WEEKLY UPDATES: GOOD READING, SAD MOMENTS….

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

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Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

After mostly rainy days, we have had a few sunny ones.  Today is promising more sunshine, with a high of 55 degrees.  Almost springlike…LOL.

A great reading week, with FOUR books read and reviewed, and NINE completed for my Read the Books You Buy Challenge.

The world is looking very chaotic right now, with you-know-who seemingly at the center of it.

I am trying to focus on other things…and enjoyed watching some tributes to Mary Tyler Moore, who died this week at age 80.  She was one of our iconic symbols back in the day.

 

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Today I am eager to watch a movie that has taken its sweet time to appear in our city.  Jackie, starring Natalie Portman and an assorted cast, is set in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) deals with her immense grief while making plans for his funeral procession. Confiding in her close friend and secretary Nancy Tuckerman (Greta Gerwig), as well as her brother-in-law Robert Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard), Jackie tries to care for her young family as a bereaved nation watches on. Pablo Larrain directed this nonlinear biopic. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi…

 

 

 

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I’ve been finishing up a few things here before heading to the theater…and hope I make it in time for the earliest performance.

Meanwhile, let’s have some coffee, perhaps a mimosa, and look at the past week.

 

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LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Sparks:  “Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk”

Tuesday Potpourri:  When the Sky Falls…

Hump Day Sparks:  Let’s Take a Look at My Reading…

Thursday Potpourri:  Telling Stories…

Bookish Friday:  “The Futures”

A Coffee Chat:  Remembering an Icon…

Review:  Sweet Lake, by Christine Nolfi (Author Review Request)cropped-again-5Review:  The Marriage Lie (e-book), by Kimberly Belleratings-worms-4-croppedReview:  The Twilight Wife (e-book), by A. J. Bannercropped-again-5Review:  Faultlines (e-book), by Barbara Taylor Sisselcropped-again-5

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

No books in my mailbox!  Three downloads brightened my week, however.

This Is How It Always Is (e-book), by Laurie Frankel

 

 

this-is-how-it-always-is

 

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Pretty Little World (e-book), by Melissa DePino, Elizabeth LaBan

 

 

 

pretty-little-world

 

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The Good Neighbor (e-book), by A. J. Banner

 

 

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WHAT’S UP NEXT? (Linked to Amazon)

 

Currently Reading:  The Red Car (e-book), by Marcy Dermansky

 

 

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Then….

 

The Dry (e-book), by Jane Harper

 

 

 

 

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Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, by Kathleen Rooney

 

 

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And that’s my week…what did yours look like?  Here’s a Martini I had a while back….I am dreaming of having another, once I’ve sufficiently recovered from the cold that has descended….

 

 

a-new-years-martini

 

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77 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: GOOD READING, SAD MOMENTS….”

    1. I also want to see La La Land, but chose to see Jackie first, as I suspect it will be a limited run. Thanks for stopping by, Deborah, and I am definitely eager to enjoy The Dry…and “dry” weather for a while.

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  2. Greg Hill

    Mary Tyler Moore 😦

    Chaotic is right! Seems like it’s something everyday w/ this guy- I’m watching all the tweets about airport protests right now. sigh.

    Four books is great! I had a good reading week too- it was nice. No sun here though- or not much anyway. Bleak time of year here in Michigan. 🙂 Pretty Little World and The Good Neighbor both looks like good reads.

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    1. The guy is so fixated on how the media and others don’t treat him right! So thin-skinned, he should not be in a political office. He cares not, however, that his actions are hurting others.

      Thanks for stopping by, Greg, and I enjoyed each of those four books. I am excited about the new ones, too. Have a great week.

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  3. Oh I hope you enjoy Pretty Little World! I really enjoyed it though it had my mind spinning. Kathryn over at Book Date said that it would be a perfect book club book because there’s so much to talk about and I whole heartedly agree. We’ve had similar weather though a smidge colder. We had rain for days and days but it’s nothing but clear skies for the next week at least and I’m loving the sun! Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Katherine, and I enjoyed your review of Pretty Little World, as well as Kathryn’s…I think it does sound like a good book club read.

      It was great to go out today without an umbrella and with only a sweater. Enjoy your week.

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  5. Marion

    I just don’t know how you are coping with this train wreck, we are getting so much of it down here in New Zealand, let alone living in it. Please be assured that we are all with you in spirit. Some great books around at the moment including The Dry.

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    1. Thanks, Marion, and I have to believe that there will be some relief eventually. He has already done so many questionable things…how long before he does worse than what Nixon did?

      I love getting the support of our friends around the world…I get strength from that. And from books. Looking forward to The Dry. Thanks for visiting!

