I have yet to read this book- it‘s on the schedule for next month. But I clearly am already in tune with the spirit as I did buy my own flowers yesterday. I can never resist peony season and especially when Trader Joe‘s had bouquets for only $9. I hope Mrs. Dalloway would approve!

Happy Dalloway Day!

I am so delighted that used bookstores are open again- especially the Friends of the Library shops. These were today‘s finds. I‘m delighted that it was only $9 for all of it. 🎉

I am having deep longings to travel again. My husband and I are vaccinated now. I am salivating to travel. But I‘m not yet comfortable traveling overseas though I‘m starting to put plans onto paper for fall. Until things improve globally and more vaccines are available to everyone, I will just hunker down and read travel books like this one which looks so interesting!

I am absolutely in love with this series! Historical mystery set in 1920 Calcutta that really takes on colonialism and all its evils. This is the second in the series and it‘s just as good as the first so far!

It‘s time for the next book in my Brookner project with my friend Leo, who has a BookTube channel A Little Book Life. This will be our 11th in a row. It‘s been such a joy to see her grow as an author from auspicious beginnings with a brilliant debut- A Start In Life. I have high hopes because the last one Brief Lives was magnificent!

I‘ve been horrible with NetGalley, so this month was about trying to knock some out. I think I‘ve done a good job, given that I have also read quite a few others along the way. I want to get my rate up to 70%. It‘s at 49% right now, with the two at the bottom in my rotation now. The Borrowed was fantastic! Police procedural with such a brilliant structure- moving backwards in time, from the last case of an officer to his first in Hong Kong.

Library haul! ❤️📚🪴
-A Pure Heart by Rajia Hassib
- The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984 by Riad Sattouf
-My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee
-Uncensored: View and (Re)Views by Joyce Carol Oates which had an essay/review of Anita Brookner, among other great writers

Waking up and starting my day with a tour of the Women of Bloomsbury, while enjoying a big cup of tea and wrapped in my wool London map blanket is how I think every Saturday should start. It was enlightening and I enjoyed it so much! The group that led it can be found on Eventbrite and they are called Women of London. I highly recommend it. They are doing a tour of Sufferagette London on Monday, International Women‘s Day.

Happy Friday! I‘m quite delighted with today‘s book mail. I may not be able to wait to get to these- the latest edition of Slightly Foxed quarterly magazine and the new release of Klara and The Sun by one of my favorite writers, Kazuo Ishiguro.

I‘m so delighted with my recent book mail from the UK - specifically these Black British books that were released recently. Bernadine Evaristo is working with Penguin to have these re-released. And my new blanket was the perfect background.

I‘m breaking my own rule and starting a series on book 9! I think I can get away with it because I‘m familiar with the series via that TV show that I just love- Ms Fisher‘s Murder Mysteries. This is an ARC I‘m woefully behind on. I‘m hoping to clear my mystery ARCs on NetGalley this month. Only a few pages in and I recognize the familiar jaunty tone, lush visual descriptions of costumes and clothes and many men to keep Ms Fisher entertained.

What an absolute stunner of a book! I‘m overcome with emotions after closing the last page. We meet David as an old man, former painter whose sight is failing him, reflecting back in his life & dealing with the life he lives now side by side with deep grief. Grief for his beloved wife, Sara & specifically an incident with his paralyzed 28 year old son that is told with masterly precision in terms of pacing & feeling. Exquisitely heart wrenching.

Pretty happy with my #botmc picks this month, especially The Lost Apothecary as is was on my list to watch for in 2021. A book set in the Victorian age with a band of renegade women who poison men. Take all my money!!! 💸💸💸

I‘ve joined Clubhouse to actually have conversations with readers real time. It‘s a new platform. If you are there, let‘s follow each other! I‘m @ hardcoverheart there. I don‘t have any invites but will let people know when I do on my blog. If you are there, consider joining us next Friday?

I‘m delighted by today‘s #bookmail ! I recently purchased a few of the new Black Britain / Writing Back series that Bernadine Evaristo has spearheaded. I‘m so excited about this one because of the focus on mental illness in 1990 in a London mental hospital ward. Purchased from Blackwell Books from the UK.

