What I'm Into - January Edition

TV:

The Hour

 

 Atmospheric, intriguing, equal parts great writing and acting. The Hour's second series does not disappoint.

House Husbands (Series 1 on DVD) - finally got to see those last four episodes I missed when it was on telly. I love that this show has such a naturalistic style, while still abounding in quotable lines. A cast that has the great Gary Sweet; hilarious Rhys Muldoon and Julia Morris; plus delicious Firass Dirani with Tim Campbell thrown in wins with me. Magic.

  

Funny story: when I searched for a trailer clip to put on this post, youtube suggested I watch a clip by a Pastor Mark Driscoll on why a 'stay at home dad' is wrong. Pass. I'd like to suggest that he watch House Husbands!

Girls

 

The new series is funnier and more provocative than ever. Love it.

Read & Reading:

Sweet Tooth: A Novel Compulsively readable from the ever brilliant, Ian McEwan.

The Secret Keeper: A Novel I love the languid pace of Kate Morton's fiction, perfect for when you want to slowly drop down the rabbit hole into another place and time. Great twist at the end of this one. 

Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times even better (who knew that was possible) than the BBC series of the same name; Jennifer Worth's memoir is challenging, surprising, enthralling and comforting all at once.

Afterwards: A Novel I deeply enjoyed Rosamund Lupton's first, Sister: A Novel, last year. This one was just as good. Captured me from the first chapter and I simply tore through the pages until I reached the very bittersweet end.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald This one is an advance proof copy. Interesting but so far missing the magic of The Paris Wife: A Novel.

Fractured by Dawn Barker. Also an advance proof copy. A debut novel about post natal depression and the aftermath of a baby's death. I'll probably give up on this one. My best friend's 12 week old baby boy is called Jack, like the child in this book; it's all a little too disturbing and close to home. Personally I could do without exploring these issues too closely. Good effort by a new local author though.

 

Movies:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Near movie perfection in my book.

The Lucky One

What can I say? Sisters movie night. We were in the mood for romance. Watching it reminded me of this fun post from Mamamia.com.au Personally, I'll just take Patrick; who would your fictional husband be?

Music:

No memorable new discoveries this month; I've just been enjoying some old favourites like The Whitlams, The Waifs and Paul Kelly.

Especially this one:

 

Once again I'm linking up with Hopefulleigh this month. Hope you do too. What have you been into in January?

 

 

Comments

[Amber Wackford]

I've been debating about watching Girls since it started last year. I was on the fence. But given your recommendation, I'll give it a go.

Also, that Midwife memoir - I've totally read it. I loved it! I didn't realize the TV series was based on that book. Another one that I'll have to look into.

[Adele Chapman]

You absolutely must watch 'Call the Midwife'. It's utterly wonderful. Fair warning on 'Girls' though; it's kinda . . . dirty. To say the least! Were you a 'Sex and the City' fan?

[Leigh Kramer]

The Hour looks interesting! I wonder if it'll ever air in the US. I'm still on the library wait list for The Secret Keeper. I'm so impatient to read it! I watched Call the Midwife last week and loved it. I definitely want to read the book. I've heard such great things!

Thanks for linking up!

[Adele Chapman]

I think you would love Call the Midwife the memoir. The TV series is quite true to it but there is even more depth and fascinating exploration of social context. The Secret Keeper wasn't earth shattering but I found it truly enjoyable to read. And I was pretty sure The Hour had played in American already. On PBS, that's your equivalent to our ABC, right?