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| Chiddingstone Castle in spring |
What I've done and where I've been in March
As many people have said, March has seemed a very hopeful month. Here in England, schools reopened, and we've gradually been allowed to meet up with friends and family outdoors. Day to day, not a lot has changed for me, but I have met a friend for coffee in the park a couple of times.
I've also been venturing a little further afield, driving out to a local village to take some photos of the spring flowers, and to Chiddingstone Castle and village to catch the blossom in bloom.
What I've been reading in March
I've been whizzing through books in March, mainly spurred on by Number 21 on this list, as my self-imposed deadline looms ever closer. Here's what I've been reading, and what I thought:
- The Zanzibar Wife by Deborah Rodriguez - A curiously named book, as it's the story of three different women from three very different backgrounds. It's very well-researched in terms of Oman and Zanzibar culture, and it's refreshing to see such a story told through female eyes. The characters are very well-developed, making for a gripping read.
- Francesca's Party by Patricia Scanlan - At almost 600 pages, I was anticipating this one to contain a lot of fluff and filler. In reality, not a single word is wasted, as Scanlan tells the story of a middle-aged woman who finds out her husband is having an affair, and proceeds to divorce him. Not an original story by any means, but it's told with an emotional depth which reduced me to tears.
- Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths - If I were to judge books by their covers, I'd never have picked this one up. Its dark colours suggest a blood-soaked, violent crime thriller. In reality, it's more about the detective work than the gore, following the case of two murdered children in 1950s Brighton. An enjoyable read, but the fact that I can't remember much of the plot just a few weeks later tells you all you need to know about how memorable it is.
- Glass Houses by Sandra Howard -The only book I gave up on this month, Glass Houses is the story of a newly-appointed Cabinet Minister in the British Government who's having an affair. The author is the wife of Michael Howard, so presumably it's born from experience of living in the political world, but so many characters are introduced so quickly, keeping track becomes a real exercise in intellect, making reading it a chore rather than a pleasure.
- At My Mother's Knee and Other Low Joints by Paul O'Grady - O'Grady's cutting way with words has always been a source of amusement in our house, and I'm pleased to report that he translates well from screen to page. This autobiographical book is the story of his upbringing in Birkenhead, skilfully told so that each of the characters is really brought to life. Be warned though, this volume only takes him to the cusp of adulthood, ending on something of a cliffhanger... you'll have to make your way through several more tomes to get the full Lily Savage story.
- The Way We Were by Marcia Willett - An enjoyable easy read, about two friends who spend a summer together in early adulthood. The story then picks up a couple of decades later. A couple of the twists are extremely predictable, and the main plot point, about a valuable piece of art, is introduced in the first page, then almost completely ignored until it's crammed into the final few chapters, which is an odd way to structure it.
- Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson - Saba, a singer, and Dom, a military pilot, meet shortly before they're both sent out to Africa on postings during the second world war. As Saba adapts to life performing on military bases, and Dom takes to the skies again after a terrible crash, they cross paths every now and then. Some of the military detail is irrelevant to the average reader, and a few sections drag while others skimp on detail, but it's an enjoyable read.
- Orange Blossom Days by Patricia Scanlan - Like Francesca's Party (above), this is another long but very gripping novel by Scanlan. The first few chapters require concentration, as many of the residents of an apartment complex in Andalucía are introduced very quickly, but once you've got to grips with the characters, their lives are skilfully and compellingly interwoven until the very end.
- Second Life by S. J. Watson - Less gripping than Watson's better-known novel, Before I Go To Sleep, Second Life is the story of a woman who tries to solve the mystery of her sister's sudden death in Paris. From the beginning, the decisions she makes are hard to understand, making for a far-fetched plot, and some of the storylines offer nothing to the conclusion, leaving the reader wondering why they were even mentioned. The action is crammed into the final few pages, with the ending left open to the reader's interpretation. An average read, but there are better thrillers out there.
- Alys, Always by Harriet Lane - With less than 10 pages left of this contemporary thriller, I was bracing myself for either a thrilling twist that would make it all worth while, or a complete disappointment that would render the whole novel a waste of reading time. Frances, the last person to speak to a woman dying in a car accident, becomes friendly with the woman's family after her death. It gradually becomes clear that she's got an ulterior motive, but writing the novel in first person, while not revealing any of her thoughts, plans or motives to the reader is an odd choice. Ultimately, those last 10 pages reveal nothing of interest, and I'm left wondering why I bothered.
What I've been watching in March
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| Ginny & Georgia - not the new Gilmore Girls, but worth watching. |
- Ginny & Georgia - If anyone tells you this Netflix series is the new Gilmore Girls, don't believe them, or at least, don't go in expecting the cosiness of Luke's Diner. Sure, it's about a mother-daughter relationship, but it's also about drugs, sex, violence, vibrators... we're not in Stars Hollow any more. However, if you go in without any preconceptions, it's an absorbing, easy watchable teen drama series with well-rounded and intriguing characters. Fingers crossed for a second series to see how that ending turned out...
