tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342953557256900832024-03-05T00:45:06.561-08:00 books and carbsmephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03074153090546740903noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-85767307088213445612024-02-09T14:50:00.000-08:002024-02-09T14:50:32.727-08:00Another Floral Foray<p>I've shared before that I enjoy putting together floral arrangements to gift to friends and/or to enhance special occasions. I am a complete amateur, but I am happy to help out when centerpieces are needed. I've taken two "floral commissions" for special events at my daughter's school. I get reimbursed for flowers, vases, ribbon and donate my time to put everything together. </p><p>Most recently, I made arrangements for a reception honoring our school's 2024 Distinguished Graduate Award recipient. It was a pleasure to spend a sunny February morning listening to my audiobook while arranging flowers and tying ribbons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO9f13vf7ZbGd4HxXxXiZF7kiMOP8-PF8vBxGPvdiTYKcpD6ld_X-W32cqGMG_zTeAEgGVhno3YP___ZuHwNiUUTgyeeSBRRx-EV0IuD3uq9LqGOyerrX1toQDFfx-bvbIf3eCYyl1k1uUUbQl_80v-_1qVW3u5FJaTcFFgoJXUCwTc2DSgvBpr4dROwg/s4032/IMG_1651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO9f13vf7ZbGd4HxXxXiZF7kiMOP8-PF8vBxGPvdiTYKcpD6ld_X-W32cqGMG_zTeAEgGVhno3YP___ZuHwNiUUTgyeeSBRRx-EV0IuD3uq9LqGOyerrX1toQDFfx-bvbIf3eCYyl1k1uUUbQl_80v-_1qVW3u5FJaTcFFgoJXUCwTc2DSgvBpr4dROwg/w480-h640/IMG_1651.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I am total amateur with zero access to wholesale flowers. I can't make any guarantees about what the arrangements will look like since I just see what is available at Sam's Club and Jewel the day I am putting them together. This time around, the Sam's roses looked like death so I had to make do at Jewel. I printed labels with the school logo and the award winner's name on Avery's website and just stuck them on ribbons with a blank label on the back side to keep the sticker from attaching to the vase.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMPOVhLWwuFYV0LS-jXqlQ-ZYsG5iEerk4U6LkjtPzqFao8TYRF5O8c-R_vkJRI1SRNl-dr9pOHMHyUB4D_r4qeu0ggiwRVwpxneBkWt0H0CNVCGVQ_nxGEnjFAjaR0LrhgHKD1gLlwjELCdynvgvBfT0_lGvDBgQqBv1Kq-LiilGn2KIlyyID0jX8peu/s4032/IMG_1653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMPOVhLWwuFYV0LS-jXqlQ-ZYsG5iEerk4U6LkjtPzqFao8TYRF5O8c-R_vkJRI1SRNl-dr9pOHMHyUB4D_r4qeu0ggiwRVwpxneBkWt0H0CNVCGVQ_nxGEnjFAjaR0LrhgHKD1gLlwjELCdynvgvBfT0_lGvDBgQqBv1Kq-LiilGn2KIlyyID0jX8peu/w480-h640/IMG_1653.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I thought the bright colors were a perfect winter pick-me-up, and it made me happy to imagine the award recipient and her family members being able to bring a vase of flowers home with them.</p><p>The school colors are royal blue and white, and I was so delighted by the gingham ribbon I found at Hobby Lobby. That is also where I found the vases, which were fifty percent off. If not for the discount, I would have used my favorite Dollar Tree vases.</p><p>Even if it's just for your own or your own family's enjoyment, I highly recommend treating yourself to flowers (grocery store or otherwise) when you can. </p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-35611329087849568592024-01-13T19:59:00.000-08:002024-01-13T19:59:51.291-08:00Before and After -- Plastic Container Hellscape<p>Anyone else drowning in plastic containers? I already had <i>plenty</i> of Gladware and its generic grocery store equivalents. Plus, I can't bring myself to toss the black ones with the clear lids that carry-out orders are packaged in. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp94QU5GsO4VlN0WkjcjjH4ErsER81YhYrkIfb8AKsRt9TEqTBqDp16qotyjbVHAf58iWlP1PVogLbXnR41mNtRMhRFrdnDJ6RoOYMQDbfwQ0W2oG65_NQgROwfCQf19mvGzXxi0SRldLmjpzgtWxYEqUAF46fG5IMC-MVIxrHbPXbef8k9skhGnSzezSx/s4032/IMG_1470.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp94QU5GsO4VlN0WkjcjjH4ErsER81YhYrkIfb8AKsRt9TEqTBqDp16qotyjbVHAf58iWlP1PVogLbXnR41mNtRMhRFrdnDJ6RoOYMQDbfwQ0W2oG65_NQgROwfCQf19mvGzXxi0SRldLmjpzgtWxYEqUAF46fG5IMC-MVIxrHbPXbef8k9skhGnSzezSx/w480-h640/IMG_1470.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Where is your plastic hellscape located? A drawer that's not quite big enough? A corner of a pantry shelf? Or maybe in a tricky corner cabinet complete with Lazy Susan... <br /></p><p>Next question: Do you store your plastic containers with or without their lids? Or, have you never quite decided what the system is? In that case, just shove containers, lids, and/or containers with lids on in there wherever they fit (or don't fit), even if it means that the Lazy Susan cannot rotate properly. </p><p>Need to put some leftovers away? No problem. Spin (you may have to put your back into it) and dig and spin and dig and grope blindly for a container and a lid that fits it. Promise yourself to deal with the situation later.</p><p>Later came this past week. There was a speaker at my women's group meeting on Thursday. Patricia Glosner from <a href="https://perfectlyorganizedbypatricia.com/">Perfectly Organized by Patricia </a>shared some tips for home organizing. One of them was that when addressing your plastic hellscape (my term, not hers), store all the lids in a separate basket. Genius! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeDGiIA4Fw8EVXetuoTfzV68hiiXPe67sKMY43FU44o7ShSYWnqW4OHcQ8P5cSpMWntwty2kgtqJdB5TT973XCrDwRJcY_VJO2C8uJeOw6r9rMYAFoh4OE5_L9lo9fowKMdRELZMEPtITKmwwVxzxB3YnZE9rutsijYeVKBjx0nNkBK19AFlNW7M2rbcY/s4032/IMG_1472.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeDGiIA4Fw8EVXetuoTfzV68hiiXPe67sKMY43FU44o7ShSYWnqW4OHcQ8P5cSpMWntwty2kgtqJdB5TT973XCrDwRJcY_VJO2C8uJeOw6r9rMYAFoh4OE5_L9lo9fowKMdRELZMEPtITKmwwVxzxB3YnZE9rutsijYeVKBjx0nNkBK19AFlNW7M2rbcY/w480-h640/IMG_1472.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>First, I got everything out. I recycled the containers with cracks and the containers and lids without matches. In several cases, I had three containers and six lids that matched them. I held on to four lids and recycled the rest. </p><p>Then, I sorted the plastic containers by type and put them on the top shelf. I put all the lids in two baskets on the bottom: one for the smallest and largest lids, one for the medium-sized lids. I also put a few items with lids on the bottom: a plastic chip and dip, my Pampered chef microwave steamer strainer things, and a few specialty containers.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIZ-6AJB7VlohULpcr8nNcE3RDvoZbegYXbLLxRINjhTjBPYqdvrN6QDaQ_B2z1yI2rJ5KUqx6Cy-bsEnhUXwd8TtW7RJDcCb474Bwj_MQPd-U_4PQALgMMMQX6w3fSrRvVpTIyvHBf_1KJfiEcpYdpGgzLnbxuvZ6mvOt1PkyyI1Mwze0Hmr6YXwsltr/s4032/IMG_1474.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIZ-6AJB7VlohULpcr8nNcE3RDvoZbegYXbLLxRINjhTjBPYqdvrN6QDaQ_B2z1yI2rJ5KUqx6Cy-bsEnhUXwd8TtW7RJDcCb474Bwj_MQPd-U_4PQALgMMMQX6w3fSrRvVpTIyvHBf_1KJfiEcpYdpGgzLnbxuvZ6mvOt1PkyyI1Mwze0Hmr6YXwsltr/w480-h640/IMG_1474.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>When I need a container, it is much easier to select the size I need from the top shelf and then to find a matching lid beneath. Without a lot of extra effort, I can even pull the basket o' lids out and make my selection in bright light.<p></p><p>Can I keep this system going? I hope so. It was so satisfying to receive a practical, sensible tip that I could follow through on forty-five minutes after hearing it. </p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-34850399604686850292024-01-11T19:12:00.000-08:002024-01-11T19:18:32.562-08:0024 in 24<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyrqfADWJqPlvI66horz0qKDF9DbpTpLciLlF7vhuI1vEQ-7X97EJI9izwx1qeVr2jANBQugiQ5q_4DEn01N7LfpASOI4X0AvRrfb4h__n4IkQyec6dfKASaGKbgzA6BN2xYMPs98mqmSTtch3OiAuf9CXCrhEb3sahqrkmDUVUtBatk3-rAnvq-CIbF5/s750/24in24Logo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyrqfADWJqPlvI66horz0qKDF9DbpTpLciLlF7vhuI1vEQ-7X97EJI9izwx1qeVr2jANBQugiQ5q_4DEn01N7LfpASOI4X0AvRrfb4h__n4IkQyec6dfKASaGKbgzA6BN2xYMPs98mqmSTtch3OiAuf9CXCrhEb3sahqrkmDUVUtBatk3-rAnvq-CIbF5/w640-h640/24in24Logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I wrote about 5 things I wanted to do in December and, what do you know, I did those five things. So, as I have seen Gretchen Rubin and others do, I am sharing a list of 24 things I'd like to do in 2024. I hope I do them. What's more, I hope reading this list inspires the 0-3 readers of this blog to make their own list for the year to come. What I'm about to share isn't a list of lofty, hard core resolutions. Some are a bit idealistic, others are just fun, still others involve places I've meant to go, try, experience. May this year be the year that I get out there.</p><p><b><i>1. Take an online painting class. </i></b> I take wonderful in person art classes at Michael Symber Studios in Elmhurst, IL and I plan to continue with those! However, I follow and have grown fond of quite a few artists on Instagram. Several offer online painting courses, and I'd like to give one a try. One front-runner is <a href="https://courses.elizabethwadestudio.com/courses">this watercolor house portrait class by Elizabeth Wade</a>.</p><p><b><i>2. Walk the Steps at Swallow Cliff.</i></b> I heard about these when my son was preparing to go on a scout high adventure trip at Rocky Mountain National Park. Some scouts walk these steps with their packs on for practice. My son never did, but I have been meaning to visit the <a href="https://fpdcc.com/places/locations/swallow-cliff-woods/">Steps at Swallow Cliff</a> for over five years now. </p><p><b><i>3. Start and finish travel prints for empty family room wall. </i></b> This is a project that I'll be taking on at Michael Symber Studios this winter. </p><p><b><i>4. Do something with my @mileawhile photos</i></b>. I have an Instagram for tracking my walks and each walk includes a photo taken along the way. I'd like to something with these photos. I'm picturing a big collage poster that I can display in the basement. Message me if you've made a collage from Instagram photos. </p><p><b><i>5. Take my family to a Brazilian steakhouse.</i></b> I mostly just want to watch my boys react to endless offerings of animal protein. </p><p><b><i>6. Take a walk at Lake Ellyn.</i></b> Twenty minutes away, and I've never seen this lake. Actually, had never even heard of it until a dogsitter told me how much my dog enjoyed walking there. My dog is not an enthusiastic walker so I gotta check <a href="https://gepark.org/boathouse/">this place</a> out.</p><p><b><i>7. Make the Greek Yogurt pizza dough..</i></b>. using the <a href="https://mybizzykitchen.com/2017/12/18/skinny-pizza-dough/">skinny pizza dough recipe from @mybizzykitchen</a>. I won't tell you how many large containers of plain nonfat Greek yogurt I have purchased for this purpose and failed to follow through upon. </p><p><b><i>8. Make the Greek Yogurt jello thing.</i></b> I'm not even going to link it because it probably sounds so gross, but I need to try it.</p><p><b><i>9. Develop the habit of bringing reusable grocery bags to the store.</i></b> I would love to stop dealing with flimsy plastic bags. The space, the guilt, the annoyance.</p><p><b><i>10. Learn five Lana Del Ray songs.</i></b> I don't mean like learn to play them on the guitar or piano or prepare for karaoke or anything. I just mean, listen to these songs until I learn the words and have a sense of what they mean. LDR is my oldest's favorite artist, and he has chosen the five songs for me.</p><p><b><i>11. Eat at Riley's.</i></b> It's a bar/restaurant in my town. I've been there once late night for a drink, but I'd like to eat there, finally, after a dozen years of living in Elmhurst, IL.</p><p><b><i> 12. Meet my Peloton minutes goal. </i></b> I'm not going to say what it is, but I will say that it is more than double what I achieved this year on the Peloton platform. I do track my outdoor walks through Peloton, lest you think I am a cycling fool. </p><p><i><b>13. Unsubscribe to 20 emails.</b></i> I've already unsubscribed to 45, NTB, but I will keep going.</p><p><b><i>14. Visit the golf simulator five times. </i></b> Every winter I fear that I will totally forget how to play golf (do I even know how to play golf?). Anyway, it does help me to pick up a club a few times between October and April.</p><p><b><i>15. See three movies in the theater. </i></b> I love movies and buttered popcorn and giant Diet Cokes and reclining seats and being somewhere where I am not distracted by things I could/should do (fold laundry, empty dishwasher, stare mindlessly at phone). </p><p><b><i>16. Clean out "playroom." </i></b> I attacked this sloped-ceiling secret room during quarantine and, guess what, it is full of everyone's sh$t again. </p><p><b><i>17. Try five new recipes.</i></b> I mean dinner recipes. Send me any ideas but keep in mind I have one child who does not eat sandwiches, one who won't touch pasta, and one who hates salmon.</p><p><b><i>18. Make Marcie's cookies.</i></b> My friend Marcie made some delicious peanut butter m & m chocolate chip cookies, and I am still thinking about them. </p><p><b><i>19. Make a new variety of puppy chow. </i></b> I love <a href="http://booksandcarbs.blogspot.com/2016/11/oh-wow-puppy-chow.html">the puppy chow I always make</a> (and gift), but I'd like to expand my repertoire.</p><p><b><i>20. Complete the cardinal paint-by-number.</i></b> I'm obsessed with cardinals. They're all over my house. I have a cardinal paint-by-number kit. Have had it for years, in fact. I'm going to paint it this year if all the paints in the kit aren't crusty and dried out. </p><p><b><i>21. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago.</i></b> I have not been there since my freshman year of college. What?! I took a screenshot of the "free days" as motivation, but it wouldn't kill me to pay either. I'd love to get one of my kids to go with me, but it may be a tough sell. </p><p><b><i>22. Visit the National Museum and Shrine of St. Therese in Darien. </i></b> There is daily mass there at 11:30 am. I can easily fit this into a weekday.</p><p><b><i>23. Develop a greens habit.</i></b> I am talking about the green powder you mix with water that is supposed to help your gut, etc. I have already dabbled here this month and ended up with some bloating and distress. Yikes. Plus, the brand of greens I bought tastes HORRIBLE. However, I am going to circle back on this soon and start with fewer ounces. </p><p><b><i>24. Track added sugar. </i></b>I am figuring out what this looks like for me. I need some controls/accountability in place so I don't go on a sugar bender (as I just did in December), but I know from experience that if I try to cut out sugar, the feelings of deprivation don't lead to good choices or results. Feeling my way here. </p><p>I also have a one-sentence guiding thought that I am working with for the year, but I'm going to keep that to myself for now. If you've made a 24 for 24 list or chosen a word for the year or made a resolution or two, I'd love to hear all about it and to cheer you on. If you're interested in getting in on any of my 24 for 24, let me know and I'll loop you in!</p><p>I am hoping to share my progress here for my 0-3 readers. <br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-60895410973221919732023-12-31T15:41:00.000-08:002023-12-31T15:41:23.386-08:002023 Reading Highlights<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z6DuOzATWkaDpkFsOKz3VoRiTGMpBtYtKY61936-hdEonFzqrpjPvPDfpouxBKTL6iGGuKe8Qr0frBv51npx6_-143a5K7qBZ0dLSI8VZ33LjY2l11fWc2BtdYgGLoiNaInY76plt5vQhZFo6P4_JefXpFe_8k0TKXiFonxoQueME1wMjwB9JMEaQW5t/s825/BandC23ReadingHighlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z6DuOzATWkaDpkFsOKz3VoRiTGMpBtYtKY61936-hdEonFzqrpjPvPDfpouxBKTL6iGGuKe8Qr0frBv51npx6_-143a5K7qBZ0dLSI8VZ33LjY2l11fWc2BtdYgGLoiNaInY76plt5vQhZFo6P4_JefXpFe_8k0TKXiFonxoQueME1wMjwB9JMEaQW5t/w466-h640/BandC23ReadingHighlights.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><p></p><p>You're not supposed to let the perfect be the enemy of the good (or the good enough) so I'm sharing this year's Reading Highlights without much commentary. I've provided mini-reviews of most of these books on Instagram -- I'm @booksandcarbs there. If you have questions about any titles, feel free to leave a comment or email me at booksandcarbs@gmail.com. The books below are 2023 releases, except where noted. The books below haven't been ranked and also aren't in alphabetical order. Again, not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good (enough).</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Fiction Highlights</b></i></span><i> </i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Foster </i>(2010) by Claire Keegan<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My Husband </i>by Maud Ventura<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store </i>by James McBride<br /><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Vintage Contemporaries</i> by Dan Kois<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Amazing Grace Adams</i> by Fran Littlewood<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Half Moon</i> by Mary Beth Keane<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Talking at Night</i> by Claire Daverley<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Search </i>(2022) by Michelle Huneven<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Foundling</i> (2022) by Ann Leary<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Home-Maker </i>(1924) by Dorothy Canfield Fisher<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rachel Incident</i> by Caroline O'Donoghue<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Maame </i>by Jessica George</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Trespasses </i>(2022)<i> </i>by Louise Kennedy <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Books I loved (and feel protective of) that you may NOT love ...</span></i></b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Death Valley</i> by Melissa Broder</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Big Swiss </i>by Jen Beagin</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Dog of the North</i> by Elizabeth McKenzie<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rabbit Hutch</i> (2022) by Tess Gunty</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Wellness </i>by Nathan Hill</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Memoir/Non-Fiction Highlights</b></i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career</i> by Kristi Coulter<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><i>Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge</i> by Helen Ellis<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing</i> by Emily Lynn Paulson<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Life in Five Senses: How Exploring My Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World</i> by Gretchen Rubin<i> </i><br /><br /><i>Wake Up with Purpose!: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years</i> by Jean Dolores Schmidt<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Write for Your Life </i>(2022) by Anna Quindlen<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>B.F.F.: A Memoir of Friendship Lost and Found</i> by Christie Tate<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings</i> (2022) by Chrysta Bilton<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>"New Books from Favorite Authors" Highlights</b></i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Somebody's Fool</i> (North Bath #3) by Richard Russo<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Five-Star Weekend</i> by Elin Hilderbrand</div><p><i>The Running Grave </i>(Cormoran Strike #7) by Robert Galbraith</p><p><i>Romantic Comedy</i> by Curtis Sittenfeld<br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-80773524877171247332023-12-31T13:38:00.000-08:002023-12-31T13:38:53.712-08:00Projecting -- December 2023<p>Creating stuff energizes me. I don't mind just trying something. When it comes to crafting, creating, arranging, etc., I do not worry about doing things perfectly. I am not hard on myself. I find joy in the doing and, when appropriate, in sharing the finished product.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0dalPlsut2OmbBfdiZRckqyApqvwYuDHz2__0DKa_7Pk8NMrxLzqiHUy5yMoxO55WunZGe-AfwF67KKyQ4UCvEYcYh16mLUrgpqcz62uZjRRcbIktwLJq4U9oH6m0JU_yeh5lhOmxdq7YLjRTV1HPCAHNdEm8FNbS3IWWe5zijef6t02cPK4bDxiAMDa/s4032/AmyCarmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0dalPlsut2OmbBfdiZRckqyApqvwYuDHz2__0DKa_7Pk8NMrxLzqiHUy5yMoxO55WunZGe-AfwF67KKyQ4UCvEYcYh16mLUrgpqcz62uZjRRcbIktwLJq4U9oH6m0JU_yeh5lhOmxdq7YLjRTV1HPCAHNdEm8FNbS3IWWe5zijef6t02cPK4bDxiAMDa/w480-h640/AmyCarmen.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the "lil projects" I enjoy is making floral arrangements. I buy my vases at Dollar Tree and the flowers at Jewel. I was meeting two friends for lunch early in December. I don't see them as often as I would like, and I wanted to bring a holiday treat but not gift-gifts that might make them feel uncomfortable (like, "Oh shit, I didn't buy her a gift). I put together these arrangements and added some of the beautiful holiday ribbon I found at Sam's Club.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGD31hj6FnxzLUgkv4DnYy2aK-yG9WunYKcjwKF-ayHk3qvJC77G2QghAsXHm1Aj9eOsxJ_DeeAoetDQ5FN_RgI-v9CbJPs3qqUZnaryNqZVB0uaPqsBBoFfdZIBbrPCwdDy_aiuV5W95driw5U35wyW1blxLaiGCZmxRsRAPnFe2vHLl0n1sj3BuPJq-/s4032/JennBday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGD31hj6FnxzLUgkv4DnYy2aK-yG9WunYKcjwKF-ayHk3qvJC77G2QghAsXHm1Aj9eOsxJ_DeeAoetDQ5FN_RgI-v9CbJPs3qqUZnaryNqZVB0uaPqsBBoFfdZIBbrPCwdDy_aiuV5W95driw5U35wyW1blxLaiGCZmxRsRAPnFe2vHLl0n1sj3BuPJq-/w480-h640/JennBday.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I also wanted to make an arrangement for a friend who was celebrating a milestone birthday. She's mad for plaid so I found this gorgeous ribbon online and chose colors that remind me of her. It was a pleasure to assemble and to share!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJur2kc9gQOgiIrBbrqPZTTeUfr-t3ZuOM3qzYJ325-ySKB27O1rPnqACySSr4ebclFQ0Zva_z9jKmUXdn8bgfJABbAnAbk77ESwnmFF9v9uAc5U_6OuscKQ-XfNXUVNscD8aErt3lMwANDv3xKB255nJjvUiWm5y_EjtIVlcmddRKqkfsWr1QqX4WtzC/s4032/IChoopsorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJur2kc9gQOgiIrBbrqPZTTeUfr-t3ZuOM3qzYJ325-ySKB27O1rPnqACySSr4ebclFQ0Zva_z9jKmUXdn8bgfJABbAnAbk77ESwnmFF9v9uAc5U_6OuscKQ-XfNXUVNscD8aErt3lMwANDv3xKB255nJjvUiWm5y_EjtIVlcmddRKqkfsWr1QqX4WtzC/w480-h640/IChoopsorn.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I am an assistant coach for eighth grade girls' basketball. My main job is to send the emails and to be on my best behavior so as not to embarrass my daughter. I wanted to give the girls on both eighth grade teams a holiday treat and a memento of their grade school basketball careers. I assembled treat bags with candy and lip gloss and then added an ornament to each as well. The ornaments were simple to make. I had plain wooden ornaments discs from Michael's (a pack of 50 is very inexpensive). I painted them orange, added the black lines with a paint pen, and used my Cricut to add the "IC '24" in royal blue vinyl. I added some Dollar Tree blue ribbon and wrote each girls' name on the back with a white paint pen. I don't know if the girls were into the ornaments (probably more of an adult thing), but they were excited about the treat bags and may appreciate the memento one day. If any of these wooden basketballs end up on one of these girls' trees in a dozen years, I will be thrilled! If not, no biggie, I enjoyed creating and gifting them. <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-33765363859724002522023-12-31T10:30:00.000-08:002023-12-31T16:22:11.082-08:002023 Year of Books -- Non-Fiction<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wendi Aarons</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I'm Wearing Tunics Now: On Growing Older, Better, and a Hell of a Lot Louder</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Pamela Anderson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Love, Pamela </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>J. Reuben Appelman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>While Idaho Slept: The Hunt for Answers in the Murders of Four College Students</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maria Bamford</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Baer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>And Yet: Poems</i> (library book)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chrysta Bilton</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sophie Blackall</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Things to Look Forward To: 52 Large and Small Joys for Today</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kristi Coulter</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Paula D'Arcy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Gift of the Red Bird: The Story of a Divine Encounter </i>(paperback) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alba Donati</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop</i> (paperback)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jill Duggar</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Counting the Cost</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Helen Ellis</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Duchess Goldblatt</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Adam Grant</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things </i>(ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Paul Greenberg</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Goodbye Phone, Hello World: 65 Ways to Disconnect from Tech and Reconnect to Joy</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Paris Hilton</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Paris Hilton: The Memoir</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Samantha Irby</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Quietly Hostile: Essays</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Moshe Kasher</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kasher
in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug
Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Minka Kelly</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tell Me Everything</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Harrison Scott Key</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Andrea Lankford</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sarah Levy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Drinking Games: A Memoir</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b> </b></i><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katherine May</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Electricity of Every Living Thing: One Woman's Walk with Asperger's</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Stephanie McNeal</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Swipe Up for More!: Inside the Unfiltered Lives of Influencers</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth Moore</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Lynn Paulson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Highlight Real: Finding Honesty & Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing</i><b> </b>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Passarella</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It Was An Ugly Couch Anyway: And Other Thoughts on Moving Forward</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Josh Peck</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Happy People Are Annoying</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amy Krouse Rosenthal </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gretchen Rubin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World </i>(hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jean Dolores Schmidt</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Wake Up With Purpose!: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Britney Spears</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Woman in Me</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>John Stamos</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If You Would Have Told Me</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nina Stibbe</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Went to London, Took the Dog: A Diary </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Anna Quindlen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Write for Your Life</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christie Tate</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>BFF: A Memoir of Friendship Lost and Found</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Taylor Wolfe</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Birdie & Harlow: Life, Loss, and Loving My Dog So Much I Didn't Want Kids</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p><b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library, and Libby Apps). </i></b> <br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-78264721136394812612023-12-31T10:00:00.000-08:002023-12-31T16:20:00.252-08:002023 Year of Books -- Fiction<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Clare Alexander</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Meredith Alone</i> (audiobook via Libby)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Allison Ashley</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Would You Rather</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Jane Austen</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Sense and Sensibility</i>* (audiobook via Audible)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Kristen Bailey</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Five Gold Rings </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Julia Bartz</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Writing Retreat </i>(audiobook via Libby) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Jen Beagin</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Big Swiss</i> (library book) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Audrey Bellezza</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Emma of 83rd Street</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Katy Birchall</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Wedding Season</i> (audiobook via Audible)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Last Word</i> (audiobook via Audible) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Melissa Broder</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Death Valley</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </span><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Audrey Burges</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Truman Capote</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Breakfast at Tiffany's </i>(audiobook via Audible) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Katherine Center</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Hello Stranger </i>(hardcover) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Elysha Chang</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>A Quitter's Paradise</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Kirstin Chen</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Counterfeit</i> (audiobook via Libby) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Martin Clark</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Plinko Bounce</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Kate Clayborn</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Georgie, All Along</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Emma Cline</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Guest </i>(ebook via Cloud Library) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Jenny Colgan</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Lessons at the School by the Sea</i> (Maggie Adair #3, ebook via Cloud Library) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop</i> (audiobook via Libby) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Laurie Colwin</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>A Big Storm Knocked It Over </i>(ebook)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Sara Goodman Confino</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Don't Forget to Write</i> (ebook) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>For the Love of Friends</i> (ebook)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Tara Conklin</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Community Board</i> (library book)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Sophie Cousens</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Good Part</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Rachel Koller Croft</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Stone Cold Fox</i> (audiobook via Libby) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Noelle Crooks</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Under the Influence </i>(audiobook via Libby) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Lavender's Blue</i> (Liz Danger #1, paperback)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Claire Daverley</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Talking at Night</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Terri-Lynne DeFino</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story</i> (audiobook via Libby) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Jen DeLuca</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Well Traveled</i> (Well Met #4, library book) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Marcy Dermansky</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Hurricane Girl </i>(audiobook via libby)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Lian Dolan</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Lost and Found in Paris</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </span><b><span> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Jennifer Egan</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Candy House </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>J.T. Ellison</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It's One of Us </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Edna Ferber</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Dawn O'Hara: The Girl Who Laughed</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dorothy Canfield Fisher</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Home-Maker </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Forster</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Christmas Wishes at Pudding Hall </i>(audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Upside Down Christmas</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Christmas Star</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Daisy Alpert Florin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My Last Innocent Year</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elyse Friedman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Opportunist</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Robert Galbraith</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Running Grave</i> (Cormoran Strike #7, audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jessica George</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Maame</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Xochitl Gonzalez</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Olga Dies Dreaming </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tess Gunty</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rabbit Hutch</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Janice Hallett</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Appeal</i> (The Appeal #1, audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Christmas Appeal</i> (The Appeal #1.5 via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hanna Halperin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Could Live Here Forever </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane Harper</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Exiles</i> (Aaron Falk #3, audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katherine Heiny</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Games and Rituals</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Single, Carefree, Mellow</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Monica Heisey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Really Good, Actually</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Henry</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Happy Place</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sally Hepworth</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Soulmate</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kristan Higgins</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Little Ray of Sunshine </i>(ebook via Cloud Library)<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elin Hilderbrand</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Five-Star Weekend</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter Street*</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter Stroll*</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter Storms*</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter Solstice* </i>(audiobook vis Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nathan Hill</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Wellness</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Michelle Hoffman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Second Ending</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gill Hornby</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Godmersham Park</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Michelle Huneven</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Search</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Jackson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pineapple Street</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Balli Kaur Jaswal</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Now You See Us</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emiko Jean</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mika in Real Life</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Abby Jiminez</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Yours Truly </i>(Part of Your World #2, audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ethan Joella</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Quiet Life (</i>audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Little Hope </i>(audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sophie Kinsella</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Burnout </i>(audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mary Beth Keane</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Half Moon </i>(ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Claire Keegan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Foster </i>(ebook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dan Kois</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Vintage Contemporaries</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>R.F. Kuang</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Yellowface</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mary Kubica</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Just the Nicest Couple</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christina Lauren</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The True Love Experiment</i> (audiobook) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Honeymoon Crashers</i> (Unhoneymooners #1.5, audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tracey Lange</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Connellys of County Down</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ann Leary</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Foundling</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elinor Lipman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Rachel to the Rescue</i> (ebook)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Fran Littlewood</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Amazing Grace Adams</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kim Lock</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Other Side of Beautiful </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lindsay Lynch</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Do Tell</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kathryn Ma</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Chinese Groove</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portia Macintosh</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Better Off Wed </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Faking Game</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Long Time, No Sea</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rebecca Makkai</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Have Some Questions for You</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jessa Maxwell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Golden Spoon</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>James McBride</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mhairi McFarlane</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Between Us</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth McKenzie</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Dog of the North</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dervla McTiernan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wrong One</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Mollen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>City of Likes (</i>audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Annabel Monaghan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Same Time Next Summer </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Meg Mitchell Moore</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Summer Stage</i> (hardcover)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amelia P. Morris</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Wildcat</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Morrow</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Pint of Judgement </i>(hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jojo Moyes</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Someone Else's Shoes</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tim Murphy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Speech Team</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Matthew Norman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Charm City Rocks </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Onyi Nwabineli</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Someday, Maybe</i> (audiobook) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Caroline O'Donoghue</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rachel Incident</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth O'Leary</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wake-Up Call </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lynn Painter</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mr. Wrong Number </i>(Mr. Wrong Number #1, audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Love Wager </i>(Mr. Wrong Number #2, audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Better than the Movies</i> (Better than the Movies #1, ebook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Accidentally Amy</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ann Patchett</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tom Lake </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amy Poeppel</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Sweet Spot</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tirzah Price</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pride and Premeditation</i> (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1, audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Andrew Ridker</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hope</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane L. Rosen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>On Fire Island</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Rosenblum</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Bad Summer People</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Richard Russo</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Somebody's Fool </i>(Sully #3, audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Anastasia Ryan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You Should Smile More</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julie Schumacher</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Shakespeare Requirement </i>(Jason Fitger #2, audiobook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The English Experience</i> (Jason Fitger #3, audiobook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Caitlin Shetterly</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pete and Alice in Maine </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Curtis Sittenfeld</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Romantic Comedy</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kylie Scott</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>End of Story</i> (ebook)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Leeanne Slade</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rebound</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elissa R. Sloan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hayley Aldridge Is Still Here</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Jane Smiley</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>A Dangerous Business </i>(audiobook via Libby) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Rachel Lynn Solomon</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Business or Pleasure</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Cindy Steel</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Faking Christmas</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) </span><i><span> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>D.E. Stevenson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Green Money </i>(ebook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Bel Lamington</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Fair Miss Fortune</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sarah Strohmeyer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>We Love to Entertain</i> (audiobook)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Booth Tarkington </span></b><span><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Alice Adams</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Maud Ventura</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>My Husband</i> (library book)<br /><b> </b> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span>Elizabeth Von Armin</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>The Enchanted April*</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Catherine Walsh</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Holiday Romance</i> (Fitzpatrick Christmas #1, paperback) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Jenny Xie</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i>Holding Pattern</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Laura Zigman</b></span></div><p><span><i>Small World</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </span></p><p><b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library, and Libby Apps). </i></b><span><br /></span></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-25084850063252851592023-12-30T19:08:00.000-08:002023-12-31T13:16:37.822-08:00Update ... I'm a Ringleader.<p>In a rare burst of authorly energy, I posted earlier in December about five extras I was going to try to fit in during the holiday season and dubbed these my "Five Golden Rings." NTB, but I did accomplish all five, with varying degrees of success.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9st-5mH5JtnbUEfS31mptEBftYzUv-c5wpQAiR1GHgJNqOQBYG5swiV1j-_1G1MA8rBkIgbZzUJPBnRD45rDp5kVGM8AUDoALJkfVFdzYlIjhMvQIjHGl_5ViKeogZmUMuEh99EsNinN5YM_4zVFqeXAHuflCWERuwKemyzWJ8Vcxq7rmYXn47VMht4Yq/s4032/WL1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9st-5mH5JtnbUEfS31mptEBftYzUv-c5wpQAiR1GHgJNqOQBYG5swiV1j-_1G1MA8rBkIgbZzUJPBnRD45rDp5kVGM8AUDoALJkfVFdzYlIjhMvQIjHGl_5ViKeogZmUMuEh99EsNinN5YM_4zVFqeXAHuflCWERuwKemyzWJ8Vcxq7rmYXn47VMht4Yq/w300-h400/WL1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b><i>1. </i></b><i><b>Walk the </b></i><b><a href="https://www.obparks.org/special-events/winter-lights-central-park">Winter Lights at Central Park</a></b><i><b> in Oak Brook</b></i>. <br /><p></p><p>This one was easy peasy! My daughter had two Friday night basketball games at the Oak Brook Park District. She has to arrive thirty minutes before her games so she and my hubby went inside after we parked the car, and I walked down to the Winter Lights. The weather was balmy so the walking path was crowded with families and strollers, etc. I couldn't walk in speed mode, but I enjoyed the jaunt and refrained from barrelling anyone over. These lights are cheerful and free and they stay up until sometime in February. Perhaps I'll go back in 2024! <br /></p><p> <b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaFjbuxZpLWILxJ7dNTVbKbsZZ6O3JxF_XV_YFPvxdIh6agoI-CWyhjdwe11y3WdAQ5XjEVvDTZVEf3HV_U19fPYaCSpYbbT5DCgDVzSeXN3B6krwXwVTyrs0xRSG1NcRy7A3LLr6OYqRRT4AMYYciNpuJbu8TCuudpCoCQsp6qJOfXcRch67Da96IEVr/s4032/MCC.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaFjbuxZpLWILxJ7dNTVbKbsZZ6O3JxF_XV_YFPvxdIh6agoI-CWyhjdwe11y3WdAQ5XjEVvDTZVEf3HV_U19fPYaCSpYbbT5DCgDVzSeXN3B6krwXwVTyrs0xRSG1NcRy7A3LLr6OYqRRT4AMYYciNpuJbu8TCuudpCoCQsp6qJOfXcRch67Da96IEVr/w300-h400/MCC.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><b><i> 2. Sit on the couch with my kids and watch the Mickey Christmas special of their choice.</i></b> <p></p><p>We didn't fit this one in until late afternoon on Christmas Day. It wasn't a fail, but it wasn't the special cozy moment I'd been imagining. My kids aren't 6, 4, and 2 anymore. They're 17, 15, and 13. They all reported for duty and my husband settled in as well. We watched the the one where Goofy's son Max loses his faith in Santa Claus and the one where Huey, Dewey, and Louie repeat Christmas Day over and over again until they learn the true meaning of Christmas. We are in a new Christmas era and that's okay. <br /><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> </p><p> <i><b> </b></i></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv-hOpY8ZuwaTYJg52weMiHHadCn2BFKu8Ys7NFbEGxEqoRJJVB6CLoMsn7VPF_w7pHE_HRA34R-FXXbkQR0_Or4b-g7_5jbReHAb9OBM03bF9TWC9YoAHL6RyMsDSoFmmRgr5nrmGvcfIWPad3oiaLEQaAotd9c5ebcAPYt2uIPcgsgNSoxM31symOMa/s4032/EHM1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv-hOpY8ZuwaTYJg52weMiHHadCn2BFKu8Ys7NFbEGxEqoRJJVB6CLoMsn7VPF_w7pHE_HRA34R-FXXbkQR0_Or4b-g7_5jbReHAb9OBM03bF9TWC9YoAHL6RyMsDSoFmmRgr5nrmGvcfIWPad3oiaLEQaAotd9c5ebcAPYt2uIPcgsgNSoxM31symOMa/w300-h400/EHM1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><i><b>3. Walk to Elmhurst History Museum and enjoy the </b></i><b><a href="https://www.elmhursthistory.org/exhibits/current-exhibits/">Lost Chicagoland Department Stores</a> </b><i><b>exhibit.