Three Thoughts Thursday | Enjoying. Reading. Watching.

/ Ally Bean

Years ago I dreamed up this feature thinking I’d do it every so often [maybe quarterly], but I let it slide. I’ve been wanting to resurrect it, so I shall. Three Thoughts Thursday is when I tell you stuff and don’t make a story of it.

 ONE 

I think that… Only Murders in the Building [available on Hulu] is a hoot and half, as they used to say.

Set in modern day NYC, this TV show stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. The plot revolves around the efforts of three neighbors, bumbling along, as they try to solve a murder, or two, in their apartment building. While it may sound trite and predictable it is not, and has enough laughs to make it a comedy.

Definitely recommended.

TWO 

I think that… Spare, Prince Harry’s memoir, is an interesting detailed glimpse into how the House of Windsor works. Or more accurately, how it doesn’t work in the case of their dysfunctional family dynamics.

Starting with his adult realization that his family doesn’t understand him, he sets out to explain his take on his life since age 12 when his mother, Diana, died.  I admire anyone who can claim their narrative and tell their story, which is especially difficult when you’re part of an uptight royal family and the British tabloids are primed to make you seem awful.

Would I recommend reading this book? Welp, I read half/skimmed through half because I didn’t care about his time in school or his travels around the world with friends or his experiences in the military.

However I was intrigued by his honesty about his teenage grief, his adult depression, and his growing disbelief about the ways in which his family of origin had treated him– and now his wife.

Not well, as you probably know.

THREE 

I think that… Glass Onion is a fun entertaining whodunit movie. I rarely watch movies, but I like the flamboyant Benoit Blanc character, played by Daniel Craig, so watching him solve another murder was delightful in that Agatha Christie cozy mystery way.

The cast is brilliant, the writing is sharp, the setting is stupendous– and the mystery itself is intriguing, unfolding in ways unexpected, like you’d expect.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY  

Do you enjoy slightly absurd kind of wacky TV shows that make you laugh? If so, any suggestions for what we might watch next?

Do you read [or listen to] books? If so, are you interested in memoirs written by or biographies about celebrities? Why or why not? 

If you watch movies do you prefer to do so at home or in a theater? Do you enjoy sequels wherein you watch the same main character [or characters] do whatever they do as the story continues?

 AND FINALLY

Yesterday WordPress sent me the above message. If you’re interested you may click HERE and be magically taken to my first post on this blog wherein I boldly asserted: good things don’t happen without the correct amount of angst.

233 thoughts on “Three Thoughts Thursday | Enjoying. Reading. Watching.”

  1. I have watched Harry on various talk shows and been impressed with him. He is articulate and projects a depth of honesty rarely seen so yes, I believe his side of the story. I also love whodunits so I’ll look at those two suggestions. I have none to give. I’ve found that watching the old Castle shows is like taking prozac. I always feel better afterward and had a good laugh along the way. Happy blogaversary!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Kate, I’ve not seen Harry on talk shows but Zen-Den has and says the same thing that you do: the man is smart and truthful. The memoir was interesting in parts, but some of it dragged for me.

      We just discovered that Castle was on last night! Plan on starting it tonight because it was a fun show. We need some laughs.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Thanks on all counts for the recommendations and “Ally input”! Yes, yes, to wacky shows. I still want to go back and re-watch all of Schitt’s Creek but the hubster isn’t ready. Loved that one…on so many levels! Thanks for the reminder about “Only Murders…” — we started it and got distracted by something else…I have no idea what! I love Steve Martin. Period. And memoirs of celebs? I think I do what you described with ‘Spare’ — I speed-read, peruse, skip around. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the book. As for your “home or theatre” question…Covid made us movie homebodies…but I do sort of miss the thrill of the audio and when the lights go down in a theatre. Not the same at home, ya know? Most of all, Ally Bean — Happy Blog-A-Versary! Woohoo! 😉🥰😉

    Liked by 2 people

    • Victoria, I loved Schitt’s Creek, but haven’t gone back to re-watch it yet, either. Something to look forward to, I guess. I’m not really much for celebrity memoirs to begin with, but I wanted to get a copy of Spare to see what I thought of Harry. I like him, gotta say– and understand his situation better now.

      I enjoy watching movies at home more than in a theater so Covid didn’t change my movie viewing habits much. I really don’t see many movies but Glass Onion drew me in completely.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Congrats on sticking with the blog! So many have abandoned theirs and that makes me sad. I feel that blog posts are deeper than the average FB update and create more satisfying interactions. I like your first post too ❤️

    I disagree with all three of your likes though, lol. I don’t find Prince Harry or any of the Royals interesting, except when they get glammed up. Same for all celebs ~ show me the posh gowns and don’t tell me their opinions. If they blog, maybe then I’ll care! 😂

    I guess I’m not really a celeb memoir fan ~ I vastly prefer fiction and poetry. I just don’t see why I should care about a celeb more than any ordinary person. I do love nonfiction about animals though…

    I do love movies and am OK with sequels as long as they’re good and don’t get stagnant. I prefer a one and done film to most series especially new ones that delay the subsequent seasons for years. So annoying! Glass Onion just didn’t grab me ~ so many characters, so much disjointed action. It didn’t feel like a classic whodunit because there were no clues for us to solve as we watched, just a bunch of random scenes. And I am so over the twin trope too!

    But most people like it, so I’m definitely the odd one (as usual) 😜

    Liked by 1 person

    • Paula, I never took to FB and am not there so I have no idea what goes on. I like blogging because it’s more open allowing everyone in the world to drop by– and doesn’t line Mark Zuckerberg’s pockets.

      Me reading a celebrity memoir is unusual. I agree that it’s difficult to care about what they do. But in this case, I studied in England in college and I was a fan of Diana so I felt compelled to read Harry’s memoir. I haven’t watched any TV interviews of him and Meghan nor have I seen their show, so this was my way of understanding him.

      I enjoyed Glass Onion because it was disjointed, like a big jigsaw puzzle. It was unpredictable but I thought it made sense in the end. Of course it’s not difficult to watch any movie with Craig in it. Just saying…

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I have Only Murders on my list to watch. I loved Glass Onion for all the reasons you state.
    I do enjoy autobiographies and I’ve seen/watched nothing with Harry, to be honest. Kudos to him for his honesty.

    As for quirky. I watched Schitts’s Creek twice! I also enjoyed Kim’s Convenience (A Canadian show). I really enjoyed Extraordinary Attorney Woo – it’s subtitled but so good.

    I love going to the movies for the ambiance but often find myself not wanting to make the effort. Sequels… it depends. Have to admit Top Gun was a pleasant surprise.

    Speaking of out there movies, if you get a chance, check out The Menu with Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy… watched it last night and it was fabulous.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dale, I rarely read any autobiography so this was different for me. Like you I’ve not seen Harry on TV anywhere so reading his words was informative. Granted maybe too informative when it came to his palling around with his mates which I found tedious, but his insights into the royal family were fascinating, disturbing.

      I adore Schitt’s Creek and I know of Kim’s Convenience but don’t think we get it here. I’ll look. I’ll also look for The Menu. I’ve not heard of it but I rarely am up-to-date about movies… or books for that matter. Thanks for the suggestions.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I hear you. I prefer autobiographies that are really a series of essays à la Ann Patchett (These Precious Days) – less tedious.

        Marc (Sorryless) was able to watch Kim’s Convenience so I imagine you can as well.

        The Menu is very different!

        Liked by 1 person

        • Yes! I like a memoir that is a book of essays more than a diary-type format. I don’t think Harry is the essay type, no disrespect intended, but he seems more like an extrovert out in the world than an introvert musing of the meaning of life. 🤔

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  5. I love the Three Thoughts Thursday idea, and these three were great fun. I enjoyed your take on Spare (been hoping for a review😃), and congrats on your 12-year Word Press-aversary! As to Harry, I’d be the same on skimming through the drivel, but I do feel for him. It has to be tough, growing up under a spotlight. Not to mention the drama with his family, and the grief of losing his mother. I didn’t know about his depression, so that’s interesting. And Princess Diana struggled with it as well, so I suppose it all makes sense. Interesting stuff, Ally Bean – thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kendra, years ago I was going to do this Three Thoughts Thursday feature then the pandemic arrived and I forgot about it. I like to tell stories but sometimes just a post with a nice list sharing information is good, too.

      Harry’s story is compelling. It shows that just because you’re filthy rich doesn’t mean life is golden. I’ll forever think of him as that child who walked behind his mother’s casket while the entire world watched. So sad.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Congrats on the blogging anniversary!
    I don’t read celebrity memoirs but am looking forward to reading Michelle Obama’s new book.
    I enjoyed Schitt’s Creek as others have mentioned. I am also a fan of RuPaul’s drag race, altho, I may be tiring of that a little. I enjoyed Derry Girls as it reminded me of my Catholic school days. I will have to set aside time to watch Glass Onion as I have heard good things about it. I never go to the movies – costs too much $$$ and I don’t hear well so need closed captions when I watch.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ellen D., I couldn’t tell you the last time I read a celebrity memoir, so this was unusual for me. I wanted to see what Harry had to say for himself and he is THE talk of the world right now so for once I’m with it. M.O.’s book is making the rounds, too. I’ll get to it sometime, probably years from now, knowing me.