- Firefly Lane - This Netflix series follows the friendship of two women, with flashbacks allowing us to see them at three points in their lives - as teenagers, as young women in their first jobs, and now, in their forties. It's structured in such a literary way that it's no surprise to learn it was a book first. The series ending leaves a massive plot point unexplained, presumably to pave the way for a second series. Apparently the book does offer an explanation, so I'll be buying myself a copy as soon as there's room on my shelves. Beyond that, it's a really enjoyable show with compelling, strong characters and cleverly woven storylines.
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| Firefly Lane is a story of female friendship |
- Behind Her Eyes - Back in 2017, when this novel was published, I remember telling everyone who would listen that it contained the best plot twist I'd ever read. Fast forward four years to the release of the Netflix series, and I was in the awkward situation of remembering enough about the book, but not so much that I could remember what happened. As I got stuck into the series, it came back to me, and although I prefer the book, it's definitely worth a watch if you're into slightly supernatural thrillers.
- Unforgotten - With the fourth series released, I thought it was time to catch up on this detective drama. A police team investigates historical murders, unravelling the stories behind bodies dating back decades. It's exactly the sort of drama I love - mysteries, clues, not too much gore, easy to follow. Spot on.
- Superstore - I'm most of the way through series 2 and I cannot decide whether I like this series, or really hate it. It feels a bit like one of those low budget American sitcoms that wound up in the off-peak slots on Channel 4 in the noughties - yet I can't stop watching. It follows the day-to-day lives of the employees of an American superstore, alternating between highly predictable and completely far-fetched storylines. Strong characters make for some good laughs.
- Life On Mars - I missed this one the first time around, but I remember it being a big show, so thought I'd give it a go. The first series was great, but I'm currently on the second series and it feels like it's being stretched out further than necessary. Fantastically witty script though. Moving on to Ashes to Ashes next.
- Book Smart - I know this was a hugely popular film when it came out, so I was excited when it came to Netflix... but I couldn't get through it. Half an hour in, with two highly unlikeable characters, I found myself bored enough to switch over to something else.
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| Book Smart - not for me |
- Penguin Bloom - First of all, there are no penguins in this film. But other than that, it's a very sweet story of a family coming to terms with the mother's new disability, with the help of a feathered friend. Good for the soul.
- Bridget Jones - I went through a classic rom-com phase this month and watched a few old favourites, including the two Bridget Jones films. They have not aged well. She's a terrible person, many of the scenes grate painfully - how was this so popular once upon a time? Nice to see some retro shots of London though.
- Definitely Maybe - Ah, this is how a rom-com should be done. A sort of blueprint for How I Met Your Mother, this film portrays a father telling his daughter the story of how her parents met. Cute, soppy in all the right places, and predictable without being dull, it's a gold standard rom-com, exactly what the genre should look like.
- Stepmom - Sobfest central. I watched this film, about a mother with a terminal illness, struggling to accept her children's new stepmother, several years ago. Could it really have been as emotional as I remembered? Yes, yes it is. Beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional.
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| Yes Day - less cheesy than you might expect |
- Yes Day - One of Netflix's big releases this month, Yes Day is about a family who let the kids run the show for a day. Cue an ice cream challenge for breakfast, an unconventional visit to a car wash, and plenty of rollercoasters. Of course, family relationships change and heal against the backdrop of the day, but it never quite strays into cheesy territory. A joyous, family-friendly film that's easy to watch, and will probably stand the test of time and remain popular for years to come.
- Moxie - Everything that I thought Book Smart (above) was going to be, Moxie is about a high school student who anonymously publishes a zine calling out sexism in her school. She unintentionally creates a whole protest movement. A teen drama with far wider appeal than just teenagers, Moxie feels extremely relevant right now.
- Little - Reverse 13 Going On 30 or Big, and you've basically got the plot of Little. A successful businesswoman and terrible human being, Jordan finds herself back in the body of a teenager, and predictably, is stuck there until she realises the error of her ways and learns to be a better person. There's nothing really to commend this film as worthy of your time. Some fantastic outfits though.
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| Juliet, Naked is a charming watch |
- Juliet, Naked - Probably a little too twee for some tastes, Juliet Naked is set in an English seaside town, between Duncan, a man obsessed with singer Tucker Crowe, and his girlfriend Annie, who finds herself unintentionally befriending Crowe after the couple split. The soundtrack is decent, with a very catchy rendition of Waterloo Sunset, and Aussie Rose Byrne's Estuary English accent is charming. Actually, charming is the best way to describe the whole film - it's not pushing any boundaries, but it's a cute watch.
- Otherhood - I won't lie, for the first 10 minutes I was trying to work out why one of the faces was so familiar - turned out to be Lynette from Desperate Housewives. Three women, feeling abandoned by their adult sons when they forget Mother's Day, take a road trip to the city to pay them a surprise visit. Secrets come out, arguments are had... it's an interesting concept for a film, but crams too much in to allow the audience to feel any emotional connection to any of the storylines.
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| Leigh village in spring |
See also - what I got up to in:
