Fascinating passage in this chapter on anabiotic organisms like mosses and waterbears. They can be desiccated for years and reanimated by a bit of water. The wonders of the natural microscopic world!

My breakfast companions. ☕️

The tagged book isn‘t a breezy read. It takes a bit to settle into and requires concentration.

A bag of books & tea. 😁 👌🏾

The natural world from afar appears so idyllic. It‘s easy to forget the brutal reality.

5⭐️ This was such an uncomfortable read that I could not stop reading it! I had to know how the story resolved. Contemporary world, but with a set of adult twins who do not live a modern mainstream lifestyle. I cannot say why without spoiling the plot.

Totally compulsive!

Confession - I ordered all of Fuller‘s backlist before I even finished this one. 😆

I have a sneaking suspicion I‘m going to go on a Claire Fuller buying binge. 🤞🏾🤞🏾I hope so! I‘m halfway through and I love her writing.

Every life lived is a story. This one is a quiet reflection of an American midwestern woman‘s life with the attending joys, sorrows, and transitions we all experience.

I can appreciate the comparison to “Stoner”, but it didn‘t resonate as deeply for me. Some of the passages seemed a bit contrived or incongruent.

If you have read any of Ted Kooser‘s poetry 💜 it is reminiscent in that what is ordinary or plain can also be beautiful.

Next up! I heard Russell Gray compare this to Williams‘ “Stoner”, so I have to check it out. I hope I‘m not disappointed. 🤞🏾

Welp! 😳 That was not the romp I was expecting, much better in fact. The period setting & penetrating examination of character and motivation within upper class circles reminds me of Wharton. 💜

I‘m surprised with the ending!

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub
@Ruthiella @batsy @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @erzascarletbookgasm @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @catebutler @BookNAround @elkeOriginal @sarahbellum @SamanthaMarie

I‘m giving this a pick for the poetry of the writing and need for awareness about the lives of migrant domestic workers.

My nitpick is how s l o w l y the narrative plods along. Sorry! I feel squeamish typing that because Lefteri has such beautiful writing voice.

What a first chapter! Amazing writing. Totally sucked in.

First recipe made from this tome - Apple Coffee Cake - and it‘s delicious! I made it for my husband‘s birthday tomorrow, though as you can see it‘s making a debut today. 😂

If you make this in a glass pan, bake at 350F, not 375. Also, I didn‘t layer it (why bother?) and I misread the recipe adding WAY more cinnamon, but it‘s so tasty! 😋

Patterson has the formula down! If you are looking for an 8-12ish read, my daughter gives it 👍🏾👍🏾.

She‘s liked a few of his other books too and hopes they become a long lived series.

Ha! So true. Imagine what Eliot would have to say about weddings today! 😅 #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

If I have to go back to work, at least I can have some books to keep me company. 😢

Beautiful writing with interesting ideas to ponder! Echoing other reviews, the end is puzzling in that there isn‘t much in the way of tying up loose ends. That‘s okay, if it‘s what Lohrey intended. Otherwise I‘m a bit lost in the labyrinth. 😉 Presumably Erica the MC was restored to herself by it.

46% into the audio and bailing. I just can‘t do overwrought sentimentality. It could very well be the narration. Plus, the plot is moving too slowly to keep me hooked. But, if you are looking for a relatable pandemic story, this will be familiar.

Took a chance and ordered these books by Keegan before I read Small Things Like These. 🤞🏾

Happy Xmas gift card cookbooks! The NY Times is a door stop. 😅

I almost bailed halfway through because the brutality is awful, but the climax was worth it. The writing is superb, yet it seemed Howarth didn‘t want the story to end so the final couple of chapters felt like tag alongs.

Reads like an American western of the same period - racism and all. Bigotry wears the same face.

I love this kind of dry wit! 😏 #furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Thank you for the reminder! @Ruthiella I‘ll kick off the morning with a few minutes of Cecil.

Excellent start to the reading year! I love novellas because they require such precision.

This is a moving story about making a difference in life, one individual at a time. I appreciated how she captured an unsettling, unidentifiable feeling and propelled the story/character along with it.

Based on descriptions of Keegan‘s writing, I took a chance before reading this one and ordered 3 of her other books! 🤞🏾

Hahaha 😆

Hoping to just sit here for a hot minute!

Can you see the cat & dog? 🥳 This is how we‘re celebrating! Husband and I won‘t make it to midnight.🥱😴

Wishing everyone a healthy, peaceful, and 5⭐️ book filled 2022!

😜 Truth!

The upside of Zoom is not having to travel to meetings.

Example illustration.

My reluctant reader was attracted to this 30th anniversary edition of Hatchet - I NEVER say no to books!

He‘d only agree to a pic if I included Family Guy. 🙄

This edition is really neat. Leather like cover and beautiful pencil illustrations!

Happy day! 👏🏾 Found this at my local indie after dropping off that boatload of kids‘ books. They are going toward a school teacher fund/program, so I‘m pleased.

Anyway, anything East African catches my eye. I‘ve never read this author so I‘m eagerly anticipating this short novel.

Loved it! Tore through the audio!

I think it will resonate most with Minnesotans first and then Americans, because of the Minneapolis setting and Floyd connection. But, everyone will relate to the recount of the pandemic.

As a contemporary account, I‘m a little surprised there wasn‘t more about the chaos of the presidential election included. Erdrich carefully skirts political commentary.

Reminder of the sh*tshow 2020-21 has been!

This is one of those internal squeal of delight books! While I appreciate the beauty of Ottolenghi‘s other cookbooks, many of the ingredients are not easy to find in my town. But this one is intentionally pared down to make use of the pantry, fridge, and freezer. 👏🏾 Thanks to the pandemic.

Any cookbook that makes use of Berbere has my attention. 😄 (Tip: Easy to find online and will last long in the freezer.)

11 year old was “meh” on this title.

Hence it‘s in the donate pile. 12 garbage sacks of kids books! Had a nice cull session with both kids yesterday. Feels good! Now I have to bribe them to schlep them into the car. 😏

This was a fun satisfying romp of a mystery! Quick listen.

Ack - the “crime” that gets the ball rolling! 😜 Erdrich has a good sense of humor. As always, she has such personable quirky characters.

Here you go @EvieBee

Artery clogging deliciousness!!!

My family tradition - 4 cheese lasagne for Xmas dinner! Sooooo tasty 😋

I dispatched my other Smith cookbooks because of the controversy surrounding him, but this one I couldn‘t because I use a handful of the recipes for Xmas dinner. 😐

Finally starting this one! The intro and first essay are engaging and right up my alley. There is humor and appreciation for the realities of nature, as well as our dreams of it.

The above quote holds true of American prairies as well.

First leisurely morning in 2 months. Ahhhhhhh ☺️

Picking this up where I left off, a chapter a day.

I‘m in the minority here. I think my brain is just too taxed right now to appreciate it. Definitely imaginative writing though!

I shouldn‘t be surprised because I thought Jonathan Strange was so-so as well.

Current listen.

Wow, great writing and character devo, but incredibly slow going!

Not a rave review, but this was an enjoyable enough historical fiction mystery on audio. I wouldn‘t say it‘s subtle writing though - a tad overdrawn in parts. I did like how the story wrapped up, which has to be the most difficult part of a novel to write!

Last assigned reading of the session. As important as economic behavior is, it bores me to tears. 😭

Started this on audio and the tension/mystery is already intriguing in chapter 6. Something isn‘t quite right. 🧐

This was a good listen since it was sort of conversational in tone, but I would have been bored with it in print. It would be something to dip in & out of rather than read straight through. I was wishing he had written more about the books he enjoys, but alas he doesn‘t get much time to read. (Sounds familiar.☹️)

I‘d like to visit Wigtown!

I now have an even greater appreciation for the positive impact birth control has on women‘s lives! 😌

It‘s gingerbread time!

Mrs. Claus has been out shopping for her stocking stuffer. 😉

Multitasking in the car. Not my favorite read. 🧐

There were some interesting tidbits about the colonization of the Americas. One was the native agricultural products were not “esteemed” by the English or Europeans. How ironic given the corn & potato & tomato production and consumption in the modern world. I read elsewhere China is the largest consumer of potatoes, followed by India & US. 😲