Wow, so many new series on television, and we’ll explore at least eight of them – something for everyone. Also, of course, there are books! Books about Paris leading up to WWII and a writer we may not know much about, novels involving family sagas and self-discovery, history books to learn more about the women often overlooked, and a favorite author is back with what looks to be another wonderful, thought-provoking read about love. Also, a new art exhibit in London spotlighting a French artist gone too soon, and clothing for pre-spring and timeless accessories. Still there is more!

Books

—Tangerinn: A Novel by Emanuela Anechoum 

A top pick by many editors – New York Times, LA Times, to name a few – Tangerinn tells 30-year old Mina’s story of piecing her “fractured sense of identity back together after she finds herself living in London, where she fled to at twenty to reinvent herself to escape her small-town past. Now, “a decade later, she is drifting, untethered and uncertain. When her Moroccan-born father Omar dies, she returns to her childhood home on the Calabrian coast, where he ran a bar called the Tangerinn. It was more than just a bar—it was a gathering place, a haven for migrants and misfits, a dream that Mina’s sister, Aisha, is struggling to keep alive.”

“In searching for traces of her father, . . . she reconnects with the memories embedded in the land, and she must confront what it means to belong—not just to a place, but to a lineage, a language, a self.”

—The Supreme Gift: Love Is the Greatest Thing in the World by Paulo Coelho

For fans of The Alchemist, count me among them, comes Paulo Coelho’s latest book, being released on March 3rd. The Supreme Gift challenges us to reconsider what the greatest treasure is. Coelho’s new book asserts that “Contrary to what we are used to hearing, the greatest treasure in the spiritual life is not faith, but love. No matter what your religious beliefs are, this feeling is, without doubt, the most rewarding way to live. In The Supreme Gift, Paulo Coelho adapts Henry Drummond’s text in which the young missionary defined love as the culmination of nine elements. Coelho shares, “I thought that I had already thought about everything you could think about Love when Henry Drummond’s sermon fell into my hands. My life changed a lot from the moment I read the words in this book and tried to put his teaching into practice.”

—We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O’Donnell and Kate Andersen Brower

As I was watching an interview with Norah O’Donnell recently, in which she shared how little, if any, women’s history was taught while she was in high school, I can reflect and sadly say the same about my own history classes. Thankfully, my curiosity got the better of me, and I have been exploring women’s history since college and into my teaching years, when I had the opportunity to teach US History and Civics. In We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, “through extensive research and interviews, as well as historical documents and old photos, O’Donnell curates a compelling portrait of these fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katherine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, who were active in the abolition and suffrage movements and were considered the ‘Black Founders’ of Philadelphia, to the first women who served in the armed forces even before they had the right to vote, O’Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so writes the American story anew.” I look forward to reading about all whom she will introduce us to.

British Finds

—Man on the Run, Amazon

Premiering today on Amazon Prime, Man on the Run “takes viewers on an intimate journey through Paul McCartney’s extraordinary life following the break-up of The Beatles and the formation of Wings with his wife, Linda.  From Academy Award-winning director Morgan Neville, the film chronicles the arc of Paul’s solo career as he faces down a myriad of challenges while creating new music to define a new decade.  Through unprecedented access to previously unseen footage and rare archival materials, the documentary captures Paul’s transformative post-Beatles era through a uniquely vulnerable lens.” Have a look at the trailer below.

—The Puzzle Lady, PBS

Ohhhhh! What a delightful surprise it was to see on my PBS Passport Dashboard last weekend The Puzzle Lady! Yep! The entire first season of Phyllis Logan’s new role as an amateur sleuth living in fictitious Bakerbury, located in Northern Ireland, The Puzzle Lady is available to stream! And yep, I’ve watched all six episodes already 🙃.

First, let me give you a heads up, Logan plays quite a different character than what we have become used to seeing in both Downton Abbey and Lovejoy. No prim and proper lady here – nope! And perhaps, I like her character all the more because of it. Phyllis, the actress, seems to really be having fun in this role, because as viewers quickly ascertain, she isn’t actually the savvy puzzle lady. Hmmm. I give nothing away by saying this as you will be able to intuit it all on your own from the first few introductory scenes in episode one. I enjoyed this series, and hope there will be a second. Each ‘murder’ is presented in two parts, so you will have two hours of sleuthing of enjoy should you choose to accept the puzzle to solve. Have a look at the trailer below and enjoy!

—Seurat and the Sea, Courtauld Museum, London

If you will be in London this spring, or are there now, this new exhibit at the Courtauld Museum is one to view. French artist George Seurat may not have lived long enough to create a vast oeuvre (only 31 years), but the art he did leave behind is treasured for a reason. This exhibit, Seurat and the Sea is “the first devoted to Seurat in the UK in almost 30 years. It charts the evolution of his radical and distinctive style through the recurring motif of the sea.”