      I’ve read good things about Derry Girls, but I’ve also been told it is difficult to understand what they say. I don’t enjoy movie theaters, they make me anxious, so I prefer to watch a movie at home.

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  8. I really don’t have much to add here, since I don’t have a tv, can’t remember the last time I watched a film in a theater, and pay so little attention to any royals that I still have to remind myself which brother is which when it comes to the Windsors. I have read some terrific memoirs and biographies, but none involve ‘celebrities’ of the sort in favor today. I do watch films very occasionally, but always at home on the computer. I’d tell you which I watched most recently, but I can’t remember what it was. I know; I’m weird.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda, thanks for stopping by to comment. I can understand how my three thoughts don’t resonate with you. I am aware of the British royal family, at least some of them, because I majored in English Lit in undergrad. I had to know about them and my interest continues.

      I rarely read biographies or memoirs so this was different for me, but I’m glad I did. Not the best book ever, but for once in my life I’ve read a NYT bestseller while it’s on the list. Somehow this makes me feel good about myself! 🤓

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Congrats on 12 years of blogging! What an accomplishment! If you enjoy wacky, absurd and funny shows, you might check out Barry. It’s about a hitman who joins an acting class and wants to change his career. As others have mentioned, Schitts’s Creek and Kim’s Convenience are also great. While I like books, I’ve never been interested in celebrity biographies. I don’t follow pop culture to begin with, and I suspect their books won’t be filled mind-blowing insights (while I’m always looking for). I very rarely watch movies but, when I do, I prefer to do so at home. Three Thoughts Thursday is fun! Looking forward to the next one at some some random interval in the future. 😜

    Liked by 1 person

    • Esoterica, Barry sounds delightful. I’ve not heard of it, so thanks.

      I understand your point of view about pop culture. This is a rare thing for me to pay attention to a celebrity, but Harry’s story called to me. I think of him as that sad child walking behind his mother’s casket. I’m glad I read/skimmed his book, but won’t be following up by watching his TV show or interviews. I wish him and his wife well and hope that his family + the tabloids leave them alone.

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      • Barry is a bit out there, but it’s pretty funny!

        I feel the same way about Harry. While I don’t follow his life, I remember how sad he always looked as a child. And as an adult, he’s always seemed to be the outcast. It’s heartbreaking to see what he’s been thorough, and hope things get better for he and his wife.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Exactly. If you’ve ever been unfairly criticized and intentionally misunderstood by family Harry’s story resonates. But many people consider his truthfulness to be whining. 🤷‍♀️

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  10. Congrats on the blogiversary!! I like to laugh. Have you watched Ted Lasso on Apple TV? I highly recommend. I read books. While I say I’m not interested in celebrity memoirs, I’ve read some of late. I need to stop reading them. I have no interest in reading about Harry. He bores me as does his wife. Stop whining. I’m a fan of theaters. I like sequels if they are well done. Loved glassonion. Loved top gun.

    Liked by 1 person

    • LA, I know Ted Lasso is great but we don’t have Apple TV so I haven’t seen it. I don’t usually read celebrity memoirs either but I’m glad I did. I studied in England in college and that primed me to be interested in the British royalty. At least enough to read/skim Harry’s book.

      I didn’t find his take on his life to be whining, just explaining. I get that not everyone roots for the black sheep of the family– and will criticize/marginalize them no matter what they say or do. Now will I watch his TV show, heck no. My interest is satisfied.

      I’m not a fan of Tom Cruise, but seeing Daniel Craig is a whole ‘nother thing. I liked the movie, still smiling about it.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Happy 12 Years Ally Bean! Only Murders- just a great combo of actors and enough humor mixed with angst to be fun. I’ve followed Harry more on TV but not read the book. Appearances can be so different from real life when a long-standing institution begins to be revealed to be full of real humans and not gods or perfection. Their connection to the British media is really disturbing and yet so many still buy into the illusions of who and what Royals claim to be. That system, although historic, needs to be demolished in my opinion. They are simply prestige filled figureheads who are out of touch with reality. I rarely go to a theater to watch movies, mostly because I can wear my PJ’s at home. I’m not sure the theater would appreciate my robe and slippers…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Deb, I haven’t seen Harry and Meghan on TV only read this book. You’re right that what the monarchy appears to be differs from what it is. I’ve heard the saying “we pay, you pose” to describe them. No wonder the House of Windsor is trying to downplay Harry’s book. I know that after watching most of The Crown I’m more aware of how dysfunctional the whole royal bunch are. So petty, not very bright.

      You make an excellent case for staying home to watch a movie. Jammies rock. Sorry I’m late to reply to you. I just found your comment. I missed it, mea culpa.

      Liked by 1 person

      • No worries on the commenting AB! I’ve watched The Crown as well and while dramatized it’s clear that being a Royal means a huge amount of sacrifice and cover-up.

        Liked by 2 people

        • Exactly. I don’t know why Harry’s story of how they really behave would come as a surprise to anyone. The House of Windsor is family that used to murder each other with abandon. Henry VIII certainly took that idea to the extreme, as I recall. Today instead of killing each other literally they do it figuratively through the tabloids.

          Liked by 1 person

  12. Harry is like all of us with a dysfunctional upbringing–until you have your own children (children that were planned for and wanted), you don’t fully realize just how bad your childhood was. Because you can NEVER, under any circumstances, imagine treating your beloved child so poorly.

    Spouse watches “Only Murders.” Sometimes I get a little sucked in. I loved “The Glass Onion,” and Janelle Monae deserves all the awards. Congrats on the blogaversary!

    Liked by 1 person

    • AutumnAshbough, you said it. Once you realize how dysfunctional things were in your childhood, you can’t go back into denial. I realize many people go through life with blinders on refusing to claim what happened to them and how it shaped them, but Harry took control of the narrative. I admire anyone who can do that– especially when so many powerful people are against him.

      I agree that Janelle Monae was great in the movie. I enjoyed the fact that she and Craig were not love interests, but two people solving a murder together. No hanky panky involved.

      Liked by 2 people

  13. Oh, there’s so much here. I’m gonna come back and read your first post. My morning tots cancelled and I’m meeting Coach for breakfast in a few.

    I am enjoying Derry Girls, set in Northern Ireland. It’s funny. I suggest captions to catch all of their banter. I saw a blip on the local news about Murder in the Building and I remembered that I do want to watch that. I don’t think we have Hulu. I’ll look into it.

    We do not watch TV much AT ALL. Especially during basketball season when we spend lots of time at games. I prefer watching movies at home – so much more reasonable, BUT it takes us so long to find something decent to watch that it often ends in frustration, particularly something we think works for family viewing.

    And, I do enjoy memoirs – but not specifically about famous people. Sometimes those are good, and sometimes – well, they have a weird focus or are overly self-involved.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ernie, I know I’ve heard that Derry Girls is great but you can’t understand it. I’ll try watching/reading it. That’s smart. Only Murders… is funny so I liked it. We have Hulu so it’s right there at my fingertips and I think there’s a third season on the way.

      I can imagine how tricky it is to find a suitable movie for the whole family. I don’t watch many movies because they usually don’t hold my attention but when I do it’s at home.

      When I read a memoir which isn’t often, it is typically about a non-celebrity so reading Spare was unusual for me. I’m glad I did, feeling that Harry told his story well enough– and exposed the House of Windsor for what it is, an evil soap opera.

      Like

      • I thought of another show that m folks are crazy about. It is FBI – something or other. I think it is similar to Law and Order with different shows based on different locations. My folks watch it on Tuesday nights, so I believe it is on NBC or CBS or something old fashioned like that.

        Liked by 1 person

        • I didn’t know there was a show called FBI. There was one decades ago, but this must be a new one. We don’t have cable anymore but if it’s on one of streaming services, I’ll look for it. Thanks for the idea.

          Like

  14. I liked glass onion but the first one, knives out better. I feel for Harry and Meghan but am not up to reading the book. As for any comedy series, recommend by someone, I’m game. The tragedy is we don’t get Hulu here.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Sorry, I have to disagree with you about Harry and his wife. I think he’s making money off his family and the pair of them are privileged whingers. I tend to like biographies a lot but celebrity memoirs aren’t really in my wheelhouse.

    Congratulations on your 12 years! Well done! 🎉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Lynette, I know not everyone is on Team Harry+Meghan. I don’t see them as whiners, just truth tellers. While reading Spare I was reminded of Anne Lamott’s line: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”

      That being said, I’m right there with you about not reading celebrity memoirs, not my cup of tea usually.

      Liked by 1 person

        • Well fortunately you don’t have to agree with Anne’s writing advice. I know that I’ve never taken it to the extreme, just kept it in mind as I reflected upon people who done me wrong. Behave better, be remembered warmly. 🙄

          Liked by 1 person

      • The problem with ALL of the media coverage of Harry is that it is one sided. Yes, he may believe he is telling his truth, but other people are/were involved, and their truths are just as important as his. IMHO the problem isn’t Harry, it’s Meghen. I think she thought she was gonna be the next Diana, but she forgot to see how the story turned out.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Nina, I agree that the news coverage/palace spin about Harry has never been balanced. They are a petty lot. That’s why I wanted to read his book, just to see how he thinks about what has happened to him.

