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SEPTEMBER 2021 READING RECAP

Hard to believe September is over and yikes, I only read two books. At least I thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

1. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, memoir. My son, Justin gifted me this book on our vacation this summer. Once I started, I could not put it down, but be warned it will tear at your emotions. Michelle’s description of being Korean American and some of the hurdles she has experienced have never been more pertinent. What really made this book a top read for me was the emotional story of Michelle and her mother’s relationship throughout their lives, sharing Korean dishes together that form lasting memories, and the impact her mother’s cancer treatments and death had on the her. Michelle Zauner is the singer and creative driver of the Indie Rock Band: Japanese Breakfast. Book Pairing Recommendation: Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichel

2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, historical fiction. The novel tells the story of the fictional Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who at age 79 decides to give a final interview with a young unknown journalist. According to the author, Evelyn Hugo's character is loosely based on a compilation of actresses Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth. From finding out who her one true love was till the reason why Evelyn choose the young unknown journalist to give her final interview the book kept me quite engaged. Book Pairing Recommendation: City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Happy Reading!! 📚☕️

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July 2021 Reading Recap

After a June reading slump here are my July reads. 📚☕️

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June 2021 Reading Recap

June 2021 was a very slow reading month for me. I'm blaming my new puppy, Arlo for extremely distracting my attention. Puppies are a handful, but his adoring eyes melt my heart every time.

1. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, historical fiction. This was another five star read from Kristin Hannah for me. Hannah seems to have two lanes she writes in: historical fiction and contemporary romance. I tend to love Hannah's historical fiction and could take or leave her contemporary romance novels. The Four Winds is a novel about the Dust Bowl and subsequent westward migration by drought-stricken farmers. It addresses themes of hardship, discrimination, economic inequality, and the American dream. Kristin Hannah has brought us another book with a great sense of place. I remember feeling so cold when I read The Great Alone, a story based in Alaska, likewise I could feel the dust and grit in The Four Winds. Book pairing recommendation: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

2. Beach Read by Emily Henry, romance. I needed a light book to get me threw this hot summer with a new puppy. Really not a romance reader and not quite sure why they titled this Beach Read because they barely where on a beach, but it was the ideal read to get me back in the reading game. The premise: A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Book pairing recommendation: The Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

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Recapping April 2021 Reads

I finished four books this month: two non-fiction and two fiction.

1.Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Maz, non-fiction, U.S. Church History. I did this book as my slow morning read because I wanted to take my time and digest this book's information.

2. The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline, historical fiction.

3. Come Fly The World: The Jet Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke, non- fiction.

4. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, WWII historical fiction.

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March 2021 Reading Recap

1. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, adventure fiction. This was my book club's read for March and I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and our discussion. An unforgettable story of four orphans who travel the Mississippi River on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. Hang in there through the heaviness of the beginning because you will be rewarded with endearing characters, beautiful writing and an unforgettable adventure.

2. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, suspense fiction. Listened to this one on my Hoopla app from my public library. A modern Jane Eyre remake that takes place in present day Birmingham, Alabama. If you like a quick, page turning, suspenseful book then this one is for you.

3. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez, romance fiction. This read came from my library's Libby app. I downloaded and read on my Kindle Paperwhite. (So thankful for this technology as my public library still hasn't fully opened.) Okay, now lets talk book- I actually didn't realize this was a second in a series until I finished. It really didn't seem to matter that I hadn't read the first book. I'm a sucker for cute dogs and music so I guess that's why I picked it up. If you like rom- com movies, then you should enjoy this book.

4. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, mystery/historical fiction. Listened to this one on my Hoopla app from my local library. Kind of wish I read this in print form because I think I would have been more attentive to the details. This dual timeline story takes place in 1790s and present day London, centering around a mysterious hidden apothecary shop and its effect on the lives of two troubled women.

5. Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson, humorous/historical fiction. This novel is set on a divorce ranch in Reno, Nevada in the 1930's as told by one of the ranch hands. Memorable quirky characters, clever dialogue, romance, and a surprise ending make this a truly pleasurable read.

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March 2021 Reading Recap

1. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, adventure fiction. This was my book club's read for March and I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and our discussion. An unforgettable story of four orphans who travel the Mississippi River on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. Hang in there through the heaviness of the beginning because you will be rewarded with endearing characters, beautiful writing and an unforgettable adventure.

2. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, suspense fiction. Listened to this one on my Hoopla app from my public library. A modern Jane Eyre remake that takes place in present day Birmingham, Alabama. If you like a quick, page turning, suspenseful book then this one is for you.

3. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez, romance fiction. This read came from my library's Libby app. I downloaded and read on my Kindle Paperwhite. (So thankful for this technology as my public library still hasn't fully opened.) Okay, now lets talk book- I actually didn't realize this was a second in a series until I finished. It really didn't seem to matter that I hadn't read the first book. I'm a sucker for cute dogs and music so I guess that's why I picked it up. If you like rom- com movies, then you should enjoy this book.

4. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, mystery/historical fiction. Listened to this one on my Hoopla app from my local library. Kind of wish I read this in print form because I think I would have been more attentive to the details. This dual timeline story takes place in 1790s and present day London, centering around a mysterious hidden apothecary shop and its effect on the lives of two troubled women.

5. Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson, humorous/historical fiction. This novel is set on a divorce ranch in Reno, Nevada in the 1930's as told by one of the ranch hands. Memorable quirky characters, clever dialogue, romance, and a surprise ending make this a truly pleasurable read.

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My February Reads 2021

1. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, non-fiction. This was my 5 star read this month and I'm sure it will end up on my top ten list of the year. I chose this book as my morning slow going non-fiction read. It's a book that I would suggest digesting in small bites. Just a lot to take in and learn from. Bottom line-Caste examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. Book pairing recommendation: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (I know fiction, but I think a great pairing for this.)

2. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis, historical mystery. My third Fiona Davis book. What you can count on in her books is that they always base the story around a famous address in New York City, they follow two story lines-one decades past and one in the near past, and they are always trying to uncover some mystery. The Lions of Fifth Avenue focus is the New York Public Library, where a series of book thefts roils this iconic place, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces. I thoroughly enjoy Fiona Davis's books, but I feel a need to intersperse them between several different genres before picking another one up. Book pairing recommendation: Any of Fiona Davis Novels

3. Dear Edward by Ann Nepolitano, coming of age story. This one had a lot of buzz last year and was even a Read With Jenna pick. I usually a line with her picks and this one did definitely keep me intrigued, but I felt the premise was a little bit too unbelievable. It tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills all of the other 191 passengers, including the protagonist's family. A tale of survivor guilt along with the weight of bizarre expectations from survivors' families all the while navigating your teen years after suffering such trauma. Book pairing recommendation: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

4. Redemption Point: A Crimson Lake Novel by Candice Fox, mystery/thriller. I didn't know this was a series when I choose it as an audio on my Hoopla app. This is the second in a three book series. You definitely do not have to read these in order. These books follow the twists and turns of a former police detective and accused, but not convicted criminal Ted Conkaffey and eccentric private investigator Amanda Pharrell, who is a convicted murderer as they team up to solve crimes in Queensland, Australia. Book pairing recommendation: Check out the Harriet Blue Series by James Patterson and Candice Fox.

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My February Reads 2021

1. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, non-fiction. This was my 5 star read this month and I'm sure it will end up on my top ten list of the year. I chose this book as my morning slow going non-fiction read. It's a book that I would suggest digesting in small bites. Just a lot to take in and learn from. Bottom line-Caste examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. Book pairing recommendation: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (I know fiction, but I think a great pairing for this.)

2. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis, historical mystery. My third Fiona Davis book. What you can count on in her books is that they always base the story around a famous address in New York City, they follow two story lines-one decades past and one in the near past, and they are always trying to uncover some mystery. The Lions of Fifth Avenue focus is the New York Public Library, where a series of book thefts roils this iconic place, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces. I thoroughly enjoy Fiona Davis's books, but I feel a need to intersperse them between several different genres before picking another one up. Book pairing recommendation: Any of Fiona Davis Novels

3. Dear Edward by Ann Nepolitano, coming of age story. This one had a lot of buzz last year and was even a Read With Jenna pick. I usually a line with her picks and this one did definitely keep me intrigued, but I felt the premise was a little bit too unbelievable. It tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills all of the other 191 passengers, including the protagonist's family. A tale of survivor guilt along with the weight of bizarre expectations from survivors' families all the while navigating your teen years after suffering such trauma. Book pairing recommendation: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

4. Redemption Point: A Crimson Lake Novel by Candice Fox, mystery/thriller. I didn't know this was a series when I choose it as an audio on my Hoopla app. This is the second in a three book series. You definitely do not have to read these in order. These books follow the twists and turns of a former police detective and accused, but not convicted criminal Ted Conkaffey and eccentric private investigator Amanda Pharrell, who is a convicted murderer as they team up to solve crimes in Queensland, Australia. Book pairing recommendation: Check out the Harriet Blue Series by James Patterson and Candice Fox.

