Hi. I want to wish those in the U.S. a very happy Thanksgiving week. I’m actually flying to California on Tuesday to visit with my relatives. It should be much fun. I’ll be like these Canadian geese flying away. It was hard trying to take a good photo of them with my phone, but it’s interesting to see their formation.
Not too much happened here last week though we’ve decided to push out the move to our new home till mid-January now because some of the renovations have taken longer. Still things are looking good; we went there on Sunday, and it’s nice to see the new flooring and paint. I’ll start boxing things up when I get back.
Meanwhile in book news, I see that Tess Gunty’s debut novel The Rabbit Hutch, which came out in August, won this year’s National Book Award for fiction. Wow that’s big for a debut.
I haven’t read it yet but see it’s about the inhabitants of a low-rent apartment building in small-town Indiana. Apparently an act of violence occurs that changes everything during one sweltering week in July. Critics are hailing the novel as stunning and original. But is it? It has a 3.68 rating on Goodreads and seems a bit mixed in people’s minds. Still I look forward to checking it out.
Meanwhile I went to see the movie She Said on Saturday in the theater (!) — which is about the two New York Times’ reporters whose articles helped bring down Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein whose sexual abuse and harassment of women went on for decades. It was good. I had read the 2019 nonfiction book that it’s based on by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey who are played in the movie by Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan.
It follows the book fairly well and gets to the heart of how various victims were silenced through intimidation and secret agreements into coming forward. The reporters go through a lot before anyone is willing to talk on the record … such was the power and awfulness of Weinstein.
I like journalism movies such as The Post and this one was a bit similar to Spotlight, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2015. Maybe I didn’t think it was as good as Spotlight, but it is compelling. Midway into it, I noticed I was still holding a crushed napkin in my fist, long after the popcorn was gone. Good grief, this man deserves the sentence he got. I just wish he was stopped a lot sooner.
And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of books I finished lately.
The Good House by Ann Leary / St. Martin’s / 304 pages / 2013
I had to go back and get to this 2012 novel since the movie (with Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline) just came out. I haven’t seen it yet but plan to. I listened to this novel as an audiobook read by Mary Beth Hurt whose voice is quite raspy and I was thinking the character of Hildy would be more like Sigourney Weaver, so Mary Beth wasn’t exactly who I was thinking of for the role. Still I plowed on.
Many who’ve read this recall: Hildy, age 60, is a real estate agent in a small seaside Massachusetts town north of Boston, where she knows everyone’s business. She’s a “tough old bird” who in her prime was the biggest real estate seller around the area. But now she’s been divorced awhile and her grown two daughters sent her to rehab after an intervention. She’s lonely (when not at her day job) but then becomes friends with the new-to-town beautiful, wealthy Rebecca McAllister. Rebecca has her own issues and soon Hildy and her are drinking wine at night and confiding in one another. Rebecca starts an affair with her psychiatrist in town, while Hildy starts seeing an old friend Frankie Getchell.
I wasn’t sure exactly where this story was going for awhile, but it does a nice job in the first half of breathing life into the old seaside town and the character and backstory of Hildy, who’s lived there forever. She’s sort of a funny, piece of work kind of woman who’ve you’ve likely met one or two of — but as things go on she becomes entwined a bit with dealing with Rebecca and her affair with Peter, and in denial about her own increasing problems with alcohol. She becomes pretty unlikable in her drunken states, cover-ups, and lies.
Towards the end the story takes a dark turn, which surprised me, but I liked how the ending sped it up and added an interesting dilemma — making the dangers of Hildy’s denial and alcoholism really hit home. I thought the ending was well done and improved my overall feelings for the book. I don’t think I’ll forget Hildy and her drinking problems any time soon.
Woodrow on the Bench: Life Lessons From a Wise Old Dog by Jenna Blum / Harper / 208 pages / 2021
Whoa this is a sad memoir … though a bit heartwarming too. Before I picked up the audiobook, I didn’t realize it would be mostly about the last months of this great dog – Woodrow’s life, living with his owner (a fiction writer) in a Boston neighborhood. So I didn’t know what I was getting into. Good grief, it’s the worst experience in the world coping with a dog’s imminent passing, and it can send you into shock and a very sad tailspin. Why did I think I could deal with hearing of another’s pain going through this?
Still I liked how the author wittily recounts Woodrow‘s earlier life with her and what made him such a special dog. Labradors like Woodrow are amazing friends and beings (we have two!). This dog Woodrow lived to the ripe age of 15, which is older than most Labs live. I wondered during this if the owner waited a bit too long to ease Woodrow’s pain at the end. He seemed to have some health troubles that were hard for him.
Still I know Woodrow was happy to see his owner each day and sit at his favorite park near the bench and socialize. I’m glad he lived such a happy life and felt loved and had many friends. I’m not sure I could tell the author’s “lessons” in the book, but her feelings for her dog made me realize that others apparently are similarly crazy about their dogs as I am, which I’m not sure I fully realized, or thought possible. Ha.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read or seen these and what did you think? Wishing you a fabulous holiday.
Dog stories that involve their deaths are just gut wrenching. But, in a way, also lovely.
Have a wonderful visit with your parents over the holidays.
I also read She Said and was wary about the movie, but am glad to hear it is well done. I will probably see it when it’s on Netflix or the equivalent.
Thanks Helen: it’s nice to be back in California. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving too.
I think you might like the movie whenever you see it. The two actresses do a good job. Enjoy.
Enjoy your time in California! And I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving. 😀
Thanks Lark. It’s great to be here. Happy Thanksgiving!
Enjoy the sunshine and ignore the politics!
We’re getting our first big bout of rain so it feels like the PNW now. I’m hoping to see She Said, I thought the book was great.
Hi Catherine. I’m getting my share of driving the crazy California highways. But it’s nice once at the destination! And the sunshine feels great.
I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving!
See what you think of the movie. I think you’ll find it interesting how they weave it together … much like the book. Good to hear about the Rain. Cheers.
I have “The Rabbit Hutch” on my TBR list and hope to get to it in December.
I hope you have a great time with your family in California. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks Dorothy. It is special to be in Calif. for Thanksgiving. I hope your family has a great holiday too! I’ll be interested to see what you think of the Rabbit Hutch. You’ll likely get to it before me. Happy reading.
I hope you enjoy your holiday!
Wishing you a great reading week
Thanks Shelleyrae. It feels nice to be out of ice & snow for a week. We’ll see how much reading I get done, but I hope some. Have a great week!
I was shocked that a debut won The National Book Award. That author is going to have an amazing career. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy California!
Thanks AJ. It’s good to be in California. And yeah I was surprised too about the NBA — so this Rabbit Hutch novel must be really worth investigating.
I hope your family has a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Enjoy. your travels and have a great Thanksgiving!
best…mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae. It’s been a nice trip. Great seeing family. Hope your Thanksgiving was happy too!
I love animal memoirs even though they do tend to go on the sad side since unfortunately dogs and cats do not live as long as we do. I’m glad this one was a good one overall for you.
Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have a lovely time in California with your family. Looking forward to hearing more about your new place once you can finally move in. Safe travels!
Thanks Heather. It’s been really fun being here. Beautiful weather & scenery. I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday. with more hikes?
As I’ve come to find, there is so much to savor in each of your posts. Whew! Thank you!
I loved The Good House, and read it when it first appeared. A meaty book, lots of things to ponder in that one. I think that’s a novel that’s definitely worth a re-read, after letting it sit for close to ten years.
Oh, and the dog tale! I find I’m unable to read about it because I have lived it and grieved so hard for so many dogs over my lifetime. The only thing that helps for me, is to wait and grieve, and then after many, many months to be pushed by my husband to do the search for another beloved retriever.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Oh thanks Judith. I appreciate your comments about the posts. I sort of cram a lot in them eh? I like how the Good House really shined a light on alcoholism & denial by this character. I hope to see & compare the new movie to the book.
And I wouldn’t have picked the audio of the dog book if I knew really what it was about. Good grief. It’s like my worst fear… to go through that experience.
Things are nice in California – great trip! I hope your holiday weekend is great too!!
I tend to trust ratings on Goodreads over awards. I wonder if you do, too. I probably will skip Rabbit Hutch unless I hear a lot of good things from others.
It seems smart to push back your move-in date until the renovations are complete.
I’m glad you got to get to California for the holidays, Susan. I’ve been gone, too, and I’ve gotten a little behind in seeing what everyone is up to.
