The Sunday Salon: February 26, 2023

 

Hello, friends. It's been a couple of weeks since my last update and, overall, the island is still slowly recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian. A couple more businesses have opened, FEMA debris haulers are everywhere, and there seems to be an uptick in building demolitions. 

This past week my sister and BIL were over on the east coast, so we decided to take a break from the destruction and drive across Alligator Alley to join them. A couple nights at a hotel on the beach with warm weather, cool breezes, and lush vegetation was just what we needed! The photo above is an east coast sunrise.

Recent reading//

Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir

by Anonymous

narrated by Gabra Zackman, Lyle Lovett, J. Smith-Cameron

Part memoir and part joyful romp through the fields of imagination, the story behind a beloved pseudonymous Twitter account reveals how a writer deep in grief rebuilt a life worth living.

Do you follow Duchess Goldblatt on twitter? This is a lovely memoir, but one which would have been even more enjoyable if I'd been a DG follower from the very beginning. In case you're unfamiliar with her, this New York Times article will bring you up to speed. I listened to this one and Lyle Lovett narrating his own texts, letters, and conversation was an added bonus.

A Brother's Blood by Michael C. White

In the final days of World War II, Dieter Kallick, one of 200 German prisoners of war pressed into service at a Maine logging village, escaped into the woods. His body would later be found washed up on the shore of Moosehead Lake. Decades later, Wolfgang Kallick arrives in this same rural town, hoping to unravel the mystery of his brother's death. His questions trigger disturbing, long-dormant memories in Libby, a flinty Yankee store owner, and she is drawn inexorably into the drama when she realizes that her own family is involved in the case. Then Libby's own brother is killed. Suspecting that the two deaths, though nearly a half-century apart, are somehow linked, she undertakes her own investigation, not realizing that behind the sullen silence of her close-knit town lies a festering secret darker than she ever imagined.

This WWII historical fiction with a mystery is not my typical fare, but I decided to pick it up after meeting the author and his wife. We all had an enjoyable dinner and, naturally, talked a lot about books. At one point, the conversation turned to WWII POW camps in Maine... something I'd only learned about through reading  Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout. Turns out a Maine POW camp figures prominently in Micheal's first novel (published in 1996) so I decided to give it a try.

I've spent time in that part of Maine, so particularly enjoyed the setting. I also appreciated gradually coming to understand the characters and their motivations, the building suspense, and finally, the unexpected resolution. 

Current reading//

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This author's books are often mentioned during Nonfiction November, and last night I discovered this ebook on my library's website. Just 15% in, but I can already see why so many bloggers love her work.

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me

by Patrick Bringly, narrated by the author

A fascinating, revelatory portrait of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its treasures by a former New Yorker staffer who spent a decade as a museum guard.

I love the Met and just used an audible credit for this new release. Not sure whether I'll get started now or wait until my library hold of the print edition is available...

The week ahead//

We don't have any big plans this week, just a couple of meetings and appointments. Maybe that means I'll be able to finish another book before the end of the month... fingers crossed!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

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

A Super Bowl Sunday Salon

 Hello, friends and Happy Super Bowl Sunday! It almost seems like a national holiday, doesn't it? We'll have the game on, at least through halftime, but it will be more about the food and ads than who's winning or losing. Will you be watching?

Here on Sanibel, the slow return to normal continues. Last week our post office moved back to the island - there are now FEMA trailers in the parking lot where we can pick up our mail. No word yet on when home delivery may begin, but this is still a HUGE improvement. The island school welcomed students back last week  and a handful of our favorite restaurants have reopened, too. Since the arrival of our friends from Canada, we are no longer the sole inhabitants of our neighborhood. We're also hoping another couple may be able to move back into their home later this month.

In other news, our oldest daughter and her fiancé visited for her long birthday weekend. They were shocked by the overall condition of the island, but it was so good to have them here! Life became a little less complicated last week as we finally replaced my husband's car that was lost in the hurricane. He's pretty happy to have a new one!

 

Recent reading//

The Mad Women's Ball

by Victoria Mas, translated by Frank Wynne

The Salpetriere Asylum: Paris, 1885. Dr. Charcot holds all of Paris in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad and cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated—these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, wayward daughters, or girls born from adulterous relationships. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is the Lenten ball—the Madwomen’s Ball—when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the Salpetriere dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope.

I recently heard about this 2019 novel on The Book Cougars podcast... the premise sounded appealing and suggested a similarity to The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell. This novel, translated from the original French, was set a century earlier than O'Farrell's novel and told in a more linear fashion. It was a quick, entertaining read. The 2021 film, in French with English subtitles, is available on amazon prime video. I plan to watch it sometime this week.

Current reading//

Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir

by anonymous, narrated by Gabra Zackman, Lyle Lovett, J. Smith-Cameron

According to the publisher, "Becoming Duchess Goldblatt  is two stories: that of the reclusive real-life writer who created a fictional character out of loneliness and thin air, and that of the magical Duchess Goldblatt herself, a bright light in the darkness of social media. Fans around the world are drawn to Her Grace's voice, her wit, her life-affirming love for all humanity, and the fun and friendship of the community that's sprung up around her." 

