Despite the fact that the temperature has plummeted again here in the UK, the stretching light and the sudden explosion of daffodils have given a real transitional feel to the week.
I just finished up Wilding -- had to take periodic breaks to digest the statistics (which is to say, let them pass through my mind unregistered) -- and can give it a modified recommendation. I recommend it because it's a fascinating look at the whole process of (re)wilding as well as raising some excellent questions about what IS the "natural" state of the land (in the UK or anywhere, really). I feel like I want to get updates now, as it was published *way* back in 2018. I modify the recommendation because of all of the statistics...which I imagine are very helpful for the numberly-minded. Which I'm not.
I'm also concurrently reading Nettle and Bone by T.Kingfisher....very good - a mash-up of myth and folklore with a very 'ordinary' heroine.
I'm watching Keeping Faith on Acorn...I only watch one episode an evening of anything so am very slow by modern binge standards (even my parents are bingers now...the horror!...they claim a ticking clock and lots of things they want to watch :O ). Absolutely loving it. I could listen to a Welsh accent for days....
Keeping Faith is fab! I'd forgotten all about that and I think I didn't watch any further series after the first one, so I'll have to try and hunt them down. She was such a good character.
And thanks for the (modified) Wilding recommendation. Will definitely give it a go––I'm very attracted to the cover!
Bad Sisters is on my list too! I saw bits of it on Gogglebox a while back and it looked really funny. I've just finished watching two shows featuring Sharon Horgan, This Way Up which is on More 4 and Motherland on Netflix. Motherland had me laughing out loud, largely because I identified with it so much, this was me circa 2005 being a less than organised Mum! For anyone who has or had school age kids it is absolutely spot on ... which is why it is so funny.
Can always rely on Strouty to word things beautifully! It's made me really happy that you've saved the quote. I wheel it out every year. Yes the book Em's lent me is very reminiscent of The Night Circus. I'm really impressed.
Lots of interest here, Claire! I absolutely love that 'February' quote and will add it to my commonplace book; thank you.
We have watched the Three Minutes film too and appreciate the link to the article. I've just read the newly published One Hundred Saturdays by Michael Frank, which portrays the obliteration of the Sephardic Jewish community in Rhodes by the Nazis, told through the eyes of one of the few survivors.
I love that quote and wheel it out every February because it just captures so well just how precious that shift in the light is. It matters, it keeps us going. And just when I thought I couldn't love you more, I learn you have a commonplace book. I just think that's wonderful and I would love to do something like that. It would be a way to collect inspiration for writing too.
Over the moon to learn you've seen Three Minutes too. I thought it was so clever and so moving, in its simplicity. And thank you have added the book you recommend to my list. I think after the disappointment of the Tattooist I'm interested in reading/watching more authentic (and well-written) accounts.
Binged on Shrinking this week on Apple TV. Also, started reading Educated after ignoring it when it first came out. Funny, I sometimes forget it is non-fiction.
Do you give Shrinking a thumbs up? My free Apple trial is coming to an end so I need to squidge in the 'best of' quickly! I know everyone rates Ted Lasso, but for some reason I'm not drawn to it right now (mentally insert shrug emoji here––currently replying on laptop so I can't physically!) And wow Educated is an unbelievable book. Yes, you absolutely get lulled into that feeling that it's fiction.
Shrinking gets one thumb-up. It is ok for a bit of light entertainment. Ted Lasso can be skipped. I'd say it is in the same category as Shrinking - a light entertainment for days when you feel like switching off. We tend to watch more serious things in our household.
It feels like it's a rare film that stands up to multiple cinema viewings these days (how old do I sound?!) And yes the lyrics ... that alphabet-based one blows my mind it's so clever!
I just finished up Wilding -- had to take periodic breaks to digest the statistics (which is to say, let them pass through my mind unregistered) -- and can give it a modified recommendation. I recommend it because it's a fascinating look at the whole process of (re)wilding as well as raising some excellent questions about what IS the "natural" state of the land (in the UK or anywhere, really). I feel like I want to get updates now, as it was published *way* back in 2018. I modify the recommendation because of all of the statistics...which I imagine are very helpful for the numberly-minded. Which I'm not.
