Anna grew up reading Jane Austen novels, dreaming of balls versus her own reality as a kid on food stamps. After college, Anna gets to London but it's hard work living paycheck to paycheck. As a tutor for a teenage daughter, she meets the Wilders. Suddenly, she's in Saint Tropez on a work holiday. Parties, excess, handsome rich young men. It's a whirlwind. One fellow wants to whisk her into his world, another sees her trying to "fake it to make it". How will she reconcile her reality and her dreams?
This is not a new tale, but Everett imbues Anna's story with humor, grace, and plenty of humble pie. It's easy to like Anna and also be inwardly shouting,"noooooo",as she makes mistakes. The book is a page turner with some interesting twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion.
I give it five stars for fun and descriptions of great scenery.
Whew!
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan follows Emil and Adeline Martel. It's late March 1944. Stalin's pushed into Ukraine. Do they wait for this intrusion and the chance of being sent to Siberia. Or do they follow the wolves - murderous Nazi officers who have pledged to protect "pure blood Germans?
This book is well researched and keeps the pages turning. It's a tough, brutal, complex tale. How to survive? How to keep hopes of immigrating west alive? It's hard work to find freedom.
This story starts in 1944. I found it very sad in one regard - are we going backward from progress made after WWII? Lots to think about.
This is a preservation of liturgical treasures - given by kings. The finest goldsmiths and embroiders from France, Spain, Portugal, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Italian states, used gold, silver, precious stones, and textiles to honor the holy.
(brochure blurb)
The Kimbell is a wonderful museum with lovely exhibition space. The spacing, the lighting, the magnificent art - awe inspiring history.
Of course there's some apprehension. Will it be silly? Will it be lousy? What story line and how have they handled aging characters?
No worries. We launch back into the world of fashion, journalism, and the hustle bustle of NYC with aplomb. The story handles the onslaught of mergers, artificial intelligence, aging, and the money/power combo. I'm not going into the minutiae, just trust me it all works.
Our stars, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci, plus a bonus appearance by Lucy Liu, are all fabulous. They look great, and are so good in their various roles - working together or scheming. Special shout outs to Meryl and Stanley - it's a master class. Just a smirk, an eye role, a pause. Their timing is impeccable.
And another character itself is New York City - the glam, the money side, the hustle bustle, and the "little apartments" (HA!) I love it and soak it in.
So - big thumbs up from me. If you liked the original, you'll be very happy.
As Miranda (Meryl) says...."That's all."
"Go"
The above are just two examples of the over 250 photographs featured at the Amon Carter Museum (Fort Worth, TX) in a special exhibition on Black Photojournalism. This shines a light on the groundbreaking work of more that sixty photographers working in the USA from 1945 to the mid-1980s. The photojournalists documented pivotal historical events as well as the richness of everyday life. (exhibit brochure)
A friend and I enjoyed our time spent looking at all of the photos and discussing some of the history involved. I grew up in PA, she grew up in Louisiana. Different perspectives of stories told, stories remembered. This is a very worthwhile exhibit and very well presented. Lots to think about from the black perspective/ human perspective and the importance of recording moments for posterity.
Kudos to the Amon Carter for getting this exhibit as organized by the Carnegie Museum of Art.
Toibin writes with ease - complex dynamics, haunting pull of the past, and the quiet revelations that define our lives. Whether navigating the aftermath of war, forbidden love, the longings of a Catalan girl in Argentina, or the quiet struggles of mundane life, all are rendered with illuminating empathy and insight. (cover blurb)
I enjoyed dipping in and out of this book and peering into others' lives. Very well written and rich tales told.
Adios, amigos
Sure enough, Berry Gordy, Motown founder hears and sees the magic in Michael and his brothers. They skyrocket. The movie then pivots to Jaafar Jackson (yes, a relative of Michael) playing Michael as a teen, ready to move on from the J5. He has so much more to express. Jaafar does a very good job - the smile, the moves, the unique voice. The beat! Off the Wall, Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, the meteoric rise...
the Moon Walk dance!
The movie shows the Pepsi commercial incident, the final J5 tour, and then the Thriller phenomenon. The movie alludes to Michael's weird childhood, the Neverland connection, etc., but doesn't go to the dark side.
There have been other, better musical biographies but for $7 I escaped for two hours into good music.
Hope your nature encounters this weekend have less teeth.
Happy May Day!
cover blurb - An historic blizzard bears down on Nantucket. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough holiday intrigue to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog.
This is amusing fluff romance reading. I needed a no brainer and Hilderbrand is consistent in her writing. I was entertained.
Well, here's the whole scoop by Christie Brinkley herself in her memoir Uptown Girl.
She was "discovered" outside a Paris phone booth in 1974. From there, she launched into a meteoric modeling career and became one of the first supermodels. Modeling, movies (National Lampoon Vacation), sitcoms, Broadway (Chicago). Christie Brinkley has been in the public eye for over fifty years. Now she tells her story and extols an unwavering belief in the magic and mystery of life. (cover blurb)
Four tumultuous marriages includes the heartbreaking Billy Joel divorce. They are still friends.
A near death helicopter crash. Wow - that's quite a chapter.
This is a fun, interesting, entertaining memoir. It's a mixed charmed life and harrowing relationships. She comes across as smart, intrigued with life, always up for adventure, and eager to learn. She laughs at herself and does write about her insecurities. And she agrees she fell for some bad guys along the way. (not Billy. He had his issues and she had to divorce him. But they stayed good parents to Alexa Ray. I believe her sincerity in those chapters.).
Plenty of pictures included - damn gorgeous. Good memoir.
We have been back from Costa Rica for a month now. But the loveliness lingers
Hard to believe it's now almost end of April. We've been backyard prepping for summer. Some new landscaping by worker bees is awesome and our backs don't hurt. The pool is warming up. And here in Texas, it's been festival time. Lots of music shows, fairs, and frivolity. We have to get it in now to beat the heat. Hope you are having a spring fling! Enjoy.
cover blurb Over the course of a year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai's relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink.
Love, labor, and loneliness can be the bedrock of American life. It's hard to live on the fringes. Sometimes a chosen family can save a soul.
This book can be a tough read at times. The characters are rather haunting, and Hai often does not make good choices. I was frustrated with him. The author, Vuong, has a rich style and good descriptions.
p. 282 Hai is talking to his cousin "Touch me. Go ahead. That's it. Everything else, what I do, what I've gone, the goals and promises, they're all, like, ghosts. My ghost is in pieces. It's all over the place, caught in all the spots where I snagged myself. You get it?"
The Emperor of Gladness was interesting. I'm glad I read it, but...it's challenging.
Well, many Fridays ago, while in Costa Rica I finally finished reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Amongst friends, this was THE book of the season. I was on the library list forever. And, of course, it was ready for me a day before our trip. Turned out to be a wonderful read. I kept the pages turning and it helped the four hour flight time zoom.
cover blurb - Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of her world and her place in it. She writes to her brother, her best friend, to Joan Didion, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.
As the reader, we learn about Sybil and her life. The ebb and flow offers questions, sometimes answers, and we slowly see a life story build. The writing has verve, shows strong character, and is delightfully precise with a touch of whimsy.
This book is a gem - shows the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. (cover blurb)
As a letter writer myself, I truly appreciated the author's skill in navigating Sybil's life via this form of communication.
The Correspondent is a MUST READ. Super duper!!!
