Thursday, October 22, 2020

A Few for You

 


Enola Holmes for the Win!!
Watched Enola Holmes on Netflix and LOVED IT!!!
Did you know it was a young adult mystery series?
The six installments by Nancy Springer will delight readers of all ages.
Start with The Case of the Missing Marquess, finish with 
The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye.
Wish she had written more.


Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

Historical fiction of how the greatest Christmas story of all time 
came to be written.  Mostly fiction, but with a lot of true facts to make
it super interesting.  Be sure to read the author's notes at the end!


Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

I think Allie Brosh is a brilliant comedic writer.  She has also been 
through A LOT.  If you want to laugh, read this.  Also read 
if you need some perspective.  Either way, please read.










Monday, October 5, 2020

Baby, It Is NOT Cold Outside.

 Fall may be officially here, but it's hot as blazes in San Diego. Whatever the weather reading is always in season, so try curling up with one of these.


My daughter gave me Death in Provence by Serena Kent. Loved it, and was so happy to find a sequel, Death in Avignon. Made me want to hop on a plane to France.  Ate a croissant instead.


Of Mutts and Men by Spencer Quinn

One of my favorite series.  Bernie and Chet rock!


Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Finally got to this one. Funny and heartbreaking at the same time.


The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  Read now.


Honolulu by Alan Brennert

Couldn't go to Hawaii. Almost the next best thing. Also, Molokai by Brennert is fantastic.


Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Issacson

Da Vinci was a true genius.  The book is long.  Still, worth the read.


All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny

One of my favorite authors.  One of her best!  

Au Revoir for now...TBC



Tuesday, July 21, 2020

When All Else Fails, Take a Vacation - Betty Williams (If THAT Fails, Read a Book)

Some books to help escape this reality.


The Corfu Trilogy, etc. by Gerald Durrell

My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives
and The Garden of the Gods tell the story of the Durrell family's 
 life in Corfu from 1935 to 1939.  Told through the eyes of youngest son and budding naturalist Gerry, these laugh-out-loud funny and completely charming memoirs will leave you wanting more.  Which you can get as he wrote about 40 books.  Menagerie Manor tells some of his 
adventures establishing the Jersey Zoo, and The Durrells of Corfu by Michael Haag 
gives a closer look at the real Durrells, how they came to Corfu and where they went when 
WWII ended their Greek Island Life.  If you can, watch "The Durrells in Corfu" on PBS Masterpiece.
We loved every minute of that binge!


The Veronica Speedwell Mysteries
by Deanna Raybourn

In Victorian England at the end of the 19th century, scientist and butterfly expert Veronica Speedwell  along with her super hot partner/pirate-in-crime take on the bad guys in this delightful series.
I read the first four in a flash, but I'm waiting for the fifth to come out in paperback. The sixth is 
coming  in 2021.


The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Good story telling, but it gave me nightmares. A little too Southern Gothic for me.

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
I always love a good Agatha Christie-ish plot!

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
Very interesting and based on a real event.

The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Short stories of the lives of Vietnam refugees mostly in Southern California.
Written by a USC professor who was a refugee himself and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his 
debut novel The Sympathizer.  Fight On!!

The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe
Illuminating and entertaining.  You can't go wrong with anything Mike Rowe.
Based on his podcast.

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
The true story of an American woman who effectively ran the French Resistance of Lyon 
during WWII. Oh, and she had one leg. Read and be amazed by her accomplishments.

Count your blessings and read more books!

TBC










Friday, March 27, 2020

Quarantitles


Books for making time fly.


The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Love, love, love.  Read this first.


A Better Man by Louise Penny

Another terrific addition to the Inspector Gamache series.


The King's Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal

Serial killers don't let war stop them, but Maggie Hope will.


You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Ladies, you can't change him, so don't be surprised when things go south.
A cautionary tale that's now a series on HBO. (The Undoing)



To the Land of Long Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith

We need a little Mma Ramotswe right now:)



What the Heart Remembers by Debra Ginsberg

A page-turner set in San Diego and written by a San Diegan!
Say "hello"to Debra at Diesel Books in the Del Mar Highlands.
(When we're set free, that is!! Until then give them a call to order books for
curbside pick up: 858-925-7078  dieselbookstore.com. )



Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

An incredible true story about Li's escape from abject poverty through ballet.
Nothing going on here now could ever compare, so count your blessings.



An Old Man's Game by Andy Weinberger

Loved this book!  A mystery set in my daughter's old neighborhood, and in the
apartment complex where she lived.  Hope he writes another.



The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden

A fabulous series based on Russia fairytales.  Appropriately dark and brooding,
but with plenty of light at the end.  Great characters and atmosphere.



English Creek by Ivan Doig

The first book in his Montana Trilogy.  Set in the 1930's, it will transport you
back to the childhood of the narrator.  Love Ivan Doig



Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich

Just for fun!  Hasn't disappointed 26 times over.