Pouring It Out: My thoughts on Sweet Magnolias

 

Courtesy of IMDb

I had been looking for a new show to watch, and had heard good things about Sweet Magnolias, so I decided to check it out. From the little I knew of it, I felt like it would be something fans of Virgin River could enjoy, since it's also based off a romance novel series, and it's about a cozy small town. Needless to say, I was hooked right away and binge-watched all three seasons over a few weeks. I also got my friend interested and she binged even faster than I did. We had fun discussing all the episodes! I know season four is in production, but I miss Serenity so much right now! 

Side note: I watched the show in February and it has taken me until now to post a blog about it. I've just been very slow about blogging lately, but it was worth finishing this post up to share my love for Sweet Magnolias.

I was familiar with two of the lead actresses but hadn't seen Brooke Elliot in anything before. I know she's on Drop Dead Diva, but I never watched that series. (Something I need to remedy!) I had seen Joanna Garcia Swisher in a lot of shows, starting with Freaks and Geeks in the early 2000s. Joanna reminds me of my sister on this show, mostly in physical appearance, so it was interesting to see that she's only four days younger than my sister. I was so pleasantly surprised to see that Heather Headley rounded out the group of three. I saw her in Aida back in 1999 and she was incredible. She still has such a beautiful speaking and singing voice and I love listening to her on this show. 

For those of you not familiar with Sweet Magnolias, it centers around a group of three friends: Maddie (Swisher), Dana Sue (Elliot), and Helen (Headley). Maddie and Dana Sue are divorced, single moms. Their kids are close, as well. Helen is a lawyer who is single and doesn't have any kids. The three of them grew up together and have shared all of life's ups and downs. The story opens on a meeting between Maddie, her ex-husband Bill, and their lawyers (Helen is Maddie's lawyer, of course). Bill is played by none other than Chris Klein, from the American Pie series. (He was the wholesome guy who liked Mena Suvari's character.) Then the women meet up with Dana Sue, who proposes they open a spa together in a home that a very reputable older woman sold to them. The story takes off from there, and it's full of friendship, drama, romance, spirituality, etc. Speaking of spirituality, there's a lot of focus on church and prayer, but it's not preachy. I actually appreciate when people are comfortable in their faith and don't use it to judge others. There's a similarity to Schitt's Creek in that no one gets judged for who they love. While there is some cattiness, along with mean-spirited characters, I'm still happy that the gay couple on the show is looking into adoption and no one bats an eyelash. 

Another fun side note: Jamie Lynn Spears plays Noreen, the woman Bill left Maddie for, after he got Noreen pregnant. I saw her perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 2017 and totally forgot about it until just recently. 

A lot of focus on this show is centered on the teenagers. There's Maddie's two sons, Ty and Kyle, and Dana Sue's daughter, Annie. There's just a lot of teen angst, more drama, some romance, etc. Other teens have small storylines, as well. 

Annie, Ty, and Kyle, courtesy of US Weekly

Then there are the people who are friends or colleagues with the three women and have their own storylines and drama. This includes some romantic partners, as well. So the series balances out all the storylines throughout each season. I can tell you that Isaac and Erik are some of my favorite supporting characters. 

I feel like I can relate to all three women in different ways. Maddie has three kids, two boys and a girl, just like I do. While her sons are close in age to mine, her daughter is a lot younger than my daughter. However, it's interesting that her younger two kids share a first initial, just like my younger two. (Theirs are K and my kids' are M.) I also like to try to help people and fix things, which is very much a Maddie thing to do. I am similar to Dana Sue in terms of not liking to delegate or ask for help, even if I need it. I am like Helen in terms of how much I care about other people, especially my closest friends. 

Helen, Dana Sue, and Maddie, courtesy of Cinema Blend

I really love how this show celebrates and treasures friendship. It makes me want to have margarita nights with my friends, where we can just vent and support each other. I mostly do that virtually, other than meeting with some friends for lunch every so often.

If you'd like to know more, watch the trailer for season one. If you've seen all three seasons, stick around after the trailer for my thoughts with spoilers. 

Spoilers below...

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Where to begin? So much has happened in three seasons. There are so many characters and situations going on and I'm sure I probably lost track of something. I think I've said all I really can say on the main three women above. I will point out some little things here and there, but I love Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen and care about what happens to/for each of them. I hated when they got into a fight in season three and am glad they were able to mend that and become close again. It felt wrong for them not to be able to talk with each other. 

Here are some of my thoughts on the various characters and situations (connected to the characters) on the series.

The Men:

Bill: He definitely rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning. Like he cheated on Maddie and got another woman pregnant, and then he wanted to also get the house in the divorce settlement. So yeah, not a great first impression. However, I'm glad he received his karma with Noreen leaving him. I will admit that it's nice to see that he's trying to make things better for Maddie and his kids. And I don't blame him for anything regarding Isaac, considering he didn't know about him until just recently. I just don't think his Southern accent is all that genuine. It sounds kind of forced.

Cal: I was reading The True Love Experiment when I started this show and one of the male archetypes was a "cinnamon roll." That description is Cal in a nutshell! It's impossible to NOT adore him. And it's easy to be jealous of Maddie as a result. I was startled when he revealed his anger issues, especially when he showed a different side of himself after his team lost a game. (I think that was what happened.) It was also upsetting when he punched the guy at the restaurant, even though he was acting out of protection for himself and others. I was glad to see that he was trying to get to a better place for his anger issues and that he patched things up with Maddie. Now he just needs a haircut...

Courtesy of Yahoo

Ronnie: I wasn't sure if I wanted to trust Ronnie at first. Especially since it took for-ev-er to find out what he did to make Dana Sue so angry. I'm glad he was willing to go the distance in his marriage and to prove that he was worthy of Dana Sue again. He is attractive too. 

Erik: He's my favorite of all the men on the show, but I wish he didn't get so hot headed over Helen's situation with Ryan and just gave her the time to make her own decision instead of bowing out completely and not talking to her. I really, really, REALLY want him to get back together with Helen though. Genevieve is pretty and all, but she's not the right fit for him. And you know he still has eyes for Helen no matter what he says to the contrary. I also love that he's just a genuinely good person and also a great baker and chef.

Courtesy of Sweet Magnolias Wiki

Ryan: Don't even get me started. I was soooo tempted to put him in the villains section of this post. I can't believe he had the nerve to worm his way back into Helen's life and then up and leave when things didn't go the way he wanted. I was hoping I could reach into the screen and smack him so hard. UGH!!!!

The Teens:

Ty: All I can say is that I'm glad that the actor who plays Ty is in his twenties so I don't feel like I'm breaking some law by crushing on him. I still feel like a cougar though! In terms of Ty as a character, just hope he can figure things out for his life and also make things right with Annie so that they can finally be together as a couple. 

Kyle: Kyle seems like a nice kid overall and reminds me of my younger son in some ways. I felt bad for him when he got injured in the car accident, even though it was his own doing. It was also frustrating to see him so mad at everyone and not saying why. I'm glad he found his way back to himself and also found someone who likes him. 

Annie: Annie is complex, but I still can relate to her angst in some ways. I felt so bad for her when the message she sent to Ty got sent to everyone else. I don't even know how she could forgive Jackson for doing that, let alone enough to like him. I'm glad that Annie is strong in what she feels is right and wrong and that she's willing to speak up for her own needs. It will be interesting to see where life takes her. 

Cece: It was nice to see how much Cece grew up and changed over a short period of time. I love her connection with Helen and how they live and work together now. I'm also glad she stood up for her needs when she felt like Ty was neglecting their relationship. 

Courtesy of Marie Claire

Jackson: I went from hating him to sort of liking him to just being really annoyed with him. I'm glad Annie broke up with him for not standing up for their relationship and always doing what his evil mom wants, even though she bullies him too. 

Family and Friends:

Paula: At first I wasn't sure if I'd like Paula. Like I felt she was overbearing. However, she grew on me and I thought she was really sweet and a wonderful, supportive mother. She even reminds me of a friend I connected with over the past year. Especially with the way she smiles and her sunny disposition.

Trotter: Is it me or does he look like Santino Fontana in some ways? In any case, Trotter has been wonderful and lovable from the beginning and I hope his journey to fatherhood will be focused on more in the next season. I only wish good things for Trotter!

Isaac: Isaac is one of my favorite supporting characters. I was worried he would just be in the background, so I was thrilled when he got his own storyline and I love his friendship with Noreen. He's just a genuinely good person and I hope to see even more of him in season four. I'd love for him to find someone to love, but I don't know where he stands on relationships and don't want to push that on him if that's not his thing.

Courtesy of TV Line

Noreen: I actually liked Noreen from the beginning. Even though she was a homewrecker, I felt like this was something thrust upon her and I appreciate that she was trying to get on Maddie's good side. I'm glad the women warmed to her. I also love that she stood up to Bill and made a life for herself and her baby.

Peggy: I first thought Peggy was Mary Vaughn's sidekick and I didn't like her much. However, she's changed a lot and I love that she ended up being Isaac's birth mother. I also love that she is trying to have a connection with Isaac, even if it's not the standard mother-son relationship just yet. And I'm excited for her to expose all the dirt on Mayor Lewis and his scandals.

Pastor June: I love that she gives out wisdom without being preachy and judgmental. I also appreciate her friendship with each of the main characters. She's just genuinely likable.

The Villains:

Mary Vaughn Lewis: I. Hate. Her. So. Much!!! She ranks up there with some of the worst TV series villains ever. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Terry Silver from Cobra Kai.) I yelled at the TV every time she opened her sanctimonious little mouth to harass Cal in some way. I really hope she gets the ultimate karma in season four. I don't normally use certain words to describe women, but it is warranted when it comes to the evil being that is Mary Vaughn Lewis.

Courtesy of Sweet Magnolias Wiki

Kathy: Kathy may have been a horrible and vindictive brat of an adult, but I'm glad she was able to see the error of her ways and try to make amends. I think Bill is actually good for her. I still don't trust her 100% but maybe she can find a way to earn that trust eventually. So she's nowhere near as bad as Mary Vaughn, at least.

I also don't like Cal's ex-girlfriend. I think her name is Victoria? I am glad Maddie put her in her place and that we only had to deal with her for part of an episode. She is rather pathetic anyway. 

There you have it. Maybe I'll have more to say after I finish season four.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the characters, plotlines, etc. 

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Best of 2023

Courtesy of The Central Digest

I realize I didn't blog here a lot this year, and when I did, it was about pop culture. I also realize my last post was in September. I've been mostly sharing about stuff on Facebook and Instagram these days. I haven't even posted about my trip to NYC this past summer. It's been that kind of year, I suppose...

New TV shows that I enjoyed in 2023 (in no particular order):

Bad Sisters

Nine Perfect Strangers: It followed the book pretty well overall and I liked the White Lotus feel.

Shrinking: Well done show with all the feels. Harrison Ford deserves an Emmy for his role.

Acapulco

Why Women Kill

XO, Kitty: Fun and cute. I definitely want to see what happens next.

Not Dead Yet: I adore this show and am so glad it got a second season!

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

Somebody Somewhere

The Other Two

The Bear: Took me a while to warm to it but now I want it to continue!

Tiny Beautiful Things: Really well thought out show with incredible acting by Kathryn Hahn.

Jury Duty: Really funny, especially with how James Marsden was acting as himself.

Lessons in Chemistry

The Flatshare

Sullivan's Crossing: If you watched this show, I'd love to discuss!

Series I'm sad to say goodbye to:

Riverdale

A Million Little Things

Manifest (this post is about season one)

Never Have I Ever  (this post is about season one)

Ted Lasso (this post is about the first two seasons)

Workin' Moms (this post is about seasons one - four)

Favorite movies from 2023:

A Man Called Otto

Theater Camp: This movie is so good! If you haven't seen it yet, drop what you're doing and watch it right now!

Are You There G-d? It's Me, Margaret.

Red White and Royal Blue

Happiness for Beginners

Quiz Lady: Really cute and funny story about two sisters trying to save their dog. I highly recommend it.

Runners up:

Barbie: It was good but not something I want to see more than once.

Wish: I enjoyed it, but I still felt like something was missing.

Elemental: For all the great artistry, I found the story lacking.

Side note: I don't see a lot of movies so the ones that are currently popular have not made this list as a result of just not seeing them yet.

Top 10 Books I read this year:

See my top five picks at Chick Lit Central, as well! I read so many amazing books this year (go to my Goodreads page and see all the five-star books) and am sad to have to narrow it down at all. Links are to reviews.

1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

3. If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

4. The Women by Kristin Hannah

5. New Adult by Timothy Janovsky

6. In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune

7. The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves

8. What You Do to Me by Rochelle B. Weinstein

9. The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

10. Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Theater:

I got to see Something Rotten again (twice: once at a professional theater and once at a college)

Into the Woods (Touring from Broadway)

Jagged Little Pill (Tour)

Les Miserables (first time since 2005, they changed a lot in terms of the set)

Beetlejuice (Tour)

Kimberly Akimbo (Broadway)

Shucked (Broadway)

Moulin Rouge (Broadway)

I also got to see Ragtime again for the first time in 25 years. (Regional professional theater)

Spring Awakening (Saw at a small independent theater featuring high school students)

Avenue Q (Saw at the same theater as Spring Awakening, but featuring adults, including a teacher from my younger son's school)

My older son and I saw a musical about Audrey Hepburn, as well. It was interesting but went a bit long. (Small independent theater)

My family and I saw a production of Young Frankenstein. I was lukewarm on it but my younger son has been listening to the music ever since we saw it. (Community theater.)

There is more good theater in store for '24, including Company!

Highlights from 2023:

My daughter's Bat Mitzvah.

The NYC trip with my older son. (See above about the shows we saw.) I also loved going to Museum of Broadway.

Seeing my daughter in her camp shows this past summer. She owned the stage every time she was on.

Meeting Wade Rouse (a.k.a. Viola Shipman), Jean Meltzer, and Sara Goodman Confino. (Authors I adore!)

With Jean Meltzer

With Sara Goodman Confino

With Wade (R) and his husband Gary (L)

Pittsburgh trip with my family, which included getting to see "Will."

Seeing my older son in all his shows. He was especially amazing in his recent high school play, portraying a new role that no one had ever seen before and really making it his own. I also love how his improv troupe completely re-created a favorite experience from my 20s.

Visiting family in Chicago a couple times and seeing my nephew and some close friends. 

The amazing besherte timing that allowed me to meet my best friend's baby shortly after he was born.

My younger son getting his learner's permit (that just happened though, so I have yet to experience his driving skills). He's also been really into astronomy lately and I love seeing how passionate he is about it.

Making some new friends this year: One was through a cousin and one was due to my love of Kimberly Akimbo. 

Getting to see my sister-in-law this summer, even if it was only for a short period of time. I also enjoyed meeting her fiance. 

Taking on some new responsibilities at work, including the newsletter, which I'm enjoying.

Things from social media that made me smile:

Ayo Cheetah. These cooking videos are hilarious! 

Gen X Women are Sick of Your Sh-t. Great place to go for all things nostalgic.

On the down side:

The past few months of 2023 have been horrific. I wrote a post a while back about something very similar to what is happening now, but it captures my current feelings so accurately.

I hope 2024 only brings good things to everyone!

This is something I'm excited for, but dreading at the same time. Never mind that it will be 30 years since I graduated high school... (And no, I am NOT going to my reunion! Good thing I have no need to punish myself.)

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Best of 2022

Courtesy of Metro

I realize I didn't blog here a lot this year, and when I did, it was about pop culture. It's been that kind of year, I suppose...

New (to me) TV shows that I enjoyed in 2022 (in no particular order):

Riverdale: Seasons 1-3, Seasons 4-6

I can't wait for season seven!

Heartstopper: I love the graphic novels and this series brings them to life in the most touching and beautiful ways. The two leads are adorable!

Courtesy of IMDb

How I Met Your Father: I was skeptical at first, but this is a fun series and I'm excited for it to return in late January. There are even some cameos from HIMYM.

Maggie: Such a sweet sitcom and I'm sad that it wasn't picked up for a second season. I hope to see Rebecca Rittenhouse in something else soon. 

The Time Traveler's Wife: This series was so much better than the movie. It gave new life to the book and went even beyond that. Three words: Naked Theo James. :)

The Sex Lives of College Girls: What comes between Never Have I Ever and Sex and the City. This is such a fun series and I'm glad it will be getting a third season. 

Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

Virgin River: If Schitt's Creek was my sanity saver in 2020 and Ted Lasso was my sanity saver in 2021, then Virgin River takes the title for 2022. I love everything about this show and am eagerly awaiting season five. It's such a comfort show, even with the elements of danger.

I Love That for You: Quirky comedy starring Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer. I hope there will be another season. It's really well written!

Reboot: I wasn't sure I was going to like this at first, but then I really got into it and it had more layers than I was even expecting. 

Courtesy of TV Insider

The White Lotus: I still can't stop thinking about this show!

Runners up:

The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem: It's an interesting show but some parts are really gross and unnecessary. It's also hard to like most of the characters.

The Summer I Turned Pretty: This is more for the Gen Z crowd and it's hard to feel sorry for someone who has multiple guys interested in her.

Courtesy of IMDb

Partner Track: I liked it overall, but it was a slow build and Ingrid could be really frustrating. I also didn't understand all the law terminology.

Queer as Folk: I had hopes this would be better than it was, but I felt like I was jumping into the middle of something that had no context and most of the characters got in their own way. 

The Kids in the Hall (reboot): It was nice to see the guys again after all this time, but a lot of the humor was tone-deaf. We did get some good inside jokes out of it though.

Courtesy of IMDb

The vote is still out on Wednesday, as I am still in the middle of it, but I wouldn't say it's a favorite even though it's really well done. It's clever and Jenna Ortega is great in the titular role.

Favorite movies from 2022 (links are to trailers):

Turning Red: One of the few recent Pixar films that had an emotional impact for me.

Better Nate Than Ever: Really cute. Follows the book for the most part, with a few changes. Definitely got me teary-eyed.

Where the Crawdads Sing: First (and only) movie I saw in the theater since the pandemic started. Followed the book really well with great acting throughout.

I Want You Back: Such a cute and fun rom-com! And there's a nod to Little Shop of Horrors.

Matilda: One of the better movie musicals I've seen lately. 

Rosaline: Another cute rom-com set in Shakespearian times. Somewhat made up for not getting to the Ren Faire this year...

Moonshot: I don't think it's available on HBO anymore, so I'm glad I caught it when I did, as it was really good. It helps that Cole Sprouse was one of the leads...

Side note: I don't see a lot of movies so the ones that are currently popular have not made this list as a result of just not seeing them yet.

Books: 

See my top five picks at Chick Lit Central, as well! I read so many amazing books this year (go to my Goodreads page and see all the five-star books) and am sad to have to narrow it down at all. Links are to reviews.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

For the Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino

The Friendship Breakup by Annie Cathryn

Playing With Myself by Randy Rainbow

The Maid by Nita Prose

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr

Theater:

It was so nice to go see live theater again this year. It started out in February with a performance of A.D. 16 at a local professional theater. Since it was written by Cinco Paul (Schmigadoon), my oldest and I were excited to see it. While it was a fun show with good music, my son liked it more than I did. I think I was expecting it to be as funny as Schmigadoon...

In March, I took my oldest to see Rent at the National Theater. We had seen filmed productions of it, but it was so much fun to see it live with him. Most of the cast did a great job, but Roger's voice seemed weak. 

In April, we finally got to see Mean Girls. Here are my thoughts on that performance.

In July, my oldest and I saw The Band's Visit at Kennedy Center. I was excited about it because one of the actors from Shtisel played the lead male character. When we arrived, I was even more excited to find out that Janet Dacal from the Original Broadway Cast of In the Heights was playing the lead female character. The show was decent with some good music, but it was hard to follow what was going on sometimes.

Right before my birthday, we got to see Six. That was amazing!!! Here are my thoughts.

A few days later, my husband and I saw a Second City show at Kennedy Center for my birthday. It was really funny and totally on point with all the commentary about politics and today's society. 

We're supposed to see Beauty and the Beast this week, but it was cancelled twice before when we tried to see it this month, so I am keeping my fingers crossed...

I recently got into the music from Carrie: The Musical, thanks to Riverdale. I'd love to see a performance of this someday!

Famous people I want to meet:

Cole Sprouse. That's all. (Not me being a cougar or anything...)

Courtesy of Puzzle Factory

Highlights from 2022:

* My nephew's arrival in August. He's the cutest little guy and I love seeing pictures of him and doing video chats. I can't wait until the next time I get to hold him again. This is the first nephew on my side of the family and I adore him so much!

* Seeing Rocky Horror with my oldest a couple times. I still remember most of the lines and it was so much fun to shout them at the screen. My oldest thought they were really funny too. Our shared favorite is "I hate celery!" I didn't realize how much I missed the experience of Rocky Horror until I did it again. And it's good to know that most of the lines are universal and don't just apply to one theater in the Chicago suburbs. :) 

* Running blog tours for my job. It's one of my favorite things to do for the company I work with and I get good turnouts each time.

* My oldest getting his license. While I'm going to get a lot more gray hairs from this, I appreciate that I don't have to do as much driving. 

* My younger two kids graduating from elementary and middle school. 

* Seeing my oldest in his school play and musical and seeing my youngest in her camp musicals.

* Celebrating 20 years of being with my husband altogether. (Also 18 years of marriage.)

* Seeing "Will" again on our way to Chicago. 

* Reuniting with some friends while we were in Chicago. 

* Going to Pride Fest. It's been so long since I had last done anything fun to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride.

* Getting to see Liza Wiemer again. She's a fantastic author and if you haven't read The Assignment yet, you definitely should! Along with Liza, I also got to see my friend Kelly again. Liza is the one who introduced us.

* Getting to meet up with some other friends I hadn't seen in person since before the pandemic. 

* Meeting Camille Di Maio in person, as she's an author whose historical fiction novels I really like. She is absolutely lovely in person as she is online!

* Going to Philadelphia over President's weekend. We visited a really interesting museum called Wonderspaces and also got to explore the Franklin Institute. 

* The election having better results than I was expecting. While we avoided a red wave, there were still some disappointments, but we did pretty well as a country, overall. 

On a sad note, this year brought an unexpected loss to our family. In early August, my father-in-law passed away from a sudden heart attack. I am thankful that we saw him over Memorial Day weekend, but I didn't expect that to be the last time we'd ever see him again and forgot to take pictures with him. I'm still processing his passing and I know it has had an impact on my husband. He got to say goodbye to his father in person, even though it was difficult to see him that way. I feel awful for his half-sisters and stepmother, but the upside is that my husband has reconnected with them as a result. 

Anyway, I hope 2023 only brings good things to everyone. 

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The Past is Obdurate: Review of 11/22/63

I had been dragging my feet on reading Stephen King's epic novel, 11/22/63, for quite some time. A couple friends of mine have been constantly nudging me to read it, so I made it a goal for this year and bought a copy in January, knowing I would read it at some point. I finally set aside some time this fall and started it last Monday. I finished it less than a week later! This novel is 850 pages of emotion, adrenaline, and lots of "what ifs". I just couldn't put it down and now that I'm done, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm even angling to watch the TV series soon. 

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life – a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

A tribute to a simpler era and a devastating exercise in escalating suspense, 11/22/63 is Stephen King at his epic best. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I honestly don't know why I waited so long to read this one. I found out that it published in 2011, but it only just hit my radar a few years ago when my friends kept mentioning it. I didn't give much thought about it until then, so I had no idea it had been out for eleven years. If I had read it back when it was published, Jake and I would have been the same age. However, at that time I had a five year-old, a three year-old, and a baby. So big books like this one would have scared me off. Nowadays, my kids are teens and tweens, which allows me plenty of quiet reading time and I just devoured this book whenever I had the chance. Eight hundred and fifty pages just flew by as the story was so well-written, fast-paced, and engaging throughout. So if you're ever questioning why you should invest the time to read this novel, I would encourage you to just go for it! It will be worth your while, I promise. 

This is not King's usual fare if you consider that he mostly writes horror novels. However, it has his genuine storytelling skill that I enjoyed from the few other novels of his that I have read. (Most recent before this was The Institute, reviewed here.) At times, it took on a Wally Lamb feel. There's more to the story than just the time travel element. It delves into human nature and compassion and there's a romantic storyline, as well. The level of detail is so impressive that I could just see the story playing out right in front of me. It was so well-researched too. There were some unsettling parts though, which may be hard for some readers to handle. I squirmed during those parts but then it was worth getting through each one to see what would happen next. I just had to know if Jake would accomplish his mission or if the obdurate past would continue to get in his way. 

I love the feel of a simpler time that was played out in this story, from 1958 to 1963. Sure, not everything was perfect, but I loved all the camaraderie in Jodie, especially at the school. I just can't fathom what it would be like to function without a cell phone, the Internet, GPS, etc. I give Jake kudos for getting by without all the tools of the present.

There were a lot of themes and words that ran through the story multiple times. "Jimla," for example. Or saying obdurate all the time. Also, a lot of focus on things being in harmony. He said "Land of Ago" often, as well. And "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller was constantly playing. 

Some of the stuff going on with Lee reminded me of 90 Day Fiancé. He had a wife from another country and his mother was completely overbearing. Sound familiar? :) 

Overall, I just really loved this novel and can't get enough of it. I wish there would be a sequel written about preventing something that happened about six years ago. I'm sure Stephen King would love to give that storyline a whirl, given what I've seen on his Twitter feed. 

Since there's already a TV series out there, I'm not going to cast this book. I never pictured James Franco as Jake, but would be interested to see how he takes on this role. The other roles seem pretty well cast, especially Sarah Gadon as Sadie. 

I'm going to share some spoilers down below, so back out now if you haven't read this masterpiece yet (and then come back later, after you do). 

Before I get there, I am sharing this picture on Instagram, as I found some newspapers in a box that my parents gave me during my last visit to Chicago. It seemed pretty random, but maybe they knew I had plans to read this book. Either way, it's fascinating that they held onto it for so long and I am curious to read the articles when I have a chance. 

Spoilers:

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Did Al have any clue of what could happen if Jake stopped Lee from killing JFK? It seemed like it led him to such a completely different world when he came back. Almost like a dystopia of sorts. 

How did Deke and Ellen know to look after Sadie to save her from Johnny Clayton if Jake didn't send the letter to warn them? And why would Johnny go after her if she wasn't in a new relationship anyway?

Why was the green card man trying to stop Jake from undoing his damage when he went back in?

Why wouldn't Jake want to save Harry and his family again on the last go-around, especially if he wasn't going to save JFK again? I know Harry could go off to war if he wasn't hurt, but why should his mom and siblings have to be killed again in this new timeline?

How did the mob know where Jake was living in 1963? He always hid his address when he showed his license and I thought it had his information from Jodie on there anyway. 

At the way end, what do the dates from January 2009-December 2010 and the Florida and Maine locations have to do with anything? 

If you have read this novel (which you should have if you've gotten this far), I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Best of 2021

Courtesy of Sammiches and Psych Meds

2021 was almost a repeat of 2020, which explains the abundance of TV shows on this list...

New (to me) TV shows that I enjoyed in 2021 (in no particular order):

1. One Day at a Time

2. Being Erica

3. Workin' Moms

4. Cruel Summer: Such an interesting and well-done teen mystery thriller. I loved the 90s throwbacks and the Cold Case feel.

Courtesy of Deadline

5. Schmigadoon

6. Shtisel: I really hope they'll bring it back for a fourth season. There's still so much they could do with this series and I definitely miss the characters. 

7. Ted Lasso: My latest obsession!!!

8. Ordinary Joe: There's still more to go with this first season, but it's really creative and I love seeing what will happen next. 

Courtesy of TV Insider

9. Maid

10. Only Murders in the Building

11. Hacks: Really funny and well done. A Devil Wears Prada for the comedy circuit. I can see why Jean Smart got the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

12. Little Voice: I'm sad that this only got one season. It's a great show created by Sara Bareilles. I love all the Broadway references, courtesy of Louie. It was nice to see one of the actors in the Dear Evan Hansen movie though.

