Hello friends and happy March! It seems like this has been a long winter, even in Florida, but March means that spring is just around the corner. While it's still cooler than normal here, the drought has grabbed weather headlines this week. Brush fires continue to burn in Cape Coral and along "Alligator Alley" (I-75 between Naples and Miami) resulting in periodic road closures and diminishing air quality. Ugh!
We had a wonderful visit with our NYC daughter and son-in-law a couple of weeks ago, and then hosted an old friend from central NY. I also had the opportunity to meet a longtime book blogging friend in person. Some of you will remember Melissa and her blog The Betty and Boo Chronicles from our early blogging days. Betty and Boo were the names she used for her young twins - who are now adults and even have real names! We had lunch and talked nonstop about books and life. What a treat! Melissa is still writing about books at You Have Left the Planned Route on Substack.
Recent reading//
This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
2026 has been a lackluster reading year but things seem to be turning around at last. This is Not About Us is a multi-generational family drama (complete with family tree) told through a series of connected stories. That structure, reminiscent of Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and Chorus by Rebecca Kauffman, hits a sweet spot for me.
The Rubinstein sisters have always been close. Now in their 70s and 80s, this book opens with the youngest sister in hospice.
When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives—divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals—their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible.
I loved getting to know the Rubinstein sisters, their children, and grandchildren. The connected stories allowed me to spend time with family members individually and gradually come to understand their complicated relationships with one another. This was my first Allegra Goodman novel and I look forward to exploring her backlist.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Grown Woman by Sarai Johnson
This is another multi-generational family drama. Centered around four generations of memorable black women, it deals with generational trauma, family secrets, and complicated relationships. There are some difficult issues in this novel, but I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I even ended up borrowing the audiobook so I could continue listening on my walk.
This under-the-radar gem was a 2024 debut novel, but I never heard of it until Modern Mrs. Darcy announced it as the March selection. The ebook and audiobook were both available from my library via hoopla.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Current reading//
The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman
This is a new release by a favorite author. I'm 50 pages in, but not wowed yet.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
I've just passed the 20% mark in the year-long slow read with Footnotes and Tangents.
The week ahead//
It will be a couple of weeks before our next guests arrive, so we'll focus on home projects and I'll get another appointment out of the way. Unfortunately, that appointment is a root canal! On the plus side, we will be going out to dinner with friends one night, too.
How was your week? What have you been reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
Oh, I hear you about the fires and air quality. I hope you all are safe and not affected by asthma. After reading your review of Grown Women, I searched for it on Libby and checked it out. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteMiaismine - Thankfully asthma is not a concern for us. They were able to contain more of the brush fire today and the air is not quite as smoky tonight. I hope you like Grown Women. It deals with some disturbing issues, but the writing was really good and I cared about those characters.
DeleteYour War and Peace slow read seems to be going well. Twenty percent is a lot when a book is over 1,000 pages.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have been able to enjoy friend and family visits. I do remember The Betty and Boo Chronicles. It's good to know she is still writing about books.
Deb - W&P is going well, but I can't say that I'm loving it yet. I've met several bloggers over the years, both in the US and UK, and there's always an instant bond... nothing like it!
Delete
ReplyDeleteI am number one for the Allegra Goodman book and am looking forward to it, especially as you gave it such praise. I love a family dramas too, as you know :-) like the books by Mary Beth Keane and Ann Napolitano. I will say I have suspended it though as I have a buddy read upcoming and have another book going so...I will still be number one in line.
That's awful about the wildfires, hope those get contained soon. When my brother had those in the southern California are he said it was so bad, like nighttime skies early in the day and the air so acrid.
Enjoy the great visits you will have and sorry to hear about the root canal. Ugh
Tina - I can't resist a good family drama and am always drawn to a connected stories structure, so was pretty certain this would be a hit with me. Hope you like it, too, when you get to it!
DeleteThe brush fire on Alligator Alley is still burning, not sure about Cape Coral, but we only had smoke briefly today. I don't even want to imagine how bad things can get in California.
It's so great to find a book that hits spot after a period of lackluster.
ReplyDeleteJoy - What a relief to finally hit a couple of great books... I was starting to get discouraged.
DeleteJoAnn, good to hear about your recent visits and also your reading. Lovely picture of the beach! Hope your week goes well, even with a root canal - ick! LOL
ReplyDeleteKay - I am totally asymptomatic and cannot even believe I need a root canal, but the CT/x-ray was convincing. Ugh!
DeleteGreat post. And I'm glad for your reviews of Goodman's and Johnson's books. You make both seem appealing and I will likely get on the wait lists for them at the library. It's nice too that you met a blogger in person! I've only met two over the years ... but it's fun to meet up and talk books and blogs and life. I find if the rapport is there with a person on the blog, then it also translates well in person too. Hope you have a Happy March.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I've met quite a few bloggers over the years, both in the US and in London, and the instant rapport is really amazing. Have you read any of Goodman's other books? I know I want to read more!
DeleteI haven't read Allegra Goodman yet ... but her novel Isola seems pretty great and one I need to add to my list.
DeleteSusan - A couple of friends have recommended Isola, so I'll give it a try. Thanks!
DeleteI hadn't heard about the brush fires in Florida, but then I haven't been watching much news these past couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I followed Melissa, but I'll take a look at her Substack. I wonder how many book bloggers will switch over to Substack. I've considered it, but it seems like too much work. Lol!
This Is Not About Us sounds like my cuppa! Did you read or listen? Definitely adding it to my list.
Ugh. Sorry to hear you have to have a root canal. The past two weeks have been a blur, but I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel. My mom may come home from rehab this Friday. She has no pain from her hip replacement, but is still getting physical therapy. I know she'll be happy to be home and sleep in her own bed! I'll be happy to not have to drive 150 miles round trip every other day. :)
Les - Oh my goodness, I did not realize your mom had a hip replacement!! Things have been busy here with visitors, etc, but I somehow completely missed this! Glad she isn't in much pain and I hope she is able to come home soon... but I'm sure it's been a lot for you to deal with.
DeleteI read This Is Not About Us (my library did not get the audio) but I would definitely consider a reread if they do acquire it. Could have sworn I'd read Allegra Goodman before, but I have not. Look forward to exploring her backlist.
I had a root canal decades ago and it wasn't a big deal, so I'm hoping this one is easy, too... especially since I don't have any symptoms. The CT/x-ray leave no doubt that it's necessary. Ugh.
I hate lackluster periods of reading but it does make that first book that really connects really feel like magic! Oh no on the root canal! I've had 2 crowns but luckily have avoided a root canal so far. I hope you're feeling okay and that the good reading streak continues. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - After two consecutive great reads, I'm hopeful things have turned around. I had a root canal over 20 years ago and it wasn't that bad, so I'm hoping for the best on Thursday... fingers crossed.
DeleteTwo great reads in a row; you're on a roll! That always feels so good. Have a great week.
ReplyDelete