Hello, friends. It's a sunny, breezy weekend in southwest Florida and high season, along with the resulting traffic, is here! We've been adjusting our schedules to avoid the worst of it, but I can certainly understand why everyone wants to be here this time of year. It doesn't get much better!
Recent reading//
by Narine Abgaryan, translated by Lisa C. Hayden
Both the author and title of this novel were completely unknown to me, but the selection of my small World Lit book club turned out to be a delight! It's about a small, mountain-top Armenian village and its dwindling, aging population. Set in the mid 20th century, the village had been plagued by a mudslide, war, and famine. Many villagers lost their lives as a result, and most of those who were spared moved away. The remaining inhabitants are now older and stubbornly clinging to their isolated mountain life.
The novel reads like a fable, at times playful and tongue-in-cheek... a quality the audio narrator was able to emphasize. (This became a read/listen combination for me when I discovered the audio available on hoopla.) I was reminded of characters from Shannon Bowring's Dalton novels, or maybe even Elizabeth Strout's... they were real and relatable.
The title is from an old Armenian saying:
And three apples fell from heaven:
One for the storyteller,
One for the listener,
And one for the eavesdropper.
I rated this 4 stars on goodreads, but it's probably closer to 4.5.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I'll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman
You all know I love a good family drama, but I'm also drawn to a unique or creative structure. Rebecca Kauffman's new novel delivers both. It's basically a year-in-the-life story of a young couple, Paul and Corinne, as they prepare for their first child, but it also follows Paul's divorced parents, as well as Corrine's parents and her older brother. The year is 1995 and each month is a chapter. I loved the gradual unfolding of relationships and getting to know and understand the characters.
This is the third novel I've read by Rebecca Kauffman and she is quickly becoming a favorite. Both Chorus and The Gunners were 5-star reads for me, and now I plan to read the rest of her backlist.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
I've been reading Anne Tyler for decades and was happy to win a copy of her latest book from goodreads. Sixty-something Gail Baines' daughter is getting married and this novella (under 170 pages) takes place over the three-day wedding weekend. We learn a lot about Gail, as well as her ex-husband Max. Set near Baltimore, this is classic Anne Tyler! It was a 3.5 star read for me, until the ending bumped it up to 4.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Current reading//
by Harrison Scott Key, narrated by the author
This is the April selection of the MMD book club. So far it's just okay...
On the blog//
Later today and the week ahead//
I'm hoping to get in an hour or two of reading this afternoon before heading over to a neighborhood happy hour. My sister and brother-in-law are at their place on the east coast this week. They're planning to come over and stay with us for a night or two mid-week. We always have such a good time when they're around!
How was your week? What are you reading today?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
Your weather sounds wonderful! I hope you enjoy all your outings.
ReplyDeleteMae - This is truly the best time of year here!
DeleteI am glad not to live in a place where you get a lot more traffic at different times of the year! I used to live in Charlotte and we would have to avoid certain areas during race season. Have a great rest of your weekend!
ReplyDeleteCindy - This has been an adjustment... there was never any traffic when we lived in central NY!
DeleteAlways enjoy your picture of the 'week'! Bet you guys do have a lot of people around - spring break and lovely weather. Enjoy your time with family and also mostly enjoy your reading! Take care!
ReplyDeleteKay - I love having family around! After so much character-driven fiction, yesterday I picked up a fantasy title on a whim... so far I'm intrigued. We'll se how it goes.
DeleteWe're having beautiful weather in southeast Florida too. Today is a little windier than it's been but still really nice outside. Your books look really good especially the Anne Tyler book. Hope you enjoy them and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYvonne - It feels like we're going to get blown away today! I was hoping to grill some chicken for dinner, but think we're going to need to cook it inside instead. The Anne Tyler book was good!
DeleteFlorida does sound lovely right now! Enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about Three Apples and in fact I got it from the library but wasn't in the right mood--an audio sounds like a good approach for this one.
I love the cover of I'll Come to You, but it seems an odd choice given the premise...but then I'm just judging the cover by the premise!
I haven't read a lot of Anne Tyler, but what I have read, I've liked. I am fond of the novella format. Will look into this one.
JaneGS - This is that golden time here before it starts to get too hot and sticky. I really hate the humidity! Even after reading the book, I don't think the cover of I'll Come to You really suits the story. Three Days in June is a book you could read in a day, or on a plane... and exactly what you'd expect from Anne Tyler.
DeleteI've to a trip coming up in early May, so I will remember the Anne Tyler for the plane ride!
DeletePerfect!
DeleteI know what it's like to live in a popular tourist community! Our traffic is terrible during the summer months, and the restaurants are always packed (and noisy!).
ReplyDeleteI added I'll Come to You to my TBR list, as I love a good family drama, too! I'm tempted to get it on audio, but I already have so many books in my audio queue/library, so I'll probably get it in print from the library. I'm not a huge fan of Tyler's, but I'll get her latest at the library since it's not too long.
I need to get off my computer and read for an hour or so. I've been far too tired by the time I go to bed that I can only read for about 10 minutes! Ack!
