Hi all. I hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day last Friday. Don’t we all deserve it right about now? My husband gave me these nice flowers and we went out to dinner, so he seemed to be buttering up the host of the Cue Card. I got him a couple cards. Meanwhile we’re still in a deep cold patch here for the foreseeable future. Brrr. I’m looking forward to March. But despite the frigid temps, I’m trying to keep active, so lately I’ve been playing some indoor tennis, doing spin classes, and following exercise routines on YouTube. I also walk the dogs wearing astronaut-kind of layers. What are you doing for your workouts lately?
And for my sanity from the news and baseless tariff threats I started a puzzle, which my husband and I finished last week. It’s a Canadian one — you can see the various places and brands and things that Canada is known for. Of course, puzzles can be wonderfully cathartic, stress-reducing, and addicting. You might pass by a puzzle thinking you’ll do a piece or two but pretty soon you’re there for over an hour and can barely pry yourself away for dinner, lol. We finished this 1000-piece one in under a week. I’m sure we’ll need another one soon.
I also picked up some library loot. I’ve been on the wait lists for these and unfortunately they usually come in all at once, which makes getting to some pretty impossible. But I’ve started The Safekeep and I also want to pick up Mina’s Matchbox. Some of these others I’m going to have put back and maybe get back another time. Intermezzo is a bit long so that might go back on the list. Have you read any of these, or do you plan to?
And now I’ll leave you with a review of what I finished lately.
The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin Dunne / Penguin / 400 pages / 2024
3.75 stars. I had a hard time rating this one because I felt the first half was not that noteworthy and sort of immature with jokes and the author’s coming-of-age, but then the later second half was deeper and came on pretty strong. I’m not sure how many people these days know Griffin Dunne, but he was an up-and-coming actor in the 1980s (along with his sister) and was from a pretty well-known family — his father Dominick Dunne was a film producer, then a novelist and later a columnist for Vanity Fair, and his uncle John Dunne and aunt Joan Didion were famous writers.
I remember seeing Griffin Dunne in the movie American Werewolf in London in 1981, which I thought was scary and funny too — a terrific movie, and I liked him in After Hours (1985) too. His younger sister Dominque, who Spielberg told him was a real talent, was in Poltergeist in 1982, and he had a brother Alex who did some writing.
The three of them grew up in Hollywood and due to their parents and their parties knew various film stars around the hood. His mother divorced his father when he about 10, and Griffin was sent to a couple boarding schools for high school, where he was expelled for pot, but he came away with an interest in acting and moved to New York. There he became best friends with Carrie Fisher and was her roommate when she took the role for Star Wars in 1977. Still he struggled for years waiting tables and trying to get his break-through role.
Later in the book, things turn dicey for his family as his mother develops multiple sclerosis; his (closeted) father is fired as a producer and moves to Oregon to get sober; his brother struggles with mental illness; and his sister meets a controlling boyfriend who very tragically would be her demise. It turns pretty sad and moving. But Griffin writes pretty lovingly of his mother and his colorful father; trying to help his brother, and the memories of his beloved sister.
Good grief the family goes through more hell … when his sister’s killer is brought to trial in L.A. in August 1983. The cards are stacked against them with the judge and defense attorney and the fight for justice turns into a travesty. At the same time Griffin is filming the movie Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton, which gives him a small outlet. Personally, I don’t remember the trial at the time, but I would’ve been in SoCal getting ready to leave for college then. Hmm.
There’s only a few sprinklings of his aunt Joan Didion in this — I sort of thought there’d be more. But his uncle John Dunne comes off as pretty feisty in this (the two brothers Dominick and John didn’t get a long for many years and only reconciled later). And when the trial was going on, Joan Didion and John Dunne left for Paris, so that apparently their young daughter Quintana wouldn’t be called to testify, which didn’t sit well with Griffin and his family.
The memoir ends in 1990 when Griffin’s daughter with actress Carey Lowell is born. So I don’t know if he plans to write another book of his later life and career. But while this one touches on his family’s story and is in many ways a touching tribute to them, it still seems like Griffin’s story about his growing up years, sex life, and career in acting. There is some name-dropping along the way, but thankfully it’s not too overly done. I don’t often read such Hollywood kinds of memoirs, but I was a bit curious about the writers in their family.
I was also supposed to review Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel The Woman in Cabin 10, which I finished on audio, but I think I will wait till next time (I’m too long-winded already). I finally tried a Ruth Ware! lol. Her novel is coming out as a Netflix movie with Keira Knightley sometime in late 2025. And there’s a book sequel — thanks to Kay at Kay’s Reading Life for alerting us — of The Woman in Suite 11 coming in July. More of the infamous character Lo Blacklock!
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read any of these and if so, what did you think?
My aunt would have loved the Griffin Dunne book. She was a fan of the father, Dominick, read all his books and followed the trial about sister who was murdered. I wasn’t aware of this memoir. So glad you wrote about it.
Love puzzles and the one you have is fantastic. Could you tell me the brand so I might look for it? I have lots of book related puzzles but I haven’t done one in a while.
Lovely flowers! I’m glad you two had a good Valentines. Sending an email…
Thanks Tina, I’ll check the puzzle box and get back to you on it. I hadn’t done one in a long time either, but it was pretty Zen, lol. We had a pretty good Valentine’s 🙂 despite this sort of long cold snap we’re in. It should be gone by the end of the week.
The Griffin Dunne book was a bit of a mixed bag. But it was a fairly easy read. I can’t believe the several nonfiction I’ve read this year. Pretty unusual.
Have a great week.
That’s a very fun-looking puzzle. I like to do puzzles, too, but I prefer 500 piece ones. I can do 1,000 pieces, but it just takes me so much longer and I don’t always have the time. ;D Happy reading all those library books!
Hi Lark, I do puzzles so rarely that it’s fun when they happen. I enjoy the big ones but I can understand liking the 500 piece ones. I think we will continue and maybe start a new one soon. ha! Many library books too! Enjoy your week.
I’m trying to distract myself the usual ways—indoors at the rec center with cycling and step class; nature with the Great Backyard Bird Count this long weekend; and writing and reading.
I enjoyed Playground very much; I’m a fan of Richard Powers, though he seems almost desperate now to include themes of saving-the-earth in every book (and I understand completely why).
Hi Deb, we’ve been using our rec center too. My husband skates and I like to spin there or use the cardio machines. You seem really active. Glad you’re keeping distracted.
Thx for the report on Playground. I don’t think I will get to it this time … as I received too many library books at once. But I still need to read his classic The Overstory sometime. That one is a must. Enjoy your week.
We had fish and chips delivered for Valentines Day dinner, I was just glad to not have to cook!
I’d still like to Read The Woman in Cabin 10, now I have added incentive.
Wishing you a wonderful reading week
Hi Shelleyrae, it is great not cooking for Valentine’s dinner! What a treat.
The Woman in Cabin 10 gets certainly crazy but in a bit of a fun way. I will be curious how they handle the movie. Have a great week too.
I’ve read and enjoyed “The Mighty Red” and “Playground.” Both writers are favorites of mine, especially Erdrich, and I will read anything they write. I also read Ruth Ware’s “The Woman in Cabin 10,” another good read. I have “Intermezzo” on my list of books to read and hope to get to it soon.
Many years ago, I was quite a fan of jigsaw puzzles. Maybe it is time to try them again.
Hi Dorothy, thanks for letting me know which you’ve read. I’d like to read more Erdrich especially. And I’ve heard good things about Intermezzo, though I wasn’t wowed by Rooney’s Normal People … but perhaps this one will be better.
I think with this regime — everyone could use a puzzle now. They are helpful. It’s time to start again. Have a great week.
Lovely fleurs from your beau. 🙂 We exchanged cards and I made crabcakes with fresh Dungeness crab for dinner. So good!
We are back to working on puzzles again after many, many months off from that activity. We have one that is similar to yours (Canadian theme), but not exactly the same. I love it and will look for it online. Can you share the name of the puzzle company?
