I am finally reading East of Eden which I have meant to do for many years. No time like the present, especially during Banned Books Week! #bannedbook

Took the kids to the #bookbarn in Niantic today as it was a beautiful day for a drive and wanted to get in a few last hurrahs before the end of summer. Of course we really should be back to school clothes shopping but book shopping is so much more fun!

I just loved this beautiful story of star crossed lovers who meet in 1950s Iran, a time when there was much political turmoil and eventual government coup. In addition to enjoying the captivating story, I also was intrigued by all of the references to lots of different Iranian foods and found myself Googling many of them. This book will pull at your heartstrings and make you hungry, a definite pick for me!

Rosemary is an 86 year old woman who has spent her whole life swimming at her local lido. Kate is a young journalist trying to find herself and take control of her recurring panic attacks. The two form a friendship as they fight to keep the lido from being closed to make way for an expensive new apartment complex. I loved their relationship and the community involvement in trying to save the lido. A great beach read, perfect for the pool too!

This was a great beach read that I picked up on a whim at a library book sale. Set in Venice, the book has a dual time line. Corradino is a renowned glassblower in 1600s Venice who is embroiled in political intrigue of the time and Nora is his descendant in modern day Venice carrying on the family tradition while looking into secrets of her ancestor‘s past. As I won‘t be visiting Venice anytime soon, this book transported me there in its own way.

Excited to get my signed copy of this book in the mail today after I attended the virtual Zoom event with the author this week through #rjjuliabooksellers. It was a great event and Ballard is a very inspirational person who has lead such an interesting life. In addition to finding the Titanic, he has conducted so much important research on alternative energy and food sources from the ocean. I‘m looking forward to reading this.

With my many years of reading mysteries behind me I have somehow never read P.D. James. This is book 13 in the Adam Dalgliesh series that I picked up at a library book sale so I jumped in with this one. I‘m a sucker for a mystery set on a remote British island so this was right up my alley. Now that I‘ve finally got around to reading her books, I will definitely seek out more.

I finished this at Six Flags while waiting for my kids who were riding the roller coasters. While this was not my favorite of Harper‘s books, it was still a good read set in a beach town in Tasmania. She always does a great job in bringing a strong sense of place to her works which I appreciate.

Last week we took a trip to the Berkshires and visited The Mount, Edith Wharton‘s home in Lenox, Massachusetts. The home itself was lovely, and I learned that she was very interested in architecture and interior design and even wrote a well received book on the subject. The library contains her personal collection which was purchased back from a British bookseller who owned the collection. It‘s definitely worth a visit if you‘re in the area.

I just finished this book and can already tell that it is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2021. The story of four kids‘ journey through the Depression Era US mirrors the Odyssey and is no less epic. I already miss these characters now that I am done and know I will think of this book for a long while to come.

Just finished Shadow and Bone which I wanted to read before watching the show on Netflix. I was quickly drawn into Alina‘s story and the Grishaverse and need to pick up the rest of the series. I also want to read the Six of Crows duology too. Looks like I have my work cut out for me!

I‘ve been a fan of Elton John‘s music for decades and dived into his memoir to learn more of his incredible life. He was very honest and self deprecating in this book, shedding light on both the positive and negative aspects of his history and I loved the inside glimpse of the rock & roll world of the 70s and 80s especially. Taron Egerton does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. I got a physical copy from the library for the pictures too!

I made out pretty well at my library‘s book sale today with a few cozy mysteries, some historical fiction and a bit of non-fiction. Totally didn‘t need to bring another book into my house but I just couldn‘t stay away from the $5 bag sale!

This has to be my favorite thus far of Fiona Davis‘s books that I‘ve read. Sometimes I tire of the dual timeline structure and enjoy one timeline more than another, however I felt myself equally drawn into each of the time periods of this one. Set in the New York Public Library in 1913 and 1993 and encompassing other topics such as women‘s rights and changing roles, this was a definite pick for me.

In an attempt to get through some of the backlog on my Kindle I picked up this cozy mystery which is the first in a series. This was an enjoyable read with a fun cast of characters that I look for in a good cozy series. Sophia and her brother Angelo have started an investigation firm in post WWII Little Italy, NY and murder and hi-jinx ensue. It looks like there is only one other book thus far in the series which I will scope out.

I read this book many years ago and decided it was time to revisit it. William Least-Heat Moon recounts his 1978 journey around the country taking the back roads. I read this slowly, enjoying it a little bit at a time and looking forward each day to find out where he was headed next.

Although I had yet to watch the final episode of this series on Netflix my library hold came in so I decided to dive into the book anyway. My knowledge of chess is decidedly limited however that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book or Netflix adaptation. Even though I knew 85% of the plot going in I still raced through this book cheering for Beth Harmon the entire way.