</b></i> <p></p><p>I totally did this! I walked over late afternoon on a Friday and spent about thirty minutes taking in this exhibit. I did NOT grow up in Chicagoland so had very few personal memories or ties to these department stores, but I still enjoyed thinking about the elegance and elevation of the old-fashioned department store experience. I have my own special memories of taking the bus to the downtown (Hamilton, OH) Elder-Beerman, having lunch with my Grandma Hinkel in their tea room, and her treating me to cinnamon bears at their candy counter. I also have fond memories of visiting various holiday windows and displays in downtown Cincinnati as a girl. <br /><br /><br /></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b></p><p><b><i>4. Do one "extra thing" at church.</i></b> </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGtC9dY4EZ8bVO9rM61fKb12mT065XZ7QJiglMEAsrio5kaa9cNVpcBRXkIF62LmNLkEPM9ceIQwXa2DXaBOMIs1CSYKQHi_cI3_Ahqm03qLF-BxXjDXXE8EjYWFD2I0DiLBwYFcBedWqKGGJzST5Jic6R3q7Z7W11JbwsqbTi8aqrtZjDo9R3YFyOeaU/s4032/Nativity1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGtC9dY4EZ8bVO9rM61fKb12mT065XZ7QJiglMEAsrio5kaa9cNVpcBRXkIF62LmNLkEPM9ceIQwXa2DXaBOMIs1CSYKQHi_cI3_Ahqm03qLF-BxXjDXXE8EjYWFD2I0DiLBwYFcBedWqKGGJzST5Jic6R3q7Z7W11JbwsqbTi8aqrtZjDo9R3YFyOeaU/w300-h400/Nativity1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The empty stable early in December.</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgOXfQFltXB6rA5KuirN3YVo0SQ7IuKvBrW0pSP77FDwLxy4djwwjkCstIHfkLZxarOCIoqE4tGTJAZ_Qmftd7QQfBzlQQwD_nIBnRGJMyipfpR90Sqx6T1r8o9-x-MchFzpqU8qjRjJ_bmXrPoZRyj7sFWeuR2xK7LgzJUx2cbF8DdxklgXtUHgPEIOG/s4032/Nativity2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgOXfQFltXB6rA5KuirN3YVo0SQ7IuKvBrW0pSP77FDwLxy4djwwjkCstIHfkLZxarOCIoqE4tGTJAZ_Qmftd7QQfBzlQQwD_nIBnRGJMyipfpR90Sqx6T1r8o9-x-MchFzpqU8qjRjJ_bmXrPoZRyj7sFWeuR2xK7LgzJUx2cbF8DdxklgXtUHgPEIOG/w300-h400/Nativity2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Full house on Christmas Night</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><p></p><p>I actually did two "extra things" at church, but neither required much effort so I am not patting myself on the back too hard. One was that I went to 7:30am mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception since, due to space constraints, parents were discouraged from attending the more convenient school celebration. Not bitter at all. I'm fine. Seriously though, I felt like the mass meant more to me because my husband and I had to work a bit to get there. The other thing I did was attend the lighting of the stable after 4:30 mass. We processed outside, sang a few Christmas carols, and the lights were turned on so we could all see ... the empty stable. It was a little chilly, but sweet, and there were cookies afterward (inside). Also sweet. To be honest, this activity would typically have been a tough sell for my family, but because my daughter was altar serving and had to process out for the lighting, it was easy for my husband and I to attend as well. I had intended to try and attend one of the evenings of reflection, prayer, and music, but I didn't make it. Next year! </p><p><b><i>5. Make </i><a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/peppermint-crunch-puppy-chow/">Peppermint Crunch Puppy Chow</a><i> and share with a friend. </i></b> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUL1e5K2XhBNAFJhaOdk8nbQGYLcQJxNgc9xkMONT3oPSlvJwMYjXLUQCYAZCIAbb29NX4KyMk0zfTE3RjStckXULHCLTXrlI30bBq3IvIvjGyfrRBlFoQNN3WMfFLf_S-KEQJSJfyhrG-W-BzAuWXG-MPyGRQTk8OS8piM_bTBYadf7DcyIo_g9_F5Ms/s4032/PC1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUL1e5K2XhBNAFJhaOdk8nbQGYLcQJxNgc9xkMONT3oPSlvJwMYjXLUQCYAZCIAbb29NX4KyMk0zfTE3RjStckXULHCLTXrlI30bBq3IvIvjGyfrRBlFoQNN3WMfFLf_S-KEQJSJfyhrG-W-BzAuWXG-MPyGRQTk8OS8piM_bTBYadf7DcyIo_g9_F5Ms/w300-h400/PC1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNWcSDkw3TaMZSpehFU7p4MC6XpiMOlRs-NV7tYi14vUfm4TaslsmDAZsdJdgrZVyyUzFv_AoeMkerDmA1yQtoZWXUZ68a9ixkA-eJ2z1AVN4SlRKczc1ed6U59DDPU_vewBazkBUr9mdSbEOWnWvY6LzXlp9DM1eyI-DEqktBkOR43ccFlR9xj6Mu4hh/s4032/PC2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNWcSDkw3TaMZSpehFU7p4MC6XpiMOlRs-NV7tYi14vUfm4TaslsmDAZsdJdgrZVyyUzFv_AoeMkerDmA1yQtoZWXUZ68a9ixkA-eJ2z1AVN4SlRKczc1ed6U59DDPU_vewBazkBUr9mdSbEOWnWvY6LzXlp9DM1eyI-DEqktBkOR43ccFlR9xj6Mu4hh/w300-h400/PC2.jpg" width="300" /></a> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I made it, but I didn't share it with a friend because my family's
overwhelming reaction was "meh." To be fair, not one of them is a
peppermint fan so I'm not sure why I thought this would be a hit. Worth
a try! I made <a href="https://booksandcarbs.blogspot.com/2016/11/oh-wow-puppy-chow.html">my own perfect puppy chow</a> right before Christmas and
shared that with friends instead. </p><p>While I wouldn't categorize any of my "five golden rings" as life-changing, most were pleasant and positive and not one was arduous. By writing them down and publishing them for my 0-3 blog readers, I felt a sense of accountability that was stronger than me <i>shoulda woulda coulda-ing</i> to myself about getting to the Winter Lights or checking out that exhibit before it ends. Inspired by the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction I feel from grabbing these five golden rings, I have made a list of 24 for 24 that I will be using to get more out of life in the year to come. Stay tuned. <br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-50505045330409357242023-12-05T17:33:00.000-08:002023-12-05T20:08:18.605-08:005 Golden Rings<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9832XkqkXNrm_olmnr7M4AfV2a341CHVJRv2eeEg2VngJBiuKJtKsXJsUDCrn-5tsv4-P2sTLakSsIdhxH7LRvFMtVMgY2oLnzGdk7VHlhLEebHn9Gcncz6W-O-YFHKzxWM6spHyhLaddth6rQlhAb8PotzwYwgOpuDp4ictqMs3csK1t7zLgsXDuC1p/s2049/IMG_1002.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9832XkqkXNrm_olmnr7M4AfV2a341CHVJRv2eeEg2VngJBiuKJtKsXJsUDCrn-5tsv4-P2sTLakSsIdhxH7LRvFMtVMgY2oLnzGdk7VHlhLEebHn9Gcncz6W-O-YFHKzxWM6spHyhLaddth6rQlhAb8PotzwYwgOpuDp4ictqMs3csK1t7zLgsXDuC1p/w480-h640/IMG_1002.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>It's December 5th. I have two trees up, more than a few gifts secured, and my cards ordered. I've attended four holiday events and have some more to go. There have and will be plenty of opportunities to feel festive and connect with friends and loved ones. <p></p><p>As my kids get older and I get wiser, pulling it all together gets a little easier and little less stressful and chaotic. I never quite feel that I have achieved the ideal Advent state of anticipation and stillness, but I've made progress.<br /></p><p>However, there are always the extras you hope to add to the mix during the Christmas season that usually don't end up happening. For example, I always think about how wonderful it would be to make ornaments to attach to gifts, host a caroling party for my daughter's classmates, take a family drive to hit the coolest Christmas lights, or finally make it to The Walnut Room after 22 years of living in Chicago. </p><p>But ... baby steps. <br /></p><p>This year I'm aiming for five little things ... my "Five Golden Rings" for December 2023. If I go 0/5 or 4/5, so be it, but I'm sharing them here for accountability and inspiration.</p><p> </p><p><b style="background-color: #ffe599;">My "5 Golden Rings" for December 2023</b><br /></p><p><b><i>1. </i></b><i><b>Walk the </b></i><b><a href="https://www.obparks.org/special-events/winter-lights-central-park">Winter Lights at Central Park</a></b><i><b> in Oak Brook</b></i>. This is a short but enchanting walk through the woods at the Oak Brook Park District. Best not attempted on a bitterly cold evening but delightful on a mild night or with proper bundling. Bonus points if I get a kid or friend to join me, but walking it alone would still count.</p><p> <b><i>2. Sit on the couch with my kids and watch the Mickey Christmas special of their choice.</i></b> <i>Once Upon a Christmas. Twice Upon a Christmas. Mickey's Christmas Carol. </i> Any one of these gems will do. It is a cliche, but I feel like it was five minutes ago that my kids had wet post-bath hair and Christmas footie pajamas. My oldest goes to college next year, and I am craving this moment on the couch with my squad.</p><p> <i><b>3. Walk to Elmhurst History Museum and enjoy the </b></i><b><a href="https://www.elmhursthistory.org/exhibits/current-exhibits/">Lost Chicagoland Department Stores</a> </b><i><b>exhibit.</b></i> I drive or walk past the EHM multiple times each day. I notice the signage for the current exhibit and think, "Oh, that sounds cool, I will check it out." And then, I don't. It is free and a five-minute walk from my house. Again, bonus points if I get a kid or friend to go with me, but solo is fine too.</p><p><b><i>4. Do one "extra thing" at church.</i></b> Concert? Prayer service? Early morning weekday mass? A talk? Dealer's choice. </p><p><b><i>5. Make </i><a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/peppermint-crunch-puppy-chow/">Peppermint Crunch Puppy Chow</a><i> and share with a friend. </i></b> I love making and consuming my own special-recipe puppy chow. My college roommate blew her family's minds with a Peppermint Crunch Puppy Chow that she debuted at Thanksgiving. I'm going to give it a whirl. We don't bake Christmas cookies or make fudge or pour melted chocolate into holiday-shaped molds around here, but we can expand our puppy chow repertoire. </p><p>Stay tuned. <br /></p><p><br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-88118884133725308402023-10-04T09:25:00.004-07:002023-10-04T09:28:15.680-07:00The Buffett Way (Not Warren)<p>Can I rightly claim the title "Parrothead"? I suspect not, but I also suspect Jimmy Buffett would never have asked me or anyone to produce a membership card or state their case with evidence. I have been a casual Buffett fan since high school. Growing up in Greater Cincinnati, it was hard not to be. Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band visited Cincy's River Bend outdoor concert venue for multiple-night stands year after year. I attended two of those River Bend concerts in the 90s and saw Buffett with my husband and some friends at Wrigley Field in 2005. I've visited Key West on three occasions (not that I ran into Jimmy Buffett there, but I associate him with the place and its spirit). I have a magnet purchased at a Cheeseburger in Paradise burger spot, but for the life of me, I can't recall when and where I sampled that famous burger. I remember that I liked it, as is true for most of my cheeseburger encounters. <br /></p><p>I'm not a deep tracks Buffett fan, but every track on the album <i>Songs You Know By Heart</i> is ... a song I know by heart. I'd probably be fine if I never heard "Margaritaville" again and I reached my max on "Cheeseburger in Paradise" a few summers ago when I introduced it to my kids and we ended up blasting it in the Odyssey almost daily.</p><p>I never thought about how I'd feel when Jimmy Buffett passed away, but turns out, I felt pretty sad and then, after days of listening to my favorite of the songs I know by heart, pretty grateful. My forty-eight year old self couldn't help but marvel at the cleverness and wisdom of the lyrics. My friend Kristin (who introduced me to Buffett because she had cool older siblings) and I have been texting about Buffett songs and it's been fun to connect about this music we both love, appreciate, and understand. It's been over a month since his passing, and no one asked for my deep thoughts on Jimmy Buffett's life and work. I don't know that I have many deep thoughts, except to reflect that if you've created music that has brought people joy and hope and fun and community and escape from everyday drudgery, you've made the world a better place. I wanted to record the Buffett lyrics that mean the most to me in the hopes that I'll remember to press play on Buffett when I need him. Here they are ...<br /></p><p><b>From "Changes in Latitude"</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If it suddenly ended tomorrow I could somehow adjust to the fall</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches I've seen more than I can recall </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Oh, yesterday's over my shoulder, so I can't look back for too long</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>There's just too much to see waiting in front of me and </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I know that I just can't go wrong</i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>With these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Nothing remains quite the same</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>With all of my running and all of my cunning</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If I couldn't laugh I just would go insane</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If we couldn't laugh we just would go insane</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If we weren't all crazy we would go insane</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From "Pirate Looks at Forty"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From "Fins"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>She came down from Cincinnati</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It took her three days on a train</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Looking for some peace and quiet</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hoped to see the sun again.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From "Come Monday"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I hope you're enjoying the scenery</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I know that it's pretty up there</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>We can go hiking on Tuesday</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>With you I'd walk anywhere</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>California has worn me quite thin</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I just can't wait to see you again</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Come Monday, it'll be all right</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From "Son of a Son of a Sailor"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I have chalked up many a mile</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>And I learned much from both of their styles</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;">and</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>That our forefathers harnessed before us</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hear the bells ring as the right rigging sings</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It's a son of a gun of a chorus</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If I knew I might toss out my anchor</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>So I cruise along always searchin' for songs</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Not a lawyer a thief or a banker</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>And the moment that really choked me up from "He Went to Paris"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> Now he lives in the island, fishes the pilin's</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>And drinks his green label each day</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>He's writing his memoirs and losing his hearing</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>But he don't care what most people say</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Through 86 years of perpetual motion</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If he likes you he'll smile and he'll say</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Jimmy, some of it's magic, some of it's tragic</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>But I had a good life all the way</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope I can say the same ... some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-60332470663562514672023-01-30T13:18:00.006-08:002023-01-30T13:18:40.703-08:002022 Reading Highlights<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1Bu91Nu1WIqPtoQv5EamD3ZKOdky96wWukoiShsqVaiAPGXSdpAWLEp8mC-RbpfVP24VwgllQZls70iCaggQ3sCzqtBIdV_ChmxVTPBb5eNsHNXUvezghaLxDoX0p8rxjkXkO10DNWAGH9iN2-FPrWfEUItk8ir2tB3bgL4YaUh-2UDnCpZ71JeHhQ/s750/2023ReadingHighlightsGraphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1Bu91Nu1WIqPtoQv5EamD3ZKOdky96wWukoiShsqVaiAPGXSdpAWLEp8mC-RbpfVP24VwgllQZls70iCaggQ3sCzqtBIdV_ChmxVTPBb5eNsHNXUvezghaLxDoX0p8rxjkXkO10DNWAGH9iN2-FPrWfEUItk8ir2tB3bgL4YaUh-2UDnCpZ71JeHhQ/w512-h640/2023ReadingHighlightsGraphic.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p></p><p>And, here you have them, my reading highlights of 2022. I'm just sharing titles, authors, and loose categories. If you want to know more about any of the titles, message me or check my Instagram @booksandcarbs where I have posted mini reviews of all the books listed below. Unless otherwise indicated, these books are 2022 releases. </p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Fiction Highlights</b></i></span><i> </i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>People Person </i>by Candice Carty-Williams <i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Boy Swallows Universe</i> (2018) by Trent Dalton<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Lessons in Chemistry</i> by Bonnie Garmus<br /><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Christie Affair</i> by Nina de Gramont</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The All of It</i> (1986) by Jeanette Haien <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Demon Copperhead</i> by Barbara Kingsolver</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Betty</i> (2020) by Tiffany McDaniel<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The No Show </i>by Beth O’Leary<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Maid</i> by Nita Prose</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>This Time Tomorrow</i> by Emma Straub<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Remarkably Bright Creatures</i> by Shelby Van Pelt<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow </i>by Gabrielle Zevin </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Memoir/Non-Fiction Highlights</b></i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>How to Keep House While Drowning</i> by KC Davis</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><i>Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know</i> (2021) by Adam Grant <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music (</i>2021) by Dave Grohl </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Want to Thank You: How a Year of Gratitude Can Bring Joy and Meaning in a Disconnected World</i> by Gina Hamadey<i> </i><br /><br /><i>Breaking Free: How I Escaped My Father--Warren Jeffs--Polygamy, and the FLDS Cult</i> (2017) by Rachel Jeffs </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I'm Glad My Mom Died</i> by Jeanette McCurdy</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Did Ye Hear Mammy Died</i> by Seamas O'Reilly</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>This Will Be Funny Later</i> by Jenny Pentland <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hello, Molly! </i>by Molly Shannon </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>"New Books from Favorite Authors" Highlights</b></i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Smells Like Tween Spirit</i> (Class Mom #4) by Laurie Gelman</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Meant To Be</i> by Emily Giffin </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Hotel Nantucket</i> by Elin Hilderbrand</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A World of Curiosities </i>(Chief Inspector Gamache #18) by Louise Penny<br /></div><p> <br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-52374040471934689902023-01-02T13:49:00.001-08:002023-02-04T13:50:32.746-08:002022 Year of Books -- Non-Fiction<p><span style="color: #990000;"><b>2022 MEMOIRS, ESSAYS, and OTHER NON-FICTION</b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Selma Blair</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Oliver Burkeman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Allie Casazza</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Your Life</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Liesl Clark</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: Discover the Joy of Spending Less, Sharing More, and Living Generously</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Anderson Cooper</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>John Crist</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Delete That: And Other Failed Attempts to Look Good Online</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>K.C. Davis</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Minnie Driver</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Office BFFs: Tales of <u>The Office</u> from Two Best Friends Who Were There</i> (library book) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lauren Graham</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Have I Told You This Already?: Stories I Don't Want to Forget to Remember</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>John Green</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Anthropocene Reviewed </i>(audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jennifer Grey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Out of the Corner</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rachel Jeffs</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Breaking Free: How I Escaped My Father--Warren Jeffs--Polygamy, and the FLDS Cult </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ralph Macchio</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me </i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jeanette McCurdy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I'm Glad My Mom Died</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Shauna Niequist</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working </i>(hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Zibby Owens</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Literature</i> (ebook via Kindle First Reads)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Seamus O'Reilly</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mary Laura Philpott</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives</i> (library book)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christine Platt</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living With Less</i> (library book)<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Priscilla Beaulieu Presley</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Elvis and Me </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>David Sedaris</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Happy-Go-Lucky</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tim Sommer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Only Wanna Be with You: The Inside Story of Hootie & the Blowfish</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Philip Van Doren Stern</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> <br /></b></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ali Wentworth</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Ali's Well That Ends Well: Tales of Desperation and a Little Inspiration </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Casey Wilson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wreckage of My Presence</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library, and Libby Apps). </i></b></div><p> </p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-49188586277648464182023-01-02T13:31:00.003-08:002023-02-04T13:51:18.976-08:002022 Year of Books -- Fiction<p> <span style="color: #990000;"><b>2022 FICTION</b></span><b> </b><br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lyssa Kay Adams</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Very Merry Bromance </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alexandra Andrews</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Who is Maud Dixon? </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Louis Bayard</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Jackie and Me</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>B.K. Borison</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Lovelight Farms</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julie Buxbaum</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Year on Fire </i>(ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Candice Carty-Williams</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>People Person</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katherine Center</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Bodyguard</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ann Cleves</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Long Call</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jennifer Close</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Marrying the Ketchups</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Colgan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>An Island Wedding</i> (Mure #5) (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Welcome to the School by the Sea</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katie Cotugno</b></div><i>Birds of California</i> (audibook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sophie Cousens</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Before I Do</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Trent Dalton</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Boy Swallows Universe</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Andrew DeYoung</b></div><i>The Temps</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Robert Galbraith</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Ink Black Heart </i>(Cormoran Strike #6) (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bonnie Garmus</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Lessons in Chemistry</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laurie Gelman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Smells Like Tween Spirit</i> (library book) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Giffin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Meant to Be</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nina De Gramont</b></div><i>The Christie Affair </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elly Griffith</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Stranger Diaries</i> (Harbinder #1) (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jasmine Guillory</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Drunk on Love</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jeannette Haien</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The All of It </i>(ebook via Cloud Library)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Greer Hendricks</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Golden Couple</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Henry</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Book Lovers</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sally Hepworth</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Unchartered Waters</i> (audiobook via Audible) <b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Younger Wife</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kristan Higgins</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Out of the Clear Blue Sky</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elin Hilderbrand</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Hotel Nantucket </i>(hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sarah Hogle</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Twice Shy</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Linda Holmes</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Flying Solo</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Abby Jiminez</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Part of Your World</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Louise Kennedy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Trespasses</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Marian Keyes</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Again, Rachel </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barbara Kingsolver</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Demon Copperhead</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jean Hanff Korelitz</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Latecomer</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elinor Lipman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Ms. Demeanor</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sarah Lotz</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Impossible Us</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lia Louis</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Eight Perfect Hours</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portia MacIntosh</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Just Date and See </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Meet Cute Method</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Single All The Way </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Joyce Maynard</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Influencer: A Short Story</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lauren McBrayer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Like a House on Fire</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mhairi McFarlane</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mad About You</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dervla McTiernan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Murder Rule</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jean Meltzer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Matzah Ball</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lydia Millet</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Dinosaurs</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Denise Mina</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Confidence </i>(audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Annabel Monaghan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Nora Goes Off Script </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Margarita Montimore</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Acts of Violet</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Meg Mitchell Moore</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Vacationland</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth Morrey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Delphine Jones Takes a Chance</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maggie O'Farrell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Marriage Portrait</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth O'Leary</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The No-Show</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>George Orwell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Animal Farm</i>* (paperback) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Louise Penny</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A World of Curiosities</i> (Chief Inspector Gamache, #18) (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tom Perrotta</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tracy Flick Can't Win</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosamunde Pilcher</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter Solstice*</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Claire Pooley</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alexandra Potter</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jessica Redland</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Making Wishes at Bay View</i> (audiobook via Audible Unlimited)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Taylor Jenkins Reid</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Carrie Soto is Back </i>(audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jason Rekulak</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hidden Pictures</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane L. Rosen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Shoe Story</i> (audibook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kamila Shamsie</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Best of Friends</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maggie Shipstead</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You Have a Friend in 10A: Stories </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Spencer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>In a New York Minute</i> (ebook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julia Spiro</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Full</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wallace Stegner</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Angle of Repose</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Crossing to Safety</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nina Stibbe</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>One Day I Shall Astonish the World</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Straub</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>This Time Tomorrow</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lynn Steger Strong</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Flight</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Strout</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Lucy by the Sea</i> (Amgash #4) (audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elissa Sussman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Funny You Should Ask </i>(audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Anthony Trollope</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Christmas at Thompson Hall</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Warden</i> (Chronicles of Barsetshire, #1) (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Anne Tyler</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>French Braid</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Shelby Van Pelt</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Remarkably Bright Creatures</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosie Walsh</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Love of my Life</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jennifer Weiner </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Summer Place</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><b>Julia Whelan</b><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Thank You for Listening</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Charmaine Wilkerson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Black Cake </i>(audiobook via Libby)<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tia Williams</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Seven Days in June</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julia Whelan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Thank You for Listening</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kevin Wilson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Now Is Not the Time to Panic</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kerry Winfrey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Just Another Love Song</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gabrielle Zevin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library, and Libby Apps). </i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><b> </b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-81883596977412997492022-01-02T15:37:00.001-08:002022-08-14T15:38:25.854-07:002021 Year of Reading -- Non-Fiction<p> <span style="color: #990000;"><b>2021 MEMOIRS, ESSAYS, and OTHER NON-FICTION</b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Liz Alterman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sad Sacked: A Memoir</i> (audiobook via Audible) <b></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sam Anderson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Boom
Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its
Apocalyptic Weather, Ist Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of
Becoming a World-class Metropolis </i> </div><div style="text-align: left;">(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maeve Binchy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Maeve's Times</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cheryl Diamond</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Oonagh Duncan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Healthy as F*ck: The Habits You Need to Get Lean, Stay Healthy, and Kick Ass at Life</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;">(audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Forrest</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Your Voice in My Head</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Danielle Henderson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Ugly Cry</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Carl Hiaasen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Downhill Life: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Olivia Hussey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Girl on the Balcony: Olivia Hussey Finds Life after Romeo and Juliet</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Marian Keyes </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Making It Up As I Go Along</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Joseph Langford</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Thirst: 40 Days with Mother Teresa</i> (paperback)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Michael Leviton</b><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>To Be Honest</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Andrew McCarthy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Brat: An 80s Story</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Matthew McConaughey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Greenlights</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hayley Mills</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Forever Young</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amanda Montell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Passarella</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ann Patchett</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>These Precious Days: Essays</i> (audiobook via Audible)<i> </i> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tom Rath</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life (audiobook via Audible Included)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Seth Rogen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Yearbook</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maggie Rowe</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sin Bravely: My Great Escape from Evangelical Hell </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sara Schaefer</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Grand: A Memoir</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>David Sedaris</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020 </i>(audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Themes and Variations</i> (audiobook via Audible Included) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maggie Smith</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change (</i>hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ray Studevent</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Black Sheep: A Blue-Eyed Negro Speaks of Abandonment, Belonging, Racism, and Redemption </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laura Tremaine</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First: 10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;">(ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nina Willner</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall </i></div><div style="text-align: left;">(audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Michelle Zauner</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Crying in H Mart </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla and Libby Apps). </i></b></div>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-48425458540911225972022-01-02T15:36:00.001-08:002022-08-14T15:37:07.846-07:002021 Year of Reading -- Fiction<p> <span style="color: #990000;"><b>2021 FICTION</b></span><b> </b><br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sara Nisha Adams</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Reading List </i>(audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Albus</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Place to Hang the Moon</i> (library book) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dolly Alderton</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Ghosts</i> (library book)<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kristen Arnett</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>With Teeth </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "Lucida Console", Courier, monospace; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: -webkit-left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mateo Askaripour</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Black Buck</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ashley Audrain</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Push</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane Austen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Persuasion</i>* (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chandler Baker</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Oh. What. Fun. </i>(audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Bayliss</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Season for Second Chances</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maeve Binchy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Glass Lake</i>* (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Scarlet Feather</i>* (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Matt Boren</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Brackish Waters</i> (audiobook via Audible Included) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katy Birchall</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Secret Bridesmaid</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laura Blackett</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Very Nice Box</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Holly Bourne</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pretending</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>C.J. Box</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Open Season</i> (Joe Pickett #1) (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Melissa Broder</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Milk Fed</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alafair Burke</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wife</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Frances Burney</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Evelina</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mary H.K. Choi</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Yolk</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Diane Clarke</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Thin Girls</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Molly Clavering</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Love Comes Home</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Clayborn</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Love at First </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Colgan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Christmas Bookshop</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elle Cosimano</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Finlay Donovan is Killing It</i> (Finlay Donovan #1) (ebook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sophie Cousens</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>This Time Next Year</i> (paperback)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laura Dave</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Last Thing He Told Me</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jen DeLuca</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Well Matched</i> (Well Met #3) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Trish Doller</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Float Plan </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Duffy-Comparone </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Love Like That: Stories</i> (ebook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jesse Eisenberg</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>When You Finish Saving the World</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Helen Ellis</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>American Housewife</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Fair</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Mingham Air</i> (ebook via Hoopla)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Winter Away </i>(ebook via Kindle Store)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Virginia Felton</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mrs. March</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Linda Rui Feng</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Swimming Back to Trout River</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Helen Fielding</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Bridget Jones's Diary (And Other Writing): 25th Anniversary Edition</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Forster</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Best Worst Christmas</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jonathan Franzen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Crossroads</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tana French</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Searcher </i>(audiobook via Libby)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Trespasser</i> (Dublin Murder Squad #6) (audiobook via Libby)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Witch Elm</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elyssa Friedland</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Last Summer at the Golden Hotel</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Gannon</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Olive</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mike Gayle</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All the Lonely People</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laurie Gelman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Yoga Pant Nation</i> (Class Mom #3) (library book)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jasmine Guillory</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>While We Were Dating</i> (Wedding Date #6) (ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Karina Halle</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Royals Next Door</i> (ebook via Libby) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Joe Halstead</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>West Virginia</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laura Hankin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Special Place for Women </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rebecca Hardiman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Good Eggs</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane Harper</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Survivors</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Zakiya Dalila Harris</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Other Black Girl</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rachel Hawkins</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wife Upstairs </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katherine Heiny</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Early Morning Riser</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Henry</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>People We Meet on Vacation</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sally Hepworth</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Good Sister</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kristan Higgins</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pack Up the Moon</i> (library book) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elin Hilderbrand</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Golden Girl</i> (hardcover)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Sixth Wedding</i> (28 Summers #1.5) (ebook via Kindle Store)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Angie Hockman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Shipped</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Natalie Jenner</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Jane Austen Society</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lisa Jewell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Invisible Girl (</i>audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Abby Jiminez</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Life's Too Short </i>(The Friend Zone #3) (ebook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sandie Jones</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Half Sister</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Claire Keegan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Small Things Like These</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lindsey Kelk</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>We Were On a Break</i> (ebook via Kindle) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lily King</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Five Tuesdays in Winter </i>(audiobook via Audible) <b></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Stephen King</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Later</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jean Hanff Korelitz</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Plot</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>William Kent Krueger</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Ordinary Grace</i> (paperback)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dorothy Lambert</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Much Dithering</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tracey Lange</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>We Are the Brennans</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Allison Larkin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The People We Keep</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christina Lauren</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Soulmate Equation</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mary Lawson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Town Called Solace</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Layden</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All Girls</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lauren Layne</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>To Sir, with Love</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Lee</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Anna K: Away</i> (Anna K#2) (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alex Light</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Upside of Falling</i> (ebook via Kindle Prime Reading)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Lord</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You Have a Match </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Claire Luchette</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Agatha of Little Neon</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portia Macintosh</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Faking It </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Life's A Beach </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Will They, Won't They?