          I’ve watched none of the Netflix show about Harry & Meghan, nor seen their TV interviews, so all I know about her is she’s an accomplished woman in her own right. Other commenters have mentioned Meghan as a problem, but I cannot speak to that. She’s only in the last quarter of his memoir. I figure if he wanted to marry her, then I’ll respect his decision.

          Like

  16. Ok I’ve watched the series, movie and just finished the book you mentioned! So I have a recommendation for you – Murderville! It’s so funny and unexpected. Also Derry Girls, again, hysterical and brings me right back to my teenage days with the music.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Colleen, I’ve never heard of Murderville but will look for it. Thanks for the suggestion. There are so many good TV shows out there, if you just know what to look for.

      Like

  17. Congratulations on your blogging anniversary.

    We watch Murders and just saw the new season is filming and with Meryl Streep! We also like a lot of British television. I liked The Detectorists (dry humor) and we loved Doc Martin, too.

    I am not big on biographies or audio books, but I heard a snippet of Harry reading his book, so I might get it on Audible. I feel for him and his situation. I cannot imagine living under the scrutiny required by being a member of the royal family.

    I love sequel television shows but there is too much time lapse between movie sequels for me. (I recommend The Split if you have not seen it.)

    Liked by 1 person

    • Maggie, I just read about season three with Meryl Streep, too. It’s going to great. I’ll probably rewatch the first two seasons so I’ll be in the right headspace for it when it drops.

      I, too, am not one for biographies, but this story called to me. You’re right Harry has grown up in an untenable position within an unhappy family. I don’t know that I’d have come through it as well as he has.

      Good point about the time lapse between movie sequels. It is disconcerting. Will look for The Split. Thanks for the suggestion.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I disagree with your take on Harry. I get that he feels forgotten and William overshadows him, and the grief over his mom and his mental health struggles as a former prisoner of depression. But that’s where it ends. I feel Meghan is manipulative and narcissistic at best, and her mission is to trap him as the father of her children, if not her husband, till the end of his days. For once I sympathize with Charles and, dare I say it, his wife.

    As for the TV shows, I’m not familiar with them. I’ve heard of them, but haven’t seen them. I’m not one for whodunits too much, so it is what it is.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Hit post before I was finished! I am proud that you stuck with the blog. I’ve taken small breaks from mine periodically over the years, but it means a lot to me as a (semi) fledgling writer, so I’ll never abandon it. 🥰💜

      Liked by 1 person

    • Chrissy, I know not everyone likes Meghan and feel she’s been a bad influence on Harry. Who is to say for sure? I do know she is a well-educated, beautiful, successful woman in her own right, but I’ll admit I wasn’t aware of her until she and Harry got together. I’ve not watched any interviews with them or seen their TV show. I read Spare so that I might understand Harry’s point of view– and his outcast status resonated with me. Families can be tricky.

      I like TV shows that are funny and I like a good whodunit movie, so these are my kinds of entertainment. Just suggested them here for those who are interested.

      Liked by 2 people

      • I like shows like Stranger Things, and I am a royal fan, so I love The Crown. Diana has been a role model to me since I was a kid. 💜 Trust me, I’ve read extensively about her, and I know she was no saint either, but she was a very tender-hearted, compassionate woman. She deserved so much better than she got. All she wanted was love, and it got her killed. Tragic isn’t even the word. And that’s why I dislike Meghan. Harry is desperate for love too, and Megan sensed it and pounced on it. He’s very vulnerable, and I think she’s extorting him. Using him and his family to bolster her own name and image. Her race has absolutely nothing to do with it. Nothing. Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Sorry! 😂😳

        Liked by 2 people

        • I’ve watched The Crown up until the point where Charles first meets Diana. I’m behind in watching that show. Diana had a big influence on me, too. Her style, her life, her marriage to cheating Charles. You’re right “all she wanted was love, and it got her killed.”

          Interesting take on Meghan. I see a successful woman who is married to a strong man who is distancing himself from a deceitful family. She is there for him as he claims the narrative of his life. 🤷‍♀️

          Liked by 2 people

  19. Wow! 12 years of sharing with all of us your unique view on life. That’s awesome!
    I have no interest in Harry. He’s being manipulated by his wife. She’s crazy!
    I loved Diana. She was a genuine person.
    I love going to the movie theater here in our little town. The atmosphere is wonderful and the smell of popcorn is something I look forward to. We support this theater and have seen most of the movies they show; some great, some good, some not.
    Castle was always a show a watched. I like Chicago Med and the Good Doctor. And I like all the true life mystery stories. A show I just started watching is The Murdoch Mysteries. The husband is a detective and the wife is a doctor. They work cases together.
    Love your blog ❤️😻

    Liked by 1 person

    • Beth, I’m glad I read Spare so that I might better understand who Harry is. I know people keep telling me that Meghan is manipulative, but I don’t know why she is perceived that way. It baffles me. I see a well-educated successful woman in her own right who is supporting her husband’s decision to deal with his dysfunctional family.

      We finished watching all the Murdoch Mysteries last month! We’re now happily awaiting season 16. Love Julia’s smarts + spunk and William’s obsession with the truth + gadgets. A match made in TV heaven.

      Glad you like the blog. Thanks for following along. It’s evolved into something beyond my wildest dream.

      Liked by 2 people

  20. Three things in response.
    (1) I would love to see Only Murders In The Building bu unfortunately it isn’t on any of my streaming services. I saw that Meryl Streep is joining the cast next season.
    (2) I feel for Harry and was glad he got his freedom but I have no interest in getting bogged down in his book. I did hear that the Netflix documentary wasn’t bad, but I am no sure I want to get bogged down in that either.
    (3) Loved The Glass Onion! I also enjoyed the original Knives Out. We need more movies of that caliber. Have you seen The Marvellous Mrs. Mazel? It is hilarious. I am anxiously waiting for the new season.
    And finally, Happy Blogiversary!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Jenn, I just read about Meryl Streep joining the cast and can’t wait. I’m sorry you don’t get it… yet, maybe?

      I haven’t watched any TV interviews with Harry nor have I seen Harry and Meghan’s TV show. I doubt that I’d have the patience to watch them, but reading/skimming Spare was okay. I feel better informed about Harry from his own point of view and that was my goal.

      I know of The Marvelous Mrs. Mazel and watched a few episodes when it first came out. I can’t even remember why we didn’t continue on with it because it was smart and funny. Thanks for the reminder.

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Love the three andom things idea, I missed Glass Onion and now it’s not on Neflix anymore but we watched the second one, Knives Out. It was pretty quirky, I almost felt like I was watching the game Clue. Love Steve Martin and Martin Short but don’t have Hulu, hopefully it comes out on another streaming service.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Maggie, I bet Glass Onion will resurface somewhere online soon enough. It was clever. Good observation about how Knives Out was like Clue in a way.

      Only Murders… is very successful so I wouldn’t be surprised if it shows up on other streaming services. It is a hoot, I’m telling you. Hope you get the chance to see it.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. I just watched Glass Onion and now I need to watch the first Knives Out. Loved it. Now also, I will look for Only Murders in the Building thanks to your review! I do love me a quirky show that makes me laugh…my favourite of all time was Northern Exposure. Schitt’s Creek and Ted Lasso (TL not that quirky but loveable characters) come close but so far I haven’t found any show that matched Northern Exposure for quirk and charm.
    Great post, Ally. Thanks,

    Deb

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Congratulations on 12 years. Wow, that’s awesome. I also enjoyed the original Knives Out. I thought Glass Onion was okay, not as good as the first. I like Daniel Craig in other movies (James Bond), but I’ve really liked seeing him stretch a bit. Lots of great actors and actresses too.

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    • Brian, I agree that it’s been fun to see “James Bond” become a southern sleuth. I like both the movies, but the plot lines are different for sure. Thanks for the congratulations, ever onward, eh?

      Liked by 1 person

  26. I also really enjoyed Only Murders and Glass Onion, so I think I get what you might like. I’ll add my vote for Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (though not a mystery, and on Prime), and you might like Dead to Me on Netflix, which is funny/mystery. I really liked the first season of DtM, and the second was good, too. I haven’t gotten far with the third and final. There was such a break because of Covid, and it feels like it’s jumped the shark a bit. But I really liked season 1. In the same vein, I also liked the first season or two of Imposters and In the Dark (both on Netflix).

    As for Harry et. al: It’s complicated. The monarchy is a weird/outdated business, the British government/monarchy has exploited so many people, he’s incredibly privileged but has also endured tragedy, and so much of what happened/where he is was not his choice. (But isn’t that true of all of us?) I admire his attempts to break away from family dynamics that aren’t healthy for him, as I do anyone who undertakes that difficult task. I agree with you that it’s important to own and tell your own story. (Of course! We write blogs.)