I'm also concurrently reading Nettle and Bone by T.Kingfisher....very good - a mash-up of myth and folklore with a very 'ordinary' heroine.
I'm watching Keeping Faith on Acorn...I only watch one episode an evening of anything so am very slow by modern binge standards (even my parents are bingers now...the horror!...they claim a ticking clock and lots of things they want to watch :O ). Absolutely loving it. I could listen to a Welsh accent for days....
Keeping Faith is fab! I'd forgotten all about that and I think I didn't watch any further series after the first one, so I'll have to try and hunt them down. She was such a good character.
And thanks for the (modified) Wilding recommendation. Will definitely give it a go––I'm very attracted to the cover!
I'm just at the beginning of the second series....it's not disappointing!
And yes, the cover is lush xo
Bad Sisters is on my list too! I saw bits of it on Gogglebox a while back and it looked really funny. I've just finished watching two shows featuring Sharon Horgan, This Way Up which is on More 4 and Motherland on Netflix. Motherland had me laughing out loud, largely because I identified with it so much, this was me circa 2005 being a less than organised Mum! For anyone who has or had school age kids it is absolutely spot on ... which is why it is so funny.
Sharon Horgan is a force of nature! As a writer and actor. Looking back, Bad Sisters is still one of my favourite things I've seen this year.
Olive gets February just right! I love that quote and have immediately cut and paste it for future use! The Night Circus. is one of my all time faves!
Can always rely on Strouty to word things beautifully! It's made me really happy that you've saved the quote. I wheel it out every year. Yes the book Em's lent me is very reminiscent of The Night Circus. I'm really impressed.
Lots of interest here, Claire! I absolutely love that 'February' quote and will add it to my commonplace book; thank you.
We have watched the Three Minutes film too and appreciate the link to the article. I've just read the newly published One Hundred Saturdays by Michael Frank, which portrays the obliteration of the Sephardic Jewish community in Rhodes by the Nazis, told through the eyes of one of the few survivors.
It's a remarkable account.
I love that quote and wheel it out every February because it just captures so well just how precious that shift in the light is. It matters, it keeps us going. And just when I thought I couldn't love you more, I learn you have a commonplace book. I just think that's wonderful and I would love to do something like that. It would be a way to collect inspiration for writing too.
Over the moon to learn you've seen Three Minutes too. I thought it was so clever and so moving, in its simplicity. And thank you have added the book you recommend to my list. I think after the disappointment of the Tattooist I'm interested in reading/watching more authentic (and well-written) accounts.
No, not seen it. I'll check it out. Thanks!
Binged on Shrinking this week on Apple TV. Also, started reading Educated after ignoring it when it first came out. Funny, I sometimes forget it is non-fiction.
Do you give Shrinking a thumbs up? My free Apple trial is coming to an end so I need to squidge in the 'best of' quickly! I know everyone rates Ted Lasso, but for some reason I'm not drawn to it right now (mentally insert shrug emoji here––currently replying on laptop so I can't physically!) And wow Educated is an unbelievable book. Yes, you absolutely get lulled into that feeling that it's fiction.
Shrinking gets one thumb-up. It is ok for a bit of light entertainment. Ted Lasso can be skipped. I'd say it is in the same category as Shrinking - a light entertainment for days when you feel like switching off. We tend to watch more serious things in our household.
Thank you Silvia, that's very helpful! Have you watched Severance? That's the other Apple one on my maybe list.
Love all your suggestions Claire! Yesterday I binge watched The Law According to Lidia Poet, a new Italian series on Netflix, recommended!
Thank you so much, Sinù! I saw Lidia Poet pop up on Netflix this week, so now I'm adding it straight to my 'to watch' list. Thank you x
It feels like it's a rare film that stands up to multiple cinema viewings these days (how old do I sound?!) And yes the lyrics ... that alphabet-based one blows my mind it's so clever!