</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Meg Mason</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sorrow and Bliss</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mhairi McFarlane</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Just Last Night </i>(audiobook via Audible)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Who's That Girl?</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You Had Me At Hello</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dervla McTiernan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Sisters</i> (Cormac Reilly, #0.5) (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Roommate</i> (Cormac Reilly, #0.7) (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mameve Medwed</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Minus Me </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Denise Mina</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Less Dead</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth Moran</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Christmas Every Day</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Liane Moriarty</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Apples Never Fall</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julie Murphy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>If The Shoe Fits </i>(Meant to Be #1) (ebook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Matthew Norman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All Together Now</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maggie O'Farrell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Hamnet</i> (hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth O'Leary</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Road Trip</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Louise Penny</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Madness of Crowds</i> (Chief Inspector Gamache #17) (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christina Pishiris</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Love Songs for Skeptics</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julia Quinn</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Viscount Who Loved Me </i>(Bridgertons #2) (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>An Offer From a Gentleman </i>(Bridgertons #3) (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Romancing Mr. Bridgerton</i> (Bridgertons #4) (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kirthana Ramisetti</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Dava Shastri's Last Day</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Penny Reid</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kissing Tolstoy</i> (audiobook via Audible Included)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Beauty and the Mustache</i> (audiobook via Audible Included) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Taylor Jenkins Reid</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Malibu Rising</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sally Rooney</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Beautiful World, Where Are You</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane L. Rosen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Eliza Starts a Rumor</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rainbow Rowell</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kindred Spirits </i>(audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Russo</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Super Host</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>J.D. Salinger</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Nine Stories</i>* (paperback)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>R.C. Sherriff</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Fortnight in September</i> (paperback) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Laura Silverman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Recommended for You</i> (library book)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rachel Lynn Solomon</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Ex Talk </i>(ebook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Marissa Stapley</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Lucky</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Brina Starler</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Anne of Manhattan</i> (library book) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Domenico Starnone</b></div><i>Trust </i>(ebook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>D.E. Stevenson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Smouldering Fire</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Vittoria Cottage</i> (Dering Family #1) (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mrs. Tim Flies Home </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Music in the Hills</i> (Dering Family #2) (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter and Rough Weather</i> (Dering Family #3) (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Strout</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Oh William! </i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>J. Courtney Sullivan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Model Home</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Good Company</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sally Thorne</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Second First Impressions</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amor Towles</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Lincoln Highway</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lacie Waldon</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Layover </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dawnie Walton</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jennifer Weiner</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>That Summer </i>(hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lauren Weisberger</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Where the Grass is Green and the Girls Are Pretty</i> (audiobook via Audible) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Denise Williams</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>How to Fail at Flirting</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kerry Winfrey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Very Sincerely Yours</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rachel Yoder</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Nightbitch</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Samantha Young</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Much Ado About You</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div> </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library or Libby/Digital
Library of Illinois). </i></b></div>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-32091200227740292282022-01-01T19:11:00.003-08:002022-01-01T19:45:10.539-08:002021 Reading Highlights<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_jqlnSpjUP5tSY-8PJj_dJjf8zC5uczLGexNPZY1c0IJuEXu-JpLbRKuh1ltuF7j6I1bKrZ8Csp7qXiRZH5omPSbKC_zmvm0taMJxV32OsoOVpjTmphavXIbGRPPMrjRuld845Zb1GTrw2NYCxQ316VidRvemqmRKYDNIXIwxraiIHCedMIe2yeYTtw=s900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_jqlnSpjUP5tSY-8PJj_dJjf8zC5uczLGexNPZY1c0IJuEXu-JpLbRKuh1ltuF7j6I1bKrZ8Csp7qXiRZH5omPSbKC_zmvm0taMJxV32OsoOVpjTmphavXIbGRPPMrjRuld845Zb1GTrw2NYCxQ316VidRvemqmRKYDNIXIwxraiIHCedMIe2yeYTtw=w534-h640" width="534" /></a></div>You know what they say about not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. <p></p><p>Prepare yourself for an imperfect look at my best reading experiences of 2021. I can't promise to do these books justice. I can't promise that you'll love the same books I love. I can promise that if you're a middle-aged, Midwestern suburban mom, you'll be able to find at least one book you'll enjoy (and probably more).</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>2021 Fiction Highlights <span></span></b></span></span></p><p><b><i>Sorrow and Bliss</i> by Meg Mason</b> -- the torture of mental illness but with wit and humor and one beautiful moment of generosity</p><p><b><i>Hamnet</i> by Maggie O'Farrell </b>-- gorgeous writing, imagines the life of Shakespeare's beloved, deceased son Hamnet and his mother</p><p><b><i>Early Morning Riser</i> by Katherine Heiny</b> -- community, an expansive view of family, the extraordinary ordinary</p><p><b><i>Small Things Like These</i> by Claire Keegan</b> -- short Christmas book set in 1985 Ireland, hard but also beautiful</p><p><b><i>A Town Called Solace</i> by Mary Lawson</b> -- the lifts and limits of small town life</p><p><b><i>Oh William!</i> by Elizabeth Strout</b> -- Strout is a genius. Third book of a series that begins with <i>My Name is Lucy Barton </i></p><p><b><i>The Lincoln Highway</i> by Amor Towles</b> -- A Great American Story (caps necessary) of friendship and brotherhood, my heart swelled</p><p><b><i>The Fortnight in September</i> by R.C. Sherriff </b>-- British classic and the loveliest novel of an ordinary family on holiday </p><p><b><i>Apples Never Fall </i>by Liane Moriarty</b> -- parents, siblings, spouses, tennis ... Moriarty at her (recent) best</p><p><i><b>Nightbitch</b></i> <b>by Rachel Yoder</b> -- if new motherhood was tough for you, this story of a mom who becomes (sort of) a dog may resonate with you, it won't be everyone's cup of tea but it worked for me</p><p><b><i>All the Lonely People</i> by Mike Gayle</b> -- British setting, sometimes hard but a heartwarming story of community and connection</p><p><b><i>The Very Nice Box</i> by Laura Blackett</b> -- an IKEA-esque product designer reckons with her past, very unique </p><p><b><i>Golden Girl</i> by Elin Hilderbrand </b>-- Elin did it again! Probably my favorite of her last five books.</p><p><b><i>With Teeth</i> by Kristen Arnett</b> -- woman struggles in life, love, parenthood ... really strong writing and scenes that have stuck with me ... another one that won't be everyone's cup of tea</p><p><b><i>The Plot </i>by Jean Hanff Korelitz</b> -- literary mystery that is perfectly plotted!</p><p><b><i>Yolk</i> by Mary H.K. Choi</b> -- baggage, sisterhood, NYC, Texas</p><p><b><i>The Push</i> by Ashley Audrain</b> -- read this book early in the year and am still thinking about it, guaranteed to shake you up</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>2021 Non-Fiction Highlights</b></span></p><p><b><i>These Precious Days</i> by Ann Patchett</b> -- perfect collection of essays by a national treasure ... it's the follow up to <i>This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage</i> so read that gem first</p><p><b><i>Boom Town: The Fantasical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Apocalyptic Weather, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis</i> by Sam Anderson</b> -- everything you didn't know that you wanted and needed to know about OKC, you will be rapt, excellent storytelling</p><p><b><i>Keep Moving</i> by Maggie Smith</b> -- short book for anyone who needs a dose of inspiration and courage </p><p><b><i>Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism</i> by Amanda Montell </b>-- I wanted more but still enjoyed this look at various cultish groups, movements, companies, MLMs, etc.</p><p><b><i>Crying in the H Mart</i> by Michelle Zauner</b> -- beautiful memoir of a mother and daughter, music, persistence, food</p><p><b><i>The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport</i> by Carl Hiaasen</b> -- you may not know that I am obsessed with golf (despite being closer to terrible than decent at it) ... Hiaasen's memoir of his return to the game had me nodding my head like yeah</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>"Jump Right In" Reads </b></span></p><p>I feel uncomfortable when someone recommends a book and says, "but it's just a fluffy beach book" since I'd cut off my big toe to be able to write a book that someone would be willing to read on her vacation. So anyway, the books below are not "beach books" but books that would be easy to jump right into any time you need to be transported into a story that's satisfying but not too heavy. They're in no particular order.</p><p><i>The G-Talk</i> by Rachel Lynn Solomon</p><p><i>The Last Thing He Told Me</i> by Laura Dave</p><p><i>Good Eggs</i> by Rebecca Hardiman</p><p><i>Eliza Starts a Rumor</i> by Jane Rosen</p><p><i>The Good Sister</i> by Sally Hepworth (BTW, the most delightful author to follow on Instagram)</p><p><i>The Secret Bridesmaid</i> by Katy Birchall</p><p><i>Yoga Pant Nation</i> by Laurie Gelman (read <i>Class Mom</i> and <i>You've Been Volunteered</i> first)</p><p><i>Very Sincerely Yours</i> by Kerry Winfrey</p><p><i>The People We Keep</i> by Allison Larkin</p><p><i>Finlay Donovan Is Killing It</i> by Elle Cosimano</p><p> </p><p><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Final Thoughts</span></b><br /></p><p>This booklist is not intended to be a flex. Reading is my (unpaid) life's work. A lot of my reading is via audiobook (and no, I'm not interested in discussions about whether audiobooks "count") and that has been especially true this past year, which has been frequently stressful and sometimes shitty and did not lend itself to as many cozy hours in a chair with a book as I'd have liked. All of this is just to say if you read even one book you enjoyed this past year, that's enough. <br /></p><p>I find so many wonderful ebooks and audiobooks, including new releases, through the awesome Elmhurst Public Library. If you haven't explored the digital options at your local library, make it a priority!!! Also, I have been an Audible subscriber since 2003 and have been so pleased with the "bonus" content (more and more each month) that they offer in addition to monthly credits (which I use for new releases I don't want to wait to read). <br /></p><p>I couldn't make myself put together a collage of book covers so I hope you enjoy the beautiful scene from our mountain vacation.</p><p>I'm still thinking about my 2022 reading goals so stay tuned.</p><p>If you're waiting on my 2019 and 2020 Reading Highlights, please continue waiting until I find the notebooks where I collected my thoughts.</p><p>I hope to write more in 2022, but just in case I don't, you can more reliably find my bookish content on Instagram. I'm @booksandcarbs and would love to connect with you there.</p><p>Please share your recent reading highlights in the comments! <br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-963593752782661812020-12-31T18:23:00.001-08:002021-01-02T18:24:30.400-08:002020 Year of Books -- Non-Fiction<p><span style="color: #990000;"><b>2020 MEMOIRS, ESSAYS, and OTHER NON-FICTION</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Dolly Alderton</b><br />
<i>Everything I Know About Love</i> (ebook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Celeste Barber</b><br />
<i>Challenge Accepted!</i> (ebook via Kindle)<br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Berg</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I'll Be Seeing You: A Memoir</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Anne Bogel</b><br />
<i>Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life </i>(paperback)<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Adrienne Brodeur</b><br />
<i>Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me</i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Paula Byrne</b><br />
<i>Kick: The True Story of Kick Kennedy, JFK's Forgotten Sister and the Heir to Chatsworth</i> (ebook via Kindle)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rich Cohen</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Herbie</i> (audiobook via Audible Originals)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Becky Cooper</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><p>
<b>Stephanie Danler</b><br />
<i>Stray </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b> </b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Robin DiAngelo</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ree Drummond</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage & Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere </i>(ebook via CloudLibrary)<i> </i><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Anne Fadiman</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wine Lover's Daughter: A Memoir</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Isabel Gillies</b><br />
<i>Cozy: The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>How to Be Fine: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books </i>(audiobook via Libby)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Andy Greene</b><br />
<i>The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History</i> (audiobook via Audible) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sophie Heawood</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Hungover Games: A True Story</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ann Hood</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Morningstar: Growing Up with Books </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<b>David Isay</b><br />
<i>Callings: A Celebration of Lives of Purpose and Passion</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Shirley Jackson</b><br />
<i>Life Among the Savages </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Gary Janetti</b><br />
<i>Do You Mind If I Cancel? (Things That Still Annoy Me)</i> (library book)<b> </b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Colin Jost</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Very Punchable Face</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mindy Kaling</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Nothing Like I Imagined</i> (audiobook via Audible/Prime Reads) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Carole King</b><br />
<i>A Natural Woman: A Memoir</i> (ebook via Kindle)<br />
<br />
<b>Conor Knighton</b><br />
<i>Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br />
<br />
<b>Robert Kolker</b><br />
<i>Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br />
<br />
<b>Nicola Lewis</b><br />
<i>Mind Over Clutter: Cleaning Your Way to a Calm and Happy Home </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julie Lythcott-Haims</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Real American: A Memoir</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Carmen Maria Machado</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>In the Dream House</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Heather Mann</b><br />
<i>CraftFail: When Homemade Goes Horribly Wrong</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Patricia Marx</b><br />
<i>You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples</i> (library book)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Marisa Meltzer</b><br />
<i>This Is Big: How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World</i><b> </b>(audiobook via Audible)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ben Montgomery</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><p>
<b>Demi Moore</b><br />
<i>Inside Out</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Susan Orlean</b><br />
<i>The Library Book</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dolly Parton</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Michael Pollan</b><br />
<i>Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt</b><br />
<i>The Gift of Forgiveness: Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable</i><i> </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br />
<br />
<b>Marko Ivan Rupnik</b><br />
<i>Contemplating the Face of Christ</i> (paperback) <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>David Sedaris</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Best of Me </i>(audiobook via Audible)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Jessica Simpson</b><br />
<i>Open Book</i> (audiobook via Audible)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sarah Smarsh</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs </i>(library book)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Grant Snider</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf</i> (ebook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christie Tate</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><p><b>Elizabeth Willard Thames</b><br />
<i>Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living</i> (ebook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Phuc Tran</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sign, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alex Trebek</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Answer Is ...: Reflection on My Life</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jesmyn Ward</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Navigate Your Stars </i>(library book)<b><br /></b></div><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Anoushka Warden</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My Mum's A Twat</i> (audiobook via Audible Originals) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Mitch Weiss</b><br />
<i>Broken Faith: Inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, One of America's Most Dangerous Cults </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></p><p><b>Holly Whitaker</b><br />
<i>Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Mark Whittaker</b><br />
<i>Blood Territory: The Death of Jimmy O'Connell</i> (audibook via Audible)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Molly Wizenberg</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Fixed Stars</i> (ebook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br /></div>
<b>Ali Wong</b><br />
<i>Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life</i> (audiobook via Cloud Library)<p> </p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-67623279168544850052020-12-31T17:32:00.001-08:002021-01-02T17:41:34.886-08:002020 Year of Books -- Fiction<p>Here are the works of fiction I read in 2020 ... <br /></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><b>2020 FICTION</b></span><b> </b><br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lyssa Kay Adams</b><i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Bromance Book Club </i>(Bromance Book Club #1, audiobook via Libby)<i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Undercover Bromance </i>(Bromance Book Club #2, audiobook via Libby) <i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Crazy Stupid Bromance</i> (Bromance Book Club #3, audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">
<b>Megan Angelo</b><br />
<i>Followers</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Jami Attenberg</b><br />
<i>All This Could Be Yours</i> (audiobook via Libby) <b> </b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane Austen</b><i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Persuasion* (audiobook via Hoopla) </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pride and Prejudice* </i>(audiobook via Audible)</div><p>
<b>Taryn Bashford</b><br />
<i>The Harper Effect </i>(ebook via Kindle) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lucie Britsch</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sad Janet</i> (library book) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Bayliss</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Twelve Dates of Christmas</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Brit Bennett</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Vanishing Half </i>(hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gabriella Burnham</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It Is Wood, It Is Stone</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><p>
<b>Emma Burstall</b><br />
<i>The Girl Who Came Home to Cornwall</i> (Tremarnock #5) (audiobook via Hoopla)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julie Buxbaum</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Admission</i> (library book)<b> </b><br /></div><p>
<b>Robyn Carr</b><br />
<i>Whispering Rock</i> (Virgin River #3) (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Second Chance Pass</i> (Virgin River #5) (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Temptation Ridge</i> (Virgin River #6) (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Paradise Valley </i>(Virgin River #7) (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Forbidden Falls</i> (Virgin River #8) (audiobook via Audible) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Candice Carty-Williams</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Queenie </i>(paperback)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katherine Center</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>What You Wish For</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><p>
<b>Alexandra Chang</b><br />
<i>Days of Distraction</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<b> </b> <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Clayborn</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Love Lettering </i>(ebook via Hoopla)<i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Beginner's Luck</i> (Chance of a Lifetime #1) (ebook via Hoopla)<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Luck of the Draw</i> (Chance of a Lifetime #2) (ebook via Hoopla)<i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Best of Luck </i>(Chance of a Lifetime #3) (audiobook via Hoopla)<i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Missing Christmas</i> (ebook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Heir Affair </i>(The Royal We #2, audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Colgan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Christmas at the Island Hotel</i> (Mure #4, library book)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>500 Miles from You </i>(Scottish Bookshop #3, audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<b>Suzanne Collins</b><br />
<i>The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes</i> (The Hunger Games #0, audiobook via Hoopla) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jen DeLuca</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Well Played</i> (Well Met #2, library book)<br /></div><p>
<b>Lian Dolan</b><br />
<i>The Sweeney Sisters</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Naoise Dolan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Exciting Times</i> (audiobook via Libby)</div><p>
<b>Roxanna Elden</b><br />
<i>Adequate Yearly Progress</i> (library book)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tom Ellen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All About Us</i> (library book)<br /></div><p>
<b>Ashley Elston</b><br />
<i>10 Blind Dates</i> (ebook via Hoopla)<br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Madeline Ffitch</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Stay and Fight</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Katie Fforde</b><br />
<i>A Vintage Wedding</i> (ebook via Kindle Store) <br />
<br />
<b>Tarryn Fisher</b><br />
<i>The Wives</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lucy Foley</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Guest List</i> (audiobook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alli Frank</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Tiny Imperfections</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Leah Franqui</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mother Land </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br /></div><p>
<b>Alli Frank & Asha Youmans</b><br />
<i>Tiny Imperfections</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tana French</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Broken Harbor</i> (Dublin Murder Squad #4, audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Secret Place</i> (Dublin Murder Squad #5, audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Robert Galbraith</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Troubled Blood </i>(Cormoran Strike #5, audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Michelle Gallen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Big Girl, Small Town</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Giffin</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Lies That Bind</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elizabeth Goudge</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Saw Three Ships </i>(paperback)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Jasmine Guillory</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Party of Two</i> (The Wedding Date #5, paperback) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Lauren Gunderson</b><br />
<i>The Half-Life of Marie Curie</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Janice Hadlow</b><br />
<i>The Other Bennet Sister</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Alexis Hall</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Boyfriend Material</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><p>
<b>Laura Hankin</b><br />
<i>Happy & You Know It </i>(hardcover)<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Emily Henry</b><br />
<i>Beach Read</i> (hardcover) <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Talia Hibbert</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Get a Life, Chloe Brown</i> (hardcover)<b> </b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Take a Hint, Dani Brown</i> (library book)<br /></div><p>
<b>Kristan Higgins</b><br /><i>Always the Last to Know </i>(library book)<br /><i>Just One of the Guys</i> (audiobook via Audible) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Elin Hilderbrand</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><i>28 Summers </i></i>(hardcover)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Summer of '79: A Summer of '69 Story</i> (ebook via Kindle)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Troubles in Paradise</i> (Paradise #3, hardcover) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lauren Ho</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Last Tang Standing</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Holiday</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Princess for Christmas </i>(ebook via Kindle)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sarah Hogle</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>You Deserve Each Other</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Gill Hornby</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Miss Austen</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nick Hornby</b><i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Just Like You</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><p>
<b>Chisa Hutchinson</b><br />
<i>Proof of Love</i> (audiobook via Audible Originals)<b> </b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jane Igharo</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Ties That Tether </i>(hardcover)<br /></div><p>
<b>Holly Jackson</b><br />
<i>A Good Girl's Guide to Murder</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Abby Jimenez</b><br />
<i>The Friend Zone</i> (ebook via Libby) <br />
<i>The Happy Ever After Playlist</i> (ebook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Ruth Jones</b><br />
<i>Never Greener </i>(paperback)<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Sandie Jones</b><br />
<i>The First Mistake</i> (ebook via Libby) <br />
<br />
<b>Virginia Kantra</b><br />
<i>Meg and Jo</i> (paperback)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Ausma Zehanat Khan</b><br />
<i>The Unquiet Dead </i>(Rachel Getty & Esa Khattak #1, audiobook via Hoopla)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nancy Jooyoun Kim</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Last Story of Mina Lee</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><p>
<b>Lily King</b><br />
<i>Writers & Lovers</i> (hardcover)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Leah Konen</b><br />
<i>The Romantics</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Mary Kubica</b><br />
<i>The Other Mrs. </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kevin Kwan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Sex and Vanity</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christina Lauren</b><i> </i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Honey-Don't List</i> (ebook via Libby)<b> </b><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>In A Holidaze </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Byron Lane</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Star Is Bored</i> (ebook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sam Lansky</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Broken People</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b><br /></b></div><p><b>Marie-Renee Lavoie</b><br />
<i>Autopsy of a Boring Wife</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jenny Lee</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Anna K: A Love Story </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Raven Leilani</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Luster</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><p>
<b>Mary Pauline Lowry</b><br />
<i>The Roxy Letters</i> (ebook via Libby) <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mhairi McFarlane</b><br />
<i>Here's Looking at You</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<i>If I Never Met You</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It's Not Me, It's You</i> (ebook via Libby) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Katharine McGee</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>American Royals</i> (ebook via Cloud Library)<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Majesty</i> (American Royals #2, audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<b>Casey McQuiston</b><br />
<i>Red, White & Royal Blue</i> (audiobook via Libby)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dervla McTiernan</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Good Turn (Cormal Reilly #3, audiobook via Audible)</i><br /></div><p>
<b>Ling Ma</b><br />
<i>Severance</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Portia MacIntosh</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My Great Ex-Scape </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Plus One Pact</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Stuck on You</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Charlie Mackesy</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse</i> (hardcover)<b> </b> </div><p><b>Nina Manning</b><br />
<i>The Daughter in Law</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</p><p><b>Emily Winfield Martin</b><br />
<i>The Imaginaries: Little Scraps of Larger Stories </i>(library book) <br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Liz Maverick</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Eight Winter Nights</i> (audiobook via Audible Originals) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />Peace Adzo Medie</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>His Only Wife</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Yamile Saied Mendez</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Furia</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><p>
<b>Sandhya Menon</b><br />
<i>When Dimple Met Rishi </i>(audiobook via Audible)<b> </b> <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amy Meyerson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Imperfects</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sue Miller</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Monogamy</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Emma Mills</b><br />
<i>Lucky Caller</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Margarita Montimore</b><br />
<i>Oona Out of Order</i> (hardcover) <br />
<br />
<b>Liz Moore</b><br />
<i>Long Bright River</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b> <br />
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Meg Mitchell Moore</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Captain's Daughter</i> (hardcover)<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Two Truths and a Lie</i> (hardcover) <br /></div><p>
<b>Jojo Moyes</b><br />
<i>The Giver of Stars</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Sarah Mlynowski</b><br />
<i>I See London, I See France</i> (ebook via Kindle)<br />
<br />
<b>Matthew Norman</b><br />
<i>Last Couple Standing</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<b> </b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sigrid Nunez</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>What Are You Going Through </i>(audiobook via Libby) <br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">
<b>Jenny Offill</b><br />
<i>Weather</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beth O'Leary</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Switch </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">
<b>Camille Pagan</b><br />
<i>This Won't End Well</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Sajni Patel</b><br />
<i>The Trouble with Hating You</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Louise Penny</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All the Devils Are Here </i>(Chief Inspector Gamache #16, audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosamunde Pilcher</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Winter Solstice* </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Heidi Pitlor</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Impersonation</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amy Poeppel</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Musical Chairs </i>(audiobook via Libby)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Julia Quinn</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Duke and I </i>(Bridgerton's #1, audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<b>Jens Raschke</b><br />
<i>Do Fish Sleep? </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Kiley Reid</b><br />
<i>Such a Fun Age</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Penny Reid</b><br />
<i>Friends Without Benefits</i> (Knitting in the City #2) (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Love Hacked</i> (Knitting in the City #3) (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Beard Necessities</i> (Winston Brothers #7) (audiobook via Audible)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sara Richardson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Home for the Holidays</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Farrah Rochon</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Boyfriend Project</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Richard Roper</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>How Not to Die Alone</i> (hardcover)<br /></div><p>
<b>Kate Elizabeth Russell</b><br />
<b><i> </i></b><i>My Dark Vanessa </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Richard Russo</b><br />
<i>Straight Man* </i>(audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<i>Chances Are... </i>(hardcover)<br />
<i>Sh*tshow</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) <br />
<br />
<b>Rebecca Searle</b><br />
<i>In Five Years</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Amy Shearn</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Unseen Cit</i>y (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><p>
<b>Josie Silver</b><br />
<i>The Two Lives of Lydia Bird </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br />
<br />
<b>Curtis Sittenfeld</b><br />
<i>Rodham</i> (ebook via CloudLibrary)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Holly Goldberg Sloan</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>To Night Owl from Dogfish</i> (hardcover)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dorothy Evelyn Smith</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Miss Plum and Miss Penny</i> (ebook via Kindle)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kate Stayman-London</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>One to Watch </i>(hardcover) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>D.E. Stevenson</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mrs. Tim Carries On</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mrs. Tim Gets a Job </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Mrs. Tim Flies Home </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<b>Emma Straub</b><br />
<i>All Adults Here </i>(audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br />
<br />
<b>Emily St. John Mandel</b><br />
<i>The Glass Hotel</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br />
<br />
<b>Madeleine St. John</b><br />
<i>The Women in Black</i> (ebook via Kindle) <b><br /></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>J. Courtney Sullivan</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Friends and Strangers</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<b>Amy Rebecca Tan</b><br />
<i>A Kind of Paradise</i> (audiobook via Libby) </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sloane Tanen</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>There's a Word for That</i> (audiobook via Audible)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b>
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emily Gray Tedrowe</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Talented Miss Farwell</i> (audiobook via Libby) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Scarlett Thomas</b><br />
<i>Oligarchy</i> (ebook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>J.R. Thornton</b><br />
<i>Beautiful Country</i> (ebook via Kindle)<br />
<br />
<b>Anne Tyler</b><br />
<i>Redhead by the Side of the Road</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Emma Jane Unsworth</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Grown Ups</i> (paperback)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Abbi Waxman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I Was Told It Would Get Easier </i>(audiobook via Libby) <b><br /></b></div><p><b>Jennifer Weiner</b><br />
<i>Big Summer </i>(hardcover) <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Meghan MacLear Weir</b><br />
<i>The Book of Essie</i> (ebook via Kindle)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Catherine Adel West</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Saving Ruby King</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br /></div><p>
<b>Elizabeth Wetmore</b><br />
<i>Valentine</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary) </p><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Kerry Winfrey</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Not Like the Movies </i>(Waiting for Tom Hanks #2, ebook via Libby)<b> <br /></b></div><p><b>Rachel Winters</b><br />
<i>Would Like to Meet</i> (ebook via Libby)<b> </b> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Vicky Zimmerman</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ibi Zoboi</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pride</i> (audiobook via CloudLibrary)<br /></div><p>
<br />
</p><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library or Libby/Digital
Library of Illinois). </i></b></div>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-62108231828697307102020-11-01T17:27:00.007-08:002020-11-01T17:32:08.292-08:00Gone to Ghana<p><i></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uFwWmKJojU7e5MjV723DKMJbKuMG5xICQahT4KFvmVZnZuLqMKnsAXAyqSg9s1yb7xbgBLV3UgqVxdfuy3DkAdJeJbXHPonjGxqOPbtsvdu0dG2hNcKWTUf05ydLsLGhTb-yrDZey_G4/s2048/A9C7DD97-7FAE-4B6A-A33C-F8DA4E2F8573.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uFwWmKJojU7e5MjV723DKMJbKuMG5xICQahT4KFvmVZnZuLqMKnsAXAyqSg9s1yb7xbgBLV3UgqVxdfuy3DkAdJeJbXHPonjGxqOPbtsvdu0dG2hNcKWTUf05ydLsLGhTb-yrDZey_G4/w640-h640/A9C7DD97-7FAE-4B6A-A33C-F8DA4E2F8573.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Meyers Beach in January. That virus in China seemed very distant.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i>2020 has not been a year for travel.</i> Just call me Captain Obvious with that hook. </p><p>We visited my in-laws in Florida over MLK weekend and in Missouri as we came out of quarantine in May. I flew to Ohio at the end of February for my mom's 70th birthday. The kids and I also drove to Ohio in June and saw my family again in Hilton Head for a week in July. And that's it. I'm not complaining as we have been very fortunate to see our loved ones and have had gorgeous weather (and family visitors) this summer and autumn in Chicagoland, making it pleasant enough to be "stuck at home." </p><p>Though I've done my fair share of complaining and eye-rolling about 2020, I have also looked for silver linings these past months. <i>Here's one ... through literature, art, and technology, I have visited Ghana--a place previously quite unfamiliar to me--twice this year.</i></p><p>Let me explain. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JF-dOJ3KZht5iInhzoFGEF41YlyCLaIQoeIwPIax2-vPIdEfiOoiht5vRURTHeOoRfmQMpuaFCfqC0I3Fk7v3UbYhzzTJVPtB_S3len9vxnFFvuKmBcFoZBa41FL47ko5AJSgeM06R6R/s2048/IMG-5822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JF-dOJ3KZht5iInhzoFGEF41YlyCLaIQoeIwPIax2-vPIdEfiOoiht5vRURTHeOoRfmQMpuaFCfqC0I3Fk7v3UbYhzzTJVPtB_S3len9vxnFFvuKmBcFoZBa41FL47ko5AJSgeM06R6R/w480-h640/IMG-5822.jpg" width="480" /></a></i> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">At the end of last summer, I purchased a Goodman Theatre series subscription. My daughter and I went to Theresa Rebeck's<i> Bernhardt/Hamlet</i> in the fall, which proved to be a delightful downtown outing for us even if some of play went over her head. My plan was to take a kid or a friend to each of the plays in the series and then to take all three kids to <i>The Outsiders</i> musical in July. Obviously, Covid-19 has been devastating these plans and, more significantly, to live theater everywhere. One silver lining was that, in April, Goodman subscribers were able to stream a recorded performance of their next play: Jocelyn Bioh's<i> School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play</i>. Sure, it would have been more enjoyable to take the train to the theater and discuss the play with a friend afterward over dinner. However, streaming the performance was more powerful than anticipated. I locked myself in my room and traveled to Ghana from the comfort of my bed and was blown away by the performances and by the power of the story about friendship, beauty, and girl/womanhood. I highly recommend if you have a chance to see it on stage or on your computer screen.<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl3UtSTqKp-ATKK9_LzjzCY8XRFkehndyocWANblAnVm7EE3RlG0uWQWbVuvCMSDlTYbi3TJRFgMTVk_4Nvvi1Kr10xSudwprn1PElz57MQnrlmh_LdqPhDlsgqpqGSsz4pNGa4DFZU01/s2048/IMG-7837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></i><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVI8btGaIEoOop47xBaydgBII72hmoDxVyHrizKKrlTnUCFmttvqvqifCbO6tyGW_KzfXWlgj3KyusWCuNJJbbXPDp3oRQDIWEGmfeBPy5EekxxndLZl0ErPAhbqcgFP1KGExw5sapXi1/s2048/60708C78-37A8-4C37-893C-71E2C6B8C73F.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVI8btGaIEoOop47xBaydgBII72hmoDxVyHrizKKrlTnUCFmttvqvqifCbO6tyGW_KzfXWlgj3KyusWCuNJJbbXPDp3oRQDIWEGmfeBPy5EekxxndLZl0ErPAhbqcgFP1KGExw5sapXi1/w640-h640/60708C78-37A8-4C37-893C-71E2C6B8C73F.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>My next trip to Ghana came through listening to the audiobook of Peace Adzo Medie's <i>His Only Wife</i>. This novel features Afi, a young woman from Ghana, who agrees to marry Eli, a man who is already in a relationship with another woman with whom he has a child. His family disapproves of this woman and the pressure is on Afi to distract and win Eli. This novel is absorbing. The contrast between life in the city of Accra where Afi moves after her wedding--cell phones, expensive cars, huge malls, and high end fashion--with life in her home village--trading economy, burdensome daily chores--is striking. It was interesting/inspiring to watch Afi navigate these different worlds, family structures, and ideals of marriage and womanhood.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtwWKugawTsQiHEOdYyk47yUNZEY0bgz-HJKUY_HoGpLOwKYKqglJc0uYkghDP5EqZ6MlN3utrLelbCuTnUtHmtQii4n5fRZ6uE3M-ceDGc0eOF8pmiBy03XPifWQA9j_MIaDbtCusBkU/s2048/IMG-7838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtwWKugawTsQiHEOdYyk47yUNZEY0bgz-HJKUY_HoGpLOwKYKqglJc0uYkghDP5EqZ6MlN3utrLelbCuTnUtHmtQii4n5fRZ6uE3M-ceDGc0eOF8pmiBy03XPifWQA9j_MIaDbtCusBkU/w480-h640/IMG-7838.jpg" width="480" /></a></i> <br /></p><p>The icing on the cake for this second trip to Ghana was that I was one of 75 readers selected to participate in a Reese's Book Club/Hello Sunshine virtual book club meeting on <i>His Only Wife. </i>The meeting took place this afternoon over Zoom and was so wonderful! Curtis Sittenfeld, one of my favorite authors, interviewed Peace Adzo Medie at the beginning of the meeting and then the rest of the participants were able to ask Medie questions as well. I felt so fortunate to be there, to hear insights on reading and writing from two amazing authors and to learn from the insightful questions of other readers. I know Zoom existed pre-pandemic, but it's definitely a silver lining that since March, most of us have figured out how to use Zoom and become increasingly adept at using it to connect. I know the quality of the Zoom events I have "attended" has improved a great deal between March and now. I wanted to share the pic I took of the Zoom that shows me on the same screen, Brady Bunch style, with two famous authors, but I didn't want to flex (kidding, that was the whole point of the pic) and also didn't want to have to blur out all the first and last names of all the participants.