Hi Jane, Yes it’s always good to be back home. The older I get it seems the less I travel. Hmm.
Yeah we watched The Return via streaming. I liked it. I think you’d like The Return and A Complete Unknown a lot. Not sure about Marie.
I thought The Stalin Affair was good but The Daughters of Yalta was a bit better. So interesting. Plenty of time till spring but I’m about ready, ha. Have a great week.

Hi Heather, thanks. The dogs were happy all together. And I think you will like A Complete Unknown! So good. I sort of wonder if you are doing the Park City / Sundance film festival online again? I might have to check that out. We still have plenty to see. Happy viewing. Have a great week.

I keep on wanting to watch more movies, but somehow I never take the time.

How did you see The Return? I was all geared up to go a movie theatre to see it, but I don’t know that it was ever in one near us. I found it streaming, but the impetus to watch it evaporated.

I do want to see the Bob Dylan biopic. I’m still on the fence about Marie–I love opera and hers is a compelling story, but I’m afraid it will just bum me out more than my soul in January can take.

The Stalin Affair is so appealing, but I have a copy of Daughters of Yalta that I have yet to read, so I need to tackle that one first. So many books…so little time, and spring is coming when my thoughts turn to the garden. Oh well. Thanks for another terrific post!

Thanks for sharing those reviews. I hadn’t heard of Forbidden Notebook. I loved a Brilliant Friend and if this inspired her, I definitely need to check it out.
That book on Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill looks fantastic as well.

Hi Catherine, great to have you visit here. I’ve been thinking of you — since we are sad compatriots in arms since the regime change. It’s been more than painful but I’m avoiding the coverage. Not sure being in Canada offers too much reprieve since most of our hubbub comes from down south but it is good not to be under that regime.
I think you might like Forbidden Notebook … a family study during repressive times! The woman is worth strangling at times, lol, but is a bit sympathetic too.
Keep to your reading!

I am always up for a character you want to strangle at times! I’ve not heard of this book, but you’ve made me curious.

Hi Stargazer, thanks the dogs had fun and we are sort of back in the groove of being home again. You might be too busy for movies there, but they are good escapes along with books, and audios, lol. Hope all is well and glad you are blogging again. Cheers.

Thanks Lesley, it was fun to have the dogs together. The guys took Willow and Sadie for a cross country ski and the girls went snowshoeing but Stella stayed in the car (a bit too old for uphills). It was nice though, and scenic there.
Sounds cool your drive to Astoria and the book event per your Insta post looked really good. Robert started a new work project so has been busy, but I know he liked Rod’s book. I hope he will write a good review on Amazon soon.
The Dylan film is really good, and Keegan film adaptation is pretty good but sort of quick. See what you think. Have a great week.

Hi Ti, good point about the awards. Maybe it’ll help more than it will hurt the situation. And celebrating movies & the arts post-inauguration might too. After it felt so bleak this week. Maybe you might like to stream some of these.
Luckily the single digits are over for now — as the wind blew in a mild front. I hear the winds have picked up there again — so I hope it’s not a lot worse. I can’t turn on the news this week — due to the regime change. But have a good week.

Hi Anne, Forbidden Notebook reminded me of Ferrante. I’m glad to have learned a bit about the author — she seemed an activist in her day and lived till 1997. It’s a bit of a suffocating story but well done. See what you think.
Luckily the weather has changed this week from the wind and feels mild now. Crazy. Hope you have a great week.