Another enjoyable read from Ms. Williams, taking place in 1920s New York. Murder, adultery, love, friendship- it has it all! Although this wasn‘t my favorite of hers, I would still recommend it. And that cover! *swoon*

Fantastic middle grade story taking place in Gary, Indiana and Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression. Deza Malone is smart, funny, courageous and fiercely loyal to those she loves. I highly recommend the audiobook, read by Bahni Turpin.

Lyrical and bittersweet novel following three generations of Japanese/Japanese-American women in pre-WWII Japan. I learned so much from this story, which is one of my favorite things about historical fiction.

A perfect Summer read! Quintessential Williams with dual storylines and timelines that come together at the end. This novel follows Lulu, an American journalist in the Bahamas who becomes entangled in the affairs of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during WWII.
I‘ve discovered I really like reading seasonally. Beatriz fans, which of her books would be perfect for Fall? Tagging the BW superfan @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Beautiful and engaging British family saga. I adored the main protagonist, Penelope, and her thoughtful takes on family, self, motherhood, and love. I will definitely be reading more of Pilcher!

After the most recent book fair I attended, I realized I now own four books by Nancy Mitford, but I‘ve yet to read any of them. Any suggestions on which of these to start with?

This past weekend was our YMCA‘s annual book fair! Here‘s the obligatory photo of my haul, because if you don‘t post a pic of your books on Litsy, did you even go to the book fair??

This book was definitely “preaching to the choir,” as I was already a big proponent of reading aloud, but it was interesting to learn the science behind it.

Harrowing fictionalized account of the massive hurricane that struck the Florida Keys in 1930. Much of the story focuses on the veterans of WWI (white and black) who were working on a construction project in the area and how they were essentially abandoned by the federal government. Lafaye tackles themes of racism, classism, loyalty and family. Certainly not a “fluffy” summer novel, but worth reading.

Morton follows her typical back-and-forth-in-time formula in this mystery surrounding the disappearance of a baby. Even though I didn‘t really like one of the main protagonists, I still couldn‘t turn the pages fast enough, and I adored many of the other characters. Also, the majority of the book takes place during the summer, & I love when my season matches that of the book I‘m reading.

Well-told story of revolution-era Cuba and the war‘s far reaching effects on one family. The author did a great job showing how complicated the revolution and its aftermath were, and how and why it was difficult for many exiles to move on.

Finishing my second cup of coffee while reading my first Anita Brookner. This one is a definite #blameitonlitsy purchase. Sadly, I‘d never heard of her until several Littens posted about her work.

Engrossing story of a Cuban refugee willing to do almost anything to get her revenge against Castro and get back to her homeland. I find Cuban history fascinating, and I enjoyed every minute of this book. Recommended!

Second in the Amory Ames series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first. Interesting plot development and fun characters. This would make a fun television series. 😁

Lovely, melancholy reflections of an Irish gentleman deeply grieving his wife. Each chapter is a toast to the most important people in his life. Very well done.

It was the Greater St. Louis Book Fair this weekend! Did I go all three days? Yes! Do I know where I‘m going to put my new books? Not really! #bookhaul #noregrets

I just adored this series. Cavallaro‘s Holmes and Watson are complex, well-drawn characters, and I couldn‘t wait to see what happened next. I‘m sad to say goodbye to them, but this book was a fitting conclusion to the series.

Like many other readers, I found this story fascinating, and the book was very well written. I‘ve also watched the HBO documentary and listened to the ABC News podcast- a bit obsessed, obviously. 😄

Do you want to read a novel about cloistered nuns in a monastery in 1960s Great Britain? Yes, you do! I see your skeptical gaze, but trust me - this book is not what you (probably) think it is. Loss, grief, love, jealousy, and duty are explored through a cast of exquisitely drawn characters. And most of the book certainly passes the Bechdel test. 😁

Eesh. This book was so not for me. I made it halfway, because it was a book club pick and I really try to finish those. But after two of the stories made me physically ill, I decided to bail. (Only two of our members actually finished the book.) Too much ugliness without any apparent point, other than maybe anti-tourism. “Wyoming: You do NOT want to come here.”

Loved this! First in a series following an aristocratic woman and her husband as they solve murders and deal (or not) with their complicated marriage. It‘s like if Agatha Christie wrote an episode of Downton Abbey.

I saw a few posts this month about this play which reminded me I had it on my shelves. It was truly excellent, and I‘d like to see a live performance.

My daughter has yet another snow day today (actually for ice). We‘ve had 4 now, which is very unusual for us (at least in recent years). I swear these kids are going to go into “summer slide” in March!
#readblackwomen #Blackhistorymonth

“You don‘t have to sell the your soul to live in Linden Hills. You give it away, piece by piece.”

Gloria Naylor pulls no punches. This is a gut-wrenching, disturbing, and heartbreaking novel-in-stories focused on several residents in an affluent African-American enclave in an unnamed city. I can‘t say the reading experience was pleasant, but I‘m glad I read it. #readblackwomen #BlackHistoryMonth

I could definitely use some more nuance. Thanks for the opportunity!

