A big reading week for me. I am in the middle of The Postcard, by Anne Berest. It is the story of a French woman, Jewish but totally non-practicing, who embarks on a quest to discover what happened to her relatives who died in the concentration camps. The first half is the story of their lives; the second part is about the detective work she and her mother did to find out about them. It is, of course, very emotional and sad, but absolutely compelling. The narrator has to confront her lack of religion in the process. I believe that it is a true story. This was recently translated and published, so it may be hard to locate. My library had it on Hoopla.

Sorry to those who loved it, but I gave This is Happiness a try and am dropping it. I'm too impatient or in the wrong frame of mind to read and enjoy it. Maybe at some other time. The pace is just to slow for me. But if you like to savor a well written story that unfolds pin pleat by pin pleat, you may enjoy it.

I'm onto Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis and am enjoying it very much so far. Unfortunately I won't be able to join the book group on our meeting night to discuss it.

Bookwoman, i agree that A.j. Fikry was not as good as Tomorrow. A touching story but a bit of a stretch. I enjoyedit, though .

End Your Carb Confusion by Dr. Eric Westman and Amy Berger. Keto without the crazy as Amy says. I have lost 64 pounds since September by following Dr Westman's Keto Made Simple programme and have received personal advice from Amy who is a Nutritionist. Easiest way of losing weight without having to exercise which I couldn't do because of my back. I wish I had done it sooner and it is not just a weight loss diet. By eating low carb you can reverse Type 2 diabetes and get off your medication, same for blood pressure and other metabolic diseases.

I’ve been listening to “A Quiet Life: a Novel,” by Ethan Joelle. It’s a story centered around three parallel characters, each with their own life struggles: a widower grieving the loss of his wife to cancer, a young woman trying t find her compass again after her fathers murder, and a young mother whose ex-husband has left town for parts unknown with their five-year-old daughter. The story lines eventually converge. Really enjoying it -it is particularly well narrated as an audio book.

I enjoyed A.J. Fikry. especially since I am very familiar where it takes place.The movie was actually filmed not too far from my home and have always loved the funky bookstore where it was filmed .Actually the book was better than the movie, but got a kick out of seeing the local spots on film. I loved Foster, Small things Like These, Walk the Blue Fields and currently waiting for Antarctica from the library. Thank you for whoever posted about books.

Just finished Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis. What what a life she's led. The book was quite compelling. It was for book group but unfortunately, I won't be able to make the meeting. I give it 4 stars.

I finished the audiobook version of It's Always Something written and performed by Gilda Radner, who describes her diagnosis and treatment for ovarian cancer. Tragically, her symptoms were first brushed off by doctors as being caused by depression or other ailment. I greatly admire Radner for her bravery and openness in sharing her journey and being a cautionary tale for women to be aware of this often difficult to detect disease. 5 stars.

I am in the middle of The Rabbit Hutch, by Tess Gunty. It won the National Book Award last year. It's about people living in a run-down housing project in a town that has seen better days. It did not grab me the first time I took it out of the library, but I decided to give it a second shot, and it is really worth it.

I just finished Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen. I really enjoyed this book and would give it a 4.5. I wasn't crazy about the end. I am now reading The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice. Only about 30 pages in.

I'm just finishing up Celia Rees' Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook. It's a much-better-written-than-usual story of women in postwar Europe, some of them spies for the UK, attempting to navigate the new Cold War and dealing with the ravages of a defeated Germany. (Look up 'Operation Paperclip' for one strand of the plot.)

That time period is one of my favorites to read about, in fiction and non-, probably because both of my parents (who didn't yet know each other) were there at various times in the late '40s. The book seems quite historically and culturally accurate.

I have - great book.

I'm having to spread apart the pages of a badly bound 1920 collection of "Novels and Tales' of Henry James. What a master! The contrast between his (very long) foreword and his work is interesting. The foreword rambles on and on, but the novels have such economy of words.

The urban legend when I was in college was that at some point in his life, Henry James stopped hand-writing his own work and started dictating it to someone else to record. At that point, and I believe it was during The Princess Casimassima, he began using longer sentences with lots of comma stops, because he was using his brain differently. I don't know if that's really true--but it's amazing what I remember from a long time ago, even though I couldn't tell you what I had for dinner last Tuesday!

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. I have mentioned this book before and now that I've finished it again, can't help but repeat that's a wonderful, delicious read!

Well, I've not had a great run lately. I read ( as in I read the words and pages in the book) Shipping News. Here is yet another Pulitzer Prize winner that doesn't do much for me. It was an interesting story line, and parts were entertaining but that's about it. I would give it 2.5 stars. I did not read it for a book club. I somehow saw it listed and it seemed like a good one that I might have missed. Oh well.

I then started Pale Fire (by Nabakov) for a book club. It does get very good ratings and (yes this matters) it's under 300 pages. I really was struggling with it and kept waiting for it to draw me in or be more normal but that did not happen. I may have to pick it up again and give another try.

I started Take My Hand for another book club, and thankfully, this is an interesting story, told well, and it's drawing me in. I'm only about 15% into it but it's pretty effortless reading.

Commenting on prior posts above---

I'm glad you tried and liked The Shell Seekers, Chisue.

I read Harry's Tree's a few years ago and see it mentioned from time to time, all very positive comments. I thought it was ok, but did not love it.

I read It's Always Something a few years ago and loved it. I absolutely adored Gilda Radner. If you have a chance to see "love, Gilda" you will enjoy it as well.

I'm prying apart the too tightly bound pages of a volume of Henry James' novels and 'tales' as he pokes fun at Americans abroad.

I've lined up Ordinary Grace, William Kent Kreuger, and a John Hart story, The King of Lies.

Also The Bright Book of Life, Harold Bloom, subtitled "Novels to Read and Reread". Daunting!

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. After the TV show, I bought it and it took me awhile, but it's excellent.

I've been sucked in by the internet in the last several years and want to get back to reading, so thank you for this!

I just finished West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge, which I enjoyed. It is fiction based on a true story that took place in 1938 about a pair of giraffes that survived a hurricane coming to the US. The book creates the story of their traveling from the east coast to San Diego Zoo. Its a coming of age story and I enjoyed the quirky characters. At times it felt a bit repetitive, but I give it a 3 1/2 stars.

Just finished The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. It was a quick read...what I'd consider to be a good summer read. Interesting premise, goes down easily. I'd give it 3+ stars but not enough meat for book group.

Up next for book group, Lessons in Chemistry which I'm looking forward to reading.

Happy Bloomsday to all those observing. About 30 years ago, DH was a purchasing agent, and one of his vendors was also a supplier to the Rosenbach Collection in Philadelphia, where the handwritten Ulysses manuscript resides. We planned to take the kids down there to see the sights, and the vendor arranged for the Rosenbach to let us in before the museum opened. The curator took the entire manuscript out of the box, and there it was..."Stately, plump Buck Mulligan..." all the way to "yes I said yes". I told the girls to remember the day forever. DD1 does--she went on to be a Greek and Latin major in college. The other one says "What?" No matter. It will always be one of my favorite moments.

I have had a friend since high school and we were like peas in a pod. The best of times! After we grew up, we found less in common. Lately, she's been trying to get people to read with her. Something she didn't do in high school or University, but she's stuck with this for a couple of years. I told her I would read with her if she wanted. We're in different states now, so she was hesitant, but we've started. She gave me a list and the one I could find at the library is The London House. So far, I like the story (which is a great counter point to another book I've read Lives on Borrowed Time), the imagery, and her writing style.

I know it has been mentioned a couple of times but I can't recommend Demon Copperhead enough ... it has now won both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Women's Prize for Fiction and I have heard talk/predictions that it will also take the Booker for a full sweep.

Not sure if I have said this here before but I had pre-ordered it and put off reading it for months because I feared it would be too heavy and dark. While it does address some heavy and horrific topics, I found the spirit of resilience kept it from taking me into a dark spiral. I think it is important and topical.. but also a great reading experience. Just my opinion..

I recently started Siren Queen by Nghi Vo .. I had only read one of her novellas until now and though I am barely into it (on Chapter 6), I am loving the writing and story. I am told it includes some pretty steamy scenes -- not usually my jam in a novel -- but so far I am really loving it. It is fantasy/historical fiction centering on old Hollywood. From the summary:

Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page.

I also recently finished a Lady Hardcastle mystery -- I've read 4 to date and I really enjoy them as fillers. If I don't know what I want to read next, I pick one up to fill in. Set in the late 1800s, Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid Flo (both spies in a prior life) solve the many murders that come to their small town. I love the characters and the fun banter -- so much more enjoyable than the vast majority of cozy mysteries. Historical Fiction and Mysteries don't always work for me-- but I really do enjoy them.

I'm reading Lynette Eason, The first one drew me in so I checked out all our library has. You don't want to stop reading.

I readOh William by Elizabeth Strout and enjoyed it so i decided to go back and read Olive Kittridge. What a downer of a book. Good writing but it certainly isnt uplifting in any way. Going to put it aside. Trying This Is Happiness instead.

oh I really liked This is Happiness. I am getting pretty tired ofr Strout.

Silly me, I opened Ordinary Grace and DH said, "DIdn't we both read that?" Uh-huh.

On to The King of Liars, which I'm liking despite some clumsy writing. Good plot.

funkyart -- Those Lady Hardcastle books sound like comfy mysteries. Yes?

Anyone read the Supper Club Mysteries?

Yes, absolutely. Lady Hardcastle mysteries are cozy mysteries.. but they are not as cutesy and twee as so many other cozy mystery series. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

I finished something wonderful! The Lost Lady, by Willa Cather. It's the story about an older woman, told by a narrator who admire and pities her at the same time. She is defiant of conventions. If I had to describe it, I would say it reminded me of The Great Gatsby. I plan to revisit more of Cather's works--it's her 150th birth anniversary.

