March Reading Wrap-Up and Plans for April

Now that we've finished the first week of April, it's time to post a March reading wrap-up. Overall, I had a great reading month! After the last of our guest left early in the month, I have been at home more than usual as work continued on our house. And that translated into more reading time.

I ended up reading eight (!) books in March, which may be getting close to a personal record. Some were pretty short though. I started my Vietnam project, read a couple of works by Toni Morrison, and, thanks to MMD book club, I was introduced to Ada Calhoun and read a couple of her nonfiction titles, too.

Books Read in March

Recitatif by Toni Morrison, forward by Zadie Smith (short story) - 5 stars

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange  - 4 stars

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai - 5 stars

House Love by Patric Richardson (nonfiction) - 3 stars

Also a Poet by Ada Calhoun (nonfiction, memoir) - 4.5 stars

Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel (nonfiction) - 4 stars

The Quiet American by Graham Greene (fiction, classic) - 4 stars

Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give by Ada Calhoun (nonfiction) - 4 stars

 Favorite March Book

Looking ahead to April...

I'd like to continue reading about Vietnam, read the May selection for MMD, reread Huck Finn  in preparation for Percival Everett's James, and maybe even snag a copy of Amor Towles' new book. (I wonder if I should reread Rules of Civility first...)

April Reading Possibilities

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

James by Percival Everett

Girls and their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier

Ladies' Lunch: and Other Stories by Lore Segal

Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara (audio)

Absolution by Alice McDermott

We'll see how it goes.... 

What was your favorite March book? What do you have planned for April?

Weekly Update: September 23, 2018

It's the first full day of fall and there's a definite chill in the air this morning... my favorite time of year!

Our focus this past week was on maintenance. We spent two days on the car... the first included routine service and new front brakes. We got new tires the following day. Our vehicle is now ready to head south, but I plan to enjoy autumn first.

Later I endured another  trip to the dentist for my second (and final!) crown replacement. Unfortunately the temporary fell out Friday night and I have to go back again tomorrow to get it re-cemented. Ugh.

We also managed to squeeze in some fun. A free afternoon and gorgeous weather prompted a trip to the apple orchard. We usually go a little later in the season (when my favorite baking varieties are available) but were thrilled when we happened to hit Honeycrisp Day! That variety is not grown in large quantities here and is only available for picking a couple of days each season.

Finished this week//

The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope

Book 5 of 6 for our #PalliserParty, my thoughts are here.

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life

by Anne Bogel, narrated by the author

Every reader will be able to relate to this short book! I'll post a book brief this week.

 Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
by Debby Irving

Oh boy, this book will surely send me down a rabbit hole! In Waking Up White  Debby Irving speaks very candidly about her awakening to race, race issues, and her previous pattern of avoidance. She comes to realize that white IS, in fact, a race. This was a fascinating read and Irving's experiences have given me plenty to think about. More enlightened readers may find the book too basic, but I have never read anything quite like it. 

I listened to the audio version narrated by the author and it was excellent. I also ended up checking out the print edition to see the lists for further reading/viewing and to review the author's notes on sources. There is so much more to explore...

My rating:

Set aside for now//

The Friend 

by Sigrid Nunez

Recently long listed for the National Book Award, I was enjoying the writing in this short, unusual novel and had marked several passages. But after one hundred pages, I was in the mood for something with more plot. I own this book and do plan to pick it up again later.



Up next//

The #GothicGala begins tomorrow! We'll start with The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, reading one volume per week for the next four weeks. We'll discuss on twitter using the hashtag #GothicGala. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen will follow. It's not too late to join us!


On the blog//

#PalliserParty: The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope
My Fall Reading List
Book Club Read: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann


The week ahead//
There will be plant of packing and planning...Thursday we're off on our next adventure.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

A Monday Update: Fall is Here!

It feels like fall is here! In central New York, we woke this morning to temperatures in the 40s and it may not hit 60 - again. What a difference a week makes...


