Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every weekend.

TV/MOVIES

Promotion for Ryan Murphy's Hollywood kicks off

Netflix has started to release a lot more promotional material for Hollywood. The show debuts May 1st and wile we still do not have a trailer, we do have closer looks at some of the characters.

First up we have posters to highlight each of the main characters.

They put them all  in one photo, but each portrait was released separately. I love the classic look of them. it fits the time period.

Next we have short little clips of each character. I am including the two of the ones released so far. The others can be find on the official Twitter account of the show.

Jack will do whatever it takes to be your leading man. pic.twitter.com/sSCRdYBSsF

— HOLLYWOOD (@hollywoodnetflx) April 9, 2020

Raymond sees things differently. pic.twitter.com/hPIAwLAIx8

— HOLLYWOOD (@hollywoodnetflx) April 7, 2020

These are basically perfect. I love how everything fits with the time period from the costumes, to the music, to the 'feel' of both characters. I definitely know how I am spending May 1st.

OTHER

It's The Pictures That Got Small podcast

Karina Longworh (host of the You Must Remember This podcast) and Nate DiMeo (host of The Memory Palace podcast) have a new podcast that they are creating together called It's The Pictures That Got Small.

It is a sort of movie club to help get us through this time of social distancing/quarantine. Each week they are having a friend of theirs pick a movie that the group has not yet seen so they can all discuss it after. Two episodes are available (Cast Away and From Here To Eternity) and they'll be watching The Grapes of Wrath for this upcoming episode (which have been dropping on Wednesdays). I am finding it immensely entertaining and have enjoyed following along so far. The podcast is available on both Spotify and Apple so far.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

The Honey Don't List by Christina Lauren

The Honey Don't List by Christina Lauren
Release Date - March 24, 2020

Publisher Website - Simon and Schuster Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 308 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**arc received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together… 

I eagerly anticipate each new book from Christina Lauren because I know exactly what I am going to get from them. Their books are fun, joyful reads that tend to leave me in a better mood than when I started. Their latest is what I've come to expect while still offering up some surprises.

Christina Lauren's newest, The Honey Don't List, is a bit of a change in that it falls quite low on the romance heat scale. Their books have always had varying degrees of spice, but when compared to some of their other novels this one is on the tamer end of the spectrum. It feels like a perfect introduction to the romance genre for those wanting to 'dip their toe in' but are not really sure what to expect.

I found, sadly, that I did not connect with the characters in this the way I normally do in their books. I did not like Melly or Rusty at all and I struggled to feel the connection between James and Casey. As a result  I couldn't become as invested in the story as I normally do. This felt like it was more story than character driven and I enjoy when there is a balance of both.

The book was, for me, funnier than some of their others. It has a charm to it that will definitely appeal to readers because they use humour to help balance the story being told. I also think that those who love the HGTV shows this is clearly inspired by will find elements they love in both the humour and other aspects.

The story is interspersed with snippets of some interviews that take place in the aftermath of a big incident. This usage is perfectly done because it piqued my interest in a way that kept me reading. I needed to know the circumstances that lead to these interviews. The reveal did not disappoint for me and fully aligns with the tone of the rest of the story (which I did have some concern about early in the story).

While this is would not be my favourite Christina Lauren novel, I did still find it an enjoyable, fun reading experience. It is a quickly consumed  shot of happiness that will satisfy when you are looking for that exact type of read. I am, as always, looking forward to whatever they write next.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Release Date - February 11, 2003

Publisher Website -  Penguin Random House Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages -  464 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Erik Larson's gifts as a storyteller are magnificently displayed in this rich narrative of the master builder, the killer, and the great fair that obsessed them both.

Two men, each handsome and unusually adept at his chosen work, embodied an element of the great dynamic that characterized America's rush toward the twentieth century. The architect was Daniel Hudson Burnham, the fair's brilliant director of works and the builder of many of the country's most important structures, including the Flatiron Building in New York and Union Station in Washington, D.C. The murderer was Henry H. Holmes, a young doctor who, in a malign parody of the White City, built his "World's Fair Hotel" just west of the fairgrounds—a torture palace complete with dissection table, gas chamber, and 3,000-degree crematorium. Burnham overcame tremendous obstacles and tragedies as he organized the talents of Frederick Law Olmsted, Charles McKim, Louis Sullivan, and others to transform swampy Jackson Park into the White City, while Holmes used the attraction of the great fair and his own satanic charms to lure scores of young women to their deaths. What makes the story all the more chilling is that Holmes really lived, walking the grounds of that dream city by the lake.

The Devil in the White City draws the reader into a time of magic and majesty, made all the more appealing by a supporting cast of real-life characters, including Buffalo Bill, Theodore Dreiser, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and others. In this book the smoke, romance, and mystery of the Gilded Age come alive as never before.

You routinely see The Devil in the White City on many lists of the best true crime books. It's presented as one of the best books in the genre. I was eager to dive in to a story exploring H. H. Holmes and his crimes against the backdrop of the Chicago's World Fair. That is not what this book is and those picking it up solely for that reason will find themselves disappointed.

Erik Larson's interests are held by the history that surrounds the events of the building of the fair, and the historical significance of the events of  that time. H. H. Holmes and his crimes are woven in simply because he was part of the larger collective that shaped that time period. It is not, however, his story. It's written for the history buffs who are more interested in the setting and Chicago itself at this particular point in history. I left the book with no further understanding of the details of H. H. Holmes or his crimes, but do feel like I know more about Chicago, its history, and the World's Fair.

The research that went into the novel is evident. Larson uses interviews, letters, and various other materials to include quotes attributed to the various individuals involved. The writing style feels more like reading fiction as a result, and the novel does very much read like a story being created at times. It makes for a enjoyable reading experience, particularly if the subject matter appeals to you.