It‘s the end of the work day, with a lovely warm breeze coming in the windows, and I have hauled quite a few graphic novels from the library this week. Tonight is the night I dive in and tackle a few of them. Which should I read first?

I‘m diving into this chunky tome (977 pages). Just started the preface and it seems like it‘s going to be a delightful book. I love a good, long generational story. And while I was reading Patsy in written format, it dawned on me that the audio may be exceptional, given the main character is Jamaican & some dialogue is written in patois. Sure enough -that was a good decision. Both are chunky books so I‘m hoping to get through them faster this way.

I‘ve been so excited by the #invisiblecitiesproject since I have been unable to travel. They pick 3 countries to submerge yourself in - books written by authors of that country, as well as food, music, and films from these areas. Coming up is Iraq and Columbia. I asked for recommendations on my BookTube channel and so many smart readers offered up some suggestion, including these.

Charming book about the people who come to & work in a cafe where one specific seat allows you to travel in time. There are sweet & poignant stories of people wanting to give messages they couldn‘t before, to see people they miss, & get answers to questions. While I enjoyed it, I never understood the rules of the magic, why or how it exists. In the end, that feels like a miss & served to remind me how crucial world building is to fantasy stories.

I have heard raves about this book from my friend and didn‘t realize there was an audio book of it. I find the subject matter so fascinating, especially after a trip to the San Sebastián area in 2000 and seeing an ETA rally. So my husband and I are listening to it together (a benefit of sheltering in place)! I love it starting with mothers on the sides of the conflict between the Spanish and Basque separatists.

It‘s that time again! New Year‘s Day. Please join us in reading a great book to kick off 2021! #84CCRNYD

All my reading life I have been looking for a thoughtful and passionate rebuke of colonialism via missionary work and I think I may have found it in this book. I have been interested in reading it for a while, but when I saw the preview for the new movie coming out, I had to prioritize it quickly. I cannot put it down!

What a lovely evening, celebrating Kiley Reid‘s Such A Fun Age. She was an engaging author with a lot of sharp insights on the themes and characters of the book. As I said in my last week‘s wrap up, it‘s going to be a smash hit.

Next up for #readgermanbooks2020 - a book from Alina Bronsky. Mel‘s Bookland Adventures on Youtube mentioning one of her other books, and it reminded me that I had bought this one as part of an ebook sale. Given that I love, love, love books about old women, I decided to read a bit this morning and cannot put it down. Wonderful so far!

Just finished this audiobook that everyone is raving about. It‘s a contemporary novel about an African American babysitter who almost gets arrested for “kidnapping” the child under her care and the ramifications on all the players. At times I found it a little soap opera-ish with too convenient plot “twists” which was a bit disappointing. I can see this book being a good one for book clubs and continuing to generate buzz.

I started this as a buddy read over the holidays but my buddy got a bit overwhelmed by all the festivities and we ended up agreeing to read something else down the road. I decided to continue it because I‘m really enjoying the bird‘s eye view of the planning of an intricate spy trap, centering on the grooming and training of a young, wild, intelligent but self destructive woman. Interested to see where it will take me.

I‘ve been neglectful, Litsy! I used to spend most of my social media time here, among you wonderful people. In April, I started a YouTube channel to ostensibly learn how to film & edit & I figured I would talk about the thing I love the most- books, but never expecting it to take off. But it has & also taken up most of my time. But I vow to do better this year because I miss the kindness/warmth of everyone here. Sorry for taking you for granted!!

Look at what came in the mail today to make my first Monday back at work less horrible! I am sad to know that you don‘t get the bookmark with the Book Depository Persephone order. 😭

I‘m enveloped in the Hilary Mantel world of Thomas Cromwell, in eager anticipation of the 3rd release. I have been intimidated by the work before & am thrilled to be reading it with many smart people on YouTube, including Jason of Old Blue‘s Chapter and Verse. We are reading the 1st book in Jan, 2nd in Feb, and then ready to start the third when it is released in March. For context, I am listening to an audiobook that is very detailed and helpful.

