Music
Fascination – Nat King Cole
Such a sweet and romantic song about falling in love enthusiastically at first and then the feeling blossoming into deep and authentic love.
Autumn Leaves – Nat King Cole
Another great song by Nat King Cole but with a slightly melancholic tone, as he reminisces about a summer romance when watching the autumn leaves falling.
Stupid Cupid – Connie Francis
This 1958 song by the amazing Connie Francis is a hymn to all the lovesick teenagers who act ”foolishly” in front of their object of affection against their better judgement.
Hey Lover – Daughters of Eve
I discovered this 1966 song in a vintage playlist on YouTube and it became such a favourite! It’s quite rhythmic and it reminds me of long road trips in spring. Not to mention the beautiful message it conveys: that a romantic partner should be chosen based on understanding and love and not on wealth and fame.
And the Waltz Goes On – Sir Anthony Hopkins
I was astonished when I discovered that the talented Sir Anthony Hopkins composed this beautiful walz. I can easily imagine it playing in a grand ball at a Russian or Viennese palace. It has such great transitions from heaviness and pessimism to lightness and optimism. Not to mention how fitting the use of the barrel organ was.
I Lost You – Havana feat. Yaar
My best friend introduced me to this song and I greatly thank her for this. It is mostly oriental-influenced and the arabic lyrics fit so wonderfully. Such an exotic experience!
Books
The Silent Fountain by Victoria Fox
Hollywood 1975 : Tragedy sends troubled film star Vivien Lockhart into the arms of Giovanni Moretti and it seems her fortune has finally changed. Until she meets his sister and learns that her new husband’s past holds dark secrets.
Present-day Tuscany: Lucy Whittaker must disappear from London since everyone is looking for her. But her new home, the crumbling Castillo Barbarossa, is far from the secluded paradise it seemed.
Two women who find themselves trapped in the idyllic Italian villa, decades apart. And if they are ever to truly escape its walls,they must first unearth its secrets…
The Devil’s Novice by Ellis Peters
In the autumn of 1140 the Benedictine monastery at Shrewsbury finds its new novice Meriet Aspley a bit disturbing. Meriet is meek and biddable by day, but his sleep is rife with nightmares so violent that they earn him the name of “Devil’s Novice”.
Shunned by the other monks, Meriet Aspley attracts the concern of Brother Cadfael. Then a body appears, that of a young priest last seen at the Aspley estate. Can Meriet be involved in the death? As events take a sinister turn it falls to Brother Cadfael to detect the truth.
Movies
Miss Potter (2006)
Based on the life of children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter it combines elements from her own life along with animated sequences featuring characters from her stories.
The Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2010)
Uncle Albert gives young Mary a Nutcracker as a Christmas gift. Later that night Mary dreams that the Nutcracker -who is called N.C.- comes to life and takes her on a wondrous journey.
Paddington (2014)
Paddington is an anthropomorphic bear who migrates from the jungles of Peru to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station he meets the kindly Brown family and finds a temporary haven.
Pete’s Dragon (2016)
During a road trip 5-year-old Pete loses his parents after their car flips off the road. Chased into the forest by a wolf pack he is saved by a huge green dragon. The two of them instantly bond and Pete names him Elliot after the lost-puppy character in his favorite book.
Peter Rabbit (2018)
Based on the most popular character of Beatrix Potter’s classic tales the film follows the rebellious orphaned rabbit, Peter, who tries to sneak into a farmer’s vegetable garden.
Hawaii (1966)
In 1819 an American missionary and his wife travel to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii, intent on converting the natives. But the clash between the two cultures is too great and instead of understanding there comes tragedy.
The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)
Based on the true story of Jan and Antonina Żabiński the film portrays how they rescued hundreds of Polish Jews from the Germans by hiding them in their Warsaw zoo during World War II.
TV series
The Spanish Princess (2019-2020)
The sequel to the miniseries The White Queen and The White Princess it centers around Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish princess who became Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII.
