Hi bookworms, how’s your week been? We finally came out of the deep freeze up here, and it went from -5F to +48F in a couple days, which was a crazy change, followed by a big wind storm. It feels like Miami in comparison. We will take it. Check out this photo I took yesterday driving home from errands.
Meanwhile the month has been flying by and there was a “little” hockey game on Thursday night in Boston between the U.S. and Canada that apparently drew over 16 million viewers across both countries. We were glued to it and it was very exciting for Canada to win in overtime. The game stayed civil and seemed to mean a lot to the northern nation amid all the talk of tariffs and annexation by the current White House occupant. The two countries have been friends for over 150 years, and I know many Americans stand with Canada, which is very helpful.
Just a reminder, this week the 10-part nature documentary series The Americas will air on NBC and Peacock. Narrated by Tom Hanks — I think it should be a captivating show, spotlighting the creatures, habitats, and ecosystems found throughout North and South America. My husband and I will be checking it out. Also over the past several months we’ve been trying to catch some of the Oscar-nominated films. We only watch one show or movie per night, but we’ve added some new ones to our seen list including:
- September 5 — 4+ stars, a pretty gripping look chronicling when ABC Sports came to cover the Israeli hostage crisis live during the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Apparently this was the the first time a terrorist attack had been broadcast on live television and it was viewed by approximately 900 million.
- A Real Pain — 3.5 stars, about two mismatched cousins (played by Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) who take a tour of Poland to honor their late grandmother. This had some funny and poignant moments, but it seemed to be a bit undeveloped and I wanted to know more.
- Anora — 3.7 stars, about a call girl from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch and finds trouble when his parents come to annul the marriage. This is a grim, tough film! Rated R for good reason. I had no idea what I was getting into. This is harsh and hits hard but is an eye-opener.
- Gladiator II — 3.5 stars, Beforehand I thought this sequel wasn’t going to measure up and would have too much fake CGI, but I found it entertaining and actor Paul Mescal was easy to root for as a Roman gladiator trying to put an end to two tyrannical emperors.
- Short Film Documentaries — We had never seen these before but our local theater was playing the five Oscar-nominated short films together. They were all quite strong. One is about Japanese elementary school students who create a musical performance; another follows a Parkland school mass shooting survivor; another a police incident shooting in Chicago; another follows a Texas death row inmate’s last days; and the last is about the double bassist and only woman in the New York Philharmonic in 1966.
So these movies are in addition to the ones we’ve seen listed here.
And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of books that I finished lately.
Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin / Holt / 240 pages / 2023
I want to thank Stargazer at the blog For Book People and Random People for telling me about this Vietnamese immigrant story, since I’ve been picking up various immigrant stories lately. And I couldn’t resist another.
3.7 stars / This is about Anh (age 16) and her two younger brothers who take a perilous boat trip in 1978 as refugees out of Vietnam to Hong Kong, where they await their parents and other siblings who never arrive. The three languish in refugee camps there until eventually getting the green light for the UK, where they are put in resettlement camps for a long while until public housing later becomes available. Anh watches over her siblings, while struggling with the grief over the loss of their parents, and trying to pick up a new culture and language. As the years go by, the three begin to separate a bit. Anh works as a seamstress in a factory, Thanh tries hard in school and ends up in insurance, and Minh drops out and gets into drugs.
I think I would’ve liked the print novel a bit better than the audiobook since the author jumps around with chapters among various perspectives and it can be a bit confusing with no labels on a few. There’s primarily Anh’s story, but also: the voice of a dead brother, news reports and letters, soldiers, survivors, and an unnamed narrator who you find out at the end is a second-generation immigrant relative who is writing about Anh and the brothers’ experiences.
