My 2020 Mid Way Reading Favorites

My favorite book of 2020 so far

I’ve read some great books in 2020 so far, but the one that I liked the best, the one that reminded me why Iove/need to read was Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. This book is truly unforgettable.

Best Re-read of 2020

I started The Stand on the beach last July, and finished it in February of this year, just before everything fell apart. It was a pretty weird experience to feel like I was living the Stephen King book I just read.

My favorite audiobook so far

This is another book from early this year. I really hope that after this mess is over we consider how our low wage workers are being treated, and how much we need them.

A great 2020 non-fiction read

This spring and summer it’s been all the books from and about the 60’s and 70’s that have appealed to me. Travels With Charley is one of those. I’s amazing to me how many battles we’re still fighting now that our parents were fighting then.

I’m nervous to see what the rest of this year brings, but I’m interested to see what turns my reading life will take. I wonder if any of these will be on my best of 2020 lists?

Walking Wednesday

Last week featured a quick trip to the mountains. I got used to the lower temperatures there, and now walking at home feels like walking through soup. Still going though!

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

We're Halfway There

We’re halfway through the year

We’re halfway there guys. While I gave up on my 2020 reading goals long, long ago I didn’t stop tracking and I’m surprised to say I’m not actually doing too bad.

This year I set three goals:

• Read 200 books (around 16 or 17 books a month) - So far I’ve read 102 books this year

• Read books that take place in 20 different countries - I’m at lucky 13 right now

• Read 20 new to me cookbooks and cook at least one recipe from each one - This has been the hardest one considering my lack of access to specialty ingredients, but I’m up to 6.

Of my 102 books 16 have been re-reads, 33 have been audiobooks, and 26 have been non-fiction. (Some of these categories overlap.)

I must admit that there are a lot of books I read in March and April that I barely remember. But around May I started loving books again. I never buy books, but this month I have been, probably more than I’ve been reading. Buying books from independent stores, books by BIPOC authors, and buying books that will give my kids something to do feels like a positive step I can take to help the world. So I’ve been going with it, and dropping them in local Little Free Libraries when I’m done. It’s part of my COVID-19 routine now. And this week my library opened again for curbside pickup. I got some of the books I put on hold in March, and while those books don’t appeal to me much now I was happy to see my library again. I hope they feel okay about working again, and that they feel protected.

On Friday I’ll tell you my favorite books of the year so far.

Rethinking Summer Reading Again

A few weeks ago I wasn’t in a mood for summer reading, but then I bought one book. And then I bought about 15 more. And now I’m in a summer reading mood again. This one is next up, but I’m also looking forward to all sorts of back list reading, the books I bought as part of #BlackoutBestSellerList, and some classics I’m reading as part of a buddy read. Bring on the backyard reading!

Walking Wednesday

After a long cold spring, it seems like summer is finally here. This is when my best walking starts!

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

REVIEW: American Moonshot by Douglas Brinkley

American Moonshot is a different look at the space race than I’m used to. From World War II until the assassination of President Kennedy so many things had to come together in order to give the moon landing momentum, and this book is a very detailed and interesting look at them. I’ve read many, many books about NASA in the 60’s, but never one that looked at the behind the scenes politics in the way this one did.

Readers should be aware that the astronauts never make it to the moon in this book. It wraps up right around the time Kennedy was assassinated. I did enjoy learning about all of the back channel negotiations that took place in the early years of NASA, but missed the payoff of the successful moon landing. I would recommend this to any NASA fan.

One of my favorite things to do every year is to listen to all of the nominees of the Audie Awards history/biography category. This year’s nominees were:

American Moonshot by Douglas Brinkley Narrated by Stephen Graybill, published by HarperAudio
The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, narrated by Scott Brick, published by Macmillan Audio
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep, narrated by Hillary Huber, published by Penguin Random House Audio
The Queen by Josh Levin, narrated by January LaVoy, published by Hachette Audio
Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense by Dan Abrams and David Fisher, narrated by Roger Wayne and Dan Abrams, published by Harlequin

REVIEW: The Earth Knows My Name: Food, Culture, and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic Americans by Patricia Klindienst

The Earth Knows My Name: Food, Culture, and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic Americans by Patricia Klindienst

I loved this book.