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It has been a minute but here are my January 2021 Reads. My favorite this month was Wintering by Katherine May. Also Know My Name by Chanel Miller was very powerful and glad she shared her very hard story.

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I’m sure most of you can say that 2020 has been a hard year on many levels. The last couple of years I have chosen a different book to read through the Advent season that helps me focus on the anticipated arrival of baby Jesus on Christmas Day. This year I wanted a book that would not only come alongside the weariness this year has brought but also could breath a fresh perspective into my Advent.

This year, Honest Advent by Scott Erickson, is the book I choose. I think it will tick the boxes nicely for what I want to get out this year’s Advent season. Here’s the blurb from the back cover: Honest Advent seeks to illuminate the astonishing, hope-filled truth that the God who showed up in the hardest parts of our humanity is still showing up today in those same places.

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Independent Bookstore #13: Books Unlimited in Franklin, North Carolina

Covid 19 has definitely put a damper on my independent bookstore visits this year. I haven’t been to a bookstore or library since February needless to say I was very happy to see Books Unlimited in Franklin, North Carolina open when I visited this past weekend. Since November is National Native American Heritage Month, I choose There There by Tommy Orange for my purchase. There There is a multigenerational story about violence and recovery, memory and identity, and the beauty and despair woven into the history of a nation and its people. It tells the story of twelve characters, each of whom have private reasons for traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow.

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November’s Shelf Subscription: The Harpy by Megan Hunter

November’s Shelf Subscription was another surprise pick from Annie, the owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia. The verdict is still out for me on The Harpy by Megan Hunter. What this novel had going for it was it’s twisted plot and less than two hundred pages, however, I’m still scratching my head over the final pages.  Pick this read up if you would enjoy a dark revengeful fairy tale twisted with a modern day marriage story. 

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My October 2020 Reads

October came and went and I actually made my way through five books. 

1. When We Were The Kennedy’s: A Memoir from Mexico Maine by Monica Wood, memoir. Bought this one on a Kindle deal of the day and I had just finished And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Kennedy so I guess I had the Kennedy’s on my brain. When We Were the Kennedy’s is the story of how a family, a town, and then a nation mourns and finds the strength to move on. Book pairing recommendation: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

2. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Young Adult Fiction. This was a short three and a half hour listen on my Libby App and I would definitely recommend listening to this book. The book is written in a prose style and is narrated by the author, a well known poetry slam champion. Summary: A novel about finding your voice and standing up for what you believe in, no matter how hard it is to say. Brave, bold, beautifully written and spoken- deals with issues of race, feminism and faith. Book pairing recommendation: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

3. Greenwood by Michael Christie, historical fiction, family saga. Greenwood is an absorbing saga of family and trees and how they survive. This one will probably end up my top ten of the year because it had the perfect combination of some of my favorite things in a book- a complex family saga and trees. Book pairing recommendation: The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Power

4. Sea Wife by Amity Gage, literary thriller inspired by a real-life 2014 Coast Guard rescue. Blurb from The Bookshelf Thomasville: Sea Wife is told in gripping dual perspectives: Juliet's first person narration, after the journey, as she struggles to come to terms with the life-changing events that unfolded at sea, and Michael's captain's log, which provides a riveting, slow-motion account of these same inexorable events, a dialogue that reveals the fault lines created by personal history and political divisions. Book pairing recommendation: Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

5. Writers & Lovers by Lily King, literary fiction. Writers & Lovers follows Casey--a smart and achingly vulnerable protagonist--in the last days of a long youth, a time when every element of her life comes to a crisis. Written with King's trademark humor, heart, and intelligence, Writers & Lovers is a transfixing novel that explores the terrifying and exhilarating leap between the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another. Book pairing recommendation: Euphoria by Lily King

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Current Read: The Water Dancer by Ta- Neshisi Coates

