What I'm Reading & Watching

February 7, 2023



Hello friends.  I've been watching a lot of shows lately and reading books.  I'd love share them with you! 


Books I recently read:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - 

Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and forever, and they discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill.

This book was recommended to me by my daughter.  This book was a challenge for me as it has 576 pages and the chapters are long.  The story is narrated by one of the students who reflects years later about a situation that led to an unfortunate happening of his friend, and the events leading up to a dark secret.  I also read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.  I liked this book and I also enjoyed the movie.       

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic...and then her bus drives away.

Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn't find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It's Jack, the man from the bus. It would be.

What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. 
One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.

I bought this book in the beginning of December at a discount for only four dollars at Thriftbooks.com.  It took me a while to read this book as December was a busy month for me.  I enjoyed this romance book about three people who are all friends and what happens to them over the course of ten years.  This was the perfect book for me to read for the month of December.  I would recommend this light read.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet. 

I've read a few books by this author.  I've read Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.  This is another book I can add to my list that I've enjoyed.  This book is about the tennis world and Carrie Soto's return out of retirement to play tennis again.  If you are a TJR lover then you'll like this book.    

The Next Book on my Reading List:

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This book was recommended by my daughter.  I'm looking forward to reading this book next.

What book are you reading?

Watching: 

Here is a list of the latest movies and shows I've watched recently:

The Banshees of Insisherin - I did not like this movie.
Falling for Christmas - Lindsay Lohan - Enjoyable.
Catastrophe - This was so funny and it was recommended by my brother-in-law.
White Lotus - Season 2 - I enjoyed this season which takes place in Sicily, Italy.
Emily in Paris - Season 3 - I enjoyed this season and I loved the fashion and romance.  This show makes me want to visit Paris in the worst way.
See How They Run - This is a Mystery/Comedy that I enjoyed.
Glass Onion - A Knives Out Mystery - I enjoyed this murder mystery with a full cast of actors.
Derry Girls - Netflix - This is a comedy that takes place Ireland in the 1990s and is centered around the lives of five high school students and their families.  We just got done with all the seasons and loved this funny show.
Gilmore Girls - I started watching GG and I love it already.  I can't believe I missed this show when it was out in the year 2000.  I'm happy I'm watching it now. 

What are you been watching lately?

Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie

20 comments

  1. These all sound great. I just finished watching Tulsa King which I did not think I was going to like and I really liked it. I am going to look into getting the romance book One December Day the sounds like a nice read. I love romance books. Have a great week. xoxo Kris

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  2. These sound like some great books Julie! Carrie Soto is on my list already. I also love Derry Girls and White Lotus. I haven't watched the new season of DG yet and we're almost done season 2 of WL. I thought Glass Onion was great too! I'm reading Bluebird by Sharon Cameron right now and I can't put it down!

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  3. I really liked Glass Onion. I still need to watch Derry Girls.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Yes, I did enjoy Glass Onion and Derry Girls is a funny show that I enjoyed.

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  4. We watch some of our old DVDs for an hour in the evening and then read. I read mostly mysteries and have a Rhys Bowen book I'm getting ready to start. All of her books are great!

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  5. I just jotted down a few things from this list. We like the same kinds of movies and books. After you watch Haunting of Hill House it is also a show--on Netflix I believe. Shirley Jackson is the author and she also wrote The Lottery-which is also eerie. You either like her works or....don't....lol

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  6. I think I’d like Derry Girls, Julie. I have never watched Gilmore Girls, but my mom loved it. I watched The Book of Henry on Netflix the other night and I watch a lot with subtitles. Chocolate, the one that takes place in Korea was so good, and it’s on Netflix.

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  7. I haven't read or seen any of those books or shows Julie, I like the sound of White Lotus I'm off now to look it up. xx

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  8. I've enjoyed a few of these books and shows. I just streamed the movie Valentine's Day on Prime this weekend and thought it was super cute--- and I wondered how I missed such a star studded movie the first time around.

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    1. I haven't seen Valentine's Day yet but I will check it out.

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  9. We are watching White Lotus season 2 right now and really enjoy it. Thanks for all the recommendations.

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  10. Oh thanks for sharing- I am always looking for new recommendations!

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  11. Great book recommendations! I just finished Widowland by C. J. Carey. I enjoyed it, but it was a bit scary. The Banshees...! We felt the same way, but then gave it another chance. It was better the second time around but not much. Will be interested to see if it wins an Oscar!

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    1. Thanks Ann I did enjoy those books I've read. My daughter liked The Banshees and yes I too will be interested to see if it wins an Oscar.

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  12. I like Emily in Paris too! I like Gilmore Girls for many of the first seasons, but towards the end it got a bit boring.

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    1. My daughter said the same thing about GG too. Thanks for the visit and enjoy your week.

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  13. I just finished The Copper Beech byI Maeve Binchy. I liked it but didn't love it. I just started Fleishman Is In Trouble. So far it's enjoyable. I loved Emily In Paris and White Lotus. I'll check out some of the other things you're watching. I am watching season 3 of Dead To Me, and although I loved the first two seasons, this one is a yawn. I'm seriously thinking of not even finishing it. We just started Fauda on Netflix - so far it's very good!

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  14. Loved Derry Girls, so funny. Catastrophe was also good. I just finished reading Matthew Perry's autobiography. Yikes, he has had a rough time, I definitely need something funny to read now! Have you ever seen Episodes with Matt LeBlanc? It was hysterical. It's an old show, but funny as well. Enjoy the weekend!

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  15. Hi Julie! These are some great suggestions! I also loved White Lotus and I loved season 2 better than season 1! Have you seen The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix? It's amazing! Now I want to read the book! Thanks so much for sharing and linking up at my weekly link party!

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