Good Deb, I’m glad you’ve had some travels as well. It’s nice seeing family. Hope your holiday was great. I actually have one more day before heading north.
I think I might check out Rabbit Hutch sometime to see what the fuss is about. We’ll see. Enjoy your week.
I haven’t heard of The Rabbit Hutch, but it certainly sounds impressive for a debut to win the National Book Award for fiction. Hopefully, you will write a review if you get around to it. 3.68 on Goodreads isn’t that great, but some books are divisive (many high and many low ratings) and it isn’t necessarily a good indicator for you.
Yeah Stargazer I agree. The ratings on Goodreads won’t fully deter me. But maybe I will go into it a bit more cautiously. I need to find out what the fuss is about over a debut! Hope you are well. Have a great week.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving trip!
She Said, both the book and the movie, sound good. I would like to read/watch both.
Thanks Jane. It’s been a really nice trip. And now I head back this week. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.
I remember the book of She Said sort of shocked me that this man was able to get away with all this abhorrent behavior for so long. It was appalling. I’m glad the women came forward against him. The book & movie are worth checking out. I hope you are well. Have a great week.
We see a lot of geese flying in V formation and it’s so neat! Love your pic. Hope you enjoy your trip to California! Weinstein is such a creep! It’s appalling that he got away with his assaults and terror for so long! Good luck with your renovations!
Thanks Rachel for stopping by. It was good to find your blog. It’s been nice being here in California, but heading back tomorrow.
I read up a bit on V formations after seeing so many geese flying in Alberta. Apparently it saves them energy flying like that but I’m not sure they know how they do it so well. Have a great week.
Have a wonderful trip! California sounds pretty good right about now. 🙂 And hope you had a wonderful holiday as well.
Thanks Greg. It’s been a really good trip. Now I’m headed back to the cold. Winter is here! Stay warm.
After listening to a podcast interview on NPR about how the actress prepared for the role, I’m eager to see She Said and all the more so after reading your review. I hope you had a good visit to California!
Hi Sarah, good to hear from you. Thanks yes we had a great visit. Now I have to head back to where it’s cold.
I’ll have to find that NPR interview. The two actresses did a great job in She Said. And I thought the movie was well done from the book.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
I hope you had a lovely time in SoCal, and that the weather cooperated. We had a few days of rain with some beautiful sunny (albeit cold!) days, as well. My brother and his family were here from Seattle, so they’re used to our fickle weather.
Mid-January will be here before you know it! Good idea to push the move until then so you can relax (ha!) and enjoy the Christmas season.
I’ll wait for your review of The Rabbit Hutch. I’m often disappointed with award winners…
I’ll probably watch She Said when it starts streaming. I enjoyed The Post and Spotlight.
I listened to The Good House almost ten years ago. It definitely starts off slowly, but I wound up giving it a 4-star rating. From my post: “Mary Beth Hurt is Hildy Good! Once I got used to her voice, and the storyline picked up, I was hooked. The humor had me laughing out loud (particularly during a Thanksgiving dinner scene) and there’s a fair amount of suspense as the book draws to a close, which had me on the edge of my seat.” Funny that the cast changed. Leary’s blog post (in 2013) mentioned De Niro and Streep to star in the movie.
Hi Lesley, yes that’s a big change of cast for the movie The Good House. We’ll likely see it sometime over the next few weeks. I’m curious if they will change it from the book. It turns pretty dark right?
The She Said movie is pretty good but not as good as The Post or Spotlight. Still it’s worth seeing. See what you think.
I had a good trip “home” to Calif. and just returned. I’m always in a daze for awhile afterwards. Both places are so different. I’m glad you had a nice holiday. My husband is reading Rod’s book & loves it! One of his favorites of the year. I will get more out of him soon. Somehow I couldn’t wait till Christmas to give it. Have a great week.
Oh, that’s great to hear about Rod’s book! I’m so glad your husband is enjoying it. I’ll be sure to let Rod know.
Yes he’s really enjoying it. He’s read many sailing books over the years. So kudos to Rod. I hope he’s gotten some nice sales from the book and will continue to do so. It has a beautiful cover & interesting subject matter so I would think all sorts of sailors would want to get it. Cheers.