</p><p>I am by no means an expert on Ghana now (not even close), but I know more now than I did before and appreciate, more than ever, all the ways in which we are able to experience the lives and stories of women (real and fictional) around the world. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>*Final note* </i> Not that anyone cares, but I feel the need to point out that two authors mentioned in this post (novelist Curtis Sittenfeld and playwright Theresa Rebeck) have roots in Cincinnati. Me too!<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-50965895117774691922020-10-30T20:56:00.004-07:002020-10-30T21:03:20.658-07:00Snackshots: Cheese & Crackers <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapLBsWwvJ92kcXlpuEKY3aT-WRsLib4QE9cDqrwl9ShcsNCojju9NWtP9589aJwL3jZoVk7D3I1q4aca5s_GcuNsLRF0cCVyBxxohqo_QroTvMiOS5uTPaigCUe8kcSv_hiwxyAXh13DS/s2048/IMG-7773.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapLBsWwvJ92kcXlpuEKY3aT-WRsLib4QE9cDqrwl9ShcsNCojju9NWtP9589aJwL3jZoVk7D3I1q4aca5s_GcuNsLRF0cCVyBxxohqo_QroTvMiOS5uTPaigCUe8kcSv_hiwxyAXh13DS/w480-h640/IMG-7773.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>My snacking game has always been elite or, at the very least, consistent. NTB. No one can accuse me of not putting the time in. But, like the rest of the world, I've been able to take my nibbling to the next level during these Covid times.<p></p><p>The snack I'm sharing today is simple and somewhat healthy. It's served me well from quarantine all the way through to whatever's happening now. <br /></p><p>You'll need three ingredients: wafer crackers (I like 34 Degrees Crisps and Olina's Bakehouse Wafers); a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese (I use the Lite variety or the Asiago one); and a spoon full of jam or jelly (fruit jam, pepper jam, bacon jam -- whatever you fancy).</p><p>As a WW gal, I portion out my crackers at the start of my snacking session. 7 Oleo Wafers <i>or</i> 9 34 Degree crisps = 1 WW point. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PCsDZ66If2OUyAxCmG1CbBjd60DgvPfIGz0vpc-gQ0YOoaL4jmqiAONSfYBCu5ytFRV1ZCXdWSd3jpEP0eZ22caAOxPhfWREuH4rTYponZN8c4uUcX6ZovPWvyp7wVu19l_i7U-ooXKL/s2048/IMG-7774.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PCsDZ66If2OUyAxCmG1CbBjd60DgvPfIGz0vpc-gQ0YOoaL4jmqiAONSfYBCu5ytFRV1ZCXdWSd3jpEP0eZ22caAOxPhfWREuH4rTYponZN8c4uUcX6ZovPWvyp7wVu19l_i7U-ooXKL/w480-h640/IMG-7774.jpg" width="480" /></a> </p><p>I just make my way methodically through my crackers, spreading some of the cheese wedge on each and then a little smear of jam. Salty, sweet, and simple as that.</p><p>One bonus of this snack is that it reminds me of one of my best right-before-quarantine memories. My sons both had roles in their school production of <i>Shrek the Musical</i>, which was staged the weekend of March 6-8 ... a few days before the world turned upside down. My parents came into the town for the show and my aunt and uncle came from elsewhere in suburban Chicagoland to join us as well. The non-performers had appetizers, dinner, and a nice visit at our house before <i>Shrek</i>. On a whim, I had picked up 34 Degrees wafers at Jewel for my cheese and cracker tray, and my mom and I discussed how they made a nice, low calorie vehicle for cheese. I finished that package of crackers during the first week of quarantine and ended up ordering more via Amazon (they are now a Subscribe and Save item for me) and ordered the Olina's variety to be delivered with my Oberweis milk.</p><p>One word of warning: the 34 Degree crisps are fragile so you'll need to be a bit gentle when spreading your cheese. The Olina's ones are sturdier. Neither cracker tastes like anything special on its own so don't come back to me complaining the crackers are bland. Both brands have some flavored varieties if that floats your boat, but the plain ones are plain. This plainness is not a problem for me as I believe the point of any cracker is to serve as a vehicle by/upon which something more exciting gains access to your taste buds. </p><p>A final note: if you are a WW point person, you probably know that most of the Laughing Cow cheese varieties are 1 point per wedge, but not all of them, so check your app if that matters to you. I don't count points for jam (or FYI, for ketchup or the sauces at Chick-fil-A) even though I am well aware that it is not a zero point food. I just tell myself that if I am eating it mindfully and sparingly, it's fine. I gained some Covid pounds, but not from teaspoons of jam. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-2189829664193990032020-10-29T17:49:00.001-07:002020-10-29T17:49:54.005-07:00Halloween Scrooge and the Fun/Full Size Solution<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_hROSC9u8fS0-dViqYfoA-2SqFM5ZkTWezyYLhcdKkgimY6FNjr625f3W-pSTqGKa6p4XD6zanmdMm2WeaDQqosHdgifkVfp1RAcYVEIwG3Cv330-BZCkx83vQ5YtAZb1jDsVNYbdet1/s2048/IMG-7793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_hROSC9u8fS0-dViqYfoA-2SqFM5ZkTWezyYLhcdKkgimY6FNjr625f3W-pSTqGKa6p4XD6zanmdMm2WeaDQqosHdgifkVfp1RAcYVEIwG3Cv330-BZCkx83vQ5YtAZb1jDsVNYbdet1/w480-h640/IMG-7793.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Halloween Scrooge. That's me. <br /><p></p><p>I'm not miserly, but my levels of Halloween spirit are pretty darn low. Indeed, I would test negative for Halloween spirit. Sure, I enjoyed Halloween as a child. I ate my doughnut and drank my apple cider at the classroom Halloween party. I donned costumes, roamed my neighborhood, filled my pillowcase, and negotiated trades with my siblings. There was some build-up before the big day -- visiting the "spooky aisle" at Kroger, carving a pumpkin, thinking about a costume. At least for my family, however, Halloween in the 1980s was a special night NOT a major holiday. My mom did not start helping me plan a costume months in advance and would not have invested a great deal of time or money in one (talk to my brother Mark about wearing a garbage bag and being a "California Raisin"). A jack-o-lantern on the porch was the extent of our Halloween decor.</p><p>Times they are a-changing or have a-changed. Drive through the streets of Pleasantville and you'll see mini pumpkin patches on porches, ghosts, witches, skeletons in lawn chairs, spider-webbed bushes, graveyards in front yards, and many, many Halloween lights. There are homes with more Halloween lights and decor than we can muster for Christmas. That's all fine. If decorating for Halloween makes people happy, especially during a global pandemic, have at it and don't let me harsh your buzz. Good for you, not for me. The thought of coming up with a Halloween display exhausts me, and I have traditionally have enough to worry about with figuring out trick or treating plans for three kids (more complications and potential for hurt feelings than I would ever have guessed) who have long passed the stage of wanting to walk around the neighborhood together with their dad. <br /></p><p>And we haven't even discussed candy yet. I love candy. Love it fiercely. But my love of candy does not translate into a love of Halloween as I am not someone who feels that I can only eat candy given to my children by neighbors and strangers. If I need candy, I have funds and there are stores, but since I also love fitting into my clothes I generally try to keep my candy-eating in check. One dimension of the Halloween fervor of more recent years is the focus on <i>full-size</i> candy bars. One of the first things I was told by our neighborhood babysitter when we moved to Pleasantville nine years ago was that our neighborhood was "known for giving out full-size candy bars." </p><p>I have resisted adding to that reputation. Not out of a scrooge-like unwillingness to spend money (just ask my husband) but out of a refusal to make Halloween any bigger than it already is. I'm not buying Halloween lights and I'm not passing out full-size Hershey bars (which, by the way, is the second to worst kind of candy bar in the world with Three Musketeers being the absolute worst). Fun-size candy offerings present their own challenges though. When I bought fun-size candy to pass out, I never knew when to stop. Each kid would come to the door, I'd feel the need to give 2, 3, 4 units of candy to each and to start making crazy attempts to vary what I gave them ... <i>a mini box of lemonheads, a mini bag of Skittles and a mini bag of Swedish fish for you. But wait, oh shit, I just gave that kid two mini boxes of cherry lemonheads with his mini bag of Tropical skittles and those skittles are kind of iffy. Stay focused, Megan, try to mix it up.</i> Who needs that kind of stress?</p><p>Three years ago, I came up with the perfect solution. Airheads. Those disgusting wrapped rectangles of taffy (at least I think it's taffy). They come 90 to a box, which costs $10.98 at Sam's Club. I bought six boxes and, guess what, unopened boxes can be returned. </p><p>In addition to being a cost effective and returnable solution, here are several other reasons why Airheads are perfect for passing out on Halloween:</p><p>1. Kids love them. The response is always positive with even more intense reactions when someone gets a coveted "mystery flavor" Airhead in their pillow case. One pro tip is to hide any unopened boxes and return ASAP as it is disgusting to watch your own children consume Airheads.</p><p>2. I hate them. There is ZERO temptation for me to sample the product. Nada.</p><p>3. Airheads are nut-free (I only pass out nut-free candy) and gluten free.</p><p>4. A single Airhead looks almost like a full
size item ... if that's important in your market. I usually give two per trick or treater (maybe 3 if I know the kids and want to, say, lean into my role as "Tommy's Mom" for a group of his female classmates). However, you could easily give one Airhead per trick or treater and feel pretty
secure in your offering. </p><p>The perfection of this offering warms my cold Halloween heart just a little bit, but I am still looking ahead to this coming Saturday as something to survive. <br /></p><p>My only fear in sharing this post is that other households in my neighborhood will read it and board the Airheads train, leaving me unable to pilfer enough of the candy I like from the pillowcases of my children: Reese's of any variety, Butterfinger, Heath, Snickers, Milky Way Dark, Almond Joy. Given that this is my first blog post in over six months and that even six months ago, I could count my readers on this practically-secret blog on two hands, I think I'm safe. </p><p>One final note is that even as a self-professed Halloween Scrooge, I have <i>never</i> opted out of candy distribution. I get it that there are those who don't feel comfortable participating during these Covid times and I get it that in some households it isn't possible for one parent to stay home and man the front door (which I have been doing since 2006). Pandemic and special circumstances aside, leaving a "please take one" bowl on the porch or just skipping the whole thing is unacceptable.</p><p><br /></p>booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-15145017993078177292020-03-26T18:20:00.001-07:002020-03-26T18:25:39.726-07:00Cozy-ish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6wNcnAGbQIyUkfjJnuv5wZHTZIbBV90hVx4y3XcCntk0pYNI1DGBMjba-ieeKu0wiejqz_ofezO53MCmn5QWG9Hp0kSkigQTJvHTuQZKpe6n3bJ2h4CXK0BJ9f9tKlQYkx4lYQ11jHPn/s1600/IMG_2692.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6wNcnAGbQIyUkfjJnuv5wZHTZIbBV90hVx4y3XcCntk0pYNI1DGBMjba-ieeKu0wiejqz_ofezO53MCmn5QWG9Hp0kSkigQTJvHTuQZKpe6n3bJ2h4CXK0BJ9f9tKlQYkx4lYQ11jHPn/s640/IMG_2692.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
Early on in the Covid-19 at-home hunkering, I listened to <i>Cozy: The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World</i> by Isabel Gillies. I borrowed the book from Hoopla Digital, thanks to my public library's subscription, and even though the single Hoopla reviewer on record didn't love this title (see photo above), I figured I'd give it a try since it sounded comforting in these strange times and because years ago I read and loved Gillies' memoir <i>Happens Every Day</i>.<br />
<br />
This book is less a how-to guide to coziness (ideas of what's cozy do vary by individual) and more a series of Gillies' thoughts and reflections regarding categories, examples, and dimensions of coziness. I think the idea is that readers will enjoy her thoughts on coziness and then start thinking about what they find cozy and finding ways to arrange their surroundings and attitudes for more coziness.<br />
<br />
Once I finished listening to <i>Cozy</i>, I made my own list of general conditions for and specific memories of coziness from my own life. Here are some of the things I find or have found cozy:<br />
<br />
* The feeling of opening up one's library bag and having the time to carefully inspect the treasures inside, especially if they were gathered hastily or haphazardly when at the library.<br />
<br />
* That moment when you've changed out a lampshade (I used to have a Target lampshade-buying problem) and then click the lamp on for the first time with its new/different shade.<br />
<br />
* Warm lighting in general. Side note: Gillies talks about the importance of pointing out coziness to your kids so they can create/find it for themselves. Thanks to me, my kids are very tuned in to cozy lighting. We are all passionately against cool light. <br />
<br />
* The feeling of eating at Cracker Barrel (think corn muffin with butter) in the right conditions. The right conditions = husband not present or husband initiating trip. Eating at CB with a reluctant husband is the opposite of cozy.<br />
<br />
* This combination: blanket, good book, fountain Diet Coke.<br />
<br />
* Gallery walls <br />
<br />
* Looking at my cardinal Christmas tree in December.<br />
<br />
* Certain movies and shows watched at home: BBC <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, Wonderworks <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>, <i>Bridget Jones's Diary</i>, <i>The Office</i>, <i>Gilmore Girls</i>.<br />
<br />
* Being at an airport gate with a snack, a good book, and no anxiety about flight delays or cancellations.<br />
<br />
* Sitting in a movie theater with girlfriends, preferably with popcorn and DC. Note: I went on a last minute outing to see <i>Emma</i> on Monday, March 9th, which was wholly delightful and now seems like it happened in a different lifetime.<br />
<br />
* Coming inside after a chilly walk and feeling energized, virtuous, and rosy-cheeked.<br />
<br />
* Going through a drive-thru and then finding a parking spot (I try to find one near a tree) and eating alone in my car. It sounds sad, but it's not, and it is a cozy habit that my sister also enjoys.<br />
<br />
* I play on a tennis team and after our matches, the home team provides lunch for the visiting team. You sit with your own team during lunch, and I love that cozy time of chatting and eating with my teammates (women of all ages at various stages of life). Even cozier if I won that day.<br />
<br />
* The smell of a basketball gym.<br />
<br />
* My kids and I stay after school two days a week to pray the Rosary with a small group. These afternoons in our beautiful Church with these friends are very special and cozy to me.<br />
<br />
* Sitting on my parents' giant sectional couch with other members of my family.<br />
<br />
* Eating pot roast nachos at Pint's, a sports bar in town.<br />
<br />
* Meeting my "breakfast club" friends at Egg Harbor. Buttering toast and adding their delicious jam.<br />
<br />
* Settling into a little crafting corner I have and making cards out of washi tape.<br />
<br />
* Visiting the book sale corner of my library.<br />
<br />
* Browsing at my favorite gift shop, The Uptown Shop.<br />
<br />
* Sitting at my kitchen table with a snack and a stack of magazines.<br />
<br />
* Bookshelves ... my own but also those of others, especially glanced through a window (in a non-creep way) when taking a walk in the evening.<br />
<br />
* Birthday cards displayed on a mantel. <br />
<br />
* The feeling of laughing and lingering at a restaurant or bar with good friends.<br />
<br />
* Singing along with my kids or friends in a moving vehicle or at a concert or at church.<br />
<br />
Gillies makes the point that cozy is not just an at-home phenomenon. It's things (often little) but also a state of mind.<br />
<br />
Some of the words that help convey cozy to me -- s<i>afe, satisfied, content, familiar, hopeful</i>.<br />
<br />
I acknowledge that it is a luxury to be at home writing about coziness at this moment when many are sick and when others like medical professionals and grocery store employees are exposed and vulnerable. I'm staying home as asked and looking for ways to make that experience more cozy than confining. I wouldn't say my current state of mind is cozy (too much uncertainty and strangeness for that) but there are cozy<i> moments</i>, and I am thankful for them. Making this list helps me look forward to a brighter future when we can once again feel cozy in the world and in one another's company. <br />
<br />
I would love to know what you find cozy.<br />
<br />
I did take a few photos from the past week or so that captured moments of cozy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpw7xhgwsPsVebdPfO_thIG_vvyhPQYu2kIInWuNgSLnWu72BJKyqiSrtAjQzwK0aMcyXwQ4lMp5rQ3lRe0B587OObaPSGBIOgclvbcgK9Y3wpWCCfov3xrgDNt2DahqIKpnl_96ygk-p/s1600/IMG_2598.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpw7xhgwsPsVebdPfO_thIG_vvyhPQYu2kIInWuNgSLnWu72BJKyqiSrtAjQzwK0aMcyXwQ4lMp5rQ3lRe0B587OObaPSGBIOgclvbcgK9Y3wpWCCfov3xrgDNt2DahqIKpnl_96ygk-p/s640/IMG_2598.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This photo is not taken from a great angle, but it shows a cozy scene of book, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dog, pajamas, a lamp shade with warm light, and a gallery wall.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsagnPD9S_tCCiwBMkr7vI2xkXgPKEJAfL1l9OWU2ONt93jV1DkJa24u1arUt1vFB6dVJIYLFqRmqmyE2_-ajW_s9fymf_UIn7jLsoz3hCXIUAIlzQc3lLLHQ9mQqWLRma7t2OYBDAV1SQ/s1600/IMG_5462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsagnPD9S_tCCiwBMkr7vI2xkXgPKEJAfL1l9OWU2ONt93jV1DkJa24u1arUt1vFB6dVJIYLFqRmqmyE2_-ajW_s9fymf_UIn7jLsoz3hCXIUAIlzQc3lLLHQ9mQqWLRma7t2OYBDAV1SQ/s640/IMG_5462.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This photo was taken on Sunday when my family rented the new <i>Emma</i>. We have fire, family, snow outside, birthday cards on mantel, and son in his Comfy. The scene was a bit less idyllic than it may seem as not everyone loved the movie as much as I did and we had to pause frequently to clarify plot points.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy6yTvFjAnCIM1BdHOD8XLPkHWQKsG3u-fi6vooFwr7Y-I2cCWGIT0rpHPSk4P6dsZzYVLb2Mh7qdVEtCATgIu1PuBwWhB5fZBsqEmCjAYlGLc6lz-56ol9aL-MMj6xBBsLSNp9ZFyIkD/s1600/IMG_5484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy6yTvFjAnCIM1BdHOD8XLPkHWQKsG3u-fi6vooFwr7Y-I2cCWGIT0rpHPSk4P6dsZzYVLb2Mh7qdVEtCATgIu1PuBwWhB5fZBsqEmCjAYlGLc6lz-56ol9aL-MMj6xBBsLSNp9ZFyIkD/s640/IMG_5484.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These Hunter boot socks are cozy as all get out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uJ_I2dsu_lMSPbQuph-O6WgJPIeMuvxlixMTabqhM8TnhwHKBEeNfcwy-5L6bVeZIRW1brN03whweREmkrxGbsoV0xCescHmOyTSbDTbFeDa6VwT-EBRMoiWdB1PZMGiXMO-R2uOzk5E/s1600/IMG_5478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uJ_I2dsu_lMSPbQuph-O6WgJPIeMuvxlixMTabqhM8TnhwHKBEeNfcwy-5L6bVeZIRW1brN03whweREmkrxGbsoV0xCescHmOyTSbDTbFeDa6VwT-EBRMoiWdB1PZMGiXMO-R2uOzk5E/s640/IMG_5478.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What day did it snow? I'm losing track, but snow-covered trees and roofs are cozy to me.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQrA1xZG1y7VL6C_9rrc4Ka1wRS47_ZFgOB-6BXbkplEIVlfiYAERFqxaTDsZcpFAYCn5lp-02gkdxEkxMRKG-QNtVcB2fCk8fQT-0ufIrMv5EpEdxOiNZdD5VJvIInjFsB3kioGtq9yR/s1600/IMG_5510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQrA1xZG1y7VL6C_9rrc4Ka1wRS47_ZFgOB-6BXbkplEIVlfiYAERFqxaTDsZcpFAYCn5lp-02gkdxEkxMRKG-QNtVcB2fCk8fQT-0ufIrMv5EpEdxOiNZdD5VJvIInjFsB3kioGtq9yR/s640/IMG_5510.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Last night's sunset warmed my heart. Cozy. Hopeful. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Stay well, everyone. Take care of yourself and one another.</div>
<br />booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-31236313882508409892019-12-31T17:47:00.000-08:002020-04-14T18:37:04.136-07:002019 Year of Books: Fiction<span style="color: #990000;"><b>2019 FICTION</b></span><b> </b><br />
<b>Elizabeth Acevedo</b><br />
<i>With the Fire on High</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Poppy Alexander</b><br />
<i>25 Days 'til Christmas</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Kate Atkinson</b><br />
<i>Transcription</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Jane Austen</b><br />
<i>Sanditon </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<i>The Watsons</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Beryl Bainbridge</b><br />
<i>The Bottle Factory Outing</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Chandler Baker</b><br />
<i>The Whisper Network</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Natalie Barelli</b><br />
<i>The Housekeeper</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Kimberly Belle</b><br />
<i>Dear Wife</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Robin Benway</b><br />
<i>Far from the Tree</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Lou Berney</b><br />
<i>November Road </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Taffy Brodesser-Akner</b><br />
<i>Fleishman Is in Trouble</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Burns</b><br />
<i>Milkman</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Emma Burstall</b><br />
<i>A Cornish Secret</i> (Tremarnock #4) (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Julie Buxbaum</b><br />
<i>Hope and Other Punchlines</i> (library book)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Robyn Carr</b><br />
<i>Virgin River </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<i>Shelter Mountain</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Katherine Center</b><br />
<i>Things You Save in a Fire</i> (hardcover) <br />
<br />
<b>Mary H.K. Choi</b><br />
<i>Permanent Record</i> (ebook via Libby) <br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Colgan</b><br />
<i>Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<i>The Bookshop on the Shore (</i>audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Tara Conklin</b><i> </i><br />
<i>The Last Romantics</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Catherine Cookson</b><br />
<i>Katie Mulholland</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Blake Crouch</b><br />
<i>Recursion</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Rosie Curtis</b><br />
<i>We Met in December </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Paula Daly</b><br />
<i>Clear My Name</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Jen DeLuca</b><br />
<i>Well Met</i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Sarah Dessen</b><br />
<i>The Rest of the Story</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Matthew Dicks</b><i> </i><br />
<i>Twenty-one Truths About Love </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Samantha Downing</b><br />
<i>My Lovely Wife</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Evie Dunmore</b><br />
<i>Bringing Down the Duke</i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Helen Ellis</b><br />
<i>Southern Lady Code</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Lucy Foley</b><br />
<i>The Hunting Party </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Tana French</b><br />
<i>In the Woods</i> (Dublin Murder Squad #1) (audiobook via Libby)<i> </i><br />
<i>The Likeness</i> (Dublin Murder Squad #2)<i> </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br />
<i>Faithful Place </i>(Dublin Murder Squad #3) (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Elizabeth Gaskell</b><br />
<i>Wives and Daughters </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<i>North and South</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Laurie Gelman</b><br />
<i>You've Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel</i> (library book)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Tracey Garvis Graves</b><br />
<i>The Girl He Used to Know</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Anne Griffin</b><br />
<i>When All Is Said</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Jasmine Guillory</b><br />
<i>The Wedding Party </i>(The Wedding Date #3) (library book)<b> </b><br />
<i>Royal Holiday </i>(The Wedding Date #4)<i> </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Cynthia Hand</b><br />
<i>The Afterlife of Holly Chase</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Jane Harper</b><br />
<i>The Lost Man </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Rachel Hawkins</b><br />
<i>Prince Charming</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Felicity Hayes-McCoy</b><br />
<i>The Mistletoe Matchmaker</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Jane Healey</b><br />
<i>The Saturday Evening Girls Club</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Amy Hempel</b><br />
