Hello friends! It's a sunny Super Bowl Sunday on Sanibel and, while I don't really care about the game this year, it's still fun to watch the commercials and halftime show.
It's good to check in here again after a busy couple of weeks. We got to spend time with our daughter/her fiancé and celebrate her birthday over their long weekend visit. The painters finally finished the outside work, then promptly disappeared before moving on to interior repairs. But I'm told we're still on "the list." The rest of the landscape clean-up is done and we're expecting a load of gravel tomorrow. Our pavers have been ordered, but delivery is ten weeks out. Baby steps...
Recent reading//
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Collaborating on a novel must be incredibly difficult and, for me, the result was a great story with less than memorable writing. I really loved learning about Belle Greene, J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, and the time period. Now I plan to dig a little deeper into Belle's life and accomplishments. The Morgan Library and Museum in NYC has an upcoming exhibition about her life and legacy opening in late October and I'm already planning my visit.
Marie Benedict spoke at our library last week and I was lucky enough to "win" a ticket in the lottery. However a multi-vehicle crash blocked traffic which resulted in hours of gridlock on much of the island, including my routes to the library. I was unable to get there. My only consolation is that both authors will join a zoom chat with MMD book club later this month! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
by Jill Ciment, narrated by Hillary Huber
So far this year I've stuck with planned reading, but this book was entirely an impulse pick. Ann Patchett talked about it during her most recent Friday "New to You" instagram video segment. I was intrigued, found the audiobook (read by a favorite narrator) available on Libby, and then listened into the wee hours of the night when I should have been sleeping!
This short novel (under 5 1/2 hours) is about a high-profile murder trial where a teenaged girl is accused of killing her toddler brother. Two jurors, sequestered for the entirety of the trial, begin a covert affair. After the trial, juror C2 returns home to her elderly husband and the affair leads to "profoundly personal and moral consequences." Dark, tense, and tightly written, I could not stop listening!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Current reading//
Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, translated by Tina Kover
I'm almost 30% into this 500+ page novel, another work of historical fiction about Belle Greene. It's the February "flight pick" for MMD and so interesting to compare/contrast with The Personal Librarian in terms of both substance and style. At this point I think it is the superior novel. Both the ebook and audiobook are available on hoopla.
In the kitchen//
I'm back to trying at least one new recipe each week. My latest offering came from a recent Publix ad - Key Lime-Peanut Grilled Chicken Skewers Except for cutting back on the pepper, I followed the recipe exactly as written. This is a "flavor profile" we all like, so I had a feeling it would be a hit. This will stay in our grilling season dinner rotation!
The week ahead//
Besides the delivery and spreading of new gravel, we're also looking forward to a Taco Tuesday party at a neighbor's, an afternoon with old college friends, and my sister and BIL's arrival next weekend. I'm hoping for plenty of reading time and a few sunsets at the beach, too!
How was your week? What have you been reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.
I have Personal Librarian on my TBR shelves and want to get to it sooner rather than later. Thank you for the heads up that the writing could have been better, I like having my expectations reasonable.
ReplyDeleteHelen - The Personal Librarian is well worth reading for the story, if not the writing.
DeleteI'm enjoying your project to learn about Belle Greene. I want to do the same, but it may take a while to get to that project.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your house projects.
Joy - I didn't expect to get so interested in Belle's story! There was a very informative author's note at the end of The Personal Librarian, but I'd still like to read a biography before visiting The Morgan this fall.
DeleteThe chicken skewers must be fabulous. I’m interested in the subject of your two books, Belle Greene. Neat to get two very different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week, and best of luck with the remodels and restorations.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae - I wasn't familiar with Belle Greene before starting The Personal Librarian, now I seem to be on a mission to learn more!
DeleteWe're not interested in the Super Bowl, and I'll catch up on the commercials (and Taylor Swift mentions) tomorrow online.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've been having a nice couple of weeks, enjoying visitors and good weather. Yay!
