February 2 2018
As much as it might seem that I work on The Vivienne Files for 16 hours a day, I actually do have leisure time! Recently, I’ve received a few emails about what I’ve been doing for entertainment, so I thought I’d share…
If you haven’t seen this movie, you really should! Unless you hate paintings, of course. EVERY FRAME of this film is an oil panting – the use of color, and the transitions between scenes, and the recognizable paintings – everything will amaze you. The number of people in the south of France with Irish accents was amusing, too!
And I agreed to watch this because I was outnumbered in the room – generally, war movies creep me out, and often give me nightmares. But this was well worth making an exception. The cinematography of this is really beautiful, the stories are universal yet uniquely personal, and you’ve never seen a movie with much less dialog than this (unless it’s The Artist!). I would actually watch this again…
I bought this book as a birthday present for my favorite 12-year old, and ended up trying to speed-read the entire thing before I gave it to him! It’s an intelligent but whimsical look at pretty much every working part of the human body, written in a very readable style. For anybody home-schooling or trying to beef up a child’s science knowledge, this would be an excellent addition to their reference library.
I don’t remember where I heard about this book, but I’m very happy and grateful to whomever put it into my brain! It’s brief, it’s straightforward, but it has changed my way of thinking about accumulation and ownership.
Two thoughts taken from this: “If it’s not a HELL YES, then it’s a no…”
and “If you wouldn’t replace it if it disappeared, this it’s not necessary…”
A one-evening read, and worth every second of your time.
CD’s! Every time we go to Paris, I look for new music from a short list of musicians… Since we got back from our trip in October, I’ve listened to this every 2 or 3 days. It’s romantic, relaxing, very pretty, yet not predictable. And I love his voice…
This last CD will either be loved or absolutely detested – Max Richter took the basic structure and themes of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and changed up EVERYTHING. I love it – I like to listen to the original composition, and then this one immediately after. If nothing else, I always marvel at how he changes everything but keeps it all recognizable. Composers just amaze me…
What are you listening to, watching, or reading? Share, please!
love,
Janice
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My budding pianist has been playing a gorgeous piece, Pas l'Indifférence, by Jean-Jacques Goldman, who is the second most popular musician in France after Johnny Hallyday (who recently died). Jazz, pop, movie soundtracks–he did it all.
I loved Dunkirk. Christopher Nolan is such a gifted director. It was such a poignant film because my husband's uncle had been killed in the retreat to Dunkirk. Another fine companion piece film is Darkest Hour in which Gary Oldman plays Winston Churchill. The story takes place in May 1940 where Churchill inherits the mess from Neville Chamberlain. One of the highlights of that film is the evacuation of Dunkirk.
As for anything else, I'm working furiously to finish my seventh novel and get it to my publisher on extended deadline. I love the Vivienne Files and treat it as my reward for getting down words!
I'm enjoying the Max Richter Recomposed Vivaldi via Amazon Prime streaming – what a lovely way to start the day. Thanks for the recommendation!
I haven't seen Dunkirk yet, but it's a must for me, especially as my son-in-law Ivan appears in it for about two seconds! Ivan is a friend of Christopher Nolan and is a keen sailor, so he sailed one of the small boats to Dunkirk for the film. In fact he even appeared (very briefly!) in the trailer! Hugs.
How wonderful! I understand that everyone who works with Christopher really enjoys it.
I just finished watching the Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. There is some strong language in the stand-up routines, but the fashion is delightful (series takes place in 1958).
It was scrumptious and hilarious and fun. The clothes were wonderful. I agree the language was raw and not my cup of tea, but it was able to over look it…
I loved "The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel" and not least for the clothes – just beautiful.
"Loving Vincent" is on my viewing list for this weekend – such a fascinating presentation.
I'm just finishing "Sapiens" a non-fiction book about the evolution of humankind – I've really enjoyed it. It has been a nice break from all the mysteries I've been reading lately.
I've set myself a music task for 2018. I love Classical Music and listen to 96.3 here in Toronto but I don't know much about it. So, I have a list of composers and at the start of each month I read a bit about one and then listen to a selection of their compositions (either on CD or on Youtube". January was "Bach" and February is for "Beethoven".
Brilliant idea! I will follow suit. I have also set myself a goal of reading literary classics through the year, although sporadically.
Dunkirk was a revelation for me. I had shoved it into the "war movie" category, i.e. to be avoided, but I was never so glad to be wrong. Beautiful.
Currently reading my way through all (or as many as I can find) of the Agatha Christie mysteries. Some say there are 78, others say over 100. Someone's got to know the number!
I love LOVE Agatha Christie! I retead those books a LOT.
Some of Agatha Christie's books were published under different titles for out-of-UK readers. That could partially explain the difference.
I adore this post, Janice. I hope you do more. I am listening to Max Richter and really enjoying it. We are watching Doc Martin (it's the 8th season), Louisa's dresses are delightful; Victoria (everything is lovely on that show), and recently finished Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I didn't see Dunkirk, my husband thought it was too gory for me, now I am sorry I didn't. I did see Phantom Thread and it was glorious with clothes and the surroundings yet the ending was quite a surprise. I am going to see The Color of Water today. I am reading Lonesome Dove and loving it. I wish we all lived close to each other and could have tea and a biscuit each month and talk all things wonderful!
I'm reading Soulful Simplicity – another book you reco'd, as well as trash bioterror thrillers ;-) We just finished all five seasons of Hell on Wheels, and while I'm not sure the fashion is worth writing home about, the quasi-truth of the story is amazing! TGIF everyone.
Thank you for all of this, Janice. It's all of interest to me.
And you ARE an influencer! You have been for me for years. :)
Ann in Missouri
Thank you for this post! I enjoyed it and added some to my Amazon wish list. I'm currently watching Signed, Sealed, Delivered on the hmnow.com (monthly subscription to watching Hallmark movies + others on this site). I'm listening to Christmas carols still, in the car. I'm going to read Goodbye things this weekend!! Andrea
Thank you for this! I'm not a movie-watcher, but I LOVE paintings. I'll see the Vincent one for sure.
I read and read anything by Terry Pratchett, but what has me hooked right now is Eckhart Tolle.
The Power Now just bowled me over. I read it and then read it twice more. Still chewing on the concepts. Now reading A New Earth. I know I'm late to this party, both books have been out for years, but I'm certainly getting a lot out of them. Eckhart Tolle reads them on the audio version and that is a gift in itself.
Loving Vincent was so many things..but seeing his paintings come alive brought tears to my eyes! The story is a mystery of sorts as well as a love story to Vincent who had so little love in real life.
I read the blog "Brain Pickings" without fail; it is a brilliant compendium of philosophy, poetry, fiction and essay. Keeps me in touch with what really matters, and always inspires.
I love all of these recommendations, but will especially seek out the film on Vincent, as he is one of my very favorite artists. As for movies/TV, I think often of the British TV series "The House of Elliott" about two sisters who begin their own dress making business in the 1920's. The fashion and drama are top rate. I'm pretty sure you can find it streaming online, or on DVD through your local library. Thanks again for your well rounded bunch of recommendations, I really will track each one down!
Andrea W.