    Speaking of blogs, congrats on longevity!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Rita, we started Marvelous Mrs. Maisel but somehow got away from watching it. I’ll make sure to get back to it. I like Dead to Me, but haven’t watched the final season. I keep putting it off because I don’t want it to end, that’s how much I enjoyed the show.

      Yep, everything with Harry and the British royal family is complicated. I realize that many people think that because he comes from money he shouldn’t complain, but the lot he grew up with did not have his best interests at heart. I admire him for breaking free– or as free as one can be when your father is the King of England. What a life!

      Thanks for the congratulations. I can guarantee you that I never would have thought that I’d still be here 12 years later.

      Like

  27. We don’t have Hulu, so I haven’t seen Only Murders in the Building, but it sounds like something we’d love. Have you watched “Life”? It’s a crime drama from around 2007-2008, starring Damian Lewis. While it’s billed as a drama, and certainly has some serious storylines, there is an underlying humor/absurdity that makes it endlessly watchable (we’ve watched the entire 32 episodes at least three times). Damian Lewis is perfect and the supporting cast is just as good (Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Donal Logue…).
    We really enjoyed Glass Onion for all the reasons you mentioned. It was so much better than its predecessor, Knives Out. We still haven’t been back to a theater since the pandemic, so home movies it is.
    As for celebrity biographies/memoirs, they really hold no interest for me—unless the celebrity is doing something meaningful and important that impacts the world (none come immediately to mind). I wouldn’t know a Kardashian if I tripped over one in my driveway (not that they are likely to be lurking there). People who are famous simply for being famous are pretty boring. I’m particularly uninterested in the British monarchy—have never read books about them and skip over news articles; nor have I watched any of the movies or TV shows about them. There are so many other things to read or watch—things that don’t feel like empty calories.
    Congratulations on 12(!) years of blogging. WP has never sent me any notice of milestones, though it appears that many bloggers get such notifications. I’m trying not to take it personally….

    Liked by 1 person

    • Donna, I’ve never heard of Life and will look for it. Thanks for the recommendation. It sounds interesting.

      As an English Lit major in undergrad I studied in England and received my degree for knowing all about the empty calories of which you speak. I love that phrase, but the way. I find myself drawn to being aware of the British monarchy. Keep in mind I only earned my B.A. degree because I knew the things about them that I had to know.

      As for most celebrities I don’t care about them either, but given my education and having watched Harry walk behind is mother’s casket I wanted to read his book. Will I watch anything with him on TV? No. But I do feel better informed now.

      I wonder why you don’t get notifications like this one from WP? To my knowledge I haven’t asked for such things, they just appear.

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  28. You know? I hate when this happens. I wrote a nice bit in this comment and was about to post it when my fat sausage fingers hit the wrong key and deleted it. Oh bother. I’ll try to recreate the post.

    I love this post Ally. Great food for thought and discussion among friends. As time and circumstance allows I would greatly appreciate more of this type of content. I leave it to your whims as to the frequency of posts like this. 😉

    Television. Wifey and I were talking about this very topic last night. Our TV is usually on for background noise more or less. Seems the older we get, the less we are interested in the content offered. We spend our evenings talking or playing games, Yahtzee and Scrabble are among our favorites. We read a lot. Wifey has such a wide array of topics that interests her it boggles my mind. I’m currently reading a book on the Renaissance. A bit dry perhaps, but it interests me.

    Prince Harry. My Grandmother had a host of wise sayings, and one of them was . . . never air your dirty laundry in public. My opinion? Nothing to see here, move along. I did have great respect for the Queen though.

    Thank you Ally for a great start to my day. Coffee pot is empty now, so I guess I’ll bundle up and go out to shovel the snow off the driveway and sidewalks. Again.

    As an aside, wifey is my personal nickname for my beloved wife. She calls me Walter, and inside joke.

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    • Johnny, thanks for trying to comment again after your mishap with the keyboard. I appreciate the effort. I’m pleased that you like posts like this one. The thing is I have to have 3 interesting topics to write about at one time before I can create another one like this. It’s more difficult to do than you might think.

      We play games too. Box and card games mostly, but we do them as part of our *happy hour* before dinner. Granted most days our beverage of choice is club soda, but it’s more fun to think of it as happy hour. We watch a couple of hours of TV after dinner. Usually something funny or a one hour detective procedural.

      I remember oldsters saying what your grandmother said. That kind of thinking was normal back then, but seems out of touch in today’s complicated world. I also remember being told to never wear your heart on your sleeve. Heaven forbid anyone have authentic feelings and express them. They believed you must keep it bottled up.

      You have snow? We are having our warmest winter on record. It’s 60ºF outside right now, second time this week. Usually at this time of year it should be in the 30s. So odd.

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  29. Happy WP anniversary, Ally! Only Murders In The Building is one of my favorite series. Solid cast and fun characters. I won’t be reading Harry’s book but feel like I have from all of the news coverage. I don’t know what his endgame was for publishing this, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt he felt he had to for his own health. It does sound like an awful lot of “tea” got spilled here. Glass Onion is a worthy follow-up to Knives Out. I have always preferred seeing films in the theater, and Glass Onion is a great example. Even though it was only going to be in theaters for one week, Mrs. Chess and I made it a point to see it there rather than wait for Netflix.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bruce, I don’t know when I’ve been as pleasantly surprised by a TV show as I was with Only Murders… I smile just thinking about it.

      I wanted to read Spare so I could get a glimpse into Harry’s own take on himself. I’d say that his endgame was to be better understood, which seems like a worthy goal when you are forced to be in the public eye from birth. And if he makes a little money off his story, is that so bad?

      I didn’t know Glass Onion was in the theater. That’s how out-of-touch I am when it comes to movies. I stumbled over it on Netflix one night and thought “hey this looks like it might be good.” And it was.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. For me, as someone who lives in a country with a constitutional monarchy as government, Harry is a touchy subject. If he wants to be not bothered by media and to live like an “ordinary” citizen, I’d prefer it if he quietly slipped away and did just that. If that’s his wish, why is he constantly putting himself in the media? I want him to do his good work with Wounded Warriors and stop whining about his privileged life. And if he doesn’t want to be royalty, why publish a book with Prince Harry as author? I won’t read it.
    There. Got that off my chest.
    I work at a library so I read and listen to books constantly. The best biography I ever read was OPEN by Andre Agassi (and J. R. Moehringer). Even if you’re not a tennis fan, it is a fantastic read.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Arlene, yes I’m aware of how people are upset by whatever Harry does. To me it seems like he cannot win, the ultimate underdog. The thing is I don’t think of him as a whiner, just a truth teller. I don’t know that he wants to become “ordinary” as much as understood, but then I’ve watched no TV interviews with him so I cannot speak to that. I’ve only read/skimmed the memoir.

      I agree that his work with Wounded Warriors is wonderful, and if this memoir helps him direct more attention toward that project, then that’s good.

      I don’t read many biographies but will look for OPEN. Thanks. I’m not a tennis fan but like the idea that I can learn something from someone I’m not alike.

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  32. I’m an avid fiction reader who has to force myself to read non-fiction, which I consider the vegetables of my reading. I even more rarely read an autobiography or memoir because people generally think they’re more interesting than I do, which is mean, but true. I also feel like it’s hard for me to really relate to the lives of the rich and famous, so reading a memoir of a person who is widely known is even more unlikely in my world. BUT. I also understand why other people like glimpses into other people’s lives and I’m reading all the discussion about Harry’s memoir with interest. It seems like a lot of people think it’s great he’s able to tell his story, but that the actual book isn’t all that great.

    Liked by 1 person

    • NGS, your summary is exactly how I’d describe Spare. It’s not brilliant writing nor is it tightly edited, but I didn’t expect it to be. I usually pass on celebrity memoirs but I studied in England when I was in undergrad and somehow this memoir, written by Diana’s son, called to me. Do I need to know more about Harry and Meghan? No I do not. But I’m glad I got a glimpse into his mindset. I do admire him for telling his truth.

      Like

  33. “Good things don’t happen without the correct amount of angst.” My goodness. That should be the opening line of a novel. Seriously.

    I enjoyed Knives Out, so I’d like to see Glass Onion. The comedy show with Steve Martin also sounds fun. Books about celebrities… meh. I don’t particularly care about them.

    I did the audiobook of The Help, and I’m so glad I did. The southern accents, the voice inflections. It was so well done on top of just being a great novel.

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  34. I like three thought Thursday! What a great wrap-up on some good entertainment. I was especially interested in your take on Spare since we’d chatted about that on a completely different post. Hmm, interesting!

    Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. Sounds interesting. Reminds me of something I heard awhile back that Steve Martin, Martin Short and one other comedian all do their colonoscopies at the same time. What a trio that must be for the gastroenterology ward!!

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    • Wynne, if it’s true that these men all do their colonoscopies at the same time I can only imagine how ridiculous it must be. That is funny. I really enjoyed Only Murders… Looking forward to season 3.

      I’m glad I read Spare although I’m not usually a person who reads celebrity memoirs. I wanted to see what Harry had to say about his life directly, rather than reading about who he is, what he’s done, secondhand. Fascinating, both his words and the pushback on him for writing this book.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. I enjoy memoirs – I think everyone has a unique story to tell. I am not ‘dying’ to read Spare, but it will probably end up on my to-read list. I got Matthew Perry’s Memoir for Christmas, so I’ll dive into that one next.

    I was going to recommend Schitt’s Creek (that’s the only show I’ve watched recently)…. but since you’ve seen that. I heard Ted Lasso is fantastic.

    Liked by 1 person

    • San, you’re right that everyone has a story to tell and while Spare isn’t great literature, it is an interesting tale of what happens behind palace doors. I’ve not seen Ted Lasso but others have suggested it too. We don’t have Apple TV but if we do it’s first on my list.

      Like

  36. I’m not at all interested in royalty, but I will watch the expectedly unexpected Glass Onion. I love cozy mysteries and detective stories and could recommend a bunch of them if you’d like. For example, right now I’m bingewatching 11 seasons of Death In Paradise, which even has a great theme song! What was your first question again, now I forgot… Anyway, great post – again!

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Great post and as usual has created many conversations. I loved Knives Out but wasn’t as fond of Glass Onion. A bit too over the top for me. I would love to watch that show; unfortunately, I only have cable, Netflix and Prime and refuse to pay a cent more for streaming when I rarely watch TV anyway. However, it seems like I should dump the cable and add a few different services. About Harry I would say that there is undoubtedly more than just his “truth.” And he wasn’t the only one who lost his mother. Now that he’s aired out all his grievances, I’d like him to fade away and live his life in privacy, away from the publicity that he claims to despise.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Margaret, earlier this month we dumped cable entirely and have gone to streaming services. Cable was expensive and the same channels were all over the place, just in different formats, so that it really wasn’t giving us much selection. You’re right that Glass Onion was over the top, but it charmed me.

      Having never seen any TV interviews or his Netflix show, I don’t know about Harry’s claim for privacy but other commenters have mentioned it too. My takeaway from Harry’s book is that he wants to be understood and his dysfunctional family hates him for it. As I read it I kept going back to the Anne Lamont quote: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”

      Liked by 1 person

  38. I like cycling to a tried-and-true post, so every so often I do a Wordless Wednesday. My readers think it is fun and gives me a break from the longer-to- create pieces.

    Thanks for the movie suggestion. I have enjoyed “The Fragile Heart” lately. Also, on Acorn, I like the quirky Doc Martin series, now in its 10th year.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Marian, we finished the last season of Doc Martin earlier this week. Love that show, absolutely adore him and his ridiculous personality. And Port Wenn, what a town.

      I’ve never heard of The Fragile Heart so thanks for the suggestions. There’s so much to watch out there, if you know what to look for.

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  39. First, how nice to see you here on a Thursday. Second, absolutely LOVE OMITB and cannot wait for Season 3. I have been watching it with my daughter and it is a great bonding time for us. Looking forward to the new Glass Onion movie too. I don’t really care, actually, whether I see it in the theater or not. Most of the time I am just as happy sitting in my rocking chair at home. Cheaper too. Hubby likes the theater because it is LOUD and he can’t hear. I do enjoy reading memoirs about famous people. Thanks for the heads up that Spare isn’t something I should run out and buy. Maybe a checkout from the library after the hubbub dies down. Love this new segment of yours! Congrats on 12 years! Have a fantastic weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, Only Murders… is one of the funniest smart shows I’ve seen in a long time. I’m sure it’s great for bonding with your daughter.

      I didn’t know Glass Onion was in the theater until a commenter told me he’d seen it there. I watch movies at home because I don’t like theaters– and it is much cheaper.

      I would wait until you can get a copy of the book discounted– or from the library. Even then you may not end up reading every page of it. It’s very much a diary, rather than a series of essays, and there were portions of Harry’s life I didn’t care about. Still overall, interesting.

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  40. I like your Thursday idea, Ally. Let’s see if I can remember the questions without scrolling back to the top of the page, although I have time. I’m on hold with a government office with a wait time of an hour and fifteen minutes (approximately.) 🙂

    My husband used to want to see movies in the theater all the time but once we got Netflix, that ended. We watch everything at home and of course Covid kept anyone out of theaters for a long time.

    We saw “Glass Onion” and enjoyed it. One of our daughters says “Knives Out” is better but I’ll have to get that from the library. We’re currently watching season one of “Last Man Standing” with Tim Allen. Very, very funny.

    Sequels? We like the first three Bourne movies a lot. We’ve seen several Star Wars movies and Indiana Jones movies but feel that the first one was still the best. On TV, “Foyle’s War”, (no longer on) was one of the best things on television and we’ve watched an owned all 8 seasons. Disclaimer: there are only a few episodes per season, so it’s not as big a deal as it sounds.

    Do I read? All the time! Do I read biographies? Rarely. I’m not interesting in the lives of many of the people being written about these days. Not interested in “Spare.” I don’t really care about most celebrities other than whether or not they’re good actors. 🙂

    Not sure if that covered everything you asked or went beyond but I did already scroll up once and this is long enough anyway. Cheers!

    janet

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, thanks for commenting while you were waiting on the phone. Lord love a duck, what a long wait!

      I’m still surprised that people are going to the movies again after the pandemic, which I guess is still with us. I prefer to be at home so watching movies here is fine by me. You’re right about Netflix.

      Z-D watched Foyle’s War but I never saw it. I don’t know why now that I write this. He liked it.

      Spare called to me and while I’m generally not a person who cares about celebrity tell-alls, I’m glad I read/skimmed Harry’s book. For once, and probably only once, I’m reading something off the NYT bestseller list when it’s on the list. This could be a first for me.

      Like

      • I get that. The NYT bestseller list and I only converge for some authors of mysteries/thrillers usually. As for movie awards, there was one year back when I was in college where I’d seen every movie up for best picture. Now I’ve rarely even heard of them. 🙂 I’m good with that.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Same story here. When we were first married we tried to see all the movies up for awards in theaters, then would stay up late to watch the award shows. We’re old now, and like you don’t know the names of most current movies. Seems better this way.

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      • I’m with you on Murders in the Building. That was fun. Best TV show ever made (because someone made me the judge of such in 2002) is Firefly, currently available on Hulu. I can’t rave about the movie sequels, but the TV episodes are the most fun out there in the ‘verse. Shiny!

        Liked by 1 person

  41. Generally I prefer to watch movies at home but we have an Art Deco theater within walking distance which is fun to see the blockbusters in. I tried to watch Glass Onion but it lost me. Not sure why. I’ll try again. It was supposed to be sunny today but with the sun came bitter cold!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jan, I’d probably have a different opinion about going to the movies if I lived near an Art Deco theater. That would be cool. I liked Glass Onion but it is a bid disjointed at first… which makes sense by the end. Or at least I thought it did.

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  42. Hey Ally – congrats on 12 years. Keep them coming! Today I almost bought Spare for my Kindle, but I held back. There are over 400 holds on the book at the library so it will be a very long wait. But you know, celebrity memoirs can be disappointing or only partly interesting. Still, Harry’s angst does call out to me. There must be truth in the story.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Barbara, I like how you describe celebrity memoirs as being “only partly interesting.” For me that was the deal with Spare. I enjoyed learning about Harry’s relationships with his family, but the rest, which I’m sure was important to him, didn’t interest me. There was sadness and angst, but the kind that leads to clarity and action. Hence the book, I suppose.

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    • Frank, the movie was enjoyable probably because of Craig’s character’s southern sleuth-y charm. The TV show is funny– and as for Spare it is what it claims to be, Harry’s explanation of who he is and why.

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  44. Happy twelfth anniversary, Ally!

    I love the type of quirky humor in Only Murders and Glass Onion. Especially because they are also mysteries, which I adore. The Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Holmes series is amusing in a similar way. But I also love Psych and Monk, because they have that great mix of danger/mystery and humor. I’m sorry all my examples are so old!

    I am not a big movie watcher, but that’s probably because my husband and I have a very narrow overlap of movies that we each want to watch, and because I dislike movie theaters with a passion. Being in the dark with a bunch of strangers while a movie plays WAY too loudly and I can’t pause it to pee? No thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Suzanne, thanks for reminding me about the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Holmes series. I’ve not seen it and I bet I’d enjoy it.

      Yes, yes! You’ve explained my dislike of movie theaters, too. It creeps me out to sit in the dark with strangers while something too loud and too bright plays in front of me. Plus the bathroom thing of course. It’s just not fun.

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  45. I watched the first season (or most of it) of OMITB but kind of lost interest in it. A friend told me to get back into it because I’d like it. V and I both loved The Glass Onion. I have the biggest crush on Daniel Craig so that doesn’t hurt. I’m going to forgo Spare – at least for now. I appreciate your take on it!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Katie, I don’t know what it was about Only Murders… but it grabbed me from the beginning. Something about the humor. I crush on Craig, too. Spare is what I expected it to be, an explanation of Harry’s most unusual life and why he is who he is. Interesting in parts, but not required reading.

