And finally_98 to 101

1 Jan 2022 and I'm playing catch-up on my 2021 reading. Only four books to go and here they are, in a rush. 'Bridge Burning' by the lovely Kitty Flanagan; the friend you want for real. I'll try '488 Rules for Life' next for a mega-dose of funny/serious common sense. 'The Secret Lives of Dresses' by Erin McKean is a perfectly lovely romantic-ish story about a dozy zoomer finding herself thanks to a fabulous wardrobe of vintage clothes. 'An Absolutely Remarkable Thing'—about social media, fame, unearned power and aliens—is absolutely brilliant. Hank Green (podcaster, vlogger, entrepreneur) is a very clever writer with a big, bold brain, so I'm off to find his second novel. Ah, finally, 'Happy Hour' by Jacquie Byron. Francis' husband died 3 years ago and she's doing grief her own way. Franny is utterly furious, sometimes mean, often drunk. Also clever, creative, acerbic and kind, and Byron lets her be all those things without judgement, reflecting memorably and wittily on aging and friendship and grief. 

'"So we need to be careful now, Franny. You have to hang on to whatever precious things we can, for as long as we can. Do you know what I mean? We have to jealously protect the things we love. It's now or never."' Vale 2021.