I’m happy to share all of the books and other entertainment I’ve been enjoying lately. Books: Robert B. Parker’s Broken Trust by Mike Lupica It makes me so happy that we can still read Spenser novels! It feels like the ghost of Parker himself is writing them, thanks to Mike Lupica. I have never missed an installment and
Yes, and her followup "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" too! They are very different stories, but I liked them both. I think I was even more impressed with "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" because its plot concerns video game development, which never interested me—and almost turned me off from reading it—yet her writing manages to make me visualize and appreciate video games in a way I never thought I would. Compelling characters too.
Kristen, I concur. While I haven't read the books, Tracker is a great show. It's cerebral in a way that engages you to look at the all the little threads that connect everything together and tell the story of a life, and many lives. With heart and compassion. Plus, I appreciate that, for the most part, it avoids some of the extreme violence that seems to dominate so much storytelling at the moment.
You are right! It is wonderfully tame compared to what else is out there. I had to stop watching Criminal Minds, which is one of my favorite shows. I love the characters, but it was gratuitous.
Thank you. The Storied Life of A J Fikry looks good. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow wasn’t really for me. But I might see if my book group fancy this one.
Kristen, thanks for reminding me of the Robert Parker books. I became hooked after reading one of the Robert Parker books authored by Ace Atkins. I had a couple of drinks at the bar with Ace one night after a book convention and that's how I started reading them. I think he authored about 8 or 9 of the earlier Spenser series. Some guys get it all. Not only did he write those books, but he played on the National Championship Auburn football team in college - and oh yeah, his picture was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.....Not that I was jealous or anything, haha. - Jim
Also when I saw your pic of the book cover, it’s the first time I connected dots between Zevin as in the author of “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow” which shamefully I haven’t read yet!!
Thank you for the reminder to queue up the Bon Jovi doc! I heard him interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR, which boosted my admiration for him. As a teen in the '80s, I was into his music big time.
I just finished "Brief Flashing in the Phenomenal World" by my ultrarunning friend Katie Arnold, her second book following her memoir "Running Home." It might be classified "memoir plus" because it's about a recent chapter in her life, involving an accident and recovery, and how it led her to learn and practice Zen and bring that to her running and other facets of life. I recommend it.
Fangirl Down was my first Tessa Bailey book, and I did like it! So excited to see your review. If I were being very critical, I would say there were some parts of the diabetic thing I didn't think were totally realistic, but she really seemed to be trying. And maybe it's just because I see it from my son's perspective. Who knows, she might even be a T1D and writing it from her perspective! But I thought she did a great job with both main characters, and the sneak peek at the hockey player has me ready to read The Au Pair Affair.
So interesting! I know her husband is a nurse so if she isn’t diabetic, maybe she got research done that way. But everyone’s experience is different. I am very excited about her next book too!
It really made me think a lot about research and writing. I mean, I could write a novel where the main character was a real estate agent, and I've bought houses, so I've been around real estate agents, but would someone who actually was one think it wasn't realistic? I think she did a great job, and I know it's hard, I was probably overly critical. That's interesting her husband is a nurse. I bet he helped some on that one! And I know she did a lot of research on golf!!!
I do think the best thing about it is the Shakespeare Easter Eggs throughout. Whether it's a line or a prop, or a character name, it made the movie more fun.
As a Tessa Bailey fan, did you try “Happenstance”? It was so wildly different and I kinda enjoyed the fluidity of love portrayed in the polyamorous relationship. You don’t see that much and the approach was thoughtful enough to keep me there beyond the steamy scenes.
If you enjoy romances in general, recommend “The Rom-Commers” coming out in June by Katherine Center
And
Emily Henry’s “Funny Story”
In addition to recommending TV and film, I also recommend romance books!
Kristen,
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is a fantactic book and readers will not be disappoin ted. Joel
Yes, and her followup "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" too! They are very different stories, but I liked them both. I think I was even more impressed with "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" because its plot concerns video game development, which never interested me—and almost turned me off from reading it—yet her writing manages to make me visualize and appreciate video games in a way I never thought I would. Compelling characters too.