Inspired by an old photograph of her family Patricia Klindienst traveled the United States to explore how people use gardens to connect to their heritage. She visited gardens tended by Native Americans, refugees from Asia, Hispanics who followed Conquistadors to the Southwest, and descendants of African slaves on coastal islands. At each new garden Klindienst explores how people literally put down roots in their new homes by the gardens they grew.

I highly recommend this book for fans of Angelo Pellegrini and Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

Note: Links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday

I’m back on the walking bandwagon, and feeling better for it.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

June Show Us Your Books

25 year old beach chairs in heavy rotation here now that it’s summer.

In May I finally got my reading mojo back. I’ve been reading a lot this year, but because I felt like I should, not because I was particularly interested in anything. In May I got interested again.

I’ve been watching a lot more TV than usual as well, trying to make sense of what’s going on in the world. Local (Washington, DC) news had become something of a joke, but now seeing the reporters filming scenes live and broadcasting them has totally changed my opinion on them. There are so many awful and sad images coming out, but also images of hope and change. It’s been leading me to read a lot of books from and about the 1960’s.

Note: I’m trying to move away from using amazon.com affiliate links, and using bookshop.org instead. This is my first experiment. I miss the little pictures amazon gives you, but am having fun taking my own. Here’s my shop if anyone is interested. Definitely a work in progress.

The Best of May (And Maybe The Year)

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes - This novel about the Bravo Company, a unit of young Marines during the Vietnam War, is unforgettable. Karl Marlantes is a veteran himself, and the details he incorporated into this book were visceral and captivating.

Books About Travel and Other Means of Escape

All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth Church

The Good House by Ann Leary - Someone described this to me as unreliable narrator without all the murder which is a good and accurate description. I listened to this on audio and loved the pitch perfect Massachusetts accent.

All The Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth Church - Vegas show girls in the late 1960’s- loved it. Loved the descriptions of the costumes and the behind the scenes drama. (Trigger warning sexual and physical abuse)

Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck - In 1960 John Steinbeck took his dog Charley around the country in a motor home to reconnect with the American people. This book was surprisingly relevant: living life as the only Democrat in a family of Republicans, racial tensions, and good found in surprising places. A short book that was worth reading.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold - Mim Malone runs away from home in order to save her mother in Cleveland. I hated the father in this book, but loved the main character Mim and her little band of helpers she meets along the way.

Kids Books I Read To Keep My Mind Calm

My Daily Routine According To My Daughter

Anne of the Island by LM Mongomery - I’m reading one of these a month for a book club I’m in. This one I thought started out slow, but I loved the ending.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend - I started listening to this with my kids, and when they bailed I kept going. I quite enjoyed Morrigan and her adventures. Typical of books like this none of the grown ups ever tell the kids anything so they have to figure it out on their own.

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes - A sweet old-fashioned book reminiscent of The Five Little Peppers or The Railway Children.

REVIEW: In The Dark, Soft Earth by Frank Watson

In The Dark, Soft Earth by Frank Watson

I was thrilled to get a review copy of In The Dark, Soft Earth by Frank Watson from LibraryThing.

This collection bills itself as poetry of love, nature, spirituality, and dreams, and that’s exactly what you get. Frank Watson collection of mostly short poems transport you to another world, and the paintings that he paired with most poems are your ticket.

“on earth
we sometimes fly

in wind
we borrow wings

on sea
we sail or drown

and fire fuels it all

but in the pollution
of the elements

we burn”

— forture by Frank Watson

This stunning book is available on July 7th

Reading For Empathy

I haven’t written this week because I haven’t known what to say, but then it started to feel like by not saying anything I was also saying something. But really, I don’t know what to say. I only know that my friends, co-workers, and neighbors are in pain. That said I can always recommend a book.

Here are several books that I’ve read that have led to empathy and understanding for the situation happening in our country right now.

Note: Links here are affiliate links to amazon.com, but there are several lists going around right now of excellent black owned indie bookstores if you’d like to purchase any.

Walking Wednesday

Between the long weekend and a day of migraines that left me flat on my back I got almost no walking done let alone posting about it.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

REVIEW: Easy Chinese Cookbook by Chris Toy

My latest cooking experiment was from the Easy Chinese Cookbook by Chris Toy. We’ve been hungry for Chinese food, and looking for something to help take the place of our favorite local shop (closed due to COVID-19.)