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    1. My second son calls him a “buffoon,” and he’s a Republican! But worse than being a joke, though, is the concern I have that he is dangerous. Thin-skinned politicians are the worst!

      Thanks for stopping by, Megan, and I hope you have an awesome reading week.

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  7. I am curious about ‘Jackie’ now that I see it. That family has been talked about forever and had fallen apart so bad. It will be interesting to see what Natalie Portman can do. I don’t care for her much.

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    1. Natalie’s portrayal of Jackie was different than any I’ve seen so far….in some ways, she showed us more of her interior world, as she told her story to the reporter writing the famed Life magazine article in which the Camelot characterization was first made.

      I liked that the movie was non-linear, and kept flashing back unexpectedly to the moments in Dallas.

      Personally, I didn’t think Natalie captured Jackie’s accent…in a way, she seemed to be embellishing it, and it was hard to understand what she was saying.

      Thanks for stopping by, Jackie…

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    1. Ah, yes, the news feeds about his Twitter feeds, I’m sure. Why would he be so public with his childish thoughts and feelings? It is embarrassing!

      I guess the good news about that is that maybe everyone will soon realize what a mistake he is.

      Or not.

      Thanks for visiting, Maureen, and I am eager to read Pretty Little World. Have a great week.

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  9. purplemoonmyst

    I too am dealing with he who shall not be named in that I am pouring myself into my work and blog. I think I gotten more work done this month than I have in the last 6 months. Ha!

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    1. Pouring yourself into work is a good way to deal….enjoy! I am trying to do the same. I go to the movies and out to lunch a lot, too, although I’ve been fighting a cold this week.

      Thanks for stopping by, Hillary, and enjoy the new week.

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    1. For the most part, I enjoyed it…my only complaint: Natalie Portman’s imitation of Jackie’s accent was off, IMO.

      There were some dramatic moments, and some unexpected shocks along the way.

      Thanks for stopping by, Emma…enjoy your week.

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  12. It’s been a disorienting week BUT this week I could also celebrate the publication of my short story Zombie Island and two poems the Bamboo Raft and Election Season in the lit journal Interviewing the Caribbean http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1226109 and I do want to share what I’ve been blogging this past week: about my new book a Caribbean Fairytale #WithGrace https://jhohadli.wordpress.com/2017/01/21/why-with-grace; about my most recent writing workshop experience https://jhohadli.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/stimulating-new-writing; about my recent movie binge and my thoughts on the films I’ve seen especially Room https://jhohadli.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/room-and-other-movies; and about my last book completed Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird https://jhohadli.wordpress.com/joannes-extra-ness/blogger-on-books Still so much uncertainty but happy to be here talking books and art while sipping this coffee.

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    1. Thanks, Pat, and I did enjoy the movie…with one small complaint: IMO Natalie Portman didn’t capture Jackie’s accent very well. But then, I heard the “real thing” many times back in the 60s.

      Enjoy your week, and I am definitely missing Mary Tyler Moore. She felt like a best friend…and a sister.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, JoAnn, and I enjoyed Jackie…although Natalie’s accent felt wrong, somehow. But imitating the real Jackie would be a challenge.

      It is worth seeing, IMO.

      I still want to see La La Land…soon, I hope.

      I’ve been distracted by the news, too…and fighting a cold, my first in TEN years. Imagine that!

      Enjoy your week.

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  16. Mmm I must watch out for Jackie when or if it comes to near me. Those were big times and I love to watch or read anything about it. I think people of our age all remember when we heard the news. Wow good and warm your way, not far behind us – we have not yet hit over 68 in my little area of NZ. Other places have but we are in the wrong spot this year.

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    1. I remember that I was home from work that day, watching As the World Turns with my mom. I can still hear the sound of Walter Cronkite’s voice when he made the announcement.

      And afterwards…and for many years, the shadow of that time would follow us. I tend to read lots of Kennedy books and see as many TV shows/movies as possible. One of our channels is bringing another mini-series (in the spring, I think), with Katie Holmes as Jackie.

      Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn.

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  17. Well there are two on this list that have caught my eye – The Good Neighbour which is languishing somewhere in the TBR and Lilian Boxfish Takes A Walk which I read a very good review of earlier this week. I raise my own Martini to meet yours 🙂

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    1. Oh, good for you, Cleo, having a Martini! I am at home today, but I did end up getting a Martini yesterday just before I saw the movie Jackie.

      I liked The Twilight Wife so much that I had to get The Good Neighbor afterwards (by the same author). As for Lillian Boxfish, I don’t see how I could go wrong getting that one; it does sound delightful.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Susan, and I did like the movie Jackie. My only complaint—and it is kind of silly, now that I mention it—is that Natalie Portman didn’t quite capture Jackie’s accent correctly. She was almost hard to understand in her interpretation of it.

