Well, here it is the end of 2021. At first, I wasn’t going to do this, but I started looking back over the notes I made for each month of the year and thought, “why not?” It is more of a record for me, a reminder of special memories and people, closing out the old year and welcoming the new. Here are some highlights of my year and a couple of things I have learned. (Be warned – picture overload!) January – 2021 Begins Who could forget the attack on our democracy on January 6, 2021? I watched in horror and was mortified witnessing the…
Author Recommendation – Insightful and In Tune
My last post focused on two authors new to me. This one is about one author and three of his books. His name is Fredrik Backman and the books I read have been translated by Neil Smith. There is just something about his writing style that appeals to me (and many others), and so I thought I would recommend him and tell a little about the three books I have read. First Two Book Titles – Beartown and Sequel Us Against You Author: Fredrik Backman Date Read: Beartown – August 2019 Us Against You – July 2021 Type of Book: Fiction Date Published: Beartown –…
Two Authors New to Me – Excited to Discuss!
I branched out in July and read books by two authors who came highly recommended and were new to me – authors Elin Hilderbrand and Lisa Jewell. Much like when I started reading Louise Penny and the Inspector Gamache series, I will read as many novels as possible written by these authors. First Book Title – Summer of ’69 Author: Elin Hilderbrand Date Read: July 3-7, 2021 Type of Book: Fiction Publication Date: 2019 Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Recommended by: My sister recommended the book. My daughter-in-law recommended the author. Ideas Expressed/Message/Plot: For the Levin family, the summer of 1969 brings changes, soul-searching, enlightenment,…
Need a Getaway? How about Hermann, MO?
At the end of March, my husband and I were anxious to have a short getaway so decided to take a weekend trip to some of the wine country in Missouri. Traveling to Chicago in the past, we had seen signs for St. James Winery and talked about returning one day to visit some of the wineries in the area. I had also seen an article in an old Southern Living magazine about the wine trails of Missouri, so I began to research a little bit. We had visited the wineries in Altus, Arkansas and had a day trip, so we thought why not see…
Books – So Many to Read! Yay!
I have been reading right on pace with the goal I set for myself this year. What I have not been doing is regularly posting my recommendations and responses to the books I have read. I hope that with the close of the school year (I have been grading English assignments online) that I will get back to a regular blog writing/publishing schedule. Here is my next recommendation. I read this novel in January, and the impact on me is lasting. In the months since reading the book, I have come to recognize the connection I have made about the reality people create in order…