A Multitude of Movies in March

I spent the first week of March watching quite a bit while staying with my mother. She calmed to every musical and somewhat when I watched the BBC's The Monarch of the Glen (a series I have no access to, but my parents own 7 seasons of it - I only managed 3-1/2 seasons). We watched her beloved Meet Me in St. Louis, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, Les Miserables (a staged production), and my favorite, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My house is very quiet. We don't watch television at all (don't have cable or any other access points). Still, the practice of watching must have influenced me because I watched more movies in March than I have in a long time.

Not long ago, I discovered my library access to a documentary/movie portal called Kanopy. It is like Hoopla (a certain amount of credit per month), but focuses on documentaries and movies. I watched a documentary about William's Syndrome called Truelove: The Film. Then I got on a Felicity Jones kick. I watched Like Crazy, about a British student attending college in America who overstays her visa. It was a sad and disturbing movie about how bureaucracy stood in the way of her marriage. Not one I recommend. My next Felicity Jones fare was the Masterpiece Theater production of Northanger Abbey, a book I read 5 years ago.

After that, I explored famous writers who lost children (don't ask me why). So, I watched the Roald Dahl story, To Olivia. Then, I watched the 1977 movie, Mary White. William Allen White was a writer and author in Emporia, Kansas. His 16-year-old daughter died when she struck a low-hanging branch while riding her horse. The actress who played Mary did an outstanding job of communicating the girl's spunk and convictions.

Sean was interested in the Mary White movie because it corresponded to a period in history that he was then studying in his AP US History course. I also watched another movie at his behest. He had read the book Into the Wild for another class. I regretted that choice because it had a few minor nude scenes in the telling. No doubt this is why the teacher didn't share the movie with the class, ha!

Watching some of the Viking TV episodes about Great Britain led me to seek some more British fare. Thus, I watched Irish Wish, a cute little movie set with gorgeous footage of Ireland. It is about a young American girl who makes a wish on an ancient stone in Ireland. She wishes to marry her best friend's fiancé. As her wish unfolds, she learns it wasn't the best wish. I also made a 20-mile trek to the closest theater I could find showing the movie One Life. I adored Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter in the film. Yet, I think I would have been fine waiting for library access and watching it at a later date. In my opinion, the documentary my husband and I watched on Kanopy in February (called Nicky's Family) was a more compelling telling of Nicholas Winton's story. Oh well.

So, what did I do besides all that movie watching? Well, nothing much. It seems I've been expertly avoiding thinking about difficult things. I did, however, begin purging in the kitchen. At this point, I only have two bags and am through a third of the cupboards. I attended a webinar on memoir writing (not for myself, but because a close friend has asked for help in writing her memoir). I would love to pick up where my writing stalled out mid-year, but still haven't made that happen. If my friend can get me writing again, even in a quasi-manner, it will be helpful.

2024 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). What a stellar quarter! 5 💖books I highly recommend. Of the rest, all were 4👍 or higher, except for 1 at 3👍. I read the following books during the first quarter of 2024 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2024, found through the search bar at the right):

You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza - A book that brings up so many discussion-worthy topics: race, motherhood, adoption, abuse, and love. True page-turner based on an unusual "what if" premise. 318 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobbie Brown (with Kathleen McGurl) - A novel retelling of the largest civilian loss during WWII, a devastating catastrophe of 173 crushed to death after one woman's fall down the stairs to the underground shelter during an air raid. 304 pages, 👍👍👍👍 

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer - Similar to You've Got Mail, a couple begin corresponding under false impressions. Will love win out? 384 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - A group of four boys, self-styled musketeers, set off on a journey heading on the Lincoln Highway, bound for California. However, two decide they must first make a trek to New York to retrieve something that belongs to them. With plenty of friction, conflict, and unique characters, the story is riveting and worthwhile. 592 pages (I listened in audio form, 13 CDs, 16-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

💖Do You Pray? by J. C. Ryle - This powerful treatise on the urgency, power, and purpose of prayer is a must-read for anyone interested in boosting their time in communion with God. It is too important to let slide! 72 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 1-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

