Ten of the Best #71

What a week that was. Aren't we all so glad it's over? On with life, hopefully with some grace, love, beauty, truth. Because we all need little more of that.

This is a cheetah speed ten of the best of what I saw on my social media feeds, because I had way too much fun (and wine) last night (don't look at me like that - Trump, Leonard Cohen, no vote of no confidence in Zuma) and I'm going for a walk soon, so let's do this people.

So where do we begin?

Probably Trump. I liked this article by Steven Boykey Sidley on the election. If you click one of the many memes I saw on the topic, you'll have his perspective on why.

And here's the worst fairy tale of them all. Told by Benedict Cumberbatch.

We need to all get out the old safety pins, and spread more love than hate, tolerance over the bigotry, and stand up for what humanity should be. 

In SA too, our leader doesn't define who we are. Hasn't for years. And we're still trying to make him go. Difficult, that. America may need a few Thulis. You can't have her, you already took Trevor Noah. Here's a Dear Mr President letter by Nape Masipa. Good stuff.

Where do we go for comfort? Here are the television shows and movies we watch, apparently. Some ideas for you?

And what about some music? Don't mind if I do. Not Leonard Cohen (sob). But some amazing grace. And beauty.

A little humour - Don't make fun of renowned author Dan Brown...

This is beautiful. And it's nature. And Julia Roberts and her friends. Feeling better yet?

I loved this recitation of The Journey, by David Whyte.

Anybody else agree with me that Emma Watson is the perfect Belle? Take a look at these pics from the Beauty and the Beast movie to be released next year.

Thats our ten. Have an awesome weekend. See you here next week.

Want some more? Here's last week.

And some older posts.

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Friday Book Share - Small Great Things

It's the Friday Book Share Game to help search for that ideal novel/author, created by Shelley Wilson.

Anyone can have a go – all you need to do is answer the questions based on a book you enjoyed reading and use the hashtag #FridayBookShare

First line of the book.

The miracle happened on West Seventy-fourth Street in the home where Mama worked.

Friday Books - Small Great Things

It's Friday already. Nearly the weekend. And perhaps I'll get some reading done?

Friday also means we get to link up with other bloggers and share our favourite things - books.

BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday56, hosted by Freda's Voice, are where you'll find them, and the rules are easy - share the beginning and p56.

My Book this week is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

I love this opening scene. When you're a child, you can't tell if you got the nightmares because of the gargoyles, or whether the gargoyles were in your nightmares, and then appeared on the house. I remember that kind of terrified.

Let's buy some books

It's time. To buy the books for Book Club. Or maybe not? But - you tell me - when is it a BAD time to  buy some books?

Here are my latest recommendations from what I've read recently. I've included a brief overview here, but if you click the cover, you'll link to my review, which is a little longer. Then come back here to finish the list.

Jack and Grace Angel look perfect from the outside. He's a lawyer, defending women affected by domestic violence. She's given up her career, married him for the happy ever after. Her sister has Down's Syndrome, and they both look out for her.

Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris is enticing. Once you know what is really going on, you will race through this thrilling, horrific journey until its inevitable conclusion.

And then you'll tell your friends to read it too. All of them.

It's that good.

After You by Jojo Moyes

This is the long-awaited sequel to Me Before You (2012), which, if you read it, took your breath away. Maybe even more than that. It's now a movie, which I plan to watch in the not-too-distant future.

Although the title is a bit of a spoiler for the first book, the author waited a good long time to write a sequel. We meet Louisa Clark, a little reminiscent of the original - down and out in London, no life, no direction and not very happy, unsurprisingly.

It's almost impossible to write this review without any spoilers for either book, so let me focus on the characters.

Lou is relatable. She comes over to your house, slouching, probably. You serve her tea (or wine), and she starts to talk, reluctantly. As you listen, you realise that her problems make yours more bearable. As she speaks, she knows the way forward, and as it comes to both of you, the revelation that life is very worth the living, even when it's shitty.

Of course, when you get invited back, you also meet her mother - a late bloomer - finding herself in her fifties, Lou's grumpy "I should be the heroine" sister, their long-suffering and insufferable father, and grandpa, who lightens things up with his version of crazy. The in-laws also entertain, as do the support group - all battling through the wild ride of life in varying states of messed-up.

