Page 18 of 29

‘The Room on Rue Amelie’ – new WWII fiction

April 12, 2018 /

It’s been awhile since I have been able to recommend new WWII fiction, but I just finished and enjoyed this new book by Kristin Harmel: The Room on Rue Amélie.

I have read A LOT of WWII historical fiction and keep a running list of the books in that genre that I recommend.

For better or worse depending on what type of books you prefer, Harmel’s new book is lighter reading than many of those in my list referenced above; it reads more like a romance, but its plot and themes are deeper being set in a turbulent and horrific time.

‘The World of Tomorrow’ is good for patient readers

April 6, 2018 /

As I finish up my Fall & Winter reading list, I can add The World of Tomorrow by Brendan Mathews to the books I would recommend. But this book I recommend only to patient readers.

This is an ambitious book. It starts in Ireland where two brothers ‘accidently’ steal a ton of money from the IRA. In disguise, they sail to New York where their other brother lives and set up camp in the ritzy Plaza hotel, living the high life off the bags of money. But soon we find out someone from their past is on their tail. The setting – on a micro level -includes the jazz joints of Harlem and the World’s Fair and all levels of New York society.

Though I got off to a slow start with this book and getting the background on all the characters was a bit exhausting, by the end I was fully invested in the characters and enjoyed all the places I had been taken.

‘Bachelor Nation’ – yes I’m part of it

March 29, 2018 /

I have watched literally every season of The Bachelor and The Bachlorette. And Bachelor in Paradise, which is my favorite of them all!!

These shows are my Monday night pleasure, and I am not going to call it a “guilty pleasure” because I no longer – somewhat thanks to this new book, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, feel guilty about it!

Why do I – someone who obviously reads and watches more intellectual works – watch this show? I think it’s a curiosity about human nature. Even with the understanding of producer manipulation and editing (both which are highlighted in this book I’m going to review today) I love watching how people act and relate to each other. Thanks to DVR I can turn a 2-hour show into a manageable 1+ hours. (Or the 3 hour episodes – which my husband complains about – into a manageable and fabulously enjoyable 2 hours.)

So when I heard about the newest book about this popular TV franchise, Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, I knew I had to read it.

‘Behind Her Eyes’ – you shouldn’t read this book, but…please do

March 23, 2018 /

I just finished a book that kept my attention for sure Behind Her Eyes: A Suspenseful Psychological Thriller– by Sarah Pinborough.

In fact, I have been hiding from my family and my responsibilities here at home to finish it, and I just finished it…

But now I’m annoyed. The ending is just too much for me to take. I did appreciate the suspense and most of the narrative techniques used, but I just hated how the ending left me feeling. Ugh.

So now I’m telling you not to read this…except I want you to read it so we can discuss this horrible ending. Ha!!!

Five reasons why book signings are better than concerts

March 20, 2018 /

The last time I left a book signing, I felt invigorated, inspired, and more excited about the artist’s work. It was like how I feel after a concert!!

This got me thinking about how book signings and concerts are similar…and in some ways, book signings are even better!

Most books signings – at least the ones I have been to — follow a simple format: The author gives a short talk, takes questions from the audience, then he or she goes to a table and waits for a line of people to come through with their books.

I went to two book events last year — Viet Thanh Nguyen and Jamie Ford – and they were both awesome.I ended up liking the authors (in person) even more than I expected. They were both funny and truly entertaining.

Here are some reasons I think book signings/events may be even better than concerts:

The Glass Castle movie – I changed my mind about watching it

March 19, 2018 /

A couple of weeks ago I was telling someone (now I can’t remember who this was) how I watched all the films nominated for best picture. This person (maybe the woman I was speaking to at the alignment shop?) said, well did you see The Glass Castle?

I said no, I hadn’t.

I had just recently read the book last year. And I liked it so much I decided that I just couldn’t see the movie after all, even though I finally read the book so I could see the movie…

But with a few months separating myself from that reading experience, I decided to – based on her recommendation – give the movie a try after all.

Now I wish I could remember who this was and thank this woman! Because yes, this is a great movie and IT DOES do the book justice.

“The Immortalists” is fantastic!

March 17, 2018 /

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin might be my favorite book of the year thus far.

This book is based on a creepy concept: In 1969 New York City, four siblings (ages 7-13) visit a traveling psychic who tells them the date they will die.

The book follows this family for the next five decades – to see how these propechies play out.

What is destiny and what is choice?

Drawdown and what the normal person can do to reverse global warming

March 10, 2018 /

A couple of months ago I almost pushed “share” on – yet another – cataclysmic warning about the future of our planet due to global warming.

But instead, I decided to (attempt to) help with the solution rather than spreading more fear (even though the fear is valid).

So I researched books about global warming and found this one: Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, which is both critically and scientifically acclaimed.

This is a very long and intensely detailed book. Although it reads mostly in layman terms it is just not something the normal person would read, and honestly I have been “reading” it for several months. (I am soooo sick of seeing it on my goodreads “reading now” list.) I now owe $40+ to the library for a “lost book fine” which they will waive when I return it after I finally write this post.

So here on my blog I wanted to talk about this (super long and detailed) book and recommend some more read-able books to help with what surprised me as the most highly rated way to “drawdown” carbon. HINT: It involves food!!

Goodnight Moon (spotted on This is Us)

March 8, 2018 /

This week’s “This is Us” featured the children’s book Goodnight Moon.

I, like many parents, read this book hundreds of times over several years. Seeing it on this show made me happy and sad (like everything on this show, right??) – sad because it has been years since I read Goodnight Moon but happy that I shared this experience with all the parents on this show (and real people around the world) across generations who have also read this book to their children at night. My copy of this book says 60th anniversary, and we’ve had it for about 10 years now!!

This post will take much less investigation than my previous book sighting on this show because I actually have this book in my bookcase though it hasn’t been off the shelf in years.

My thoughts on all 9 best picture nominations!

March 3, 2018 /

I am usually reading, but at the beginning of each year I set a goal to see all of the Academy-nominated “best pictures.”

I REALLY enjoy this challenge. I see such a diverse selection of movies (and get to have opinions on them). It makes Oscar Night much more fun for me!

In this post I’m going to name my favorites (there are two!!) and talk a little about all the nine nominated films. I include no spoilers (I want you to enjoy these movies for yourself) only some inside jokes or quotes from the movies.

I also added some “thoughts from Jeremy” which are tidbits from my husband (when applicable); we rarely watch & enjoy the same types of movies, but his reflections are often amusing to me (and admittedly accurate).

Disclaimer: I am not a movie critic; I am just a normal person who watched all of these films!!!

Leslie's Bookcase

Page 18 of 29

‘The Room on Rue Amelie’ – new WWII fiction

‘The World of Tomorrow’ is good for patient readers

‘Bachelor Nation’ – yes I’m part of it

‘Behind Her Eyes’ – you shouldn’t read this book, but…please do

Five reasons why book signings are better than concerts

The Glass Castle movie – I changed my mind about watching it

“The Immortalists” is fantastic!

Drawdown and what the normal person can do to reverse global warming

Goodnight Moon (spotted on This is Us)

My thoughts on all 9 best picture nominations!

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