Finally Friday - Heart the Lover by Lily King

 Heart the Lover by Lily King is a new connective thread book (from Writers and Lovers).  We see Casey in her senior year of college meet and fall for Sam and Yash - stars of 17th century  lit class.  

cover  blurb - She discovers the pleasures of friendship, intellectual ambition, the intoxicating world of academic fervor, and rapid fire banter and fun. But youthful passion is unpredictable, and soon she  finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. Choices will be made that alter these three lives forever. 

Decades later, Casey's a successful  novelist. She's  married with children. But there's a surprise visit. Unexpected news.  Now she needs to make amends, consider decisions made, and complete a circle from  youthful bonds.

I read this fresh after the first related book. Lily King really knows how to write about relationships and actions and consequences. A very fresh twist took me by  surprise and I found myself tearing up. (I swear Ray always walks into  a room just as I'm sniffling  over a novel).  

I will say I heart both books, the characters, the plot  lines, and the finale.  Well done. (have a tissue ready)

Whatever Wednesday - Writers and Lovers by Lily King

 cover blurb - Blindsided by her mother's death, and wrecked by a recent love affair, Casey Peabody arrives in Cambridge MA, summer of 1997, without a plan. A child golf prodigy, she now waits tables and rents a tiny side garage room where she works on the novel she's been writing for six years.

In Writers and Lovers by Lily King, we follow Casey's fight to fulfill ambitions, balance demands of art and life, juggle two new very different  men, and avoid crisis after crisis. 

Casey is a likeable character, as are the two men in her life. But I wanted to  shake her too. King does a good job of exploring artistic passion, ambition, and the terrifying and  exhilarating leap between the end of one phase of  life and the beginning of  another. (cover blurb) 

Monday Moments - Santa Stranger Danger

 I got permission from my niece  to post this. 

My grandnephew, Myles, now 8 months old, recognizes stranger danger.  

This Santa dude - not having it!

Oh, this is one for the memory vault.  On his wedding day, we'll pull out this pic. 

Merry Christmas December everyone!

Cheers

Finally Friday - Five Generations

Friday filler - Family pics from  Thanksgiving.  Here's five generations:

LD and Joyce (front), begat Ray (right), who begat Chris (left), who begat Abby with Levi (age 2)

Whew!

Here's all the girls - Kevin's  crew with Abby

and Here's everyone.  We gathered at the party room at the senior living  center. Had  Tex-Mex - easier to keep warm in crock pots.  Plenty of food and laughter.

Now we're planning for Christmas. 
 

Whatever Wednesday - The Outsiders

Treated myself to a Sunday matinee at the Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas.  Nosebleed seat  - could see and hear great.  S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders in 1967.  This was a teenager (age 18) writing about teens in Tulsa, OK.   It struck a nerve.  

  It did become a movie in 1983 with a cast of young up and comers - C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, and Diane Lane.  Wow - quite the lineup of future success stories. 

 Now The Outsiders - a musical won the 2024 Tony Award and is touring the country. It is a stunning production and I highly recommend it.  Basically it is a bit of a West Side story tale - only in Oklahoma. The Greasers vs. The Socs.  Nolan White as Ponyboy Curtis had a gorgeous plaintive voice. He's a kid who likes to read, enjoys a sunset, and feels sad for his brothers, his friends - all poor, all struggling. It's a tough world, especially being bullied by the rich kids.  This is a musical about justice, understanding, communication, hope, and respect - all from a teen perspective. 

Great songs, voices, and the choreography was innovative and fabulous. Quite the production. 

Support the Arts!

Monday Moments - Defy Gravity Again

Opening Friday, Julie and I followed the yellow brick road to the movie theater and enjoyed Wicked: For Good.   This is the Part 2 after original Wizard of Oz, Wicked on Broadway, Wicked (Part 1).  Very fun, very magical, and perfect on the big screen.  We both rewatched the first Wicked movie on Amazon. I was glad because I had forgotten some bits that proved useful to know.  I'm not going to give plots or give away twists. I've read some reviews that were very so-so.  Oh well, I disagree.  

I do think the first Wicked was a tad better - it just had that truly original feel to it and better songs.

But this sequel got darker and I liked how it tied up loose ends on many issues.  There weren't  as many characters to track

I absolutely love Cynthia Erivo.  She can act with her eyes.  And when she sings, my heart soars. As far as I'm concerned, she is tremendous as Elphaba.  Wicked good acting. 

 Ariana Grande is such a little wisp of thing, but she can belt out the high notes. As Glinda the "good witch", she does conflicted well. She and Cynthia have excellent screen chemistry. 

I like musicals.  I like big productions.  I like fun cinematography.  This was glorious on  the big screen and I give Wicked: For Good a thumbs up.  Enjoy it with a friend and then go to lunch afterwards to discuss. 

Finally Friday - Some Gratitude and Joy

 As we contemplate the Thanksgiving season and the rush into Christmas, take a moment. Care!

I helped at the November Birthday Party Project at a local women's shelter. The month's theme was Care Bears and yes, there was a mascot.  (see me above).   When the Care Bear arrived, one of the birthday kids screamed and would have no part of this scary creature. The other two birthday kids were excited, and all of the other children ran up for hugs, pictures, and a magical moment. 

We had Care Bear themed stuff to hand out, games and crafts to play and do, plus singing "Happy Birthday" for November.  Then cupcakes.  It was a noisy messy party - we always call it "controlled chaos".  Kids left happy - a goodie bag in hand and hopefully a happy memory during their lives in transition. 

Take a moment.  CARE