Me Before You is a hard act to follow. Jojo Moyes did so with aplomb. A little slow at times, this book, served with a cup of tea (or wine) will lift your spirits and restore your hope, if not in the "happy ever after", then in the "it'll get a little better".

4 stars

ISBN:9780670026609

By the same author...

It's a Beautiful Day

Day after day after day after day is beautiful. So amazing that we forget to acknowledge how gorgeous. We don't even go outside and look around. If someone reminds us, we glance out of the window, compare the blueness of the sky to yesterday and say "I suppose".

Yet the beauty all around us is there, every day. It doesn't stop being because we don't look and really see.

That's one of the reasons I love to run outside. If I'm really feeling inspired I'll take my phone and even snap a few pics. There are always so many opportunities.

Here's one from two weeks ago.

The Fairest

It's been a beautiful week.

I had a birthday, and was totally spoilt. Surprised, shocked and then blown away with amazement at the generosity of friends, family and especially my nearest and dearest.

And that makes me feel totally and utterly showered in love and grace - undeserving, yet grateful and humbled.

Those who know me well understand how words can move me. So it was that they let their minds and pens and fingers on keyboards be completely inspired. In my direction. What a treat. I am still feasting on all the wonderful images in my mind  - the smiles, the tears of love and joy that entered my world. They float like a cloud around me, and  I feel like Snow White in the forest, when the enchanted animals come close. I know her delight at a squirrel eating from her hand, and want to inhale that white rose scent so hard that it becomes a part of me forever.

I realise how lucky I am.

It got me thinking about worship. The fragrance of those special times spent with God. Outside in the mountains, at the seashore, and in a sun streamed building, hands raised with some of His people, the air filled with voices, emotion and the closeness, the tenderness, the presence.

I wish I could stream some of that to you now. Instead, I'll share a hymn that captures just a little bit. It's Amy Grant's rendition of Fairest Lord Jesus. I love everything about this hymn - the words, the melody, and especially the lovely harmonies - both vocal and in this guitar arrangement. It's gorgeous.

I hope it brightens your day. And that you find a Snow White moment too.

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Embrace your storm

                     
It is well

Ten of the Best #70

So much to write about and read  this week, I don't know how we slept at night. Oh, you didn’t, much? Me neither. The week that was a history maker, a page turner, the new psychological thriller with the twist you won't see coming hat everyone is talking about... And that's just here in SA. No trumps.

I liked Bruce’s list on Monday, and Monday will also be remembered as the day that Shaun Abrahams dropped all charges against Pravin Gordhan. Wednesday, however, was the day of the week, the tipping point, the turning circle, the proverbial straw. Of course it was. Wednesday was a very good day.

Click Zapiro for some more news.

Friday Books - After You

It's Friday and I have a weekend of parties and social occasions. Damn! When will I read?

Friday also means we get to link up with other bloggers and share our favourite things - books.

BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday56, hosted by Freda's Voice, are where you'll find them, and the rules are easy - share the beginning and p56.

My Book this week is:

Isn't that a pretty cover? I have the one on the left from book club this month.

Not really a "hook you in from the start" beginning, as I don't even recall who the man is, now that I'm halfway through. But this is the sequel to Jojo's "Me before You", which is now a movie, and was very popular, so maybe the beginning doesn't really matter?

The Insect Farm by Stuart Prebble

Jonathan and Roger Maguire are brothers. They lead fairly normal lives, with Roger, the elder, being mentally challenged.

Roger builds an insect farm. He purchases varieties of insects, and observes their behaviour. Jonathan, our narrator, attends an out of town university, together with his girlfriend Harriet. The boys are obsessed, Roger with his insect farm, and Jonathan with beautiful flautist Harriet.

Described as a psychological thriller, the pace of this is somewhat gentle. More eerie than terrifying, and more lurking evil than in-your-face axe murderer. I found that made it all the more disturbing.

The plot unfolds cleverly to a satisfying conclusion, and you will want to reread the prologue, as I did.

A taut, well-written debut, I couldn't put it down.

4 stars

ISBN:9781846883545

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