The Sunday Salon: December 8, 2024

Hello friends and Happy December. We had a wonderful, celebration-filled Thanksgiving week in central NY that included Thanksgiving dinner at my sisters's, our annual extended family Christmas party, a birthday party for my father, and we celebrated our 39th anniversary! We also enjoyed our first snow of the season. It was beautiful, but I'm glad we won't be hanging around all winter. It's way too cold here now...

Recent Reading//

A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi, 

translated by Hildegarde Serle

This is a French novel about two sisters, Emma and Agathe, five years apart and as different as can be. They spent every childhood summer visiting their grandparents in the house by the sea, and remember those months as their happy times. The sisters, extremely close throughout their troubled childhood, have become estranged as adults. Now their grandparents are dead and the women have returned to that house by the sea for one final week before it is sold. They plan to relive old memories and possibly repair their broken relationship, too.

I loved the structure of this novel. It's takes place over the course of that one week and is told from the alternating perspectives of the two sisters. Additionally, there are flashbacks to their childhood, also from alternating perspectives, which allow the reader to gradually piece together what happened in the past and how they came to grow apart as adults.

I really enjoyed reading this book and have come to count on Europa Editions not only for quality works in translation, but also for outstanding new American voices.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

This was another great read from my fall tbr list. The short, contemplative novel set in 1956 follows an English butler as he sets out on a six day motoring tour through the countryside. He spends much of that time lost in memories, reflecting on his 30 years in service at Darlington Hall, and a vanishing way of life.

Winner of the 1989 Booker Prize, Remains of the Day  will appeal to fans of Downton Abbey, readers who love an unreliable narrator, and anyone who appreciates quality literature.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Current Reading//

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

I just started this yesterday and love how it pulled me in right away! I've decided to get the audio version, too, and make it a read/listen combination.

On the blog//

November Reading Wrap-Up

The week ahead//

We're in full Christmas mode now. I plan to finish the rest of my shopping this week AND get it all wrapped. Next weekend we'll travel back to central NY (weather permitting) for our grandniece's christening. After that, the house will soon start filling up for the holidays. I can't wait!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

November Reading Wrap-Up

Before too much of December gets away from me, I want to post my November reading wrap-up. Overall it wasn't the greatest reading month. Between the election and Thanksgiving travels, I didn't read as much as I'd planned. But I did enjoy the four books I did finish.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw 

short stories, reread, audio,⭐⭐⭐💫

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

nonfiction, travel memoir, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Weyward by Emilia Hart

historical fiction, read/listen combination, book club, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi

literary fiction, in translation, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DECEMBER READING POSSIBILITIES

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (in progress)

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci (audio)

I don't expect to read all of these in December. We have another trip to central New York planned mid month, expect a full house over the Christmas holiday, and then we'll pack up and head to Florida! It's always good to have a few books lined up though, right?
 

An Update at Last, and Another Visit to NYC!

Hello, friends. I haven't checked in since the beginning of the month... and let's just say it's been a wild ride. It took me several days to recover from the election, we spent most of the following week in NYC, and then my latest Covid booster knocked me down for a day or so last weekend. During most of that time, I just couldn't read anything.

First, about NYC.

We were there to celebrate my husband's birthday, but I also enjoyed a couple of book-adjacent outings. My daughter and I visited the Morgan Library and Museum to see the Belle da Costa Greene exhibition. We'd both read The Personal Librarian  by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray and and then I continued with  Belle Greene  by Alexandra Lapierre. With that kind of prep, we were primed for the exhibit and it did not disappoint!

Our other book-related outing was catching the revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" at the Barrymore Theater. I'd somehow missed seeing or reading this play until last year, when I learned that it figured prominently in Ann Patchett's latest novel Tom Lake. I decided to read the play before diving into the novel and appreciated having that foundation. Reading the play was just okay, but seeing it on stage was a completely different experience, especially given the caliber of the actors. I loved it! I think the entire audience was in tears by the end. If you have an opportunity to see the show, go for it!

Now, about the reading... 

During the first half of the month, my reading was completely stalled. Finally last week I finished a short travel memoir that I'd been meaning to read for years, and then picked up a January book club selection which turned out to be much better than expected. Now I'm on to a French novel in translation that seems to be right up my alley. Things have turned around at last!