It is interestingly told and much is quite moving, though other times it felt like it was done with broad brushstrokes with Ahn and her brothers going from camp life to housing and on with their lives without enough detail or development. It seems the author is doing a lot with the various perspectives and maybe it was a bit too much (when less could’ve been a bit deeper). Still it lends a heartfelt and eye-opening look into the Vietnam boat people who dispersed to various countries in the late 1970s and the sheer odds they faced. Many overcame so much to fit in and flourish in their adopted countries. This story tells of one family’s amazing resilience.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware / Scout Press / 341 pages / 2016
3.7 stars. I’m one of few who hasn’t read a Ruth Ware novel until now. I am not a big thriller reader and one reason is: they often get a bit crazy or unbelievable at some point … and this one was no exception. Still I enjoyed it at various points. The lead character journalist Laura “Lo” Blacklock is quite a mess when she gets onboard a glitzy one-week cruise ship the Aurora. Her place was burglarized before leaving and she had a fight with her boyfriend. Since then she hasn’t slept and drinks like a fish … in addition to taking her regular pills for anxiety and depression.
So when she hears what she thinks is a person being thrown overboard late at night from next door in Cabin 10, no one really believes her. Since everyone is accounted for, the crew thinks she’s been hallucinating or is paranoid. But a crew member takes her around to interview staff and others. Her ex Ben Howard who’s onboard seems really suspicious – as well as some of the others aboard. But it’s takes quite a while to unravel if there’s anything amiss on the ship.
Meanwhile it makes for a good confining setting amid an array of guests and seasickness … with Lo’s head in agony too from a nasty hangover, minimal sleep, and claustrophobia. It’s the perfect uneasy setting and Lo makes a wobbly main character. It reminded me a bit of The Girl on the Train mixed with an Agatha Christie. But towards the end the plot seems a bit of a stretch and gets a bit crazy, and I was ready, like Lo, to get ashore somehow, someway.
Still the madness is a bit fun, and I will likely get to the sequel The Woman in Suite 11 (coming in July) and see the upcoming Netflix movie of this one with Keira Knightley as the boozy and anxious Lo Blacklock.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you seen any of these movies, or read these novels — and if so, what did you think?
That is quite a temperature shift but I know it was a welcome one. Wow. Lovely photo you posted and the mountain background is very pretty.
I used to keep up with the Phila. Flyers and we even had a minor league hockey team in nearby Tallahassee for a while. The Tallahassee Tiger Sharks – we went to all the games. Glad the game in Boston was a good one.
Have not seen the movies you mentioned but have hard of some. We just bought MASH, all 11 seasons, on a bargain deal. Loved that show. Tonight we will probably watch Monuments Men or Knives Out. I saw a police series new-to-us called Blue Lights set in northern Ireland. Hoping to get that soon from the library. As for books I will see if I can get Wandering Souls.
Looking forward to reading some books by Irish authors next month.
I’ve a quiche in the oven for lunch so I will email you after lunch.
Hi Tina, my husband has picked up playing hockey again after not playing since a kid. Ha. He is enjoying it. We’re not big hockey watchers but that game in Boston was a very exciting game. I’m glad you’ve liked the Flyers in the past.
I remember MASH fondly — and sometimes I’ll watch an episode – they play it on a channel here sometimes. You have all 11 seasons, wow!
I’ll be curious which Irish books you decide to read for March. I might pick up another one. I need to clear my reads now to make way for March! Have a great week.
My wife and I have A Real Pain in the queue on Hulu. We like both actors, with my wife probably more enamored of Culkin after Succession.
Hi Bryan, Culkin was great in Succession along with the other siblings. I had high expectations for A Real Pain with those actors, which starts strong but then at the end I had maybe more questions than answers about it. See what you wife thinks of it. I liked the premise about them going to tour Poland.
Thx for stopping by here. Have a great week.
Wow. That photo, with the mountain range in the distance, looks like a painting! I love it.
Glad you are getting warmer temps. We’ve had a lot of wind and rain, but should improve by Wednesday. I’m thankful since our daughter arrives on Friday from Franklin, TN for a few days. I would hate to have to drive up to PDX in today’s weather conditions!
