July 2022 Books Read

 

July, July, July.  She is the month of my birth, the month of fireworks and some super stellar books! Summer months still show a little bit of "slow ma roll" but that doesn't mean I was bored.  Read on, friends!

*Audiobook Challenge 2022 : "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd:  My heart needed this book in July.  It's one of the last books I wrote a full blog post about on this little bloggy blog before I went on siesta.  I had a different book picked out for July, but I'm glad this was my book.  The tale of courage, overcoming racism and the beautiful exploration of "chosen family" was a coooool glass of lavender lemonade in my world.  This book continues to reside on the list of books I will read or listen to when I need to be reminded of the power of standing up to your fears and standing up for the people in your life who are persecuted.  Rated PG-13 for heavy themes centered around racism, domestic violence and addiction. 

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier: I have read other books by this author and she does a great job with descriptive writing that keeps me turning the pages.  This book is another coming of age book (I like those, can you tell) about a woman who leaves her closed up life as a spinster and forges her own path in the city.  When she arrives in the city she finds a group of women who come together to embroider cushions for the local church.  The friendship that builds between the women is beautiful and I felt like I was part of their group as they talked about their individual struggles with being a woman in a time that didn't accept women in the workplace and general society unless there was a war and they were the only option.  This was a lovely book to listen to while I drove for work and needed something to listen to in my office.  Rated PG for mild life themes, but as I recall it wasn't too sordid.  

The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair: This book was a powerhouse.  Last month I talked about enjoying books that take me on a journey of different cultures and time periods of history that are unfamiliar.  This book fit the bill and then some.  Wow.  It also had an element of mystery that I did not see coming and when all was revealed I was speechless and maybe my eyes leaked a bit.  This story is set in India and portrays a family who have their own biases and struggles and the young protagonist doesn't really understand why everyone is so at odds with life.  Then she discovers something in the "secret garden" on the family's property and everything changes quickly.  A topsy turvy tale that I really loved listening to and hardly stopped listening until I knew the resolution.  Rated PG-13 for dark themes centered around racism, keeping secrets, abuse and manipulation.  

Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson: I had high hopes for this book and it was a bit of a snoozer.  Luckily it wasn't too long and I enjoyed it enough to finish, but I'm not sure I will recommend it to anyone.  It has a similar premise to Guernsey in that letters are exchanged after a mysterious address is found in a book (so not safe in this day and age) and ultimately the plan is for the two people to meet at the museum they love so much.  I was underwhelmed and maybe hoped for it be as wonderful as Guernsey and set myself up.  Nonetheless, it's a mild read and I would say a solid PG.  

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie: July was Q3 recharge vacay which meant I picked a 500+page book off my wish list.  Oh, sister, that Eliza! She was a champion who deserves so many more accolades than a catchy tune in a Broadway musical.  While I was reading it I wrote the following on my personal Facebook page, "hats off to Eliza.  Between the wars, babies (living and deceased), adultery by Hammy while she was pregnant, contracting yellow fever and mobs on her doorstep OFTEN -- I don't know how she did it. American women originate from some hearty stock who put up with a lot of shit before they could vote, earn a living and own property.  A lot of sacrifice that I honor with gratitude." This book was VERY GOOD.  The authors did an exceptional job at researching the facts and intertwining them with the fiction that kept me reading.  This one took me longer than a week to read, but I powered through and it was good to the last word.  Rated heavy PG-13/low grade R for tales of war, adultery, death and sadness. HOWEVER -- this sits in the Top Five of 2022 and is definitely worth your time and rounded out the patriotic month for me.  

As always, thanks for stopping by my cozy book nook to catch up on my random reviews! 

Until next time, my lovelies,

-R

Missed last month's post?? CLICK HERE!!

June 2022 Books Read

 

The summer months are always a little slower for my reading, but this month still had some solid treasures while I travelled for the day job! So, here we go! Read on, my friends!

*Audiobook Challenge 2022 : "The Bookshop on the Corner" by Jenny Colgan: I'm so glad I chose this book as one of my challenge listens.  It is THE CUTEST story and was just as cute and just sunshiney to listen to unfold.  It's incredible to me that a book read almost 5 years ago is still lodged in my subconscious and gives me an opportunity to remember how happy it made me when I read it the first time.  There is science behind that, my bookish friends, and I LOVE IT.  Rated PG all the way and so stinkin cute.  

The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel: This audiobook was a suggestion from my bestie Jo and about 2 chapters in to listening I was 100% positive I had already listened to it, but I liked it a lot so I didn't stop.  It could also be that the narrator is one who reads a few other books I love, but I don't think that's the case.  Not long after I finished this book Jo sent me a text raving about an audiobook and I said (with a smile on my face) "I'm glad you liked it because I referred it to you." Needless to say, we had a good laugh and we are officially those besties that will have to grow old and senile with each other so we have a new set of adventures to "remember." This book is rated PG-13/maybe R for really strong themes centered around war, marriage without love and the horrific things Nazi soldiers felt they were allowed to do to women.  

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to host a dinner party with all the people who inhabit the insecurities and hard feelings in your soul?  Well, that is what the author does in this book and it was interesting.  I struggled to follow when it was present day vs. subconscious and I think that would have been easier to follow had I read the physical book vs. listening to it.  It was still a book that gave a lot of food for thought and had me thinking about who I would invite to my dinner party.  My invite list has changed over the years, but I think that is how it is supposed to be.  Sometimes we deal with life and relationships better than other times and then we release the trauma and move on.  This book is rated PG for language, but nothing too crazy.  

The Woman Who Loved Mankind by Lillian Bullshows Hogan: What a beautiful book.  I've added some special research to my reading list in 2022 and this was at the top of the list for me.  Lillian is one of the few Crow elders who was willing to have her life story published.  I was absolutely moved by the stories she recounted and the beauty and simplicity of her life in Crow Country before and after the reservation was established.  This book was not thrifted, but a gift from my parental units after a visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Crow Agency, MT.  The book is not rated.  It is real life.  

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin: I've been trying to read or listen to books that showcase different cultures or time periods in the world.  Reading is a great way to connect real life to the challenges experienced by those who came before us and how I can be a better human.  This book was just such a journey.  This is a lovely coming of age tale about an emigrant who wants to go for bigger and better, but her heart is still attached to the home country.  I really enjoyed this book and it was another reminder of the sacrifices refugees make to come to a new country in search of something better for themselves and family.  This book is rated PG-13 due to life experiences and the challenges that come because of racism and poverty.  

A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams: So, full disclosure, this author seems to gravitate to the stories when aristocrats are inclined to have a mistress/outside lover.  This was a glittery tale of heroines who seek more than they have in the fast lane of New York City.  It's the "behind the scenes" of glitz and glamour and what people did to maintain their place in society in the days following WWI.  I enjoy Beatriz Williams descriptive writing style and it feels like you're in the middle of it all.  This book is rated lower grade R for well....my first sentence. 

There you have it! June was fun and I look forward to sharing what is on the To Be Read list in July! 

Until next time, my lovelies!

-R

Missed last month's blog post? Click HERE!!!

May 2022 Books Read

 

May was filled with great books, HUGE challenges in my life and a much needed vacation where I did whatever the hell I wanted.  With the spring weather I was able to travel all over Montana for my job and that meant some solid windshield time for audiobooks.  May's Audiobook Challenge was an incredible treat as well.  So....let's get to the good stuff, shall we?

*Audiobook 2022 Challenge : "The Atlas of Love" by Laurie Frankel: I originally found this book at a Dollar Store in Utah and was PLEASANTLY surprised by how much I enjoyed the story.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to include it in the audiobook challenge, but was pleasantly proven wrong and found it for purchase on Amazon.  I felt like I had a happy reunion with a group of characters who captured my attention while listening as much as when I read it.  The story line is centered around 3 women who decide they are going to raise the baby birthed by one of them.  The communal parenting goes well and this little boy Atlas is the lucky winner of being loved by 3 mother figures.  It is raw and real mixed with very sweet moments that I just love.  This book is definitely worth your time and a solid PG/maybe PG13 for adult themes and the realities of unexpected pregnancy.  

From the Heart of Crow Country by Joseph Medicine Crow: I'm working on learning about the Native American tribes around me here in Montana and right now I'm studying the Crow people.  This was such a wonderful collection of stories and gave me great insight on their culture and people.  

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton: Next I needed some sassy hilarious regent mystery and this gem did not disappoint.  What happens when a bunch of female pirates decide to solve a murder?  Chaos, but with class....obviously.  This was a light read and I enjoyed it very much.  Rated PG/PG 13 for some mild gore because people get murdered.  

Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown: I rarely read or listen to more than one non-fiction book per month, but Brene Brown's latest book came up on my Libby queue much earlier than expected so I snatched it up while on a trip for work.  She gives definitions of emotions and how they play in to our every day world.  This is a book I may have to buy because it was one that could be underlined and studied over and over.  Brene Brown is genius like that.  I highly recommend this book if you're trying to work through challenging times and struggling to process because you can't label the emotions and how they're connected to events.  

The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner: This was a VERY heavy WWII Jewish refugee story.  A Jewish mother and daughter hide out in a family's barn for almost 2 years until the daughter can be smuggled to safety in a convent.  The story is gripping and very sad.  It also includes accounts of sex for survival (aka rape) which was very hard for me to listen to.  The daughter is a musical prodigy and she creates a song in a story in her head about the yellow bird that sings and this is how she survives the torture of being in hiding.  The themes in this book are difficult to fathom, but they really happened to many people in Europe.  This book is Rated R for violence, sexual assault and heavy themes due to the Holocaust and Nazis.  

Beautiful World, Where are You by Sally Rooney:  I found out about this book on TikTok and the synopsis sounded intriguing so I went for it.  It turned out to be a weird montage of storylines with intertwining singles that ended up in rompy sex often.  I felt like every time I started it up again I'd listen for 5 minutes and they were at it again.  It felt way too Harlequin and I kept hoping there was a point to it all but it was mostly "life is hard, have lots of sex and move on." While that may be the reality for some people, I like a little more plot in my books so I didn't enjoy it at all.  Rated R for all the sex and very little substantive plot.  