Recent Reading//

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

I've lost count of the number of times I've read, or listened to, 84, Charing Cross Road over the years, but it's been a favorite for decades. It chronicles twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, a writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London. Initially their letters are solely about books, but eventually a warm friendship also develops. 

Following the 1970 publication of 84, Charing Cross Road, Hanff finally gets her chance to visit London and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street (published in 1973) is the resulting travel memoir. I never got around to reading this little gem until now... and it was wonderful!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Weyward by Emilia Hart

I decided to get an early start on the January MMD book club selection and it turned out to be just what I needed to get me reading again. That was surprising, to me anyway, given that it's debut historical fiction with three storylines following three women in three different centuries... plus it features a supernatural or witchy element, which I tend to avoid. The stories engaged me right away and I was always eager to pick it up again. I later found out this novel won the goodreads choice award for historical fiction last year... which doesn't surprise me.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi

I've enjoyed quite a few Europa Editions titles over the years and it has become one few independent publishers whose new offerings I follow closely. This novel is described as: "Full of humor and compassion, a profound exploration of sisterhood, healing, and the ineffable beauty of life from France‘s most beloved contemporary novelist.."

Published at the beginning of the summer, I was disappointed when none of my libraries purchased a copy. The cover caught my eye again at my local indie, but the price was quite steep. I picked it up a couple of months ago as a kindle daily and really like it so far!

In the kitchen//

We eat soup all year long, but I seem to enjoy it even more when the weather turns colder and wetter. Early this week I made a batch of Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup from Damn Delicious... and it was delicious! The two changes I made included using half and half instead of heavy cream, and 8 cups (2 full cartons) of chicken stock instead of 6. Next time I may even try milk instead of half and half, depending on what I have on hand.

Now on to Thanksgiving//

It's only November 22, but Thanksgiving is late this year and since we're traveling in early December, we're going to put up the Christmas tree and decorations this weekend.

Next week, we'll drive to central New York to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and siblings. This is the first time since 2018 we've celebrated with my whole family and I'm pretty excited about it. While we're up there, we'll also attend the traditional extended family Christmas party, complete with Yankee Swap - always a memorable event! It'll be great to see my cousins and their families, too. Our 39th wedding anniversary and my father's 89th birthday also coincide with this visit. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I'll check back in again next month.

A Pre-Election Reading Update

Hello, friends. After a week of beautiful fall weather, walks with an audiobook, and a weekend filled with family and dogs, I'm here with an unusual Monday update. 

Recent reading//

Be Ready When the Luck Happens

by Ina Garten, narrated by the author

After posting "My Year in Nonfiction" for Nonfiction November last week, I realized that my nonfiction reading has been less than satisfying this year. In an effort to get back on tract, I picked up this highly anticipated foodie memoir and was not disappointed.  

I own several of Ina's cookbooks, attended one of her zoom events during the pandemic (remember when they were a novelty?) and regularly prepare many of her recipes. I haven't watched her television shows more than once or twice, but still consider myself a fan.

This memoir turned out to be even better than expected. It covered her difficult childhood, her relationship with Jeffrey, and how she came to own and operate Barefoot Contessa. In addition, Ina talked about her business philosophy, the many real estate transactions and renovations, and the evolution of her television show... plus there was some enjoyable name-dropping when the topic turned to show guests, friends, and her famous dinner parties.

I really enjoyed Ina's narration and am glad I listened, but there are some photos and recipes included in the print book that are worth checking out, too! ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

by Deeshaw Philyaw, narrated by Janina Edwards

This is the November selection over at MMD book club. I listened to this short story collection back in 2021 and wasn't planning a reread, but discovered that the audio is still available via hoopla. I always get more out of the author talks when the book is fresh in my mind and, at 4 hours long, it wasn't a huge time commitment. The stories all feature Black women and deal with sexuality, church, families, and relationships. As always, I enjoyed some more than others with "How to Make Love to a Physicist" being my favorite. ⭐⭐⭐💫

Current reading//

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

This slim travel memoir is the follow-up to Hanff's beloved 84, Charing Cross Road, a book I've read or listened to multiple times over the years.

