Hi. I hope everyone is having a lovely spring weekend. It’s great to officially say that now: spring! I’ve been off the blog for a while since I was in Southern California visiting my parents, which was wonderful to see them. It was an excellent trip, and they are okay. I took these two photos there and you can see a bit of green in the California landscape, which is nice to glimpse for such a drought-ridden place. Though it could always use a lot more rain.
Now I’m back in Canada trying to finish chores and get organized. It’s nice to be reunited with the dogs and the hub. My reading has taken a bit of a hit lately but hopefully I can get back on the ball. I was just busy with other things for a while and other projects. You know how it goes.
Meanwhile this Sunday is the Academy Awards. So here are the movies I’ve seen: Belfast, CODA, Don’t Look Up, House of Gucci, King Richard, Being the Ricardos, Spencer, Dune, and Passing. I still haven’t seen the other nominated films, but it’s too late now before the show. Do you have any predictions on what will win Best Picture? And do you plan to watch the Oscars? I guess I plan to, and I wouldn’t mind if CODA and Belfast take home something, but I’m not sure whether the little indie film CODA will be able to take home the big prize. Hmm. But that would be something.
Speaking of movies, I noticed that the trailer came out of the upcoming film based on the bestselling novel Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The “marsh girl” named Kya is being played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, who I don’t know yet, but she’s a British actress who’s been in the TV series Normal People among other things.
I read the Crawdads novel back in 2018, which is about an abandoned girl who raises herself, living isolated in the marshes of North Carolina from 1952 to 1969, and then runs into trouble. I liked its setting and the natural world it espouses, though the plot I thought gets a little wobbly as it goes on, but we will see how it is. The movie, which comes out July 15, was actually shot in Louisiana and not N.C. So what do you think — will it be a good movie, or not half as good as the book?
And now I’ll leave you with a review of what I finished lately.
The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon / Farrar Straus / 208 pages / 2021
What It’s About: The main character is a black woman named Liselle in Philadelphia who is hosting a dinner party at the beginning for the people who helped with her (white) husband’s political campaign for the state legislature … even though he lost and she’s been contacted by an FBI agent who tells her that her husband is being investigated for corruption.
Liselle’s mother who she calls to ask advice on whether or not to cancel the party is a piece of work, and Liselle begins to wonder if her marriage is over. Meanwhile as the party goes on, there’s alternating chapters of Liselle’s much earlier days at Bryn Mawr college as a literature major and a lesbian … with her lover Selena, in particular.
But after college they go their own ways over a decade or so, and the story goes into Selena’s life and mental troubles along with her job working for an abortion-enabling nonprofit. It also tells of Liselle’s life marrying and having a child and working as a teacher. They meet up once or twice over the years, then later in the present Liselle and Selena both start wondering about the other … as the party, which started at the novel’s beginning, plays out.
My Thoughts: Apparently this relatively short book was inspired in part by Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway, which also features a consequential party. Its title Afrekete is taken from a character in an Audre Lorde book, which Liselle and Selena relate to. I thought the writing was well done and the author a new talent to me. The novel delves mostly into the characters relations with one another, their various life stages, and the ongoing party. There’s not a lot of action per se to the plot, but there’s observations and much dialogue about gender, race, sexuality, and the socioeconomics of the times. Some of it is satirical and a bit funny. I thought the telling was bold and a bit edgy. If you’re squeamish about lesbian themes stay clear. I listened to this novel as an audiobook narrated expertly by actress Karen Chilton.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read this one and what are you reading now?
I’m excited about the Crawdads movie. I loved the setting and writing style of the book but was less excited about the plot and characters. It’ll be interesting to see how they translate to a screen.
Hi AJ: Yeah I agree: the setting was cool in Crawdads. We’ll see if the movie turns out good. It seems the trailer of the movie gives a bit too much away.
Have a great week.
I enjoyed the Crawdads book and will love to see the movie. I’m curious about the movie, Coda, too.
