Got out the Halloween books and this is my favorite. 👻 💙

It‘s so sweet, but I‘ve always wondered what happens to Georgie when the Whittaker‘s pass on? Does he keep the time for all subsequent homeowners too?

Up next! Looking forward to this one given all of the love it has received. 💙

These short stories didn‘t hold up to my expectations. Perhaps it was just my mood, but most struck me as melancholic.

The writing is good and the foodie in me enjoyed all of the Korean fare described. The so-so rating is because memoir is a genre I rarely enjoy unless the author‘s experience is exceptional. Too often it feels like therapy. I read this was originally an essay and I think it is likely better suited to that form.

I will say Zauner does capture the complicated nature of parent-child relationships and caring for a loved one actively dying.

Never in the 34 years we‘ve been married has my husband asked me to make pot roast. Probably because it was weekly fare when he was growing up. Now out of the blue he has a craving. Maybe the sudden fall temps?

I thought I‘d see what the 50‘s Betty recommended and the horseradish is appealing! 😋 I‘m not crazy about plain meat & potatoes.

This was delicious last night and leftovers will be even better tonight! Super quick too - even with having used dried beans I cooked in the Instant Pot.

After a month of fiddling, my daughter finally figured this one out by accident. 😜

Perfect for the season! I predict another will be in her Xmas stocking.

I‘m very much appreciating all of our modern home conveniences. 😊

A collection of vignettes which provides an interesting glimpse onto the manor estate, a lifestyle no longer sustainable after WWII. #furrowedmiddlebrowclub

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @MrsK @batsy @quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM @catebutler @elkeOriginal @jlhammar @Sparklemn

This has all of the elements you would expect from a cozy mystery. It makes for a nice listen at night in bed. 👍🏾 I‘ve placed a hold on #2.

My only nitpick is the budding romance. Why must authors in this genre position every MC in the path of love? 🤔 I can see all of the scenarios from here already.

Looking forward to dinner tonight! 😋 This book has so many recipes I‘m anxious to try.

I finally have time to join the book club at my workplace. Woot! This is the selection next month. I‘m not too keen on memoirs, but I‘m going to give it a go.🤞🏾

Definite fan of Claire Keegan! I‘ve only listened to the tagged collection and read Small Things like These, but I‘m going to gobble up anything else she has written. Very engaging and intimate characterization. I‘m going to keep my eyes peeled for the tagged book in print.

This is for @AlaMich 😁

Mostly black & white photos and brown/rust shaded drawings throughout. Must have been quite the modern thing in 1950!

Caucasian representation, no surprise there.

Pic 2

Threadbare!

Pic #1

All of you know how I 💜 cookbooks, but I‘m not really a vintage collector given my cuisine preferences nor am I overly sentimental about them. However, I saw this one in an antique store today and it was obviously so well loved by a home cook I couldn‘t bear to leave it homeless. Rarely do I find a lonely object that calls to me.

Definitely was an unsustainable lifestyle in the post war era. It‘s fascinating really to think how these estates had been nearly independent communities & economies, all with their own cast of characters & peculiarities.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Just listened to the first short story of this collection and what a fabulous beginning to what I suspect is going to be a trove of delights!

I started this audio a couple of days ago and it has some Gone Girl vibes. I wonder if I‘m going to feel a need for a shower afterwards? 🙃

Thus far it‘s entertaining enough to hold my attention, so that‘s a plus.

Oh my gosh - I get to read a #furrowedmiddlebrowclub selection without the looming cloud of prospective coursework. Pure bliss! 👏🏾

My recent book acquisitions. 😊

I‘ve been savoring the short stories in Sunstroke and I‘ve long wanted to read the tagged title because A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is favorite. 💜

I went into Half Price today looking for Dodie Smith‘s New Moon from the Old and nada. 😞

Trust me, dinner is always on Cricket‘s mind. 😸

Yet another winner for tasty and easy meal ideas! Nearly all perfect for me.

When am I going to learn not to browse the new cookbook section at the library? When? 🤔🤔

Dreary day good for reading and knitting - after returning/exchanging kids‘ school clothes. We‘re in that stage. 😅

Great read! A collector of anything will relate to these essays. You don‘t have to be a knitter. 🧶

When you‘ve tabbed over half a library cookbook, it‘s best to get your own copy. 😍

Narrow pick. The setting is unusual and characters strong, but it does not have a narrative drive so the storyline meanders. I suppose because it‘s written memoir style that can be expected.

I‘ve been bailing left and right on audiobooks! I nearly didn‘t finish this one. 😬

Yes! 📚📚📚📚🧶🧶🧶🧶😊

Yes please!

