December 2024 Reads

I started watching The Vampire Diaries at the very end of November. I actually watched the first two episodes live on television when they first aired but couldn’t get into it. I don’t know why, because I was high on the Twilight saga and it was exactly my thing. Anyway, 15 years later I thought I’d try it again and now I’m obsessed. I’m only on season two but felt interested in checking out the first book. It’s short, fun, and easy-to-read, so it was exactly what I needed during this reading slump. I was surprised by how many changes were made for the television adaptation, but they make perfect sense to me so far and I’m glad those changes were made. For example, Elena is fairly unlikeable in the first book, and she’s blonde, but I still had a good time with this. I’m interested in reading the next book for some Damon content, but I’m not sure how far I’ll keep reading. I would like to experience more of Katherine too because it seems they switched her and Elena’s personalities somewhat.

My first Ann Patchett novel! I kept hearing about this and got it on audible and really enjoyed the narration by Meryl Streep. Set during the pandemic, Tom Lake tells the story of Lara, a woman who recounts the story of her youth to her three adult children, which includes her role in the play Our Town and her relationship with her co-star who later became a really famous actor. I will forever be fascinated in stories like this, ones to do with fame, stage and screen, love, and family. It’s a very calming book with Lara recounting her story from a secure happy ending: living at a gorgeous cherry orchard in Northern Michigan with her husband and the return of her daughters in the spring of 2020. Patchett is a very talented writer. She crafted a rich world with compelling family and relationship dynamics. While I didn’t love Tom Lake as much as I wanted to, I enjoyed listening and would love to see this adapted for the screen.