Welcome to the second week in February and with the graphic above I’m giving you a not-too-subtle hint about my reading. Apparently, it’s Groundhog Day because I’m exactly where I was in January—still flailing with my reading. I’m reading plenty, but ‘work’ reading—upcoming releases, the books I read to discuss here and help other readers find—is almost non-existent. I could easily explain why this is so, but if you’ve been to the blog before you already know that it feels to me like we’re falling down a long dark rabbit hole. Even trying to ignore what’s happening is not possible and every day it becomes more absurd. Dangerously, childishly, foolishly absurd.
What I’m left with is a limited amount of mental space for thinking. Writing reviews requires reading and thinking about what you’re reading. I have to be able to convey my thoughts with something more than “It’s good, read it” and right now it’s like pulling teeth. I need no-brain-easy-on-the-eyes entertainment and that means I’m watching a lot of escapist television because it requires no thinking, just absorbing. With that in mind, today I’m doing a little rule bending.
Watching
Versailles: Oh, the grandeur and glamour of it all. At the age of 28, Louis XIV, the Sun King, decides to make Versailles his home. This is a very unpopular decision with the French nobles because it has not yet become the palace we know today. Versailles is the most expensive TV series ever produced in France and it shows. The costumes and scenery are mesmerizing. Add to that a story line that blends fact with fiction (as all good historical fiction does) and you’ve got the kind of television known as “binge-worthy”.
The Crown: On the opposite end of the spectrum from Versailles is this series about Queen Elizabeth II—the current queen of England. Again, there are numerous scenes in far off places, but instead of decadence there is restraint. Restraint and doing one’s duty as only the British can do it. This is a marvelous look into Elizabeth’s life before she became queen and during the first year of her reign. I’m really hoping it’s an ongoing series because it is poignant and eye-opening to watch. Namely, a life of luxury, when lived under a microscope, isn’t always that luxurious. Having said that, Princess Margaret’s clothes are fabulous.
p.s. (Sunday afternoon) Now that I’ve whined about upcoming releases and how nothing is really moving me, I have to retract it all because of the book I just started. Thank you, George Saunders for your newest novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. An unusual title for an unusual novel that overflows with creativity, wit and sadness. I can already tell this one will be easy to review! Whew.
YAY!!!! So glad you found something!
I think I’m going to ingest Lincoln via audiobook. Word in the street is the audiobook version is a star-studded cast, and is expected to be amazing. I’m lucky #13 on the holds list at the library, so hopefully it won’t be too far off. Glad you’ve found something that’s working for you. 🙂
Okay, so, I’m going to HAVE to start The Crown; I keep saying that I’m going to, but I get lost in Gilmore Girls when I have extra binge time. For mind-numbing entertainment, I’ve been watching Scandal (although it borders perilously close to reality, these days) and The Bachelor; also, see above note about Gilmore Girls – ha! I pre-ordered the audiobook version of the Saunders because the cast just sounded TOO good to pass up; I’ll be able to start listening tomorrow morning and I can hardly wait! I’m so delighted to hear that you’re enjoying it.
Absolutely loved it and didn’t even know about this amazing audio version! I hope you find it as captivating as I did.
YES- watch The Crown now!
Are you also watching Victoria on PBS? I’m really enjoying it.
I’m glad Lincoln in the Bardo has come to your rescue. While there was much to like about it, I still got a little bored. I wish I’d gone with the audio version!
I am watching Victoria and while I’m enjoying it it’s not as exciting as The Crown or Versailles. Poor Victoria, she’s a bit bland!
I finished the _Skulduggery Pleasant_ young adult series by Derek Landy. Fun, funny and clever. And minimal thinking required.
Oh those shots of Versailles are torturing me. I need to find out how to watch this ASAP. Or I’m just coming over (although they are starting to ask to see social media at the border so…that feels impossible).
I LOVED The Crown. They are working on the second season! Matthew Goode was just announced as Antony Armstrong-Jones! I’m watching Victoria but it feels incredibly staid and dull. There’s no soul to it.
I’m in another reading rut myself. I thought I was coming out of it but I’m so damn restless. I was reading Everyone Brave is Forgiven and just did not care bout it at all so I stopped. Hoping Jo Nesbo does the trick but even this isn’t working for me – why always dead women? Can’t there be dead men for a change? (*ahem* fictional dead men *ahem*)
Please come visit! We are so similar in viewing tastes- I loved The Crown but have only gotten through 3 episodes of Victoria. Very blah.
If you want dead men then read Lincoln in the Bardo- it’s basically nothing but dead men (with the exception of Lincoln).
I can totally relate to needing more brain power for reviewing. Hopefully we will both find some this week!
We really liked The Crown too. Claire Foy is wonderful. I heard that there will be other seasons and that each season will cover a particular decade.
Versailles is AMAZING!! My life totally went on pause until I finished the entire season on Netflix – perfect for a binge-watch. Actually, I should probably watch it all again! haha Glad to hear you’re enjoying Lincoln in the Bardo as well – I can’t wait to read it! Have a great week!
Truth time- I DID watch it again. I am nuts about it.
Hola. We just finished the Crown series and liked it a lot. Poor Margaret, how she can’t marry Peter like twice when she’s tried is insane. Damn them! Lithgow is fun in his role as Churchill. Versailles looks good — will they take the show through the Revolution? I have not seen it yet. I have not been reading a lot these days, but I hope the Bardo will be good.
The Crown really did a great job of showing how difficult it is to be the second child in a royal family. Versailles does a great job with that as well- Philippe is incredibly conflicted. As of right now, it is only filming its second season which his 4 years later in Louis’ reign. if they did go all the way to Marie Antoinette that would be fabulous! Visually at least.