Time for Home

I read this quote on a booksellers website and it just resonated with me

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”  

quote from Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.

Isn’t that what the holidays are about? Being home – whatever home is for you – with loved ones, good friends, good food, and of course good books.

Next week is largely uninterrupted reading time, so in the meantime, I will share some of my favorite images for the holiday season.

I love this painting by Andrew Wyeth

Someone sent me this image in an e-card and it makes me smile.

Seeing the Christmas lights downtown.

Bookshops anytime, but especially during Christmas.

My little reading nook decorated for the holiday.

Some of my collection of Christmas books.

But in the end, being home is my favorite part of the holidays.

Wherever you are this season, wishing you warmth, peace, love and good books to read.

Mary Jeanne Fischer 1934 – 2023

My biggest fan has died – my book barmy mother passed away on July 24 — a day shy of her 89th birthday. Her last days were spent in a lovely hospice, peacefully, without pain and with my Dad and her children at her side – and for that we are grateful.

My mom was my biggest fan in all aspects of my life, whether it was my efforts to learn to ride a bike, struggles with high school algebra, cramming for my MBA finals, career woes, or just dealing with life – my Mom was always there for me.

She was the first to love me completely, to protect me, and to boast about me.

We agreed that we often had a difficult relationship. She and my dad had me when they were only 20. I often joked I was born 9 months and 15 minutes after they were married – pretty much true!.

So, not quite enough years between us to have a fully grown-up, mother-daughter relationship – as she, herself was still coming into her own. But we always had unbroken love and vast appreciation for each other.

My mom was a major influence in my love of books; she took me to get my first library card, and we went to the neighborhood library every week when I was growing up. She bought me Nancy Drew’s out of the grocery money, and let me read, and re-read, her copy of Little Women. We spent happy hours talking and arguing about books, and when together, we would seek out a bookshop or two (preferably used).

She loved this blog, and was my biggest fan, and enlisted followers among her book group and friends.

Not just an avid reader, my mother was an accomplished flutist, weaver, and knitter. She went back to school and got her college degree in her forties and then had a career as an accountant.

Next to my desk is the pile of books chosen and saved for her – I sent her books every month.

We laughed that she was the sole member of the Book Barmy of the Month Club.

There’s also a wrapped vintage collection of Anne of Green Gables found in a used bookshop on one of our travels and saved for her birthday – she would have loved them.

When I was back East, I picked up a book from Mom’s shelves which I had sent her, and she had saved the note I wrote for her in the book. Came home last week and picked up a book she sent me a few months ago and a similar such note from her was tucked inside – sigh.

Oh how I will miss my Book Barmy Mom ~~ this was one of our favorite quotes.

We had matching fridge magnets – and it still makes me smile.

In time, I will talk about her favorite books – she would have liked that.

Daisy Jones and the Six

Once again I found a screen adaptation better than the book. It rarely happens, so I must come clean that this is my second admission. The other was the PBS adaption of Magpie Murders.

When Daisy Jones and the Six first came out, an advanced reading copy was kindly sent to me by the publisher, but I never felt right attempting a review. You see, I barely plodded my way through half of the novel before tossing it aside. It later became a blockbuster bestseller and adapted into a TV series.

Guess we let you down here at Book Barmy. But let me explain

The premise was, and still is, intriguing — the making and wild success of an iconic rock band. In 1977, Daisy Jones & The Six were on top of the world; the band had risen from obscurity to fame, and then, after a sold-out show at Chicago’s Soldier Field, they called it quits. Now years later, the different band members and associates are being interviewed to finally uncover the true story of their experiences, and what went on behind the scenes.

But herein lies the problem, the story line is told through a series of interviews years after the band broke up and I really struggled with this format. I found it hard to keep the different characters straight through the interview format, and the different narratives were confusing. And these same characters never came to life even with their sex, drugs and rock and roll – it all fell flat for me.

I was a bit sad because 70’s rock and roll is the nostalgia of my high school and college years.

And yes, if all that sounds familiar, Daisy Jones and the Six is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac, with Daisy thinly disguised as Stevie Nicks.