I’m not a hockey fan, but I’m glad Canada won. I think my folks and my oldest brother watched when we lived in Canada, but I don’t know if they ever went to any games.
I think I’ve seen the Japanese elementary school short film. Does it focus on one young girl who struggles and cries during practices, but eventually does well and is praised by her teacher? If so, I thought it was very touching. The others sound interesting, but grim (with the exception of the double bassist).
Here are my thoughts about The Woman in Cabin 10: The Woman in Cabin 10 starts off very well. I think the opening chapters are even better than those of her debut novel, In a Dark, Dark Wood. Unfortunately, by the halfway mark, the pacing begins to slow down and I start to grow impatient with Lo’s internal whining. The first person narrative is what ultimately ruined this thriller for me, not to mention yet another drunk girl as an unreliable witness. I’m tired of this set-up! I love thrillers and was pretty disappointed that Ware couldn’t maintain the momentum of her story line. Having recently read Murder on the Orient Express, I found myself comparing this modern thriller to that of Agatha Christie’s classic, curious if the author was inspired by Agatha. Too bad she can’t ask her for some pointers. 😉
Currently watching Reacher (season 3), and I just finished The Bear (season 3). Good stuff in which to escape these days…
Hi Lesley, thanks. The photo does look like a painting — and I wish I could paint one like it, lol. Glad to hear your daughter will be visiting. That should be fun and hopefully the weather cooperates.
We aren’t hockey watchers much either, but that game was exciting. Woohoo.
Interesting to hear you have seen the Japanese short doc film. Yes it’s the one you describe with the little girl crying. It is endearing! Of course we liked the 2 upbeat docs …and the three others are pretty grim subject matter.
Thx for your thoughts on Cabin 10. I met Ware once at the book festival here but that was before I had read her. I admit to liking messed up narrators but as it went on I needed much patience with Lo. I can see your points.
I hope you’re liking Reacher. We are onto Prime Target (appletv) and White Lotus (season 3). We watched 4 episodes of Severance but not sure if we will continue. Have a great week!
I agree that the picture you shared is lovely. I’m a big fan of mountains. Weather – well, you guys did get some warmer temps. We are warmer today as well and the sun is shining and blue sky. Supposed to be like that most of the week and we are so ready. Think we’ve likely had our last cold event for the winter. I enjoyed your review of the Ruth Ware book. I did like the Cabin 10 book, but I liked In A Dark, Dark Wood better. I got frustrated with Lo because she made such bad choices. That happens to me when the protagonist acts what I consider ‘silly’ or ‘stupid’ – kind of want to shake them and say ‘Wake up!’ – ha! As I think I had mentioned when I talked about the sequel that Ware is coming out with – I was surprised that she selected this book for a sequel. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes. Have a good week, Susan!!
Hi Kay, thanks we like being near the mountains. We are sort of the foothills here. Interesting to hear your thoughts on Ware’s books. It is a bit tough when characters like Lo make various bad choices. You want to stop them, lol. It seems Cabin 10 is one of her most well known — so perhaps she thought to revisit it with a sequel. But I need a break from Lo for a while now, ha. I might try another Ware sometime. Enjoy your warm weather there this week.
I’ve read The Woman in Cabin 10 and I thought it was okay. It reminded me a little of Hitchcock’s movie The Lady Vanishes. And I’m intrigued by Wandering Souls. I have a friend whose family escaped from Vietnam in the 1970s. So that one interests me. And I am enjoying the warmer weather, too. And the blue skies and sunshine that February often brings. Wishing you a wonderful week. 😀
Hi Lark, thanks. It is nice seeing the sun! You know I don’t think I’ve ever seen The Lady Vanishes but now I want to. Someone else also mentioned Ware’s book was like that movie. Now I’m curious. I think you might like Wandering Souls as it gives a picture of the Vietnam boat people. I wanted mostly more of Anh’s story. Enjoy your week too.
Glad to hear that your temperatures have gone up. That is a lovely photo. I have never ever even been near to that type of weather.
