Can you believe it is already December?! I think I say that every year at this time. For some reason it always shocks me how quickly we go from Halloween to Christmas!

This entry will be brief – the next one will include my year end round up. Here, I’m offering a couple recs for you to take on your vacay or to watch/read while you are home looking to be entertained. Here we go…

Movies –

If you are sad that you were unable to go see Taylor Swift in concert for her Era’s tour (best concert I’ve ever seen, hands down), do not wallow – go see the movie! If you were fortunate enough to have seen the concert and are thinking, “Been there, done that,” nope! (Tho honestly, if you’ve seen the concert, I know you could not possibly think that!) Your view of the show will be better and you will feel like you are right there. I loved it! I want to own it and watch it all the time, I’m not kidding. It’s coming to streaming (with three bonus songs!) but I do think the theater was a fun place to see it.

If you want a quiet, thoughtful movie (I saw it in the theater but viewing at home will do quite nicely) try Past Lives. It’s about home, immigration, friendship and (lost) love. This one will stay with you long after you finish watching.

TV – 

I’m a little behind so not too much here but the adaptation of “Lessons in Chemistry” on Apple TV was very entertaining. They changed it a bit from the book but, if you are making an 8-episode show from a novel, I think you have to do that. My only complaint is there’s not enough Six-thirty.

You know I love “Ghosts.” Since the strike halted the fall season of scripted shows, CBS did a smart thing and aired the UK version from which the US version was based. We’ve been watching it and it is pretty funny. I like the US version better but I’m not sure if that’s because I started with that one? Regardless, great way to pass the time!

Books – 

I have four recs – a serious, 2 light-ish and a dystopian!

Mad Honey – I am not going to give away any plot points because I think it may be more powerful if you don’t know, but I will say that I think everyone should read this book. The overarching plot is that a teenage boy is put on trial for the murder of his girlfriend. Beautiful writing and powerful storytelling, this is my first Jodi Picoult in years and she, along with co-writer Jennifer Finney Boylan, really impressed me.

Same Time Next Summer – Annabel Monaghan also wrote Nora Goes Off Script which I liked better (if you haven’t read it, please do) but this one is great also. Sam thinks her life is going swimmingly until she goes to her family’s beach house and sees the man who broke her heart at seventeen. It’s also got a little music business in there which I love, as does…

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg– (if you are hearing Stevie Nicks singing in your mind, you are correct) – Maggie has two dreams; being a singer and being a mother. She has the talent for the first but life keeps throwing her curveballs. As for the second, two contenders weave in and out of her life but will either one be the right puzzle piece?

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros– If you love The Hunger Games and Divergent, this is the book for you. It is over 500 pages but, before you groan, hear me when I say, I read it in three days. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I am absolutely not joking. I was annoyed when I had to go do actual things because that meant I’d have to stop reading. The second one is out now, Iron Flame. I bought it but I’m saving it for my trip later this month. I cannot wait to read it!!!! 

That’s it for now. Happy holidays! May this next year bring peace and good health to all of you!