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  46. Once I got through the first episode of Shitt’s Creek I was hooked. I love how those self-absorbed, materialist characters eventually morphed into warm and lovable human beings. Speaking of whacky, also loved Seinfeld and binged watched the entire series about a year ago. I do enjoy the occasional memoir, particularly if I have great admiration for the author. There is alway something to learn within someone else’s success story. Love Three Thoughts Thursday. Keep ’em coming!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Julia, I know how you feel about Schitt’s Creek. It grew on me so that somewhere in the middle of Season 2 I HAD TO KNOW what was going to become of them. You raise a good point about whether you respect the author of the memoir or not. I learn from everything I read, sometimes who not to be, sometimes who to be. Glad you like Three Thoughts Thursday.

      Like

      • Yet again, I ask myself, “How does she do it?” How does she answer a bazillion though-provoking comments from enthusiastic readers?”
        Please save yourself from commenting on my comment! 😁 No need!

        Liked by 1 person

  47. 1- I absolutely love Only Murders in the Building, and I am thrilled to hear that season three is in the works (and Meryl Streep is in it).

    2- I watched the Netflix docuseries on Harry and Meghan, as well as the Oprah interview. Even though I sympathize with both of them, I don’t think I need to read the book. 

    3- I might have to watch that show because someone told me that if I liked White Lotus (which I did), I’d like Glass Onion, which brings me to the question….have you seen The White Lotus?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kari, I loved Only Murders… from the minute it started and that’s unusual for me. Something about the characters and the sets drew me in. Looking forward to Season 3.

      I’ve not watched any interviews with Harry nor have I seen the Netflix series so reading this book was my way of catching up. I don’t fault them for speaking out about people who hurt them and I don’t see them as whiners as some commenters have suggested. I see them as truth tellers with an amazing story to tell.

      I’ve not seen White Lotus but I think I’d like it. We don’t get have the streaming service it is on.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Donna, I know the book is POPULAR right now. I’m glad I read it, even though much of it was news to me I wasn’t surprised by what Harry wrote. Dysfunctional families are often alike in how the marginalize the black sheep, slowly and subtly. Wonder when you’ll get your chance to read it.

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  49. I don’t have any suggestions for tv shows. I have never read a celebrity memoir and must admit I probably won’t. I look at one, think of a whining rich person, who wants to make more money, and wants my sympathy. Moving right along. 🙂 I grew up going to the movies on Sunday to see a double feature, cartoon, and news. Now, there’s a blast from the past. Up until Covid, I went periodically when there was one I was interested in, but the ticket price, snacks, and drinks were outrageous. These days, I grab a drink, pop some fresh popcorn, and sit down at home in a comfy chair with an afghan and enjoy the show. My age is probably showing, but I’m okay with that. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy, interesting take on celebrity memoirs. I haven’t read many but I’ve never thought of them as people looking to make more money. I figure they were just extending their time in the limelight, an ego thing, like Mathew Perry’s recent one. I didn’t take what Harry said as whining, fwiw. I thought he did a good job of explaining himself which was interesting in its own way, but I won’t be watching him on TV. I get the gist of things.

      I don’t think I ever went to a double feature, but I remember the concept. I haven’t been inside a movie theater in probably a decade. It’s expensive and I feel anxious in them. Like you give me a comfy chair and I can enjoy a movie at home.

      Liked by 1 person

    • The Travel Architect, I hear ‘ya. I feel the same way. I don’t like the talking and the munching/slurping sounds that people make. Plus it’s expensive for something I can do more easily at home.

      Liked by 1 person

  51. I’m not much for movies or celebrities. A person can’t choose the family they’re born into, but I do believe there are some things you don’t have to share. In any case, I’m not interested. I figure everything worth reading has been shared. The rest is probably the stuff you skipped over. Congrats on an even dozen blogging years.

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    • Dan, I don’t see many movies either. I rarely read a celebrity memoir so reading Spare was unusual for me. I’m glad I did, I went to the primary source as I was taught to do in college. It was interesting to see how Harry described his own life– as opposed to the ways in which his disinterested family and the corrupt British tabloids have described him. He told his truth which I respect. Pity his family doesn’t appreciate him as much as the rest of the world does.

      And thanks for the congrats. Can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for a dozen years. Go figure

      Liked by 1 person

  52. I like Only Murders in the Building, but my husband LOVES it. Esp Martin Short is truly his humor, but Steve Martin is a very close second. He would watch them stir soup. (Which, you know, you CAN watch Selena Gomez cook if you’re so inclined.)

    I find biographies and autobiographies boring, but likely this one would be different.

    I haven’t seen either of the Knives Out films, but have seen a lot of people talk about the new one, so I guess I should give it a go. I like both, theater and home. I went to a movie last week, and I will admit that my butt got tired in the big comfy seat.

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    • J, I agree about watching those two stir soup. You know it’d be too funny. I liked Only Murders… and am sorry it took me so long to actually sit down and watch it. I don’t know why I resisted.

      I’m with you about biographies/memoirs so for me to buy and read Spare was a rarity. I’m glad I did. I’ve not seen Harry on TV interviews nor have I watched the Netflix show thus by reading/skimming the book I feel caught up with the rest of the world. Interesting man, difficult life.

      I like the Benoit Blanc character in the Knives Out movies so I’m primed to like them. I haven’t been in a movie theater in a decade, not when I can put on my jammies and lounge around as I watch. Priorities, you know!

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  53. I made a commitment to myself to read more this year. So far, I have 1 and 3/4s books read. Just regular books as I’ve never tried an e-reader nor an audio book. I cannot remember the last time I rented a movie to bring it home, but it was probably just before Blockbuster went out of business. I cancelled my cable and only watch movies using Amazon Prime … when I get to watch them. I have the Peacock Channel through Comcast, so I’d like to start “Yellowstone” as well. I used to have a regular feature in my blog called “Tuesday Musings” and when I had funny things to say, sometimes off-topic (as to walking), I called it “Friday Frivolity”. Since I’ve gone to a Monday and Wednesday posting schedule (except for holidays when I may alter the schedule), I’ve not done these two features in a while.

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    • Linda, I, too, have decided I’d like to get back into reading more books this year. For me to have a read Spare, a book on the NYT bestseller list, while it was on the list is an amazing accomplishment for me. We only have streaming services for TV and movies now. We ditched cable. I hear good things about Yellowstone, but Peacock is one of the streams we don’t have.

      I started this feature in 2018 but was random with it and let it slide. I like the idea of having Three Thoughts Thursday, or something like your regular features, just to keep my content varied. This time I’m going to do this quarterly, holding myself accountable to myself.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I read the last Nicholas Sparks’ book (“Dreamland”) at New Year’s break and decided to hop onto Goodreads to get others’ opinions on the ending. Somehow, before I left that site, I signed up to read 25 books this year. While no one is holding my feet to the fire to get this done, I am going to try. Well, I am reading a NYT bestseller from *1998* (hmm) – it is “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson, based on the movie which I watched in December. I am wavering about getting “Spare” as I listened to a lot of interviews and read some excerpts from the book online at Peopledotcom.

        I should resurrect my two features, but I promised myself just two posts a week – any more makes me too behind with EVERYTHING, not just blogging.

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        • I remember reading A Walk in the Woods and enjoying it. Bryson has a way with words and a delightful sense of humor. I wish you well reading your 25 books. I used to be on Goodreads but I ended up feeling confused by it rather than inspired. Too much information can overwhelm me and Goodreads has lots of it.

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          • I am really enjoying A Walk in the Woods, even more than the movie. Bryson is wonderfully descriptive! Well, I signed up, then couldn’t find where to put the Sparks book and I wasn’t sure if I would contribute any review,s just list the books as I read them. I thought their site was confusing as well.

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  54. I think Harry had a rough go, and his story compels me in a way that the rest of the royals’ story does not. I wonder how much of the book was actually written by him and not a ghost-writer, which is common for celebrity memoirs. Would he have made the break if his wife hadn’t forced him?

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    • KDKH, I agree that Harry is infinitely more interesting than the rest of the royals. I have no idea if there was a ghostwriter involved, but wouldn’t be surprised if there was. I didn’t get the idea that his wife forced him to break away from his dysfunctional family, she supported/supports him in his decision to live a more mentally healthy life in the US.

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        • You could be right. I didn’t read the book with the monarchy in mind, just as an insight into an awful family of origin and how one guy has overcome their negative opinion of him. Not political, just personal.

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  55. I do like wacky comedies but most are very Canadian like This Hour has 22 Minutes. I am not much of a biography reader but do follow the Royal Family so might actually read this one (someday) and also don’t watch a lot of movies; either in the theatre or at home. Congrats on 12 years and this seems like a fun type of post to revamp. I had all sorts of ideas when I first started and never di most of them!

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    • Bernie, I’ve not heard of This Hour has 22 Minutes but I am intrigued. My curiosity prompted me to read Spare. I studied in England when I was in undergrad and from that experience I became more interested in the Royal Family [mostly QEII]. I felt like I had to read the memoir. Also it’s nice to get the story straight from the main character, rather than from a secondary source.

