Apart from more local interest, this wasn’t a particularly engaging mystery. It felt heavy on the explanations (including a ton of spoilers for books I might want to read some day) and not enough action.
This could not be more relevant now than if it had been published today or set in the present.
(Summer reading: a book by a woman of color.)
(Summer reading: a book by a woman of color.)
3.5. It's like a cross between a grown up [b:Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth|1458597|Constance A Story of Early Plymouth|Patricia Clapp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387751344l/1458597._SX50_.jpg|424833] and [b:Women Talking|40046077|Women Talking|Miriam Toews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530534348l/40046077._SY75_.jpg|59561467]. So, I enjoyed it.
I have vague memories of "pilgrims" at Plimoth Plantation boasting about their only hanging, which now seems pretty revisionist in hindsight.
I have vague memories of "pilgrims" at Plimoth Plantation boasting about their only hanging, which now seems pretty revisionist in hindsight.
Thank you, Little Free Library, for providing during COVID! I've been meaning to read this ever since getting into the PBS series (which is a delight) and the book is just as much of a delight. I do appreciate books that make me chuckle. Besides that, Gerry's descriptions of the island, wildlife, and people are just perfect. I'm glad there are two more to read!
This brand of humor is just up my alley. If I have any complaints, it’s that the third book drags a little, and I wish there was more continuity between them. Where do Hyacinth and Vincy disappear to?!
A mixed bag, but pandemic comfort reading. I’m running low on library books.
The Nani Iro Sewing Studio: 18 Timeless Patterns to Sew, Wear & Love (Japanese Dressmakers) by Naomi Ito
I love the idea of these looks, but I don't know how much potato sack I can actually pull off. Mostly drawn towards the long sleeved work dress and the work shirt.
Much like the first book, this was a delight. GD writes beautifully about the natural world, and is hilarious and insightful about humans. Having visited Ionian Greece (Lefkada), these books are especially vivid and just make me desperately want to go back.
All that said, I'm a little bit horrified by the amount of meddling with wild animals done in the name of genuine intellectual pursuit. It's so antithetical to my "leave no trace" and "leave the animals the fuck alone" and "neuter your damn dogs" mentality about being out in nature, not to mention I imagine most of his menagerie would have preferred to go about their business undisturbed. I guess that's the price of human understanding of the world!
All that said, I'm a little bit horrified by the amount of meddling with wild animals done in the name of genuine intellectual pursuit. It's so antithetical to my "leave no trace" and "leave the animals the fuck alone" and "neuter your damn dogs" mentality about being out in nature, not to mention I imagine most of his menagerie would have preferred to go about their business undisturbed. I guess that's the price of human understanding of the world!
Food52 Vegan: 60 Vegetable-Driven Recipes for Any Kitchen [A Cookbook] (Food52 Works) by Gena Hamshaw
I love the Food52 books; they're beautiful. This one made me want to eat all sorts of things, but not so much to cook them. Maybe in summer when there are more vegetables to choose from!
Reread from high school; I remembered almost nothing but the ending. The writing is beautiful.
The oral history transcript tone was kind of irritating and not very literary, but the story was actually pretty engaging. Enjoyed all the local references, obvs.
HOLY CRAP BOMBSHELL.
This might have been my favorite to date. So many satisfying or surprising storylines. I think I love these books a lot right now because no one in them is ever really happy, or if they are, they won't be soon. It's comforting.
This might have been my favorite to date. So many satisfying or surprising storylines. I think I love these books a lot right now because no one in them is ever really happy, or if they are, they won't be soon. It's comforting.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
I was surprised by how much I liked this. The author seems like a therapist I'd like to go to (and consistent with my experiences in therapy). I appreciated that the stories of her clients' and her own stints in therapy came to satisfying conclusions.
I find therapy really useful and I think most of us could benefit from examining our behaviors and beliefs. I realize that this is just one perspective, though; going to therapy *with* someone who doesn't need help explaining himself to himself is hard!
I find therapy really useful and I think most of us could benefit from examining our behaviors and beliefs. I realize that this is just one perspective, though; going to therapy *with* someone who doesn't need help explaining himself to himself is hard!
I'm not sure I'm getting the hype here. It was fine, but I didn't enjoy it all that much. I do think it would make an interesting read-alike to [b:The Beneficiary: Fortune, Misfortune, and the Story of My Father|42837896|The Beneficiary Fortune, Misfortune, and the Story of My Father|Janny Scott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549205911l/42837896._SY75_.jpg|66596261], which I did like a fair bit.
What joy, being assigned a book about a pandemic during a pandemic. Thanks, Booklist!
This is a cutesy celebration of everyday relationship moments. If you're in a happy relationship, you it might make you feel warm or amused. If you're not but you want to be, it might make you bitter or annoyed. Ultimately, it felt like a generally relatable love letter from the author to her bf.
What the hell, Demelza.
The best part of this is Ossie's problem.
Quotable: "Elizabeth almost asked Rowella and Arthur as well; but somehow one just couldn't bring oneself to invite a librarian, not to supper at least, and she knew it would have made George angry."
The best part of this is Ossie's problem.
Quotable: "Elizabeth almost asked Rowella and Arthur as well; but somehow one just couldn't bring oneself to invite a librarian, not to supper at least, and she knew it would have made George angry."
Summer reading: a book recommended by a friend.
It was fine. Nobody was super likable and the suspense wasn't super gripping.
(Summer reading: a random book.)
(Summer reading: a random book.)
Good old Dick Francis.
The offhand social/political commentary is always interesting...this was coincidentally on the Troubles.
The offhand social/political commentary is always interesting...this was coincidentally on the Troubles.
This is a roughest of rough drafts and not particularly readable, in addition to being unfinished. I'm looking forward to be adaptation coming and it's JA, but otherwise forgettable and hard to focus on.
Summer reading: a book written before 1900.
Summer reading: a book written before 1900.
This had a lot to say about interracial relationships, microaggressions, and identity. It felt choppy at first, but the pacing made more sense as it went along. Best read straight through.
Good gracious this took forever to finish listening to. Mr Rogers is The Best, and LeVar Burton reading is just icing on the cake. I enjoyed the documentary more, though, for the live action input from the man himself. The best format is always the one where he connects directly with viewers, since that was his gift.
I liked the structure a lot (wife's perspective - husband's perspective - kids' perspective) and the twist at the end. A sharp, short read.
(Summer reading: a book that has been translated.)
(Summer reading: a book that has been translated.)
First Collins Cooks! I made the jalepeno cilantro cornbread.
Finished in a day. I liked many things, it was easy to read, but has a lot going on.