31 January 2021

The whole picture: January 2021



 The title of this blog post is a bit misleading this month. I don't want to write another monotonous instalment about my walks around Tonbridge Castle grounds, and you certainly don't want to read it. I thought about putting The Whole Picture on hiatus for a few months, until something actually happens that's worth writing about, but as I've found before, that's a slippery slope towards giving up blogging altogether. Also, I've enjoyed looking back at previous months and years, and I like the idea of having a record of my life out there online.

So for the time being, The Whole Picture will consist predominantly of my thoughts on what I've read and watched. Rest assured, if anything else remotely exciting happens to me, you'll be the first to know. One thing I will say about January is that, despite what everyone else is saying, I think it's gone remarkably quickly (or, to put it in less positive terms, we're 1/12 of the way through the year and I've done nothing of note).

What I've been reading in January




Nine months into this pandemic, I've finally got my reading mojo back. Those of you who are familiar with my reading habits have probably assumed that I've been tearing through books while I've been furloughed, but the truth is, I've really struggled. A couple of books a month has been my average in recent times, but in January I got through a whole eight books, albeit erring on the side of 'culturally accessible' (AKA 'easy' reads). At that rate, I should get through my waiting-to-be-read shelves just in time for Christmas next year (somewhat overshooting my initial target of May this year).

Without further ado, here's what I've read this month:

  • Secrets of a Happy Marriage by Cathy Kelly - is what I was reading at the end of last month, and I finished it in the first couple of days in January. Once I'd got a grip of who all of the characters were, and how they were related, it turned out to be an enjoyable, if predictable, read.
  • Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - Possible a controversial opinion, but I prefer this debut novel to Ng's better-known and highly-lauded second novel, Little Fires Everywhere. The mystery of how teenager Lydia ended up drowning in a lake is skilfully unravelled through a series of flashbacks, with the emotions of every member of the family brought to the fore.
  • The Good People by Hannah Kent - Although it's beautifully, lyrically written, I gave this book about 50 pages before I had to give up, something I really hate doing. Set in County Kerry in 1825, it centres around a lot of traditional mythology and folklore, which is really not my thing at all. That said, it's received rave reviews, so there's definitely an audience for it out there.
  • Jemima J by Jane Green - I have read this one before, on a sun lounger in Cuba, which is apt as it's definitely what would be described as a 'holiday read'. I picked it up again and couldn't remember the full plot, so gave it a go. If you're after an easy, predictable read it's ideal, though I'm not sure it would make it to publication today, as it has some problematic themes around eating disorders.
  • One Summer In Paris by Sarah Morgan - A well-written, light-hearted read about two women who meet in Paris, each running away from problems in their own lives. While it's a predictable and easy read, it has an emotional depth that many 'chick-lit' novels lack.
  • The Bay At Midnight by Diane Chamberlain - Following my recent discovery of Chamberlain's novels (think Jodi Picoult, without the courtrooms...) I picked up another one this month. The Bay At Midnight is less compelling than others I've read, predominantly because I just didn't care for the characters as much. It's still a worthwhile read, about a woman who discovers the truth about the drowning of her sister several decades previously. Writing that, I realise the synopsis sounds very similar to Everything I Never Told You (above), but the similarity stops there, as each author tells their story in a very unique way.
  • Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung - I'm not sure how this one found its way onto my shelf, as it's not something I'd usually pick up. It's a Young Adult book about a teenage girl starting at a new, private school after winning a scholarship. So far, so Mean Girls (albeit set in Australia). But I was wrong to write it off as a shallow teenage book, as it offers a really interesting and personal look at what it's like to be a Chinese (via Vietnam) student in a very white, middle-class school, navigating cultural differences and living with your feet in two very different worlds. Would recommend to anyone, not just teenagers.
  • Never Greener by Ruth Jones - It's a real skill to take two completely despicable, ethically bankrupt characters and make your readers actually care about them. That's what Jones does with actress Kate and teacher Callum, who reunite more than 15 years after their first affair and carry on where they left off.


What I've been watching in January


Image: BBC


  • Dawson's Creek - I finally finished watching the teen drama I missed the first time around. Yes, it's very nineties, and painfully self-aware, but I enjoyed it as an easy watch. That said, it's not something I think I'd ever watch again, unlike programmes such as Gilmore Girls which have infinite potential for rewatching.
  • Death In Paradise - I'm so pleased the Caribbean-set detective series is back. Each episode is like a mini sun-drenched holiday, and having Florence back is a definite improvement. I've not warmed to the new detective Neville Parker yet, though I'm not sure if that's a deliberate choice or a casting faux-pas. And I really hope to see a bit more diversity when they cast the next one - the white, middle-class British guy trope is getting a bit old now. But seriously, I think all past series are available on iPlayer/Netflix, so if you need something to lift your spirits on these grey winter days, give it a watch.
  • Groundhog Day - Confession time: I'd never actually seen this one before, but having heard so many people reference it in relation to the events of the past year, I gave it a go. It was... fine. Don't feel like my life has been enhanced by watching it, but at least now I'll know what people are talking about when it comes up in conversation.
  • The Dig - I watched this one on Saturday night, then went on Twitter to find that most of the rest of the nation had done the same. It's a beautifully shot, touchingly written dramatisation of the discovery of the Sutton Hoo treasure in Suffolk in the 1930s. Even if history and archaeology aren't your thing, don't be put off as there are some beautiful human stories in there too.
  • The Imitation Game - This one's been on my to-watch list since it was released, and I'm pleased I finally got round to it. Thanks to the publicity around it, there was nothing groundbreaking or unexpected, but anything that gives an insight into the codebreakers of Bletchley Park is fascinating.
  • Bradley and Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad - I really enjoy these reality-type shows featuring funny celebrities going about their lives (Harry Redknapp's Sandbanks Summer was a gem). In this one, Bradley and his son Barney drive a camper van through Europe, stopping off to do all manner of activities on the way. See also The Chasers Road Trip.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with my latest adventures (I should be so lucky).

See also - what I got up to in:

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