Courtesy of Deadline

Shows I watched that didn't make it to the list (but I'll still watch anyway):

The Morning Show: It's such a train wreck, but has a fabulous cast. Just too much yelling, fighting, and really long conversations.

Kevin Can F--k Himself: I mainly watch this for Annie Murphy as Kevin is a real life Peter Griffin and I can see why he made her snap!

Courtesy of CNET

Ginny and Georgia

And Just Like That: It leans toward the cringey side, but that could change next year...

Saved by the Bell reboot: It's funny in regards to nostalgia from the original series (and some great meta stuff) but some aspects tend to be annoying.

Courtesy of Vox

Top 5 favorite movies from 2021:

1. In the Heights

2. Free Guy: So funny, creative, interesting, suspenseful, and entertaining. Highly recommended!

Courtesy of TechRadar

3. Tick Tick Boom

4. Cruella: Really well done. More Disney villain movies need to be done this way. Ursula needs to be next!

5. The Hating Game: Just watched this recently. Great adaptation of Sally Thorne's romcom novel. I actually like it better than the book!

Courtesy of Decider

Books:

See my top five picks at Chick Lit Central, as well! I read so many amazing books this year (go to my Goodreads page and see all the five-star books) and am sad to have to narrow it down at all. Links are to reviews (or Bookstagram posts)

1. The People We Keep by Allison Larkin (leaned more toward YA and New Adult, but was definitely one of the best books I read this year)

2. The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom

3. With Love from London by Sarah Jio (This was going to go on my list at CLC, but it publishes in 2022)

4. 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

5. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

6. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

7. The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

8. Half Life by Jillian Cantor

9. The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz

10. The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

Musical treat this year:

Being able to watch Come From Away on Apple +. It was a really good musical and I can't listen to the songs without getting teary-eyed. 

Famous people I want to meet:

*Brett Goldstein. He plays Roy Kent on Ted Lasso and he's everything! Of course, I would be happy to meet anyone from this wonderful show.

Courtesy of TV Insider

The rest is mostly the same from last year, but bears repeating:

*Dan Levy because, like, obviously! ;) (I also wouldn't mind meeting the cast of Schitt's Creek though!)

*Michael Judson Berry: He's so funny with his Schitt's Creek impressions and videos and he seems like he's so down-to-earth and friendly too. 

*Randy Rainbow: When have I NOT wanted to meet Randy Rainbow?!? He's saved my sanity since 2016. 

Highlights from 2021:

*My family getting the Covid vaccine. We are all now fully vaccinated and my husband and I are boosted. Our oldest will be boosted soon.

*My sister got married and we got to attend her wedding in Chicago and finally meet my new brother-in-law in person. They are perfectly matched and I'm really happy for them both!

*Getting to see my best friend and her husband when we were in Chicago. (My family and I didn't have time to make plans with a lot of people, but we couldn't be in the same city and NOT meet up!)

*Getting to see "Will" again after five long years. He officiated my sister's wedding too.

*My younger son's Bar Mitzvah

*I got a new job!!! And it's in a field that actually interests me and is something I want to grow into even more: Book publicity!

* Having Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws. It was so nice to be back together in person again. I hope we can make things work for Passover, as long as omicron gets under control!

*My kids going back to school in person. It's been good for them, even if it means I get up at 5:45 am!

*Some mini-vacations: Staying at a cabin in the woods, going to Virginia Beach (and spending an entire day at the beach itself), staying at a cozy house for a little winter retreat. 

*I made a couple of new friends, which is a challenge in this day and age. Both live nearby and I've already connected with one in person a couple of times. I have lots in common with both of them, as well. 

*Getting to see my friend who moved to Florida a few years ago. She was in town for a week and we hung out a couple of times.

*The Chinese food car picnic my husband and I had for our anniversary. 

That's a wrap for 2021! Here's hoping there will be an end to this pandemic in 2022. 

Got this from a friend's Facebook post

Also got this from a friend's Facebook post

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