What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts)

by Stanley Tucci, narrated by the author

I just started listening to this memoir yesterday and love it already. It'll be just what I need to take my mind off the election and its aftermath.

The week ahead//

As we are all aware, tomorrow is Election Day... and it can't come soon enough for me. We voted by mail (seemingly weeks ago), and our ballots have been received and accepted. It's certain there will be no winner announced Tuesday night, yet I am just as certain someone will choose to declare victory. Beyond that, I am afraid we'll be dealing with a lot of accusations and misinformation. My anxiety level is already through the roof.

Tomorrow we will have the distraction of an overnight trip to attend the funeral of a high school friend's mother. All bets are off after that...

How was your week? What have you been reading?

Our canine guests: my sister-in-law's Bernerdoodle Ophelia and our grandpup Winnie the Whippet.

 

NONFICTION NOVEMBER: Week 1 (10/28-11/1) Your Year in Nonfiction

 

Nonfiction November is here! This annual event, an entire month of bookish topics devoted entirely to nonfiction, is always a favorite. 

Week one (10/28-11/1) Your Year in Nonfiction: Celebrate your year of nonfiction. What books have you read? What were your favorites? Have you had a favorite topic? Is there a topic you want to read about more?  What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

Our host this week is Heather at Based on a True Story

MY YEAR IN NONFICTION

2024 has been a very good reading year for me so far but, in terms of nonfiction, it's been just okay. (I consider my nonfiction year to run from November 2023 through October 2024.) 

The bullet point takeaways include:

• my overall percentage of nonfiction is down (19% vs an average of 25%)
• my overall nonfiction quality/enjoyment is down this year
• I haven't read from my go-to nonfiction categories this year

So what have I been reading?

My nonfiction reading this year has included memoir, history, and how-to/instructional titles. These topics are a bit of a departure for me, especially the how-to/instructional category. Overall they have been less satisfying. 

How do I consume nonfiction?

I prefer nonfiction on audio, and almost all of my nonfiction this year has had an audio component. I am especially fond of read/listen combinations for history and biography, and I love memoirs read by the author.

What was my favorite/most recommended nonfiction title this year?

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin  

Honorable Mentions

... and a new author discovery

Also a Poet: Frank O'Hara, My Father, and Me by Ada Calhoun

Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun

What are my favorite topics? 

My favorite nonfiction topics generally include social justice, the Supreme Court, medicine, food and foodie memoirs, current events, history, and books about books & reading. 

*Note to self - stick to those topics next year

What are my goals for Nonfiction November?

I want to get my nonfiction reading back on track by reading at least two books related to my favorite topics this month. I also hope to discover more nonfiction titles.

Sunny Days and Changing Leaves

Hello, friends... hard to believe it's Sunday already. The week really flew as we mostly finished our bathroom remodel (still waiting on a light fixture and shower doors), enjoyed more gorgeous fall weather, and read great books. I'm calling it a win!

Recent reading//

Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowring

This is the follow-up to one my favorite novels from last year, The Road to Dalton. Five years have passed since our last visit to "the county." Now it's the summer of 1995 and we're back in Maine's northernmost reaches to check in on old friends. What have they been up to and, more importantly, how are they coping with the unexpected death which occurred in book one? I loved learning how some characters are thriving while others flounder, and seeing how relationships deepen or become fragile and stressed. It was interesting to note how even attitudes toward Dalton itself had evolved. This is another character-driven novel that delighted me from the first page. It is easily one of my favorite books of 204. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

I used an audible credit for this memoir read by the author, then the library came through a couple of days ago with the ebook. Halfway through and I'm enjoying it quite a bit!

 

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

This was another ebook surprise courtesy of my FL library. How I got to the top of the hold list so soon, I'll never know! Just settling in and I can't wait to see how this story unfolds.

The week ahead//

Halloween is here! I'm loving all the decorations around town this year. We'll have some candy for the trick-or-treaters, but I'll be surprised if we get more than two or three. We're planning a dinner with friends one night, and also looking forward to a visit next weekend from our daughter, son-in-law, and grandpup. My sister-in-law will be in the area, too, so we'll also get to spend time her and her bernerdoodle puppy!

Nonfiction November kicks off this week! Read all about it here.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

The Sunday Salon: Just What I Needed!