I was amazed to learn the number of things we are familiar with today that were introduced because of the fair. The Ferris wheel was created and showcased as part of this fair. Shredded wheat made its debut. Walt Disney's father, Elias, worked on the construction of the fair and Walt would be inspired by his visit to the fair which would reflect in his later works. Those are just some of the examples of how this one event impacted the future that we know today. The history is rich and certainly fascinating.

Those only interested in the true crime aspect of the story should look elsewhere to dive into the H. H. Holmes case. I do, however, recommend this for anyone whose interest is piqued by the setting, and the Chicago World's Fair along with the history behind it. This is a book that will be exactly what you are looking for. It may not have been what I anticipated, but I can recognize that it is a well written, highly researched novel that will appeal to any of those whose interests are held by the city of Chicago and its history. It is a fascinating look at the building of an event whose echo is still felt today.

Cover Reveal: The Dare by Elle Kennedy

Today we've got an exciting cover reveal for you. The anticipated fourth novel in Elle Kennedy's Briar U series is being revealed and I personally love it.

The colour scheme is fantastic. I love how bright and fun it is! It also fits with the other covers in this series which is always a bonus.

Now that we've shown off the eye catching cover, it's time tell you a little bit about what the book is about.

Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy!

College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.

The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.

Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.

Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.

But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.

And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.

Who doesn't love the 'fake dating turns into real feelings' trope so  I am immediately interested. There is a lot of excitement over the fact that this is Conor's book so hopefully it'll please fans who have been waiting to read it.

The Dare releases in June, but you can pre-order it now at your favourite ebook retailer.

Amazon // Apple  // Kobo // Nook

You can find out more about Elle Kennedy by visiting her on various social media platforms, and signing up for her newsletter (which even gets you a free short story). You can find out more about the Briar U series by visiting the website dedicated to the series. 

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // Newsletter // Briar U

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every weekend.

TV/MOVIES

First look at Ryan Murphy's Hollywood

One of Netflix's Twitter accounts revealed a bunch of images from the limited series that will be released on May 1st.

I particularly love the above image, but so many of them are great so I urge you to take a look. I am looking forward to a trailer being released so we can see what the tone and feel of the show will be.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Monthly Wrap Up and TBR

Life sure looks a lot different from what it did when I posted last month's reading pile (and March felt like it lasted a year). We are now in the midst of a global pandemic and we're all social distancing and not going out. I am adjusting to working from home.

I am not going to lie, it's been hard for me to not see people. I miss so many of the people I care about. I know that why we are doing it is important and that I have it much better than others, but I am not doing well with it at all. I feel very isolated and lonely a lot of the time.

All of this means that reading is not something that was happening much in March. I did mange to read a bit, and I am in a place where I seem able to focus better so I hope to get more books read in April.

Before I get into what I am hoping to read in April I have to wrap up March.

The books that were on my list are:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (goodreads)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (goodreads)
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas (goodreads)

Plus I had some ebooks on my list:

Interference by Harlow Cole (goodreads)
Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin (goodreads)
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (goodreads)

I managed to read just two books. It's awful, but I was just not in the head space to read at all.

Here is what I managed to read in March:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (goodreads)
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas (goodreads)

My #2020PopCultureResolution book for March was The Devil in the White City. My review will be going up pretty soon but it was a lot different than I was expecting it to be.

Here is what I hope to read in April:

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (goodreads)
Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (goodreads)
The Goal by Elle Kennedy (goodreads)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (goodreads)

I also have some ebooks I am hoping to get to. I am keeping this light this month.

Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow (goodreads)

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (goodreads)

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren (goodreads)

My April #2020PopCultureResolution choices are Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow for the book, and Sabrina for the movie! Excited to get to both of these this month.

What books are you reading this month? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, let me know what you think in the comments.

Waiting On Wednesday .... Rodham

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of American Wife and Eligible, a novel that imagines a deeply compelling what-might-have-been: What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton?

In 1971, Hillary Rodham is a young woman full of promise: Life magazine has covered her Wellesley commencement speech, she’s attending Yale Law School, and she’s on the forefront of student activism and the women’s rights movement. And then she meets Bill Clinton. A handsome, charismatic southerner and fellow law student, Bill is already planning his political career. In each other, the two find a profound intellectual, emotional, and physical connection that neither has previously experienced.

In the real world, Hillary followed Bill back to Arkansas, and he proposed several times; although she said no more than once, as we all know, she eventually accepted and became Hillary Clinton.

But in Curtis Sittenfeld’s powerfully imagined tour-de-force of fiction, Hillary takes a different road. Feeling doubt about the prospective marriage, she endures their devastating breakup and leaves Arkansas. Over the next four decades, she blazes her own trail—one that unfolds in public as well as in private, that involves crossing paths again (and again) with Bill Clinton, that raises questions about the tradeoffs all of us must make in building a life.

Brilliantly weaving a riveting fictional tale into actual historical events, Curtis Sittenfeld delivers an uncannily astute and witty story for our times. In exploring the loneliness, moral ambivalence, and iron determination that characterize the quest for political power, as well as both the exhilaration and painful compromises demanded of female ambition in a world still run mostly by men, Rodham is a singular and unforgettable novel.

This book immediately caught my interest due to the 'what if' element combined with it being based off of real events and involving a real person.

It seems like it'll be thought provoking, and interesting to read at the very least. It also might be a great one for book clubs as I anticipate many conversation starters from this book.

It's set to come out in May (as long as there are no delays) so there is a bit of a wait for it, but I think it'll be a popular one to read this summer.

Expected release date - May 19, 2020