Current reading//

The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope is nearly 700 pages long, but I've passed the halfway mark and continue to happily turn the pages. This is the fifth book in the Palliser series and I'm hoping to read the sixth (and final) book, The Duke's Children  before the end of the year. Once again, Audrey is my intrepid #PalliserParty reading companion :)


Up next//

A little RIP fun ...
Last fall Amy, James, and I discussed a possible read-along for RIP XIII. We wanted to read Ann Radcliffe's classic Gothic novel The Mysteries of Udolpho  and follow up with Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen's spoof of the Gothic novel. RIP XIII is here and we're all still interested. The plan is to begin September 24 and finish by Halloween. You're welcome to join us!

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

"With The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe raised the Gothic romance to a new level and inspired a long line of imitators. Portraying her heroine's inner life, creating a thick atmosphere of fear, and providing a gripping plot that continues to thrill readers today, The Mysteries of Udolpho  is the story of orphan Emily St. Aubert, who finds herself separated from the man she loves and confined within the medieval castle of her aunt's new husband, Montoni. Inside the castle, she must cope with an unwanted suitor, Montoni's threats, and the wild imaginings and terrors that threaten to overwhelm her."

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

"Jane Austen's first novel, Northanger Abbey—published posthumously in 1818—tells the story of Catherine Morland and her dangerously sweet nature, innocence, and sometime self-delusion. Though Austen's fallible heroine is repeatedly drawn into scrapes while vacationing at Bath and during her subsequent visit to Northanger Abbey, Catherine eventually triumphs, blossoming into a discerning woman who learns truths about love, life, and the heady power of literature. The satirical Northanger Abbey pokes fun at the gothic novel while earnestly emphasizing caution to the female sex."

On the blog//
Rereading High School

In the kitchen//
Over the past couple of weeks I've tried two new desserts, two soups, and a vegetarian main course. All were hits, so look for a separate Weekend Cooking post on Friday or Saturday.


There's not too much planned this week... another dentist's appointment, fall decorating, and lots of outdoor chores. I'm also looking forward to my first pumpkin spice latte of the season!

 How was your week? What are you reading?

A Summer Sunday Update: August 19, 2018

Late August... time is flying. Though the calendar says otherwise, Labor Day signals the unofficial end of summer around here. A few trees are already starting to show their autumn colors. As much as I love fall - changing leaves, crisp mornings, and all things pumpkin - the end of summer always feels bittersweet.


Current reading//

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

Since Pachinko has become a favorite, I decided to give Lee's earlier novel a try. At the 40% mark, it's very good. Hope I can spend the entire afternoon reading!

Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith

A couple of empty nesters take a break from their jobs to visit the National Parks. The book consists of emails, sent to their friends Bob and Sue, chronicling the adventure. I found it free for download via Amazon Prime and plan to read a few letters at a time.

Finished last week//

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI 

by David Grann

A read/listen combination for me, my book club will meet to discuss it on Friday.

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

I read this last weekend in Lake Placid. A "book brief" is in my draft folder.

On the blog//

Book Brief: THE PERFECT COUPLE by Elin Hilderbrand
An Adirondack Adventure
Book Brief - EDUCATED: A MEMOIR by Tara Westover


Around the blogosphere//

RIP is coming!

In the kitchen//

There hasn't been much happening in my kitchen lately. Last week I tried this  Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Chili from BudgetByte$. It's the first time I've made chili without meat or poultry and, although my husband missed the beef, I really liked it. I reduced the cayenne pepper by half... just right for me.

The week ahead//

For the first time ever, my husband and I are hosting a political fundraiser. Although I vote in Florida, he's still registered in NY and this is a district that could "flip" in November. The midterms are almost here and, as the saying goes, it's time to put my money where my mouth is.


How was your week? What have you been reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

What a week... brutal, bone-chilling cold (the kind usually reserved for the dead of winter) and snow. Perfect weather to stay indoors and read - especially good timing since it's Nonfiction November!


Finished this week//

Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything

by Anne Bogel

You might know Anne Bogel from her blog (Modern Mrs. Darcy) or podcast, but I was a little slow making that association. Personality typing and theories of personality have always interested me, so I literally devoured this short book... and, of course, took another free online typing in the process. Highly recommended, especially if you're into reading about psychology, interpersonal relations, and the like.

