Wow. This was a brutal section for me. Vance has sacrificed any sympathy I ever had for him. He‘s not young and impulsive anymore. He‘s selfish and cruel. I wish Halo had better options, but she needs to be shed of V.! Thoughts about either V or H‘s behavior? #whartonbuddyread

I loved this memoire of growing and raising your own food. I never had any delusions of it being easy (enforced child labor in my mother‘s garden) and I‘m happy for someone to slaughter and butcher the meat I eat, I want to know where my food comes from. I love how generous she was with her food, even after someone stole her one and only watermelon. And the way the neighbors came together, all different cultures and backgrounds bonding over food.

I felt like this was a better portrait of Dr. Thomas than Miss Jane, partly because Watson seems better at writing men than women, partly because there was so much focus on his inner life. The peacocks are his (and the cover makes you think Jane Austen will figure into it, while it‘s Jane Eyre. There are beautiful descriptions and contemplative language.

Vance goes off on a wild goose chase sure to get him in trouble. The Delaney‘s, Alders, Mrs. G, and Chris all collide in the south of France. And Wharton is hammering it home that, putting people in different clothes, houses, hotels, etc doesn‘t change who they are. Do you think Halo, back in Forgotten-by-the-Sea (rough translation of Oubli-sur-mer ) knew what she was doing? And if V can‘t write without hurting others, is he a genius or a monster?

Scholarly but very readable. I enjoyed this look at Tudor women, focusing on the wives, yes, but also others of the era. There are a lot of characters to keep straight in Henry VIII‘s court, but it gets easier with each book I read.

Vance goes to extremes, although all his extremes are selfish, even when he thinks he‘s being noble. And the double standard is spotlighted clearly. It‘s ok to “know” a man who‘s living nonmarried, but the woman of the couple must be cut dead. Is there any hope for this pair? Especially with Lewis being so poutily stubborn? (Picture is a detail of a painting by Corot of the forest at Fontainebleau.) #whartonbuddyread

This is a difficult book ton review (and to read.) TW for incest and child abuse, I almost gave up on it early on. But Price‘s prose is strong and he manages to make the protagonist, if not lovable, at least pitiable. You have to get all the way to the end to understand why Price is so relentless with details, yet it still leaves a darkness and ick factor that I didn‘t expect from him. Pick for the prose & voice; pan for the protagonist.

Not a good picture, but since it wasn‘t a good book, I don‘t care. Full of sayings that could be embroidered on pillows or painted on old barn wood. The “poetry” doesn‘t scan, the “twist” is a total eye roll and no one behaves in character. It may be an #unpopularopinion but I didn‘t like it. Now there‘s room for another book on my shelf. 😀#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

To quote from the website The Mount “In a rare interview, Wharton listed The Gods Arrive as one of her five favorites. The other four were Hudson River Bracketed, The Custom of the Country, Summer, and The Children.” Are we going to see E. W. more intimately in this? It‘s also the only sequel she ever wrote so she must have loved these characters. But she doesn‘t let us think for long that this will be a rare happy relationship! #whartonbuddyread

I recognize this as an important book, but I can‘t call it an enjoyable one. Very grim with few if any likable characters, and plenty of grisly deaths. The narrator was good, but not the best early-morning exercise listening.

Not ready to stop reading about the Tudors after The Mirror and the Light, so I‘m hoping these 3, plus the tagged book not pictured, will scratch that itch. #bookhaul

I enjoyed this take on local eating that shows how, even in a small apartment in a northern climate, one can eat locally. I loved the personal insights and farmer portraits. And it made me hungry, which is the best thing I can say about a food book. 😂 Picture is part of our haul from this week‘s farmers market. It‘s winter squash season!

Reminder to grab your Complete Wharton (or a copy of the novel if you can find it) because discussion starts next week. #whartonbuddyread @Graywacke @LitsyEvents

Narnia for adults, in a way. I love Lewis‘ ability to articulate difficult mysteries in an understandable way yet without robbing them of their ineffable-ness.

I found this disjointed and unsatisfying. It felt more like an immature collegiate diary than a novel. So many statements put forth as “profound” that were merely trite. Not a fan.

My October #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

The title remains elusive until the last essay (but the bear comes sooner, so 🤷🏻‍♀️) and as many say it‘s not as funny as I Was Told There‘d Be Cake, but I still laughed out loud in some places and generally enjoyed myself. And it‘s number 24 for #24in2024, so I feel like a middle schooler who finished her homework early. 😂 @Jas16

A quick read, but a dark, dark one. Erdrich is a talented writer, but the tape and abuse (physical and emotional) is hard to take. Numerous 23 of #24in2024 @Jas16

Neither of these has a comment on Litsy, but if you‘ve read either, or other biographies by either author, I‘d love to know what you think. My library doesn‘t have either (big surprise 🙄) so I‘ll need to buy it ordo inter-library Loan, so I‘d love an idea of which is more readable and more about the man than just his accomplishments. Thanks in advance.

I put off reading this final book because Mantel made me love Cromwell and we all know how it ends. So I put it off as if my not reading it could change history. As sad as the end was, it was also redemptive in a way. Cromwell was a fascinating character who lived through incredibly dangerous times. And Mantel makes it all so relatable. Now I want equally well-written books about the other people surrounding him!