The Water Dancer by Ta-Naehisi Coates is my book club’s October read. I had holds on the hardback, large print and audio version of this book at my local library for weeks. Finally a hardback copy became available late last week and now I’m scrambling to get this read before Wednesday’s meeting. Feels like I’m in school all over again, except I’m actually enjoying the story so far. Coates, an important essayist on race, makes his debut novel a mixture of historical fiction and magical realism. The Water Dancer is set during the era of slavery, follows a young black man who discovers that his memories trigger a mysterious power of teleportation that can help escaped slaves flee. Book pairing recommendation: The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead

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Currently Reading: Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Writers & Lovers by Lily King has been on the top of my To Be Read (TBR) list since its debut earlier this year. A couple of years ago, I read Ms. King’s Euphoria with my book club and absolutely loved it. It goes without saying, I was super excited to pick this read up today as A skip-the-line loan on my Libby App and quickly downloaded it on my Kindle. The only catch is I have two weeks to read it but if Writers & Lovers is anything like Euphoria then that shouldn’t be a problem. 

Writers & Lovers follows Casey--a smart and achingly vulnerable protagonist--in the last days of a long youth, a time when every element of her life comes to a crisis. Written with King's trademark humor, heart, and intelligence, Writers & Lovers is a transfixing novel that explores the terrifying and exhilarating leap between the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another.

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October’s Shelf Subscription: Just Like You by Nick Hornby

I can usually narrow down the book I would receive as my Shelf Subscription but this pick took me by surprise- a pleasant surprise. Nick Hornby has been an author I wanted to read since I saw the film adaptation of his book About a Boy years ago. 

Nick Hornby’s new release, Just Like You brims with social commentary about Brexit, race, class and cultural capital, the company we keep and what draws us to others. This seems fitting as we are deep in our own country's upcoming election and grappling with similar issues that this crazy year has brought us.

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My September 2020 Reads

September was a fairly good reading month for me. As it happens, I listened to three books on my Libby App, read one on my Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed reading two physical books.

Books I listened to:

1. The Other Women by Sandie Jones, fiction, domestic thriller. Let’s just say this one was a good one to listen to as I was cleaning the house. Pretty predictable, but a thriller seems perfect for fall reading.  When Emily meets Adam, she thinks she's found the one - but it's not long before another woman tries to ruin their relationship. And folks...that woman is HIS MOTHER - well maybe?? Book pairing recommendation: The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth.

2. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, fiction, friendship fiction. This novel is a story of two best friends, their friendship and the love, loss and hope they experienced. Another good light listen for when you have house cleaning or another mundane task going on. Book pairing recommendation: The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo.

3. My Vanishing Country by Bakari Sellers, African American History. This one I couldn’t stop listening to. I think this was due to where Bakari Sellers grew up which was very close to where my husband was raised in South Carolina. Couldn’t of summed this book up any better than Amazon did-  Part memoir, part historical and cultural analysis, My Vanishing Country is an eye-opening journey through the South's past, present, and future. Book pairing recommendation: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

My Kindle read:

4.  And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton, historical fiction. This historical fiction novel is based on the life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. I was extremely young when John F. Kennedy was assassinated so really didn’t know much about the happenings of this time. Although I always thought Jackie O was classy, stylish and somehow had to be a strong woman in order to have endured so much heartache in her life. So if you’re interested in a rare behind the scenes account of the former First Lady’s life I suggest adding this one to your TBR list. Book pairing recommendation: Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story by Barbara Leaming

Physical books read:

5. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, literary fiction. A couple of years ago my book club read Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel Homecoming and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m thankful to The Bookshelf Thomasville for sending this title for my September Shelf Subscription. Not sure if I would have picked this one out because several authors’ sophomore releases have disappointed me in the past. That definitely isn’t the case here. I loved Transcendent Kingdom even more than Homecoming. Here’s a short summary from The Bookshelf’s website- Transcendent Kingdom is a deeply moving portrait of a family of Ghanaian immigrants ravaged by depression and addiction and grief--a novel about faith, science, religion, love. Book pairing recommendation: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

6. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Hispanic American Literature. My book club’s September read was The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros as a nod to one of our member’s Latinx heritage. Coincidentally, September was also Hispanic Heritage Month. The author, Sandra Cisneros uses a series of vignettes to tell the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become. Book pairing recommendation: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez