Hello, lovelies! I’m B-A-C-K (muhahaha)! I took some time off writing because life had me jump into the deep end of a MASSIVE orchestra project (rude). Also: admission season at my university is no joke (especially with a small team), so the day job took its toll these last few months (even ruder). BUT I’m getting ready to board a plane to Stockholm for one glorious month of NO WORK STUFF (hopefully) and I’m looking forward to getting back to my writerly shenanigans. I will keep you posted 😉
In the meantime, let’s look at some favorites! Even though I didn’t have much opportunity to dig into my TBR pile these last months, I did manage to read a few books, and—of course—I HAD TO watch the latest season of BRIDGERTON (I mean, obviously…).
I Read…
THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT by Carley Fortune! I fell in love with Carley Fortune’s first book (EVERY SUMMER AFTER) and she’s meanwhile become an auto-buy author for me.
Fortune never fails at delivering the perfect summer book, and this novel is no exception! Set in Prince Edward Island (oh, Canada) this book is everything I’d want from an easy summer read: it’s beachy and sunshiny, and it feels exactly like those endless childhood summer holidays—full of good vibes, romance, and possibilities (if you know, you know). Sooo, the vibes were definitely vibing (and so were Felix and Lucy)!
THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT is a big, beautiful collection of love letters to friends, family (given AND chosen), dream jobs, best friend’s brothers…and perhaps most of all: Prince Edward Island. Naturally, I added PEI to my “must-go-there-no-excuses” list!
I Watched…
Season 3 of Netflix’s BRIDGERTON!
What. A. Season. Hurray for the romance, the passion, the Drama, and the iconic badassery of Penelope freakin’ Featherington! Hurray also for the gentleness, intimacy, and subtle yet prolific incorporation of consent in this love story (thank you, Mr. Bridgerton)!
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment of Netlix’s hit show, I would have loved to see some more character development for Colin. Compared to Pen, I felt he lacked depth and authenticity. I had no clue what made him “tick” (his personality was all over the place, at times) and I couldn’t put my finger on his wants and needs. As a result, his character growth wasn’t very visible, and the resolution of his arc in the final episode seemed a bit forced. Overall, Colin seemed more like a narrative device for Pen’s story…
I Listened to…
The Doobie Brother’s LIVE AT WOLF TRAP album!
Flashback to 2012, when I trained with the European Parliament’s Secretary General: as part of my traineeship, my mentor and I made the monthly 3-hour drive from Luxembourg City to Strasbourg (France) to document the plenary sessions of the Parliament. On the road, we listened to every CD in his car (there were many, MANY CDs). We finally settled on LIVE AT WOLF TRAP as our all-time favorite.
My mentor argued that the CD couldn’t compare to the vinyl version of the album, so when I completed my traineeship, he went to this quaint, vintage record store in Strasbourg and looked for the album as a goodbye gift!
Recorded in 2004, LIVE AT WOLF TRAP is a superb recording that covers material from almost every album the band created. The sound is amazing, the six-voice harmonies are goosebumpy (in a good way), and the horn section is pure, musical genius! Highlights include the turbo-charged “Rockin’ Down the Highway”, extended versions of “Black Water” and “Long Train Runnin’”, and of course, an electrifying “Listen to the Music”. It’s the ultimate roadtrip album and a wonderful reminder of a great time in my life—it never fails to put a smile on my face. I highly recommend giving it a listen 😉