I’m off work until Tuesday, Dec. 27, and I’m taking advantage of it. I’m reading four books right now, two mysteries, a Christmas novel, and a nonfiction book. I’m going to mention the nonfiction book in a minute or two.
I know I’m lucky that I”m staying home for the holidays. Many of us are going to be experiencing extremely low temperatures, snow and ice. If you’re traveling, stay safe! And, if you’re not around for my short Christmas greeting on Dec. 25th, let me say now that I’m grateful you all stop in and talk books with all of us. Thank you for being part of my life. Happy Holidays!
I’m reading The Secret Museum: Some Treasures Are Too Precious to Display by Molly Oldfield. I bought a copy because I saw a reference to it someplace or another. Just a warning that it’s fascinating with all kinds of hidden secrets, but the book is expensive. It’s probably a combination. It was originally published in England, and reprinted here. It’s by a British author, and a small press. And, it was published in 2013. Oldfield researched and wrote for the British TV program QI. That’s how she learned that most of a museum’s collections are hidden because they don’t have the room to display everything. Sometimes items are too large or too microscopic to put on display. Some are too precious or too fragile, and they’re in climate-controlled, dark environments.
Miro did a tiled wall for the entrance of the Guggenheim museum, and it’s hidden behind a white wall used for displays. The Morgan Library and Museum has one of only twelve Gutenberg Bibles printed on vellum. The Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum has spacesuits from the Apollo missions, including one worn by the only scientist on a mission, and it has moon dust on it.
Oldfield takes readers behind the scenes at museums all over the world to cover hidden gems. And, the book is beautifully illustrated with illustrations by Hennie Haworth and photos sourced by Guilia Hetherington. They need to be mentioned because their contributions make this book sparkle.
I don’t always read these factual books straight through, so I’m always happy when I can mention it here on a Thursday.
What about you? Plans for the holidays? Stay safe and warm! And, tell us what you’ve been reading this week.
Origin in Death by JD Robb.
Love that series, Kevin.
I like it too.
Tidings by William Wharton
On Christmas day, hopefully my whole, tiny immediate family will be together at my younger son’s house, just 10 minutes from mine–my two sons, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter, oh and two new kittens and an aging dog. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. Here’s what I’ve been reading this week.
MURDER VISITS A FRENCH VILLAGE, the first in the Château in Burgundy Mystery series by Susan C. Shea, has a fascinating setting. The Château de Champs-sur-Serein most likely started its existence as a medieval fortress, but now it’s a neglected, rundown edifice with an impressive tower and an empty moat. It’s also a gift that Ariel Shepherd’s husband, Dan, had planned to have restored before surprising her with it. Sadly, Dan died suddenly before he could carry out his plans. When Ariel discovered its existence, she sold their condo, gave up her teaching job, and hopped on a plane for France for what would become the next phase of her life. Naively believing restoration of the château could take a year before she could rent out the bedrooms to travelers and even host cooking classes, Ariel was soon enlightened by her new expatriate friends, American Katherine and British Pippa, as to the lackadaisical speed of such things in the French countryside. Undaunted, she hires roofers, electricians, and carpenters and obtains Sorbonne scholar Christiane Breton’s assistance with researching the history of the château for a brochure that Ariel plans to write and distribute to her future customers. But when Christiane is found dead in the dry moat under suspicious circumstances, Ariel doesn’t know whom to suspect but knows she must reluctantly rely on the local gendarmes to solve the case. My favorite part of the book, which is focus of the story, is the intimate and detailed look at what it takes to restore a historical building and the French inheritance laws. I also enjoyed the well-plotted mystery and the diverse characters. Readers of the author’s French Village Mysteries will recognize Katherine and Pippa from those books, but this book can be read as a standalone with Ariel as the protagonist in a new series. The author is also an expert at bringing the French countryside to life in her books, and I’m hoping to read more about Ariel’s adventures once the château is open for business. (March)
Although THE COLLECTED REGRETS OF CLOVER by Mikki Brammer is the story of a 36-year-old death doula, it is by no means a downer. I enjoyed learning what a death doula does–calmly guiding one person at a time through the last days of life with dignity and peace, listening to their regrets and confessions with no judgment, and helping to work through any unresolved issues, always letting the client set their own terms. But I also loved the in-depth portrait of Clover herself, someone who hasn’t allowed herself to have friends of her own age, establish romantic relationships, or fully accept herself for who she is. Clover has been interested in death since she witnessed the demise of her kindergarten teacher, and as an adult she has traveled abroad to learn about death customs and traditions in other countries, written her master’s thesis on thanatology (the study of death), and visited death cafes. She has even honored many of her clients’ regrets by experiencing activities they said they wished they had done. But none of it could completely make up for the fact that she was not there at the death of her beloved grandfather, who had raised her since her inattentive parents died in an accident when she was six. Along the way, Clover realizes she has made her own life too restricted, keeping her feelings locked inside herself, and her half-hearted attempts to change have always been thwarted. No one seemed to want to be around someone who is that involved with death. But taking on a client who had blazed the trail for female photojournalists and reluctantly turned away from the love of her life inspires Clover to make some life-changing decisions, take on seemingly impossible tasks, and open herself up to finding love. I found all of the supporting characters to be distinct, memorable, and equally as well drawn as Clover herself. And I had a lot to think about after reading Clover’s story. Debut author Mikki Brammer is one to watch. (May)
In MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER by Colleen Cambridge, it is the winter of 1949, and American Tabitha Knight has recently arrived in Paris for an extended visit with her wealthy grandfather and “uncle.” With a French mother, Tabitha is fluent in French and makes money tutoring American women and children in the language. And having ended her four-year engagement and left her wartime job as a riveter in an airplane factory, she is eager to make new friends and learn how to better prepare meals for her elderly “monsieurs,” now that their cook is no longer available. In the latter pursuit, Tabitha is fortunate to become the good friend of a young Julia Child. Julia, who lives nearby with her husband, Paul, and attends the famed Cordon Bleu cooking school, frequently hosts get-togethers organized by her sister Dort (Dorothy), who works in the business office of an American theatre company. One day, a murder victim is discovered in Julia’s building, and Tabitha recognizes her as someone she met briefly at the previous night’s party, to which Dort had invited her. As Tabitha has become friendly with some of the theatre company, she wants to help investigate, even though Inspector Merveille has clearly not asked for her help. One of the many things that make this book well worth reading is the lovely descriptions of a Paris that has emerged from the days of rationing to return to its former glory. Tabitha is a delightfully rendered character, although too willing to put herself in dangerous situations. Julia, as a supporting character, is equally charming–and then there’s the food! And the wonderful “monsieurs” add humor and class to the story. It’s a clever mystery with a satisfying resolution, and I’m hoping this book might turn into a series. (April)
BLEEDING HEART YARD is the third book by Elly Griffiths about Indian police detective Harbinder Kaur, who has now moved from Brighton to London and been promoted to Detective Inspector. In Harbinder’s first big case in London, the murder of a Member of Parliament at a class reunion introduces a bevy of suspects–members of a group of friends who attended the ritzy secondary school 20 years earlier. They include a rock star, a famous movie actress, two MPs, and a Detective Sergeant on Harbinder’s own team. And it looks like this murder may be related to the suspicious death of another student in the year when they graduated. In alternating chapters, several of the friends narrate the story from their own perspective, and the chapters about Harbinder are written in the third person. Part of the mystery results from the fact that each of the former students remembers the day when their classmate was killed in a different way. I liked the way the mystery built, although I thought the resolution was somewhat unrealistic. Also, I longed for more personal details about Harbinder and her friends. I miss the ones from Brighton, but there was some effort to introduce her new roommates–a teacher and an architect–as well as the members of her new team. I’m still invested enough in Harbinder’s story to watch for the next in the series.
I like the way actress Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls, Parenthood) thinks–and writes. HAVE I TOLD YOU THIS ALREADY? is the second book of memoirs I have read by her, and I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed her novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe. This one is a slim volume of essays on anything and everything that the author wants to write about (the subtitle is Stories I Don’t Want to Forget to Remember), and it’s a fun, quick read. She covers everything from “Boobs of the 90s” to “Health Camps I Have Hated” to “Squirrel Signs” with humor and panache. It isn’t up to the level of her longer memoir, Talking as Fast as I Can, but it is well worth reading as a palate cleanser from heavier books or just on its own merits.
Hi Margie, I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family. I’m so glad you moved a few years ago.