💖Loving Him Well: Practical Advice on Influencing Your Husband by Gary Thomas - If you want to change your marriage, start by remodeling yourself. Loving your husband well may require sacrifice, but God's goal of honing your holiness is always worth whatever you invest. 288 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

💖A Lifelong Love: Discovering How Intimacy With God Breathes Passion into Your Marriage by Gary Thomas - Seek to address the pillars of a good marriage: spiritual intimacy, relational intimacy, and devotional intimacy. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-2/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

Reset: Powerful Habits to Own Your Thoughts, Understand Your Feelings & Change Your Life by Debra Fileta, M.A., LPC - 31 suggested practices to change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and break patterns of dysfunction. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

💖Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner - A beautiful, though tragic, tale of innocence lost, differences scorned, and lives redeemed. 400 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Hogan - Amazing how swimming with friends in the Irish Sea can make looming obstacles seem smaller! Loved the camaraderie, the colorful setting, and the interesting characters. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - This prequel to The Hunger Games series wasn't nearly as riveting or thought-provoking as the rest of the books. Glad to have given it a shot, but will not pick it up again, even if I re-read THG. 528 pages, 👍👍👍

The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page - A debut novel that tugs heartstrings and reminds us that we all have a story to tell. 314 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham - A lovely epistolary novel about love, loss, and family. 432 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

💖If I Were You by Lynn Austin - Best Lynn Austin novel I've read yet! Such a riveting tale of two women whose lives intersect and come to a crossroads when one assumes the identity of the other. 464 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 13-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Soul of Prayer by P. T. Forsyth - The writing is not easily digestible, but bears consideration. He argues for the power and importunity of prayer! 108 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Pressing Prayers Follow-up

The need for prayer continues, but here's a brief follow-up to my recent pressing prayers:

My parents - My dad's quadruple bypass heart surgery on February 22nd went well. He had three 99% blockages and one 70% blockage. His continued vitality is a gift to our whole family. My sister went to stay with my mother during the week of his hospitalization. Thankfully, some gracious church members came over for a few hours each day, allowing Dawn to visit my dad in the hospital. He assumed he would be in the hospital for a week and then return fully capable of providing my mother's care.

As Dawn's departure date approached, we realized he could not manage this on his own while recovering from open heart surgery. Thus, I scrambled to schedule a last-minute flight (the most expensive kind, sadly) and I went to provide their care for the second week after his surgery. As Dawn was preparing to leave, she was greatly distressed to learn that their assisted living facility requires a post-surgery stint in a rehabilitation facility. I was extremely grateful for this development. 

He was transported to a rehab facility that is aligned with their community and is only 1/10th of a mile away. Thus, two days after I arrived, I walked my mother over (in her power wheelchair) to his facility, picked him up and walked them back to their apartment, pushing him in a wheelchair (forming a hilarious wheelchair parade) while carefully avoiding ruts in the sidewalk. He had hoped to pay his March rent while home, but the bill had not yet arrived. So, he ended up coming to visit 2 more times before finally returning home for good on the day of my departure.

Given the stress and strain of caring for my Alzheimer's-afflicted mother, I was grateful that he was receiving excellent care separate from the apartment. Believe me, I had my hands full. Plus, I now have an increased awareness and appreciation for all my father does to meet my mother's care needs. Her schedule of meds, meals, bathroom trips, and eye drops was exhausting. We survived several messy challenges and a few Alzheimer-induced episodes of agitation. Humor helped get us through. I had packed slogan t-shirts exclusively. Every few minutes, she asked to read my shirt again. 😂

While I was grateful for the time spent with my mother in their apartment, I was thrilled to return to my quiet, unharried life at home in Indiana with my boy gang. She was cooperative and thankful for my care, for the most part. She did not remember who I was (apart from a few instances when she answered that question correctly), but seemed to sense that I was someone special to her and someone she could rely on to meet her needs. A few times, she said, "You take such good care of me." Twice during the night, when coughing spells would overtake her, I was able to rub her arm and pray with her. The cough went away after both prayers. Praise God! I was also blessed by her reaction to my book. I brought one along with me and read to her the words of dedication, thanking her for her spiritual, emotional, and literary encouragement. She seemed lucid and genuinely touched. When I read her a few of the poems, she responded with appreciation. How much really got in, I don't know. But I tried to communicate that piece.