<i>Sing to It: New Stories</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Greer Hendricks</b><br />
<i>The Wife Between Us </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Sally Hepworth</b><br />
<i>The Mother-in-Law</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Kristan Higgins</b><br />
<i>Life and Other Inconveniences </i>(paperback)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Elin Hilderbrand</b><br />
<i>What Happens in Paradise </i>(hardcover) <br />
<i>Summer People</i> (paperback)<br />
<i>Summer of '69</i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Linda Holmes</b><br />
<i>Evvie Drake Starts Over</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Helen Hoang</b><br />
<i>The Bride Test</i> (The Kiss Quotient #2) (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Catherine Isaac</b><br />
<i>You Me Everything</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Balli Kaur Jaswal</b><br />
<i>The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Lisa Jewell</b><br />
<i>Roommates Wanted </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Lana Wood Johnson</b><br />
<i>Technically, You Started It</i> (library book)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Jessica Francis Kane</b><br />
<i>Rules for Visiting</i> (library book)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Mary Beth Keane</b><br />
<i>Ask Again, Yes</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Brigid Kemmerer</b><br />
<i>Letters to the Lost </i>(ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<i>Call It What You Want </i>(library book) <br />
<br />
<b>John Kenney</b><br />
<i>Talk to Me</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Sabina Khan</b><br />
<i>The Love & Lies of Rukhsana-Ali</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Stephen King</b><br />
<i>The Colorado Kid</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Sophie Kinsella</b><br />
<i>Christmas Shopaholic</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Gordon Korman</b><br />
<i>Restart </i>(paperback)<br />
<br />
<b>Jean Kwok</b><br />
<i>Searching for Sylvie Lee</i> (audiobook) <br />
<br />
<b>Julie Langsdorf</b><br />
<i>White Elephant </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Christina Lauren</b><br />
<i>Twice in a Blue Moon</i> (library book)<b> </b><br />
<i>The Unhoneymooners</i> (library book) <br />
<i>Love and Other Words</i> (ebook via Libby)<br />
<i>My Favorite Half-Night Stand</i> (ebook via Libby)<br />
<i>Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Min Jin Lee</b><br />
<i>Pachinko</i> (audiobook via Libby) <b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Elinor Lipman</b><br />
<i>Good Riddance </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Claire Lombardo</b><br />
<i>The Most Fun We Ever Had</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Julia MacDonnell</b><br />
<i>Mimi Malloy, At Last! </i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Karen M. McManus</b><br />
<i>Two Can Keep A Secret </i>(audiobook via Libby)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Dervla McTiernan</b><br />
<i>The Scholar</i> (Cormac Reilly #2) (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Lauren Mechling</b><br />
<i>How Could She</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Emma Mills</b><br />
<i>This Adventure Ends </i>(ebook via Kindle Store) <b><br /></b><br />
<i>Famous in a Small Town</i> (library book)<br />
<i>Foolish Hearts</i> (ebook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Denise Mina</b><br />
<i>Conviction</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Fatima Farheen Mirza</b><br />
<i>A Place for Us</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>L.M. Montgomery</b><br />
<i>The Blue Castle* </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<i>Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Meg Mitchell Moore</b><br />
<i>The Islander</i>s (hardcover)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Yukiko Motoya</b><br />
<i>The Lonesome Bodybuilder: Stories</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Loretta Nyhan</b><br />
<i>All the Good Parts </i>(ebook via Kindle)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Beth O'Leary</b><br />
<i>The Flatshare</i> (library book)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Camille Pagan</b><br />
<i>I'm Fine and Neither Are You</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Liza Palmer</b><br />
<i>The Nobodies </i>(library book)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Lucy Parker</b><br />
<i>Act Like It </i>(London Celebrities #1) (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<i>Pretty Face</i> (London Celebrities #2) (ebook via Kindle Store) <br />
<br />
<b>Ann Patchett</b><br />
<i>The Dutch House</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>A.J. Pearce</b><br />
<i>Dear Mrs. Bird</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Louise Penny</b><br />
<i>Kingdom of the Blind</i> (Chief Inspector Gamache #14, audiobook via Libby)<br />
<i>A Better Man</i> (Chief Inspector Gamache #15, audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Rosamunde Pilcher</b><br />
<i>September</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<i>Voices in the Summer</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Sylvia Plath</b><br />
<i>Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom</i> (library book)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Katherine Reay</b><br />
<i>The Printed Letter Bookshop</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Penny Reid</b><br />
<i>Truth or Beard</i> (Winston Brothers #1) (audiobook via Hoopla)<i> </i><br />
<i>Grin and Beard It</i> (Winston Brothers #2) (audiobook via Hoopla)<i> </i><br />
<i>Beard Science</i> (Winston Brothers #3) (audiobook via Hoopla)<i> </i><br />
<i>Beard in Mind</i> (Winston Brothers #4) (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<i>Dr. Strange Beard </i>(Winston Brothers #5) (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<i>Bear with Me </i>(Winston Brothers #6) (audiobook via Hoopla)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Taylor Jenkins Reid</b><br />
<i>Evidence of the Affair</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<b> </b><br />
<i>Daisy Jones & The Six </i>(hardcover) <b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Kim Michele Richardson</b><br />
<i>The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Andrew Ridker</b><br />
<i>The Altruists </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Barbara Robinson</b><br />
<i>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever* </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Sally Rooney</b><br />
<i>Normal People </i>(hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Heather Rose</b><br />
<i>The Museum of Modern Love</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Rainbow Rowell</b><br />
<i>Pumpkinheads </i>(paperback)<br />
<br />
<b>Steven Rowley</b><br />
<i>The Editor</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Madhuri Shekar</b><br />
<i>Evil Eye</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Cathleen Schine</b><br />
<i>They May Not Mean To, But They Do</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Curtis Sittenfeld</b><br />
<i>Atomic Marriage </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Gregory Blake Smith</b><br />
<i>The Maze at Windermere </i>(audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Sarah Elaine Smith</b><br />
<i>Marilou is Everywhere</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>D.E. Stevenson</b><br />
<i>Spring Magic </i>(ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Nina Stibbe</b><br />
<i>Reasons to Be Cheerful</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Elizabeth Strout</b><br />
<i>Olive, Again</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Donna Tartt</b><br />
<i>The Secret History</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Angie Thomas</b><br />
<i>The Hate U Give </i>(hardcover)<i> </i><br />
<i>On the Come Up </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Jean Thompson</b><br />
<i>She Poured Out Her Heart</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Sally Thorne</b><br />
<i>99 Percent Mine</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Tony Tulathimutte</b><br />
<i>Private Citizens</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Richard Van Camp</b><br />
<i>The Lesser Blessed</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Elizabeth Von Arnim</b><br />
<i>The Enchanted April</i>* (public domain ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Ocean Vuong</b><br />
<i>On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Karen Thompson Walker</b><br />
<i>The Dreamers</i> (ebook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Cara Wall</b><br />
<i>The Dearly Beloved</i><b> </b>(audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Kathy Wang</b><br />
<i>Family Trust </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Abbi Waxman</b><br />
<i>The Bookish Life of Nina Hill</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br />
<br />
<b>Kevin Wilson</b><br />
<i>Nothing to See Here</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Kerry Winfrey</b><br />
<i>Waiting for Tom Hanks</i> (library book) <b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Jacqueline Woodson</b><br />
<i>Red at the Bone</i> (paperback)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Jeff Winterhart</b><br />
<i>Other People: Days of the Bagnold Summer & Driving Short Distances </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>David Yoon</b><br />
<i>Frankly in Love </i>(audiobook via Libby) booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-47361907916356421392019-12-31T17:45:00.000-08:002020-03-21T17:45:57.595-07:002019 Year of Books: Memoirs, Essays & Other Non-Fiction<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>2019 MEMOIRS, ESSAYS, and OTHER NON-FICTION</b></span><br />
<b>Karen Abbott</b><br />
<i>The Ghosts of Eden Park</i>: <i>The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Nancy Stearns Bercaw</b><br />
<i>Dryland: One Woman's Swim to Sobriety</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Elizabeth Berg</b><br />
<i>Still Happy: Includes "The Book of Homer"</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Rohit Bhargava</b><br />
<i>Always Eat Left Handed: 15 Surprising Secrets for Killing It At Work And In Real Life</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Gary John Bishop</b><br />
<i>Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Jamie Brickhouse</b><br />
<i>Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir of Booze, Sex, and My Mother</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Vera Brosgol</b><br />
<i>Be Prepared </i>(paperback)<b><br /></b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Bryan Burrough</b><br />
<i>The Demon Next Door</i> (audiobook via Audible)<br />
<br />
<b>Candace Bushnell</b><br />
<i>Is There Still Sex in the City?</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Makenzie Campbell</b><br />
<i>2am Thoughts </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>John Carreyrou</b><br />
<i>Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Marla Cilley</b><br />
<i>The CHAOS Cure: Clean Your House and Calm Your Soul in 15 Minutes</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Catherine Cookson</b><br />
<i>Before I Go</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Ruth Cowen</b><br />
<i>Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Molly Erdman</b><br />
<i>Catalog Living at Its Most Absurd: Decorating Takes (Wicker) Balls</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Rachel Held Evans</b><br />
<i>Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Huda Fahmy</b><br />
<i>Yes, I'm Hot in This: The Hilarious Truth about Life in a Hijab </i>(library book)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Allison Fallon</b><br />
<i>Indestructible: Leveraging Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love & Change in the World</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Ronan Farrow</b><br />
<i>Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators</i> (audiobook via Audible) <br />
<br />
<b>Jeannie Gaffigan</b><br />
<i>When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Neil Gaiman</b><br />
<i>Art Matters</i>: <i>Because Your Imagination Can Change the World</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Malcolm Gladwell</b><br />
<i>Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking</i> (audiobook via Libby) <br />
<br />
<b>John Glynn</b><br />
<i>Out East: Memoir of a Montauk Summer</i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Lori Gottlieb</b><br />
<i>Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Julie Heldman</b><br />
<i>Driven: A Daughter's Odyssey</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
<b>Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman</b><br />
<i>Sounds Like Titanic</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Rachel Hollis</b><br />
<i>Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Jessica Hopper</b><br />
<i>Night Moves</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Mira Jacob</b><br />
<i>Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations</i> (library book)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Abbi Jacobson</b><br />
<i>I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff</i> (audiobook via Libby)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Patrick Radden Keefe</b><br />
<i>Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Greg King</b><br />
<i>Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Austin Kleon</b><br />
<i>Newspaper Blackout </i>(ebook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Lucy Knisley</b><br />
<i>Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride</i> (library book)<br />
<i>Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Stephanie Land</b><br />
<i>Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Leon Logothetis</b><br />
<i>Go Be Kind: 28 1/2 Adventures Guaranteed to Make You Happier</i> (library book)<br />
<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Belinda Luscombe</b><br />
<i>Marriageology: The Art and Science of Staying Together </i>(audiobook via Audible)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Greg McKeown</b><br />
<i>Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less</i> (ebook via Kindle store) <br />
<br />
<b>Michelle McNamara</b><br />
<b> </b><i>I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman' Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer </i>(audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Gabrielle Moss</b><br />
<i>Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction</i> (library book)<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Ben and Erin Napier</b><br />
<i>Make Something Good Today</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Meaghan O'Connell</b><br />
<i>And Now We Have Everything: On Motherhood Before I Was Ready</i><b> (</b>ebook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Ryan O'Connell</b><br />
<i>I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves to Get through Our Twenties </i>(audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<br />
<b>Nnedi Okorafor</b><br />
<i>Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected </i>(library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Jessica Pan</b><br />
<i>Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: An Introvert's Year of Living Dangerously</i> (ebook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Brooks Palmer</b><br />
<i>Clutter Busting: Letting Go of What's Holding You Back </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Mary Laura Philpott</b><br />
<i>I Miss You When I Blink: Essays </i>(library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Catherine Price</b><br />
<i>How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life</i> (library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Carole Radziwill</b><br />
<i>What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<br />
<br />
<b>Ruth Reichl</b><br />
<i>Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Marc Reklau</b><br />
<i>The Life-Changing Power of Gratitude: 7 Simple Exercises that will Change Your Life for the Better</i> (audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Jason Reynolds</b><br />
<i>For Every One</i> (paperback)<br />
<br />
<b>Gretchen Rubin</b><br />
<i>Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Angela Santomero</b><br />
<i>Radical Kindness: The Life-Changing Power of Giving and Receiving</i> (audiobook via Hoopla) <br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Kathryn Scanlan</b><br />
<i>Aug 9 - Fog</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>David Sedaris</b><br />
<i>Me Talk Pretty One Day* </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<i> </i><br />
<i>Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002</i> (audiobook via Libby)<br />
<br />
<b>Dani Shapiro</b><br />
<i>Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Jan Smith</b><br />
<i>Killer by Nature</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Myquillyn Smith</b><br />
<i>Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Patti Smith</b><br />
<i>Just Kids </i>(audiobook via Hoopla)<b> </b> <br />
<b> </b> <br />
<b> Grant Snider</b><br />
<i>The Shape of Ideas: An Illustrated Exploration of Creativity</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Nina Stibbe</b><br />
<i>An Almost Perfect Christmas </i><br />
<br />
<b>Jia Tolentino</b><i> </i><br />
<i>Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion</i> (audiobook via Libby)<i> </i><br />
<br />
<b>Adrian Tomine</b><br />
<i>Scenes from an Impending Marriage</i> (library book)<br />
<br />
<b>Debbie Tung</b><br />
<i>Book Love</i> (hardcover)<br />
<br />
<b>Judith Viorst</b><br />
<i>Nearing Ninety: And Other Comedies of Late Life </i>(library book) <br />
<br />
<b>Jen Waite</b><br />
<i>A Beautiful, Terrible Thing: A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal</i> (ebook via Kindle Store)<br />
<br />
<b>Florence Williams</b><br />
<i>The 3-Day Effect</i> (audiobook via Audible)<b> </b> <br />
<i> </i><b> </b><br />
<b>Rachel DeLoache Williams</b><br />
<i>My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress</i> (hardcover)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><i>An (*) indicates a reread. All ebooks are purchased <u>on sale </u>via
the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst
Public Library. All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst
Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla and Libby Apps). </i></b></div>
booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-834295355725690083.post-87038271160136588842019-10-30T07:52:00.001-07:002019-10-30T07:52:56.239-07:00Fall Faves, August - October 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDHpFPlqMEVBBOCOLDsafp7KcsW3EoyWeVQfp0Z1Bo8-LnBGOzdbDGfNX89XvxVICSdRyGWLW02rEDntO0r25okbG6DoiKLdDqiEcZAc7-LCYm1C4xNee-iclTXf5GOjLvoF3hqD0rk9q/s1600/FallFaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDHpFPlqMEVBBOCOLDsafp7KcsW3EoyWeVQfp0Z1Bo8-LnBGOzdbDGfNX89XvxVICSdRyGWLW02rEDntO0r25okbG6DoiKLdDqiEcZAc7-LCYm1C4xNee-iclTXf5GOjLvoF3hqD0rk9q/s640/FallFaves.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
It's been a great few months of reading. Trust me that the books above are just the cream of a very rich crop of recent reads. What's great about this collection of titles is that except in a few cases, these are books written by authors I love so if you can't get your hands on the title in the collage, there are other great books to be found. If you want to know more about what I'm reading, follow me on Instagram and Goodreads, where I am @booksandcarbs and booksandcarbs. <br />
<br />
In order of the photo collage (which was random), I present:<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Islanders</i> by Meg Mitchell Moore</b>: This book was a perfect (end of) summer read for me. I really liked the Block Island setting, the fact that some of the main characters were writers, and the book's familial/romantic relationships. Book clubs could find plenty to discuss. Speaking of book clubs, <b><i>The Admissions</i> by Meg Mitchell More</b> is a PERFECT book club selection.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Dutch House</i> by Ann Patchett:</b> My heart was full to bursting by the time this book ended. It exceeded my (very high) expectations. I loved the brother-sister relationship in this book and loved that it was another forgiveness story (I've read a lot of strong ones this year). Ann Patchett is one of the finest living American writers and she outdid herself here. Highly, highly recommend the audio version as the narration of Tom Hanks is exquisite. I wanted to live in this book. Other favorite Ann Patchett titles? All of them, but especially <i><b>State of Wonder, This is The Story of a Happy Marriage</b>, </i>and <b><i>Bel Canto</i></b>. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Red at the Bone</i> by Jaqueline Woodson:</b> Woodson's writing is beautiful. The way she shifted between past and present and among family members really worked. Aubrey's story (and his mother's) will stay with me most powerfully. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Conviction</i> by Denise Mina:</b> This mystery checked all the boxes for me ... quirky, interesting characters who were not caricatures and who had real issues and pasts, cool locales, just the right mix of humor and absurdity with this pair of unlikely buddies/amateur detectives. I liked the timeliness of the true crime podcast angle of this story. Bonus points for melodious Scottish narration.<br />
<br />
<b><i>A Better Man</i> by Louise Penny</b>: I'm all caught up in the Chief Inspector Gamache series now and it feels both satisfying and sad as now I have to wait for what's next. And wait I will. This latest trip to Three Pines was all about how we read and perceive others and the courage required to admit when we're wrong. To see Gamache's relationships with "his people" and the loyalty, respect, and love binding them is a beautiful thing. It's interesting to see Gamache up against a new regime of doubters and insecure higher ups. This series starts slow but it is SO WORTH THE INVESTMENT.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Marilou is Everywhere</i> by Sarah Elaine Smith:</b> I can't promise you'll love this one, but I did. I've not read a book quite like it and couldn't stop reading to try and understand Cindy. This one was sad and strange and sometimes funny and ultimately hopeful. Different in a refreshing way. Unique (to me) rural setting.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Likeness</i> by Tana French</b>: Tana French, like Louise Penny, is able to infuse her mysteries with true insight into human nature and writes so beautifully. I like how her detectives, especially in this book, are flawed but compelling. I love the Irish settings. Allegedly you don't need to read her books in order, but I would. Start with <b><i>In the Woods</i>.</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Reasons to be Cheerful </i>by Nina Stibbe:</b> I "met" Nina Stibbe when I read her letter collection/memoir <i><b>Love, Nina</b></i> -- one of my favorite books of 2014. I've since read all of her Lizzie Vogel novels as soon as I could get my American hands on them. <i>Reasons to be Cheerful</i> is the latest of them and thoroughly delightful. Who doesn't like reading about amateur dentistry? These books are funny and smart, tons of wit and humor in the details. Quirky but complex characters in an odd but loving family. Stibbe's books are just my cup of tea. The Lizzie Vogel series starts with <i><b>Man at the Helm. </b></i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Just Kids</i> by Patti Smith</b>: I went into this book with limited knowledge of the life and art of Patti Smith nor that of Robert Maplethorpe (aware of reputation and controversy but not familiar with the work itself). Even lacking prior knowledge and passionate interest/curiosity, I was still blown away by <i>Just Kids</i>. Smiths' writing is gorgeous (and I was completely charmed by her narration -- she adds an "l" to "drawing" and drops the "g" in all "ing" words, for example). This is a story of friendship, love, and art that spans decades. Struggles and shared joys. Smith doesn't sensationalize or spin; she shares moments and memories thoughtfully. The moment inspiring the book's title is mentioned early on and got to me. Readers interested in music and art in the late 60s and 70s will appreciate Smith's interactions with other creatives. Really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to read this one.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Pachinko</i> by Min Jin Lee</b>: I waited so long to read this one. I'm not sure why as I loved Lee's <b><i>Free Food for Millionaires</i></b>. This family saga was wonderful. I was very interested in all the relationships and in the way <i>family </i>was interpreted so expansively. Plenty to discuss in terms of love, generosity, service, courage. This is the second book I've read that has enlightened me about the the experiences of Koreans living in Japan. Long book, but I would happily stick with this family for decades more.<br />
<br />
What are your Fall Faves? Please share in the comments!booksandcarbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684272236570310690noreply@blogger.com0