The Sunday Salon: September 28, 2025

Here we are... the final Sunday of September and the first Sunday of fall. This photo was taken alongside the Lieutenant River two weeks ago, and I'm certain the view from that spot is much more colorful today. I'd planned to take a current photo for comparison, but was thwarted by the (much needed!) rain. Maybe this week.

We had some old friends visit for a few days last week. He's a childhood friend of my husband's and I have known them for over forty years. We haven't spend such a big chunk of time together in several years - it was so much fun!

It was also a good reading week and I managed to finish three books.

Recent reading//

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Writers & Lovers was a favorite back in 2021 and I wanted to reread it before Lily King's new novel, Heart the Lover, comes out. It was just as enjoyable the second time around! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris

This book hooked me immediately and kept me completely engrossed until the final sentence. As I turned the pages, my growing anger progressed to fury and outrage. For many years J&J has enjoyed the type of impeccable reputation most companies only dream about. Journalist Gardiner Harris says it time to set the record straight.  

Harris divides this exposé into four sections: Consumer Products (Johnson's Baby Powder and Tylenol), Prescription Drugs, Medical Devices (joint implants, etc.), and Vaccines. He details a decades-long pattern of putting profitability over patient safety, illegal sales and marketing tactics, and withholding critical information/outright lying to the FDA. All of this has resulted in staggering patient morbidity and mortality leading to lawsuits and judgements which are considered merely part of the cost of doing business. Harris goes on to offer a series of reasonable changes which would ensure a safer path forward. 

There is a fair amount of medical and technical detail presented here and, as a former hospital pharmacist, I was interested in every bit of it. Less medically-oriented readers may opt to skim some sections. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

narrated by Barbara Rosenblat and John Franklyn-Robbins

This cozy, feel-good reread was the perfect remedy for No More Tears! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

 

Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker

The ongoing real time read-along continues... and it's getting really good!

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

I just started this book yesterday and love it already, despite the somber tone.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

The Sunday Salon: The Last Day of Summer

 

Hello, friends. It's hard to believe today is the last full day of summer. As much as I love fall, I'm still sad to see it end. This has been such a pleasant, low-stress summer for us - and after the past few years, we've appreciated it so much! We're back home after spending ten days in central NY visiting  my parents, celebrating my mother's 90th birthday, and catching up with old friends. It was a wonderful trip, but it took most of this past week to get caught up. Here are the books I've finished since my last post...

Recent reading//

Good Morning Comrades by Onjake

This was the latest selection of my World Lit book club. It's a short novel set in 1990 Angola and told through the eyes of a 12-year-old schoolboy. At that time Angola was no longer a Portuguese colony, but is  in the midst of civil war. The boy tells of a criminal gang randomly attacking schools, pokes fun at his Cuban teachers, and is amazed that his visiting Portuguese aunt does not live with rationing. Viewing a political situation from a child's perspective made this an interesting read. I didn't know much about Angola's history, so spent a little time reading up on it first. That was very helpful. 

⭐⭐⭐

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

 The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s

Have you heard about the Emma M. Lions series? They seem to be developing quite a following and I thought the first installment was a delight. My plan is to read the rest of the series, one per month, for the next seven months. Fans say these books just get better as the series progresses. The audio edition is available on hoopla and definitely added to my enjoyment.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

This is the September selection of the MMD book club and I loved it! Set in Nigeria and London from the 1970s - 1990s, it's billed as a modern retelling of Mansfield Park  by Jane Austen (which I reread last month) but you don't need to know anything about Austen's story to appreciate this one.

This is a novel that highlights family dynamics, race, culture, identity, and belonging. Funke, the quiet, studious daughter of a wealthy British mother (disowned by her family) and a Nigerian father, is sent to live with her mother's relatives in London after a tragic accident. The family is cold and distant with the exception of her cousin Liv. They develop a close relationship that is tested as the novel unfolds.

The story is at turns beautiful and gut-wrenching. It was a read/listen combination for me and the dual-narrator audio production is outstanding!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Current reading//

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris

Another read/listen combination, this is both unputdownable and infuriating.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King (reread)

I'm enjoying this book just as much the second time around.

Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker

An ongoing, real time readalong... it's getting good now!

The week ahead//

We have some friends coming to visit for a few days midweek. We'll probably hit some of the more touristy attractions - always a good time. Our new gas fireplace unit is being installed Thursday. The mornings are getting a little chilly, so I'll be glad to see the old broken unit go! We may even get some much-needed rain. Fingers crossed!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

August Reading Wrap-Up and a List of September Possibilities

Hello, friends, and happy September! Fall is definitely on the way, but before I settle in with autumnal reading, here's a quick wrap-up of my August books.

August was a good reading month for me. I only read four books, but they were all winners. Two were  backlist titles from favorite authors, one was a classic reread (a long annotated edition this time) and I enjoyed one popular new release.

