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MY FOUR BOOK VACATION

July 19, 2021 /

I’m pausing my travel posts to tell you about the four books I read on vacation.

Due to the nature of the vacation, I brought three different types of books: 1) Library book – don’t want to take to pool, so this was mainly for passenger seat reading 2) Kindle version to read at night, to not keep lights on that bother others and 3) older paperbacks I can take to the pool.

I was able to read a lot in all of these circumstances, especially since we drove around 20 hours each direction. So I’m sharing four book recommendations (two are older books and two are newer releases):

A view from the famous Durango - Silverton railroad trip.

FAMILY FUN IN DURANGO & SILVERTON COLORADO

July 11, 2021 /

This post is number 2 in a series of 3 about my family’s summer vacation. My other hobby besides reading is planning vacations. Click here to read about our first stop, Mesa Verde National Park.

Durango, Colorado was a fun stop between the two National Parks we visited this summer. It’s a vibrant and beautiful former mining hub with so much to do!

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

July 2, 2021 /

This is #1 of a 3-part travel series on my family’s summer vacation, on which I also read 4 books!

Mesa Verde National Park is a lesser visited national park, which was fine by me with some of the other national parks getting slammed with visitors this summer.

Located in Southwest Colorado, Mesa Verde -also a World Heritage site – is the only U.S. national park that focuses on culture; its lands include hundreds of cliff dwellings where the Pueblo people made their homes hundreds of years ago. Many of these dwellings can be viewed and even walked through. It is incredible to think of the skill and construction that went into these and especially because the dwellings have lasted so long.

This park also has jaw dropping views but the dwellings and other historical artifacts provided something “extra” especially for my kids who can only appreciate scenery for so long.

Prior to visiting, I was confused about how to approach this park, so hopefully I can explain some things here to help you maximize your own trip if you decide to go – and you should!

NEW BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER

June 16, 2021 /

Here’s a quick list of the new releases I’m looking forward to reading this summer. Many from favorite authors, lots of WWII fiction (of course) but I’m also headed back to Moscow and Havana. Read with me!

‘THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON’

June 14, 2021 /

My newest recommendation is WWII historical fiction set around a bookshop in London during the Blitz:

The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II

TWO NEW BOOKS I LOVED

June 4, 2021 /

I wanted to tell you about two new books I especially enjoyed:

Selfie with my beloved bookcases before I sold that house.

THE TIME I BOUGHT A HOUSE FOR ITS BOOKCASES

May 16, 2021 /

In 2005, I had no business buying a house. But I felt like that was the next logical step to make me into a responsible adult.

Much like today, the market was hot. Houses were overpriced, and you had to get an offer in immediately or the house wouldn’t be available the next day.

I strongly considered a house in another part of town. But they declined my offer. When I drive by that house, even today, I wonder how my life would have turned out differently if they had accepted my offer. Because I’m so glad they didn’t.

The book I meant to take on vacation; I ended up downloading it.

RE-READING A FAVORITE

April 7, 2021 /

Before our recent trip to St. Augustine, Florida, America’s oldest city, I searched for historical fiction set there. One of my favorite books of all time kept coming up:

The Age Of Innocence by Edith Wharton

It has been several years since I first read this (in my early 20s?) so I was happy to have an excuse for a re-read.

I forgot my hard copy but was able to download on Libby, which is tied to my local library. If you aren’t using this app, check it out!

This post contains spoilers. If you haven’t read this book, please do and come back to my post later!

ST. AUGUSTINE!

March 28, 2021 /

After visiting Jamestowne last summer, I became interested in the even earlier Spanish settlement of St. Augustine, Florida, “America’s oldest city.”

My family enjoys traveling to historical places, and I love the beach, especially the Atlantic, so I expected this would be a great spring break destination for us. The famous city also checked the fishing (my husband) and ghost tour boxes. We stayed at the perfect campground, and there was so much to do in the area we could fill up several more trips with activities. St. Augustine exceeded our expectations!

We traveled in our motorhome, and I realized I had never been in Georgia before, having always flown to Florida and therefore never had the “experience” of driving through Atlanta…I’m not sure how soon we’ll be doing that again!

The pretty gold specks on the inside covers of The Four Winds.

KRISTIN HANNAH DOES IT AGAIN!

March 7, 2021 /

Once again Kristin Hannah has written an engrossing book that takes us to a difficult place and time alongside a strong female character. This new book may actually be my favorite by her:

The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

The initial setting is Texas during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. But when this environment truly becomes unsafe for her family, Elsa takes her kids to California looking for a better life. But so is everyone else! As refugees pour into California, their life is not much better there with the rough conditions, low wages, and prejudices against them.

Leslie's Bookcase

Page 5 of 29

MY FOUR BOOK VACATION

FAMILY FUN IN DURANGO & SILVERTON COLORADO

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

NEW BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER

‘THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON’

The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II

TWO NEW BOOKS I LOVED

THE TIME I BOUGHT A HOUSE FOR ITS BOOKCASES

RE-READING A FAVORITE

ST. AUGUSTINE!

KRISTIN HANNAH DOES IT AGAIN!

The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

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