      The movie was otherwise well-done, and I enjoyed the unexpected moments when they would flash back to Dallas again.

      I hope you like it…and also that we both enjoy The Dry.

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  19. katarguelles

    You are doing great with your challenge. I finished 2 books this week and only reviewed one of the books. I plan to write up the second review today. I want to watch Jackie so I hope you enjoy it. I hope you have a great week and enjoy your new books!

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  20. I’m so sad about Mary Tyler Moore. That show has always been a favorite of mine and I can’t believe she’s gone. I want to see the movie Jackie. I’ve always been fascinated by the Kennedy family. Have a great week!

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    1. Brrr…that sounds cold! Cold and wind are a terrible combination. Stay warm!

      I haven’t read anything by Frankel…so if I enjoy this one, I’ll have to check out her previous one. Thanks for visiting, Mary…have a great week!

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    1. Another busy week for you and good books coming up. I’m interested in The Dry. MTM was a lovely actress/character. I always enjoy seeing your flavored martinis. I hope you get over that cold very quickly.

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    2. Thanks for visiting, Christina, and I did enjoy it. I will probably also want the DVD.

      The Dry has captivated me already, although I didn’t get very far…I was pretty tired last night! I am also eager to start Lillian Boxfish.

      Have a great week!

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    1. Oh, those lower summer temps look good! In our summers, we stay in the 100s a lot. And it’s okay, except that the summers last a long time (seemingly): April or May until October sometimes.

      Enjoy your week, Sam, and martini time is coming again!

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  25. Politics. I’ve stayed away from them on my blog, you never know who has what views and I don’t want to offend, because my views are sort of going into the ‘no discussion, I’ve had it’ direction’. Maybe that’s wrong but after this last week, I just don’t understand how anyone can still defend him 😦

    I wasn’t planning on watching Jackie, but maybe I’ll try and sneak it into my schedule. This week I was planning on seeing Manchester by the Sea and Lion.

    That drink you posted there looks tasty! I hope you’re doing well and are having a good week.

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    1. Thanks, Olivia, and it is hard to share our feelings without offending someone…but I suspect that most people in our blogging community are pretty easygoing. I think. LOL.

      I don’t understand how “he” got elected, personally. He talks about voter fraud, pointing at the other side. Hmm. Perhaps he is projecting?

      I enjoyed Jackie…but I also want to see Manchester by the Sea. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Laura, and I enjoyed Jackie. Natalie did it pretty well…except I think she missed the mark on the accent. She overdid it, perhaps.

      However, I still enjoyed the movie. I hope you have a great week…reading is the best!

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  27. Kathy Martin

    I hope you enjoy Jackie. Kennedy is the first president I remember and a Catholic like me too which made his election a big deal at my parochial school. Come see my reading week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and I really enjoyed the “Camelot” days…I wish we had had more of them! But since everyone followed her and the children for years afterwards, it felt as though they were still part of us. Have a great week!

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    1. OMG! That situation would be a realtor’s nightmare. I want to read about it, but would never consider doing such a thing. LOL.

      Once in the 1970s, some of us (three couples) moved into the same neighborhood; one house next door to us, and one across the street. That turned out to be too close for comfort…and we moved within two years!

      Thanks for visiting my blog! Have a great week.

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  30. I’ve been such a terrible blog hopper lately! I don’t know what is happening to my time! I think my entire blogosphere just narrowed down while I’ve been trying to catch up and I’ve only managed to get around to a small percentage of the blogs I used to frequent, especially for weekly memes! I’m sorry I haven’t visited in forever!

    FOUR books read and reviewed? That’s awesome! I’m a couple of books behind on my schedule already this year! Hopefully I can catch up!

    The movie Jackie looks incredible – thanks for highlighting that.

    I hope you have a good week further and can continue to concentrate on better things!

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  31. kentuckygal50

    Good gravy, Laurel, I thought I was going to get carpal tunnel scrolling all the way down here! *lol* J/K

    I’ve read The Good Neighbor. It’s been a while, but I remember it as good with some definite nail-biting moments.

    I guess I’ll be adding the rest of the books to my TBR. At this rate, I’m going to have to live forever!

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    1. Ha- Yes, I do feel the same way when scrolling down to the comments! I am looking forward to The Good Neighbor, too…although I did read another book by that same title…so I almost missed this one.

      Enjoy your week, Lu….

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    1. She does have the “look,” doesn’t she? Thanks for stopping by, Stefanie, and I’m loving seeing those numbers grow…but slowly in comparison to my book buying. (I have purchased 17 books in January already!).

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