I read this on a recommendation from a colleague. It‘s told from the point of view of Rocky, an empty nester on her yearly family vacation. The family has rented the same beach cottage in Cape Cod for decades. Rocky reminisces about various years at the beach while intertwining the currentness of where the family is this particular week as the reader gets a sense of the family relationships and a peek inside their lives.

This is the story a mother and her three daughters who move back home to Syria from NY after the death of their father/husband, told through the eyes of the 12 yo. It‘s 2011 and the Syrian Civil war is beginning. Unsafe in their hometown, they travel through several countries in search of safety, following the path of a heroine in a story they are familiar with. I loved that it‘s an immigration story not set in America with alternating storylines.

#FoodandLit A little behind this month! I found a Bolivian restaurant about 40 min from me. I ordered beef saltenas, pupusas revuelitas and pork chicharron con yuca b/c they ate a lot of pork and yuca in the jungle. The book was good. Looking back it was a sad book after all the jungle adventures but I enjoyed it and was glad to see the main character‘s growth. Bolivia

Several people at work were reading this and telling me about it so I had to hop on the bandwagon. I wasn‘t sure about John Green writing nonfiction, but I loved everything about this. I learned a lot. It wasn‘t too long. Not only does he write well, he researches well. I highly recommend this read!

I thought the writing style was unique. This is a Covid story set in NYC with 9/11 still fresh with people who were affected. I thought this would be more of a mystery/suspense/thriller but it was actually about the people‘s lives during this time with a lot of background stories to fill the reader in. It‘s a quiet, character building story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I wasn‘t really interested in reading Snow‘s story but after reading Haymitch‘s story and the innuendos about Snow, I became more intrigued. I still don‘t like Snow. The characters in general didn‘t do much for me, but I liked learning more in detail about how the concept of the games began and I‘ve officially completed the series. My daughter skipped the series as a kid and is now reading them, so YAY!

I don‘t read a lot of rom-coms but I had acquired a copy of this, and I‘m hosting the senior book club this month for work in which the genre is Beach Reads, so I read Book Lovers. It was slow getting into, the banter annoyed me for some reason but I liked the character development, the bookish innuendos, and the ending. Overall it was a nice, light read and I‘m sure it‘ll get snatched up in the Little Free Library 📚

This was a great listen. It‘s broken into several essays, each by a separate author/journalist who digs into a part of the US Government to explain what the individual they interview does within the agency and what the agency does within the government. Living in the DC area, most people I know are government employees and each job description is vastly different and unique. Each author narrators his/her essay.

This isn‘t anything new, the story of a slave on an Alabama plantation just before the Civil War but it is really well written. I did like the twist of her sister in the bardo and the ending was bittersweet, not tied up with a perfect bow, but it leaves room for hope. Overall, a solid read.

I listened to this one and though it was terribly sad, I appreciated Haymitch‘s story. I want to read Snow‘s story now. I wasn‘t all that interested in it when it was first published but my curiosity has piqued after reading this one. I‘ll have to check in with my 6th grade neighbor who is currently reading this.

This is a super simplistic graphic novel, both in illustrations and wording, about the author and six other resisters they interview who have fought the Mountain Valley Pipeline for their own reasons. It was educational and a reminder to stand up and speak for your beliefs and what is right.

I had only read Bechdel‘s book Fun Home so I decided to pick up her new graphic novel, Spent. I loved the illustrations and story. Bechdel‘s life with some added fiction, I‘m guessing. I loved the colorful characters and their lifestyles in Vermont. I‘ll have to read more of her works and check out her comic strip in the future.

Set during the 80‘s NASA era, Joan is accepted into the space program. As she finds her footing at NASA she unexpectedly finds love along the way. From a kid who grew up in the 80‘s, I loved this one! I don‘t typically read a majority of one author‘s works, but I always seem to gravitate towards SJR new books ❤️

Peruvian born author, Mexican/American story. Isabel & Martin marry on Day of the Dead. On their wedding day, Martin‘s father, Omar, visits from the dead and continues to visit each year. The chapters alternate between present time and 1980‘s with Omar & Edna‘s border crossing and starting their life in Texas. Full of family dynamics, hardships, and secrets. Peruvian dinner includes 1/4 chicken, potatoes and fried plantains. #FoodandLit

This was a good read. Maddy, in her early 20‘s, is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and we learn about her manic and depressive states as she attempts to navigate through her moods. As a parent with a bipolar kid, I thought this was well researched and written though a bit over the top at times but in an engaging, bookish way.

The first book was not instant gratification with the world building and characters but I was intrigued by the concept and continued with book 2. I‘m so glad I stuck with it because this was so good, especially the twists at the end. I love where it‘s going with the magic, politics and relationships. Looking forward to book 3!

While I appreciated learning about JP Morgan‘s personal librarian, Bella da Costa Greene, and her rise to becoming an acclaimed art collector, I didn‘t love this read. I was kinda bored throughout the story. Maybe it was the writing. I am intrigued to do some googling on her, her father, Richard Greener, and I would like to visit the Pierpoint Morgan Library on my next trip to NYC. So overall it was a worthwhile read but not a love.

Whelp, after raising kids in the anxious generation, there are things I think I did really well with and things I‘d definitely change if I had a second chance. I hate the social media that is marketing to tweens and teens and the crap these kids go through. As a society, we for sure overprotect them in the real world and underprotect them online and I worry about the next generation growing up with AI. Ugh. Great read tho. It makes sense.

Greenland. I listened to Migrations from my TBR list. I found the jumping timeline a bit confusing at times but overall enjoyed bouncing around learning about Franny, her history and her family AND the ending was a surprise! Dinner was boiled cod with a mustard sauce that was ok and warm potato salad that was delish. Not sure I‘d enjoy their food traditions on the regular though. #Foodandlit

June‘s book club choice is a Greek mythology retelling from the perspective of Briseis, a Queen in Troy taken as a prize for Achilles towards the end of the Trojan war. I enjoyed learning about the war and time period and I think it‘ll make a fun discussion next week. This is the first of a trilogy so I may pick up the audio for the rest of the series.

This was a fun little novella that acts as a prequel to A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Connor invites the gang over for a murder mystery party and sparks the idea for Pip‘s senior Capstone project.

This book reminded me of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series but without the fun time travels aspect. There are several short, interconnecting stories, each from a different narrator and all having life changing experiences due to services they discover at the community library, giving my library loving heart all the feels. I did find the stories a bit boring though.

A graphic novel memoir that tells the tale of a parent with a mental health crisis, a messy divorce, a lot of religious beliefs and how one teen figures out his story and his beliefs. It was gut wrenching at times but ends with a feeling of satisfaction.

#foodandlit I‘m a week behind! I finished this book last weekend and went to a Bangladeshi restaurant for lunch today. I ordered lamb Biryani and it was delish. This book is an LGBTQ+ young adult book. It really dives into the Bangladeshi culture as Rukhsana felt torn between her cultures as an American born teen.

Wrapped up this excellent series on my evening dog walk. The audio is a full cast production and super fun. Of the three books, I liked this one the best though it was sooooo nerve racking.

I really enjoyed the way this story is told, something a little different with a lot of layers. It‘s about a major family tragedy and life afterwards. It‘s also historical fiction as we learn the story behind a piece of pottery that has been with a family for generations, from slave days to the present. I liked how everything was interwoven and how the reader gets different perspectives from various characters.

This was the perfect roadtrip book for a 4 hour drive! Melinda Gates talks about life changes, from going away to college, becoming a mother, losing a close friend and her divorce from Bill. Everyone experiences life changes and this book left me with things to think about and the motions of moving forward in life.

Set during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920‘s, this is the story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, a first to accomplish many things as black woman during this time period. She‘s strong and independent and I‘m curious to do some research on her. I have mixed feelings about her affair with W.E.B Du Bois and I‘m hoping my book club might be interested in this one as there‘s a lot to discuss.

May‘s book club book was a page turner! I don‘t read a ton of mystery and I loved how this story unfolds between Lizzy and Violet in different time periods. Also, the twist at the end was pretty awesome! And monsters! I read a physical copy but forgot to snap a pic 🙄

I was hoping to finish this over the weekend on a camping trip, but alas it didn‘t quite happen. I enjoyed Amy‘s views on birdwatching and love her inquisitiveness about their behavior. I‘ve started looking up in the trees more on walks and hikes and enjoyed falling asleep to the sound of the whippoorwills over the weekend. Tan‘s artwork is beautiful and I loved that she included her journal entries throughout the book.

This storytelling is fresh and creative! It‘s the stories of Harriet Tubman and friends through their eyes but in the current world. When Harriet calls on a music producer, Darnell Williams, they meet in a studio to write a broadway musical!
I love that Darnell refers to her as The Beyonce of the railroad. Definitely a different take on historical storytelling.

This was a YA recommendation from a friend. It‘s short but packs a lot of punch. It‘s the story of 15 yo Hoodie whose Orthodox Jewish community moves to a new area. It‘s about prejudices towards those unfamiliar to you. It‘s about being different and fitting in, and it‘s about questioning your beliefs and teachings. It‘s a timely, solid read, especially for high schoolers.

I am really enjoying this little YA series! Murder/missing people genre is not my go to genre but I‘ve been hooked on Pip and her sleuthing. I‘m looking forward to the next book. I love that the audio is a full narration production!

My daughter graduates in a few weeks and I just found out Isabel Wilkerson will be making the commencement speech! I‘m kinda fangirling right now 😆

I adored these vandwellers and their spirit and I‘m so fascinated about this lifestyle! I love the adventure and getting away from the materialisticness life has become. For many though, it‘s survival. I spent a lot of time googling Earthship, Amazon‘s CamperForce, Workampers and Quartzite Az. I wouldn‘t make it a week at Amazon during the holidays but working a state forest as a camp host is intriguing. This is really a fascinating read!

This is such an inspiring story of a boy in Malawi whose family can‘t afford to send him to school. He discovers the library and through research and trial and error, he builds a windmill in town to create electricity, starting with just one bulb so he could study at night. I‘ve had this book on my TBR for so many years! I‘m glad I finally read it ❤️

I finished this full production audio yesterday after a colleague recommended it to me and I‘ve already recommended it to two people! The second book is downloaded and ready to go (colleague said I HAVE to read all three!) Hoping to start book 2 at the end of the week. Mystery and YA are not my go to genres but this one had me hooked!

This was really a beautiful read and I‘m so glad I chose it for Rwanda.
It‘s the story of a family told between Immaculata and her daughter Blanche, about their life and relationships before, during and after the Rwandan genocide and what family, home and belonging means. I made a Rwandan beef stew that I found online and it was delish 😋 #foodandlit

I felt that this was more of a memoir than about the people he‘s met throughout life. I enjoyed hearing his stories, and learning about his family and friends. As an avid NPR listener, I would have liked more about people he‘s reported about and how they‘ve influenced him but overall I enjoyed getting to know Ari Shapiro.

My 23 yo son is in town and we partook in a roadtrip. This book became available on Libby and he likes the horror genre so we decided to listen. There‘s a lot of child birthing that I found awkward to be listening to w/ him, and it didn‘t have the humor his other books have but it was a great book and we both enjoyed it. Son says he‘s interested in checking out some more books by Hendrix. I suggested How to Sell a Haunted House next 🤣

When MZ sues to keep this from being promoted, I knew it was going to be a worthy read 🤣
This book hits on how out of touch the ultra wealthy are, how money and power change people and how dangerous FB has become in their role in politics from fake news to their algorithms. It sucks, but I do use it to keep in touch with people and learn new hobbies: up-cycling textiles, ball pythons, and sourdough bread making to name a few. Ugh.

#foodandlit I love Keegan‘s writing. Her stories are short and quiet but pack a lot of punch. This one is about a man named Furlong who grapples with his identity not knowing who his biological father is. It also weaves a storyline about the Magdalen laundries. Food wise I‘ve enjoyed a lot of Guinness and Jamison throughout the month and celebrated St Paddy‘s on vacay at the local pub in Estes Park with a reuben burger and chips. @Catsandbooks

Heartwarming stories aren‘t normally my jam but toss them in with time travel, and a coffee shop in Japan and I‘m in! I‘m not 100% sure I‘ll keep going with the others in the series but I have enjoyed the first two books.

What a fantastic read! I really enjoyed following along and learning about Dr Fauci‘s amazing career in infectious diseases. HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, Smallpox, Anthrax, Covid-19 to name a few and how he was always working to stay a step ahead of the next possible outbreak . My kiddo‘s going into the biology research field so I feel like this gave me a bit more insight into her future as well. Also, he narrates the audio. I find his voice comforting.

I‘ve been rearranging rooms in my house and purging stuff. I created a little reading nook and it makes my heart happy when I walk into the family room. I have not read a single book on this bookshelf 😂

This month‘s book club read. I was down to the wire to get this read so I alternated between the book and audio over the weekend. I enjoyed getting to learn through the AF (artificial friend) and the story has a lot to discuss with today‘s political climate and where we as a society are with technology. I think it will really engage discussion with the book club gals.

This one isn‘t getting a ton of love but I very much enjoyed the audiobook. It is a time travel book (my favorite!) that highlights two strong Mexican witches, Nena and her grandniece Marta. It‘s about family and love, though not perfect in any way, and I really liked the cultural aspect. I would have liked to know how Marta‘s case ended, but it really isn‘t important to the overall story. The ending made me smile.

This is a journalistic approach into the world of the wealthy, capitalism, and the ways the ultra wealthy evade paying taxes. I enjoyed the start of this but did get a little lost along the way. I still feel I learned quite a bit though. One thing that irked me is the author is female but the narrator for the audio was male.

I think I put this one in hold back in October for Native American month and just got around to reading it. Short, autobiographical story about grief and ways of the Ojibwe cultures. It‘s a sad one but I enjoyed it.

I originally listened to this when it was first published and just finished a reread of it for bookclub to refresh my memory. Whether you choose an audio or physical copy, it‘s a wonderful read.