 

Hello, friends. We're back from a wonderful four days in NYC. I enjoyed the lovely fall weather, two literary events, time with family, The Great Elephant Migration, a trip to my favorite bookstore, and several delicious meals. Just what I needed! While we were there Twin A and her husband moved to a new apartment and we were able to help with that, too... mostly by keeping the grandpup, Winnie the Whippet, occupied elsewhere. Their new apartment has two bedrooms and an in-unit washer and dryer, which is a real bonus in the city.

Daughter #1 was my companion for the literary events. We walked up to Symphony Space both evenings, then joined the rest of the crew at nearby restaurants afterwards. 

Our first program was Power and Storytelling with Margaret Atwood and Min Jin Lee, moderated by NYTimes journalist Veronica Chambers. The event was described this way: "On the eve of a critical election, literary icons discuss the power of stories to change the world." The conversation quickly became political with a focus on what's at stake in the upcoming election, authoritarian regimes around the world, and the stripping away of human rights. There was little direct reference to literature and storytelling. At times the talk became quite dark and emotional. If you follow Min Jin Lee on social media, you will see she is passionate about these issues. I especially enjoyed Margaret Atwood's acerbic commentary, and would love to hear her speak again when the topic is exclusively literary. This was an interesting event, even if it was not what we were expecting.

The second evening featured Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Meg Wolitzer. The two friends discussed Strout's new novel, Tell Me Everything, and the actress Patricia Kalember performed a dramatic reading. They talked a lot about Strout's writing process, which flows mostly from her subconscious. There was quite a bit of discussion about her characters, too, and Bob Burgess seemed to be the star of the evening!  Strout talked about Maine and how deeply rooted it is in her DNA. Happily, she is currently working on another novel. There was a book signing after the talk.

Recent reading//

The Most by Jessica Anthony

I picked up this novella (144 pages) because it was longlisted for this year's National Book Award, plus I really liked the cover. The story, told from alternating perspectives of a husband and wife, is about their seemly perfect marriage which is actually on the brink of collapse. It takes place on one unseasonably warm day in November 1957, when the wife goes for a swim in their community pool and refuses to get out. This novella is a slow burn and the writing is excellent, but be forewarned that the ending is ambiguous. Read it in a single sitting if at all possible... and then tell me what you make of that ending!  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowring

The Road to Dalton, Bowring's debut novel, was a favorite last year. In this year's follow-up, five years have passed as we return to Dalton once again. I started this last night and the first 30 pages were a delight!

I also still have bookmarks in The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan and A Guest at the Feast by Colm Tóibín, but neither of them moved last week... mostly due to our trip.

The week ahead//

We're at home this week and have been assured that the bathroom remodel will be completed within the next few days. At last! We're also expecting some perfect fall weather, so I really hope I don't spend the entire week waiting around for contractors to show up... I want to get out there and enjoy it!

How was your week? What are you reading today?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

The Sunday Salon: Post-Milton Edition

Hello, friends. It's Sunday again, and what a week it's been! Hurricane Milton blew through Wednesday and Thursday causing damage up and down both coasts of Florida. Our gulf coast barrier islands bore the brunt of the storm. We were incredibly lucky and did not have flooding in our home, but friends and neighbors on our island were not as fortunate. Just to our north in Captiva and Boca Grande, things are pretty bad and it gets worse as you move north toward Sarasota. Tornados wiped out neighborhoods in North Fort Myers and caused fatalities on the east coast. The cleanup and recovery continue this week and we hope to have power and water back within the next few days. 

Meanwhile, we will remain in Connecticut...

RECENT READING

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Elizabeth Strout is my favorite living author and reading her latest novel was like a satisfying visit with old friends. I've known these characters for years, feel invested in their lives, and really enjoyed catching up with their latest activities. Best of all, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge finally meet! You can certainly read and enjoy this book without having read Strout's earlier novels, but I think you'll have a much richer experience if you already know Lucy, Olive, and the rest of the crew.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

I love a good dysfunctional family drama and have read quite a few over the years, but the Briscoe family of Olympus, Texas takes dysfunction to a whole new level. I can't recall ever coming across a family as messed up as this one! None of the characters are particularly likable, not a single one of them seems capable of making a good decision, and yet I was completely engrossed as their story played out over the course of one week.

