Mid-December. How is that even possible? The last six months have been a blur - selling and buying homes, packing and moving, and beginning a home renovation. We celebrated Thanksgiving with a two-week trip to central New York and are now back in Florida. We're counting down the days until our NYC daughters arrive... this will be our first Christmas with palm trees!
Recent Reading//
by Ruth Reichl, narrated by the author
I loved everything about this audiobook. The combination of food with the changing world of magazine publishing made for fascinating listening. Reich's narration also added to my enjoyment.
by Ann Patchett
narrated by Tom Hanks
Ann Patchett has long been a favorite author, so my expectations were high. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. What started as a read/listen combination quickly became an audio experience as Tom Hanks's outstanding narration practically forced me to set my kindle aside.
The Dutch House is a novel about an extraordinarily strong sibling relationship. After a mother abandons her family, the older sister assumes the role of nurturing parent to her younger brother. The distant father remarries, introducing an evil stepmother with two young daughters into the mix. They all live (unhappily) together in the castle (the Dutch House) until a dramatic event alters the course of their lives. The story is told from the point-of-view of the younger brother and looks back over decades. Brilliantly narrated by Tom Hanks, I highly recommend listening to this novel. Easily a 2019 favorite.
by Dorothea Benton Frank
A departure from my usual fare and a new-to-me author, I read this for the library book group which will meet on Wednesday. It was a quick, light, entertaining read with some interesting facts about honey bees. Probably a good choice for the busy month of December, but I hope it can sustain an interesting discussion.
Current listening//
by Ruth Reichl, narrated by Bernadette Dunne
Because I wanted more Ruth Reichl, I borrowed this older memoir about her time as restaurant critic for The New York Times. After getting over my initial disappointment that Reich herself is not the narrator, I'm enjoying it almost as much as Save Me the Plums.
Home Renovation Progress//
The demolition phase is just about over. We're finalizing kitchen cabinet selection this week. I already feel like we're behind schedule, but better to slow down and make sure it's done right!
The week ahead//
My SIL is moving to SWFL! Her closing was last week, but she arrives tomorrow... just in time for the holidays. Our daughters will fly in on Thursday and Saturday. This will be a completely new Christmas experience, but I'm happy we'll all be together. Many traditions will carry over, but I'm sure new ones are about to begin... we will embrace the change!
Look for my yearly wrap-up and favorites at the end of the month. In the meantime, I wish you all peace and joy this holiday season!
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
I loved Save Me the Plums as well. I thought I would skip The Dutch House but you're making me re-think that. Those renovations are exciting!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Not all readers have been as enthusiastic about The Dutch House as I am, but I hope you decide to give it a try.
DeleteI enjoyed Save me the plums too, mostly for her candor about being unsure of herself as a boss. But I have to admit I liked the "old" Gourmet better. :) I'm glad your house work is progressing. My oven died (thankfully right after Thanksgiving and I'm in the process of getting a new one; it's taking FOREVER and I can't imagine living through a renovation. I'm glad your Christmas plans are coming together...I'm sure it will be lovely even if different, and I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteAudrey - I had this same oven nightmare several years ago... between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it took SO long to get the new one. Hope you don't have to wait too much longer. Thankfully, we are not living in the house during this renovation. We still have our condo, but will sell it once we move into the new place. Merry Christmas to you, too, Audrey!
DeleteIt has! But it's finally due to be installed on January 7, so I'll be able to bake again soon. :)
DeleteHooray!!
DeleteI'm so excited for you with all the changes. I'm sure part of you will be sad to be without snow, but the glorious winter weather may compensate.
ReplyDeleteI'm eager to listen to Dutch House now. I've waited to look for this one and I was astonished to see there is a long wait time for the single audio copy of the book at our library system. Don't they know that this is Tom Hanks reading this book? Maybe seeing the long list of patrons on hold for the audiobook will inspire the powers-that-be to get more copies.
I have read all of the Ruth Reichl books, and I have found them all to be beautifully written. I hope you enjoy them, too.
Have a great week!
Deb - You'd think libraries would know that with Tom Hanks narrating, there would be a huge demand. My libraries have wait lists over 6 months long, so I ended up using an audible credit. My daughter is listening to it now.
DeleteThere still may be one or two of Reichl's memoirs that I've missed. Hope to change that in 2020!
I too read and enjoyed The Dutch House. Enjoy your holidays with all your family together.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy. Happy holidays to you, too!
DeleteI can imagine what these past few months have been like for you! Lots of changes and many, many decisions, right? How fun to have Christmas in Florida, though! You may have to turn on the AC so you can have a fire in the fireplace, though. :) We did that a couple of times when we were living in San Diego!
ReplyDeleteI may have to get the audio of Save Me the Plums. My husband saw so many changes while working in the magazine industry. So many of the great magazines have disappeared from the newstands and are only available online. Kind of sad...
I have the Dutch House ready to listen to once I finish with my current audio. Tom Hanks is a favorite, so it will be fun to listen to him read the book.
Can't wait to see what's on your year-end wrap-up. I always get such good recommendations from you, which I appreciate!
Les - I'm laughing at the the thought of turning on the AC in order to have a fire in the fireplace. Think that would just about kill my husband, lol!
DeleteMy soon-to-be 30 year old daughter did a couple of internships with magazines in NYC while she was in college. Things were changing so quickly, and not for the better. I'll be Rod has some interesting stories to tell, too. Save Me the Plums was so good... I'm sure you'd like it!
Year-end wrap ups are always my favorite posts to write. I'll wait until after Christmas to get started though... I may finish another book or two!
I really need to get the newest Ruth Reichl. I absolutely adored her first book and third book (the one you're listening to now) but her second book was just kind of meh for me. It wasn't bad but I didn't think it stood up to the first which I absolutely adored. I'm gravitating to all light books right now. That's the most I can do right now! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I'll probably pick up the rest of Reichl's memoirs next year (there are one or two I haven't read), but I'm going to stick to lighter reading for the rest of the year, too. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
DeleteIt'll be nice to start some new traditions, and I bet the weather will be a nice change, too!
ReplyDeleteAngela - I hope the changes aren't too much for our daughters. I'm doing my best to keep as much as we can the same, but a Christmas walk on the beach sounds a lot more appealing to me than a blizzard! Happy holidays!
DeleteHi JoAnn,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to know what's going on with you! I'm dead set on Save Me the Plums, now that I've read what you've said about it and others as well. Will do an Audible knit-a-long. And I have The Dutch House in my house, but have not had time to read it. But I must, before all the new 2020 books come rising over the horizon. Our beloved Sandy keeps me so busy, though. She's worth it and then some, but it has changed my time availability considerably. And I start another online writing course Jan. 15th. I wish I felt okay just sitting and reading. I do feel okay knitting and listening, so maybe I'll do even more audiobooks in 2020. So nice to be in touch again. Enjoy your palm tree Christmas!!
Judith - I don't think you'll be disappointed with listening to Save Me the Plums... and listening while you knit sounds wonderful! I have a hard time sitting and reading sometimes, too, but listening while cooking, cleaning, or walking makes me feel much more productive. Why do I need to feel productive all the time though?? I don't just sit and read nearly enough. Wishing you a very happy holiday season!
DeleteSo happy things seen to be falling into place in FL and that the family will all be together - exciting. So Happy you LOVED the audio of The Dutch House, it's definitely on my tops list for 2019.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I'm still working on my favorites list, but The Dutch House will certainly be on it. We're looking forward to a new twist on Christmas (I've seen Santas in grass skirts!)... hope the girls appreciate it, too.
DeleteHow delightful to have all your family together in your new home for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week
Thanks, Shelleyrae... it will be a very different Christmas for us. Happy holodays to you and your family!
DeleteI'm curious to see how your renovation progresses. My weekly update
ReplyDeletePussreboots - We have another meeting with the cabinet guy tomorrow. Hope we can get them ordered within the next week. This is exciting, but stressful. Have a good week!
DeleteYay for new traditions! I too wonder if you'll have enough to talk about with Queen Bee, which wasn't her best. I keep meaning to go back and re-read Reichl's memoirs on audio. Maybe this year???
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Queen Bee was the first of her novels I've tried and it was enjoyable... but I just can't see how will it generate much discussion. We'll see how it goes. There are a couple of Reichl's memoirs I must have missed along the way. They're on my list for 2020.
DeleteHow exciting, to have a whole different experience and to begin new traditions this year. You are going to have a blast with Christmas at the beach. :) No bitter cold or snowy roads! :) Have fun with your family, and happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteErin - It's hard to even imagine Christmas without the bitter cold and snowy road, lol! Hoping the sand and palm trees make us forget all about that ;-)
DeleteI love looking at renovations...looks like a great job with yours.
ReplyDeleteI have The Dutch House and hope to read it soon. I also have my eye on Queen Bee, the last book from this author.
Enjoy your week.
Laurel-Rain Snow - I have a feeling you'll like The Dutch House as much as I did. I'd like to read some of Dorothea Benton Frank's other novels, too.
DeleteWow I hope you have wonderful holidays with your family! Jealous that you'll be in warm Florida, though we'll be flying to Calif. so that's not bad either. You liked The Dutch House better than I did but I'm very curious to get to Save Me the Plums which sounds really good. Good luck with all your renovations. It seems 2020 will be a happy year there!
ReplyDeleteSusan - Save Me the Plums was fascinating and I enjoyed Reichl's narration - definitely worth a listen. A California Christmas sounds pretty good to me. Happy Holidays!
DeleteIt's awesome that you will be surrounded by family this Christmas. New traditions, indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ti! It's going to be a very different kind of Christmas :)
DeleteBest wishes for a wonderful holiday season, and best wishes for surviving the renovation. We are remodeling a bathroom and it seems to be taking forever!
ReplyDeleteSave Me the Plums and The Dutch House were two of my favorite books this year.
Looking forward to some great reading in 2020.
Happy Holidays!
JaneGS - Both of them will be on my favorites list, too. I've read several excellent books lately... it makes up for the my earlier slump.
DeleteI hope you had a magical and sunny Christmas :)
ReplyDeletestacybuckeye
Thanks, Stacy. It was very different, but we all loved it! Happy New Year!
Delete