#ImListeningGiveaway

I love a good literary mystery, and I had high expectations for this novel about a Brontë descendant‘s quest to find the inheritance her father has left her at Oxford. Unfortunately, it didn‘t quite live up to its billing for me. I found the protagonist to be annoyingly immature, and the writing was stilted at times. The premise was fun, though, and YMMV.

My first Dorothy Parker! This is an anthology of some of her poems and short stories. While Parker‘s oft touted acerbic wit is very much present in many of these pieces, I was surprised by the pathos and despair in others. (Caveat: racist stereotypes and language in some of the short stories 😖)

I‘ve had this book on my shelves for almost 9 yrs, & it finally called to me. A WWII novel which takes place in 1940 and 1941, before the U.S. enters the war. We follow a few characters in a small Cape Cod town, including the titular character, as well as an American female war correspondent reporting on the Blitz in London. Their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. Explores themes of duty and loyalty, & whether one trumps the other.

#Bookhaul! I scored at a new-to-me thrift store this afternoon. I never have this kind of luck!

Beautifully written, thought-provoking examination of the main character‘s relationships with an aristocratic family. Tackles themes of family, faith, loyalty, identity, and vocation. It took me a little while to get into it, but after a couple of longish reading sessions, I was hooked.

1. Goodreads challenge of 75 books; read books I already own & stop using the library as much.
2. Nope
3. Wonder Woman 4evah!
4. January (2nd)
5. Shout out to my fellow Capricorns! 🖐
#FriYayIntro

Birthday book haul! The two on the left are from my husband, and the two on the right I picked up at the bookstore on my birthday. Looking forward to reading all of them (eventually)!

Finished this one during the last week of 2018. I think this one is my favorite so far!

Here‘s a bit of my bookish Christmas gifts. I had to show you the awesome coasters my Mom gave us. 😊

Do you enjoy wartime novels, especially those examining the home front? Do you dig epistolary novels? Did you love The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and are constantly trying to find a book that comes close to all those feels? Then you should give this book a go.

It‘s raining, and I‘m reading a book about books while sipping tea by the Christmas tree. #hyggeaf

My mom sent me an early birthday present (my birthday isn't until January). A bookish Jefferson quote I'm sure we can all relate to. 😁

Slim, spare, and thought-provoking book exploring the relationships between a brain damaged mathematician, his housekeeper, and the housekeeper‘s son. Ogawa packs a lot to think about in a mere 180 pages. Highly recommend.

Well done memoir of Chung‘s coming to terms with her adoption and searching for her birth family. She addresses the complexities and difficulties inherent in adoption, especially when white parents adopt non-white children. Recommend.

My first Sarah Vowell audiobook! And my first audiobook in years. (I don‘t do audiobooks well, as my mind tends to wander.) I really enjoyed the performances, and the topic was also interesting.

Interesting tale of a Haitian teen trying to find her way in Detroit with her aunt and cousins. There‘s a touch of magical realism I wasn‘t expecting, and it‘s quite violent. Well-written, but not quite what I was in the mood for. Still interested in reading her new book, a Pride and Prejudice retelling.

This mystery just didn‘t land for me. Too many characters, too many superfluous scenes, and too many archaic and otherwise references to Oxford and England that I just didn‘t get.

Fantasy is not one of my go-to genres, but I liked Uprooted enough to give this one a try. I enjoyed Spinning Silver even more than Uprooted and would highly recommend it for anyone looking to dip their reading toes into fantasy.

Another gorgeous, heart-wrenching book from Jacqueline Woodson. A group of “special” middle schoolers come together each Friday to just talk. Through the year, they share their stories and learn to trust each other. Loved it.

My first Wharton! Oof, what a punch in the gut. I often felt as if I was watching a train wreck in slow motion. The writing was top-notch, though, and I can see why it‘s considered a classic.

I was expecting a bittersweet story with some heart-warming moments, but it was much darker than I anticipated. I also found the main character to be rather immature and it started to really annoy me after a while. 😬

Informative, easy to read treatise on why the U.S. education system may not work for your child, plus steps you can take if that is, indeed, the case. I think I may need my own copy to refer to in the future.

I hit up our local YMCA Book Fair yesterday - book fairs are the best!
#bookhaul
#ymcabookfair

WWII novel set in London focusing on the home front and featuring a young, plucky woman trying to make a difference? Hello, wheelhouse! Loved this one as much as I thought I would. 😁

I loved this quiet novel centered around a Chinese couple who return to China after living in the U.S. for several years. Beautiful writing and great character development. Themes of family obligation vs. autonomy, love, loss, and identity. If you like Janice Y. K. Lee‘s novels, you should definitely pick up this one. (And if you haven‘t read Janice Y. K. Lee, you should get on that!)

I had four library holds come in at the same time, and only had two weeks to read them all. I accepted that challenge and, happy to report, I won! The tagged book is the first I finished. Thoughtful and thought-provoking essays on race and privilege. It reminded me of Coates‘ Between the World and Me. Recommended!