Category: For Fun (Page 1 of 5)

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.

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL BOOKS

June 23, 2022 /

I want to share my favorite travel books. These are the books I browse through over and over to plan and dream about vacations.

If you read this blog often you already know that I love planning vacations. And because the actual vacation usually includes driving and/or flying, and relaxing, vacations and BOOKS go so well together.

BEST OF 2021 – FAVORITE BOOKS & MOST POPULAR POSTS

December 29, 2021 /

Towards the end of 2021 I ran into some reading blocks and didn’t recommend any new books for a couple of months. At that point I was feeling a bit let down about the year’s reading UNTIL I looked back over my posts from earlier in the year and remembered I did read a lot of really good books.

Here are my favorite books published (and links to posts about them) in 2021 in no particular order:

‘THE LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST’

July 30, 2020 /

I’m excited to tell you about a new book by an author who has quickly become a favorite of mine. First, because she writes about locations that I love. And secondly, because she tells great stories within a context of history and culture.

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

I’ve written before about how I love Key West and have even taken my kids there. So although the title would have piqued my interest anyway, this is the third book I have enjoyed by Chanel Cleeton, the first two being set in Cuba, another of the defining destinations of my life.

‘ANOTHER WOMAN’S HUSBAND’

May 13, 2020 /

I dislike the title of this book I’m going to recommend because (I feel) it incorrectly characterizes the genre and story. Though there is certainly infidelity in this book; it is based on two well-known scandals related to the British Monarchy:

Another Woman’s Husband: A Novel by Gill Paul

The book, in a dual timeline, ties together two women who “rocked the crown” in British history: Princess Diana (the modern day part of the story is based around her death) and the relationship between Wallis Simpson and the Prince of Wales that led to him abdicating the throne.

‘MODERN LOVE’

April 17, 2020 /

Years ago I stumbled across a column in the New York Times, Modern Love. It’s a weekly submission about some aspect of “love,” how people met, how they broke up, but also other aspects of relationships, having kids, etc. I haven’t kept up with this column fully over the years, but I always thoroughly enjoyed these stories, which came from who I thought were regular people. Well, now I realize they are not necessarily regular people, but more on this later…

"Welcome to Key West" says the bumper sticker.

KEY WEST WITH KIDS

October 23, 2019 /

I’ve been to Key West before, so I know it’s not considered a family vacation spot. However, we were all going to be in Florida anyway, and I’ve been missing my favorite quirky island. Who knows when I would be so close again??

So we took our kids to Key West!

We found a lot to do there as a family. The kids complained it was “too much walking” and “too much stuff for adults.” Ha, yes, have to agree there. But we (all) still had a great time!

Here’s what we did in Key West with kids:

ODE TO MY CD COLLECTION – also in my bookcases

September 6, 2019 /

This is a companion post to one from my archives: Ode to vinyl records.

In an effort to declutter and minimize, I have been going through my house: selling, tossing, and donating. This week, I ended up staring at the bookcase that held my CD collection.

Like many people, I have not listened to an actual CD for years…but going through my collection renewed my appreciation for my CDs. Because these CDs were really important to me at really important times in my life.

‘THE CUBAN AFFAIR’

August 20, 2019 /

I picked up The Cuban Affair: A Novel by Nelson DeMille because I was eagerly anticipating a cruise to its settings (Key West & Cuba).

Mac, a 35-year-old veteran has settled in Key West as a fishing boat captain. When he is approached by an anti-Castro group to charter his boat to Cuba for a dangerous mission under the guise of a fishing tournament, Mac accepts the job with the hopes of earning $3 Million for his trouble.

This book is set during the “Cuban Thaw” (2014 or 2015) when America was relaxing its restrictions related to Cuba. But between the time I picked up this book and actually read it, my own travel plans suddenly changed due to President Trump’s policy reversal that Americans can no longer travel to Cuba.

‘CITY OF GIRLS’

July 25, 2019 /

I recently picked the perfect vacation read! It was: City of Girls: A Novel by Elizabeth Gilbert.

What makes the perfect vacation read? For me, it is a book that passes the time during travel but still tempts me to pick it up when I could just as easily sit and watch the waves roll in. Also, I need some substance; my perfect “beach reads” are not mindless.

This new book by the author of Eat, Pray, Love is set during 1940s New York, in the theatre district. This was especially fun for me since I just read another book with similar setting.

Vivian is 19 and has recently been kicked out of college. Not knowing what to do, her affluent parents send her to New York to stay with her aunt who runs a midtown theater. Vivian quickly gets another kind of education.

Category: For Fun (Page 1 of 5)

INDULGING IN THE STORIES OF HENRY VIII & THE SIX WIVES

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL BOOKS

BEST OF 2021 – FAVORITE BOOKS & MOST POPULAR POSTS

‘THE LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST’

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

‘ANOTHER WOMAN’S HUSBAND’

Another Woman’s Husband: A Novel by Gill Paul

‘MODERN LOVE’

KEY WEST WITH KIDS

ODE TO MY CD COLLECTION – also in my bookcases

‘THE CUBAN AFFAIR’

‘CITY OF GIRLS’

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