I don’t think I’ll be reading The Collected Regrets of Clover, but it sounds fascinating. Now, I’m going to have to look up death cafes. I never heard of them.
Sending Christmas hugs!
I’m once again between books. I just finished FATAL FASCINATORS by Jenn McKinlay, a new entry in her Hat Shop Mysteries. I enjoyed it.
I’m about to start GONE FOR GOUDA, the second in Korina Moss’s Cheese Shop Mysteries. It is set in Sonoma County.
Friday, I’ll leave working a half day and then heading to spend Christmas with my family in Sonoma County. I’m taking an extra day off, so driving back on Tuesday since I need to be back working on Wednesday. Month end waits for no holidays.
Yes, when I did get to GONE FOR GOUDA closer to its release day, I decided to save it while I was home for Christmas.
Safe travels, Mark. I’m happy that some of you are in California, and won’t have to worry about this storm that will cover the Midwest and east.
I really enjoyed Fatal Fascinators.
I’m just about finished with Christmas Eve at Cranberry Crossing by Kate Forester. I’m in the middle of listening to Stephen King’s Fairy Tale.
I’m also reading Indoor Activities for Toddlers-we keep our grandson 5 days a week.
I just ordered the museum book from this post.
Isn’t it nice, Caryn, to find a Christmas book or two? I have to pick up Craig Johnson’s Spirit of Steamboat for my annual reading.
I hope you enjoy The Secret Museum!
Enjoy your time off!
My husband has three weeks off work starting today, I don’t work, so it’s as usual for me. We are planning a Christmas lunch picnic at the beach.
The Secret Museum book does sound interesting. Your mention got me to thinking about other nonfiction books I’ve read that feature collections. The Feather Thief and The Lost Guttenberg come to mind, both fascinating.
It’s sad that many are suffering abnormally cold weather this holiday season. Other than an inversion layer and freezing fog, winter weather is near normal here. We took advantage with a day trip via Donner Pass to California. Beautiful snow flocked trees and sunshine at the higher elevations. Enjoyed a holiday lunch with family (two sisters, two nieces, a brother & his wife).
This week I read a book highly recommended in a recent Thursday share. But as you so politely say Lesa, it wasn’t for me. So on to the latest from Carlene O’Connor in her County Kerry series NO STRANGERS HERE. Features veterinarian Dimpna Wilde along with murder, greed, theft and misdirection. A bit of a confusing beginning, but then the pace really picks up. Good story with lots of Irish family intrigue.
Merry Christmas Lesa. I’m glad you’ll be safe and warm with a stack of books close by.
Merry Christmas, MM!
I really liked No Strangers Here. I lent it to a librarian friend who liked it as much as I did. I really wanted to go to a pub and listen to the main characters play.
I’m happy that many of you are able to get together with family. I’m also happy I’ll be warm and safe instead of trying to get someplace.
I just ordered the Museum book. I love this sort of book!
The Secret Museum sounds fascinating! (And the TBR pile gets ever higher, thanks a bunch, Lisa.)
For work, reading Naphtali Lewis’ “Life in Egypt under Roman Rule,” where I discover artaba was the unit of measurement for grain, keramion was the unit of measurement for oil and wine, and asshole was the measurement for Roman administrators.
For fun, reading Mark Greany’s “Sierra Six.” Damn, that guy can write.
Oh, you’re welcome, Dana! I can see that you’d enjoy The Secret Museum. All kinds of interesting tidbits in this one – enough ideas for all kinds of books.
You made me laugh with that comment, “Asshole was the measurement for Roman administrators”. Thank you for the laughter.
PS–Sorry about the misspelling of your name. Blankety-blank autocorrect!
I know, Dana. No problem. If anyone understands that, it’s me.
Just getting to this post by Lesa and I saw you here. I love, love, love your books! Having lived in Alaska for a short time books about that state really appeal to me. Keep writing forever.
This is a terrific book, Caryn. I’m really enjoying it.
Happy Holidays! Stay safe!
I just started the Jemima Huxley books after reading a Christmas short story with that character. I am halfway through The Cardiff Killings by Gaynor Torrance.
Now, out of curiosity, I’m going to have to look up the Jemima Huxley books, Jody. Thank you!