@Christine you are right, terrific book! This is why I have been avoiding library cookbooks. 😬 😅

I discovered the knitting section of my library, so I‘ve added to my cookbook checkouts. The first title was made for me! 😜

I swore off cookbooks because inevitably I end up finding one I *must* buy. So much for that resolution.

Substitute the word reader for knitter and book for yarn. 😄 Spot on!

Because there is a book for everything…..I picked this up yesterday at JoAnn‘s. An experienced knitter will see I messed up the rib stiching on the brim of this maybe hat. Why is it I can never seem to get the right stitches and right number in?! 🫤 Although it kinda looks like a happy accident. I‘m going with Bob Ross on this one.

I‘ve noticed unless it‘s a large city, if there is a big box craft store there are no small indie yarn shops. ☹️

Hadley‘s writing is lush and luxuriant! Don‘t expect a plot here, the entire novel is character development. They aren‘t all likable, but they aren‘t horrid either. Normal complicated people.
.
I ordered a collection of her short stories! 😊

😂😂 Book stashers will get a kick out of this title!

Slow, but loving the character studies. Hadley‘s prose is lush! Another English countryside. 😄

I‘m only 20% in, but I put all of Hadley‘s collected short stories in my Abe cart. 😙 She is a new find for me.

For my new found obsession! 🧶

It isn‘t the only reason I‘ve been MIA from Litsy. I‘m halfway through a master‘s capstone seminar I started last month, so I‘ve been occupied. Light at the end of the tunnel! 😅

Like @batsy I didn‘t fall in love with this novel. I enjoyed the English countryside and house, and even the characters, but it felt too transparent (dare I say preachy?) in its anti-war & hate message. I give it a pass for being a novel of its time.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @catebutler @Jess_Read_This @Ruthiella @Kimzey @quietjenn @erzascarletbookgasm

I found in the penultimate chapter I just didn‘t care anymore and bailed. 😒 It was too long and drawn out for me. 🤷🏾‍♀️

A bit of prophetic idealism? 🤔 🫣

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Soft pick. Can anyone explain why the author to the end uses “X” in place of the name of the mental illness? 🤔 I‘m not sure why after the diagnosis.

Oh my, loving this understated writing! So lovely and disquieting at the same time. #furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Give to Planned Parenthood if you have the means.

Not spectacular, but was nonetheless entertaining enough to keep my attention. Everyone is at fault in this sordid story, except for the children. But that is too often the messy reality of relationships.

Feeling thankful for reform laws and women‘s rights.

Starting the tagged novel, which is supposed to be a juicy Victorian London gossip. I really have enjoyed Donaghue‘s other writing so I‘m hoping it‘s equally entertaining.

It is a far cry from my environs, which is one of my happy places in western Nebraska. My campsite reading view. 😊 Picture perfect weather; really it‘s hard to remember a more ideal day.

Mrs. Palfrey & coterie at the Claremont reveal how our fundamental natures do not change with age. We carry on with all of our unflattering penchants for jealousies, prejudices, rivalries, pride, etc.

Interesting Hofmann writes about the pairing theme in the novel, yet ultimately death is a solitary passage. And we certainly cannot die in the Claremont! 😉

Pic is of the prairie, one of my favorite landscapes. Very green this year!

Definitely an ambitious novel. I appreciated the depth of character development and multiple timelines. Timely messaging re: save the planet, but it isn‘t subtle and in that respect was a bit tedious. (Also some unrealistic scenes were distracting and took me out of the novel.)

I‘m a tough customer; maybe it‘s the genre. This is out of my wheelhouse.

Library hold came in! 👏🏾

Truthfully I‘m procrastinating by starting this one. I‘ve discovered over the years I really dislike packing for vacation. I‘d much rather unpack!

I‘m feeling disappointed our favorite camping area is closed due to flooding. It‘s our happy place and this will be the 3rd summer we miss it. #firstworldproblem I keep telling myself we‘ll find new wonderful places.

She reports reading a graphic novel isn‘t really “reading”, as in the chore of reading a chapter book.

Someday she‘ll be a convert.

Started this audio in the last couple of days and then woke up to this story. 😳 A little too close for comfort….

Entertaining & easy listening. I could have had far more from Marcellus in the narrative! 🐙I loved the entry where he cuts to the chase. 😆

That aside, the subject of captive wild animals makes my moral compass quiver.

The one thing I never say say “no” to buying. 😁 More to come! My daughter was excited to learn this was a series.

Calling on Litsy knitters! I am trying to learn how to knit. So far I‘ve just been watching YouTube tutorials (what isn‘t on YouTube??). Do you have any outstanding recommendations for beginner knitting books or should I stick to the videos? 🧶