Hi Harvee: I hope you get to see Coda. It’s a feel-good film. And it seems the Crawdads movie will be popular this summer! Have a great week.
Welcome home! I’m glad you had a good trip and that your folks are doing well. Nice to see some snow on the mountains. Some of my cousins have been up to Big Bear for skiing and it looks like they’ve had a decent amount of snow.
We head out of town next Sunday and I’m sure my reading will take a nose dive, too.
You’ve seen a lot more of the Oscar-nominated films than I have. I still want to watch Belfast, Drive My Car and Licorice Pizza. If I had to guess, I bet The Power of the Dog wins. CODA was very good, though, too. I’ll watch Where the Crawdads Sing, as I enjoyed the book quite well.
I’m currently reading Monogamy by Sue Miller and it’s really, really good! Also rereading Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. Oh, and I’m listening to The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue. Still not sure about that one. It seems a little too drawn out for an audio, but I’m going to keep going and see if it improves.
Have a good week, Susan!
Hey thanks Lesley! 10 days felt like a bit of a whirlwind in SoCal but nice. My head is torn now in both worlds. Your trip is coming up soon now, Wow! Hope it’s wonderful. I’m sure it will be.
Wasn’t it surprising about CODA winning? A small film that seemed to gain momentum over Power of the Dog (which I still haven’t seen).
I have listened to the Sue Miller book (good) and read The Pull of the Stars (which is grim about the earlier pandemic but the young nurse’s story is all right). Enjoy your week & cove. I’ll stop by your site soon.
I say I’m excited about the Crawdads movie that is on the horizon, but the reality is that I rarely watch movies so even being excited about it doesn’t mean I will actually watch it. Now, if it were a mini-series I’d be all over it! I like my visual entertainment in 1 hour buckets, I guess.
The Days of Afrekete sounds interesting. I am not a fan of Virginia Woolf, so this might be the closest I get to reading Mrs. Dalloway 🙂
Hi Jane, Virginia Woolf is not exactly easy to read. I can’t even recall if it was Mrs. Dalloway I read or To the Lighthouse … but it was long ago. Woolf’s stream of consciousness style is not for everyone. But I recall liking parts of her descriptions. Hmm. But obviously I should try her books anew.
The Crawdads movie looks all right but often these things can’t match one’s imagination that comes from the book. We’ll see. What series are you watching now? Cheers.
I am glad to hear your trip to CA was fun and that your parents are doing well.
Now that the Oscars are over, we know who won (sadly, I have seen none of the nominees) and that Will Smith got away with assault on national television. Sigh.
My East coast trip wraps up on a couple days; it’s been absolutely fantastic.
Wow Helen: it sounds like your trip back East is good. I’ll stop by your site soon to see what’s up.
That Will Smith thing at the Awards show last night – was crazy! Who does that? Even with the joke, you gotta hold it together. And that was Not that.
The time in Calif. went by quickly. I guess I should plan to visit them again in summer … maybe August. But prices on flights are likely soaring now, ugh.
Have a great week.
Welcome back, Susan! I’m glad you enjoyed the visit. Afrekete sounds interesting. I still haven’t read Where the Crawdads Sing but I’d love to see the movie.
Thanks Carmen. It was sort of a productive, whirlwind trip. Perhaps I’d like to go back in summer to see them again … maybe August if the prices don’t get too crazy?
The Crawdads novel is pretty easy reading. The setting might be the best part.
The Afrekete author has talent … so I will keep her on the radar for whatever she does next. What are you reading now? & watching? There’s so many TV series to see that we haven’t seen. Not sure what we will start next. (We were watching Tammy Faye movie last). Have a great week. Are the spring flowers showing there?