That is a nice list of movies that you have seen. Not that I will probably ever see any of them, but it is good to get your opinion. And nice that you got to see the short films nominated for Oscars. We used to watch the Oscars religiously every year (for 30 years at least) but we haven’t watched them in the last 2-3 years and we are not interested this year.
Wandering Souls sounds very good, and I will look for a copy later this year. (That translates to … check the book sale in September, and if it isn’t there, look for a copy elsewhere.)
I enjoyed your review of The Woman in Cabin 10. I had no sympathy with the main character, but I had lots of sympathy with her boyfriend and family back home (which we get tiny glimpses of), and I liked the ending pretty well. It was an educational experience, since normally I avoid this type of book with the hype it had. I haven’t decided if I will try the sequel or not. I have a copy of The Girl on the Train which I will read, but I don’t have high hopes for it.
Hi Tracy, the weather was pretty frigid for three weeks, but now it’s balmy out. I’ll send you some melting snow, lol.
It seems understandable to fall off the Oscars over the years. Though we still enjoy a good movie so we keep on seeing some. The variety has been good.
You might like Wandering Souls … there’s been various good books about the Vietnamese boat people over the years, and this is my second one.
I’m glad we read The Woman in Cabin 10 at the same time. I had sympathy for her boyfriend / family too. Overall I think we had similar feelings about it. And I’m not sure you’ll like Girl on the Train — ha the character is pretty messed up! but it’s sort of fun trying to piece it together. Have a great week.
That picture looks like a watercolor. It’s nice having warmer temperatures; this winter has been brutal! I had a year or two when I was blogging that most of my reading consisted of murder mysteries/thrillers. I became fed up with the storylines; it seemed that authors were trying to outdo one another with outrageous ways to off people. It became too much. Nowadays I read a thriller if it’s highly rated and popular, but I try to be selective. Anyway, it’s good that you liked both books despite some quibbles. I have another immigrant story suggestion for you, if you want to keep the theme going: Infinite Country by Patricia Engel.
Hi Carmen, now that you mention it — the photo does look like a painting and I wish I could paint it, lol. Wouldn’t it be fun to have that skill. But I am hopeless with art. And I agree & can relate with what you say about mysteries & thrillers – I used to read more of them but now avoid most of them. And I never read regular whodunit mysteries … I just would rather read something else. I’m glad you feel the same. All the killing & missing person stuff — it sort of bores me after a while. Thanks for mentioning the Engel book. Yes I’ll fit it in. I might need an immigrant story break, but then I’ll get to it. I remember it was a strong one! Have a great week.
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery is a great one too, though it’s not so much an immigrant story as a story in which his and his family’s identity as immigrants has been shaped. This one are connected short stories that read like a novel overall.
Glad to hear that things are warming up a bit for you!
Have a great week!
Hi Marg, thanks, things have definitely warmed here and all of our snow is melting away. We are having a bit of ice & mud season in February which is unusual. Hope you have a great week too.
Warmer weather is a good change. Maybe we’ll get some higher temps too, which would be nice. We watched Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes” recently, and it sounds very creepily similar to the book you reviewed. Agatha Christie and Hitchcock really knew what they were doing, and it’s still hard to beat them at that game.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, thanks we have a massive snowmelt going on. Quite messy outside.
Another blogger also mentioned Ware’s story being like The Lady Vanishes and now I’m curious to see the Hitchcock film. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it … and I must seek it out. I’ll try to find it. Thx for letting me know. Have a great week.
Hi Susan
A beautiful picture and I am glad it’s getting a bit warmer where you live.
I know what you mean about the domestic and psychological thrillers. The ones I have read: Housemaid, Then She Was Gone, for example started out very well but then got very unpleasant. But Ruth Ware is someone I do want to read and The Woman Cabin 10 sounds interesting. So I may give it a go.
Thanks Kathy, seeing the mountains landscape always pleases me and I try to capture it on the little iPhone, which can be hit or miss.