I am pleased to report that Take My Hand did continue to be a wonderful read. I think it will make for an excellent book club discussion, and it was just a very worthwhile read. It is historical fiction, pretty well done, based on a case on sterilization. The characters and story were based on what happened, but of course, some liberties were taken. Overall though, I thought it was really well done and very thought provoking.

4.5 stars for me.

Is it considered cheating if I'm listening to a book, rather than reading it? I am at the wheel for at least 2 hours every weekday and audiobooks help me keep my sanity.

Last week I finished listening to "Kindred" by Octavia E. Butler. I really did enjoy it. That might sound strange, as there was much prejudice, horrible beatings and mutilation, but Ms. Butler sure can tell a story. Oh, and time travel is involved!

I am now listening to "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom. I'm about half way through (it's a short book). It's interesting and there is a full cast of voices in this one, rather than a single narrator.

Is it considered cheating if I'm listening to a book, rather than reading it?

Not in my book. hee hee

Reading, listening, you're still having the experience.

No listening to a book is still getting in the information...I used to listen to books on tape all the time when I was working...during my am walks and commutes. It was a great.

For those of you in book groups:

I just finished Lessons in Chemistry and loved it! 4+ stars. Some of it was LOL! It was for our book group and I look forward to the discussion.

Here's an interesting bit of fun:

http://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/theconveyor/category/colin-franklin-prize-for-book-collecting/#:~:text=The%202023%20Colin%20Franklin%20Prize,lives%20in%20the%20twentieth%2Dcentury

So, of course, my first instinct was to try to find one of the books in the picture, and I did. I found The Echoing Grove and will begin it tonight. I looked up the author, and she was the significant other of C. Day Lewis, who left her for someone else. Guess what this book is all about? Names changed to protect the innocent!

THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER; A THRILLER BY: JAMES PATTERSON & BILL CLINTON

i liked it, fast paced! an easy read. perfect summer book..... 4 Stars

4.5 Stars for North, Brad Kessler. Three main characters come together at a Vermont monastery. Sounds dull, right? Nope. *Serious*, yes, but completely engaging.

Just finished another wonderful book ( this one I give 5 stars!!!). I had heard it mentioned several times and decided it was time.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot.

I devoured it. It was so entertaining and touching. I sure shed some tears- but it was sooooo good.

I read it for myself but I think it would be great for a book club.

The second stop on my Willa Cather summer. I read Song of the Lark, and really loved it. It's a coming of age novel about a girl from Colorado, who has a most amazing soprano voice and has to leave her beloved West and sacrifice every other part of her life to pursue her art. She cannot abandon her destiny for anything--money, love, etc. Her reality is her musical life.

Slogging through The Mirror and the Light. It is slow going, but funny and interesting. It may take slightly longer to finish than the vacation puzzle that I’m being defeated by— all blue sky.

I'm about halfway through Demon Copperhead and really enjoying it. Since I'm a big Dickens fan, I'm delighting in the ways that Kingsolver has taken the story and reworked it in a contemporary way. Even the names are a hoot.

Just finished The Winter Soldier which was recommended here. I'd give it 3++ stars. Not sure I'd recommend it for book club though as there were parts with the very vivid descriptions of the horrors of WWI that I found very tough to read, and I'm sure some of our more delicate members would balk even more. Next up, a re-read of Guns Germs and Steel for my nonfiction group.

An Old Captivity by Nevil Shute. Just a few chapters into it.

I love Nevil Shute books and have found many on Faded Page for free downloads to the Kindle or Books app.

@faftris, I just ordered The Lost Lady. Apparently it was the last book. Thanks!

I just read Dear Mrs. Bird, by AJ Pearce, a little bit of an older book for our book group. We'd done some heavy topics the last few months so wanted something a little lighter. It was quite charming and while not 'fluff' it did have a bit of humor along with some interesting info about what it was like to live in London during the WWII blitz by the Germans. It wasn't as light as we'd hoped but we all really enjoyed it.

Now onto Exiles by Jane Harper. I've enjoyed her other books so hope this one is the same.

I finished Louise Erdrich's wonderful The Night Watchman. 5 Stars. I'd enjoyed her early work, but stopped reading her during what felt like a sort of dry spell -- until this very personal story.

Thanks to the KT member who recommended The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot. I'm only halfway into it, but what a treat! How did this 'kid' Marianne Cronin, write such a great first book?

I read Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, and I must be dumb, because I couldn't see the attraction. It is on every Books You Really Need To Read list that I have seen. It's an account of the first Mrs. Rochester of Jane Eyre fame. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it is full of a lot of voodoo and magic. Maybe it's just my problem. Maybe it needs a second read.

Link to July 2023