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I’d heard about the TV series and one evening I gave it a try – and I was immediately hooked – line and sinker. I was transported back to the 70’s – the clothes, the original music throughout, and the cast was finally interesting and sprung to life. (Fun fact, Daisy is played by Elvis’s grand daughter, Riley Keough).

There’s sex, of course, drugs, yes – but mostly it’s about creating music which doesn’t always resonate with the band, but become hits — all while the band struggles to elevate themselves from the cliché.

The main relationships are portrayed with gritty realism, the male lead struggles with sobriety, his wife wants her family back, and then there’s Daisy who wants fame:

I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse.
I am not a muse.
I am the somebody.
End of f*****g story.

This is not a consistently great series, some episodes are better than others. And many of the characters are unnecessarily portrayed as jerks, which is supposed to make them more authentic to the 70’s LA music scene, but actually makes them hard to care about. Daisy wears flowing dresses and dances in circles, actually making a caricature of Steve Nicks – which is distracting.

Overall, it’s a somewhat stereotypical drama involving a rock band which becomes more compelling as the members alternately work their way through fame, success, love triangles, drugs, alcohol and angst.

It’s like some of us are chasing after our nightmares the way other people chase dreams.

I watched every single episode and adored being back in the 70’s. The Daisy Jones and the Six TV series is very well-produced, the sets are spot-on realistic – and the music — well, it was my music.

What else can I say — I had fun.

Try it, maybe you will too.

On the Road

We’ve been on a road trip. We decided to drive to Arizona to spend a week in Sedona – a favorite place. An area of red rocks, mountain air, and warm sun. If you’ve never been, you may want to put it on your travel list – see why below.

As always, when arriving in town, we gasp at the views.

Took a not-so-short hike … as some clouds drifted in.

Wandered another day to see Coffee Pot Rock – see it?

On a previous visit to Sedona, someone told us about the restaurant at the Sedona Airport – seems an odd choice for dining — we remembered it was great. It did not disappoint – great view and lovely food.

Husband found a local brewery nestled into the red rocks.

One day, we explored Oak Creek Canyon

Visited an Indian market, sanctioned by the Arizona State Parks, with proceeds going towards the Native American artists and education programs in the Sedona area.

We had a great time — good food, hikes, desert air and even some reading time.

Lots to see driving – especially back home along the coast ~ California poppies are in bloom everywhere.

Now, off to to do laundry and wash the red dust off our clothes.

A Caution

Wanted to give you a warning…the Luther film on Netflix is very violent, contains gruesome murders, and a psychopath killer. I can not recommend this film at all. Fair warning.

Husband and I enjoyed the original Luther BBC series, which, while gritty, was well written, acted, and had depth – The Fallen Son has none of that. We saw the film through to its end, but even the conclusion was over the top and so over-the-top it was laughable.

Another storm, more rain…quite happy to stay in with my book.

A Bit of Spring

Last fall I was at Husband’s happy place — aka Home Depot — and as is typical, his eyes glaze over as he slowly wanders through the tool section. Just a wee bit bored, I went over to the garden center and selected a bag of very pretty daffodil bulbs, which we planted a few weeks later.

These different daffodils didn’t come up with the other daffodils a few weeks ago, so I thought I got a bag of duds (serves me right for buying bulbs at Home Depot I thought to myself). But look, just look what popped up? I rushed out to cut them between storms.

Aren’t they beautiful? I’m in love and will definitely find them again this fall. (In our climate, we have to replant bulbs each year).

A bit of spring between storms

Now back to books ~~

I was very happily enjoying these two books (yes I sometimes switch back and forth between reads — especially if they are very different).

Then — I had to drop everything as this came in from my library holds.

Taa Daa – the new Deborah Crombie.

Long time Book Barmy readers will know that like Louise Penny, I eagerly await each new book in the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series. My other Deborah Crombie reads HERE.

It’s been four years since her last installment, so I am trying to savor this one, but am already half way through.

There’s another big storm coming in tonight, even a possible bomb cyclone predicted.

But not to worry, we’ll batten down the hatches and, if our power holds, we’re planning to snuggle in to watch the new Luther movie on Netflix.

Then some bed time reading — it’s all party, party, party, here at Book Barmy headquarters.