Have a good week, JoAnn.
Les - Traffic is bad, but the restaurant situation is even worse. We're still down quite a few after Ian and don't go anywhere now without a reservation! Not good for spontaneity!
DeleteI don't see many people reading Rebecca Kauffman, but her writing style really appeals to me. She's got an older novel called The House on Fripp Island that sounds like a good summer read. So many books I want to read these days...
I enjoyed Three Days in June and several of your other books look good too! Have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteJodie - I'm glad you enjoyed Three Days in June. Really liked the ending:)
DeleteThanks for your three reviews especially for Anne Tyler's and Kauffman's. We will see if I get to them this year. I'm interested to see if the Kauffman novel has some problems in the relationships hmm. Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteSusan - The young couple in I'll Come to You seems to be on solid ground... his parents and her brother, not so much! I really enjoy Kauffman's novels and have one more to read. She also has an older memoir.
DeleteYou are the first person I've ever heard of who actually won a book from Goodreads. They don't publicize the winners and I know I've never won any but I am delighted to learn from you that the giveaways are for real. Thanks for visiting my blog today! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAnne - I've had several people tell me that! This is the second (third?) book I've won from goodreads, and my oldest daughter won one last fall, too. I suppose if you enter enough of them, eventually you win.
DeleteWhat Anne said above about the Goodreads giveaways. :) I just finished The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck, which I liked a lot. Probably 4-4.5 stars. I'll definitely read the next book he writes.
ReplyDeleteAmy - The History of Sound is on my list, but I'd forgotten that it's short stories! I'm pretty close to the top of the hold list now for Curtis Sittenfeld's new collection, Show Don't Tell.
DeleteShattuck's book is stories, but they're all connected (although somewhat tenuously). I'm also waiting for Sittenfeld's book at the library. Lots of good stuff out these days!
DeleteYou certainly have some interesting books. Three Apples Fell From the Sky sounds truly unique.
ReplyDeleteOlivia - Three Apples is definitely the most surprising book I've read this year!
DeleteYou have been reading some great books. I'm glad you enjoyed the new Anne Tyler and I am now planning to look for Three Apples Fell from the Sky.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this beautiful time of the year!
Deb - I've had a streak of good books this month, that's for sure. I hope it continues! Three Apples was a treat!
DeleteI actually finished a book and it only took weeks. Whew. I do hope I have more time this week to read and do other things for me and not just work and the nonprofit boards that I am on.
ReplyDeleteWe've got rain in Southern California so Florida is sounding pretty good right now.
Helen - Glad you're able to read a little, and hopefully even more as spring progresses. We could actually use a little rain in FL... the fire danger has been high lately.
DeleteI didn’t even know Goodreads does book giveaways!
ReplyDeleteMystica - I'm not sure they do in all countries. Most of the one is see are for US only, though I know there are some for Canada, too.
DeleteI would have bet money I left you a comment. Looking forward to the Anne Tyler book and I like the sound of the book I'll Come to You is appelaing as well. Just started Eight Hundred Grapes and there is some family ddrama there and loads of info about the father's vineyard. Enjoying it so far and will probably knock it out in a few days.
ReplyDeleteThat's great you have family on the east coast side of Florida. Back when I was married the first time I loved living in the Hollywood and Dania area. I'd ride by bike to the shore and wore shorts all the time :-)
Tina - Hope you like Eight Hundred Grapes. I've been curious about that one and would enjoy the vineyard setting. I didn't know you lived on the east coast of FL at one time. It's always surprising to me me how different the vibe is between the two coasts, but being able to ride a bike to the shore is the best!
DeleteIt was a good book, a family drama and lots of intel about the vineyard. Yes, when I was married before we hitch hiked from Michigan to Florida after we were married. Loved the Hollywood area and would have probably stayed if my ex hadn't decided to attend FSU.
DeleteA sunny, breezy weekend in Florida sounds heavenly. I can picture the high-season buzz, even with the traffic. A 4.5 star read is always worth checking out. I'm glad you discovered it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lux. It was a great reading week!
DeleteI hope you had a nice visit with your family!
ReplyDeleteMy in-laws are in Naples year-round. They're very social people so they love when everyone in their neighborhood finally arrives for the season but at the same time they complain about needing to make dinner reservations months in advance or be willing to wait 3+ hours for a table. When we visited them in February, they seemed to have finally settled into eating out at 4:00 in the afternoon so they don't have to wait or plan ahead! And the traffic situation really sets them off.
I'm going to check out Three Apples Fell from the Sky.
Jen - We had a great visit with my sister and BIL! We've generally figured out how to live with the traffic and crowds, but were surprised when we went to dinner around 8 one night and still had to wait! One of the reasons I decided to participate in the small World Lit group was to discover new authors & books. Three Apples was the first selection and a resounding success. Can't wait to see what title April brings!
DeleteWe're having a stormy, windy morning. Florida in the high season sounds lovely at the moment.
ReplyDeleteJoy - This is truly the nicest time of year in SWFL!
Delete