I believe my mother is at the point of needing the professional, round-the-clock care of an Alzheimer's ward. My father still seems hesitant to make that change. He doesn't want her over-medicated (although, her current meds are already at a level that I struggled with). He wants to give her the comfort of his continued presence. Yet, I think he would still be able to visit with her for a majority of the day, while knowing her more intense needs are met by nursing professionals. I also gained respect for the nurses who provide tireless care. Those who came in to bathe my mother were patient and loving, even as she fought them. 

For me, the most difficult episode came toward the end of my visit. It was already stressful enough because my ride to the airport was scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m. This hinged on my father's anticipated release at 11 (always in question, because those facilities don't often sign you out when expected) and my brother's arrival (driving from KY) at 1 p.m. Thankfully, as hoped, my dad returned around 11 and my brother arrived shortly after noon. Because of prostate issues, my dad was still using a catheter and the line had ruined his few pairs of pants. Thus, at 1:45, he suddenly remembered he wanted Mark to take him to purchase new pants and pick up one of my mother's prescriptions. Within moments, he went from sitting snuggled right next to my mother on the couch, to shuffling out the door and off to the store and pharmacy.

If you've ever encountered an Alzheimer's patient, you know that abrupt changes can trigger agitation. This was agitation on steroids. She did NOT want me there and let me know it with a barrage of vehement words. She resented my not allowing her to go with her "friend." Even though I understood that her verbal attack was simply her Alzheimer's raging, it is hard not to feel emotional in such situations. Then, she grabbed up her walker and threatened to go find her mother. I followed her at a distance and tried to text my dad to request his return. No response. She was about to enter someone else's apartment. I talked her out of that and eventually she tired enough to sit on the hallway bench. Eager to get her back into her apartment, I suggested we look for her mother in her apartment. She went in, closed the door quickly behind her, and locked me out. 

Thankfully, a nurse at the nurse's station unlocked the door and encouraged my mom to sit on the couch. I scrambled to put on her favorite musical, Meet Me in St. Louis (something that always occupies her thoroughly), and avoided any eye contact until Mark and my dad returned (at 2:50 p.m.). When I gave hasty good-byes, my mother looked up with sad eyes and said, "Oh, you have to go???" She had no memory of her intense railing against me. Such is the disease.

Although my dad sailed through the first two weeks of recovery, he is experiencing more fatigue now. His body is working full-time to repair from the invasive surgery. Thankfully, my brother was able to provide assistance for two weeks. We continue to pray for his recovery and the best possible arrangements for care for both of my parents.

Meanwhile, on the home front:

John - At my husband's doctor appointment, the hernia surgeon said it was NOT a hernia, but rather just a weak area in the abdominal wall. Of course, the bulging didn't occur while in the doctor's office. After a few weeks of further bulging and discomfort, John called again and requested further testing. With his prior hernia, 6 years ago, he didn't experience the pain he is having this time around. It continues to bulge and to cause radiating pain in his lower abdomen. He underwent an ultrasound, but that was not helpful in identifying the source of the pain either. For now, he has been told twice now, "Monitor the pain and take a photo when the bulge appears." It is frustrating to have no answers and face continued pain. He now wears a hernia belt, and that helps somewhat. We will persist in praying for God to give the doctors wisdom to ferret out the source of this issue. Our spring visit to Texas is tentatively scheduled in May. Praying we will not have to alter those flight arrangements.

Trevor - In addition to January's loss of Trevor's car, he was experiencing dissatisfaction with his fast food job. Then, in February, he lost his job. This (in addition to his insistence on repairing his beloved car) added further turmoil. We are praising God that he was able to find another job after a few weeks of looking. Now, if we could get the damaged car off our lawn (next to the driveway), it would be marvelous. He has a friend with some mechanical skills and they attempted to replace the part where the wheel bent away from the axle. If they can get that repaired and replace the tire that took the impact of the hit to the bridge, he's hoping (since the car still starts) they will be able to move it into the garage. These challenges have wrought a change in him and we suspect there may be something going on, of which we are unaware. We continue to pray for his job and car situations, and for the sense of responsibility these issues require. We also pray for parenting wisdom as he remains living in our home.

Sean - While I was gone in Florida (assisting my parents), Sean suffered a knee injury after playing basketball with friends. He has joined male volleyball at school, so instead of resting it, he was jumping on it and causing more stress and strain. We finally scheduled a doctor appointment and he was instructed to take an NSAID, stay off the leg for two weeks, and ice it twice a day for a half hour. We continue to pray for the knee to heal properly so he can participate in the rest of the games in the volleyball season. Thankfully, he has not had another episode of accidental almond ingestion.

We praise God that He remains constant and available in every crisis and challenge. May His love guide us through each trial, and may we give Him all the glory!

Book Review: The Soul of Prayer

N. R. Johnson of The Deeper Christian gifted me P. T. Forsyth's classic, The Soul of Prayer. While difficult to digest, it is full of truth about the purpose and power of prayer. Oftentimes, I had to reread a sentence to understand. The second half of the book seemed easier to follow. I admire this author's fervent belief in the power of importunate prayer!

He quotes someone named Vinet (unfamiliar to me) as saying, "Prayer is like the air of certain ocean isles, which is so pure that there vermin cannot live. We should surround ourselves with this atmosphere, as the diver shuts himself into his bell ere he descends into the deep." I found it interesting that he observed prayer as an act of God within us to God the Father. The Holy Spirit prompts our prayers and thus, when we pray, it is God in us talking with God above us. Prayer is not an asset, meant to exploit Him, but is a gift, meant to glorify Him.

This quote was also encouraging: "So many of us pray because we are driven by need rather than kindled by grace. Our prayer is a cry rather than a hymn. It is a quest rather than a tryst. It trembles more than it triumphs. It asks for strength rather than exerts it. How different was the prayer of Christ!" He adds, "The greatest things Christ did... were done in the night and not in the day; His prayers meant more than His miracles." 

He talks about the sacrament of pain and how we must pray for pain's conversion rather than its removal. "Whatever drives us to Him... has a blessing in it.... [We should] turn pain to praise, to thank Him in the fires, to review life and spend some of the energy we spend in worrying upon recalling and tracing His goodness, patience, and mercy."

Forsyth urges readers who struggle with prayer to begin praying. Just as when a writer struggles to get words on the page, the trick is to write and the flow will inspire more flow. "Do it as a duty, and it may open out as a blessing. Omit it, and you may miss the one thing that would have made an eternal difference." He argues we should use the Bible as our prayer primer and that "prayer should be strenuously importunate." Prayer should wrestle with God while being submissive to His final will. If we don't believe our prayers are effectual, we will not wrestle. He writes, "We obey God as much when we urge our suit, and make a real petition of it, as when we accept His decision; as much when we try to change His will as when we bow to it."

Even though I have finished my 2023 prayer project, I continue to pray this year. I pray for each individual, 1 day instead of a full week, as their name comes up on the list. I no longer alert them or seek requests. But, I have grown into the habit of noting (on my ongoing list) needs that others mention on Facebook. Prayer begets more prayer. Praying may be the most important thing I do each day.

Book Review: If I Were You - Highly Recommend

Here's the proof that I felt compelled by this story: I turned down my husband's offers to wash the dishes and extended my treadmill time, just so I could snatch extra minutes listening to this audio book. By the end, I even set excuses aside and sat on the couch enjoying the tale's unfolding and resolution. I thought I might have tired of historical fiction (especially focused on WWII), but this book proved otherwise. It was so worth the lengthy time investment (13-1/2 hours).

I should note that this is Christian historical fiction, but it is the sort where the strong story leads to faith insights. The author didn't hammer the message (I've only read one Lynn Austin book where that was true). Instead, in this book, Austin peels back a story that illustrates God's love and care in authentic and meaningful ways. The characters have realistic problems. It was easy to walk a mile in their shoes and imagine the difficulties they faced. No, more than that! I recognized my own sins and mistakes, my own struggles with faith, and felt uplifted by reminders of God's love and His purpose for our pain. Author Liz Curtis Higgs says, "If I Were You is a page-turning, nail-biting, heart-stopping gem of a story." I agree!

As the Amazon teaser outlines, this is a novel of sisterhood and self-discovery, of faith and friendship. I tried several times to summarize the gist without giving up important details. In the end, I will settle for the alluring Amazon teaser:

"1950. In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Unraveling this deception will force Audrey and Eve's secrets - and the complicated history of their friendship - to the surface."

Austin sets the stage beautifully with this initial dilemma. Then, she goes back to construct their friendship and their faith struggles through the years. It is very true to life. Our faith journeys are different and fluid, ever-changing. Sometimes we have no idea that God is walking with us. Sometimes we sense Him in the presence of a lamb. Regardless of our personal struggles, or where we are on our path of faith, He is with us in the good and the bad. And boy is this world full to the brim of good and bad! It is understandable when people struggle with believing in a loving God when they see and experience the world's pain. Yet, as this story so powerfully illustrates, the Shepherd knows His sheep and will go to all lengths to find them when they are lost.

If you read and enjoy this book, there is a novella sequel called The Wish Book Christmas. (Review coming soon.) Or if you're curious to see which other Lynn Austin books I recommend, visit my reviews for Though Waters Roar, Wonderland Creek, and All Things New.

Mid-month Mention: Armchair Travel to the British Isles

Photo by Elie Khoury on Unsplash

March began with a roar. I will write more later concerning my first week of March. It was a grueling time, caring for my Alzheimer-afflicted mother. You could certainly say it came in like a lion.

When the seasons are in flux, I'm desperate to spend some time escaping to locations I love. My favorite place to go? The British Isles! Thanks to Viking TV, I've been able to whisk myself away to places of interest from the comfort of my recliner. I'd love to one day take a Viking River Cruise. In the meantime, I was thrilled to discover 61 videos, of varying lengths, covering the British Isles. You can learn about Winston Churchill, explore Highclere Castle (film location for Downton Abbey), celebrate Scottish poet Robert Burns, and visit other historic homes and landmarks.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments, if you've ever gone on a Viking River Cruise and would recommend the journey. Or let me know what your favorite destination would be. March may still roar along, but you can spend some time in armchair travel with Viking TV (to your favorite location) and perhaps it will calm to go out like a lamb.

Photo of Lake District National Park by Danny Lines on Unsplash

Book Review: Authentically, Izzy

Ever since I published a book of poetry for parents of prodigals (talk about a narrow, hard-sell category!), I've paid attention to rankings on Amazon for books I read and discover. Pepper Basham's Authentically, Izzy is the #1 Best Seller in the Contemporary Christian Romance category. Wow! It deserves that spot! I've said before that I'm not drawn to romance books. This book lured me in with promises of both epistolary story and bookish fixation. It was great fun!

At 12-years-old, Isabelle Edgewood's parents died in a plane crash. Now her concerned cousin (quasi-sibling) has signed her up for a dating website. Although she would love to find Prince Charming, her checkered love life makes her hesitant. So, when book-loving Brodie strikes up correspondence, Izzy believes he is too good to be true. She is sure it must be her cousin writing the letters. Just as she's learning he's real (and living on a delightful island near Scotland), a local author named Eli asks her out. It is the age-old question: Should Izzy seek the adventure far away or the available romance nearby? Will her fear of plane travel keep her from pursuing a possible soul-mate?