The novel also features several clever parallels to Greek mythology. My knowledge of mythology is embarrassingly deficient, so most of them went over my head. But since Olympus, Texas  is the October selection of the MMD book club, I'm sure the discussion will clue me in.

This was a read/listen combination for me and the audio edition narrated by Karissa Vacker added to my overall enjoyment. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

CURRENT READING

A Guest at the Feast: Essays by Colm Tóibín

I enjoy having an essay collection to pick up occasionally and have read about a third of this one.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

This is another long term read, but I was just too distracted to pick it up last week.

In addition, I plan to start another novel tonight.

Later today//

We've been babysitting our grandpup, Winnie the Whippet this weekend. It's been fun having a dog around again... and I might have even caught myself calling her Zelda a couple of times! I'm sure she'll be happy to see her parents when they arrive later today. We'll all have pizza for dinner before they drive back to NYC.

The week ahead//

We'll take a brief hiatus from the bathroom remodel (which has taken much longer than planned, of course) to go to NYC for a few days. I have tickets to a couple of author events at Symphony Space, including Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Meg Wolitzer! I'll also spend a day occupying Winner while her parents move into their new apartment. It should be an exciting trip!

How was your week? What are you reading today?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

A September Reading Wrap-Up and October Possibilities

October is here, so that means it's time to post my September wrap-up. Our main event for September was our oldest daughter's wedding in central NY. We spent just over a week "back home" where we saw friends and family, made final preparations, and enjoyed every second of Wedding Weekend. Even with all of that, I managed to finish four books. They were all quite enjoyable, too.

SEPTEMBER BOOKS

September by Rosamunde Pilcher - a buddy read with Tina and Les, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

The Safekeep by Yael Van der Wouden - Booker Prize shortlist, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes - family drama, romance ⭐⭐⭐💫

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout - new novel from my favorite author, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OCTOBER READING POSSIBILITIES

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan - my current slow read

A Guest at the Feast: Essays by Colm Tóibín - in progress

Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann - in progress

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowring

Also in October

We are in the midst of a bathroom remodel at our CT condo. It was past time to update the nearly 30-year-old cabinets, tile, and fixtures. That will probably continue for another week or two.

We plan to spend a few days in NYC mid-month. One of our daughters, her husband, and the grandpup are moving into a new apartment on the Upper West Side, so we will help with that . Our other NYC daughter (the newlywed) and I have tickets to attend two evening programs at Symphony Space - Power and Storytelling with Margaret Atwood and Min Jin Lee, and Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Meg Wolitzer. We're still working out the daytime activities.

And of course, topping my list of immediate concerns is yet another hurricane taking aim at Florida's gulf coast. Milton is predicted to be a Cat 3 at landfall and the latest "spaghetti models" have it trending south of Tampa. Our island still has standing water leftover from Helene; I just don't know how we're going to absorb any more! The storm surge is the scariest thing at this point. Here we go again... And there's still another month and a half left in hurricane season.

How was your September? What was your favorite book of the month?

My Fall Reading List

With the end of September fast approaching, it's past time for a fall reading list. I put this one together a few weeks ago, got distracted by our daughter's wedding, and never got around to sharing it. Better late than never, right?

As you know, I'm better at making lists than actually following through and reading from them. BUT my summer reading list  really kept me focused for a few months and I'm hoping for a similar outcome this time. I do have several library holds, mostly literary prize nominees, that could complicate things. We'll see how it goes...

2024 FALL READING LIST

The Safekeep by Yael van her Wouden

Booker Prize short list (completed)

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes

New fiction from an author I enjoy (completed)

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

new fiction from a favorite author (in progress)

Where the Forest Meets the River by Shanon Bowring

Sequel to The Road to Dalton, a 2024 favorite

Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry

The first novel in the Port William series and an author I've been meaning to read

Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

A debut novel that's been on my shelf for a few years, October selection of MMD book club

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

1989 Booker Prize winner

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

An author I've been meaning to read for years

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Nature nonfiction with beautiful artwork (in progress)

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

84, Charing Cross Road is a nonfiction favorite, but I've never read Hanff's visit to London

What books are you looking forward to this fall?  Have you made a reading list?