I had a good time flipping through this book. It has a nice variety of approachable recipes. We decided to start with the homemade dumpling wrappers, and had so much fun! I didn’t think we could manage these, but between the three of us we got it done!

I recommend this book if you’re looking to try some of your take out favorites at home.

Note: This book was provided in exchange for a honest review by the publisher. Links are affiliate links with bookshop.org. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday

Another week of walking. It’s getting old to tell you the truth.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

REVIEW: Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown

Talk about finding the right book at the right time. I jumped right into this book as soon as I downloaded it from the library. I am in desperate need of simple recipes that I can make with the limited groceries available to me, and this cookbook didn’t disappoint.

I marked dozens of recipes to try, but started out with barley risotto since that’s what I had ingredients on hand for. It was really, really good! I can’t wait to try more from this book.

You can buy this book from the usual places, or get it from the library. However it’s also available as a free PDF download on Brown’s website!

Walking Wednesday

Now that the weather is getting better, and the hateful wind has stopped I’m really enjoying my walks.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

May Show Us Your Books

April shower + May flowers

Where the heck did this month go? Hard to believe time could go by so fast when I haven’t really been outside my house. I did read a whopping 19 books last month, so I guess my concentration issues are officially over. Here are some of my favorites from the month.

My Favorites

Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery - This book didn’t get great reviews, but the stuck alone dreaming of all the food I couldn’t have vibe was quite relatable. Sometimes you just find the right book at the right time, you know?

Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes - Another right book at the right time. This short verse YA book reminded me to take interest in what my kids are interested in, not just what I want them to be interested in. This was a super important lesson for this first time homeschooler.

Comfort Reads

Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maude Montgomery - Another Anne book, and I loved it just as much as the first. It’s been hard to keep myself to just one of these a month so I can stay on schedule with my buddy read!

Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary - I love, love, love listening to the Ramona books read by Stockard Channing. These were the first chapter books I read as a kid, and listening to one I hadn’t read before was like crawling under a warm blanket.

Devotions by Mary Oliver - Another right book at the right time- when there aren’t that many places to go beyond my backyard Mary Oliver’s poetry about the birds and other creatures in her yard were very soothing.

“And who will care, who will chide you if you wander away from wherever you are, to look for your soul?
Quickly, then, get up, put on your coat, leave your desk!”

— Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches by Mary Oliver

And Other Ways To Pass The Time

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner - This novel covered everything from the 1950’s to just before the 2016 election. At times it felt a bit like Weiner was trying too hard to fit everything in, but overall a good story.

The Lost Boys of London by Mary Lawrence - This was a good sit on the couch with tea mystery. See my full review here.

The Time Between by Karen White - I originally thought I would be reading this book on my vacation to Edisto Island, but since it was April 2020 I ended up reading it in my basement huddled under a blanket. Still, it would have made a good beach book- love story, cute kid, misunderstood family dynamics, etc. My only issue was that the male love interest who happened to be the main character’s boss thought nothing of giving her the day off to baby-sit his kid. There’s no way he could do that and not have full on office wide revolt.

I can’t wait to see what everyone else has been reading to pass the time!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Books and Breakfast

Like a lot of people I’ve been baking a lot. I love to get up on Sunday morning and enjoy a treat, a mug of tea, and a book while it’s still quiet. I thought it might be fun to share some of the goodies I’ve been making.

In all of these I had to make a few substitutions, leave something out, or added a bit of something I had a lot of because I can’t exactly just run to the store.

Sourdough pumpkin muffins

Ham & Cheese Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Rhubarb is going nuts in my garden, so I’ve been using that a lot in my treats. Some favorites are:

Rhubarb Snack Cake

Rhubarb Scones

I’ve also been enjoying just plain toast. It’s so good with butter and cinnamon isn’t it?

What have you been cooking lately?

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. In a fun twist this week my son and I took part in the #DoAGoodTurn 5k through the Boy Scouts. We just started walking around our neighborhood and stopped when we hit 5k. Everything I love about a 5k without all of the crowds, difficult parking, and loud DJs.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Summer Reading Lists Are Complicated

Usually this is my favorite part of the reading year. I absolutely love summer reading lists, and have been known to cancel plans when my favorites come out. But this year they’re barely on my radar. I just can’t bring myself to care about new books knowing that I’ll have a hard time getting my hands on any of them in the near future. I know my reading lists are small potatoes in the wider scheme of things, but this is just another example of how life has changed so much.