Finished another book from my #roll100 stack. I‘m not sure when I even bought this Kindle book but found this story set in Philadelphia during the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 to be really interesting. Meissner wrote this before COVid and the parallels between the two pandemics were eerie.

I enjoyed this book and learning of the role of librarians from the American Library in Paris during WWII. It has a dual timeline structure and as usual I found the older timeline more compelling. However I appreciated how the themes and experiences of the first timeline complemented those of the later timeline. I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction but was not familiar with this piece of that history which the author brought to life.

This is the seventh in the Wine Country Mystery series but I have not read any other books in the series which is what happens when I pick up random cozy mysteries at the library book sale. That did not deter me however from enjoying this book set in a winery in the Virginia countryside. It‘s another book off of the towering TBR pile thanks to the #roll100 challenge.

I absolutely loved this account of Mary MacLeod‘s time spent on a remote Hebridean island in the early 1970s. Her family wants a break from the hustle and bustle of city life so they move to a small croft house on the island where she serves as nurse to the community. I bought the sequel before I was halfway through because I knew that I would want to read more of her adventures and tales of the people she befriended. #roll100

This is the only Ferrante that I have read other than the Neapolitan Quartet and it was just as fraught and intense as those books. She examines the pull between the desire for a woman to be a “good mother” and to hold onto her own personal goals and needs. I am curious to see how this will be in the Netflix adaptation as it is very character driven with lots of interior monologues but I know that if anyone is up to the task it is Olivia Colman.

This is the fourth installment of the Peter Shandy Mystery series which I like to pick up when I need a breather from some of the heavier books I‘ve been reading. Shandy is a professor at a New England agricultural college who conveniently stumbles into murder scenes. MacLeod injects some humor into the subsequent crime solving and it‘s always fun to visit with some of the quirky cast of recurring characters.

I am so glad that I finally read this with the #roll100 challenge. It‘s hard to believe that the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff and its 9000 lives lost is not better known. Sepetys tells this story from four main characters‘ points of view that brings humanity to this horrible tragedy. The additional material at the end of the book including interviews with survivors and divers who have explored the wreckage was gripping as well.

I‘ve had this for years but finally read it with the #roll100 challenge. Told from the perspectives of a cast of characters, this book took me awhile to get into and I almost felt like bailing. I‘m glad that I persevered as the book really took shape once I started making connections between the characters and events. This book is an homage to NYC, the Twin Towers and obliquely to the events of 9/11. I can see why it won the National Book Award.

I recently read O‘Farrell‘s I Am, I Am, I Am which also explores the thin thread between life and death. She deftly tells the story of the death of Shakespeare‘s son Hamnet and its effect on the entire family and his father‘s writing. Shakespeare himself however takes a backseat in this book allowing us to view this tale from the view of his wife Agnes‘ lens. It‘s been many years since I‘ve read Hamlet but I am tempted to pick it up again.

This was a fun listen. Matt and Karen document their travels to 59 National Parks in letters to their friends Bob and Sue. Having limited my travel greatly over the past two years, it was nice to live vicariously through tales of their adventures and makes me eager to get out there and explore again.

Holy cow, this was an intense read. A plane with 149 passengers is headed from LAX to NY when the pilot is given a message from someone who has taken his family hostage. He needs to crash the plane or his family will be killed. Written by a flight attendant on her breaks during long flights, her insider knowledge of the airline industry was evident. I definitely don‘t recommend reading this while flying anywhere!

I was blown away by Yaa Gyasi‘s ability to so beautifully write about reconciling religion and science, mental health issues and addiction, racism and immigration within 266 pages. She is such an incredible talent and I can‘t wait to read whatever she writes next.

Maggie O‘Farrell and I were born the same year so I was able to relate each of her experiences with where I was at that time in my life. She tells the story of her life through harrowing medical conditions and near accidents. It felt repetitive at times but by the end I was able to appreciate what she was trying to accomplish. Her 17 brushes with death highlight the need to take nothing for granted and live life to its fullest.

I really enjoyed Daisy Jones but I think that I may have even liked this book a bit more. The book is split between the back story of the Riva family and a second timeline over the course of the day that Nina Riva throws her yearly celebrity filled party. It was a quick moving read that would be a terrific summer or beach book. I read it on the heels of a few heavier WWII historical fiction books so it was a nice change of pace for me.

This is my 2nd book of the #roll100 challenge. I was completely engrossed in this historical fiction tale of the hunt for a female Nazi war criminal. The background on the Russian pilots known as the Night Witches was fascinating and Nina will be one of my favorite characters for a while to come. I also went down a rabbit hole looking up the female photographers of the era mentioned. This is the first Kate Quinn I‘ve read but not the last!

I have mixed feelings about this book which contains dual timelines. As is often the case when I read this type of book I am usually drawn to one storyline over another. The story of fictional pilot Marian Graves was compelling as I enjoyed reading her journey and learning of the role of women pilots during WWII. The secondary timeline of a modern day actress playing Marian in a movie about her life was less engaging and felt unnecessary to me.

I hinted for my husband to get me a gift subscription from my local indie RJ Julia‘s for Christmas and was delighted to receive my first book today. They have you fill out a questionnaire about your reading likes and dislikes to get a feel for what you may enjoy. I have not read any of this series and am looking forward to digging in.

This was my first read of the #roll100 challenge and was my first Margery Allingham mystery. Written in 1929 and set at an old country estate in England, this was right up my alley. Allingham had a sense of humor that was evident in this first installment of her Albert Campion series and I will definitely continue reading her work. Although I already have a long list of beloved mystery authors, I am always happy to discover more.

This was a rare instance when the movie was much better than the book. Unfortunately this biography of Florence Foster Jenkins, renowned for her horrible singing, was on the dry side. It did bring to light her support of the arts and her charity efforts which I appreciated, however the movie and Meryl Streep in particular were much more riveting.

I needed a quick palate cleanser to start off 2022 and picked up this continuation of Joe Cawley‘s memoir of running a bar and grill in the vacation town of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It sounds great at first but the pressure mixed with tedium of the business catches up with him after awhile. It was still fun to live vicariously through this book for anyone who dreams of ditching their day to day job and moving to “paradise” to start over.

Tania lost her father at a young age and she moved to the renowned Grossinger resort in NY owned by her relatives where her charismatic mother took a job as a hostess. As I loved the setting of Dirty Dancing and the summer resort in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel this book did not disappoint with Tania‘s front row reminiscences of big celebrities of the time and the inside look at running such a beloved vacation getaway.

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!