I've read one or two books by Marie Benedict and agree that her writing is less than memorable. My book group read The Personal Librarian, but opted out since I don't really care for Benedict's novels. Sorry you missed out on her talk at your library. Like you, whenever we have an accident on our highway (101), it takes hours before traffic returns to normal. There's really only one highway, so if you get stuck in it, you're really stuck! I've learned to always have a book or audiobook to keep me entertained. And, I never say to myself, "Oh, I'll wait and go to the bathroom once I get home." ;)
I heard about The Body in Question on AP's Friday video. I'll have to add it to my list since you've made it sound even more intriguing!
The Key Lime-Peanut recipe sounds good. I just tried a new pork tenderloin recipe that is also done on skewers. I'll try to remember to post it on my blog later this week. It was delicious!
Les - I don't think I'll be reading more of Benedict's novels, but really appreciated the introduction to Belle Greene. We're in the same situation here as far as having only one way on and off the island. Once there is an accident, all the side/neighborhood roads get choked off, too. There is an incredible amount of traffic from contractors, beach renourishment dump trucks, and day-tripping tourists and that night was about the worst I've ever seen it!
DeleteBetween Ann Patchett's rec, the courtroom drama aspect, and the interesting characters & interactions, The Body in Question was a winner! I listened because that was the only way to get the book immediately and the production was great. Hillary Huber is a favorite.
I'll keep an eye out for your pork tenderloin recipe. Need to plan menus for the week sometime today...
The chicken looks amazing! It sounds like you have a wonderful week planned! Happy reading, have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAnd, the anonymous comment was Cindy from Cindy's Book Corner, Google didn't want to sign me in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy... don't know why blogger is so touchy these days. Hope you have a good week!
DeleteI am really curious about The Personal Librarian. I am sorry you weren't able to attend the talk with Marie Benedict. Belle Greene sounds like a very good book. I am glad to hear you are enjoying it. I hope you have a great week, JoAnn!
ReplyDeleteWendy - The best way in to history for me is usually through historical fiction, then I sometimes end up digging further with nonfiction. So far I'm enjoying learning about Belle Greene!
DeleteThose chicken skewers look amazing! I’m watching the Superbowl game and loved the half time show! Have a wonderful week ahead!
ReplyDeleteJodie - We had the game on, too. My daughter said that was her favorite halftime show ever!
DeleteWe like trying new recipes too! And that one that you shared looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marg. I enjoy trying new recipes and am glad for my adventurous, but tolerant family :)
DeleteI hope the painters return soon!
ReplyDeleteI’ve added The Body in Question to my TBR, I’m intrigued
Wishing you a happy reading week
Shelleyrae - I often avoid darker, tense books but really enjoyed that one. Hope you do, too!
DeleteBeautiful picture! I enjoyed The Personal Librarian! We are connected on Goodreads now!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah :)
DeleteThe Personal Librarian sounds good. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYvonne - Belle lead such an adventurous, daring life. It's fun learning about her. Hope your week is off to a great start.
DeleteIt was a pretty exciting Super Bowl. I wasn't very impressed with the ads since many featured celebrities I've never heard of. Nice looking assortment of books too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I think it was the best Super Bowl game in a long time...the ads, not so much.
DeleteThis was one of the few Superbowl games that I watched pretty much end to end--it was definitely dramatic! I really appreciate hearing your take on The Personal Librarian--I had forgotten that it was jointly authored, which I think would be challenging in and of itself. I just found the topic so fascinated that I overlooked the writing (which is unusual for me)--now I am really looking forward to reading Belle Greene.
ReplyDeleteThe Body in Question does sound riveting. I actually love impulse reads--they're sort of like a snow day, a gift that takes you out of the routine!
Have a good week!
JaneGS - The story definitely made up for the uninspiring writing in The Personal Librarian. So far I think Belle Greene may be the better book, but it's not as exciting since I know what's going to happen next, lol. She really lead a remarkable life!
DeleteLove the comparison of an impulse read to a snow day! That's exactly right!
