2012 January » Elisabeth Warrick | What You Wanted to Know

I just finished reading In the Woods by Tana French, and I really liked it! I had read several reviews before diving in, and I’m glad that I did. Although most people said they enjoyed the book, many seemed to feel cheated by the ending. BUT, because I came in expecting that not everything would be resolved by the last page, I was fine with it. I think it really depends on your expectations. For a police procedural, there were a number of interesting characters, and I felt like the whole thing was well written.

When looking for new books to read, I often find myself unwittingly buying into the hype. It’s unintentional, but it seems that if enough people say enough positive things about a book, I become convinced that it HAS to be good. For example, I heard so many good things about Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches, and, unfortunately, I was far from charmed. Not that I shouldn’t have guessed that from the synopsis: Scholar and witch descendant Diana Bishop uncovers an “enchanted alchemical manuscript”, which brings her to the attention of vampire/geneticist Matthew Clairmont as well as a panel of magical beings who want her dead. I’m actually kind of embarrassed to admit that I read such a thing, but I’m telling you, the quotes about it were things like: ” a thoroughly grown-up novel packed with gorgeous historical detail, has a gutsy, brainy heroine to match.”

Have any of you seen Showtime’s Shameless? I watched the first disc of the first season this weekend, and I am already LOVING it.

It stars William H. Macy as Frank, an out-of-work alcoholic who stumbles through life in his low-rent Chicago neighborhood. He’s a real mess, but his six kooky kids work to keep things together with dramatic and/or hilarious results. This may sound like the premise for a Lifetime movie, but there’s an undeniably dark sense of humor to the show that makes it both entertaining and addictive.

The show is actually based on the successful British show of the same name. I know some people have really strong feelings about British shows/movies being remade for American audiences, but I don’t. Each culture experiences things a little differently, and I’d be interested to see how that played out on this type of show.

I’ve been interested in watching the U.S. version since it first came out like a year ago, but as I don’t subscribe to Showtime, there was no way for me to check it out until now. If you’re like me, you should definitely watch the show on DVD. (Seriously, it is great.) If you’ve got Showtime but haven’t seen it, you need to get on board! I think Season 2 started back like a week ago, so you’ve got some serious episodes to catch up on, my friend.

Has anybody else seen this? If so, do you love it as much as me? Discuss.

I’m so excited for the upcoming long weekend! You’d think it wouldn’t be a big deal to me since my flex work schedule means I get a three-day weekend every other week, but whatever, I am! I think it’s because this work week has been the first truly long and hard one since the holidays began, and my body and mind are rejecting it.

This is my excited face re: this weekend.

Some people are taking advantage of the extra day to take a mini-trip, but I’m glad we’re staying home and taking it easy. Here’s what will be going down at Club Fat:

1. Making a new workout playlist. It’s a new year. People are working out more. I know this because I have to fight for a treadmill at the gym at 5 a.m. That is out of control. My playlist will be out of control as well. I’ll let you know when it’s done. Suggestions?

2. Watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Have I told you guys that JP hates watching movies? Well, he does. He has the attention span of a middle schooler. But he has agreed to a “date night” this weekend during which we will watch this movie despite his general dislike of the activity. I have warned him, however, that the date night will be forfeit if he falls asleep, and, as a result, he will not get credit for said date. Is it sad that this is how dates operate in our house?

3. Reading something on the Kindle Santa brought me for Christmas. I say “something” because I don’t know what yet! I want my first Kindle reading experience to be awesome so that I get excited about using it. Does that make sense? No? Awesome.

4. Investing in a mani/pedi. I have jacked up runner’s toes. Maybe I’ll just run (ha) by Ulta and pick up my own polish. Is it more lame or more nerdy that I’m legitimately excited about this?

5. Snoozing. Specifically wearing these pants. Like Britney, I have given up on life—at least for the weekend.

As I’m reading this, I’m realizing that I sound approximately 80 years old. Living the dream! Do YOU have any EXCITING plans?

Happy 2012!

I had a great New Year’s Eve, but unfortunately the minor cold I had going into it morphed into a major cold coming out (that’s what cocktails and staying up all night will do). So I’ve spent the best part of this new year under piles of blankets and quickly running through my second box of tissues. Continue reading »

In the Woods: A Review

A Sleeping Spell: A Discovery of Witches Review

Shameless Love

5 Things I’ll Be Doing This Weekend

You Can Always Go—Downton