Late August... time is flying. Though the calendar says otherwise, Labor Day signals the unofficial end of summer around here. A few trees are already starting to show their autumn colors. As much as I love fall - changing leaves, crisp mornings, and all things pumpkin - the end of summer always feels bittersweet.
Current reading//
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Since Pachinko has become a favorite, I decided to give Lee's earlier novel a try. At the 40% mark, it's very good. Hope I can spend the entire afternoon reading!
Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith
A couple of empty nesters take a break from their jobs to visit the National Parks. The book consists of emails, sent to their friends Bob and Sue, chronicling the adventure. I found it free for download via Amazon Prime and plan to read a few letters at a time.
Finished last week//
by David Grann
A read/listen combination for me, my book club will meet to discuss it on Friday.
Tin Man by Sarah Winman
I read this last weekend in Lake Placid. A "book brief" is in my draft folder.
On the blog//
Book Brief: THE PERFECT COUPLE by Elin Hilderbrand
An Adirondack Adventure
Book Brief - EDUCATED: A MEMOIR by Tara Westover
Around the blogosphere//
In the kitchen//
There hasn't been much happening in my kitchen lately. Last week I tried this Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Chili from BudgetByte$. It's the first time I've made chili without meat or poultry and, although my husband missed the beef, I really liked it. I reduced the cayenne pepper by half... just right for me.
The week ahead//
For the first time ever, my husband and I are hosting a political fundraiser. Although I vote in Florida, he's still registered in NY and this is a district that could "flip" in November. The midterms are almost here and, as the saying goes, it's time to put my money where my mouth is.
How was your week? What have you been reading?
I hadn't realized the author of Pachinko was also the author of Free Food for Millionaires. Sadly, I gave that book away, unread, over 5 years ago. I am happy you are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for fall after the hot, sticky, rainy, summer we've had.
Diane - I didn't realize they were written by the same author until I saw Free Food as a daily deal. So far I'm glad I clicked to "buy now" :)
DeleteI've wanted to read Free Food ever since I read Pachinko too. Maybe I'll pick it up next. I'm struggling through my current book club read right now.
ReplyDeleteWe donated to a political campaign for the first time ever this year ourselves.
Kathy - Free Food is on the long side, too, but I'm thoroughly entertained and enjoying the writing and characters so far.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to fall - it's at least 15 degrees cooler today than it's been for the last week, so I'm enjoying that!
ReplyDeleteAngela - The air around here today is like a breath of fresh air... comfortably warm during the day, and a slight chill this evening. I love summer, but fall is my favorite!
DeleteI think this is happening to a lot of people. We see that we must get involved! I like the term "book brief".
ReplyDeleteNan - I wouldn't have considered myself a very political person a couple of years ago... but so much has changed! No more real book reviews on the blog, but my book brief format works for sharing basic thoughts.
DeleteI'm ready for this summer to end! Having our students come back has been my version of the first autumn leaves. :) But for the first time in a long while we have a sunny day without heat or much humidity, so as soon as my phone charges I'm going for a long(ish) walk. I have Elizabeth and her German Garden on my Audible app for Jane's underappreciated women authors series queued up. I'm proud of you both for taking action!
ReplyDeleteAudrey - This has been an especially hot, sticky summer! Today was a perfect day here, too. Hope you enjoyed your walk and Elizabeth and her German Garden. I've been meaning to read it for years and will be curious to hear what you think about the audio version. We'll probably be in FL for Election Day... considering volunteering to drive people to the polls or make phone calls.
DeleteRight now I am watching it rain...hard...again. I am still reading and absolutely loving Rush!
ReplyDeletePatty - Our girls say it was raining in NYC, too, but we had a gorgeous day today! Glad you're still loving Rush... guessing you've finished by now.
DeleteThat's so great that you're hosting a fundraiser. It's definitely time for people to step up and help the right voices be heard. I'm impressed with all you accomplished last week. I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels lately. have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSusie - I've been doing what I can up here, while still sending letters to my representatives in FL. Seems like a lot of people are speaking up where they never have before. We'll see what happens. Hope you have a great week!
