What This Week: December 12
December is a time for reflection, traditions, and making memories, so it goes without saying that I’ve been reading less in favor of time with family and friends. But that doesn’t mean books are completely forgotten. Find out what I’m reading and watching in this edition of What This Week: December 12.
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What This Week: Reading
With some upcoming travel in my schedule, I have a feeling that this will be a good reading week. There’s nothing like a plane ride to help get caught up on reading. I’m working my way through my last 2022 ARC of the year, The Secret Society of Salzburg, and am loving it so far. Who knew opera could be so interesting?! This new historical fiction publishes on December 27, so stay tuned for my full review on pub day!
My quest to devour as many holiday books as possible continues. Up next is One Last Gift, the latest tear-jerker from beloved author Emily Stone. I’ve been told to have the tissues ready for this one, which will be a change of pace after my current read. Christmas in Vermont is a feel-good holiday book in the vain of Hallmark Channel meets The Parent Trap. I’m almost done, but I’m not sure exactly how I’ll feel about it in the end. It might be a bit too sappy for my taste, but it’s full of Christmas charm, that’s for sure.
featured books
What This Week: Watching
We watched Amsterdam this weekend, and, I must say, I was very disappointed. I love a quirky film, but this one missed the mark. Even the all-star cast (Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, and Taylor Swift) couldn’t save this one from the terrible script and somewhat silly plot. Bale and Robbie gave strong performances, but the whole thing was rather forgettable. It only made me wish for a new Wes Anderson film.
Speaking of Wes Anderson, I thought I’d share my thoughts on my all-time favorite director. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but his work is perfect for anyone who enjoys quirky charm coupled with darkly comedic portrayals of family, adulthood, and existence in general. I’ve seen almost all of his work and have my own thoughts on what I feel is his best. Many will suggest Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums are his greatest films, but I prefer Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and, my personal favorite, The Darjeeling Limited. Darjeeling is one of his more poorly reviewed films, but it really strikes a chord with me. A deeply moving portrayal of sibling rivalry and the meaning of family, The Darjeeling Limited will always be my personal favorite Anderson film. If you haven’t seen this one, I HIGHLY recommend it.
What This Week: Holiday Gift Giving
I’m working on wrapping up my holiday shopping and thought I’d share a few ideas that have inspired my shopping this year! My guy is an avid baseball & football fan and lover of sports history, so I’ve had my eye on a few baseball books to gift. At the top of the list is The Game Must Go On, Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball’s Lunatic Fringe, and How Football Became Football.
Technology demands a modern update to the standard holiday gift for guys; so I’ve added an RFID-blocking wallet to the list of practical gifts for my guy. It’s HIGH time to replace the alarm clock he’s been using since 1982, so you bet there will be an Echo Dot Smart Speaker with Clock will be in his stocking. Lastly, I’m planning to drop an Anker rechargeable battery bank in his stocking so he can recharge his electronic gadgets on the go.
gifts for him
Before You Go
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