Good morning. We plan to stay put this weekend. We’re supposed to have two days of rain followed by temperatures dropping rapidly into the teens and not getting above freezing until Tuesday afternoon. My brother and all of his wife’s family were supposed to drive to Lake Placid, NY and stay for a week but decided to postpone the trip because of the weather.
I read Frozen Detective by Amanda Flower. A PI agency is hired to attend a company Christmas party to determine who’s sending the company’s owner threatening letters. I enjoyed the mystery but I never really connected with either of the main characters.
Confessions of a VAT Inspector by Dawn Fallon. It’s her memoir of working as a VAT inspector in Birmingham during the 80s and 90s. She had a degree in music which in no way prepared her for visiting to businesses to go through their accounts to verify if they were paying the proper amount of tax. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Hi Sandy! I’m tucked in, and may not leave the house until Tuesday. Stay warm and safe!
I’m on hold for Frozen Detective at the library. I liked the first in the series, so we’ll see what I think when I get it.
Merry Christmas!
I’m enjoying Hanukah and reading a gripping novel about the Holocaust, the Volunteer by Jack Fairweather. It breaks my heart to read it as the Jewish people suffered so much torture in Auschwitz. I hope you have a safe Christmas season. I find your newsletter to be very informative.
Thank you, Joan. It would break my heart to read so many books about the Holocaust. What a tragedy.
Enjoy the Hanukah season, and thank you for stopping by. I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
I’m in the middle of reading The Shadow Murders by Jussi Adler-Olsen – this one just hasn’t grabbed me the way his other books have – but it could be because I’m distracted with getting everything done for the holiday. I’m on vacation starting tomorrow for 12 days – not having to see 6 am makes me happy! I have a number of books waiting for me and plan on relaxing. Merry Christmas to all!
Hi Donna! I don’t have to see 5:30 until Tuesday, and Josh didn’t even get me up, but I was up at 5:45 this morning. Maybe tomorrow when it’s so cold, I’ll stay in bed.
Enjoy your vacation & I hope you find a little time to relax and have some me time! Merry Christmas!
Because I’ve finished all my book group responsibilities for the year, I’m trying to catch up on books I might nominate for awards next year. Last night I finished Killers if a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn and I loved it. I’m only a few years older than the killers and there was a lot I could relate to.
I just started Shutter by Ramona Emerson and it drew me in immediately.
Merry Christmas!
You’re reading four books? Sounds like me! We will be home and we are making sure we have enough food in the house that we can hibernate through the cold days until it starts to warm up next week. Two more weeks of this until we leave for Florida.
Jackie is reading Richard Osman’s THE BULLET THAT MISSED and loving it. She has Christine Feehan and J. R. Ward books lined up to read next.
I made a list of favorite books read yesterday and will send it to you so you can post it whenever you need to fill space. My Author (Discovery) of the Year was definitely Chris Offutt – mysteries, memoirs, short stories, you name it.
But I digress. This week I read Shelley Burr’s WAKE, another first Aussie mystery that is well worth your time. 19 years ago, one of two twin sisters disappeared, apparently from her bedroom, in the small outback community in central New South Wales where they lived, and was never seen again. Now a private investigator (with definite secrets of his own) is there ,believing that he will be the one to find what happened to Evie McCreery – and also get the $2 reward. This is deliberately paced rather than something you race through, but it is definitely worth reading. The second new Aussie book to make my list.
AT THE GATES OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM is the second of Amy Hempel’s four short story collections I’ve read. (I hope to get the other two done before we leave.) Quirky and well written, most stories range from two to ten pages. I like her writing.
And speaking of good writing, it would be hard to top Claire Keegan, with her novella FOSTER now published as a standalone after appearing somewhat edited in The New Yorker. This exquisitely written tale has a little girl being left with relatives of her mother in the south of Ireland in the summer of 1981, as her mother ris about to give birth to her latest child and her father is pretty much worthless. A beautiful, touching story you can easily read in a couple of hours. I have a couple of her other books on hold.
Currently reading the third Hempel collection, plus Jess Walter’s collection THE ANGEL OF ROME and Other Stories. Just downloaded Stephen Spotswood’s second historical (late 1940s) mystery, so hope to read that this week – MURDER UNDER HER SKIN.
Hope everyone here has a wonderful holiday, and stay safe!