Dear Fahrenheit 451:Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks

by Annie Spence

I loved this book! The audio version, narrated by Stephanie Spicer, is amazing. Review coming soon.



Current reading//

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

by Jessica Bruder

At the halfway mark, this is not what I was expecting... but it is completely fascinating, and a little scary, too.

Listening to//

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

I picked this up because Tina recommended it...and because I love wine. So far I'm enjoying the conversational tone and have already learned a thing or two. The audio version is read by the author.



Up next//
It's hard to say... Nonfiction November is adding to my tbr list by the hour!


On the blog//
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Nonfiction November, Week 2: Book Pairings
The Sunday Salon: Hello, November

How was your week? What are you reading?

This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading?  hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

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The Sunday Salon: Hello, November

November has arrived. Early sunsets, Thanksgiving, family gatherings, birthdays, our anniversary. Increased activity in the kitchen, quiet evenings with a book, holiday preparations begin, and Nonfiction November...the highlight of my blogging year. Here we go!


Finished this week//

A Gentleman in Moscow 

by Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith

Elegant, beautifully written, but slow... at times, painfully so. Review coming this week.

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne DuMaurier

More about obsession than love, this was a perfect book for Halloween week reading. DuMaurier's delightfully Gothic story, filled with ambiguity and tension, kept me up late turning the pages.

Current reading//

Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything by Anne Bogel

I was able to get both the audio and ebook version from my library via hoopla. It's interesting so far and, as an added bonus, short.



Likely to read next//

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

by Jessica Bruder

From the beet fields of North Dakota to the wilderness campgrounds of California to an Amazon warehouse in Texas, people who once might have kicked back to enjoy their sunset years are hard at work. Underwater on mortgages or finding that Social Security comes up short, they’re hitting the road in astonishing numbers, forming a new community of nomads: RV and van-dwelling migrant laborers, or “workampers.”


On the blog//

Nonfiction November, Week #1: My Year in Nonfiction
The Classics Club: My Second List


At home//

We're in the process of replacing four windows. Contractors were around most of last week and I'm hoping they finish up on Monday. We cleaned the gutters Saturday, but still have several more outdoor fall clean-up chores ahead. Fingers crossed the weather cooperates!


How was your week? What have you been reading?


This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.
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October 16: It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, and it's great to be reading again! My reading slump is finally over... now let's see if I can resurrect the blog.

Finished last week//

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope

This 800 page tome is the third of Trollope's six Palliser novels and the first novel I have read since August. As usual, I approached it as a read/listen combination. Reading Trollope is always a treat, and I posted briefly about the book here.

The Eustace Diamonds is also my 50th classic since joining The Classics Club, so I have achieved my 50 classics in 5 years goal.  Technically it's closer to five and a half years, but still quite a milestone.

This probably deserves a separate post and I will do that within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I need to decide whether to start on a new list... it's not like I'm going to stop reading classics ;-)




Current reading//

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

At last.  I enjoyed Rebecca  many years ago and have wanted to read more Du Maurier ever since. I'll see the new film version of My Cousin Rachel as soon as I'm finished. Very good so far.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Here's a book I felt compelled to purchase the day it was released, yet a year later am drawn to the audio version instead. Read by Nicholas Guy Smith, a new-to-me narrator, it is elegant, atmospheric, and seems perfectly suited to my mood. Towles earlier novel, Rules of Civility, was a favorite and he will be speaking at my Florida library in January. Fingers crossed I "win" seats in the ticket lottery!



 New to the TBR pile//

We visited our daughters earlier this month and no trip to NYC is complete without a visit to Book Culture, my new favorite indie bookstore. This time I selected two relatively short novels:

Troubling Love by Elena Ferrante - The four books in the Neapolitan series set me off on a mission to read Ferrante's entire backlist. Plus, I just love Europa Editions.

Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki -  The Makioka Sisters is one of my favorite Classics Club discoveries, but have I have never come across any of Tanizaki's other novels in a bookstore... until now. Very excited about this find.

On the blog//
The Sunday Salon: I Finally Finished a Novel!


Coming soon//

Nonfiction November, one of my favorite blogging events of the year, is just around the corner. Get all the details here, then go mark your calendar and start selecting your books!


What are you reading this week?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

It's Monday, and I'm FINALLY reading!

It's Monday, September 25... and I haven't finished a book all month. This has never happened. The number of novels I've abandoned lately is shocking. And they've been set aside after 100, 200, or more pages. Nothing has held my interest. But today, I am cautiously optimistic.

Last week I picked up The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope. As you know, Trollope has become a favorite in recent years. I adored his Barsetshire Chronicles, and now Audrey and I are leisurely reading the Palliser series.

The Eustace Diamonds is the third of the six novels. Trollope drew me in with his introduction of Lizzie Greystock Eustace, and I haven't wanted to put the book down since. My kindle says I'm at 41% now... and enjoying every single page.

So, the good news is that I'm reading again. But at 800+pages, there's still no guarantee I'll finish a book this month... and I'm fine with that.

August in Review

Many of the posts I read, and certainly every post I write lately, begin with the words "where has the time gone?" Well, now it's early September and we've already experienced two record cold days. I'm afraid summer is over...

Our first month of retirement was a resounding success! There are still loose ends to tie up at the office, but the 9 to 5 routine is over. Instead, we've tackled home and garden projects, enjoyed leisurely lunches out, taken several day trips (inspired by Robin's Wandering Wednesdays), hung out on the lake, gone on walks, dined with friends, seen a movie or two, and experimented with several new recipes.

 I'm also reading... almost exclusively nonfiction in August. Fiction doesn't seem to hold my attention right now. Strange.

Books Read in August

My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues 

by Pamela Paul

I've included the after-the-colon portion of the title here so you don't think, as I initially did, that this book is a relationship memoir. Bob is actually Pamela Paul's (editor of The New York Times Book Review) Book of Books, or reading journal. I thought My Life with Bob was a terrific read, and if you're into books about books, I bet you will, too.

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging

by Sebastian Junger

Tribe, narrated by the author and just 3 hours long, provided plenty of food for thought about community, belonging, and why people work better together in times of war or natural disasters. I listened prior to Hurricane Harvey, but this book might be especially interesting and relevant in its aftermath.

Grocery: The Buying and Selling of Food in America

by Michael Ruhlman 

I am a food fanatic. I want to know where and how the meat, fish, produce, and dairy I purchase are produced. I need to know exactly what is in the center aisle staples we consume. Grocery stores are endlessly interesting to me. You already know I'm Wegmans #1 fan, but how do they manage to do it all so well?  Heinen's is a smaller regional chain based in Cleveland, Ohio, with a mission seemingly similar to Wegmans - to provide its customers with the finest high-quality, healthful products. In Grocery, Rhulman examines the American grocery store from every angle using Heinen's as his model, and his findings are fascinating.

This was a read/listen combination for me. The audiobook, just over 11 hours long, is narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross. I was riveted every time I picked up the book or put in my earbuds. If you're at all interested in grocery stores and how they operate, this is the book for you.

Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit

by Barry Estabrook

Ever wonder why those perfectly red, round tomatoes you see in the grocery store, especially during the winter months, have no taste? Or how about the tomatoes on your fast food burgers and subs? Chances are they were grown in Florida, picked green, and gas ripened. This book is an eye-opening look at the tomato industry, especially in Florida. Another read/listen combination for me, the audio is skillfully narrated by Pete Larkin and runs 7 hours and 16 minutes.

The Lost Book of the Grail

by Charlie Lovett

This book is a literary mystery with a love story in the background, but I picked it up because it's set in Anthony Trollope's Barchester... and those references were great fun!  It's not necessary to be familiar with Trollope to enjoy this tale, but a familiarity (or at least an interest in) Arthurian legend might be helpful.

What was the best book you read in August?