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

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.

"I Think I Need More Bookshelves" Is Probably Not a Smart Thing to Say to My Husband

But it's the truth!

The Garden of Small Beginnings

Other People's Houses

AND

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill 

ALL by Abbi Waxman

I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO INCLUDE NINA HILL!!!!
All of her books are terrific, but The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is by far the most hilarious
book I've read in ages.  Especially if you've had any experience living in Los Angeles.
Give her a try, but read Nina first and get ready to lol all over yourself and anyone sitting/standing/sleeping near you.

The Widow Clicquot by Tilar Mazzeo

"The story of a champagne empire and the woman who built it."
Tilar's words, not mine.  Interesting...would make a cool gift with a bottle of the Veuve.

The Peppermint Tea Chronicles by Alexander McCall Smith

Another gem by one of my favorites.  Sweet Bertie is also my favorite.

The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland

Will make you think twice before booking a cruise, especially with family.

Bad Day at the Vulture Club by Vaseem Khan

Give me a mystery in Mumbai any day.

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig

This was a friend's recommendation, (thanks, Karen!), and what a find.
A story of rural Montana in 1909, a season of one-room schools, comets
and whistling housekeepers. Ivan Doig is a treasure.

Life with Jeeves and Leave It to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse

Classics.  Read if you haven't.  Thank me later.

The Man in the White Linen Suit by David Handler

Love me some Stewart Hoag and his basset hound Lulu.  So will you!

The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess

Bad behavior in the 1980's publishing world. A good beach read:)

The Second-Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith

Seriously, how can one man write so many good books?
It's not normal, but that's okay by me.

Book Math

Too many books read + not enough time to write =

A photo of the stack I've read and no real reviews.

However...

although I'd definitely recommend them all, read

Daisy Jones and the Six NOW.  Also, loved 

The Alice Network and Next Year in Havana.

That is all. 

TBC

Everything from A to...Y

A is for Alibi to Y is for Yesterday

by Sue Grafton

(With Kinsey and Me thrown in for good measure)

Beginning in 1982, with the last book published in 2017, Sue Grafton created a brilliant detective and a fantastic series. Reading all of the books in a short period of time and in order truly shines a light on her genius.  She died before Z, and I will miss her. 

I Will Remember You...

If I write it down.  

Just posting the books I've read lately so I can remember what I read!

Not a ton of commentary this round.

The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear

Just received in the mail Wednesday and finished last night.

Favorite author and character.

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

Another favorite!!  Love everything she's written.

Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich

Another great read to keep us laughing:)

The Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

Inspector Gamache does it again.  

Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford

A classic English comedy...parts are still relevant today and parts no longer hold up, 

but still enjoyed  her prose.

The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley

Oh my heart, I love Flavia and Alan Bradley.

The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield by Kathy Cooperman

A fun story set in my hometown by a local author:)

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

Another moldy oldie...Rosemary Quiros, you would love this one!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Pure genius.  Everyone should read this book.  

Until next time...TBC

Just One More

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

I knew nothing about the history between Korea and Japan, until now.  The story of three generations of Korean immigrants in Japan, history comes alive through her amazing characters.  Most of the people I know are far removed from this sort of struggle, which continues today.  It is fascinating and humbling, and I was very sad to come to the end of this book.  Read soon!!