I‘ve had this on my Kindle forever and finally got around to it. This is the first in a mystery series set in Boston shortly after the Civil War. I was quickly drawn into the story of Nell, a governess with an inauspicious past who tries to help clear her employer‘s son of a murder charge. I will definitely check out the rest of the series as I enjoyed the development and evolving relationships between the primary characters.

I was originally reluctant to read this as I knew that it dealt with the difficult topic of dementia however I am glad that I picked it up anyway. Khong did a beautiful job chronicling the story of a daughter coming home to help care for her father with empathy and humor.

I thought the premise of Oona living her life out of order as the title suggests was an interesting concept. However I never really formed an attachment to Oona through out her escapades from year to year which kept me from fully enjoying this one. Sometimes with time travel plots I get too tied up in overthinking the mechanics of it instead of just going with the flow so that might have had something to do with my overall impression.

As I played field hockey (albeit poorly) and was in the graduating class of 1990 I knew I just had to read this book. The Danvers, MA field hockey team tries to make it to the Regional Championship with a little hocus pocus while discovering their innate powers as individuals and as a team. The 80s references were fun and brought back many cringe worthy high school memories. Barry ties in the Salem Witch Trials as well. A definite pick from me.

I loved this historical fiction with two timelines, one of the earlier life and marriage of Maud Baum to L. Frank Baum and the other detailing her involvement behind the scenes of the movie version of The Wizard of Oz. Maud was the daughter of Matilda Gage, a leader in the fight for women‘s suffrage and their backstory was fascinating as well. It was really interesting to find tidbits from Maud and Frank‘s lives that influenced The Wizard of Oz.

I knew very little about James Garfield before picking this up, other than that he had been assassinated. This was a fascinating look at his rise from poverty to President. The author ties in information of the state of medicine at the time which was also interesting (and horrifying) as many physicians‘ disbelief in antisepsis contributed greatly to Garfield‘s demise. It was a surprisingly quick read that I would highly recommend.

I‘m celebrating St. Patrick‘s Day with Nora Webster. I read Brooklyn several years ago and have been meaning to get to this one. Now seems like the perfect time! Happy St. Patrick‘s Day! 🍀

I‘ve been trying to read some of the books that have been lingering unread on my Kindle for quite some time and this was one of them. Jeffrey Mere is a 64 year old Scottish man who leads a predictable life until he decides to shake things up by climbing a mountain, traveling to Rome and letting his guard down to look for love. This was a nice heartwarming book that was a good palate cleanser between some of the heavier books I‘ve been reading.

This was a book that I would not have picked for myself as it‘s a true crime story of a serial killer which is something I would usually avoid. However, as this was a gift I plowed ahead and was glad I did. The Monster of Florence murdered couples in secluded areas of the city over several decades. The story of the Italian justice system and the authors‘ personal involvement in the investigation was just as incredible as the crimes themselves.

I picked this up yesterday when I was out shopping with my daughter. I‘ve been tracking my reads electronically but have wanted to start journaling about my reading as well. Hopefully this journal will inspire me to jot down some thoughts with its writing prompts on plot notes, character notes and favorite quotes.

While I didn‘t enjoy this quite as much as Cleeton‘s first two books of the Cuba Saga, this was a riveting book as well. Cleeton really knows how to write a fast paced page turner and I appreciated how well she intertwined the stories of three main characters who are in the path of a devastating hurricane heading for the Florida Keys.

I was so excited to find that the book I received today from my Shelf Subscription from #thebookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia was The Kitchen Front. This was on my virtual TBR list as I loved The Chilbury Ladies‘ Choir and this also looked to be up my alley. So psyched that I have my own copy and don‘t have to wait on the hold list at the library. Love getting good book mail!

I‘ve been trying to read books that I‘ve had on my Kindle forever as I am a sucker for a Kindle deal and I don‘t remember downloading this one. I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be an enjoyable read. An antique shop owner, Lilly is given a beautiful violin by a mysterious stranger. Throughout the course of the book Lilly tries to find her connection to the violin by traveling to London, Italy and Sumatra.

I am slowly making my way through Tana French‘s Dublin Murder Squad series. This one tells the story of Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy who is teamed up with a rookie to investigate a triple murder in a housing development on the decline during the recession. French centers each book in the series on a different character and really pulls you in to their backstory, adding a layer of depth that is not seen in many other mysteries I‘ve read.

I finally have Sense and Sensibility under my belt as I am making my way through Jane Austen‘s works. I am doling them out slowly as I like having another to look forward to reading. Now just Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Sanditon left!

Having visited the Alcott residence of Orchard House in Concord, MA in 2019 and learning about Louisa May Alcott‘s father Bronson, I enjoyed this historical fiction account of Mr. March‘s Civil War journey. Mr. March shares many of Bronson Alcott‘s characteristics and I felt that Brooks did a nice job of weaving his story into the back drop of such a beloved work as Little Women which was not an easy task.