      I will try to keep Three Thoughts Thursday going this time. I made a logo so I’m committed to it, probably posting quarterly this time round.

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  56. Mary and I really don’t watch a lot of TV anymore: pretty much “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy!” and reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Oh, and on Saturday we generally watch “The Three Stooges” and “Svengoolie” on MeTV. Mary occasionally will watch a “Columbo” rerun on Cozi. But that’s really it.

    I do like memoirs, though I’m not much into the memoirs of celebrities in general, though I liked “I Me Mine,” George Harrison’s memoir.

    We don’t watch movies anymore. If we did, we’d likely watch them at home, because I have a lot of trouble with the low seats in the theater…

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    • John, the TV shows you watch make me smile. I haven’t seen most of them in decades, although I did watch a few episodes of Columbo during the lockdown days of the pandemic. You do realize there are newer TV shows, very smart and compelling, to watch now, right? 😉

      I don’t read many memoirs but George Harrison’s book would be interesting. The Beatles [+ Eric Clapton of course] had a profound influence on music. He’s been gone a long time now, when did he write it?

      I don’t watch many movies either. We watch them off the streaming services at home, where it is comfy.

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      • I’m underwhelmed with TV these days, in all honesty. I think they’ve lost their focus on producing quality programming and are just wanting to fill one hour (or one half-hour) of 168 hours in a week. As always, your mileage may vary.

        George wrote “I Me Mine” in 1980. It’s loaded with pictures of his lyrics as they were written out and other pictures, as well as some intersting commentary.

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  57. There you go, throwing in a Thursday post when I thought you were a Tuesday post kind of blogger. 😉 Since I’m always late to reading your Tuesday posts on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, it was serendipity to find your Thursday post today on Friday!

    Congratulations on 12 years. I LOVE your very first post. I remember feeling those feelings years ago too.

    To answer your questions.

    Do you enjoy slightly absurd kind of wacky TV shows that make you laugh? YES
    If so, any suggestions for what we might watch next?
    Sorry to say, we have the basic cable service that not only gives us many channels we never watch, the ones we do watch only play shows we don’t watch. The TV is off more than it is on 😉

    Do you read [or listen to] books? YES, read.
    If so, are you interested in memoirs written by or biographies about celebrities? YES and NO.
    Why or why not? Yes, because, I think it is important to read firsthand what they went through (unfiltered from the media twists), No, because, depending on who funded the writing, it may be a memoir of planted and paid-for information.

    If you watch movies do you prefer to do so at home or in a theater? At home, that way when I start to fall asleep, I won’t offend anyone with my headbobbing. 😴
    Do you enjoy sequels wherein you watch the same main character [or characters] do whatever they do as the story continues? In my limited viewing of movies, it’s hard to find sequels that do the first movie justice. For example, in Top Gun, the first one was the best, and the return one wasn’t bad, I enjoyed it, but the storyline was so close to the first one, it was a meh for me. As a kid though, I loved the sitcoms and couldn’t wait to watch the next episode.

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    • Shelley, after 12 years I remain at heart a Tuesday [sometimes Wednesday] kind of blogger but will occasionally [once a quarter] also be a Thursday kind of blogger. I reserve the right to be a Friday kind of blogger on a whim [like Maggie’s questions last week].

      After getting fiber optic last fall we cut the cord with cable, now using only streaming services. I sense we’ll be watching more TV and I’m okay with that. There are some good TV shows out there in non-cable land + more movies.

      I wanted to read Spare to see what Harry had to say about himself. I know he’s talked about often in the media, but considering he is the main character in his life why not let him explain? I don’t sense that anyone funded Harry to say what he did so we’re good on that point in this case.

      I agree about watching movies at home, in my jammies, able to nod off anytime. I don’t watch many movies, but I’m here to tell you that Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc is worth watching in any movie he shows up in. Most enjoyable.

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      • I love your take on being flexible with your blogging schedule. It is important to go with the groove that sparks moments of creativity.

        I suppose we’ll end up with some kind of different service once ours finally goes into the obsolete zone. We did watch reruns of the Best of Becker on YouTube. That’s fun that you’ve found good shows to watch.

        I appreciate your perspectives on Harry’s book.

        I haven’t seen any of Knives Out. I do like Daniel Craig, hmm…maybe I need to figure out how to see an episode or two. Thanks for the suggestion!

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  58. I’m not sure I enjoy out & out wacky, I do enjoy gentle humour. If that might be up your street, I can recommend a British series called detectorists (about people who use metal dectectors).

    As you know, I read a lot. I haven’t read a good biography for decades. I’ve heard talk that the ghost writer who helped/wrote Spare is excellent (and also did Andre Agassi’s book which is well reviewed). Like you, I’d be interested in going direct to the horse’s mouth on this subject rather than reading what the British media have to say. Fortunately, there is one radio host (with a journalism background from when a journalist was an honourable profession) who does read out extracts and compares them with what the press say. It’s been enlightening. But I’m not at all surprised. As many have said, the institution is long past its sell by date and the death of the Queen was the ideal time for it to be phased out (in my not so humble opinion). But doubtless, it will drag on because it “brings in tourist revenue”.

    Not generally keen on sequels in the film world, but I really enjoyed Glass Onion. Although I liked the first one, I think Daniel Craig got properly into his stride with the character this time round, so enjoyed it more. Also Janelle Monae and he were a great (platonic) combo. I used to enjoy going to the cinema, but am happy at home these days. That way I get to avoid the chatty ones, the phone users, the noisy eaters etc.

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    • Deb, I’ve heard of detectorists, but didn’t know its premise. Thanks for the idea, I’ll look for it.

      Interesting tidbit about Harry’s ghost writer who also did Andre Agassi’s book. A commenter above mentioned Agassi’s book as one that I might enjoy. Now I’m curious. I’m glad I read/skimmed Harry’s memoir, if for no other reason than to know his side of things. Like you mentioned what the tabloids say about him and reality are different. I hadn’t thought about it before, but you’re right about the institution of the monarchy– it’s a tourist draw.

      I enjoyed Glass Onion more than I thought I would. I also enjoyed seeing a movie in which a man and a woman worked together in a platonic relationship, with no romance involved. I’m with you about the reasons to watch movies at home. Much more pleasant.

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  59. Congrats on making it 12 years. Some people can’t make it 12 months, so you’re a champ.

    I’ve heard about Only Murders, and it didn’t sound like my type of show, but maybe it is? I like silly! I’m partially through with the first season of Bad Sisters. Someone recommended it on their blog, and it’s terrific. A serious subject, but the characters are flawed and funny.

    I occasionally like a memoir, although celebs aren’t usually my thing. I have mixed feelings about Harry and Meghan. They wanted to leave the Royals but haven’t stopped speaking about Them. I would think they might want to start a fresh new life? But I suppose there is profit to be made in badmouthing your family. I’m not a royals person either, and I can’t imagine living in that environment.

    We watched the first Knives Out movie (at home, my preferred movie spot) and it was really good!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Suz, I resisted watching Only Murders… too, but once I got over myself I really enjoyed it. I’ve not heard of Bad Sisters so thanks for the suggestion.

      I can’t fault Harry for attempting to set the record straight about how he was treated by his family of origin. I don’t think of it as badmouthing them, just giving his side of the story. He’s the underdog in this situation, can you imagine going through life being considered a spare part? It makes me sad. I also think he’ll fade away soon enough, he’s a tempest in a teapot.

      I liked Knives Out and enjoyed this latest one, too. It’s light and in such an amazing setting.

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  60. I’ve been surprised at how many bloggers are very critical of Harry and his wife. Whatever the opinion, I’m certain both those boys have mental health issues after what happened to their mother. Plus, ugh on their father and his new wife!

    I’m currently watching Curb Your Enthusiasm. It’s indeed wacky! The most recent memoirs I’ve read are Molly Shannon’s and Bono’s.

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    • Bijoux, I’ve noticed the same thing as you about bloggers critical of Harry. Honestly, I don’t get it but there you go– just another thing I don’t understand.

      I agree with you that both the boys went through a lot after their mother died and their father married his mistress who he preferred to their mother. It’s disturbing, how could you not be impacted negatively?

      I saw a couple of episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but never followed up with watching it. No reason why that I can remember. I bet those memoirs were interesting. Very unique people, both of them.

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  61. I’ve seen commercials for Only Murders in the Building; it looks like it would be a fun show to watch. (I haven’t yet because I don’t have Hulu.) I don’t read celebrity memoirs because… I honestly don’t care about their lives. I’m also not a royal watcher. Watching the “love story” between Princess Diana and Prince Charles unfold was more than enough to destroy any lingering dreams of how great it would be to be a princess. I think the monarchy is pretty a pretty toxic place and it must be a horrible place to grow up. I am completely over movie theaters; I don’t want to stand in line at the concession stand to get my ticket, I don’t want to have assigned seating, I’m just done. Anything I’m interested in seeing will be available to be streamed soon enough.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda, we only recently got Hulu and Only Murders… was the first show we watched.