I wasn‘t a fan of Blue Nights, but when this showed up on The NY Times “Best books of the 21st Century so far” I thought I should give her another chance. I don‘t like to be negative about a memoir, especially not a memoir about grief. But Didion is not for me. #unpopularOpinion

Enjoying a quiet evening with Thomas Cromwell.

“Once the queen‘s head is severed, he walks away.”

#firstLineFridays. @ShyBookOwl

I liked the matter of fact tone, both about war & immigration, and the doors. It made the magical realism work and kept this from being dark fantasy. In the end I found it hopeful. And the narration was excellent.

#irony with a capital I. 😂

The #whartonbuddyread has spoken, and we‘ll continue with Halo and Vance starting October 5th. I‘m looking forward to seeing how it ends!

A quick, charming read, whose pint-sized protagonist reminded me of my granddaughter when she‘s cranky. Lovely descriptive writing. A good farewell to summer and my #doublespin for this month.

Do you want to dive right in to the sequel, or wait until October? Full disclosure, it‘s 5 books, about 440 pages. Vote in the comments below with your preferred start date: September 21 or October 5. #whartonbuddyread

I nearly bailed early on, and if the early behavior of Toby is bothersome, I understand but recommend pushing through. What the author does with the relative length of the three sections is brilliant. I‘ll be thinking about this for a long time. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

My #BetterWorldBooks order arrived! #bookhaul

My first by this author, inspired by The NY Times list. But it won‘t be the last one I read of his. I need to explore his back list! While I understand why he included the entire “ghetto novel” (and repeated bits of it!) I wished I could have skimmed it. But the narration was strong and the writing superb. Highly recommended.

My irl book club pick for September, the cover did not give me hope. And it was light - I started and finished it over the long weekend while also cataloging my library. But it was entertaining and will (maybe) give us something to talk about. So a soft pick.

Though the title refers to this style of architecture, the book is about much bigger themes - creation, continuity of culture, rampant capitalism, sham spirituality, and, of course, unhappy marriages. (It is Wharton after all.) I thought the ending abrupt, but then learned that there‘s a sequel, so I‘m withholding final judgement until I‘ve read it. Thanks @Graywacke and all the #whartonbuddyread crew. We‘re almost through her novels!

The bookshelf still has a little space (yay!) but Amélie is not impressed. ?

I‘m putting my husband up for Husband of the Year y‘all. See all the books stacked on the library table? And lying sideways on top of other shelves? I said I needed to weed out some books and instead he drove 3 hours to IKEA and bought another Billy. And these are not the only shelves in our house by a long shot. Our #labordayweekendproject is to fill it! (And update my library catalogue to show where things are shelved.)

Finishing this collection is a great way to start the day. And to remind myself how I want the day to continue. Lovely awareness of the beauty around us, and the joy to be found, if we will only focus on it.

Loved this book! Totally lives up to the hype, and the full-cast narration was excellent. Do I want a paper copy so I can revisit it? Yes. But the audiobook was an excellent first read through.

#bookspin for September @TheAromaofBooks
I can‘t believe summer is almost over!

In spite of the sticker, I can‘t imagine this as a successful movie - it‘s too internal. A dark story, and I would like a little more about Elder Brother (her fear of him seems out of proportion) but very poetic and immersive. #24in2024 number 21. @Jas16

I‘d like a follow-up, but this is a book everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) should read. It always felt wrong to me, no matter how much Trumpism scares me, to “other” all Republicans. I try to be a “when they go low, we go high” Democrat. But guys, we‘re so close to losing our democracy. Please be kind this election season, trust your election workers, and vote. And try to build bridges, not tear them down. We‘re all in this together. Read this book!

This poem SO speaks to me!

I picked this up when we were in Pennsylvania last month. It was written by an insider, so it avoids stereotyping, yet the author doesn‘t shy away from exploring all the divisions and dissensions that have happened over the last 250 years. I loved it. (Picture from our trip.)

I don‘t usually read celebrity memoirs, but I enjoyed this one. I found it thought provoking and it showed a very different type of introspection than you usually get from these. I admire his dedication to service, and hey I was an oboe major so I know how crazy bassoonists are. 😂 #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

Such a fun read! Joan is a very lovable, if flawed, character. The humor is part irony, part slapstick, and 100% not mean-spirited. Loved it! #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Loving this early-ish Atwood!
#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Years ago I saw this in an antique store and was interested, but they wanted over $100 for it. I found it for a quarter of that and pounced on it! I love old houses, and these are close enough to drive by and take a look.

I started this on the treadmill this morning and while I like the narrator‘s sonorous bass voice, it‘s sometimes hard to hear over the treadmill noise. I may have to use ear buds on this one!

Making tomato sauce to freeze from the half bushel of tomatoes we bought at the market this morning. My whole house smells like an Italian restaurant!

A book that doesn‘t hit you over the head with its ideas about art and money, but leads you there through an atmosphere of beauty, privilege, wealth, and a little light larceny. Recommended.

My August #bookspin. I can‘t believe how fast this summer is going! @TheAromaofBooks