Jeff, Claire Keegan was a discovery for me this year. I liked Foster and Small Things Like These. Both such beautifully written, thought-provoking books.
Chris Offutt has another Mick Hardin novel, Code of the Hills, scheduled for June release. I’m looking forward to it!
And, today I received Constant Hearses and Other Revolutionary Mysteries by Edward D. Hoch. I know you subscribe to Crippen and Landru, so you probably already have it. I’m looking forward to it!
I’ll repeat what you said, stay safe!
I liked the Hoch very much, as I do all of his collections. It was fascinating to read all the Benedict Arnold/Revolutionary War stuff (I’d read some of the stories before) and check the story to see how close to truth he was – as with the Hudson River chain, which was indeed real.
Oh, good. I’m looking forward to the Hoch collection.
Of course that should have read $2 MILLION reward
Just read the nice comments about you on FB Lesa via a Jenn McKinlay post by V.M. Burns about your review of her book yesterday, Lesa. I am sure the comments by both authors will make your holiday a little brighter.
This week I finished Let It Snow by Beth Moran. I loved this Christmas book about a Bea, the local weathercaster in Nottingham visiting her quirky Armstrong family for the holidays. There was lots of snow, a hilarious job interview in Scotland, a predictable romance with her childhood friend. This was heartwarming and funny and definitely the right Christmas book for me this season.
Next, I read The Plot and the Pendulum by Jenn McKinlay. Despite the Edgar Allan Poe tie-in this wasn’t my favorite of the series. She lost me when they reenacted the disappearance.
After that, I read How the Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley. Christmas hating Elias is in charge of brokering the sale for the land owned by Cooke family Christmas tree farm. Unfortunately, their daughter is his past high school love. Will Isabelle be able to melt his icy heart and save the family’s land? I was all in until the very end when everything got a little too over the top for my liking, but I enjoyed this nonetheless.
Lastly, I read The Book Haters Book Club by Gretchen Anthony. It was written differently than any other book I’ve read recently. The story of The Over The Rainbow Bookshop in Minneapolis. Irma and Elliott are the co-owners but with Elliott’s recent death, she has decided to sell it to a developer for much less than it’s worth. Her daughter, adopted daughter, and Elliott’s partner Thom come together to try to figure out what is behind Irma selling it. In between, there snippets of previous book haters club newsletters written by Elliott as well as commercial breaks from Elliott and the great beyond. Overall, I really liked this one too.
It is raining in my corner of Cincinnati with the cold and snow and ice knocking on the door later tonight.
Stay Safe, Stay Warm, Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!
Hi Sharon,
I haven’t seen the comments. I did see one V.M. Burns posted, but nothing by Jenn McKinlay. Thank you!
I’ll have to see if I have Beth Moran’s book lined up someplace. I know I downloaded several of her books. I like her writing.
We’ve had rain here, and it’s supposed to change to snow about 2 or 3 today with temperatures dropping and blowing wind. I’m tucked in, and don’t need to go anyplace until Tuesday. I hope you don’t have to go anyplace over the holidays.
Sending hugs, and Happy Holidays greetings!
Lesa, I can’t remember exactly what she wrote but Jenn McKinlay said something to the effect of Lesa is one of the good ones in her comments. Yes. We will be hunkering down. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher just became avaion Kindle Unlimited so I know what I will be reading under all the quilts!
Rereading one of my all-time favorite books, Shadows on the Grass by Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen). I have read all her books again and again. Whatever is going wrong in my life, I can depend on these books to transport me to another place and time.
Sandra, I hope you’re okay. I am glad you have a book that’s dependable, but I hope you’re okay. Sending good thoughts.
You’re very kind, Lesa. It’s just the ongoing drag of pain and health problems. I want Santa to bring me the best darned spine doctor in all of metro DC! 😄 Thank heaven for books and cats.
That book that you mentioned sparked an interest in me. The photographer was probably related to my grandmother, all the Hetheringtons were artists and photographers!
https://unsplash.com/@giuliahetherington
I finished The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman and loved it, It ended very well and now need to write a review for it. Will have to be short, have laryngitis and bad so does James. 22 degrees here and wiil down to 10 tonight. Only feel like sleeping and reading.
Will be starting a historical A Soldier’s Wife by Margaret LeRoy, set in WWII in Guernsey, England.
