While not as good as Berendt's first book, this introspection into Venice, its culture, its art and architecture, its people and its history is still interesting. I think the reason it doesn't resonate as strongly is because the people highlighted frequently aren't likeable. It is more a collection of unconnected Venice stories than it is a single narrative. Still, it is an interesting glimpse into a mysterious city.

I am jumping on the #FunFridayPhoto bandwagon this week. I don't know that the movie was better than the book but it sure is as good as the book. I was astonished when I heard it was to be a movie -- how could anyone possibly do it justice?! But they did. It's a great film. And a great book.

There's something fishy going on! Don't you just love Flavia de Luce stories? The title of this 3rd in the series was SO clever! A play on words, and a "red herring" literary device. I always have fun reading Bradley's Flavia stories!

I quite liked this book. If you like historical fiction with a romance edge similar to Philippa Gregory, try this author. I chose it to give some historical context for our Italy trip coming up. The story gave me a good grounding of who the players were in Borgia-era Rome and a general understanding of the events. And yes I am doing some nonfiction reading as well.

Not about Michelangelo or his notebooks at all. Treats women like objects to be leered at. Unable to connect plot threads in any way. Save yourself some time. There are good historical thrillers out there. This ain't one of them.

Advice sought from Litsy readers. I am an instructor in a program called Roots of Empathy in my hometown. (Google it, its awesome). I need advice on a resource for Grade 2 about going to the hospital, preferably one that addresses the fears and anxieties of having a loved one who is ill. Any suggestions?

This is a book worthy of respect, worthy of admiration. But I cannot truly say I liked it. I didn't "like" it. I wasn't supposed to like it. It was supposed to make me feel hopeless despair and pit-of-my-stomach fear. That is what the characters were feeling. That is how I felt reading it. The hopelessness is juxtaposed against the beautiful loving intimacy between the father and son. McCarthy is such a good writer!

I loved this book. Sweet but not treacly or trite. Kind but not insincere. Funny but not silly. Somber but not depressing. Thoughtful, relatable, imminently readable. Ove (oovuh) is obstinate and inflexible and argumentative and we all know people like him in our real lives. This story exemplifies the sentiment "Be kind. You don't know what burdens others carry ".

I am recommending this with reservations. I had to set it aside numerous times. It made me feel strong unpleasant emotions. It made me question things that I have believed in my whole life. It even made me afraid. It is a horrible story, but Jon Krakauer writes the hell out of it.

This was surprisingly good. I am not overly familiar with Trevor Noah, but he has a fascinating story and perspective. The book is not about his rise to fame. It is about his experiences in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa as a mixed race child. Definitely worth the read, even if you aren't familiar with his comedy or television persona.

Here's my #funfridayphoto of a book with a flower on the cover. This one sits patiently on my immense TBR.

It's surprising to realize that this book is 20 years old. I liked it. I think I liked the parts about the trail history and trail lore more than the hiking descriptions. I am a hiker but a day-hiker by preference. I have backpacked but I never more than a 2 night trek. I do respect those who do, though. I think anyone who appreciates the natural world will enjoy this book.

The true story of the real Winnie the Pooh. Before Disney took over his story. The author is the granddaughter of Winnie's first "owner". The sweetheart in the photo is my niece. Merry Christmas!

This was a wonderful book. It had extremely strong character develop and even better setting in place. I felt like I was actually in Newfoundland. The way the author described places and people, I felt like I was there with them and knew them all personally. I could hear the Newfoundland lilting drawl as they spoke to me. The bittersweet ending was realistic, believable. This book will stay with me awhile.

I recently reread this while listening to the podcast "Harry Potter and the Sacred Text". The idea is to explore the books, chapter by chapter, through the lens of a sacred text study. If you like exploring motives within characters and extrapolating texts to real life experiences, this is the podcast for you. I am loving it. They are several chapters into the second novel. Highly recommended.

This is a great Christmas gift choice for kindergarten to Grade 2 or 3. Hadfield is such a treasure. I added it to my own library and my kids are teens.

I reread this recently. Anne is just as enchanting as I remembered. I'm buying copies for Christmas gifts.

I expected to like this book more than I did. It didn't feel authentic enough for me. I felt like the author could have changed the names and set the story in Tudor England or ancient China or 16th century France.

Gave away all but 3 of them. Next year Inwill need to stock more children's books. They disappeared fast!