This is so helpful! I wanted to read it, but I don’t care about video games that much either. Now I’ll take a look.
Kristen, I concur. While I haven't read the books, Tracker is a great show. It's cerebral in a way that engages you to look at the all the little threads that connect everything together and tell the story of a life, and many lives. With heart and compassion. Plus, I appreciate that, for the most part, it avoids some of the extreme violence that seems to dominate so much storytelling at the moment.
You are right! It is wonderfully tame compared to what else is out there. I had to stop watching Criminal Minds, which is one of my favorite shows. I love the characters, but it was gratuitous.
Thank you. The Storied Life of A J Fikry looks good. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow wasn’t really for me. But I might see if my book group fancy this one.
Kristen, thanks for reminding me of the Robert Parker books. I became hooked after reading one of the Robert Parker books authored by Ace Atkins. I had a couple of drinks at the bar with Ace one night after a book convention and that's how I started reading them. I think he authored about 8 or 9 of the earlier Spenser series. Some guys get it all. Not only did he write those books, but he played on the National Championship Auburn football team in college - and oh yeah, his picture was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.....Not that I was jealous or anything, haha. - Jim
Also the adaptation of the Zevin book with Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars fame) who also produced it I believe is good. Think it’s on Hulu
Also when I saw your pic of the book cover, it’s the first time I connected dots between Zevin as in the author of “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow” which shamefully I haven’t read yet!!
I was surprised too! I’m thinking I might read that next.
Thank you for the reminder to queue up the Bon Jovi doc! I heard him interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR, which boosted my admiration for him. As a teen in the '80s, I was into his music big time.
I just finished "Brief Flashing in the Phenomenal World" by my ultrarunning friend Katie Arnold, her second book following her memoir "Running Home." It might be classified "memoir plus" because it's about a recent chapter in her life, involving an accident and recovery, and how it led her to learn and practice Zen and bring that to her running and other facets of life. I recommend it.
I love running! Thanks for the rec! Let us know what you think of the Bon Jovi documentary if you watch!
Ace did such a good job with the Parker books he wrote! I was sad when he stopped writing them, but so far the new ones are pretty good too!!
Fangirl Down was my first Tessa Bailey book, and I did like it! So excited to see your review. If I were being very critical, I would say there were some parts of the diabetic thing I didn't think were totally realistic, but she really seemed to be trying. And maybe it's just because I see it from my son's perspective. Who knows, she might even be a T1D and writing it from her perspective! But I thought she did a great job with both main characters, and the sneak peek at the hockey player has me ready to read The Au Pair Affair.
So interesting! I know her husband is a nurse so if she isn’t diabetic, maybe she got research done that way. But everyone’s experience is different. I am very excited about her next book too!
It really made me think a lot about research and writing. I mean, I could write a novel where the main character was a real estate agent, and I've bought houses, so I've been around real estate agents, but would someone who actually was one think it wasn't realistic? I think she did a great job, and I know it's hard, I was probably overly critical. That's interesting her husband is a nurse. I bet he helped some on that one! And I know she did a lot of research on golf!!!
I'm a fan of Bon Jovi, and I'm going to check that out.
I hope you like it! He’s pretty inspiring.
Great recommendations. I posted mine today! https://open.substack.com/pub/vincewetzel/p/pretzel-bites-a-dive-into-noir-and?r=26bx7l&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for sharing! I was curious about anyone but you. I’ll take a look.
I do think the best thing about it is the Shakespeare Easter Eggs throughout. Whether it's a line or a prop, or a character name, it made the movie more fun.
I didn’t even know this was a part of it! So intrigued.
As a Tessa Bailey fan, did you try “Happenstance”? It was so wildly different and I kinda enjoyed the fluidity of love portrayed in the polyamorous relationship. You don’t see that much and the approach was thoughtful enough to keep me there beyond the steamy scenes.
If you enjoy romances in general, recommend “The Rom-Commers” coming out in June by Katherine Center
And
Emily Henry’s “Funny Story”
In addition to recommending TV and film, I also recommend romance books!
Have at it!
I didn’t try Happenstance. But I am literally reading Funny Story right now. I can’t put it down!