DeleteVicki - Tin Man started really slowly for me and I almost put it aside. A couple of people said that was the case for them, too, but then it picked up... glad I stuck with it.
ReplyDeleteMin Jin Lee's novel sounds wonderful. I am glad you are enjoying it. I have Pachinko on my TBR pile, but haven't gotten to it yet. Good luck with your fundraiser. I hope it goes well for you.Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteWendy - Min Jin Lee writes long books, but so far they are worth it!
DeleteThe lentil chili looks very good! I remember eating a lot of lentils, from soups to stews, back in the day. I have a relatively new slow cooker. Now I want to check out this recipe. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about Tin Man.
Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain Snow - The chili was very good! My daughter made some yesterday, and I ended up cooking a little sausage to put in my husband's bowl. Forgot to mention that it took more time to cook than the recipe stated. Tin Man was a good red.
DeleteAll of your books are new to me. Your recipe sounds good. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. It was a good week :)
DeleteSounds like an excellent week. Good luck with your fundraiser! I'm also looking forward to Fall. The kid just started school today and that is the unofficial end of summer in my neck of the woods. I keep hearing all the good things about Pachinko! I need to read this soon. I'm also looking forward to R.I.P.! Yay!
ReplyDeleteHeather - Pachinko is such a good read!! I can't recommend it highly enough. Hope back-to-school is going smoothly for your kiddo. Happy Fall :)
DeleteGood luck with your fundraiser, that is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have Dear Bob and Sue as well, and am planning on starting it soon! I love our National Parks and nature so I am really looking forward to it. :)
Have a great week!
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life
www.crackercrumblife.com
(formerly Quixotic Magpie)
Erin - I like your new blog... looks great! Also just requested you on instagram. We have been visiting National Parks over the past 5 years, so Dear Bob and Sue appeals to me. Hoping to visit a few more in October:)
DeleteThe trees here are turning colors, too. I’m ready for it. Bring on fall. It looks like you’re reading some interesting books. I liked Tin Man, but I’m not as obsessed with it as some other reviewers seem to be. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
AJ - Fall is my favorite time of year. I liked Tin Man a lot, but it wasn't a 5-star read for me either.
DeleteI have heard rave reviews for both Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires. Perhaps these are books I'll take on after I finish my month of Jane Austen.
ReplyDeleteDeb - Good luck with your Jane Austen project. I'm planning a reread of Northanger Abbey later in the fall.
DeleteI read Free Food for Millionaires just after it came out. My weekly updates
ReplyDeletepussreboots - I'm really enjoying Free Food... surprised it didn't get more attention when it came out.
DeleteI do wish we have distinct seasons. The most we can hope for is rainy weather or dry weather. It's hot throughout!
ReplyDeleteMystica - Oh, dear... I'm always ready for a break from heat after a hot summer.
DeleteIt's interesting how living on the coast (and in a touristy area) and being retired makes it seem like summer will last forever. It doesn't feel at all like fall and with our long road trip to Texas, I'm sure it won't feel like it until we return home in late October.
ReplyDeleteDear Bob and Sue is a good read in small doses. The humor early on made me laugh out loud, but after a while, I got tired of their digs at each other. Still, I keep reading and adding notes to my list of places to visit.
I wish I lived closer so I could come to your political fundraiser! Good for you two!
Les - That's my experience with Dear Bob and Sue, too... first several letters were very funny, but by 8 or 10% I got tired of the tone and decided it would be best in small doses. I'm still interested in hearing about their experience in the parks though.
DeleteThe fund raiser turned out to be a big success, raising several thousand dollars more than anticipated. Have a feeling this race will be the focus of more national attention as the date gets closer.
Heat and humidity is expected to return for a few days next week, but we have had some gloriously cool nights in the high 50s this week. I'll be sampling pumpkin beer before too much longer ;-)