And here is my bounty of book possibilities for Nonfiction November reading!

One of my favorite books of the year is on sale today for the digital edition... It‘s remarkable.

My weekend outlook seems promising... I‘m reading these two gems as part of the Gone With The Book readathon, creates by Mel of Mel‘s Bookland Adventures BookTube channel.

Great deal for a great book!

Enjoying a foggy, cold morning for a lie in with my favorite old lady and a new book for #witreadathon ! .

Just finished my 1st book for WIT month. This was a remarkable story & the audio was sublime. I don‘t often get on with child voice actors, as the precociousness can be a bit much. But this was just the right level of haughtiness in both character‘s voices. If you like really brilliant, difficult women who go deep into observations of the world/ their lives- this may be a book for you. I love the mix of intellectual discourse & heart!

I‘m co-hosting a read along with Juan of Just Juan Reader BookTube channel of The Goldfinch, in anticipation of the upcoming movie. Feel free to join us. The info is in the video: https://youtu.be/0bHOAetpg5Q .

I‘m snuggling up as close as our old lady will let me, while I read my last book for Booktube‘s Reading Rush week.

Multitasking Saturday!

I wish I could say that all these markers are for brilliant, insightful or lovely passages. For me, the hype on this one is overblown. I‘m finding the writing clunky, the context lacking and the underlying assumptions suspect. I‘m disappointed. I‘ll finish it, but have low hopes for it turning around. 😢

At this pace I am on track for possibly beating my best year of 222 books read! I couldn‘t be happier with the material I am reading, as well as the pace. And joining BookTube has been a great way to engage with other readers for buddy reads. It‘s been lovely to read some intimidating books with other people, analyzing it together as we go.

I hope your reading years are going well, also!

I uploaded a video to my YouTube channel, talking about all the books we found on our vacation to Italy. This was the second edition. I am maybe most excited by this edition that I found.

https://youtu.be/NSBUkUWCQF8

I‘m enjoying this exploration of menopause. The audiobook is read by the author and is compelling. She is completely right that there is a deficit of work based on this time in women‘s lives. It‘s insane to know that every woman goes through it and we know so little about the process.

There is a deal on the ebook of this title in Kindle and iBook formats. This was printed by Persephone Books, but in lieu of having the gorgeous dove cover, you can read the book for cheap. 😉

In anticipation of the movie release, I‘m teaming up with a fantastic BookTuber, Juan, of Just Juan Reader to host a read along for the book, starting August 1st. Details are on my channel and his.

Alert! I read this book for AussieApril and am now in love with this author. I‘ve binged her previous 2 books in May. If you like atmospheric mysteries with great character and plot- this is your book and it‘s on sale for Kindle and Apple Books. I didn‘t check Kobo or Nook. 6/02/19

I finished Normal People and talked about it in my latest video of weekly reading- Week of Reading- May 31st, 2019 https://youtu.be/oG6N95Cielo

It‘s Saturday morning and as usual, I am cursed by abundance and thereby paralyzed with choices. Visit the city, do nature, go book shopping or just fall asleep reading all day?! I could go to the gym. (Just kidding!)

I ❤️ when books activate a curiosity to explore ideas. Or to see what they see, or know more about what they are referencing. This is happening with Spring. I am inspired to pause, look something up on Google, & marvel at her brilliance as she adds these layers into her writing. I‘m only 23% in, but am loving this story of friendship, loss & change in the era of Trump, Brexit, encroaching Fascism which is pulling is back to darker days.

I have so many thoughts about this book. So many that I needed to talk it out. See the discussion here: https://youtu.be/ZDP3tV56Kos

Continuing my Roman reading, I grabbed this audiobook from the public library‘s digital stack and am enjoying it as much as I did with the first one. It doesn‘t have the seriousness of Bernard Cornwell‘s Fools and Mortals, which I just finished. But I don‘t need it to be. I like being transported to Ancient Rome as a prompt for my imagination for our upcoming trip. ⁣