Thursday, July 5, 2012

Your Summer Entertainment...............while waiting out temps over 100


My son says people in the United States never believe him when he tell them how hot the weather can be in Canada. And today, neither could I. We topped in at 117 with the humidex factor.... so baby, it is hot outside, sizzling hot, too hot to walk the dog (even at 9:30 pm at 99 degrees still!), too hot to blog on the screened veranda, too hot to wear makeup, too hot to swim even, pools are like bathwater right now .........well you know, everyone just about everywhere is hot, hot. Weather girl I am not, but I think we might be dealing with this heat and humidity all summer long. You are going to need some entertainment while waiting out the heat in air-conditioned comfort.

People also say they think Facebook is just a waste of time, but without my FB friends who recommend great books, movies, and TV shows I would have had nothing to do but lay and bed and wait out this heat spell which has lasted weeks. I am at that delicate stage where my heat-tolerance is very low if you know what I mean and actually it's not the heat, it's the blasted humidity that causes me to have meltdowns. As it turned out today I was perfectly content in my cool house with our new energy-efficient air conditioner reading and watching some of the best entertainment I have enjoyed in some time. I had seen and bypassed Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter when it was released a few weeks ago. But when my Paris friend and author Carla Coulson raved about it on her Facebook and Blog page, I thought I would give it a go. Come on............this is one of the best reads this summer! As I told someone today "it's one of those stories that you start reading on a transatlantic flight and are sorry the 8 hr. flight is over because you aren't finished the book yet". Take me on to Melbourne then, I am only halfway through my book! You can read better reviews than I can write here and here, but take my word (and Carla's) that Beautiful Ruins is definitely this summer's hot book to read.

You can purchase Beautiful Ruins here
Author Jess Walker's website here



It was another Facebook friend (cannot remember who) that recommended Any Human Art, the Masterpiece Classic that ran in the UK last year and on PBS. The four-part series is perfect for hot and muggy summer nights and I was in from the get-go on this story. Based on the bestselling novel Any Human Heart, The Intimate Journals of Logan Mountstuart by Scottish author William Boyd, it follows an aspiring novelist as he makes his way through the defining events of the 20th century, loving and learning as he goes. From 1920's in Paris to the 1950's in New York, the 1980's in London and finally the south of France, you will see some fabulous acting by Jim Broadbent as the older Mountstuart and Kim Cattrall at her saucy and live-loving best. Be prepared for some tears......the ending, but they could have also been because the viewing was over.

itunes download here
Purchase DVD here




photos from google


23 comments:

  1. Thank you for the recommendations. We're quite cool in California, but one can always use some summer entertainment.

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  2. I'm so glad we aren't having that heat wave...hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!
    Thanks for the book recommendations, I need some new reading material

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  3. It is so funny, this blogging trail. I followed your comment on Carla's blog as I also am intrigued about the book Beautiful Ruins - and then I saw your post on Any Human Heart. I recently read it and fell in love with the book as well as its author. This weekend I finished another Wm. Boyd book, Blue Afternoon. What a storyteller. Glad to have encountered you. Best, Lisa

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  4. Sande,

    I'm in the middle of three books--that's how I roll--so I most likely will not have the opportunity to read your suggested book this summer, BUT I will be looking into Any Human Heart. My husband and I really enjoyed watching Downton Abbey via PBS and were saddened when we caught up and there were no more episodes to watch.
    It will be nice to have a new "story" to watch.

    As for your heatwave--It sounds like your living through a scorcher! Even our dry and very HOT summer last year wasn't that hot! Thank God for the person who invented air-conditioning!

    Mandy

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  5. I just fell in love with the cover of Beautiful Ruins when I saw it at Carla's! Thanks for the recommendations my sweet...thinking of you in all that heat :( love D

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  6. Sande, I'm such a sucker for a good book, especially when a friend or fellow blogger recommends it! I just ordered it from Amazon (love the one-click shopping) Thanks for passing this on. Stay cool!!

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  7. Thank you Sande... I must get these... I had forgotten too! xv

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  8. Thanks for sharing this books I love the cover of the first one..I want to be there now!
    xo
    Sharon

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  9. Sande,
    I hear ya Girlie on the heat and not wanting to do much. I've been knitting for my grandbaby that's coming. A good read is something to have on hand too, will have to pick up copies of these!
    xx

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  10. Awh Sandikins...are you really going there...you know I'm totally envious. You will be catching up with the girls no doubt :( I so wish about the Dior, haha. lots of love D

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  11. Love Masterpiece. Hope you get some relief from the heat.

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  12. Alright Sande. I just finished reading the gorgeous historical novel, In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson, and I'm in the mood for something like this. Plus I absolutely love the faded, sun-drenched colors of the book jacket. Thanks for the idea.
    Leslie (aka Gwen Moss blog)

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  13. Thanks for the kind words Sande sweets! Hope you enjoyed the read and are not melting away over there :)
    Have a lovely weekend xx Carla

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  14. Thank you for the recommendation...just ordered it...great cast, looking forward to it ;-)
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Catherine xx
    www.cashmerelover.com

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  15. Just stumbled upon your gorgeous blog. I love reading and can't wait to get started on your recommendation!
    New follower,
    Patti

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  16. Always love a good book! Thank you for the recommendation!

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  17. I am definitely OVER this heat and humidity! Had to give up riding for a while. (
    Hope all is well my friend!
    xx

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  18. Me again... to say I have just watched Any Human Heart and loved it... xv

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  19. I cannot believe how hot you've had it this Summer - maybe a trip to Florida would help you cool off?
    It's been cooler down here if you can believe it. Hope things get better soon! xo

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  20. I have been reading a review of Beautiful Ruins - definitely on my must-read list.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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  21. I love love love to read! This one sounds so interesting. Will definitely be adding it to my pile of books to read next!

    Love, Jamie Herzlinger

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  22. any human heart was spectacular.
    i loved it.
    great suggestion!!

    ;)

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  23. Excellent suggestions whenever I visit your blog.

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Your comments are such a lovely addition to my day. Thank you.

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