Little Whale Cove
Depoe Bay, Oregon
January 2025
What a month. All I can say (and it sounds terribly weak and trivial) is thank goodness for the beauty of nature and books. As much as I try to stay informed, there is only so much that I can take of the current news. For many, life hasn't changed much since January 20th, but for so many others, this country is unrecognizable and a scary place to live. My heart goes out to those who are living in fear, have lost their jobs (or homes), and to those who are worried about how they will survive in this cruel new place we call The United States.
When life gets difficult, I'm so thankful for my books. I had an exceptionally good month of reading and am excited to continue my personal challenge to read all of Maggie O'Farrell and Elizabeth Strout's books this year. I'm also reading C.J. Box and William Kent Kreuger's mystery series. I'm also focusing on the books in my stacks, but wound up with quite a few that I found at the library. Definitely want to keep supporting my local library!
Books Read (click on the title for my review):
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake (5/5)
Open Season by C.J. Box (4/5)
The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten (4/5)
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (4.5/5) - reread for book club
The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths (4/5)
After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell (4/5)
Naked Prey by John Sandford (4.5/5)
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout (4.5/5) - reread
James by Percival Everett (4/5)
Movies & TV Series:
Shrinking (Season 2) - I was so sad when I reached the end of this season. The Thanksgiving episode really tugged at my heartstrings.
The Diplomat (Season 2) - Wow! What a great show. The last episode is quite a cliffhanger. I hope it isn't too long before Season 3 is released.
This Is Us (Season 6) - Finally got back to this show. Yes, it's sappy but I still enjoyed it. It's probably the most non-linear show in history! The Alzheimer's storyline was hard to watch.
In other news, I've become addicted to watching All About Birds' live cam in Ontario, Canada. I started watching the Cornell Lab cam, but switched to Canada's since I'm curious about the bird activity in their colder temps.
Update: I composed this post before the horrific news of the DC plane and helicopter crash on Thursday. My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost souls. Take care of yourselves, friends.
Your sentiments are mine as well. I am seeing the same thoughts expressed in many blogs I visit, on the ones who never talk politics and those who have always expressed an opinion about the state of affairs. We are trying to stay informed without immersing ourselves in the depair which keeps on coming. You are right, so many people have an uncertain future now and it's so very sad. The U.S. was always called The Melting Pot because of so many different people from different countries came together.
ReplyDeleteOk, on to books, which is also my comfort place right now. Keegan, Griffiths and O'Farrel are authors I have enjoyed in the past and would read anything by them. Go Rod! that's a great turnout for him and I hope he sells many books!
As always, I appreciate the tv/movies folks post about because that's where I get my ideas. Many titles have been written in my notebook and I check the library several times a week. Have not seen any you've mentioned here...yet.