The holidays are over and 2023 is here. This year my husband and I headed to Hawaii for a two week vacation as our Christmas gift. We had some family join us for a few days (so much Uno with a 6 year old!) which was great.
This made my pop culture consumption change up a bit this month. I read 4 books on the beach which was fantastic, and watched a few random things on the flight to and from Hawaii. Here’s what kept me entertained this month…
Reading
I had my mind set on reading two books in Hawaii and neither of them were available at the library or Powells, so I went with a few paperbacks that had been on my list. Hopefully I will get off the wait list for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Lessons in Chemistry soon, but it wasn’t this month!
I love Emily St. John Mandel and have been making my way through her books. Last Night in Montreal is a great story of a girl taken from her home by her father and is on the run for her whole life. Unlike other St. John Mandel books that have multiple characters and stories that jump all over, this was more linear storytelling, and just as compelling.
After reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo I knew I wanted to read more from the author. I picked up Malibu Rising and didn’t realize that the authors books all take place in the same universe. I can’t wait to read Carrie Soto is Back after her appearance in Malibu Rising. I really enjoyed the story of these four siblings and the 80’s setting was great.
I have had Mexican Gothic on my shelf for a while now and thought this might be the perfect trip to read it. I really liked the story but it definitely is a book better read in fall (it’s kind of creepy – but not in a jump/keep you up at night way), to get in the holiday/spooky season mood.
I really liked All Her Little Secrets last year so picked up the authors new book Any Where You Run which was a great story of two sisters in the south in the early 60’s. Again, not really a beach read, but a good story with characters you can invest in.
My friend joined us for the last couple of days on the trip and handed me The Authenticity Project when she finished it. We had to come home (boo!) so it’s been stuck on my end table and hopefully I can finish it up soon. Although Spare became available at the library and that’s jumped the line right now!
Watching
I was prepared to binge a few shows while we were in Hawaii but with all the family and activities not as much evening tv happened. I finally downloaded and started to watch Paper Girls on the flight over. It’s great so far, I need to make sure I go back and finish it (side note, why is Prime SO HARD to navigate?)
My friend has been suggesting Acapulco on Apple+ for a while now, two seasons of this comedy and it’s GREAT! It was a fun vacation show to watch as it takes place at a resort in the 80’s in (duh) Acapulco. It reminds me of Jane the Virgin with it’s story telling style. It is very sweet and funny.
We were flying the night Aubrey Plaza hosted SNL, so I had heard about the Parks & Rec cameo and was so excited to watch it on Sunday! This is probably my favorite episode of the season so far. She was a GREAT host and those George Santos jokes were perfection.
I am sad that Yellowstone is on a break till this summer, but happy that All Creatures Great and Small has returned. I watched Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris on the flight home and it is delightful – if you like All Creatures make sure to catch Mrs Harris.
The season finale of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake was everything I hoped for as far as fast forwarding to Jen Shah’s trial and sentencing. Also, HOW did Heather get that black eye? Real fans want to know…
I’m not listening to much new in the podcast arena lately but when I do I promise to update you. What pop culture has kept you going into the new year?
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