It’s been a scattered week. Is everyone feeling that? Much to do during this holiday season. I got our tree?! Though it took us a while to find where the box of decorations were put. We plan to decorate the tree this weekend with festivities, so until then I’m putting a photo of our “naked tree” up. It’s a stout pleasant thing, right? It’ll look better with the balls.
I know most of you finished decorating and gift buying long ago, but I’m often behind in this endeavor, especially since our Thanksgiving trip was my main focus this season. I still have gifts to buy, but I’m used to being a last-minute Christmas shopper, ha, though I avoid crowds and do most of it online.
Do you still send out Christmas cards? I’m old-school and like such things, but I’ll likely only send out a few this week. After all there’s only two weeks left until Christmas. What am I waiting for?!
Meanwhile, last week we saw the movie Belfast written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. It’s well done and is a coming-of-age tale about a young boy (Buddy) and his working-class family amid the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Have you seen it? It’s based on Branagh’s youth. Apparently he was born in Belfast, the son of working-class Protestant parents and moved with his family at age nine to England to escape the Troubles. The movie shows violence between Protestants and Catholics in a neighborhood where they had once lived peacefully together.
It’s a moving tale, shot in black-and-white, and the boy’s parents and grandparents play large roles, trying to keep Buddy safe and answer his many questions as they consider leaving Belfast and the violence behind. Irish actors Jamie Dornan (as the Dad) and Caitriona Balfe (as the Mom) are terrific … as well as Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds as the grandparents. The movie seems to balance the grim parts with cute parts, so it mixes both to good effect and feels substantive without being too heavy. The musical score too is pretty major with many songs by Belfast-born Van Morrison. I think the movie might get some Oscar nominations, so we’ll see. And now I’ll leave you with a review of the book I finished lately.
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout / Random House / 256 pages / 2021
At first it took me a while to get into this novel — #3 in the Lucy Barton series, which I listened to as an audiobook read by Kimberly Farr. It felt like random thoughts from Lucy, a successful novelist, about life and her marriage to her first husband William. It seems as readers we’re stuck in Lucy’s head for most of this story and there’s much grief in there as her second husband has recently passed, and misery from her childhood abuse still hangs over her.
I wasn’t sure if there would be much of a story to find here other than random remembrances and thoughts, but then William, her ex-husband, asks her to accompany him on a trip to Maine to investigate a possible half-sister (Lois Bubar) he never knew about … and to see his mother’s old house. Then the novel sort of picked up for me. I liked how Lucy often wonders if we can ever really know another person … “we are all mysteries” as she puts it. I’m sure she’s right.
Although divorced, I thought Lucy and William sort of seemed right for one another … even though William engaged in various affairs when they were married and his mind sort of checks out at times and is unavailable. Still they seem quite close … and helpful to one another in regards to each other’s troubled backgrounds. They feel like peas that should fit in the same pod … but have adjustments to make.
What captures me again about a Strout novel is how she can write with a naturalness of everyday talk and diction, putting all the pauses and back and forth with the realness of reflection and people who have lived hard lives and have much baggage. There’s often a lot of darkness in a Strout novel but also a touch of humanity and tenderness too. Apparently this is my sixth book of hers …. her Lucy and Olive series capture formidable main characters, but might not be for everyone … as they are mostly character studies without a ton of action that cast light on the frailties and perseverance of the human condition.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read this novel and author before and what did you think? And what are you reading now? Happy Holidays!
Belfast sounds like something I’d like to watch so I’ll add it to my watch list.
We got our trees this past week as well and I decorated mine Friday night. I do love this time of year though I haven’t done any of my shopping yet!
Wow Helen, I understand the late shopping. Now I don’t feel so alone about it 🙂 Check out Belfast and see what you think. I’m looking forward to decorating our naked tree tonight. Woohoo. Have a great week.
I enjoyed Oh, William though I agree that it develops slowly. That often seems to be the case with Strout’s books. You are reading along sort of wondering where this is going when all of sudden the story grabs you.
Exactly Dorothy. I totally wasn’t under Strout’s spell at first but then by the end I was and it happens when you’re least expecting it. I was thinking I liked Olive a bit better than Lucy but both are worth reading about. Happy reading.
We’ve been talking about seeing Belfast but, the Indie theater is about 45 min from here and with all that has been going on it just hasn’t happened. We also want to see West Side Story (theater closer to us). Your tree is beautifully shaped it will be perfect once decorated I’m sure —Next week side by side before and after pics:) LOL
I loved Oh, William! and loved the structure (being inside Lucy’s head:)
Hi Diane: yes we keep seeing the preview for the West Side Story movie. It looks like a lot going on in it! But 45 mins away to see Belfast is far to go for a movie eh? I think waiting for a better opportunity is a good idea. Also I’ll definitely have to put a decorated tree pic up next week … as the naked tree looks quite lonely, right? Stay tuned. & have a great week.
Your tree looks fat and cute. And I still try and send out Christmas cards. I did much better last year; this year I’ve only sent out a few.
Thanks Lark. The tree is a work in progress and tonight the decorating begins! I’m glad to hear you still like sending cards — me too …. perhaps this week I can get a few out. Happy Holidays.
What a great tree! I still have plenty of decorating and some shopping left… every year I vow to finish early and just never do. We put the (fake pre-lit) tree up yesterday and will decorate it together when everyone gets here.
Oh William! was a solid 5-star read for me. I love everything about Elizabeth Strout’s writing and characters. We’d love to see Belfast, too… still haven’t been back to the movie theater, but maybe soon. Have a great week, Susan!