I love epistolary novels! (To explain my romance via correspondence, see my Dear Henry, Love Edith review.) Thus, I didn't necessarily agree with reviewers who struggled with a novel written entirely in letters, texts, and messages. Another author friend of mine, who tried listening to Positively, Penelope (follow-up book), said it is perhaps better read in hard form. Although I didn't feel put off by the format, I agree with her assessment. I'd recommend physically scanning pages, as opposed to listening to them in audio book form.

Still, that quibble aside, I loved so many aspects of this novel. Brodie... oh, my! I crushed on him more than the Scottish boyfriend in Sliding Doors (a character I adore). I loved the banter back and forth between the cousins. Izzy IS authentic and vulnerable and sweet. She deserves to find the love of a fellow booklover. I enjoyed all the book references (and connected with many of them). The book makes you wish the island of Skymar and all these characters were real! If you love epistolary novels and seek a clean story full of witty banter, look no further. Authentically, Izzy will warm the coldest heart and inspire the flagging book lover. (I liked this one better than Dear Henry, Love Edith.)

Book Review: The Keeper of Stories

For a debut novel, I am impressed. The Keeper of Stories is like Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, in that a lowly cleaner learns to assert herself and claim her own story. Because the personality-packed dog expresses foul-mouthed thoughts, it reminded me of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (whose memorable opening line sucked me in: "The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs got nothing much to say.") It is a frame story, much like The Arabian Nights (mentioned in the book). But, most of all, it is, as the back cover proclaims, a book "full of humor and depth - that has taken readers around the world by surprise."

In Janice's role as a housekeeper, she collects people's stories. Whether it is a snippet of story overheard on her bus ride or the tales of her clients, she relishes adding another story to her repertoire. Mostly, her clients are more interested in their own stories. But when Janice begins cleaning for Mrs. B, a flamboyant 92-year-old, she knows her story will be sucked from her eventually. Mrs. B. once worked as a spy. She's keen to know the secrets lurking beneath the surface of this mild-mannered cleaner.

I was thoroughly unprepared for the emotional investment, the clever interconnectedness, and the unexpected humor. By the end of the book, I marveled at the author's skill for bringing tears one moment, followed by snorts of laughter in the next. Despite the content in some stories (harlots, suicide, murder) and despite the foul mouth Janice hears from the beloved dog she walks, it left me enthralled. The book touches on many important truths about human weakness, tenuous familial bonds, and second chances. Primarily, I loved the focus on how each of our stories holds importance in the lives of others and teaches us something about the world. Not only did I enjoy piecing together, bit by bit, Janice's story, but I loved reading the author's bio. How fascinating! Sally Page dabbles in history, flowers, photography, pens, and stories. I'm so glad she wrote this debut novel. I will keep my eye out for more and may look up her daughter, the author Libby Page.   

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Hunger Games was riveting. I owned (thanks to my sister's gift to my non-reading teen) and read every book in the series. When The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes arrived on the scene, Sean and I were both eager to read it. Thus, I asked for the giant hardback book for my birthday and Bryce obliged. Sadly, years passed. While both of us attempted to give it a start, we didn't get far. Now, with the movie out, I decided I would attempt it in a different format. I checked out the audio version from our library.

The book is long (528 pages) and winding. The characters felt inconsistent. One minute my sympathies lay with Coriolanus Snow, while in the next, I didn't care for him. The length of the book put me off to begin with, and kept me from completing it, as well. The audio version is 14 CDs long. With Trevor's car out of commission, I wasn't the only one driving, so my husband had to pause the CD when he drove. Perhaps, given the season of snow and ice, I wasn't driving as frequently either. Whatever the reason, my interest was minimal. I continued to listen, but missed the absorbing nature of the original books. I tired of the constant battle between "is this character a good guy or a bad guy?"

To be honest, I don't think I enjoyed it enough to even bother with the movie. If the library acquires it, and I'm lost for something to do some weekend, I may check it out. But I can't muster the desire to see it or experience this tale again. The books still highlight telling social commentary. Our society doesn't hold human life with any more esteem than the Capitol. It isn't a stretch to think we might be capable of similar atrocities occurring right beneath our noses, and few have the guts to protest.