Published originally in 1948 and set in the 1930's, this was a coming of age story with depth and maturity. The voice of the narrator, Cassandra Mortmain, combines Anne Shirley's youthful exuberance and Jane Eyre's keen observation. The story is effortlessly readable, engaging and relatable. Cassandra thinks deeply and feels deeply as she shares her witty, unflinchingly authentic account of her own actions and those around her.

Today's moment of truth...

I really liked this little book. It packs a powerful punch in its 160 pages. Feminist and forward thinking, anti-capitalist even. But, oh-so-lyrical. I loved so much within it. Perfect prose. The chapters vary in first person narration between two sisters, Imogen and Anthea. Very different people but the way their stories merge was beautiful. My only small issue was the over-use of parentheses in Imogen's chapters. I loved the ending.

I really liked this little book. It packs a powerful punch in its 160 pages. Feminist and forward thinking, anti-capitalist even. But, oh-so-lyrical. I loved so much within it. Perfect prose. The chapters vary in first person narration between two sisters, Imogen and Anthea. Very different people but the way their stories merge was beautiful. My only small issue was the over-use of parentheses in Imogen's chapters. I loved the ending.

One of my favourite authors for light but lovely stories. Mma Ramotswe and the rest of the crew feel like old friends. The stories are fast paced and homespun and always with a moral foundation. I always enjoy my fictional visits to Botswana.

This was a quick light book set in China in the early 20th century. It focuses on women who work in a silk factory and the type of life they live. It is interesting and easy to get into. I liked the characters and rooted for them. If you like stories by Lisa See or Amy Tan, you will likely enjoy this book.

Set in the early 2000s, before 9/11 and the wars in Afganistan and Iraq, this book tells of how a woman travels through Iran and the people she meets. Even though this book is categorized as a travel book, she doesn't tell you much, hardly anything about the places she sees in Iran. This is a story-- a series of stories actually -- about people. How we are the same and how we are different. Extremely engaging and well done.

A fairly decent story ruined by trying-to-be-clever writing. Overuse of parenthetical asides and show-offish annotations ruins what could be a clever yarn. Plus the Dad is a moron.

For my #funfridayphoto I am sharing a shot of my husband's shelf of golf books. This is only half of his collection. Of course, his job is designing golf courses so these are considered "research". The only one I have read is The Legend of Bagger Vance and it really was terrific.

I first read this story when I was 12. Forty years ago. I have read it so many times that two copies have split at the spine, pages flying away like OhBeJoyful! My third copy sits in a place of honour on my bookshelves but alas, it does not have this iconic cover. If I ever find a copy with this cover I will snag it for sure. #funfridayphoto

This book, set in Ireland, explores many themes. Love, religion, memory, madness. It is deep and dark but not really mysterious. Still, it is moving and evocative. Have tissues nearby.

I loved this series. Great story telling, great writing, great characters. About as much fun as the end of the world can be. 😝

"There exists for each of us a geographical fulcrum, a place so saturated with memory that within its precinct the past is always present." Justin Cronin, The City of Mirrors.

I am loving this series!❤️. This is the second of a trilogy and I literally started the 3rd book as soon as I finished this one! Can't wait to see how it all ends.

Does anybody out there care? Are we worth saving? What would God want from me, if there is a God? The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. -- Lucius Greer in The Twelve by Justin Cronin

Every now and then I need a book that is the junk food equivalent to literature. This fit the bill perfectly this weekend. I liked it. I didn't love it. But I couldn't stop reading it. Kinda like Pringles. Also, I love reading in my garden.

Part ghost story, part fairy tale, part coming of age story, this wee book (set in Scotland) weaves threads of wonder into your imagination. Eva moved my soul!

I liked this book but I struggled with the way the subject rejected his family because they didn't share his values. I get asceticism. I get rejecting possessions and money and society as a whole. I don't get rejecting love.

Dramatic and sweeping, this book makes you root for a family that struggles with secrets and things unspoken, even when you want to shake them. I love the way JCO writes. Her lovely prose makes this novel less oppressive and more hopeful.

Monday is our 24th wedding anniversary. This book was one of the first anniversary gifts my husband ever gave me. He inscribed it "One day we will own one of these." This year marks our 9th in our beautiful century home. A home that now includes a built in library wall. Dreams do come true! ❤️?

Started this morning. I am not a fast reader. This will take several weeks. But I am always excited when I start a new story.