Hello everyone. I’m calling today’s post Sunday’s Choice because Friday was unbelievably busy and sadly I didn’t get a chance to make sure I was happy with this discussion before publishing it, but I will never publish a discussion on Katelovesliterature.com unless I am 100% happy with it. 

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend. It is a rainy Sunday here in Dublin so I’m enjoying some coffee while I clean my room and my desk with some lovely jazz in the background. Later I’m going to sit down and continue enjoying my day off with a show so keep an eye on my Instagram stories as I may share some #watchtvwithme snaps. 

As we approach Valentine’s Day, you can expect some romantic comedy themed Movie Monday’s coming up but lately I’ve been watching a variety of different things, one of those things is Twin Peaks which is what I am going to be talking about today. 

The original Twin Peaks aired in 1990 and the show has gained a cult following and an iconic status as the show is referenced so much in many different forms of media. It is one of those shows that I’ve always known of, a lecturer of mine really enjoyed the show and he would mention it often in his lectures, and it’s a show that I’d always sort of known had this reputation for being really good but a little weird etc., but even though it’s always been in the background, I’d never actually watched it – until last week. 

Last week I watched Twin Peaks for the very first time. I watched the pilot and I watched the first episode so I can’t say too much at the moment about the plot or it’s themes other than I’m intrigued and very excited to see what happens next. 

I’ve spoken about this before, but I really love the concept of a stranger entering a small town where everyone knows everyone and said stranger has to adapt to their new environment whilst also trying to win over the people in said small town. Twin Peaks has this exact dynamic as Special Agent Dale Cooper arrives in the fictional town of Twin Peaks to help the local sheriff investigate the murder of highschool student Laura Palmer. 

So far I really like the show. I’ve said before that crime dramas are probably my favourite genre of television shows so I knew going into the show that I would like the premise as I always tend to enjoy plots that focus on an investigation, especially when they’re done well and so far, I really like the setup of this storyline. I like the small town atmosphere, everyone knows everyone, and more importantly, everyone knew Laura so the devastation her death brought to the town felt particularly poignant. 

I think my favourite scene so far had to be the scene where the highschool principal has to announce the news of Laura’s death over the intercom to her teachers and classmates. It’s a devastating scene. The teachers are devastated, her classmates are horrified, her best friend is breaking down in sobs and the principal himself is struggling to remain composed while talking to the students. When the intercom clicks off, he too breaks down crying, and there is an incredibly eerie shot of the terrible news ringing out in an empty school hallway. It is in that moment that you can feel the impact this news has brought. This town, those teachers, and especially Laura’s family and friends will never be the same again. This nightmare isn’t going to end, it’s only going to continue as Dale has to investigate. The reality sets in that this is real, this happened, Laura is gone, and as the investigation digs into everyone’s secrets, it becomes clear that there’s more to everyone than Dale realised. 

Despite the plot being serious and some of the scenes being extremely emotional and sad, another one I have to mention is when the sheriff tells Laura’s father about her death. Her father is on the phone to her mother when the sheriff arrives and we can hear her sobbing through the phone as she hears the news, but despite the sad and serious themes, there are some very funny moments in the show because there is an undercurrent of humour throughout. Lucy and her ramblings are very funny, Dale is always speaking into his recorder telling someone called Dianne all about his thoughts, discoveries, and observations, some of which are highly comical, so I like that the tone of the show is a little off kilter. It isn’t a comedy, but it isn’t all doom and gloom, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens as I know there are some soap opera and horror tropes to come. 

At the moment I am rewatching the 2014 BBC adaptation of The Three Musketeers, which is entitled The Musketeers. I have spoken about it briefly before as I mentioned it was a great action series however I think after this rewatch I will discuss it in more detail because I think some of the character arcs are really impressive. I’m also watching The Simpsons for the first time because that was another show that I didn’t properly watch when I was younger. I went to see the movie in the cinema and I saw an episode here and there, but it’s been highly recommended to me so I am watching it all from the start and I will probably talk about it at some stage as I’m really enjoying it so far. As always I’m watching The Golden Girls because it is my comfort show that just never gets old, and I’m also making my way through a list of movies so there is lots to come here on Katelovesliterature.com. Speaking of there being lots to come, my February #bookofthemonth pick will be revealed during the week. Stay tuned. 

This has been Sunday’s Choice. Are you a fan of Twin Peaks? Let me know!

Kate xo.

Hello everyone. Happy Friday. I’ve chosen a lovely quote as my #fridayschoice pick tonight.

Dare to dream, then decide to do.

Annette White.

I decided to share this lovely quote because I stumbled across it and I just really liked it.

It’s simple, it’s to the point, I think it’s really sweet. I think that having dreams, passions, and goals are so important and I’d always encourage people to find something that they love. 

This has been Friday’s Choice. Have a lovely weekend. 

Kate xo. 

Hello everyone. Welcome to another #fridayschoice. Today is a very good day. If you are Irish, then you will know that the majority of restrictions that have been in place in Ireland for the last two years are being lifted at last, and although there may still be some twists and turns ahead, today is a happy, hopeful day.

It has been a long two years. So many people have missed out on so much, our lives were on hold, many of us lost loved ones, many of us dealt with health scares, and overall I think it goes without saying that is has been a really tough time.

I would like to take a moment to talk about the impact of literature and and the arts because I think that in times of darkness, the arts have always been a place where light can be found.

I’ve been very lucky over the past two years, yes I missed out on things, and yes I have missed friends, and I completed a degree alone in my room, but I am very lucky to be able to say that I had a passion that kept me going, I had goals that I was working towards and now I am working towards new ones. The thing that I am the most thankful for is the fact that I am able to say that all of my loved ones are happy and they have remained healthy so I really am truly grateful for all that I do have and while I will always be thankful and appreciative of those who work in our healthcare sectors because they have been heroes over the last two years, I have to acknowledge how much English Literature has positively impacted my life.

Over the last two years, we have turned to streaming services and Netflix and Disney plus and when I look back over the last two years, particularly when I look back at those times when we were in lockdown, I’d have been lost without my books and my shows, and I am so happy that now, finally, the arts can live again. We can sing again. We can be joyful again. We can create and inspire each other again and that is a brilliant thing. The arts are so important and they can touch so many lives, and I will always talk about the importance of the arts in our society.

Today, as my Friday’s Choice, I am going to share a Victor Hugo quote because I feel that it is extremely fitting at this time.

Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

Victor Hugo.

Stay safe everyone. I wish you all a very happy and healthy weekend. Here’s to hope.

Kate xo.

Hello everyone. Happy Friday. 

Today’s #fridayschoice is another tv recommendation. 

I’ve been sharing a lot of #watchtvwithme snaps on my stories but it’s been a while since I’ve properly recommended something. 

Lately I’ve been watching Smother and I’ve really been enjoying it. 

This series is set in Ireland and it follows the character Val Ahern and her family as they have to come together after her husband’s death. As Val examines her life, it soon becomes clear that perhaps her husband wasn’t such a nice person after all because his controlling ways have impacted each and every member of the family. 

Family secrets will be revealed and there’s many twists and turns along the way. 

It’s been a really enjoyable watch and I’ve gotten more invested with each episode so I’d highly recommend it. 

This has been Friday’s Choice. Have a lovely weekend. 

Kate xo. 

Hello everyone. Welcome to another #fridayschoice. 

This evening I’m simply sharing a quote that I love and I hope that you all like it too. 

“The earth has music for those who listen.” – William Shakespeare. 

This is just a very simple quote that I really love because I think it just beautifully highlights the wonder that creativity brings. 

If you like art, if you like music, if you like reading, if you are in any way a creative person then you will understand how moving a piece of art can be. 

Not everyone appreciates the arts. Not everyone appreciates literature or music, and that’s okay. We don’t all have to have the same interests, but for those of us who do enjoy music, art, dancing, the theatre, etc, there will always be something to spark our imagination because “the earth has music for those who listen.” 

This has been Friday’s Choice. 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. 

Kate xo. 

Hello everyone. Welcome to another #fridayschoice. Happy New Year’s Eve.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and if you do not celebrate Christmas then I hope you are keeping safe and well. It’s New Year’s Eve and we are about to enter a new year, and I think that New Year’s Eve can be a bittersweet night almost because we are looking forward to a new year but we are also reflecting on the year that is ending and it has been a hard year for so many people.

I was thinking about what I would choose today as my Friday’s Choice and I have been reading a lot of Dickens lately. December’s Book of the Month is A Christmas Carol and I will be publishing that discussion this evening as well. I have mentioned many times now that I am a fan of Charles Dickens. I just love his writing, and I feel like so many of his texts just leave such an impact on readers because of the way he uses words so beautifully.

