“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” — Albert Camus.
READING:
Jacqueline in Paris by Ann Mah — “Evocative, sensitive, and rich in historic detail, Jacqueline in Paris portrays the origin story of an American icon. Ann Mah brilliantly imagines the intellectual and aesthetic awakening of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and illuminates how France would prove to be her one true love, and one of the greatest influences on her life” (Goodreads).
Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand — “After a tragic fire in 1922 that killed 19-year-old chambermaid, Grace Hadley, The Hotel Nantucket descended from a gilded age gem to a mediocre budget-friendly lodge to inevitably an abandoned eyesore — until it's purchased and renovated top to bottom by London billionaire, Xavier Darling. Xavier hires Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton as his general manager, and Lizbet, in turn, pulls together a charismatic, if inexperienced, staff who share the vision of turning the fate of the hotel around. They face challenges in getting along with one another (and with the guests), in overcoming the hotel's bad reputation, and in surviving the (mostly) harmless shenanigans of Grace Hadley herself — who won't stop haunting the hotel until her murder is acknowledged” (Goodreads). This genre is outside my comfort zone, but this summer, I did enjoy a couple of books by Elin Hilderbrand. I think what I liked most is the Nantucket setting and lifestyle. This one fell short for me — too much gratuitous, predictable romance and ridiculous paranormal activity.
WATCHING:
Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+ — The Sanderson Sisters are back. Great seasonal fun.
Derry Girls Season 3 on Netflix — “Derry Girls,” the raucous Netflix comedy created by Lisa McGee, is about two long-simmering states of conflict: the Troubles in Northern Ireland and adolescence…returns for its third and final season Friday, is first and foremost a brutally funny coming-of-age story, following five working-class friends at a Catholic girls’ school in the 1990s. But the larger political battle is ever-present, even in the show’s title… “Londonderry” is the official name, preferred by Protestant unionists who support Northern Ireland’s remaining part of the United Kingdom; “Derry” is how [the girls’] Catholic friends and neighbors know it. In the intro, the camera sails above youths spray-painting over the “London-” on a road sign, as a military vehicle passes and “Dreams” by the Cranberries plays on the soundtrack” (New York Times). This was such a good show.
The Sound of 007 documentary on Prime — “the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, going behind the lens into one of the greatest movie franchise and the iconic 007 theme song” (iMDb).
And of course, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, a seasonal tradition (at least once in October)
LISTENING TO:
My personally curated Halloween playlist: “Thriller” (Michael Jackson), “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder), “Zombie” (The Cranberries), “Devil Inside” (INXS), “Ghost Town” (The Specials), “Psycho Killer” (Talking Heads), “Peek-a-boo” (Siouxsie & the Banshees), “Dead Man’s Party” (Oingo Boingo), “I Want Candy” (Bow Wow Wow), “Time Warp” (Rocky Horror Picture Show), “Season of the Witch” (Donovan), “I Put a Spell on You” (Nina Simone), “Banana Boat Song” (from Beetlejuice - Harry Belafonte) “Evil Ways” (Santana), “Ghostbusters” (Ray Parker, Jr.), “Somebody’s Watching Me” (Rockwell), “Spooky” (Classics IV), “The Munsters”, “The Addams Family”, “Love Potion Number Nine” (The Searchers), “Purple People Eater” (Sheb Wooley), and of course, “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” (Vince Guaraldi).
Cool jazz: It just reminds me of fall.
ENJOYING
October — The crisp air, the brilliant colors, the smell of fallen leaves, the evenings that are still warm enough to linger on the deck with a fire and a glass of red, and even the snow (yes, it snowed on October 17th).
