Leslie's Bookcase

celebrating books & the literary lifestyle

‘Chasing Hope’ A Reporter’s Life

January 11, 2025 / / 0 Comments

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but I love a good memoir.

The book I’m recommending today I discovered in a roundabout way through a travel podcast that I started listening to after the new year: Travel With Rick Steves.

Steves is an American travel writer who focuses on Europe and has hosted a PBS travel show. He encourages expanding your travels past the most popular landmarks to immerse yourself in local culture.

I love his calming voice and although I won’t likely get the chance to spend “Christmas in Bulgaria” or travel to many/most of the specific spots he discusses, each episode is full of interesting history and cultural information.

One episode I listened to recently (I am playing catch up because I just discovered the podcast) had the guest Nicholas D. Kristof who I am familiar with from his columns in The New York Times. This particular episodes topic was “Fabulous Food in Paris” (episode 761 from 7/19/2024) but they also talked about his new book (released in May 2024) Chasing Hope: A Reporters Life.

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I have no idea when or where I acquired this book but it's been in my bookcase for some time.

After sitting in my bookcase for years this book surprised me!

June 23, 2024 /

Last week I was headed to the pool so I wanted to grab a paperback I owned – the iPad gets too heated, and I didn’t want to ruin a library book.

So I headed to my bookcases and pulled out

The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III

I had no idea what this book was about (somehow I also missed the movie!!) and was expecting some sort of slow family drama…but the recommendation on the front cover promised a “page turner” so I decided to give it a try.

The book ended up blowing me away.

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INDULGING IN THE STORIES OF HENRY VIII & THE SIX WIVES

January 20, 2024 /

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

This is the mnemonic I use to remember the basic history of Henry VIII’s marriages more than 500 years ago.

For this year’s January hibernation, I found The King’s Pleasure A Novel of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. Apparently Wier has already written a book on each of the wives/queens perspectives, and this new book (published in 2023) is from the perspective of Henry.

Henry’s perspective, not surprisingly, does not make him more likeable.

I did thoroughly enjoy Weir’s story even though it contained too many political and religious details for my preference – I’m just here for the romance and marriages! It has me thinking back to the other interpretations of this story I have indulged in over the years.

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MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2023

December 1, 2023 /

Keeping my end-of-year tradition, I’m sharing my favorite books and most popular posts!

It wasn’t my most prolific year of reading or posting – I got tied up reading the epic Shantaran for several months (which I do recommend) – and I got out of the habit of posting on my blog, but I am going to try to do better next year.

Keep reading for my favorite five books published during 2023. These would be great gifts or for when you are able to relax during the holidays (does that actually happen?).

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This is how I remember the cover of the book I read several times at my grandparents' house. (But I don't have it, sadly)

RE-READING “THE GREATEST WAR NOVEL OF ALL TIME”

October 3, 2023 /

I was lucky to have a set of grandparents living in my college town, and I would often go over there for a night or more to study, relax, or just get away from my busy college scene. This was waaaaay before any of the electronic distractions we have now, and I remember reading one book from their collection multiple times while lounging on their living room couch:

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

When the movie came out last year (and was nominated for best picture!) I was reminded how that book absorbed me decades ago. I didn’t remember the specific details so much as the feeling of the book, which is written from a German’s perspective during WWI, that this war was horrible for all. I also remember the book being a quick read, possible in a weekend.

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THE EPIC BOOK I’VE BEEN READING SINCE SPRING BREAK

August 27, 2023 /
This photo was taken on a summer trip though I started reading this book on spring break!

At long last I can tell you about the epic book I’ve been reading since spring break using my crumpled boarding pass to Miami as a bookmark.

I read this work of art slowly because every page needed to be savored and understood. There were so many characters and so much to digest from the busy streets of Bombay where an Australian fugitive settles.

I read several other books in the meantime because I practice multibooking.

This book, now a favorite, is:

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

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