I haven’t read any of the books that you snagged from the library, although I am interested in The Safekeep. Great review of The Friday Afternoon Club. I recognize a lot of the names, but don’t really know much about any of that family other than a little bit about Didion. I had to Google Dunne’s sister and found some info on Wikipedia about her murder. So tragic that she was strangled by her ex-boyfriend and that he only got 3 years in prison (voluntary manslaughter). Sadly, this is an all too familiar story of exes attempting to or actually killing their former girlfriends. We personally know this painful story far too well, but feel justice was served in that the perpetrator is serving life without parole.
Hmmm, I wasn’t thrilled with The Woman in Cabin 10, but it might be fun to watch the Netflix movie. We’re currently watching season two of Deadwind, which is set in Finland. Pretty bleak storyline, but it’s keeping us entertained until Reacher returns next week.
Stay warm!
Hi Lesley, thanks. A couple more frigid days and it should be better by the end of the week. It’s been seriously cold for the past 2 or 3 weeks. argh.
I will get back to you on the puzzle make. It was sort of fun – we hadn’t done a puzzle in many moons but I found it helpful during these times. Luckily this one had various colors making it not too hard. Would like to see your Canada one.
I thought of you while reading about the Dunne girl & trial. It made me shake, so chilling. I wonder if the injustice of the outcomes in the 70s & 80s against women’s murderers made it more possible to get better outcomes in the 90s and 2000s? Just the outrage against the sentencing in her case was pretty resounding & immediate. It was so unfair. But still I’m sure travesties continue sadly. I’m glad for the justice in your case. It seemed to pull the Dunnes together but also break them – so incredibly sad. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I’m not much of a thriller reader or fan so the Ware book wasn’t that great for me either but maybe the movie will be fun. We’ve been watching Prime Target on Apple lately. Will check about Deadwind. Enjoy your week.
Beautiful flowers, Susan! We went out for dinner on Saturday evening to a favorite spot and I had some lovely salmon. Yum! As to exercising in the cold (I know our cold isn’t like yours – ha!), I walk indoors at a couple of local rec centers on indoor tracks. I love it and listen to audiobooks while going round and round. I also take a yoga class at one of them and enjoy that as well. Enjoy your library books! Yes, they do all seem to come in at once. LOL
Hi Kay, thanks. Nice you went out to dinner too! & Good to hear about your track walking — I might try that. It’d be enjoyable listening to an audio. Our rec center is pretty decent here as well and we are enjoying it.
So many library books! Have a great week.
I think the puzzle of Canada is a great idea to take our mind off the news. And I am looking into buying a Canadian product or two to show my solidarity.
Very good review of The Friday Afternoon Club. I read and reviewed the book last year and my feelings are the same. The first part didn’t grab me but the second part involving Dominique Dunne’s tragic murder and the travesty of the trial gripped me. And I think Griffin’s parents and his sister Dominique would be pleased with the book because he Cleary cares about them. His brother too
Hi Kathy, thanks. That is so nice that you would buy a Canadian product to stand with the country. I get almost weepy thinking of the kind support of that.
I forgot you had read the Dunne book, how crazy of me! Your site is probably where I saw it and got on the wait list for it. I was really chilled by Dominique’s tragic end. She seemed to have so much potential … and was pretty extraordinary from all what Griffin describes. It was so maddening and sad.
Thanks for your review of it. Enjoy your week.
We haven’t celebrated Valentine’s Day for years. We did have a lovely breakfast out on Friday morning and did some shopping. We do celebrate anniversaries, which always sneak up on us, but still keep it lowkey.
I love the Canada puzzle. And the photo of your library books. That looks like a good group to choose from. I am glad you are reading Safekeep. I keep wondering if I should read it. And I am definitely going to read Mina’s Matchbox sometime.
The book by Griffin Dunne sounds very interesting, even though I know little about any of the family. You already know that I was unenthusiastic about The Woman in Cabin 10 but it will be nice to hear your opinion, since we both read it recently.
Hi Tracy, well breakfast out might count as a happy Valentines. yay.
Thx about the Canadian puzzle. I’m not too far into The Safekeep yet but will let you know. I’m looking forward to Mina’s Matchbox.
I’m glad you read the Ruth Ware book too — I agree with you about it. I’m not really a thriller reader … and I thought it got a bit too crazy. But the setting on the ship was fun and I was able to imagine it. Wishing you a great week.
Great job on the puzzle! I love that it’s all Canadian things! I also have The Mighty Red on my TBR and I’d love to know your thoughts if you’re about to get to it. I read one of the author’s other books and really enjoyed it and was curious about this one too. I haven’t been exercising very much this winter, unfortunately. I set my computer up at my walking desk so I have to walk the treadmill if I want to blog, but that only made me blog less, not walk more Backfired. Stay warm!!
Hi Haze, it’s too cold now to run outside! Better to wait. I will get more Canadian themed puzzles 🙂 … You two must be busy with work & such.
I want to read more Erdrich books too … but I probably won’t get to Mighty Red this time, ugh. I’ve got like three others going, lol. So I’ll have to get back on the wait list. Great hearing from you. Enjoy your week. I think the cold snap will end next weekend!
Flowers and dinner out are always winners. The puzzle looks really cute, and you’re right, they can be addictive. The library load is a great one…so many outstanding titles. I’m glad you finally picked up The Safekeep. I still have to read Playground and would love to read Mighty Red, Intermezzo, and Wild Houses. The latter, together with Playground and The Safekeep were Booker nominees last year. The Dunne family memoir sounds interesting…so many famous names in the family! I remember having heard of Dominique’s tragedy. Poltergeist had a few traumatic events associated with some cast members after wrapping up the film. Nice review, by the way! Keep up the busyness and reading. Have a great week!
Hey Carmen, thanks. My library haul was pretty great and apparently more books are ready to pick up this week. Ugh. I’m getting buried. I’ve got an Irish PW book going, The Safekeep (barely started), and Gliff by Ali Smith on audio. So I need to make a dent in these this week. And yet I waste time doing whatever.
I will likely be putting some of these back. And getting them another time, sadly. I hope your Penelope reading is going well. The Dunne book was a bit of a mixed bag … but pretty strong towards the end with that terrible trial. Have a great week.
We ended up going for a fancy lunch on Sunday! Normally we do something on the day but my husband was meant to be doing something so we made alternate plans. He did cook dinner though, so no complaints here.
Have a great week.
Thanks Marg. It sounds like you had a nice Valentines lunch out, yay! It’s nice to go for a special treat. Hope you enjoyed it. Happy reading.
You seem to be finding lots of good books!
Hi Mae, thanks. I’m getting buried in library books lately. And apparently there’s like 5 more to pick up this week. What was I thinking? Enjoy your week. Happy reading.
What a cool puzzle! Wow!
The Friday Afternoon Club sounds really heartbreaking. Yes, divorce and alcoholism is a scourge for many families, but the murder of your sister is not. So awful for part of the family to move to Paris to avoid testifying.
Hi Olivia, thanks, we will try for another good puzzle soon.
Yes the Griffin Dunne book was incredibly sad towards the end with the murder & trial. His sister had so much potential from all that is described of her. It was so senseless & brutal a crime. I was surprised to read that the Aunt & Uncle went to Paris to avoid the trial … that did not sit well with the rest of the close-knit family. Thx for your comments. Have a great week.
Sounds like you had a wonderful Valentines Day! The flowers are beautiful! I was in Montana cooking for the family and forgot it was even a holiday, haha! The weather there was cold. The first few days the high was only 4 and 6 degrees and below zero (-21 and -17 I think?). Thankfully, the days we went skiing the highs went back up to 21 and 24. That puzzle looks like a fun one! Where did you get it? Do you know the name? Yes, puzzles are a welcome distraction. I can’t believe what’s happening to this country. I’m shocked and frightened ever time I read the news. I have no idea if the checks and balances that were set in place will work. This guy and his buddy co-president (Musk) are just running roughshod over everything. I wonder if the people who voted for him expected this.
I read The Woman in Cabin 10 several years back and remembered it being entertaining but thought Lo was a hot mess! Common sense was not her strong suit! I look forward to your thoughts. I do vaguely remember Griffin Dunne. Sounds like a messy family, but I guess that can be said for a lot of us, lol!
Hi Rachel, Glad you had a fun time in Montana. It seems beautiful where your son is. Which ski hill do you go to there?
I guess the puzzle is from a company called White Mountain Puzzles at whitemountainpuzzles.com. Interesting eh? Who knew. It was a gift years ago and we finally did it. You do some good puzzles too.
Ha – Lo Blacklock is definitely a hot mess in Ruth Ware’s novel. I think it was about 3 or 3.5 stars for me. It’s sort of a fun setting … but it gets sort of crazy and I’m not sure how believable. Still I will see the movie, lol. Have a great week.
I found the puzzle on eBay and ordered it. It was on Amazon as well but wouldn’t ship for a month. Not sure why. I look forward to working it. I’m puzzle mad, lol!
We went to a resort called Discovery right outside of the town of Anaconda, which is about 40 minutes from Rock Creek Cattle Company, where my SIL’s house is. I really liked it! It’s small but had great runs. Though it was crowded on the weekend, but I guess that’s understandable given it was a holiday weekend.
Even with all the craziness and I’d like to see the movie, too.
Wow Rachel, you found the exact puzzle? How wild. I think it’ll be an easy puzzle for you. You are the puzzle master! Canada will luv you for getting it, lol.
Discovery sounds like a fun ski resort. We have been to Butte and Missouli so I guess Butte is not too far from Anaconda. I like exploring new small towns in Montana. The state seems diverse in all its ranges. Cheers!
You’re the Puzzlemeister! Perfect combo would be to do one while listening to an audiobook 😉 I liked Playground a lot but The Overstory is still supreme. You defniteily need to return all the library books and get to it! My reading is a little random lately, but you always provide good titles to put on my list. I will be interested to hear how you like The Safekeep.
Dominic Dunne was the King of Name Dropping — his columns were the best part of 80s/90s Vanity Fair. He was very charming and knew everyone. I seem to remember a story about Griffin Dunne disappearing on some sort of adventure and the family being worried sick. Did he cover that? Given the tragedy about his sister, it seemed even more painful.
Happy Valentine’s!
Hi / have you started Clare’s puzzle there? On a white snow background, lol. I like listening to an audio while doing a puzzle … that is supreme.
And I remember those gossipy Vanity Fair columns — so popular back then. Dominick was quite a character it seems — and a name-dropper.
I think Griffin briefly mentions that he hitchhiked home to L.A. after he got expelled from high school in Colorado Springs, like when he was 13, not sure his parents knew where he was. So perhaps you are thinking of that. But his sister was still Okay then. She was a bit younger and I kept worrying about her through the whole book … but it only happens near the end. Ugh.
Hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day there. 🙂
Those are beautiful flowers and a cool puzzle. I loved puzzles as a kid, but haven’t really taken it up as an adult. Would love to get started. As you say it can be absorbing and take your mind off other things. Downside – puzzles take up space. London flats aren’t big and have limited storage, so I am living the simple life, Marie Kondo style…
I see you got the Sally Rooney from the library. I too am on the library waiting list, but with one copy at the library and a long waitlist, it will most likely be 2026 before I get it.
Wouldn’t have thought Ruth Ware was your cup of tea, but I look forward to your review.
Hi Stargazer, thanks, the flowers and puzzle came at the right time. I had to laugh at your Marie Kondo comment. Too funny, but I know how it goes with small spaces.
I don’t think I will get to Sally Rooney’s latest novel this library go-around but I would like to get to it sometime. Even though I didn’t like her book Normal People much. This might be better.
You are correct that Ruth Ware isn’t really my fav genre. I’m not a big thriller reader anymore but I thought it might be a fun setting on a ship which it was. But the plot gets crazy. Still I will see the movie of it for fun.
Hope you have a great week & see the sun there!
It sounds like you had a nice Valentine’s Day, Susan. My husband got both Mouse and I are own bouquets of flowers and chocolate for me as well. We ordered pizza in since we prefer to avoid the throngs of people who do go out for the holiday. I hope you are able to get to most, if not all of your library books! The Louise Erdrich is on my wish list. I have read a few Ruth Ware’s novels, but not The Woman in Cabin 10. If there’s a movie coming out, I better get on that! The Friday Afternoon Club sounds like an interesting memoir. What a life! I hope you have a great week!