I came upon a Dickens’ quote and I have decided that this single quote is what I am going to discuss as my Friday’s Choice because I think it sums up how I feel about going into 2022 perfectly.

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.

Charles Dickens.

I really love this quote and it stayed with me for a long time after I read it. I think that it can be really easy to get bogged down thinking about everything that is going on in the world. Things are changing all the time and we have to adapt. We miss people and we miss doing things and sometimes bad news can seem endless, but when I was thinking back on 2021, there were some lovely moments despite the weird times we are all living in.

I’m so lucky to have my family and my friends, my dog, my loved ones, work, college, this website, even though I don’t leave my house much anymore and I don’t see my friends as often as I used to, I’ve felt very lucky because in 2021 I have been able to achieve goals and create new ones and those are my lights in the dark.

When times are uncertain, I want to remember to appreciate those lighter moments and I think that in the times that we are in, those little moments of light mean so much more.

So this has been Friday’s Choice.

Do you have any New Year resolutions? Do you have a quote that you are going to take with you into the new year? If so, let me know.

Kate xo.

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas Eve. I hope you’re all having a lovely day and that you are ready for Santa.

Today I am talking about a childhood classic, a Christmas staple, I am talking about the poem entitled A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore. The poem is most often referred to as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ because this is the first line, and many poems are referred to by their first line instead of their official title.

I could not let Christmas Eve pass by without mentioning this poem because it is, in my opinion, one of the sweetest poems about Christmas. The poem is set on Christmas Eve and it is about the excitement about Santa Clause coming and the magic of Christmas. It captures the merry feeling when the house is all decorated and no one can sleep because they are so excited.

I have known this poem forever. My Mam always read it to me at Christmas time, I have a beautiful edition of this book, we have given this book to people as presents and they have always loved it. It is just a really sweet, really merry poem and I think it is a great poem to share with children because it is easy and straightforward, and it may introduce a love of poetry to them.

The poem makes me feel nostalgic and I think that this poem has reached the status of being a Christmas tradition in my house as I have read it every year on Christmas Eve since I was a toddler.

It’s one of those things that I want to pass on one day if I have kids of my own, I would get them an edition of this poem for their first Christmas and make sure to keep reading it every year.

I think it sets the tone for Christmas Eve, and it is a lovely, magical poem that is full of descriptive language. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it.

This has been Friday’s Choice. I hope you enjoyed it. Have you read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas? Is it a classic for you? Let me know.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. Stay safe and enjoy the day.

Kate xo.

ello everyone and welcome back to another #fridayschoice. 

Today I am talking about Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. 

This is sort of like an honourable mention movie discussion because even though they are classic movies, and I know that some people watch them year in and year out at Christmas time, these movies did not make it on to my #moviemonday list of movies for December. 

There were a few other Halloween movies that did not make it on to my movie list in October so I have made a note of them for next year and there will be some Christmas movies that I will be saving for next year too so Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York will likely get discussed in more detail at some point in the future on Katelovesliterature.com but they will not feature on a #moviemonday this December even though they are movies that I enjoy. 

I am going to talk about them today though because I could not let December pass by without mentioning them at all, and since there is a new movie out this year in Disney plus called Home Sweet Home Alone, I feel like I am hearing about these movies constantly lately. 

I did watch Home Sweet Home Alone on Disney plus, and I have heard mixed opinions on it. I did not love it, but I thought it had some funny moments, but in my opinion, the first two movies can’t be beaten. They are the best. 

I’ve been thinking about this, and I think that I prefer Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I think it is my favourite of all the movies. I know the original is a classic, it has so many quotable, and meme-worthy moments, but I remember falling in love with New York when I watched the sequel. I think it is almost like a love letter to New York because the city just looks so magical. I still want to stay in the Plaza Hotel someday. 

I think that sequels can be hit and miss, but there are a few sequels that I love, and there are one or two sequels that I would say I actually like better than the original movie but I will save those picks for future #moviemonday discussions. I may even do a #sequelseries where I talk about sequels that I really liked, along with others that I feel were unnecessary. 

Is Home Alone on your must watch list? Which movie do you prefer?  Home Alone or Home Alone 2: Lost in New York?  Let me know. 

This has been Friday’s Choice. I hope you enjoyed it. We are getting closer and closer to Christmas and I cannot wait. I hope you all have a great weekend. 

Kate xo.