Books Read in August

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout

literary fiction, I'm an Elizabeth Strout completist! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The House on Fripp Island by Rebecca Kauffman

literary fiction, a favorite author,  backlist ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Annotated Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard

classic, reread,  MMD Austen in August ⭐⭐⭐⭐

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

contemporary fiction, new release ⭐⭐⭐⭐

September Reading Possibilities

Good Morning Comrades by Ondjaki 

World Lit Digital PBC, in translation (completed)

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 1 by Beth Brower 

historical fiction, buddy read project, (completed)

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

MMD September selection (in progress)

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

literary fiction, in translation, new release

Writers & Lovers by Lily King 

reread, literary fiction

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris

nonfiction, read/listen combination

I finished the two short books already, so my September reading is already off to a good start. What was your favorite August book? What are you looking forward to reading this month?

A Labor Day Weekend Update

Hello, friends. Happy Labor Day weekend! We finally have some cooler weather along the CT shoreline and it feels like fall is on the way! The windows are open and I'm loving the early morning and late evening temperatures in the 60s, and even the occasional dip into the 50s. Can my first pumpkin spice latte of the season be far behind?

As much as I love fall, I'm savoring these last few days of summer. We took a picnic dinner to the beach the other night, my brother and SIL from PA stopped to have lunch with us at the lobster shack yesterday on their way to Providence, and tonight we plan to attend the final Concert on the Green of the season. Most schools in the area started last week. That seems early to me since it was always after Labor Day in New York.

Recent reading//

The House on Fripp Island by Rebecca Kauffman

Now this is my idea of a summer read! Two families vacation in a lavish South Carolina beach house. The wives are childhood besties from West Virginia whose paths have drastically diverged, the husbands barely tolerate one another, and the kids (preteens and teens, with angst) are along for the ride. The novel deals with family dynamics, dysfunction, and class issues, plus a there's a drowning. I've enjoyed several of Kauffman's previous novels, especially The Gunners and Chorus, and this was another hit. The goodreads ratings are shockingly low - Too many characters?  Too much dysfunction? - but it was a 5-star read of me. If you're not a fan of a messy family dramas, it's probably best to run in the opposite direction. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Annotated Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, David Shapard

I've been a Jane Austen fan for decades, but Mansfield Park was the only one of her novels I'd never gotten around to rereading. It's Jane's longest novel and for years I've considered it my least favorite. As part of an annual Austen in August tradition, a small group at Modern Mrs. Darcy decided to tackle The Annotated Mansfield Park. Last summer we read The Annotated Persuasion and I enjoyed both that particular edition and the leisurely reading and discussion schedule, so I was happy to participate again.

I managed to stick to the schedule until Volume 3, but then lost all restraint and raced through the last few chapters. I still don't care for how it wraps up so quickly and mostly off stage, but it's always a pleasure to read Jan Austen... especially with this group!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

These Summer Storms by Sara MacLean

Family drama in a beach house seems to be my summer reading sweet spot right now. This one is an over-the-top 'rich people behaving badly' story set on a private island in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. Franklin Storm, the recently deceased patriarch suggestive of tech mogul Steve Jobs, remains controlling and manipulative even in death. He has set up a surprise win-your-inheritance challenge that takes family dysfunction to the next level. There is also an enjoyable, but unexpectedly steamy, romantic storyline. This was a fun, frothy page-turning summer read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

This series seems seems to be developing a cult-like following. Very enjoyable so far!

Good Morning Comrades by Ondjaki, translated by Stephen Henighan

This is the next selection for my World Lit book club.

Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker

The real-time readalong continues...

The week ahead//

We don't have a lot planned for the week, other than a day trip to a coastal wildlife refuge in Rhode Island. I also hope to get a painter in for an estimate. My goal is to get the living room, dining area, hall and stairway painted before we head south. Last week we replaced dining room chandelier and that's already made a big difference!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

A July Wrap-Up, At Last and a Reading Update

Hi, remember me? I'm still here, but can't seem to manage any kind of blogging consistency lately. The summer seems to be flying by and it's been a hot, humid, and relatively dry one in our corner of CT. Friday we had a brief respite from the humidity, but still nothing in the way of rain. Overall, we've kept things low-key the last couple of months, and I couldn't be happier. There have been no major trips, weddings, or remodeling projects and as a result, it's been a pretty relaxing summer. 

So what have we been doing? We visited central NY a couple of times to see my family and attend a bridal shower for my nephew's fiancé. Our oldest daughter and son-in-law moved into their house in West Hartford, so we've been trying to help them as much as possible. (We still have one more daughter and son-in-law left in NYC.) My morning walks, when they happen, have been early and we've been exploring historic sites, gardens, and lobster shacks all around the state. July was also a decent reading month.

 Books Read in July

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham

Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

The Jane Austen Insult Guide for Well-Bred Women by Emily Reed

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

Recent Reading//

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout

This was my only unread Elizabeth Strout novel, and now I'm a completist! Originally published in 2006, it is a somber story about a Congregational minister in a small, rural Maine town trying to hold it all together after his wife's untimely death. He has two young daughters, parishioners with complex problems who look to him for guidance, and is also dealing with his own crisis of faith. As he tries to work through it all, the local gossip mill churns mercilessly painting an unfavorable, largely inaccurate portrait of Reverend Tyler Caskey. 

