Book Review

Review: Evenings & Weekends

11 Comments

Evenings and Weekends

Evenings & Weekends
By Oisin McKenna
Mariner, 9780063319974, July 2924, 352 pp.

The Short of It:

Sharp. Poignant. Beautiful.

The Rest of It:

“Summer in London stops for no one. Not the half-naked drunks and stoners, the bachelorette parties glugging from bejewelled bottles, the drag queens puffing on hurried cigarettes. It’s June 2019, and everyone has converged on the city’s parks, beer gardens, and street corners to revel in the collective joys of being alive.” ~ the publisher

The above blurb might set the tone, but Evenings & Weekends is so much more than that raucous snippet. It’s about love, friendship, self-doubt and the longing we have for a happy life, but at what cost?

A group of friends meander their way through life. Living with each other, dating each other. This is a story of exploration. Men with men, women with men, women with women. But then, one of their inner circle finds herself pregnant at 30. Maggie is broke and faced with the prospect of moving back to a town she couldn’t wait to get away from. Her boyfriend Ed is there for her, but is he really? Ed is going through his own exploratory period, and their mutual friend Phil has everything to say about it.

These are complex characters faced with the fact that they aren’t young anymore. Their actions have consequences. The love they have for one another feels so genuine though. There is some darkness as they find their way but it’s so beautifully written that I didn’t mind the rough bits in between.

Evenings & Weekends has been described as “sexually charged.” I would agree with that statement but when it involves long time friends, it becomes more of a tender story of exploration. This is one of those ensemble cast reads. I can see it making its way to the big screen. Think, The Big Chill. I really liked this one. It will probably make my fave list at the end of the year.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: What Are You Doing to Stay Sane?

17 Comments

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

This is a legitimate question. What are you all doing to stay sane? I would love to have a room with just puppies and kittens running all over the place. We do that here at the university during finals week but this needs to be a reality. I think it would really help alleviate some stress. I’d volunteer at the shelter but I would want to take them all home. So, no.

I avoid the news and bury myself in Bible study. It helps, a lot. I still think puppies would help. The Otter Pup gives me a lot of side eye these days because of her general health maintenance, that falls on me to do. She is not a fan!

Right Now:

About to hang with the students at church.

The morning is looking pretty normal for me. Church and then a very brief visit with the in-laws. As brief as possible. They’ve hit the “not so nice, sometimes nasty” stage and still mostly refuse to do anything to improve their living situation. They refuse help in the house. Still aren’t eating great but a tad better. So there’s some improvement.

This Week:

Not too much happening. I have book club on Wednesday night. We are discussing Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips. It was quite good but brutal at times.

Unfortunately, my blood work showed some wonky stuff with my liver so I have to go in for more tests. I supposed the 23 meds that I was given last year after the tumor journey affected something. I would think it would be better now because I am not even on Advil. Not too worried since I hardly drink. One glass of wine at book club. That’s it!

Reading:

I finished Night Watch and my review will post this week.  I also finished Evenings & Weekends by Oisín McKenna. This was very good. I will write up my thoughts, hopefully this week as well.

So what am I reading now?

Watching:

  • Harlan Coben’s new Netflix show, Just One Look.
  • The Bob Newhart show. I pulled out some DVD’s that were gifted to us.

Grateful for:

  • Erasable pens. It’s dorky but I liked to take notes with my pen but I tend to correct a lot so erasable works great. Just don’t leave your notes out in the sun because all the ink will disappear! Ask me how I know. It eventually comes back, after…many…hours.
  • Warm, cushy throw blankets. It has been so cold for us. A nice throw is lovely.
  • That my hair is really growing like a Chia pet. I mean, it’s really taking off. A but out of control and requires weekly trims but I am so down for it.

That’s all I have. I hope everyone has a good week and tell me what you are doing to keep your mind off of this circus we are all forced to participate in.

Chatting with friends about books and life…