"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success." — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
READING: Regretfully, not enough because I have been watching too many movies and TV series (see below). I did, however, set my 2020 Goodreads Challenge to 40 books. I also stumbled upon The Modern Mrs. Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge, and I think I will incorporation these suggestions:
A book published the decade you were born
1967 books that I have already read:
The Outsiders (amazing book and movie)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (featured in my 3rd grade Bookworm Award winning short story)
Rosemary’s Baby (one of the scariest books I’ve ever read)
OK, yes, I do try to proofread these blog posts and I just realized that it’s not the year you were born but the decade! What’s your favorite book published in the 1960s?
A debut novel — It is hard to plan for this one.
A book recommended by a source you trust — Nan and Dave are always great sources for book recommendations.
A book by a local author — Laura Ingalls Wilder is an easy choice and I did love Paris By the Book by Liam Callanan, but I think I will explore the Door County mystery series by Patricia Skalka.
A book outside your (genre) comfort zone — Maybe a graphic novel or (gasp!) “chick lit.”
A book in translation — Maybe something Scandinavian.
A book nominated for an award in 2020 — Time will tell…
A re-read — This should be easy. I’m bound to re-read Hemingway, Fitzgerald, or Little Women.
A classic you didn’t read in school — As an English major, I have read quite a few classics, yet I only read 59 of the 100 best books of The Great American Read.
Three books by the same author — Perhaps I’ll finally get into the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny.
WATCHING:
Little Women - I have always loved Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. I can’t even remember how many times I have immersed in myself the lives of the March sisters and their passage from childhood to womanhood. Each time, I laugh when Jo burns Meg’s hair with the curling iron and seethe with anger when Amy burns Jo’s manuscript. I share Jo’s struggle to reconcile her love for Laurie with her need to be independent and I cry when Beth dies (although, I have never had to put the book in the freezer). At one point or another in my life, I have connected with each of March girls — Meg, the hopeless romantic; Beth, the introvert who longs for peace and time; Amy the artist and traveler; and most often, Jo, the writer and lover of literature who strives for knowledge, creativity, and independence. I am sure I was channeling Jo in high school when I was determined to be the first woman on either side of my family to go to college (and when a neighbor boy’s teasing became insufferable and I, ironically, clobbered him over the head with my well-worn, 759-page, hard-bound copy of Little Women).
I absolutely loved this film. I didn’t want it to end. I loved the cast: Saorise Ronan as Jo, Emma Watson as Meg, Eliza Scanlen as Beth, and Florence Pugh as Amy; Timothée Chalamet as Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, James Norton as John Brook (I guess that’s why Sidney left Grantchester), and Meryl Streep as a wonderfully acerbic Aunt March. I loved the costumes. I loved the scenery — New York in 1868 where Jo is a teacher and author struggling with writing what sells versus what is in her heart (including a handsome professor who, despite being smitten with her, criticizes her work); flashbacks to the original novel set in Concord, Massachusetts during the Civil War where the girls grow up with Marmee while their father fights for the Union army — the dances, Christmas morning sacrifices, new friends, iceskating, performances and literary critiques by The Pickwick Club, falling in love, and facing unbearable heartache; Belle Epoque Paris where Amy wears beautiful outfits, paints bucolic scenery, dances and flirts, and ultimately, secures a husband. I loved Greta Gerwig’s adaptation and direction. There have been so many screen adaptations of Little Women: I do like the 1994 version with Winona Ryder; The 2017 mini series on PBS was fine; I hated the 2018 “modern retelling”; and as much as I love the 1933 film with Katharine Hepburn, this iteration is my new favorite — in fact, it’s safe to say that’s it is now one of my top 10 all-time favorite movies.
Knives Out - This was a funny who-dunnit — perfect for date night.
Anne With an E Season 3 - Much like Little Women, I am very personally invested in this story. As I mentioned in September’s Currently feature, I was initially quite leery about another adaptation of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. I really do love the books as well as the original 1985 PBS mini-series (which I fondly remember watching with my dad). Megan Fallows is the face of Anne in my mind and I must admit to a teenage crush on Gilbert Blythe (as portrayed by Jonathan Crombie who, like my dear dad, is no longer with us). When Anne with an E first appeared in my Netflix queue, I resisted watching it; yet, eventually, curiosity and a lack of quality television compelled me to give the newer version of Anne a chance. I must admit that this grittier, somewhat more realistic, Canadian production has me once again enraptured with Anne’s story. Bonus: Eric enjoyed it too. Season 3 began on January 3rd and I eagerly binged watched the whole season that weekend. Eric bailed after episode 3 and, unfortunately, by the final few episodes, I was no longer as enamored with the series either. The show became more about social justice and political issues and less about Anne’s transition from orphan girl to young woman attended Queen’s College. Her relationship with Gilbert actually became a farcical series of missed opportunities until the final five minutes of the season. The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) initially intended to work with Netflix to continue producing more seasons of Anne with an E, but as of November 2019, the show has been cancelled. There is, however, widespread support on social media to renew the series. Only time will tell, but if it is renewed, I hope it will return to a closer interpretation of the original books.
The Two Popes: “Behind Vatican walls, the conservative Pope Benedict and the liberal future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.” Anthony Hopkins is such a brilliant, versatile actor and I loved how both he and Jonathan Price portrayed the two holy men as both deeply spiritual and profoundly human. Be sure to watch the credits for a fun confirmation of the two Popes’ friendship and rivalry.
Apple TV+: We ungraded our TV situation right before Christmas. Our package came with a year’s subscription to Apple TV+ so, over winter break, we binged several of Apple’s original series.
The Morning Show: It took us a few episodes to get into this one, but now we’re ready for season 2.
For All Mankind: I’m a big fan of 20th Century historical fiction, and although I found this show entertaining, some of the inaccuracies like The Soviets landing on the moon first, Ted Kennedy cancelling his party on Chappaquidick Island and eventually becoming President were just too far-fetched.
Dickinson: This irreverent quasi-biography is so audacious — the music, the language, and the subject matter (Wiz Khalifa as Death!) were really shocking at first, but also really funny. I did love how each episode featured one of Emily Dickinson’s poems and I especially enjoyed the “cameo” appearances by Dickinson’s contemporaries — Henry David Thoreau (not the naturalist we’ve come to know, but in Emily’s estimation, “a real dick”) and Louisa May Alcott (who comes to dinner, goes for a run with Emily, and is inspired to write Little Women). Sound intriguing? Here’s an interesting article from a Dickinson historian’s perspective.
Fleabag: I honestly don’t understand all the hype. I did, eventually, appreciate the reasons for Fleabag’s eccentricities (Season 2 was better than Season 1), but it is a bit trop for me.
Jeopardy Greatest of All Time: This was so much fun to watch, especially when I could kind of keep up (I did guess Iago)! I am really glad that Ken Jennings won and even more glad that arrogant, Green Bay Packer hating James Holzhauer didn’t!
ENJOYING:
Snow! It finally looks like winter in Wisconsin — everything softens as a fresh blanket of white covers so much dullness. Unfortunately, I am not enjoying the extreme cold and biting winds that seem to blow up every other day.
The Capture 52 Photo Challenge: For the past two years, I have participated in the Dogwood 52 Photo Challenge. The site was retired at the end of 2019, but several members have agreed to participate in the new Capture 52 project. I love how the prompts are broad enough to welcome a wide range of artistic interpretations and how the participants are eager to provide support and constructive critiques. I also enjoy the addition of badging. So far, I have achieved the Rising Star (engaging posts within the first month of joining) and Visual Storyteller (consistently sharing images or videos that people value). I have always maintained that I take pictures for myself, but I really do enjoy the feedback and encouragement that I receive from fellow photographers as well as friends on my blog and social media.
PLANNING:
A trip to Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and Venice. Actually, I’m not planning it. I was so fortunately to be offered one of the free chaperone positions on the PHS Band Spring Break trip in April. It has been seven years since I traveled with students, but I always enjoyed it and this time, every detail is not my responsibility (Bless Kate Mitchell!). I am so excited to revisit these beautiful eastern European cities, to see Alps again, to rediscover Venice (one of my favorite cities when I first visited Europe), and most of all, to do The Sound of Music tour of Salzburg! I love The Sound of Music so much that I even walked down the aisle to The Processional rather than Here Comes the Bride. Here is the full trip itinerary.
A long weekend in Paris in April: April in Paris is almost a cliché, but I couldn’t be that close to my beloved city without a quick visit. The spring break trip ends on Thursday, April 16th, but rather than return home with the PHS group, I have extended my travels through Monday, April 20th. Just a $50, hour-long flight from Venice and I’ll be in Paris for a four-day solo sojourn — all the time I want to stroll, shop, sit in cafés, and take photos (Fingers crossed that the cherry blossoms will be blooming)!
