My kids both have fall birthdays so we have moved through what I refer to as “the birthday season.”
When they were toddlers I started a tradition to begin celebrating as soon as they wake.
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After sitting in my bookcase for years this book surprised me!
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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When I heard the new Amor Towles book contained only “short stories” I was disappointed. I wanted another Gentleman in Moscow – though being one of my favorite books ever that is a lot to ask. (I haven’t watched the TV series yet because I would like to reread the book first. We shall see if I can hold out for that to happen…)
I’ve posted about two of Towles’ other books on this blog:
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Reading Friends: If we like the same types of books, you are going to want to read The Women.
First of all, it is by an author we have read before and loved, Kristin Hannah!
I probably don’t need to say more than that but I will…
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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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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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RE-READING “THE GREATEST WAR NOVEL OF ALL TIME”
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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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
Continue readingI love reading historical fiction set in places I’ve traveled!
Several years ago we stopped at Laguna Beach during an epic west coast summer road trip to Ashland (Oregon), the Redwoods, San Francisco, and Disneyland. As I obsessively planned this vacation, I kept adding stops, and I realized I didn’t want to miss out on seeing a beach! So I picked Laguna because it seemed artsy and low key.
Laguna Beach vacation -post from the archives!
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Cuba is a recurring theme on this blog; I definitely look at any book with this country in the title or description!
Today I’m writing about a book that was different than anything I’ve read before even though I’ve circled around similar topics, genres, and locations.