COZY CRIME SERIES
Hope Street (BritBox)
Hope Street is set in a small town on the coast of Northern Ireland where everyone seems to know everyone else and their business. Finn O’Hare heads up the Port Devine police department with his colleagues, Marlene and Callum. When Detective Constable Leila Hussain arrives as the first Muslim officer, she causes a stir and initially meets with mistrust and suspicion.
There are crimes to be solved, even the occasional murder, but this series is as much about the family affairs (wives and kids) and quarrels that consume the townsfolk. Finn’s mother, Concepta, is a busybody who wants to know all, while Barry Pettigrew, taxi driver and retired police officer keeps his hand in too. There are open secrets and real secrets. Season 1 has 10 episodes, but it is not known if there will be a Season 2. For me, it’s great treadmill fare—engaging enough to hold my interest and keep me moving!
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight by Julia Sweig
I thought Hiding in Plain Sight might be a biography of Lady Bird’s entire life, but actually, it’s focused on her years as First Lady during the Johnson presidency. During that tumultuous time, she recorded her thoughts daily. The result is a comprehensive source document covering her feelings and activities, LBJ’s concerns and moods, and the stresses of the Vietnam War and the battle for civil rights.
Swieg masterfully details hows how carefully and skillfully Lady Bird crafted her image. Following the elegant and popular Jackie Kennedy was initially challenging. Lady Bird was a talented businesswoman before coming to the White House, yet this was a time when women were expected to be deferential and on the margins of serious dealings.
Lady Bird made beautification her cause, but within it she worked tirelessly to raise broader awareness about the environment, urban blight, and poverty. Always appearing feminine, she was a powerful voice in her husband’s ear on a wide range of issues. She also traveled the U. S. solo giving speeches and campaigning for him and for her causes. Lady Bird Johnson was the most active First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt.
This is fascinating reading (am about halfway into it), and I’ve come to appreciate the much greater role she played than many of us realized. I lived through this period on the cusp of adulthood so, it’s informative to see events from a deeper perspective. Highly recommended! (~JWFarrington)
Note: Header photo ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).
I did love that book.