November 28, 2018

Pink Martini & Monthly Book Review: November 2018

I indulged in Christmas music early this month so only one book (#noshame). I played catch up on another from my summer read list, The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll. I REALLY wanted to like this more than I did as I so enjoyed Knoll's Luckiest Girl Alive as an Audible newbie. This story is about four women whose lives are chronicled staged in a reality show geared toward millennials (Gold Diggers). These women, save for two sisters, wouldn't be caught dead together (literally). The characters are self-absorbed and vapid save for a few moments when deep secrets are revealed. There are two twists at the end that I didn't see coming and were subtly delivered so that was my reward for sticking through to the bitter end. 

I've started on Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (who wrote my favorite book of 2017, A Gentleman in Moscow) and I already love it.


Because it's frowned upon to read/listen to a book while at work, I have music playing in the background. I used to listen to CDs, but I have graduated to Pandora. My absolute favorite station is Pink Martini Radio. It's a mix of jazz, swing, tango, cabaret, old French pop (La Vie en Rose) and big band. In the past half hour I've heard K.C. and the Sunshine Band's Boogie ShoesIn the Mood by Glenn Miller, As Time Goes By by Dooley Wilson, Frank Sinatra's Come Fly with MeBack to Black by Amy Winehouse, and Michael Buble's Cry Me a River. Check it out!

Next up:
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Sunburn by Laura Lippman

November 6, 2018

Monthly Book Review: October 2018

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams - I’ve really liked a couple of Williams’ books, but this makes the second one that I had a hard time getting into and thought was overrated. It was touted as a great summer read (missed that by only a month or so) and the only reason I can think why is because it has “summer” in the title. Miranda is back to the island after an 18 year absence ... not much has changed and the islanders are known for keeping tightly-held  secrets. Unfortunately most of the secrets relate to privileged men taking egregious advantage of native island women. Not very relatable in the #metoo era. 

Next up:
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles