We’re just going to skirt past the fact that I sort of skipped the summer blog post and, instead, focus on the recommendations that I am making for your Labor Day weekend! (We had a fabulous summer and I hope you did, too!)

TV

If you are looking for something to binge, you should try Dead to Me on Netflix.  Christina Applegate plays a widow who meets another woman, Linda Cardellini, at a support group and they become friends.  It is a dark comedy full of secrets and twists and turns and is very fun to watch. Applegate was just nominated for an Emmy, which is terrific, but I also really enjoy Cardellini, I wish she had gotten a nom too.

Last post I mentioned the podcast “The Daily.”  I still love it.  If you do too, you should watch “The Weekly” on FX and Hulu. Similar to “The Daily,” “The Weekly” focuses on one story per episode (30 minutes each) featuring a New York Times journalist’s investigation.  It is compelling and informative.

One final plug for “Jane The Virgin.”  I’ve already described it (a couple times) so I won’t again (because you can read past posts) but I will say that the final season was SOOOO good. It is quality television; heartwarming, suspenseful, surprising, thoughtful and really just lovely. If you never watched it, you should.

On a future television note, one of my favorite historical romance authors, Julia Quinn, has a series headed for Netflix thanks to Shonda Rhimes.  The Bridgerton Series is a collection of eight books, each featuring one of eight siblings.  I have read them all and they are all entertaining; laugh out loud funny, smartly written and so fun to read.  Not only is exciting that it is a Shondaland production but Julie Andrews has been cast as Lady Whistldown, who will serve as narrator.  I cannot wait.  For more info, read here.  Better start with book one, The Duke and I, now so you can get through all of them before they start airing in 2020.

 

(More) Books

Save Me The Plums: My Gourmet Memoir – Ruth Reichl

For some unknown reason, the only other book I have read of Reichl’s is Garlic & Sapphires which I also loved.  (If you haven’t read it, you should.)  This memoir, as the title suggests, chronicles her tenure as editor in chief of Gourmet magazine.  I love her writing, I also want to hang out with her and be her friend. This is a wonderful read and (bonus!) recipes are interspersed throughout.

Daisy Jones & The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is an “oral history” of the formation of one of the biggest bands of the seventies.  Daisy is a free spirit floating around LA who is beautiful, gets wasted, sleeps around, and can sing.  The Six is a band led by Billy Dunne, who is very intensely focused on his band, has a girlfriend, and goes a little crazy while on tour.  A producer puts them together and this is what happens.  If you love Fleetwood Mac, you’ll enjoy this novel.

I Miss You When I Blink: Essays – Mary Laura Philpott

My good friend wrote a book!!!!  And I loved it!!! (Thank goodness!  Can you imagine how awkward that could’ve been?)  My former neighbor, MLP, has compiled essays illuminating moments in her life; being a student, meeting her spouse, having a family, working, raising that family – and detailing the stress and pressure inherent in all of that.  So relatable, heartfelt, witty and charming – you’ll see that you aren’t alone when you realize you have felt the same way, that it’s never too late to re-invent yourself and that just because there’s a box, you don’t have to fit into it. You’ll want to share this gem with all of your friends, like I am sharing it with you. :  )

Evvie Drake Starts Over – Linda Holmes

One of the reasons I loved this book is that it is set in a small town in Maine.  Having spent a bit of time in Maine., I’ve often thought I could live there.  It’s quaint, it’s chill and the people are so nice.  Anyway, Evvie lives in Maine and is recently widowed. The crippling sorrow she feels regarding this life change is misunderstood by everyone around her.  Enter Dean, a New York major-league pitcher who can’t throw anymore.  Needing to get out of town, he moves into an apartment at the back of her house.  I love Maine and I love baseball so this book hit a sweet spot for me. If you are going on vacation, bring this.

 

Podcast

“Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” is an hour-long weekly news-based radio game show where panelists (mostly comedians) and contestants are quizzed in humorous ways about that week’s news.  It’s hosted by Peter Sagal and announced by Bill Kurtis, both of whom are very funny and witty.  It may not sound that interesting but I laugh throughout the whole thing. Props to my sister in law, Janet, for introducing this one to us.

 

Song of the blog

I heard “My Cheating Heart” by Love Fame Tragedy on Alt Nation and loved it immediately.  I hope you do too.

 

Thanks for reading!