Have you seen Duchess Goldblatt on twitter? I'm enjoying this one mostly on audio... just hit the 40% mark. 

In the kitchen//

Another example of life returning to normal is that I've started to cook again... and have even been interested in trying some new recipes! Last week I made Chicken Chow Mein, Grilled Lemon Pepper Salmon, Pork Tenderloin Diane (will cut back on the lemon pepper next time), and Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats from skinnytaste, twice.

The week ahead//

Nothing major this week... I have an appointments with the dermatologist and dentist, my husband will get together with his college roommates, and we're planning a quiet Valentine's dinner at home.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

A beach surprise!

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2022 Author Discoveries

  

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Since today is a "freebie" week, we get to choose our own topic. I'd like to highlight my favorite author discoveries of 2022. This was actually last week's prompt but you know how that goes. It seems like I've been behind all month...

Favorite Author Discoveries of 2022

Mary Lawson - A Town Called Solace and Crow Lake

John Boyne - The Absolutist

Kim Fay - Love & Saffron

Damon Galgut - The Promise

Maggie O'Farrell - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Maggie Shipstead - Seating Arrangements

Steven Rowley - The Guncle

Claire Keegan - Foster and Small Things Like These 

Angie Cruz - How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

Lydia Millet - Dinosaurs

Have you read any of these authors? What were your favorite author discoveries of 2022?

January Reading Wrap-Up

Hello, friends. As the end of January approaches, it feels like this month has been at least eight or nine weeks long! We started the month with a nasty GI virus that thwarted out New Years plans, then spent most of a week with my parents in central NY. After returning to Connecticut, there was just enough time to pack and prepare for our trip south. That trip included a couple of days in beautiful Beaufort, SC where we were able to relax and catch up with friends. 

We got back to Florida mid-month. It's been nonstop hurricane clean-up and dealing with "complications" ever since. The road to recovery will be long and slow, but seeing the above blooming beach daisies last night gives me hope.

With all of this activity, I read only two books in January... both long (over 400 pages) and literary. Both were read/listen combinations.

Shuggie Bain

by Douglas Stuart

This debut novel by Scottish-American writer and fashion designer Douglas Stuart won the Booker Prize in 2020. Hugh "Shuggie" Bain is a sweet boy growing up in a Glasgow public housing project with an alcoholic mother, absent father, and older siblings desperately trying to get away. 

Stuart's writing is wonderful and I was completely invested in the story, but the misery was unrelenting. This has to be one of the most depressing books I've ever read, yet I couldn't set it aside. As a read/listen combination, Angus King's Scottish accent in the audio version brought even more life to the novel.

Stuart's second novel Yound Mungo, released in 2022, is also highly-rated, but it will be a while before I'm ready for another heavy, sad tale.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

audio narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marnò, Orlagh Cassidy

I finished Trust last night and thought it was brilliant! It tells the riveting story of 1920s-era Wall Street tycoon Benjamin Rask and his wife Helen in a most unusual way. The novel is composed of four parts, each adding depth and layers of intrigue, which allow the reader to gradually form an understanding of the Rask's lives.

The first of the novel's four sections is a novel within the novel. "Bonds" is a fictional account of the Rask's lives. Publication of that novel enrages Rask and causes him to tell his own story in the form of an autobiography/memoir. His unfinished memoir becomes Part II of Trust. In Part III, we hear from the young woman Rask hires to ghost write his memoir. Part IV is Helen Rask's journal.

I flew through this novel in just a few days... very unusual for me, especially considering its length. The audio version (this was a read/listen combination for me) was outstanding. Each section is read by a different narrator. Each is excellent.

Trust  was the winner of the Kirkus Prize and longlisted for the Booker Prize. It was also named one of the 10 Best Books of 2022 by both The New York Times and The Washington Post. I've added his earlier novel, In the Distance, to my reading list.

February plans//

February usually marks the beginning of our season of winter visitors, but things will be a little different this year. Our daughter and her fiancé are coming later this week for a long weekend to celebrate her birthday, but that's it so far. 

Hopefully, that will translate into more reading time. I've pulled several books from my shelves that I'd like to read soon and have also downloaded a couple of kindle samples. Both samples are books I'm not familiar with, but learned about while listening to podcast year-end favorite episodes. I'll let you know next time where I decide to start...

How was your month? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

2022 Reading Reflections and 2023 Intentions

Before we get too much deeper into January, I'd like to reflect on my 2022 reading and lay out some intentions for the year ahead.

Overall, 2022 was a challenging year... the death of my father-in-law, two stress-filled real estate transactions, and Hurricane Ian. Thankfully, it was a good year in books.

