Book multi-tasking

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked this book but didn't love it like I did My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry and A Man Called Ove (my favorite of the three). I really enjoy Fredrik Backman's writing, but this one was disjointed, and I didn't eventually fall in love with the Britt Marie character like I did with the "unlikeable" characters in the other books. Still, I was touched and moved several times, and chuckled several other times.



Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I like Anna Kendrik a lot and like her even more after listening to this audiobook, read by Anna herself.  She's quirky and funny and her essays are mostly relatable. I say "mostly" because I obviously can't relate to presenting at the Oscars, but Anna helps you understand how that experience might be for someone brand new to it. She feels like "one of us" and I enjoyed that.


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It's the Grammys

Just a few thoughts on last night's Grammys show.

• Yay for two Bruno Mars performances!  I wish he had done Perm or Finesse instead of Versace for the first song, but I was so glad he was back for the Prince tribute.  He was fantastic!
• So great to see The Time.  Morris and Jerome look great. 
• I was pleasantly surprised by Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood's performance--I probably liked it because it didn't sound much like a country song.
• I loved that they mentioned Sharon Jones' passing and that the Dap Kings performed with Sturgill Simpson.  I'd never heard of him before, but it was a great performance.  Horns and country music--who knew?!  I can't find the video yet, but I'll post it when I do.
• It was great to see A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes referring to "President Agent Orange" cracked me up.
• Beyoncé and whatever the F she did.  No.  I just can't.  (Apparently everyone on Twitter can, but I can't.)
• Needless to say, I was pleased that Adele swept Beyoncé in the big categories and so was a bit disappointed that in Adele's final acceptance speech, all she did was gush over Beyoncé.  Groan.  I told my sister that maybe Adele was just being proactive in keeping Kanye from bum-rushing the stage.

Powerless

No, this isn't going to be a post about how I've been feeling the past three weeks under the new administration (even though that is an apt description....)

Rather, this is a post about a cute new show on NBC called Powerless.  It stars Vanessa Hudgens as eager project manager, Emily, who goes to work for Wayne Enterprises, as in Bruce Wayne Enterprises (as in...Batman).  She and her team invent products to protect consumers from the dangers put forth by all the superheroes and supervillains in Charm City.  During the first episode, it's Emily's first day on the job.  She thinks she'll be working for Bruce Wayne, but learns that she actually works for his cousin, Van Wayne, who gets no respect from Bruce.  It's a pretty clever premise and I've enjoyed the first two episodes.  It's also a pleasure to see Danny Pudi on TV again, Abed from Community.

The Daily show... by Chris Smith

The Daily Show: An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests by Chris Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm a huge fan of Jon Stewart and his years on The Daily Show and thoroughly enjoyed this oral history of the show from behind the scenes. They author talked to everyone...Jon, Colbert, Steve & Nancy Carell, writers, producers, frequent guests, even Glenn Beck. It was interesting to see how it all came together and the respect that everyone had for Jon Stewart.

All through the past election season, I kept saying that I wished he'd waited until the election was over before ending his show. As I was reading the book, I could see how that job could suck you dry and I forgive him for ending when he did. If he had stayed in, I'd be concerned for his health.

In describing the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, the author writes: "Otherwise he and Colbert were an excellent fit for the jittery moment in American politics—a moment very much in need of a few laughs and a dose of civility." Those words are still true today and I really wish those guys were still around to help me get through the current situation.

As an aside, this comment from Jon about the Rally cracked me up: "The night before the rally, I remember working with Hillary Kun. We were trying to figure out how to send a jet to pick up a variety of O'Jays. For some reason I had this stupid idea that the O'Jays lied together in the O'Jay house. They all wore the same outfit every day. They did their moves at the breakfast nook. It was a little more complicated than that." I really miss that humor.

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And that, ladies and gentlemen (really, lady and lady....aka Deb and Kerri) concludes my January challenge.  It was tough but I'm glad I did it.  I do feel back in the habit and though I won't be posting daily, I do hope to be here more often when I have something to say.  Thanks for reading!! 

UPDATE 2/10/17:  Holy moly.  I came to Blogger to write about something else and just realized I never published this.  OOPS!