What a beautiful sunset photo, love that! What a bummer about the Marie Benedict talk but weird things happen ... and you'll still get the Zoom. The comparison between the two Bella Greene novels must be quite interesting. And I see that they were both published in 2021 -- is that crazy or what?! Oh my. They must have known each was publishing and felt some need to get it first. Keep us posted on when you might go to the NYC exhibit ... perhaps I'll get there. That would be a hoot. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteSusan - So strange that both books came out in 2021, though Belle Greene was written in French and translated the following year. I'm fascinated by the slightly different portrayals of Belle. The exhibit runs from late October through May, so I'll try get there shortly after it opens and before we head south again.
DeleteThe chicken skewers look delicious! Happy to hear your property is coming along!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel. We're getting there!
DeleteThat's too bad you couldn't make the author talk but happy to know you have the Zoom chat with MMD to look forward to. My library books are on suspension now as I finihs but the Claire Lombardo book. What an excellent novel and what a great buddy-reda this would have been for people.
ReplyDeleteThe chicken skewers look fantastic. Doug is grilling wings tonight, 42 degrees but still, it's on a covered patio.
Tina - I'm so glad both Marie Benedict and her co-author will be on the zoom chat with MMD... that helps with the disappointment of missing her in person. We're going to the neighbor's party tonight (outside) and it's barely 60 degrees. It'll be great to see everyone, but it will be an early night if it gets much colder, lol.
DeleteI hope you enjoyed watching the game and the ads. I usually wait until after the game's over and someone has compiled all the ads so I can watch them then. I'm not a huge fan of football or most sports, lol.
ReplyDeleteJenni Elyse - We had a good time watching the game... it was actually pretty exciting, even if we were neutral on the outcome.
DeleteOoh, The Body in Question sounds so good. I'm going to see if I can get the audiobook from the library.
ReplyDeleteWe had a complete bathroom remodel done while we were away in England, and it's a vast improvement on the old bathroom, but the finishing touches (like installing the shower door and painting the walls) we are still waiting for. We are friends with the contractor who did the work, so have no doubt we're "on the list" too, and he'll be back eventually!
Laurie - We had a bathroom remodeled before we left CT. The shower door install happened after we left... and the two panels turned out to be different heights! Our daughter and SIL are going back again next week when they install the "correct" door. It's never ending, lol! Hope you get to the top of "the list" soon.
DeleteI don't envy you having to deal with contractors. It's always feels like you're lucky to get two steps forwards and only one step back. That's awful about missing the library event. Marie Benedict is on my list of Authors to Read this year. I haven't decided which one of hers I'm going to pick up. Everything I've seen by her looks so tempting. I hope you're having a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - We were well-positioned for hurricane repairs because we had just completed the initial remodel and still had the contractor "on the payroll" (for lack of a better expression). Marie Benedict caused my current deep dive into Belle Greene... so interesting.
DeleteThe Body in Question sounds like an intense story filled with all kinds of emotion. Stories like that one that have two entirely different plots going can really be good if both are interesting, and from what you say, that must be the case here.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything about Belle Greene, but for a long time it seemed like that first cover was everywhere. I've picked it up a couple of different times and thumbed through it, always meaning to get to it, but never did for some reason. Interesting that you think the second, I think lesser-known book featuring her, is even better. Were they published about the same time?
Sam - That's exactly the case with The Body in Question... both a courtroom drama and two relationship dramas. What's especially remarkable is that all stories held my interest and the writing was so tight that it was all accomplished in under 200 pages!
DeleteAs for the Belle Greene books, both were published in 2021. Alexandra Lapierre's Belle Greene was published in French and then translated in 2022. It seems more"literary" to me, but maybe that's a function of the translation? I'm about halfway through now and the differences are so interesting!
Mmm lime peanut chicken sounds delicious!!!
ReplyDeleteJinjer - It was! I'm going to make it again this week.
DeleteThe Body in Question sounds intriguing. Just read Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and I need to get over that first! Adding to tbr.
ReplyDeleteVintage Reading - The Body in Questions was such a good read. In Cold Blood was great, too, but I can see where you might need a little break first.
Delete