Category Archives: Books, Movies, TV & Music

The book is always better

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cabin

Paul Tremblay is one of my favorite contemporary horror authors. Back in 2018 I read The Cabin at the End of the World and it was hands-down one of my favorite books of the year. When I found out that the novel was being made into a movie, I was excited, but admittedly wary. And as it turns out, rightfully so,

knock I almost went to see Knock at the Cabin in the theatre when it was released back in February, but after the initial reviews I decided to wait. Truthfully, M. Night Shyamalan movies always disappoint me and I knew I’d be purchasing the DVD for the library so I kind of didn’t want to spend the money on a movie ticket. 

Well, the DVD came out this week and I watched it tonight with Drew. Ugh… I almost abandoned it about a quarter of the way through. Drew did not read the book so he really had no idea what was happening, what the motivations were, or any of the backstory the book describes. He absolutely hated it. I was very disappointed because I wanted it to live up to how good the book was.

But, as usual, the book was certainly better.

Currently reading…

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52894691234_022070b515_cI have a pile of books that I want to read right now, and I feel like I just don’t have the time! I’m doing my best, though. Here’s what I currently have going on. First, is Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell. I bought this book for the library’s collection when it was originally published, but haven’t gotten around to it until now. And actually, I’m listening to it on Hoopla. IT IS FANTASTIC.

Do you love language? You will enjoy this book. My husband once told me that I’d make a terrible cult member because I hate people telling me what to do. I’m also very skeptical. However, this book is making me realize just how much words play into the equation. And it’s not just cult-cults… it’s also MLMs, fitness crazes, and corporate culture. It really is making me think about what words I choose and when in my own life. The library world definitely has its own lexicon, and its own favorite terms and you know I am now second-guessing some of the key phrases we use. Very interesting.

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The next book, which I hope to read this weekend, is This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. If you’re on book Twitter, you may be familiar with the crazy story from earlier this week. This guy who runs a fan account for 90s anime very excitedly posted about it and somehow the tweet went viral, people (myself included) rant to buy it, and the book skyrocketed on Amazon to #1 in Sci-Fi! Book Riot has the whole story. Twitter is pretty much a flaming garbage dump at this point, but these types of things are why I just can’t quit it. Occasionally something wonderful happens.

This time of year all I want to do is sit in my yard and read, and sadly the next month is so jam-packed with events it’s going to be hard to make the time. But I’ll grab those moments when I can! 

What about you guys? What are you reading right now?

Finishing a favorite series

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Tonight Drew and I watched the last couple episodes of one of our favorite shows — Better Call Saul. We started watching Breaking Bad when it was a relatively new series and we were riveted from that first scene. When they spun off Saul I could not imagine it would be anywhere near as good and you know… I think it was even better. Of course the show couldn’t exist without Breaking Bad but there was something about it that captivated me. It didn’t really end how I expected, and I think I’d have like a few things to have shaken out different, but in the end I think it was exactly what needed to happen. 

Now the question is… what to watch next?

What I’m Reading

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Well, if you went by the information in my sidebar it would seem that I haven’t read anything since last month! I’m happy to say that is not true. I’m reading just not updating it for some reason. I thought today I would share what I’m working my way through now.

First is the book I’m reading for the Global Literature Book Club at work, The Anomaly  by Hervé Le Tellier.

In June 2021, a senseless event upends the lives of hundreds of men and women, all passengers on a flight from Paris to New York. Among them: Blake, a respectable family man, though he works as a contract killer; Slimboy, a Nigerian pop star tired of living a lie; Joanna, a formidable lawyer whose flaws have caught up with her; and Victor Miesel, a critically acclaimed yet commercially unsuccessful writer who suddenly becomes a cult hit. All of them believed they had double lives. None imagined just how true that was.

The selections for Global Lit are hit or miss for me. (I think a lot of it depends on who is recommending the book.) I’m listening to this one one audio and it is really captivating so far. The premise is interesting, the characters have me curious to know more about them, and I can’t wait to see where it goes!

I’m also readding Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. 

In this exhilarating novel by the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry two friends–often in love, but never lovers–come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality.

I have not had a chance to delve into this one yet (my hold was just filled on Libby), but I am so excited that it is finally my turn! Drew finished the audio this weekend and absolutely loved it. This book is a contender for another book club at the library (one that someone else manages), and I have not heard one bad thing about it yet.

Are you reading anything great at the moment?

Fun Saturday

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I hope you all are having a super Saturday! We are here, for sure. I slept in a bit then made Western scrambles for me and Drew and an open-faced sausage, egg & cheese on rye for Laura. It has been lightly snowing all day, which you know I love!

This morning I cranked through my chores, then made a Greek salad for lunch.

After that we caught a matinee of Cocaine Bear, which I have been waiting to see since I first heard about it in like December! 


Then we hit 4 o’clock Mass, came home, and I’m currently making honey BBQ chicken sandwiches for dinner. It was a day filled with all of my favorite things and I’m looking forward to an easy, relaxing evening.

Happy Twin Peaks Day!

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Diane, 11:30 AM, February 24th.

Entering the town of Twin Peaks, five miles south of the Canadian border, twelve miles west of the state line.

I’ve never seen so many trees in my life.

As W. C. Fields would say, I’d rather be here than Philadelphia.

Fifty-four degrees on a slightly overcast day.

Weatherman said rain.

If you could get paid that kind of money for being wrong sixty percent of the time, it’d beat working.

Mileage is seventy-nine thousand three hundred forty-five, gauge is on reserve, riding on fumes here, I’ve got to tank up when I get into town.

Remind me to tell you how much that is.

Lunch was, uh, six dollars and thirty-one cents at the Lamplighter Inn, that’s on Highway Two near Lewis Fork.

That was a tuna fish sandwich on whole wheat, slice of cherry pie, and a cup of coffee.

Damn good food.

Diane, if you ever get up this way that cherry pie is worth a stop.

To my fellow Twin Peaks fans, may your coffee be black as night on a moonless night and may you enjoy some damn fine cherry pie.

Confessions in Collection Development

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Want to know a dirty little work secret? Sometimes I’ll place a hold on a book before I buy it for our library so I get it first. Shhh! Don’t tell anyone!

Lol! In this case, no other patrons from my library had placed a hold, so I don’t feel too guilty. Have you read this one yet? I’m so curious about it!

Favorite 80s Movies

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I have always loved spooky, scary stuff and of our three kids, my 13-year-old daughter is really the only one who naturally gravitates towards it as well. 

Tonight she wanted to watch The Lost Boys, which watched SO many times when I was her age! (Wow I had a big celebrity crush on Corey Haim, LOL!) Funny, even after all these years I still know most of the lines, and the music! What a great soundtrack. It’s a lot of fun to watch and a fun way to spend Friday night.