Thanks Wendy. It sounds like you had a great Valentine’s Day. Your husband must be so nice. 🙂 What a treat on V Day.
I don’t think I will get to all the library books in time (too slow!) and I might have to get Mighty Red back another time. But these are on my radar. I will see if you get to Erdrich’s before me. The Woman in Cabin 10 is a crazy one! But maybe all of Ruth Ware’s are a bit wild, ha. I hope the movie of it will be fun. Get to it!
Have a great week.
Dominick Dunne always struck me as the type of person so eager to see and be seen that his children were either ignored or overindulged or both. It doesn’t surprise me that they turned out badly. I remember being at Bantam when the paperback edition of People Like Us came out with a very striking art deco cover. I don’t remember the book but there was a famous quote from it that I suspect we used to sell it: “We’ve all got trashy friends, but we should choose our trashy friends with more care.”
Everyone here is excited about the big hockey game coming Thursday night! I am watching the US play Sweden tonight.
It is a three day weekend here so yesterday I treated myself to a day doing nothing but reading – a new book by Canadian author Susanna Kearsley which my sister brought back to me from London because it is not out yet here (and it was great!). I am going to London at the end of April and will have to figure out how many books I can sneak into my luggage.
Hi Constance, great to hear. We’ll be watching the hockey too on Thursday night! I used to pull for the U.S. but now I’ll be rooting for Canada. hmm it’ll be a good showdown.
I’m glad you told me about the new Susanna Kearsley novel — I’ve never read her but I’d like to. Which one is best? Great to hear you’re going to London, how terrific. Will you be hitting some bookstores over there? Or doing a book exchange?
Quite a quote about trashy friends re: Dominick Dunne book. I never read his books — but his Vanity Fair column back then seemed plenty. Enjoy your reads this week.
I do remember Dunne, now that you mentioned him. I would read that book even with its iffy beginning.
Last year I spent Valentine’s day in the hospital ER and then got admitted, so this Valentine’s day I cooked a nice dinner and finished my book club read, Trust. A big improvement. My hub and I don’t really celebrate V day.
Hi Ti, Yes you’ve had a much improved V-Day than last year’s scary ER visit. I’m so glad how well you’ve done since the surgery … and I’m sending you positive vibes for a good clear MRI result. It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since then. I hope you have liked your doctor and think he’s good.
Have a great week.
A friend of mine got a puzzle table-topper and is loving it. It packs away easily and is at an angle with felt so the pieces stay put. I’m trying to decide if I want one. If I get one, does it mean I am old?!
I am currently reading a fairly good drag queen mystery, which is keeping me enterained.
Hi Helen, Interesting about a puzzle table topper — I had not thought of that or seen one. But I googled it … and it seems like a good idea. I do feel a bit old spending time doing a puzzle but that is where I am apparently. 🙂 And I think it is useful during these troubled times.
I’m glad you are enjoying the mystery. Have a great week.
Gorgeous flowers–what a striking color! And I love the Canadian puzzle–looks like so much fun and a good way to get through the cold snap. We’re also freezing down here in CO.
I enjoyed reading your review of the Griffen Dunne book–I definitely won’t be reading it, but I liked the review. I loved American Werewolf in London (that was recently a Jeopardy question) and need to rewatch it–and I do remember when Dominique Dunne was murdered. Such a horrible thing.
I think Keira Knightley is a good choice to play Lo. Didn’t know there was a movie coming out, so thanks for the heads up. I just finished my third Ruth Ware novel. They’re a bit addictive. Interesting that Ware is doing a sequel to Cabin 10 although Lo is a good character to build a series around.
Stay warm!
Hi Jane, I didn’t realize you are a Ruth Ware reader. They do seem to go quickly. I haven’t seen American Werewolf in London in a long time … but every once in a blue moon when I’m flicking channels it’ll be on … and of course I have to watch it. So many funny lines in it. Makes me laugh.
And thanks the flowers are nice to have in the kitchen when it’s so freezing out. But the temps are supposed to rise tomorrow from -5F to 40 degrees! We won’t believe it’s true till it happens. 40 degrees will feel like Miami, lol. I hope you get some warmth too. Enjoy your reading.