Saturday, 21 December 2024

Holiday Reading


This was a book club pick and I really enjoyed it. It's about relationships with mental conditions and the impacts around that. I was engaged and the narrative voice worked very well, I thought. I listened to it and it really felt like someone you knew was talking by the end of it. It was surprising and enjoyable, more for being something quite unusual in the topic and story.

I had to read this after seeing the show, because I wanted to see how the mirroring worked in the book, and the way the story threads appeared before we understood what we were following. I thought the writing (and presentation) of this tale is very interesting in the craftmanship.
I enjoyed the book, and the use of different fonts made it clearer than the tv show (where I spent a lot of the early episodes saying "That's a different narrator - who's that narrating for him?" or "What's that clicking - is it a film?"
Anyway, book is good, and tv show is really great. Wins all round.










When I saw this on a bin I was reminded of how much I loved Peanuts as a kid, so decided I would re read some. I can borrow them from the library on Hoopla so read them on my phone when I get a chance. This one is in colour and the other is in B&W.

They are still funny but there are some that seem so harsh or sad.
It's kind of strange - yet true, I guess.
I did enjoy them though, 50 years on!




This is a short story on Audible. Very funny - worth the $3 investment, I thought. Nails a lot of the weird human herd behaviour. I laughed out loud a few times in recognition.











Hope Santa brings everyone a few good books for Christmas.
Enjoy the time to relax and read.





17 comments:

  1. I hope you get some books from your wishlist from Santa! Merry Christmas!

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  2. If a film or tv show is created based on an already published book, always read the book first (re Disclaimer). Otherwise the book might be ruined by artists and writers who were on their own paths.

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  3. We love Charlie Brown! Merry Christmas!

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  4. It sounds like you had a good reading week. I've liked all the books I've read by Fredrik Backman. Merry Christmas!

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  5. Peanuts is so fun! My girls never got into it. Recently, watched the Halloween and Christmas episodes. Enjoy your reading and your holidays.

    https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2024/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-dec-23.html

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  6. I wish some of these Audible Only were available to read in print.

    Wishing you a Merry Christmas 🎄

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  7. My aunt, six years older than me, loved Charlie Brown, and so I also loved it. But you are right---it's a little sad.

    Merry Christmas!

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  8. I love it when an audiobook works that way for me. Merry Christmas!

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  9. Happy holidays! Intriguing variety of books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  10. Happy Holidays & thanks for the recommendations! I think I am going to download the audible one to listen to while I clean carpets. Thanks for sharing!!!!

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  11. Will see if I can get the new Backman story on Audible before we fly out on the 30th! Thanks.

    Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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  12. It's been a while since I've read Charlie Brown comics really, but yeah, some always kind of struck me as a little sad. Hope you have a happy new year!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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  13. I don't read many short stories, but you may have convinced me to listen to The Answer Is No. The fact that you laughed out loud definitely piques my curiosity!

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  14. Hi, Lydia - I absolutely loved Charlie Brown books and cartoons when I was younger. As a child, I had a oversized nightgown that had the Peanut characters on it and read 'Happiness is Being Part of the Gang.' Good thing that the shirt was originally oversized as I literally wore it for years...and I still very much agree with that sentiment! <3

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  15. There's a lot that as an adult you could see as sad in Charlie Brown. I guess that's the point about perspective, eh.

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  16. I've seen The Answer is No on several lists. I've read one of Backmans books, so I may need to put this one on my TBR.

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