On My Nightstand June 4, 2023

How is June going for everyone? We’re in the last two weeks of end of school year messiness. Seems like every day it’s a new party or activity to prep for. It’s all fun stuff once we get there, but there’s a lot of logistics involved!

Have a great week everyone.

Quote of the week

“The best things that happen in life rarely make good sense.”

— The Coal Tattoo by Silas House

What I’m Reading This Week

Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid - Loving this short book set in the Caribbean so far. I will probably find someplace to hide on this busy day so that I can finish it in peace.

The Not-Quite States of America by Doug Mack - I’m reading this for my work book club, and it’s pretty good. It’s about the US territories - part history and part travelog.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese - I love this audiobook so much. It’s really long and I’m glad because I don’t want it to ever end.

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

Show Us Your Books November 2021

October was a good solid reading month. Nothing blew me away, but I was completely entertained by everything I read.

Four Stars

Where The Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass - I absolutely loved this retelling of Jane Austen‘s Persuasion set in Tobago. It was a perfect mix of homage to a classic and modern themes. The narrator was excellent as well.

State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny - This was an enjoyable mystery/thriller with all sorts of twists and turns. There were several times when the fact that it was written by Hillary Clinton with all her inside knowledge took me out of the story, but overall I enjoyed the ride. I LOVED the cameos from Three Pines (Louise Penny’s mystery series.)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - From what I‘ve heard about this book I was nervous I wouldn‘t like it, but the story really worked for me. I think if I said more it would spoil it, but I do recommend this one.

Three Stars

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict - This book was good. You think it‘s one thing and then you get to the end and realize it‘s something else. Recommend.

Faithful Place by Tana French - This was my favorite of the series so far. The characters were so flawed but you could relate to them.

A Star For Mrs. Blake by April Smith - Historical fiction about the gold star mothers who went to see their sons‘ graves in France between the world wars. Likable characters living a subject I didn’t know much about.

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

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Show Us Your Books January 2021

Goofball cats

December feels like a million years ago, but here are my favorite books from the month of December 2020.

Best of the Month

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — I loved this book. I stayed up half the night and read it just to see what happened. I thought it would be a fluffy December romance, but it turned out to be about friendship and the cost of perfection.

Five Star Christmas Reads

Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson -- I absolutely loved this book of short stories, recipes, and essays. It’s really hard to explain, but it’s worth reading.

How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny -- My favorite book from my favorite series. It takes place around Christmas time, which adds to my annual December re-read.

Four More Worth Reading

Two Old Women by Velma Wallis -- I read about this thanks to the Show Us Your Books link up! This is the Alaskan legend of how two elder women survived after they were abandoned by their people. Old ladies for the win- you should read this one!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo -- I feel like I’m the last person on Earth to have read this, but I’ll add to the chorus that it was really good.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan -- A wonderful memoir about motherhood and life in the 90’s. I read this before, but it’s totally different now that my kids are a little older.

Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon -- Based on the true story of Nancy Wake aka WWII‘s Socialite Spy. I really enjoyed this book, and was inspired by Nancy. I‘ll have to add more by Ariel Lawhon to my TBR.

Linked to: Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit

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