I have fallen behind in the TV series bandwagon. It’s been months that I can’t rearrange my schedule to accommodate those plus movies. I saw Station Eleven and liked it a great deal. Movies-wise, I saw Tammy Faye but wasn’t crazy about it. I liked Cyrano quite a bit, as did Nightmare Alley. West Side Story I liked a great deal, though it’s not for everyone, I can see that. Drive My Car was a big commitment— 3 h long. I thought it was Ok, but no fireworks. I’m still missing about five movies in overall awards competing categories.
Reading-wise, I read another Galgut’s, which was outstanding (his third best), but which left me with a five-days reading slump. Now I’m reading an ARC of Therese Ann Fowler’s latest, It All Comes Down to This— TBR in May or June. I’m liking it so far.
It seems like you saw quite a few movies. I didn’t realize Drive My Car was 3 hours. I will likely skip it. Interesting about Station Eleven. I haven’t tried the series yet but liked the book. Your reading is going well. I got in sort of a slump too when I got busy. I did an author Q&A for PW that I hope I’ll be able to talk about soon. I’ll be curious what you think of the Fowler book. Happy spring.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to California! And how cool was it that CODA won an Oscar for best picture? I was rooting for that one. 🙂
Thanks Lark, the trip to California was nice. And yeah it was amazing CODA won and quite a good surprise. The film sends a positive message! Have a great week.
I had only seen a couple of the movies up for the best picture award, not including CODA, so I have no opinion about that. I will look forward to seeing Where the Crawdads Sing though. I greatly enjoyed the book.
I loved your pictures of California. It’s great that you got to spend some time with family there.
Thanks Dorothy. It was a nice trip. CODA is seemingly a small film about a family set in Maine but filmed in Mass. but you might enjoy it if it streams.
Have a great week.
I’m glad you had a good trip and have returned home safely. I guess you do not have to quarantine for as long a time as before.
I had only seen Dune of all the nominees for best picture, but I see that CODA won. I will look for that.
I liked some of Where the Crawdads Sing, though the transformation of the central character seemed a little over the top…just my two cents.
Thanks Deb. Yeah the quarantine rules have changed now but I still took covid tests to travel both ways. Remember when I had isolate 2 weeks there – before seeing my parents?! Back in 2020. That trip took me a month.
I think you might like the movie CODA … it has a positive message in the end. And I agree Kya’s character is a bit over the top in WTCS. It’s amazing what a blockbuster that novel became. Have a fun trip.
I will definitely look for CODA. I think I need all the positive messages I can get these days.
Quite a few novelists have had Mrs. Dalloway in mind when they plotted a book or invented their characters. Example: The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I like the original Virginia Woolf novel, but I am not sure it should be copied. Interesting that you have found another one.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hey Mae: yeah I think some of these novelists have riffed on Woolf’s story (and the party) but I don’t think they’ve necessarily copied it. hmm. They’ve paid homage to it in way … making it in part inspired by her book … but The Hours and this story are also very different from it too and are not reenactments. I think both are creative in ways. Granted in the end some might like Woolf’s novel better. Have a great week.
Glad you had a wonderful trip seeing your parents!
I watched the Oscars and ooh boy! But I am so happy CODA took home the prize. There were quite a few I missed this year but I got most of the best picture ones in.
I never got around to reading where the crawdads sing but I look forward to the movie. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Thanks Heather. Yeah unfortunately CODA’s win was a bit upstaged by the fiasco that happened there that night, but I’m glad it won too. What did you think of The Power of the Dog? Is it worth seeing or no? And we’ll see about Crawdads. They could be throwing a hokey Taylor Swift song or two into the movie. Ha. that’s the news lately. You have a great week as well.
You must be happy that CODA won the award for best picture. I haven’t seen any of the movies that were nominated. We are overdue for a trip to see family near LA!
Hi Harvee: that would be great if you’re able to get out to L.A. I had to drive in to Westwood one day to renew my U.S. passport. Ha, I maneuvered a half dozen highways successfully! And I was glad CODA won. It was a feel good film in the end. Have a great week.
