I haven’t written any personal posts for a while and have cut back a bit on my reading and reviewing. I have, however, been watching quite a bit of television. Well, not live television but stuff online. I shared some of my viewing in early March 2019, so thought it was time for an update.
I’ve not been doing as much reading of late. I felt like a break at Christmas. (Well, a break from reviewing, not reading!) But that has pretty much extended and I took only a couple of books to Brisbane with me on my recentish foray (aka 3wks of cat-sitting).
I have however, rediscovered my television addiction over the last six months; although I’ve not watched much live TV cos here in Australia we’ve had mostly sport and reality TV shows foisted upon us, so I’ve delved into Netflix and online viewing (SBS-on-demand) instead.
I don’t usually review TV shows, though I used to write about TV and movies quite a bit. Television more so probably as I used to be quite a TV addict. It comes and goes now. Box sets and Netflix is my catnip as I’ve always been prone to watch stuff in a binge and then not turn the television on for a few weeks.
So after some positive (well, glowing) local reviews I decided to tune into The Cry – a 4-part BBC production, showing here in Australia on ABC TV. Naturally I didn’t watch it live, rather watched it online via iView over a couple of days after the first episode aired.
Of course I write this as someone who’s not read the novel on which it’s based, by Helen FitzGerald. Having done some post-viewing research (googling) however, I understand the plot is pretty consistent but the structure deviates a little from the book.
I’ll be honest and admit my mood has been yo-yoing around quite a bit lately. I’m trying to be upbeat… as I said last week, I know I’ve got nothing to moan about… I mean, sure I’m unemployed, single, childless, 50 and need to improve my diet and exercise regimes, but other than that… life is going swimmingly. 😉
Anyhoo, while I continue to ponder on the joys of my existence I thought I’d skip the navel-gazing post this week and instead share with you the, ummm… joys of my existence.
I actually read Caleb Carr’s book The Alienist and its sequel, The Angel of Darkness about 20 years ago, but remembered little about both. Indeed, neither remain on my bookshelves now, so I obviously decided at some point to retire and replace them… shelf space always being at a premium.
But when I saw the original book had been made into a Netflix TV series I jumped right in.
Although it was accidental I binge-watched season two of the Netflix TV show Stranger Things when it launched last Friday.
I enjoyed the first season but read a review just days before implying S2 offered nothing new so was a bit worried.
If I weren’t so lazy I’d check to see if the powers that be have added Netflix to our dictionaries as a verb. Cos it’s a popular thing to do nowadays. Or at least as popular as running and dieting. Particularly at this time of year.
Regular readers will be aware that after almost 4yrs of paying exorbitant amounts for a meagre and unwatchable (analogue) pay TV service, once I moved into my new place I got Netflix, well… after procrastinating for a month or two as I am wont to do!
I LOVE television. I’ve always loved television, and there are many MANY shows I watch religiously. However… I’ve failed to join the masses around the world who have become fans of Orange is the New Black. I watched season 1, but wasn’t interested enough to go back for more.
I’m conscious that season 4 has just finished amid the usual online hubub so it seems it’s as popular as ever. And I’m assuming it’s that popularity which has led to the publication of this memoir… taking us back to where it all started.
I was having a conversation with another book blogger about a novel on the weekend and mentioned I’d guessed the plot twist – and the whodunnit – as a result. She hadn’t she said and I pondered on this a little.
I’d like to think I have some kind of superpower or the criminal profiling genius that FBI behavioural specialists would envy, but sadly I think it comes down to the fact… I read (and watch) a lot of crime fiction and television.