As always, I loved Strout's writing, but this book will not go down as one of my favorites. It's worth a read especially if, like me, you're angling to become a Strout completist, but I much preferred the Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge novels.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current Reading//

The Annotated Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, David Shapard

This year for Austen in August, I'm reading a couple chapters a day of Jane's longest novel and discussing with a small group over at Modern Mrs. Darcy book club. This annotated edition is nearly 900 pages long and I'm just past the midpoint.

The House on Fripp Island by Rebecca Kauffman

A backlist (2020) title from a new favorite author, I've read just over a third of this one.

Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker

The real-time reading of this epistolary novel continues. It's getting creepy!

How is your summer going? What have you been reading lately?

 

A Late July Sunday Salon

Hello, friends. We've been in 'birthday  mode' around here lately and today we're finally getting back to the regular routine. My birthday was Tuesday, but we got a head start last weekend when our daughter and SIL drove down from West Hartford. We all took a cruise up the Connecticut River on a historic boat, ate hot lobster rolls at my favorite lobster shack, and watched a gorgeous sunset on the cove. Our NYC daughter arrived on Monday evening and was here for the big day. We took a short drive up the coast to walk the boardwalk around Niantic Bay, browsed books at the most unusual used book store ever, and did a little shopping. We finished up with a delicious dinner outside at Saybrook Point that night. It was one of the nicest birthdays ever!

Recent reading//

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

This is a new novel from the author of American Dirt. Marriage, family, identity, race, and belonging are explored as four generations of Puerto Rican mothers and daughters grapple with who they are and where they belong. It was a treat to discover both a map and a family tree at the beginning of the book. And yes, there are family secrets. This was a great summer read for me!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

(I forgot to mention that I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. Thanks for reminding me, Kay!)

The Jane Austen Insult Guide for Well-Bred Women by Emily Reed 

This small book was a birthday present from my daughter and we laughed our way through it together! Insults are divided into chapters such as Insults for Annoying People, Insults for Family, Insults for Workdays, etc. Each page features a modern-day situation followed by an appropriate Austen-esque insult, all of which are quotes from Jane's novels. One of our favorites: 

When they ask for it by EOD: 

"Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch."         

 -Mansfield Park  

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

I'm flying through this quick, light novel and will finish soon. It's the MMD August selection.

The Annotated Mansfield Park 

by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard

I'm reading Mansfield Park for Austen in August this year and, since this annotated edition is 800+ pages, I've decided to get a head start!

Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker

The real-time readalong of Dracula continues. July was a slow month, but I think it will pick up again in August,

On the blog//

Overdue Reviews, July Edition

In the kitchen//

It was hot again yesterday and  Cold Noodles with Zucchini from the NYTimes was the perfect lunch! In a very hot skillet, brown zucchini in avocado oil, then quickly toss it in a sauce of maple syrup, soy sauce, fish sauce, and garlic powder. Ice is then added to chill the zucchini and dilute the sauce. The whole mixture is then combined with cooked, rinsed, ramen noodles. The recipe is behind a paywall, but if you'd like me to email it to you, let me know. I'll be making this for the rest of the summer!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

 

Overdue Reviews, July Edition

The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King

One of my reading goals this year is to at least try all selections of the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club and this is the July book. The Phoenix Pencil Company is debut historical fiction with dual timelines and a bit of magical realism. It was inspired by the author's own family who ran a pencil company in China around WWII. Initially I found the premise interesting, but after about a hundred pages the story became repetitive and my interest flagged. I also preferred the historic timeline to the present day story. Overall I liked the book and look forward to watching the author chat.

⭐⭐⭐

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham

Nobody can write like Michale Cunningham! As I read By Nightfall, I often stopped to reread his beautiful sentences. But as for plot, there really isn't much.  This is basically a novel about New York art dealer Peter Harris's mid-life crisis. Peter is self-centered and insufferable, and the reader spends a lot of time inside his head. If anyone other than Michael Cunningham had written this book, I doubt I would have finished it. And even with Cunningham's writing, it sometimes bordered on tedious. On the plus side, I enjoyed the many literary references, including quite a few to The Great Gatsby which I reread last month. This was a read/listen combination for me and the audio edition, narrated by Hugh Dancy is excellent! It is available on hoopla.

⭐⭐⭐💫

Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven 

I enjoyed Michelle Huneven's novel Search a few months ago and her new novel, Bug Hollow, is even better! This family drama begins in southern California in the late 1970s and gradually moves forward through time. Chapters are told from the perspective of various family members - parents, children as they grow into adulthood, and various significant others. Bug Hollow had it all for me - great characters, a propulsive plot, an interesting structure, and a final chapter that made me cry. I wouldn't be surprised if it lands on my list of favorites at the end of the year. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