Arms around my life

1. I think I need a really good book to read, to escape into and away from the world, not to think deep meaningful thoughts or crack-wise/snark at the world (I apparently am quit good at doing that on my own, I don't need help). Bit depressed. Work has sucked the soul out of me and I just want to crawl into a hole somewhere. It's complicated and not worth boring you with.

( my attempts for hunting a good or rather just enjoyable book, but not a satire because clearly not in a satirical mood. )

2) Finished watching the premiere of Luck - which has an amazing cast, as well as a great production team. ( Luck Review )

Off to watch a movie I think, maybe bake some gluten-free cookies. Try a mindfulness exercise. Feel a little less...bummed out.

3) I feel as if all week long I'm lying. Lies by omission. Restraining myself. Suppressing something. Playing a role. Do you ever feel like an actor in your own life? Saying the words...with a bright smile, a laugh, but not quite feeling it even though you do appear to? Poker face fixed, smile intact? Quip at the ready? Not sure I want to know the answer to that. Don't want advice. Just want ...well there's a lovely song by Janis Ian that fits what I'm feeling right now perfectly.

Here it is:

( Janis Ian's Arms Around My Life )

Finally A Romantic Comedy for Grown-Ups: Last Chance Harvey

Just watched the utterly charming Last Chance Harvey director by John Hopkins and starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Eileen Atkins. It's possibly amongst the best romantic comedy's I've seen in a while. A simple story about two middle-aged people who somehow find each other.
Was quite surprised by it. It was one of those quiet little movies that get lost in the shuffle.

Way back in the 70s or 60s, Erica Jong wrote the book Fear of Flying, which was not about the metaphor I've been linking it to in my head. Jong's metaphor was female sexual awakening, but I think of it as more a fear of being hurt, of giving into the romantic impulse only to crash and burn. Emma Thompson's character, Kate Walker, is a woman struggling through her routine. She almost finds comfort in the disappointment. A customer service and informational survey rep at Heathrow airport, she meets Harvey Shine, a down-on-his luck jingles writer...at an airport bar during lunch. She's reading a book and eating lunch with a glass of chardonnay. He's slamming back two Johnny Walkers after ...well a shitty day. The first half of the movie is somewhat excruciating in the set-up. Because it is so real. The film is real, not plastic - the lives of the people inside shown not told. We've all had these experiences or known people who have. The characters are people we've met. Or they are ourselves. And much like the film Bridesmaids - there's an odd comfort in watching these people stumble through...a feeling of, oh, me too. And seeing them finally make it work but in a realistic manner is all the more...reassuring. More so actually than in those breezy comedies where everyone is pretty and everything falls so neatly in place as if pre-ordained. Here, there's no certainties.

( Review of Last Chance Harvey )

Highly recommend.