By the numbers:

52 books read - a comfortable one book per week pace

74% fiction, 26% nonfiction 

74% female authors, 26% male

70% new-to-me authors, 30% authors I'd read before

Format:

print/ebook  22%

audio  20%

read/listen combo  58%

Source:

print/ebook   40% own / 60% library

audiobooks   45% own / 55% library

Shortest book / Longest book

 Foster by Claire Keegan 89 pages 

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark 592 pages

Most shelved / Least shelved (goodreads)

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Justice on the Brink: A Requiem for the Supreme Court by Linda Greenhouse

WHAT WORKED IN 2022?

Read/listen combinations:  Last year I tried to get an audio edition of every book I read. Reading just one book at a time works best for me and I love listening to audiobooks on my daily walk. Nearly 80% of the books I read in 2022 had an audio component.

Using the library: 2022 was the first year I actually tracked the source of every book I read. I'm fortunate to have two excellent libraries in FL, one for the island and one for the county. Between the two, they have nearly every book I want to read and will sometimes purchase books I request. The Sanibel library also gives me access to hoopla, which has a good selection of audiobooks.

A vague monthly reading plan: I like to have a plan, but not too much of one. A list of "possibilities" works well, especially when I give myself permission to stray from it.

INTENTIONS FOR 2023

Set a low goal on Goodreads: That takes away self-imposed pressure and allows me the freedom to spend more time reading the New Yorker, newspapers, etc.

Read/listen to more books I own: I love my libraries, but my physical and digital TBRs are out of control.

Try not to read as many new releases: Instead, I would to read more titles by authors I already know, more backlist  books, and more classics.

More statistics: I plan to keep track of publication year and page count of the books I read.

With my year-end posts complete, I plan to take a short blogging break. We're heading back to Florida to continue Hurricane Ian clean-up and oversee repairs. There is still no internet at our house, but we're hopeful it will be restored before the end of the month. I'll check in again as soon as I can. In the meantime, I hope your 2023 reading is off to a good start!

My Year in Books: 2022 Favorites

We're nearly a week into 2023, so it's time to officially wrap up 2022. I'll start with my list of favorite books today, then look at statistics and resolutions over the weekend.

Overall, 2022 was a good reading year. I maintained my usual pace of one book per week and that continues to feel comfortable. In addition to the true standouts, I've listed a few honorable mentions. I have also noted where fiction and nonfiction favorites were read/listen combinations, but my audiobook favorites were audio only.

FICTION FAVORITES

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout 

(read/listen combo, excellent audio)

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro 

(read/listen combo, excellent audio)

A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry 

The Promise by Damon Galgut 

Honorable Mention 

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

 Foster by Claire Keegan

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz 

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (read/listen combo)

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow (read/listen combo)

NONFICTION FAVORITES

Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

by Gilbert King (read/listen combo)

Honorable Mention

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (audio)

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (read/listen combo)

Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg (audio)

AUDIOBOOK FAVORITES

Remarkably Bright Creatures  

by Shelby Van Pelt 

narrated by Marin Ireland, Michael Urie

The Guncle 

by Steven Rowley, narrated by the author 

Happy New Year, 2023!

 Happy New Year, 2023! Our house has been a whirlwind of activity lately. Both NYC daughters and partners were here for a week around Christmas, overlapping with each other for four days in the middle. Winnie the Whippet (our new grand puppy) added even more energy and joy to mix. It was exciting spending time all together, but it was also nice to have time with each couple alone. 

Now as the holiday season draws to a close, I'm both happy and exhausted. Today should  be about packing away decorations, cleaning, and organizing... but I think reading, napping, and watching football will likely be the order of the day.

Holiday reading//

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

This was a perfect holiday read... comforting, heart-warming, and entirely predicable. I'm so glad I saved it for Christmas week. An endearing mix of characters find themselves together for Christmas in a country home in Scotland. Naturally there is a snowstorm, a family crisis of sorts, unexpected romance, and a happy ending. Though it doesn't quite reach the level of The Shell Seekers, this was still a delight. I've already decided to read another Rosamunde Pilcher novel next Christmas. Any suggestions?

(read/listen combination, audio edition narrated by Jilly Bond)

Current reading//

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

I've decided to begin 2023 with a book from my shelves. Purchased last summer with a birthday gift card, I'm only a few pages into this 2020 Booker Prize winner and plan to spend more time with it this afternoon. Have you read this one?

Our Christmas puzzle//

I'm a fan of the New York Puzzle Company, especially their New Yorker  covers. Our fall 1000 piece puzzle turned out to be unbelievably hard, so we opted for an "easier" 750 piece puzzle to work over Christmas. "Skating in the Park" was much more manageable, but the white lettering in the tree branches was definitely a challenge. Overall, a lot of fun!

Coming up on the blog//

I'm working on two posts for the upcoming week. My list of 2022 favorites will come first. Next weekend I'll post a 2022 wrap-up with 2023 resolutions. 

The week ahead//

We'll be back in central New York visiting my parents this week. A couple of appointments are on the schedule and we'll see other family and friends while we're there, too.

My knee is slowly improving, but daily walks have not resumed. I miss both the exercise and time with audiobooks! 

How was your holiday week? What have you selected for your first book of 2023?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

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