A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor: I absolutely LOVED this book and read it in a couple days while I was on my Q2 recharge vacay from work.  Hazel Gaynor is an incredible author and I've yet to read a book of hers that I didn't like.  This story is centered around the flower girls of London and a family who makes it their mission to bring the women off the streets and give them safety, shelter and the skills to have another trade that doesn't involve dangerous conditions on the street.  It was so well-written and reminded me of "My Fair Lady." Hazey Gaynor always does copious amounts of research for her books and you can tell by the details shared throughout the book.  Rated PG13 for some difficult themes related to poverty.  

The Woman at the Light by Joanna Brady: I was on a roll after finishing Hazel Gaynor and jumped head first into this book and finished it within a couple days.  This is a FASCINATING historical fiction about a lighthouse keeper and her family on a secluded island of the Florida Keys in the late 19th century.  This book was spellbinding and I couldn't stop reading it.  There is a big curveball in this one related to race that I'm not going to give away and it gave me a lot to think about.  It was great writing and each of the characters were well developed.  This was another historical fiction piece that was thoroughly researched and it showed in the story line.  Definitely PG13 for the adult themes.  

So, there you go, book friends! I hope you can make time to read and get lost in between the pages of your favorite book!

Until next time, my lovelies!

-R

Check out April's Books Here!!

March 2022 Books Read

 

March rolled in like a lion here in Montana and I'm not sure Mother Nature really knows what season it is.  Good thing I have books to keep me sane until it's actually spring or summer....sprummer.  That's a thing, right? It is in my world so let's get on with the reason you're here.......

*2022 Audiobook Challenge* : The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs: I am so glad I decided to do something different with my reading this year.  This audiobook challenge has been a wonderful way to remind myself of so many reasons why I fell in love with a book when I read the hard copy.  This month's book was like coming back to an old group of friends. It has to be close to 10 years since I read The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.  I found the book while thrifting with my sainted sister-in-law in Denver, CO.  It was a freak find and I mostly liked it because the cover was gorgeous (remember how I'm a total sucker for good cover art?) While I listened to this book I was reminded of the quirks and endearments of each of the characters that struck me when I read it, but in the same thought process, how much more applicable they are to me 10 years later.  I was especially drawn to the ages of the women and how close they are to my actual age and how fitting their struggles are for my current chapter in life.  This book is Rated PG for difficult adult themes and some mention of sex, but nothing that blows your hair back.  Book 2 is probably a bit more PG-13, but I'll cover that in another month! 

Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland: This was an intriguing coming of age book centered around a family who has a love for swimming.  I wasn't prepared for death and grieving to happen in the first 3 chapters so be prepared.  Once the family gets through the initial shock I really enjoyed the themes of moving forward, making the best with what's in front of us and stepping outside the social norms.  This book presents some really good moments to consider racism and religious inequality plus social class and how all three affect people's lives intimately.  It was really compelling and I felt like the ending did it justice and tied up nicely for me.  This book is rated PG-13 for difficult life events surrounding death and grief and sexual references.  

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas:  Another feel-good read about a group of women who come together every week to make quilts.  It's set during the depression and is more of a day-to-day telling of the lives of women and their families in a small town in Kansas.  I loved the characters and how they were always there for each other.  I also learned that the term "Persian Pickle" is another way to refer to a paisley print.  This book is not very long so it's a good book for a lazy day at the park or on vacation.  This book is rated PG for mild adult themes, but nothing that remotely pushes it to the PG-13 level.  

The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister:  I loved this book.  It was heavy on the law and courtroom dialogue mixed with harrowing tales of a group of women who go to Alaska in attempts to find a lost expedition of men.  The plot is centered around some true events and it was a great book to listen to while driving all over the state for my job.  It is a well-written alternating POV book and bounces back and forth between the court proceedings in Boston and the day-to-day adventures of a group of women who are so uniquely different from each other, but all out there trying to overcome the last frontier.  Books like this help me remember I can also be a bad ass woman when I feel like giving up and that is why I keep reading/listening to them.  This book is rated PG 13 for some crazy recounts of women in the wild tundra of Alaska and everything that came along with it including death and near-death experiences.  

My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows:  Book number 3 in this fabulous series came at the perfect time! I needed funny and light after the previous book and this fit the bill.  This is a retelling of Mary Queen of Scot and has some vague connections to the first book, "My Lady Jane." It was also my "Green Cover Challenge" for St. Patrick's Day! I enjoyed reading this book a lot and it was still as clever as the other two books.  However, I still firmly hold "My Lady Jane" as the best book and the natural break until the next book comes out in the fall is a good thing.  The authors are so good at making the story funny and engaging, yet suspenseful.  This book is rated PG for mild adult themes.  It is also a young adult fiction book which is suitable for teens.  

Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander:  I LOVED this book! It is a historical fiction based around the real life events of an incredible woman named Josephine Napoleon Leary. Jo was one of the first black women to pave the way in real estate development in North Carolina.  It was very well written and the author did a lot of research in the women's history archives at UNC - Chapel Hill to compile her story.  I'm not afraid to claim my feminist spin on things and I ESPECIALLY love reading stories about women who are also minorities who get shit done and take names.  Jo was just that lady and I'm so glad I took the time to listen to this book.  This book is rated PG-13 for some difficult topics and relationship struggles due to alcoholism, racism and domestic altercations. 

The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich:  Ok friends...this is the book I'm not going to make friends talking about because so many of you raved about it when I shared on Facebook.  I wanted to love this book and I just didn't.  This book was choppy and didn't make a ton of sense to me.  I felt like the title alluded to more singing and how that would bring together a group of immigrants, but it didn't.  This book also made my eyes cross because the print was very small and the margins narrow.  My Aunt Holly and I talked about how we both fall in the snob category of font and margins have to be perfect or we don't read it.  Well, I suffered through this one thinking the plot would outweigh and it didn't.  This book is rated PG-13 for heavy life themes and crappy font and margin formatting.  ;o)

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict:  My last book of March was also historical fiction about a real life person.  Mileva Maric was the first wife of Albert Einstein and the main character of this book.  Mileva was a genius in her own right and a mathematician when being nerdy and female was frowned upon.  She catches the eye of Albert Einstein when they are at university and eventually get married.  You can Google the real story about the first Mrs. Einstein and read that she offered a lot of critical math equations in papers that all credit went to her husband.  Old Mr. Alby was an ass hat and I'm going to venture to say he was un-diagnosed narcissist and maybe even high functioning autism.  My raging feminist heart broke for her and I celebrated when she finally said, peace out bro, I'm done.  This book is rated PG-13 for asshat Alby and all the horrible things he put Mileva through during their marriage.

March was another good reading month in the cozy book nook.  Spring is starting to peek out and the days are getting longer so I am happier.  Reading keeps me grounded and reminds me of the many people before I was born who had to fight for the basic rights of existing as a woman with a brain who has control of her money and uterus.  

The moral of the story: Girl power hasn't always been a given.  Respect the history of women and what it mean to your life.  I know I do every single day!

Until next time, my lovelies,

-R

Check out February's Books HERE!!!

The Buzz of Equality: "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Last year I did a lot of traveling for my day job.  I was consistently on the road for at least 2 hours each week and I chose to spend my time listening to self-help audio books.  One of the books addressed a topic that I have struggled with and have worked really hard to educate myself and become far more aware. That topic is racial equality.  This particular book was a memoir of a Caucasian woman who grew up in the Deep South and her battle to overcome the notion of “white privilege.” It was an intense listen for me because I picked up on my own imperfections in how I think about individuals of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.  The weight of these two words -- racial equality -- continues to be heavy on my heart and it especially weighs heavy as the United States of America quite literally has erupted over the recent murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN.  In the days leading up to his murder, I happened to be reading a fabulous fiction book about racial equality and togetherness and this book was a game changer for my soul and my continued quest to advocate for social justice and racial equality.  Furthermore, it was such a game-changer, that it brought me out of my blog sabbatical because my thoughts are my way of having a voice in such a tough time for America.  So, without further adieu, I present my musings on the book “The Secret Life of Bees' ' by Sue Monk Kidd. 

With the recent social distancing and stay-in-place orders due to COVID-19 (curse you, Rona) I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to get creative in spending my free time.  I am prone to getting some pretty gnarly depression when my brain is still for too long so I have to work really diligently to keep my brain moving in productive ways.  One day I was looking through the podcast library on my iPhone and noticed that the author and sociologist Brene Brown had started her own podcast! Cue the cheering!!  One of her early guests was a lovely lady named Sue Monk Kidd who had apparently written this book called “The Secret Life of Bees” that talked about bees (obviously), a black Mother Mary statue and the coexistence of a young white girl and a group of black female beekeepers.  The conversation between Brene and Sue was POWERFUL. They talked about the importance of understanding hardship and being present when life is really, really hard.  They talked about recognizing the higher power in our lives and how that can change the course forever. They talked about so many things and honestly I can’t remember most of them, but I DO remember how the episode made me FEEL.  I was moved. 

Fast forward a couple weeks and I was out thrifting (Hallelujah, I could be in public) and there was “The Secret Life of Bees” staring right at me from the shelf of paperback books.  I snatched it up and made a promise to myself that I would get back on my comfort bus of reading fiction to curb my crazy.  What an amazing journey I was about to embark. 

The book takes place in South Carolina in the heart of the era of racial segregation in the year 1964.  Times are tough and Lily Owens exists in a realm of poverty, grief and abuse by her father.  One day she makes the decision to follow a prompting to run away and search for the better life.  She, along with her nanny Rosaleen, set off on an adventure to find a place that sells honey with a label with a black Mother Mary on it.  Lily is convinced that if she can find this bee farm who believes in a black Mother Mary she might find some answers about her own mother.  Seems easy enough from a child’s standpoint, but Lily is met with challenge after challenge because she is a white child traveling with a black woman.  Lily doens’t understand why everyone is so worked up about Rosaleen traveling with her because she’s always been there for Lily and loved her when her biological mother couldn’t.  Finally Lily and Rosaleen show up at the bright pink residence of the “calendar sisters” August, May and June Boatwright.  Lily conjures up a big fat lie about who she is and where they’ve come from and where they’re headed and before long she’s being shown to a cot in the bee house with Rosaleen and is allowed to stay. 

Here is where I started marking the book and drawing hearts in the margins.  Lily experiences some powerful inner monologues about these “calendar sisters” who are believing her story, giving her a safe place to stay and aren’t letting on that they might know what’s up.  The first quote is referring to her father T. Ray and what he’s taught her to think about “colored women.”  Lily thinks, “T. Ray did not think colored women were smart.  Since I want to tell the whole truth, which means the worst parts, I thought they could be smart, but not as smart as me, me being white.  Lying on the cot in the honey house, though, all I could think was August is so intelligent, so cultured and I was surprised by this.  That’s what let me know I had some prejudice buried inside me.”  SPOT ON.  Somewhere along the way there has been some kind of notion that the color of a person’s skin translates to their ability to use their brain.  I’m here to tell ya, this is RIDICULOUS.  We all have brains in our head and we all have the right to use them. What the reader soon discovers is August is the epitome of kind, strong and wise and the last thing Lily worries about is her race. 

A few pages later the conversation switches sides and Lily overhears August and her sister June talking about Lily’s obvious skin tone color.  June says, “Why don’t you just ask her point blank what kind of trouble she’s in?” August says, “Everything in time. The last thing I want is to scare her off with a lot of questions. She’ll tell us when she is ready. Let’s be patient.” June says, “But, she’s white, August.” Lily continues in her thoughts by saying, “This was a great revelation -- not that I was white but that it seemed like June might not want me here because of my skin tone.  I hadn’t known this was possible -- to reject people for being white.” I love both of these quotes because it shows the converse struggle that all the characters experienced while they tried to sort out their emotions about their differences.  On one hand there was this expectation of superiority, but then on the other hand there was this dire need for safety. How many times so we wrestle with a similar battle?  Who to trust, how to trust and the ever-looming “what ifs.” I’ll be the first to raise my hand and admit that I struggle with this deeply at times. 

The next group of paragraphs had A LOT of hearts and underlining.  Lily begins to work alongside August as an apprentice beekeeper and this allows for a lot of question and answer conversations. Lily is an inquisitive, blunt child and one day she asks her what is up with the bright pink paint on the front of the main house.  August explains to Lily the decision for “Carribean Pink” was an effort to cheer their sister May’s heart.  Lily replies, “all this time I just figured you liked pink.” She [August] laughed again. “You know, some things don’t matter that much, Lily.  LIke the color of the house. How big is that in the overall scheme of life? But lifting a person’s heart -- now that matters. The whole problem with people is….they know what matters, but they don’t CHOOSE it. You know how hard that is Lily? I love May, but it was still so hard to choose Caribbean Pink. The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters.” Phew.  I’ll pause for you to read that again.  My figurative flood gates opened with this one.  What matters? What if the thing or person that matters most is a damn difficult choice to make and might not be the most popular opinion with our peers?  Will we decide to do it or will we succumb to the crowd and go the other way risking the sadness of someone important to us?  Depending on the day, that answer isn’t always the right answer in my world and I’m working on it. 

Toward the end of the book, Lily has a powerful awakening in finding herself, recognizing her roots and accepting what she can’t change. Lily’s ability to love has been tarnished with guilt, abuse and sadness and at this point in the book she finally gets it.  August says to Lily, “whatever it is that keeps widening your heart, that’s Mary, too, not only the power inside you but the love. And when you get down to it, Lily, that’s the only purpose grand enough for a human life.  Not just to love -- but to PERSIST in love.”

We HAVE to persist in love. Humanity needs us to be kind. The vulnerable need us to SPEAK UP and defend when they can’t do it.  We are well past the time to argue and far beyond the time to sit down. 

The moral of the story: You have brains in your head, a beating heart in your body and so does everyone else. They deserve your persistence in love just as much as you deserve theirs. 

Happy reading, my amazing, geeky lovelies!

-R

You Had Me at Cake: "The Cake Therapist" by Judith Fertig

Last month I went to visit a friend in her kindergarten classroom. While I was there she handed me a box of children's books for my day job and a copy of a book she thought I might like.  At first glance I was totally drawn in because the title had the words cake and therapist in it plus it was a VERY cute cover design and we all know how that floats my boat! So, I made short order of the book I was reading at the time so I could "dig in" and read "The Cake Therapist" by Judith Fertig. This book was pure sunshine and I loved every minute of it! 

The main character of the book is a lovely baker named Neely. Neely has found herself in a place of starting over and leaves the hustle and bustle of New York City to open a cake shop in a small town near her grandmother. She has a bit of a magic in her method of cake-making, in that she tailors the flavor to what her intuition tells her about the consumer's personality. Each time she meets someone new she automatically thinks of what their "flavor" might be. It's adorable. Neely soon realizes that she is stuck in the middle of a town that has a bit of skeletons-in-their-closet going down and she can't quite figure out what that actually means.

One of the best elements of this book is the style it is written in..... also known as my favorite! What is that you ask?? Alternating point of view that connects together at the end like a happy little gift of awesomeness.  Oh, how I love reading books like this! Along with present day, this book takes us to the early 1940s and we are introduced to some characters who are just as complex and deep as the present-day characters. It's amazing! By the end of the book, the author tied up both plot lines very nicely and it made me swoon.  

The theme of this book is we all deserve the opportunity for a second chance.  Along with that, we owe it to ourselves to allow second chances to happen in our life. This is something that I've really had to remind myself of this year because life in "second chance land" is pretty damn hard. However, it has brought a new set of blessings and people in my life that make up for the super shitty, emotional stuff.  This book is about just that and survival with cake.  How could it get any better? Neely learns to maneuver through the messy, emotional stuff while finding a new and improved version of herself and the results are sweet.  

Overall, this book was exactly what I needed to read last month.  It was definitely an uplifting book and I was even more excited to learn there is a sequel. And I'll let you in on a little secret......it's already been ordered from Amazon Marketplace, is sitting in the cozy book nook at Chez Ray Big Sky and I can't wait to read it.  I have not doubt I will enjoy it just as much as this book.  

My recommended reading group would be age 16 and above.  It's a happy PG read with some mild adult thematic elements, but nothing crazy.  

The moral of the story: Anyone can survive the messy world of second-chance-land with lots of cake. 

Happy reading, my amazing, geeky lovelies!

-R

Missed last week's book review? Click here to read it!

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Life: A Garden of Possibilities - "The Queen of the Big Time" by Adriana Trigiani

Life in non-fiction land has been a little bit whirlwind for this thrifting ginger, but I'm so excited to be jumping in to my favorite month (besides October)....my BIRTHDAY month! This year I'm so grateful to be where I'm at in life after a very, very challenging year with so much growth. I myself have lived and learned (once again) to appreciate small miracles and really big miracles while observing that life is truly a garden of possibilities.  So, it seems most appropriate that the first book review of July is about a book that touches on this particular subject.  "The Queen of the Big Time" by Adriana Trigiani was a great reminder that sometimes life goes in a completely different path that we expected.....or wanted.... Should that surprise anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Adriana Trigiani is one of my newish, favorite authors.  She wrote "The Shoemaker's Wife" which is part of my Favorite Things Book Giveaway (see below to enter). Her writing is magnificent and has a way of transporting the reader through multiple decades without missing a beat.  She writes about complex people with complex struggles, just like the rest of us.  "The Queen of the Big Time" is no different and introduced me to some great characters.

Nella Casteluca is the main character.  She and her large, Italian family live in the countryside of Pennsylvania.  They are a true Italian family who are strict observers of the Catholic religion and take marriage, family and hard work very seriously  Nella is constantly hoping and dreaming for something better and dreams about moving to the city to find her own way.  She is smart for her age and one of her teachers really encourages her to step outside of the norms and try for a better life.

One of the best parts of this book is the way the author describes the every day relationships of the characters.  They are hopeful of a better life while being hopelessly realistic about the way their life will be. Much of the book is the daily conversation and debates of which way to turn and how to solve life's difficulties.  As it is in non-fiction world, the main character falls deeply in love with someone who she never expected to love and their relationship is one that can't last because of circumstances.  I legitimately felt bad for Nella when her life path steers away from her first love because I know how that feels.  It's so incredibly hard and a person spends their entire life wondering if they'll ever see that person again and will it be awkward. Been there, am there, have a few t-shirts. Nella finds resolve in her adult life, but there is always the looming conflict of making the right decision about how she handled being in love for the first time.

As is customary for my reviews, I will share one element that I wish would have been done better.  I felt like this book wasn't long enough for how much time it covered.  I felt like the reader was whisked through a time period in 2 or 3 pages and then suddenly it's 10 years later.  This book was uncharacteristically short for the author which drew me to read it, but also had me really wishing for more content when in it was over.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! One of the quotes that caught my eye and summed up how this book inspired me was this-- "Many intellectuals believe self-education is as valid as any degree from a university." How true that statement really is and I continue to live it in my own life.  We are truly blessed in so many ways and never know how our path will lead to something or someone better.

My recommended reading group would be age 16 and above.  It's a PG-13 read with relationship elements and adult themes not suitable for a younger audience.

The moral of the story: Life is a beautiful garden of possiblities, but we have to water and nurture it through our faith and hope.

Happy reading, my amazing, geeky lovelies!
-R

Missed last week's book review? Click here to read it!

Other Books by Adriana Trigiani

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Little Shop of Happy-Ever-After: "The Bookshop on the Corner" by Jenny Colgan

Not many people know that my main reason for reading is to calm the crazy in my brain. Especially during the winter months, I really have to keep my brain waves moving or my bestie depression moves in for the season.  It sucks if she invites herself over any time of the year, but especially in the winter. Because of this, I go back and forth between books that are heavy and books that are happy, depending on my current mood.  No matter what, the book has to transport my mind into the plot in such a way that I feel like I'm watching a movie in my head.  When this phenomenon occurs, it's truly magical. I create my own little world and envision the characters and how they interact with each other.  That is why I read. When I purchased "The Bookshop on the Corner" I was drawn to the endearing synopsis, but I had NO idea how much this book would transport me in to my own little happily-ever-after world.  And did I mention it includes a dishy Scotsman? Be still my heart....especially when he looks and sounds like my boyfriend Gerard Butler....

"The Bookshop on the Corner" by Jenny Colgan takes place in Scotland.  The main character is named Nina Redmond. Nina is faced with some hard luck in her career and decides that she is going to move to the north country, buy a massive van and start a mobile book store.  That might sound like a relatively simple task, but Nina soon finds out it is not.  Nina is a bit of a hot mess when she starts her journey and gets herself in a situation with the local train. Every train must have a conductor and Nina becomes overnight-smitten with the young train conductor. She is convinced he is her forever, happily ever after and makes excuses to see him on a regular basis.  To pay homage to her "true love" she names her mobile shop the "Little Shop of Happy Ever After." The shop is a sweet success and Nina begins to learn powerful life lessons from the members of her new community.

As I mentioned earlier, this book included a dishy (but super grumpy) Scotsman that I fell head-over-heals for after a bit.  Yet again, the quiet, complicated male character is my favorite.  Lennox is Nina's newly-unattached landlord and a gruff, local farmer with a few of his own secrets.  Nina rents a high-society-style loft (inconveniently decorated by Lennox' newly ex-lover) over the barn of Lennox' farm so they are in very close proximity a LOT. Lennox lives a mysterious, quiet life and Nina is annoyed by his demeanor and blunt attitude toward her infatuation for the train conductor. He sees her sneaking out at night to go meet the train and calls her out on it and the tension just builds. I loved their interactions together and they have some really sweet scenes.  As Lennox starts to open up to Nina she starts to feel things in her heart that leave her confused and wondering if she might actually have feelings for this grumpy lad.

There were so many unexpected, yet happy elements of this story. As Nina starts to befriend locals she is also introduced to their children. She begins having story time and has a bond with two particular children that really struck a chord for me. She takes these two children under her wing and helps them feel loved and cared for in ways that they aren't getting at home. I loved the dialogue between Nina and these children because it reminds me of the amazing little humans I get to work with every day.  Nina has a way of bringing out the best in these children and it's really sweet to notice their progression throughout the story.

As it is in non-fiction world, Nina comes to a point when she has to face the reality of life not being perfect no matter how hard she tries. She will still have heartbreak even when she's doing what she loves. This was something I could relate to as well.  I've experienced some big life changes in the last 12 months that came with their own set of trauma and heartache, but I've also found so much peace with where I'm working and living currently.  There is so much power in knowing that you're in the right spot.  That's how Nina feels and she eventually finds solace in the right people and activities.

This book had the most delightful ending....like I may have hugged the book when I finished reading it. ...maybe. The author did such an amazing job at subtly leading up to the climactic event and I was so pleased when it finally happened.  Just plain magic. This book was 100% happiness for my brain and I was so grateful to have found it in a used book store in Helena, MT.  The cover was a little "meh" but the book was completely the opposite.

My recommended reading group would be age 16 and above.  It's a PG-13 read with adult relationships and their challenges.

The moral of the story: Happily ever after is what you make it and that will always include a LOT of work, but it's worth it!!

Happy reading, my amazing, geeky lovelies!
-R

Missed last week's book review? Click here to read it!

Other Books by Jenny Colgan

The Magic of Second Chances: "Lost Lake" by Sarah Addison Allen

I've never been one to go to Barnes & Noble just to window shop for books.  Why, you ask? Because as soon as I start swooning over all the beautiful book covers then I want to buy all the books. And, let's be perfectly honest, I am so not a fan of paying full price for anything unless I know it is a book I will love forever and ever.  However, once upon a time, while I lived in Utah, I did camp out and scope books and that is how I stumbled upon books by Sarah Addison Allen.  I can't tell you the specifics, but I remember seeing the cover for her book "Garden Spells" (P.S. - AMAZING!) and decided I should give her books a shot.  That was the best decision ever and today I'm sharing book #2 by her that I've reviewed for this blog.  "Lost Lake" by Sarah Addison Allen was such a sweet story and it really gave me a new hope in giving people the benefit of the doubt and letting those you once loved have a second chance.

The thrifting story behind this book is one of second chances as well! One of my last adventures in Helena, MT during my training was "dropping by" a massive thrift store in another part of town than my hotel.  At first glance it seemed I wouldn't have much luck finding good books until I turned the corner and saw a massive book corner. Two hours and $25 bucks later I walked out of the building with quite the collection of books.....again.....The second chance element was this-- I had almost paid nearly full price for this book a few days earlier at another used book store and decided not to buy it.  I was very glad I had made that choice because the second time around it was $2. It's safe to say I'd go back to Helena just for the thrift stores, mountains and Chili's, but I digress.

As is customary with Sarah Addison Allen's books, "Lost Lake" takes place in the Deep South.  We are introduced to Kate and Devin, a mother-daughter duo, living in Atlanta, Georgia, who have recently lost their husband and father in a tragic accident.  Kate is waking from a year-long haze of emotional grief and her overbearing mother-in-law, Cricket, is packing up their home so they can move in with her.  Kate realizes that the future holds nothing that she wants for herself and Devin, but she's not sure how they are going to escape the wrath of someone who has been their saving grace for the past year.  Devin and Kate end up in the attic together as they pack their belongings and find an old postcard from Kate's Aunt Eby sent over a decade earlier.  The postcard is sent from a magical place called Lost Lake, a vacation property owned by Eby and her husband George. The postcard is inscribed with a note that strikes Kate as odd and spurs her to pack up for a road trip.

The reader soon discovers that George & Eby's love story is one that tugs at the heart strings.  They were star-crossed lovers, but from two completely different backgrounds; one wealthy and one middle-class.  They can't face the pressure of their families quarreling and invest in a magical oasis in the mountains.  Lost Lake becomes a refuge for all ages and Kate's last happy memory of her childhood was spent at Lost Lake.  The author did a fantastic job weaving both stories together (she's very good at that in her books) and brought so much emotion to life on the pages.

When Kate and Devin arrive at Lost Lake completely unannounced they find a sad, rundown property on the brink of being sold.  Kate is still unsure why she's felt the pull to Lost Lake after so many years, but she soon starts to figure it out. Her personal second chance includes a sweet love story that reminded me of some personal events in my life. It was really cute.

The supporting characters in the book are all really deep and truly delightful to read about. One of my favorite characters is the cook at Lost Lake who is mute.  Her name is Lisette. She has known Eby for a very long time and only communicates by writing on a notepad that hangs around her neck on a piece of string.  In spite of her inability to speak audibly, Lisette, is a really powerful force at Lost Lake and she brings an element of second chances that was very moving.  She has a story hiding in her past that has paralyzed her in her present which means she can't think about her future.  It was really sweet to watch her move forward with her insecurities and gave me a lot of food for thought about the power of love and the heartache of loss.

As I talked about in my last review of a Sarah Addison Allen book (LINK HERE), there is always an element of magic in her plot lines.  This book is no different, however, the magic is more the magic of imagination and the magic of healing in their hearts.  I thought it was very endearing that the magical element of the plot was given to Devin because it was a very child-like perspective and so sweet.  Devin is a free spirit who lives life in her own, mismatched way and she eventually convinces the family that she does have the answers to a few mysteries of life.  She is also the person who reminds each of the characters that the future is, in fact, bright and shouldn't be taken for granted.

My recommended reading group would be age 16 and above.  It's a good PG read, but does address mental health, death and grieving which may be a bit much for the younger audience.

The moral of the story: Never lose hope in saying good bye to someone you love because it just might be a true "see you later". Second chances happen.

Happy reading, my amazing, geeky lovelies!
-R

Missed last week's book review? Click here to read it!


More Books by Sarah Addison Allen

The Stitches of Life: "The Wishing Thread" by Lisa Van Allen

In February & March I spent three concurrent weeks in Helena, MT for training for my new job.  To say it was difficult is an understatement.  I learned a lot of new information and was exhausted at the end of every day and pretty much lived the hermit life in my hotel room.  However, one of the afternoons I ventured to a local used book store in the historical district of Helena.  It was a bit higher priced than I'm used to, but I still found a couple of fantastic books to add to my collection.  The first book was "The Wishing Thread" by Lisa Van Allen.  The plot intrigued me, and at the time, I was ready for a book that mixed magic with happy.  I learned while reading this book that sometimes the way our lives are stitched together is completely out of our control....hello, most of the time. Who are we kidding here?

The book takes place in Tarrytown, New York.  The main characters are the Van Ripper sisters named Bitty, Audrey and Meggie.  They have been blessed with the ability to weave magic spells into pieces of clothing they knit.  The magic has been present for generations and the book opens with the matriarch Aunt Mariah passing away.  Aunt Mariah has been the keeper of the magic knitting needles and the family's yarn store called The Stichery, all while raising her nieces.  Aubrey is the only sister who has remained in Tarrytown as an adult as well as kept with the tradition of magic and knitting. The other two sisters reluctantly find their way back to Tarrytown to pay their last respects to Aunt Mariah and the crazy begins.  We soon find out that these sisters are all very different from each other and they kind of resent their heritage and magical powers.

One of the things I really loved about this book, was the rebuilding of friendships among the sisters. Bitty has come to visit with her children and neglects to tell her sisters that she's also left her husband and their stay is a to-be-determined gig.  She's emotional and tired and trying to navigate her next steps in life while her daughter is starting to catch on that magic lives in this family.  She slowly opens up to Aubrey about her marital problems and eventually decides that it's in her family's best interest for her to stay in Tarrytown.  Meggie is all over the place and knows she should stay with her sisters to help settle the estate, but doesn't want to face her past either.  She reconnects with one of her friends from childhood and together they rekindle their friendship and mend their own broken pieces.

The second thing I liked about this book was it's beachy-read, happy nature.  Sometimes I just need to be able to get lost in a book and this definitely fits the bill.  I enjoyed knowing that when I picked up this book that it wouldn't leave me feeling down or drained emotionally.  While I was reading this book, I was still in a lot of transition in my personal life with changes continuing to be thrown at me from all directions.  This book was a nice escape from the adulting that forced me to have all the feels when I was just too tired to deal.

The end of this book was really sweet and had an ending that added to the pleasantries of reading it. It wasn't Hallmark-movie-cheesy, but it definitely warmed my heart and reminded me that there is always a bit of magic in our own lives, if we will look for it.  The plot of this book takes the reader through an interesting conflict and ultimately, the town comes together with the sisters to stand up for this magical place that has blessed so many lives.  I definitely think that can apply to real life  Sometimes, we just need to know that we have those people in our community and family who will stand behind us even when we might be a little bit different and/or crazy.

My recommended reading group would be age 12 and above.  It really is a great PG read that would appeal to multiple audiences because of the magic, family unity and knitting.

The moral of the story: Life has a way of changing courses and knitting new plot lines for us. It's our job to make the best of it and turn to those who know us best and will always be there when we need them.

Happy reading, my amazing, geeky lovelies!
-R

Missed last week's book review? Click here to read it!



Other Books by Lisa Van Allen