      I don’t usually read celebrity memoirs but I studied in England for a term when I was in college, so learning about the monarchy was part of my education. That being said I wouldn’t describe myself as a royal watcher, more of an occasional royal noticer. Harry’s book confirmed what I think everyone suspected, the Royal Family needs LOTS of therapy.

      I agree about seeing a movie in a theater. Too expensive, too much bother, and anymore movies are streamed soon after their release. I’ll watch at home in my jammies.

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  62. I wasn’t sure I’d like the glass onion but I ended up really enjoying it and only murders in the building is one of my favorites. Couldn’t get enough!! It’s the perfect combination of a good old fashioned who-done-it with a perfectly modern take. Absolutely delicious

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  63. I’ve been watching Arrested Development on Netflix (I came in late to that one), and it is very quirky and clever. And I love Justin Bateman. Another fun one is Miracle Workers on TBS , which is supposed to be coming out with season 4 pretty soon. It’s an anthology series, so each season has a different setting & premise. Daniel Ratcliffe and Steve Buscemi. I think that show is hilarious. I loved both Murders and Onion. Always on the look-out for another new show to watch, lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Gwen, I loved the few episodes I ever saw of Arrested Development. Thanks for reminding me of that show. Dear Lord, it was funny, probably still is.

      I’ve never heard of Miracle Workers, but will look for it. I think we get TBS now via one of the streaming services. We ended our relationship with cable.

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  64. I like this idea Ally, and I like to hear about movie recommendations as I find it difficult to find things to watch. I don’t think Hulu is available in Canada though. I’m number 30 on the library reservation list for Spare so it will be awhile, but that’s okay as I have 6 other books out…..

    Liked by 1 person

    • Joni, I am going to do this feature quarterly because while it’s simple it also means I have to have three things worthy of note to share. And that’s more difficult to do than you might think.

      I’m glad I read/skimmed Spare and feel more in the know about Harry. He’s had an emotionally difficult life living in a gilded cage not of his own making. Very unique.

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  65. A thought-provoking post, in a good, fun way, Ally. I am also a huge fan of Only Murders in the Building. I think the word on the street is Meryl Streep will be joining them for Season 3. Re: your questions: I have an eclectic taste of wacky, humour, suspense, futuristic, character development, beautiful filming, great writing, great acting…..nothing gory and not horror (depending on definition of horror).

    Huge congratulations on 12 years, Ally!❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    • Erica/Erika, I read that Meryl Streep was joining Only Murders… too. I can’t wait, but I suppose I have to. It’s such a fun show. I’m with you about nothing gory and no intense horror. I’m a delicate hothouse orchid when it comes to being easily frightened by what I see on the screen.

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  66. Congratulations on 12 fantastic years! Well done! You are a blogging veteran! Movies- at home. Books – always but not always memoirs of famous people – only ones I find inspirational. As for Harry I think I concur and feel sorry for someone imprisoned by an outdated system that treats people like public commodity in the notion that it will perpetuate their brand. But that is speaking as an anti-monarchist.
    Love the saying good things don’t happen without the correct amount of angst. Persevere!

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    • Amanda, thanks for the congrats. I am amazed I’m still blogging here. When I started I had no goal per se, other than to show up. And I have.

      I look back on my first post and smile at the profundity of what I wrote, unwittingly describing what has come to be the subtext of this blog. Go figure.

      Well said about Harry’s situation. As an American I didn’t read the book from the perspective of being a monarchist or not, but I understand what you’re saying. He is/was trapped in an odd system where he is/was a commodity. All his family is for that matter, no wonder so much dysfunction going on there.

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  67. I do enjoy memoirs written by celebrities (depending on who they are!). I read Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller last year and it was one of my favourite reads of the year. Similarly, a memoir that has stayed with me is Michael J. Fox’s Lucky Man.

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    • notesoflifeuk, I’ve never read many celebrity memoirs so this was different for me to read what Harry had to say. I bet Dave Grohl’s book would be very interesting as would Micheal J. Fox’s memoir. I’ll keep them in mind. Thanks for the recommendations.

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  68. Loved Murders In the Building, don’t read celebrity memoirs, loved Glass Onion. We have recently watched both seasons of White Lotus. It’s a little on the raunchy side, but still a good mystery. Congrats on the longevity of your blog. Well done.

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  69. Suzanne, I was totally taken with Only Murders… and I can’t wait for the next season. I rarely read any memoir, let alone a celebrity one, but it was interesting to learn how Harry thinks about what has happened to him. Sad but insightful. I know White Lotus gets rave reviews but I don’t think we get the right streaming service to see it. I’ll doublecheck though. Thanks for the idea.

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  70. First of all Ally, congrats on 12 years of writing! Quite a feat indeed!

    My 2 cents on Harry. If we took away his “royal status” and this was an ordinary person telling his life story, I suspect there would be a tremendous amount of sympathy for all he has endured as a young man. I have no doubt his choice of stepping down from his royal duties and making an attempt to live a somewhat normal life, was a very difficult one to make. Whether he spoke about it or not, it is bound to be talked about and written about, simply because of who he is. I believe he has every right to tell his version of his story, his truth as he sees it, for himself, for his wife and for his children. I would guess that whether he is in the public eye or not, publicity will inevitably follow him to the end of his life. As a human being, I hope that in unloading some of his pain through his writing, he finds healing in doing so.

    Currently reading Chris Hadfield’s book, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth. Very interesting!

    Just finished watching a limited series called From Scratch, on Netflix. A beautiful love story, perhaps sappy in some parts, but a reminder of very precious time is with our loved ones.💕

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    • Lynn, I’m as amazed as anyone about me keeping this blog going for 12 years. At most I thought I’d be here 5 years.

      I agree with everything you wrote about Harry. It’s been a fascinating experience to read and reply to the comments on this post. Many commenters are adamently against him for varied reasons, while the rest either respect his decision to talk about his life or have no opinion about him at all. I, too, hope that with the publication of this memoir he finds healing and understanding that allows him to live a life of his own choosing.

      I’ve not heard of Hadfield’s book but I bet I’d like it. I also don’t know of Scratch, but will look for it. Thanks for the recommendations.

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  71. Saw both seasons of OMITB prefer the first but the 3rd with Streep i hope is on par with the 1st. Might be Gomez last..heard she wantsvto retire from acting. Will see a sequel and have been known to see film series but i hate remakes/reboots. I mostly read graphic novels and bio/memoir sometimes a combo of the two. Congrats on the blogversary..i am calling it quits the end of May.

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  72. Congrats on your anniversary, Ally!
    I also enjoyed Glass Onion. Watched it with my family some of whom had seen it twice. As for Harry, it makes sense that he would tell his side of the story. He knows how unlikely it is tht he would ever be king with the number of people ahead of him. I probably won’t wind up reading his book, because EVERY DAY my computer waves quotes and stories about the conflict between members of the royal family. Seriously, every time I move my cursor to the left, a menu pops up. The royal family, for some reason, is the first news story discussed, though I did not set up the menu.

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    • L. Marie, I liked Glass Onion, primarily because of Craig’s character. He made me smile in spite of what some commenters have said was a disjointed plot line in the movie.

      I’m glad I read Harry’s book. I wanted to know his take on his life rather than read about it secondhand from his family and the tabloids. I don’t see any news about him or the royal family with any regularity. It’s interesting how your computer experience updates you about him often.

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  73. My favorite slightly absurd and kind of wacky TV show is Australia’s “Offspring.” Some of it is sad but the ludicrous parts make me laugh out loud. Yes, I enjoy reading and listening to books, especially autobiographies. It’s always interesting to see how people make sense of their own lives. And I prefer to watch movies at home where the seating is more comfortable, the air is fresher and the pause button is handy.

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    • Barbara, I’ve never heard of Offspring so thanks for the recommendation. I’ll look for it. I agree that it’s interesting to see how a person explains their life. That’s why I wanted to read Spare.

      You said it about the movies. At home is much nicer than in a theater. I do like the pause button.

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        • Z-D saw Harry interviewed by Colbert and thought Harry’s demeanor and story were compelling. Like I said, I didn’t read every word of Spare because I don’t care about his bachelor life, but the parts about family relationships were insightful + sad.

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  74. Love murders in the building! Can not go wrong with that cast and I will probably read Prince Harry’s book. I prefer to read my murder mysteries, love stories and history books and watch anything comedy. I love to laugh out loud as much as I possibly can.

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    • Belladonna, you and I both! I prefer the same genres of books and am fond of watching comedies. I’m glad I read what Harry had to say, despite all the naysayers in the world who tried to convince me to not read the book. The pushback against reading it surprised me– and tells me he must be closing in on the truth.

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  75. Hi. My wife and I always have gone to movie theaters a lot. The exception was in 2020, because of the pandemic. But over the last couple of years we’ve started watching more films on TV than we did before. Partly that’s because some movies go directly to Netflix et al, or end up there quickly after being in theaters very briefly. Glass Onion is an example of that. Anyway, I like being in cinemas, and I also like watching movies at home!

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    • Neil, you sound like a balanced person who knows the pros and cons of viewing movies there and here. You’re right about how quickly movies make it to Netflix. I had no idea Glass Onion had been in the theaters and only found out when a commenter mentioned it.

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