Naturally Tan - Tan France

This is a light and easily readible memoir from Queer Eye member Tan France.  Originally from the UK, and growing up in a Pakistani Muslim family, Tan has to deal with lots of prejudice growing up.  He has worked hard and become incredibly successful prior to auditioning for the popular TV show.  I came away from the book liking him more and understanding more about him. 4/5

Music Monday - Amazing Roberta on AGT

I've watched this a couple of times now, so amazing for a 10 year old.

Between the Stops - Sandi Toksvig

This is one of those books that surprised me in how much I enjoyed it.  It is a memoir written by Sandi Toksvig, a Danish/English Comedian and broadcaster/entertainer.  She does manage to successfully combine her own stories, with tales about London, mainly focused on her journeys on the number 12 bus.  I was so charmed about these snippets about a city I like so much. 5/5

The Second Sleep - Robert Harris

Christopher Fairfax is a young priest, who arrives by horse to a small English village where he needs to perform a funeral for the parson who has died.  I did enjoy the first half of this book, and was pretty sure I knew what was happening.   I however did not get the 2nd half of the book and felt like I should have been a bit more shocked by the twist, which didn't feel too surprising.   Somehow I felt like I was getting schooled by this cautionary tale, and it didn't really shock me like it was intended. 3/5

House On Fire - Joseph Finder

Joseph Finder is for me a better Lee Child than Lee Child has been lately.  His Nick Heller is smart and fast and although I found the first part of the book easier to read and more satisfying than the 2nd half, it was still a pretty solid read.   Hired to infiltrate a wealthy family in the pharmaceutical business, Nick Heller finds himself becoming trying to figure out who is trying to bring this big company down.  4/5

Music Monday - Crystalline - Bjork

I watched a documentary at the weekend about Bjorks album that she made in 2011 called Biophillia, that explored links between nature, technology and music.  Bjork and David Attenborough go to the Natural History Museum in London and caress some crystals - I'm not sure that I understood the rest of the documentary, and a lot of the music was a bit too out there and experimental for my tastes.

Music Monday - Guiding Light - Mumford & Sons

There are not many bands that I would seek out to see live now, but I regret not seeing Mumford & Sons when they toured years ago.  I wonder how long before we can see international acts live again?  Years I would imagine.

Middle Aged Lady Movie Night - Knives Out

Friday was a big day of socializing, so tonight is fine dining with a plate of chicken nuggets and a diet coke on the couch, and  ready for a movie.  Knives Out started playing over the Christmas break here, and after lockdown is still in rotation in the arthouse cinema.  I was almost going to go and see it, but even a 7.30pm showing seems too late in the evening for me over the winter time.  However it is a fine time to sit on the couch and watch it on my own tv.

I heard rumours of how much other viewers liked this who dunnit.  I found myself somewhat confused.  Famous author is found dead after his 85th birthday, and all of the dysfunctional family are questioned as to who could have killed him.  I was somewhat distracted by Daniel Craig and his terrible accent, and kept expecting him to start running or take off his shirt  - but alas no 007 action here.  I did have to Google the movie a couple of times to in order to figure out the plot and who the characters were. 

So it is a Saturday night 3.5/5 from me.

My Name Is Why - Lemn Sissay

My only knowledge about poet Lemn Sissay was hearing him on BBC Desert Island Discs a year or so ago.  In this memoir, he writes about his life as a child.  Given up for adoption, he first lives in a home with a family and then in group homes.  It truly is heartbreaking, and his poetry at the beginning of each chapter is short but moving.  I thought about this book long after I read it, about the author and the generation of children who were given up for adoption, and the mothers who felt they had no choice but to give up their children.  5/5