Monthly Book Review: March 2019

The Forgotten Room by Beatriz Williams, Karen White, Lauren Willig - LOVED this! Three generations of women living/working in the same historic NYC home from the late 19th century through 1945 deal with ill-fated love. Each of the three authors tell one woman’s story so the characters are distinct, yet common threads weave perfectly together. I may not agree with all of their choices, but I can definitely picture a bit of myself in Olive, Lucy and Kate. 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - this book is all the rage and now I know why. My mother said it has “rich prose” and she was right. The story of Kya the marsh girl is beautiful and sad at the same time. Abandoned and ridiculed, Kya creates a full life out of small and simple things in the marsh on the fringe of a small North Carolinian town that most of us would take for granted. When the town’s golden boy is murdered, it seems the whole town is on trial. 

Next up:

These is My Words by John Driver

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

Monthly Book Review: February 2019

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James - There's nothing romantic about Vermont's school for wayward girls, Idlewild Hall. This story weaves a small town's secrets, two murders and a hint of WWII into a great mystery.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan - I loved this chick lit recommended by one of my favorite bloggers as one of her best reads of 2018. Ella from Ohio is at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship which has been her life's plan for years. Ella seems to have everything together until a chance meeting at a chip shop changes her life. 

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey - A novella written in 1932 about Dolly Thatcham's wedding day and the choice of marrying for love vs. security.

Next up:

The Forgotten Room by Beatriz Williams, Karen White, Lauren Willig

These is My Words by John Driver

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

Monthly Book Review: January 2019

Sunburn by Laura Lippman - I read this while in Mexico and it was the perfect beach read. The opening lines pulled me in and I was hooked on all the twists and turns. Polly/Pauline is playing a game ... is it a long game or a short one? Is she villain, victim, or both? The best part? It was good all the way to the end!

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story by Hyeonseo Lee, David Johng - Soooooo good! True story of a young girl’s journey to freedom. I was shocked to learn of the insidious abuse North Korean’s deal with in everyday life (e.g. monthly compulsory criticism sessions at school and work).

Next up:
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

We’ll be going back to Mexico yet this year so I also added “Learn Spanish” audiobook to my queue. Excited to see how that works. 

Monthly Book Review: December 2018

I absolutely loved Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (who also wrote my favorite book of 2017, A Gentleman in Moscow). The writing is wonderful with rich character development and the audio version is expertly read. Set mostly in 1938, the novel follows Kate (Katey, Katia) Kontent through a year of defining relationships and painful self awareness. Part of growing up is finding out that doing the right thing isn't always easy and it's more difficult for some than others; our expectations and judgments will never be fully met. Another is learning that what we do has far-reaching consequences.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty - This felt like a modern grown-up version of The Breakfast Club. Nine strangers arrive at an Australian health resort with a variety of issues they hope to resolve and leave with a lot more than they bargained for.

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb - similar style to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in that the story is told through exchanged letters between Evelyn Elliott, her brother Will, her friend Alice and Will's best friend Thomas Harding from 1914 to 1918 (WWI). Beautifully written and satisfying end.

I read 25 books this year. In addition to Rules of Civility, these knocked my socks off in 2018:

• Small Great Things (Feb)
• Broken Angels (Mar)
• City of Thieves (May)
• As Bright As Heaven (Aug)

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 Shoes, In the Mood by Glenn Miller, As Time Goes By by Dooley Wilson, Frank Sinatra's Come Fly with Me, Back 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

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

Confession & Monthly Book Review: September 2018

I seriously considered skipping this month altogether, but then decided to hold myself accountable whilst making a confession. It has been a slow reading season the past few months because I've been busy. Busy falling in love. Aww It has been an intoxicating, surprising and mind-boggling experience. I never thought I would enjoy sharing my literal and figurative space with another person again, let alone find someone with whom I feel so compatible. We're still in the "honeymoon phase" of the relationship of course where the thrill of discovery is forefront, but this feels very right. Falling in love in middle age without the "start up" pressures of establishing careers, questionable finances and raising children is nice, but what's been especially refreshing is how secure I am in myself ... my needs, my values, my limits, and acceptance of my body. It's wonderful to be with someone who is not only okay with all of that, but appreciative of my cultivating it. We know who we are and aren't afraid to express ourselves with a knowing that being right or righteous isn't required for such expression that only maturity can bring. I'm feeling really lucky and don't want to take anything for granted, while keeping my eyes and mind open (because one should be willing to see and address red flags if any arise). So it's been delightful, but my reading time and social life have taken a serious hit. I'm working on fixing that.

The French Girl by Lexie Elliott - This felt like a Girl on The Train knockoff - memory lapses, questionable choices, wondering if you really know those closest to you. It was good, solid B, just too long. 

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah - Two sisters completely different from one another try to relate to their cold, distant mother. I could see where things were going early on and it took FOREVER for the author to get there. I almost gave up half way through, but glad I didn't as it was a poignant story with a good ending. I'd give this a B as well.

Rant: perhaps I'm becoming cynical in my old age, but most books are TOO DAMN LONG!!!

Next up:
The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles