“February is the border between winter and spring.” ― Terri Guillemets
READING:
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams — “Looking at the headlines--a global pandemic, the worsening climate crisis, political upheaval--it can be hard to feel optimistic. And yet hope has never been more desperately needed. In this urgent book, Jane Goodall, the world's most famous living naturalist and Doug Abrams, internationally-bestselling author, explore--through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue--one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope” (Goodreads). I wanted to be as inspired by this book as I was by The Book of Joy, but I wasn’t. It was interesting, but it felt darker. I’m not sure if it was the book itself or just my own current outlook, but it didn’t leave me feeling hopeful.
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis — “In her latest captivating novel, nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis takes readers into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, fifty years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them” (Goodreads). Yes, yet another novel by Fiona Davis — I’ve warmed to her intriguing albeit formulaic mysterious connections between New York’s past and present.
Villa America by Liza Klaussmann — “America was in fact a real house on the French Riviera that Sara and Gerald Murphy built to escape to in the 1920's. Members of a group of expat Americans, they were known for their fabulous parties and for making the Riviera into the glamorous place it is today. Their freewheeling days were filled with champagne and caviar, but these were people who kept secrets and who were, of course, heartbreakingly human. This is a stunning story about the Lost Generation, about a marriage, about a golden age which could not last” (Goodreads). Although I gravitate toward historical fiction, especially involving the Lost Generation, I didn’t enjoy this novel. It seemed determined, not only to expose the ugliness behind the glamor, but also to shock and disgust the read with gratuitous violence and negativity.
The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher — “When bookish young American Sylvia Beach opens Shakespeare and Company on a quiet street in Paris in 1919, she has no idea that she and her new bookstore will change the course of literature itself…Sylvia--a woman who has made it her mission to honor the life-changing impact of books--must decide what Shakespeare and Company truly means to her” (Goodreads).
WATCHING:
Project Runway Season 19 — Spoiler Alert: I loved the all-female finale.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4 — Welcome back, Midge, I missed you and your fabulous wardrobe.
LISTENING TO:
Sailing Stories Podcast Season 1: Brave or Stupid — Brave or Stupid by Tracey Christiansen, Yanne Larsson and Carl-Erik Andersson is a rich narration of how two best friends fulfilled their dream of sailing around the world. Carl and Yanne had been best friends for very many years, and one day they thought of taking a sailing trip around the world.
FEELING:
Cooped up — I was so tempted to book a trip to Paris during Spring Break, but in the end, I decided to hold off a bit longer.
Ready for spring — I love winter, but this year, it seemed extra cold and dreary without the lovely snow that makes me so happy. This year more than ever as February comes to a close, I am officially ready for a change of season. I’m not a fan of messy March, but I am ready to see the first snowdrops peaking though the frozen ground, the tiny buds on the branches, the first robin, and the exciting hints of green that are already there if I look closely enough.
ENJOYING:
Wordle, etc. — Yes, I jumped on the Wordle bandwagon, and I’ve also started doing Quordle (Wordle x4 in 9 tries), Nerdle (math problems) and Le Mot (Wordle in French).
Marquette Basketball — Shaka Smart ‘s first year as head coach has been a wild ride.
Little birthday celebrations that make me feel a bit special at a time when I really need a little boost.