Yeah I agree many thrillers nowadays get unpleasant or crazy … I do think Ruth Ware’s are a bit more interesting and worth checking out. I’d read her again another time, though overall I read less thrillers these days but they can break things up. Enjoy your week!
That photo! Wow! I absolutely love it. Thanks for sharing about the books you are reading. I always take note when you mention books you like.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/sunday-salon-dragons.html
Thanks Anne, I like seeing the view around here on most days and try to capture it in a photo. And that’s kind of you to say about the books I get to. It seems we often pick up similar reads. And I like to read your thoughts on them as well. Have a great week.
Beautiful photo! We had some cold temps in Montana last week with snow, too. It was my first experience with below zero temps. Somehow it didn’t feel as cold as I thought it would, but they may have low humidity. I had a similar rating for The Woman in Cabin 10. I think I rated it 3.5 stars. Yes, Lo was a hot mess and pretty inept. I couldn’t do The Girl on the Train at all! She was an even bigger train wreck than Lo! That was a DNF for me. I’m not a fan of a self-destructive character getting through life on a chance and a prayer! I’d like to see the movie with Keira Knightly, though. Stay warm and have a wonderful week, Susan!
Hi Rachel, it gets very crisp below 0 here but is not bad for short bouts outside and if you dress warmly. But after three weeks of it, the warmth is nice. I’m glad you got out to Montana again. So pretty there.
I liked hearing your takes on The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Girl on the Train, ha. I had to laugh. They are hot messes. Also The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn, another hot mess! I’ve done the audio on all three of these — somehow self-destructive lures me but then I think: good grief get it together, lol.
Enjoy your week too!
Some of Ruth Ware’s are really good and some good. I haven’t read this one yet.
I’ve been hearing about the film September 5 so may have to check it out. I have vague memories of it happening and watching it on the news.
Hi Helen, yeah I read another Ruth Ware sometime. She has talent at these. I can see where some of hers would be better than others. If I find the right one, it’ll be the jackpot, lol.
I urge you to see the movie September 5. I found it pretty strong & gripping, and scary. It sets the scene pretty well and the movie is nominated for Best Original Screenplay. See what you think. Have a great week.
I am one American who stands with Canada. And because this felon was elected a second time, my husband and I have decided to leave the United States. We are in our 60s and I think we both believed that at some point America would live up to her promise. This had made us face the fact that it never will – at least not in our lifetimes. So we are in the process of making arrangements to leave. Hope to be gone by early summer.
The Woman in Cabin 10 sounds like a great diversion. I’m adding it to my TBR list.
Wow Olivia, that is big news. I can understand your thoughts. To live with it for another four years is beyond daunting. Have you decided where you’ll be going? I often feel Canada is not far enough away from things happening in the U.S. Though I wonder if anywhere is safe. I hope other countries will be able to resist the felon, and non-democratic leaders & ways. It’s a scary time.
I wish you well with your plans.
Wow, another gorgeous photo… this one looks like a painting!!
Glad you’re finally getting some warmer weather up there. Warmth is definitely subjective though… I still remember the day we flew out of a 55 degree FL where people were bundled up in down jackets and hats, and landed in Syracuse where it was 50 degrees and people were wearing shorts and standing in line at the ice cream stand!
I used to see a lot of hockey when I was in college, but not so much any more. I did see the highlights and am glad Canada won that one! I have this sinking feeling that things are going to get much worse here before they get better….
Hi JoAnn, thanks the photo does like a painting – maybe it could be a puzzle, ha.
It’s a funny story you tell about weather temps. And I often see Canadians wearing shorts when it’s just over 40 degrees, which I think is a bit crazy. Keep the pants on!
I agree things look they will get worse … maybe it’ll become bad enough for Congress to change in two years. We have to hope for something.
Enjoy your week & reading.
Beautiful photo! I’m really enjoying the warmer temperatures that we’re having this week.