The Courtauld holds the largest collection of works by Seurat in the UK, and astute art historians will no doubt recognize Seurat as being the artist best known as the creator of the Neo-Impressionist technique, in which shapes and light are rendered by juxtaposing small dots of pure colour, Pointillism. Learn more about the exhibit here, and read a review of the exhibit here. It runs through May 17th.

—Young Sherlock, Amazon Prime

Now this just looks like a romping good time. Guy Richie brings us a new series which takes viewers back into the imagined sleuth of Sherlock Holmes. Hero Fiennes Tiffin stars as Young Sherlock, an eight-episode series focused around “a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes [who] finds himself entangled in a murder at Oxford that jeopardises his freedom. His first case, tackled recklessly, leads him to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy that alters his path forever.” Have a look at the trailer below and look for all episodes to be available to stream on March 4th.

Films

—Dreams

A film that explores many of the topical issues of the world today, yet through a romantic and artistic lens. Dreams stars Jessica Chastain, who is “a powerful American socialite, ” and tells the story of her decision to become involved with “an undocumented Mexican ballet dancer” played by Isaac Hernández whom she discovers dancing on the streets of New York City. Have a look at the trailer below and find the film to premiere in theaters today.

Francophile Finds

—Murder In . . . , MHzChoice, season 15

A new season, the 15th, of Murder In . . ., set entirely in France and various French Republics, kicked off earlier this week by taking us to the beautiful Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Look for a new episode to drop each week. You will see new as well as recognizable faces from other French series, which makes it all the more a treat to see which character they play in these one-and-done episodes that don’t carry the cast over from one to the next. Have a look below at all the places we will travel to vicariously this season.

—RSVP Paris Parachute tote, two sizes, five colors

If you are looking for a large tote that comfortably, and I mean quite comfortably indeed, rests on your shoulder, then be sure to check out this French brand and its Parachute tote. This is the small size, but there are two different options. The interior is quite spacious, and the drop is suitable for easily swinging up and over the top of your shoulder without a hitch.

—Sandro’s Floral Silk Scarf

A simple, yet modern silk scarf offering neutral tones, yet with a touch of personality. And really, the personality is only revealed when the scarf is opened. Otherwise, it looks like you have classic details – navy, stripes, and polka dots in the design ☺️.

—The Typewriter and the Guillotine: An American Journalist, a German Serial Killer, and Paris on the Eve of WWII by Mark Braude

Released last week, following my reading of a review of Mark Braude’s exploration of a story about a woman many may not know in The Typewriter and the Guillotine, I wanted to make sure I brought it to your attention, as I thought you may be interested. There are actually two stories being told in this book, one about the now-we-know to be impending start of WWII, and also a more local-to-Paris story, about “Eugen Weidmann, a German con-man and murderer, and the last man to be publicly executed in France—mere weeks before the outbreak of WWII.”

The book begins “in 1925, when the Indianapolis-born Janet Flanner takes an assignment to write a regular ‘Letter from Paris’ for a lighthearted humor magazine called The New Yorker. She’d come to Paris with dreams of writing about ‘Beauty with a Capital B.’ Her employer, self-consciously apolitical, sought only breezy reports on French art and culture. But as she woke to the frightening signs of rising extremism, economic turmoil, and widespread discontent in Europe, Flanner ignored her editor’s directives, reinventing herself, her assignment, and The New Yorker in the process.”

Shopping

—Modern Citizen’s Gabby Wool-Blend v-neck sweater, black also available

We aren’t quite out of winter yet, and this wool-blend sweater sings of spring with its light blue hue while still keeping the lingering cold at bay. And it’s at a great price, less than $150.

—Me + Em’s Relaxed Forever Shirt, Seersucker Stripe

Seersucker. I just love the texture of this fabric as it adds depth to the design without the bulk. This particular style in timeless blue and white stripe is a bit oversized and perfect for layering, dressing up a bit, or dressing down with style.

—Modern Citizen’s Manon Navy Dress, black also available

Dressed up we are when we wear this dress. The subtle asymmetry, the classic navy hue, and a slit, but not too much of one. Perfect.

Television

—The Gray House, Amazon prime

Mary-Louise Parker, Daisy Head, Amethyst Davis and Hannah James star in a new limited series, The Gray House, that tells the story of four women – a Virginia socialite (Head), her indomitable mother (Parker), a formerly enslaved ally (Davis) and a high-end prostitute (James), each helped turn the tide of the war in favor of the Union by turning from railroad operatives into spies. Look at the trailer below and enjoy all eight episodes available now (premiering on February 26th) on Amazon Prime.

—Murdoch Mysteries, season 19, AcornTV

And the favorite long-running Canadian mystery series continues! Premiering on Monday, March 2nd, settle in for the first of 16 episodes in season 19 of Murdoch Mysteries. Have a look at the trailer below.

—RJ Decker, ABC

Scott Speedman may not be as visible on Grey’s Anatomy, and here is why! ☺️ He stars in a new series written by the same person who was behind Elementary– Rob Doherty. “R.J. Decker is a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida. The series follows him tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a shadowy new benefactor — a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally … or his one-way ticket back to prison.” The series premieres on Tuesday, March 3rd, on ABC. Have a look at the trailer below.

—Scrubs, a new season, ABC/Hulu

As I have been watching the latest season of Shrinking lately (on Apple TV) and thoroughly enjoying it, I have noticed that Zach Braff has directed some of the episodes. Fans of the hilarity-filled comedy series from 2001-2010 Scrubs will immediately recognize his name. There is a lot of crossover in talent between three comedies you might enjoy just as I do – Scrubs, Shrinking, AND Ted Lasso. Yep. Whether writers, creators, or actors, they are all, should we say, related? And for all the best reasons – they are fun, smart, and relationship-focused.

Now, 16 years later, Scrubs returns and with the original cast. The season 10 premiere, as they are calling it, debuted Wednesday night of this past week on ABC/Hulu, and you can see the trailer below.

~Here is a fun article for Scrubs fans – 5 secrets of the Scrubs sets fans will enjoy [Architectural Diges].

—Vladimir, Netflix

Now, if you missed Bridget Jones‘ young love played by Leo Woodall from the latest and final movie in the series starring Renée Zellweger, you are in luck. He’s back, and this time in a much more scandalous role. Based on Julia-May Jonas’ novel of the same name, Vladimir, Rachel Weisz stars as the literature professor who becomes involved with a younger colleague amid a scandal. Described as a psychological thriller, take a look at the trailer below and find it on Netflix next Thursday, February 5th. All eight episodes will be available on its premiere date.

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Well, the office has relocated temporarily to the dining/living room (as you can see here, one dining room chair being slightly displaced – really it is the demarcation line of the two, and we’re a bit cramped for living space at the moment. But, it is all well worth it. Nelle cannot wait for office, aka as her place to sleep during the day, to return, but she is also enjoying the workers who are installing the hardwoods. We are set to be done and ready to be moved back in this coming Tuesday, and I cannot wait to see it come together.

Happy Friday! And are you too seeing glimpses of a bit more sunshine, nudgings up of daffodils and croci in the garden? That warmth has been nourishing, and I hope you are beginning to thaw out a bit if you’ve been living in true winter climates as I know many of you are.

A bit of a heads up if you haven’t checked your weekly newsletter yet, as per tradition when my birthday rolls around (47 on Saturday!), there is a sale on a handful of annual TOP Tier memberships. Be sure to find the code in your newsletter that was emailed this morning (Friday) for permanent savings, and it is also available to scoop up if you are looking to upgrade from BASIC or a monthly or quarterly membership of TOP Tier.

This weekend is all about wallpapering and resting, the latter something I will need to do after I excitedly engage in the activity of the former. But, oh! I cannot wait to put the designs of the paper on the walls! Both the laundry room and the primary bedroom hallway are getting the treatment this weekend as the ceilings were painted this week, and since each are small areas, it shouldn’t take too long (famous last words 🙃). I still need to select the lights for each and switch out the switchplates as well as update the door handles, but we’re getting closer, and when they are done, I will be giving you a tour and sourcing it all.

Now, to the weekend that concludes one month and says hello to another. I hope you have a fantastic few days of pottering about, tootling about or relaxing as you need. Until Sunday, bonne journée !

~A fun, and delicious, article to read about the classic British bakes and returning to them by one successful British baker: ‘French pastries all look amazing… but I wish more British bakers would look at what we used to have’. [Country life]

~If ever you are visiting France and find yourself near Lille, be sure to find this beautiful museum that was once a swimming pool for the public, built in the Art Deco style. Have a look here at a peek inside.

~Ideas to help you stop comparing yourself to others [Life Hack]

~Vintage decorating mistakes to avoid and how to do so. [Homes and Gardens UK]

~A lovely long list of bakers in London the editors of Condé Naste Traveller cannot get enough of.

~Tips on tipping in France ☺️🇫🇷❤️! [Afar]

~Relationships strengthen our connections at work, but we also need our privacy and knowing how to separate our personal and professional life is crucial for both our success and well-being . When to open up at work — and when not to [Harvard Business Review]

~This post shares 12 French Bags ‘French Women Always Come Back to’, and one brand was included in the above Francophile Finds section ☺️ [Who What Wear]

~If you are going to be in Normandy, Cat Bode of Rabbit Hill Lifestyle blog/online shop now has her own brick and mortar! Yep! Step inside Planche, Poêle and Sel in this IG Reel.

~Home Tour of the Week: A Swedish cottage set along the coastline and offering serenity and simplicity galore. [Domino]

~This post is worth a read if what forgiveness really is, what it looks and feels like is on your mind [Tiny Buddha]

~What exactly is the allure of the Classic Parisian Style? HipParis tries to explain.

~Ever pondered buying a house in Provence? Well, either way, let this be a video of introduction to how possible it might be.

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~Explore last week’s edition of This & That: February 20th

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