.  And yet, even with the joy of Valentine's chocolates (I'll take any excuse for candy), the month tends to drag. 

Stay safe, warm, and avoid ice, ICE, ice...baby

Monday Moments - Groundhog's Day

A PA friend posted this on Friday.  So today's the day - Groundhog Day...

It's not looking good for a lot of the states.
 

And here's another take on it

This was our end to  January.  Ray broke up 2-1/2 chunks of ice and I shoveled it.  The driveway took two hours to do.  Whew!  We were sore.  That's a whole other level of exercise.

We're in  the DFW area.  My sister in DE reported a foot of snow over the course of a few days. Same with my brother in PA.  That's a LOT of shoveling. Plus temps  in the  teens with no real break ahead. 

This week is going up to the 60s by noon  each day for us.  It better get sunnier.  Saturday, February 7th, I'm  going to do our  YMCA polar plunge.  Yowza.  I'll find out if I can walk on  water. 

Take care, where ever you are. Watch for ice glaze.  I recommend indoors, reading, and hot cocoa. 

(oh, and stock  up on Girl Scout cookies). 

Finally Friday - Marty Supreme

Marty Supreme is a sport comedy movie loosely based on  the life of Marty Reisman, a table tennis superstar.  Timothee Chalamet stars as Marty Mauser, a wily hustler in New York City. Chalamet has won the Golden Globe and a Critic's Choice Award for his performance, and his nominated for an Oscar. He is very, very good. 

The movie is directed by Josh  Safdie who also did Uncut Gems which starred an award winning Adam Sandler.  I found the  two films to  be very alike - the pacing, the  down and dirty living, the lying, the angst. 

Marty is always robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to  speak. He's trying  to get money to  fly to Europe  for the table tennis championships.  He  borrows here, cheats here, always fast talking. He does work for his uncle's shoe  store, but manages  to screw that up. He's got Rachel, a long time girl/ friend who happens  to  be married, and he gets her pregnant. 

At age twenty-three, the kid is wise beyond his years and deep down is sorta good. Chalamet is likeable with that sweet face, and believable as very smart and talented. But almost too much of a wiseacre. 

I'm glad I saw this movie and yet I found it exhausting and way too long (2-1/2 hours) .  I got the gist immediately and then it just  kept going, and going - literally ping ponging around the city.  Whew! 

 

Whatever Wednesday - Lucky Seed by Justinian Huang

 Lucky Seed by Justinian Huang is a ridiculous romp of a read. 

cover blurb - Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians in this chaotic, darkly funny saga about the lengths a wealthy family will go to ensure the birth of a male heir from the gay black sheep of their clan. 

Re-read that sentence. Now, just picture how ridiculous that statement is for life.  The billionaire Sun clan is nuts. Powerful struggling aunties, emasculated uncles,  scheming cousins,  scandalous secrets, and a fortune teller on  retainer. 

This book is hilarious, nutso, probably has a touch of  reality beyond normal peoples comprehension,  and is  a fun read. It's total escapism, written with a wink and a nod. The family characters are hilarious, sad, pathetic, and yet, empathetic. 

Altogether it's about finding and connecting the right love, making it work, and continuing family traditions (albeit with the right grace note). 

Pure mind candy and that's okay.  Enjoy!  

Monday Moments - All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert

 All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert is a stunning memoir about love, passion, abuse, craving, and redemption. 

cover blurb : In 2000, Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) met Rayya Elias. They became friends, then best friends, then lovers - a pair of addicts on a collision course to  catastrophe.  Self-destructive tendencies became the unstable partner.  What if your most devastating heartbreak opened  a pathway to your greatest awakening? 

I have to say this was amazing, frustrating, annoying, and yet compelling to read. I don't think I would have  liked these two in person when they were fighting - way  too intense. Rayya sounds like an intriguing person who could be way, way too much.  Elizabeth Gilbert can be almost too into herself (in my  opinion). And Yet......I found myself turning  pages, shaking my head, and fascinated at watching the trainwreck. Then sad for the finale.  

This would not be everyone's cup  of tea,  but I'm glad I read it (yeah, I sorta speed read through a lot). 

Finally Friday - Sisters: Loved and Treasured

 cover blurb - Beacons of support, understanding, and love, sisters  are there for us through it all - childhood, the formative teen years, and adulthood. Journalist, Deborah Roberts curates a collection  of conversations,  meditations, and anecdotes from  her own sisters, celebrity friends, and everyday people. Sisters shape lives and it matters. 

Here's Lori and me.  She's ten years younger, but we are close.  It's amazing. We have sent each other the same Valentine card. We have similar humor and we just share the bond of the Crowther family. We can just say a word or reference and we know what "crazy" we are talking about.  Our middle brother, David, is in the mix, but sisters bond...oh, it's a thing. 

I enjoyed these essays  from Viola  Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jenna and Barbara Bush, Shonda Rhimes, Deborah Roberts, and so many more. I could identify and appreciate every feeling, every nuance, every special sister moment.  

Sisters Loved and Treasured by Deborah Roberts and her interviews was an engaging read.  I do feel sorry for folks without a sister to share all the special  moments of life.