I read Crawdads and enjoyed that many were reading it at the same time I picked it up. It was a good book to discuss but I was somewhat underwhelmed by it. Not sure I will watch the movie.
I am reading Murakami’s Tshirt book. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon.
That whole Oscar hullaballoo was ridiculous and took the focus off so many well-deserved wins.
Yeah Ti – I agree that the fiasco at the Oscars is overshadowing some good wins.
I don’t know about this Tshirt book — so will check your review later to see what it’s all about. And the Crawdads novel had so much hype – I don’t think it lived up to all that… but I can see where it would make a decent discussion book.
Enjoy your week. I am a bit sad to have left SoCal. I get torn between places!
Welcome back, Susan! I’m glad you had a good trip to CA, but it’s always good to get home. I haven’t been around much lately, either, and am planning to take April off as we head north for a few weeks.
I do plan to watch the Crawdads movie… interesting that it was filmed in LA! I loved the book, but am always nervous about film adaptations. Hope this is a good one.
Right now I’m reading The Fortnight in September, a delightful old novel that’s been on my wish list for years. Finally reading it now because of the gorgeous cover of the latest reissue!
Thanks JoAnn. The trip was a good one. I can see where taking off April is a good idea for you. I hope you enjoy Conn. and your new place!
Often films of books can’t live up to the books we read, but I seem to see a lot of them anyways. Not sure I have any expectations of the Crawdads movie.
And I don’t know the book you are talking about … so I will have to check it out. thanks for the title. Happy reading!
Happy to hear you were able to get out and about and see your parents!
What to say about the Oscars?! (insert shocked face emoji here)
I’m in full on read, but don’t write mode which is fun and annoying as reviews are hard to come by in my brain. I’ve been loving non-fiction from Dilettante to Happy at Any Cost and now I’m reading House of Gucci.
For fiction I’ve been completely sucked into The Book of Cold Cases- so spooky and good I don’t want to stop reading. I finished The Candy House and loved it, but it won’t be for everyone.
Hi Catherine, your reading seems to be on a roll! I must see what The Book of Cold Cases is. I haven’t heard of that one.
And thanks the trip to see my parents was well worth it. Get torn a bit between here and there. And missing them.
The Oscars thing was just crazy! I was stunned. There’s always something, right?
Have a great week.
Good to hear you had a nice trip to California. Haha, I wrote about spring having arrived in a recent post, but guess what: we’ve had snow the last two days. There hasn’t been a single snow flake all winter in London, so that was quite weird… Anyways. Didn’t watch the Oscars, but heard that CODA won. Too bad it all drowned in the Will Smith *incident*. Where the Crawdads Sing never appealed to me, so I doubt I’ll watch the adaptation either. The Days of Afrekete, on the other hand, sounds good. And, interestingly, it relates to the comment I wrote to you in my post about Virginia Woolf.
Hi Stargazer, thanks it was weird to return to Canada after SoCal. We are getting a bit of snowflakes here too but spring seems to be coming. How surprising there to get snow now. I’ll check out the comment you wrote. It seems several authors have done take-offs from Woolf’s books. I thought the Afrekete author was strong. I was impressed of your commitment to finish off the Woolf book.
Things have been busy with 2 work jobs … but I will return to the blog hopefully next weekend. Enjoy your week.
How funny: I was just going to write that the premise of The Days of Afrekete reminded me of Mrs. Dalloway! I love how the nuances could be reality in these times. I shall have to check it out.
Post Oscars, it’s sad that the infamous slap resonates more than the films that won.
I do hope California gets much needed rain and fewer scandals.
Hi Sarah, good to hear from you. Life has been very busy but now I’ve gotten free so I look forward to checking your site to see what’s up in Maine. The author of Days of Afrekete is one to watch! I liked how she cleverly riffed on the plot of Mrs. Dalloway.
The Calif. trip was a good one … now I’m already missing my folks & the place again. Enjoy your reading.