This was YA historical fiction that I read along with my daughter who is obsessed with Hamilton. It was fun to read of the less popular Schuyler sister and her exploits during the Revolution. I finished reading this at our rental house in Saratoga Springs, close to some of the action that takes place in the book. I‘d love to come back in the summer and when life gets closer to normal and tour the Schuyler residence which is nearby.

This is my birthday book haul from my family today. My husband did a great job picking out books that I don‘t own already and that are right up my alley.

I am kind of on the fence for this one, between a pick and so so for me. Addie LaRue makes a deal with a god of the dark making her immortal but with the catch that no one will remember her. I appreciated her glimpses of history throughout the years but felt some of the book felt repetitive and dragged a bit. I went in with high expectations which the book didn‘t quite meet for me but it was an enjoyable read overall.

Although the main characters of this book were fictional, they did allow me a glimpse of the work and detail that went into the creation of Princess Elizabeth‘s wedding gown. Also of interest was this time period following WWII as England was still living through austere times. I could see the wedding being a welcome distraction at the time or a show of extravagance when many were struggling. Altogether it was an interesting read.

I am definitely going to have a book hangover after finishing this one, Mantel‘s third book in her Thomas Cromwell trilogy. She really gets into the head of this complicated man who was in the thick of the politics and intrigue of Henry VIII‘s court. I am inspired to read more about this time period after reading this, which is always a sign of a great book to me.

I just received my first book from my shelf subscription that my husband bought me for Christmas from The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia. The Bookshelf‘s podcast From the Front Porch is one of my favorites so this was a fun way to support them. I love a good mystery so this looks like it will be right up my alley. #thebookshelf

New year, new challenges. I‘m going to try the #bookspinbingo to help me whittle down my ever expanding TBR pile. This is from my physical book pile-I think I will make one for my ebook pile as well. It will take some of the pressure off of deciding what to read next!

This was just as charming and heartwarming as the TV movie and was a nice, quick Christmas read to get me in the holiday spirit!

This is the first book that I‘ve read by Lucy Foley and it will definitely not be my last. I was pulled right in to this thriller set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland where a high profile wedding will be held. Many of the guests and the bride and groom have secrets in their past that follow them to the forbidding island. This was a real page turner!

This was the true story of Nancy Wake who served with the British SOE during WWII. She risked her life countless times to smuggle people to safety and aided the French Resistance in obtaining weapons and supplies. Of course I then went down the Google rabbit hole to learn more about her. I had been procrastinating on some work that I put off but after reading about Nancy parachuting into occupied France, I figured I could get my work done!

I started to translate this in my French class in high school but I didn‘t get very far. Many years after that attempt I have finally read this book (in English). Learning of Saint-Exupery‘s history made the reading even more poignant. This is a lovely gem of a book and I am so glad that I finally got to it. I think I wouldn‘t have appreciated it as much having read it as a teenager as I have now with years of adulthood, love and loss behind me.

Patricia Lockwood and her husband move in with her parents due to financial woes. What sets this apart from the usual story of a grown up child returning to the nest is the fact that her dad is a married Catholic priest due to a loophole in the church rules. I found this book to be both poignant and hilarious at times and was actually glad I was wearing a mask in the doctor‘s waiting room while I read this as it made me laugh out loud at times.

I have a weakness for library book sales and as this was the first one my library has held in quite some time of course I couldn‘t stay away. Despite the fact that I still have many books yet to read from past sales, I couldn‘t resist picking up more.

This series just keeps getting better and better. I raced through this one, interested in the mystery of a murdered woman with a famous past but even more riveted by the overarching storyline of Gamache‘s investigation of corruption in the police force. I am taking my time with this series as I like having more to look forward to, but I may pick up the next one sooner rather than later as I really got sucked back in to life in Three Pines.

I was expecting this book to be about the author‘s tales of vacations gone awry from the title and subtitle but quickly grasped that this was not the case. Hodgman‘s book encompasses his youth as an awkward kid, the death of his mother and his grappling with middle age in addition to tales of family vacations in New England. His offbeat sense of humor added much to the book and I remain a fan many years after watching him on The Daily Show.

I remember being swept up in the drama of Doctor Zhivago when I read it many years ago but I knew nothing of the equally fascinating story of its publication. Prescott‘s behind the scenes look at this incredible journey involves espionage, imprisonment and the 1958 World‘s Fair. Super interesting, now I‘m going to go spend way too much time Googling more about this!

This was a wild book detailing Doris Payne‘s life as a jewelry thief over many decades beginning in the 1950s. She stole extremely expensive pieces of jewelry from high end jewelry stores all over the world and while I don‘t condone her crimes it was a guilty pleasure to read about them. It looks like this is going to be made into a movie and seems like a story that will lend itself well to the big screen.