Thanks JoAnn. Much to do now … as we’re getting to the nitty gritty of Christmas. We decorated our tree last night … so I’ll put another picture next weekend LOL. I wonder a bit what Strout will take on next …. perhaps another Burgess Boys ? ha … her characters are overlapping a bit … sometimes showing up in other novels. Hmm we’ll just have to wait & see. Happy Reading.
I like your tree even without adornments. It’s been years since we don’t put up one, but my mother always puts the Nativity set and the animated dolls on display. I wanted to read Oh William! but I don’t want to commit to yet another series. Belfast has had Oscar buzz since it was shown in the festival circuit earlier in the year. Caitriona Balfe (of Outlander fame) has been praised, as has Kenneth Branagh for directing. I want to watch it soon but renting movies has become a rather expensive enterprise since the hottest releases are usually $19.99 to recoup the losses from cine theaters.
Thanks Carmen, got the tree done last night. I need to find our Nativity set! I agree about the expensive movies; we’ve been going to the theater on the cheap(er) Tues night here but still it is a luxury. I have not seen the Outlander series, so Caitriona Balfe was new to me, but she seemed to steal the movie – she was excellent in Belfast. Next I’m supposed to see House of Gucci with a friend, so we’ll see about that. As for Oh Williams I’m still mulling it a bit – not much action and it seems to meander about remembrances quite a bit … as an inner husband-wife character study. I might try Katie Kitamura’s book next …. Enjoy your holiday season!
I am feeling a little unsettled. The Girl arrives this Wednesday and there is much to be done. If she makes her connecting flight there will be rejoicing. It’s gonna be tight.
I have not bought one gift. I missed all the online delivery deadlines so whatever I buy will be in person but it seems silly since the kids can’t really take the stuff back with them. I am going to have to ship the gifts to them after.
I have a lot of doc appts which don’t help. We are also getting the girl’s booster done when she comes because Missouri is out of shots.
My reading has been spotty. I need to write at least one more review and then I may make it easy on myself and just take a break.
Gosh Ti. You have a lot to think about. Try not to stress too much on the gift-buying. I’m thinking The Girl will make her connection. Often flights will wait. It’s just good you will all be together … Doc appointments this close to Christmas I know are not fun … Just hang in there. Get some fun Christmas-y movies lined up. I’ve been in a reading slump most of the year, argh … but there’s always 2022. Enjoy the Christmas lights …. & songs. Cheers.
I always like to leave our tree set up without ornaments for a few days. Just turning on the lights make it look festive and then I don’t feel overwhelmed to get it all done in a few hours. I still have a dozen or so ornaments left to hang. Your tree looks very pretty and I’ll bet it smells just as nice! I’m finished with my shopping, but still need to wrap gifts, write some Christmas cards (not as many as in past years) and do a little baking. Like you, I did 99% of my shopping online. I guess that’s the new trend.
I’m planning to watch Belfast and am more eager now that I know Van Morrison’s music comprises a majority of the soundtrack. Love his music!
Have a great week, Susan!
Thanks Lesley, we’ve decorated the tree now & it looks great! I might have to put another picture LOL. It sounds like you are pretty on top of Christmas chores … It’s starting to get festive! We need to just enjoy it along the way, right? You’re in for a treat with the movie Belfast … because Van’s music is big in so many scenes. I was surprised how much … but it sounded good! Enjoy your cove.
Belfast sounds really good, something I want to see for sure. Movies are hard to keep up with these days because I wasn’t going to the theater much even before Covid, and now not at all. Streaming is great, but not quite the same as the big screen and big screen sound, but I’ll settle for that for now.
Elizabeth Strout has become one of my favorites in the last few years precisely because of her characters; they just seem so real to me. Sort of like old friends that you talk to every so often and learn even more about them and their past than you ever expected to learn. Good stuff.
Yeah Sam … Strout surely has a talent with everyday dialogue & voice. Glad you liked the new one. Just recently we started going to the movie theater on Tuesday night cheap(er) nights here. Hardly anyone is there …. and it’s great to see films on the big screen again. So far we’ve seen: Dune, Belfast, Passing, and King Richard. All sort of worth seeing. It’s a nice escape from life & current events. Who knew it could be fun again?!? Have a great week.
Your tree is stunning and I can imagine how festive and beautiful it will be once your decorate it. I have not sent Christmas cards in years; I do everything electronically now.
Thanks Judee — we have the tree decorated now and it looks really good! I might post another photo for next week. I think my Christmas greetings might all have to be done online too … The mail in Canada is just a bother to deal with. Have a joyous Holiday Season!
I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember whether I read Lucy Barton or not. So I don’t know if I’ll read the new one — I would have to start at the beginning and that’s a big commitment. I did like her Olive books, though, and you make it sound readable.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae: I read the first Lucy Barton book but then skipped the 2nd one (which I think deals with her abuse), but it seems I didn’t need it for the third one. Most of the history is evident in this one. For whatever reason, I think I might like the Olive books a tad more than the Lucy series … but still there’s several good lines in the Lucy books. Happy holidays to you.
Your tree decoration will be fun, I think. I like the look of that stout tree.
I’m waiting for the arrival of Oh William. I feel pretty sure this will be a book I’ll like. The Olive books are both books I’ve enjoyed in the past.
Belfast sounds intriguing. So many movies are being streamed now. I wonder if I can find it somewhere online.
Hi Deb, I think you should be able to find Belfast … it seems like it will be streaming soon if not now. We’ve decorated our tree … so I might post that photo soon … it looks quite good! Woohoo. It’s feeling more festive now.
I think you will like Oh William … though for whatever reason I’ve enjoyed the Olive books a bit more than the Lucy books … but those are still worthwhile too. Have a great week!