It did work, Carolee. Just might not have posted immediately. I hope you and James feel better. Stay home, and stay safe!
Gee, tried to post and it didn’t work. I finished The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman and need to write a review but it wiill be short. Both of us have larygnitis all I want to do is sleep and read.
Will be started a historical fiction, The Soldier’s WIfe bt Margaret Leroy, set in Guernsy, England in WW II.
When I think of Lesa and Christmas, I remember the year my folks bought her red tights. We have movies. She was adorable and my dad really loved her. He laughed and laughed as she trotted around in those tights. Merry Christmas to a dear cousin.
Thank you, Carol Jeanne. Your father loved to tell that story. He laughed every time he told it, even the last time I saw him. I loved him, too, Carol.
THE SECRET MUSEUM sounds like a very interesting book. I will check it out more and see what my husband thinks of it.
We do the same thing on Christmas day that we do Thanksgiving. We watch several movies, sometimes with a Christmas theme, sometimes not. One of our picks this year is marginally Christmas oriented, as it begins at Christmas. It is RED, with Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman. My husband makes spaghetti every year. (For New Year’s Day, he makes Hoppin’ John, a Southern dish, for good luck.)
This week I finished two books. Both were very good, but in very different ways.
O CALEDONIA by Elspeth Barker was the first book. Short, under 90 pages, and the only novel that Barker wrote. It is written so beautifully that it makes me sad that she did not write anything else. The story is about a young girl who is willful and stubborn, and won’t be molded into what others want her to be, even at a very early age. It is a sad story but a wonderful read. Rosemary has a wonderful review of this book at her blog.
I just finished A DEATH OF NO IMPORTANCE, a historical mystery by Mariah Fredericks last night. This is the story of a young woman who works as a ladies maid for the two daughters of a rich family, in 1910 New York. There is an unfortunate romance, a death, and the maid is the one who finds the body. The police want to pin the murder on anarchists who have been sending threatening notes. It is a good picture of New York at that time and I liked the way it ended.
Oh, I love RED, Tracy. Terrific movie! I forgot it started at Christmas. I have a couple lined up to watch, too. For me, it’s Love Actually and Home Alone. And, our tradition for New Year’s is pork and sauerkraut. (German heritage).
I like that series by Mariah Fredericks. Of course, my favorite is Death of a Showman because of its connection to Broadway.
Enjoy your holiday time together!
Cold and foggy here. Looks like we’re going to have a gray Christmas.
This week I read:
Grant Comes East by Newt Gingrich; Another allo-historical novel about the Civil War. I’m from California, so it doesn’t have the cachet for me that it has for others.
Maiden of the Mist by Nancy Mehl; our sleuth sees the fabled Maiden of the Mist of Martha’s Vineyard, but she doesn’t believe in ghosts, so she investigates. It’s rather odd reading a series of cozies without murders.
Biker by Mike Baron; A former outlaw biker finds Jesus in prison, and becomes a PI. He’s doing Lansdale type stuff. Then a case takes him to the Sturgis Biker Rally…Biker fiction is certainly a niche subgenre.
12 Dogs of Christmas by David Rosenfelt; This author seems to really have something about Christmas, as a large proportion of his books are set during Yuletide. This one is about a lady who fosters dogs. Her neighbor narcs on her to the local authorities, then winds up dead, and the client can’t keep her mouth shut. Ho Ho Humbug!
Mr. B by Jennifer Homans; A biography of one of the all time great choreographers. I’d never heard of him. Sic Transit Gloria. I wonder if there’s an audience for this.
Glen, I looked up Mr. B when you mentioned it because I suspected it was George Balanchine. Yes, there will be a market for it. Amazon has it at #1 in several dance categories. I admire you for reading a book that is over 700 pages when you didn’t know who he was.
Stay safe with your foggy Christmas!
I won the book in a goodreads drawing. I didn’t realize it was that long. Fortunately, he lived an eventful life, or I never would have made it.
Merry Christmas Lesa!
I am also staying home this year. My husband has been having some health problems so I decided not to travel. Hopefully that means lots of reading with the library I work at being closed from the 23rd to the 27th! I am currently reading The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart and A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James.
I think it’s a wise decision, Katherine. I was off today and tomorrow already, but our library closed as of 3 PM today, and will remain closed tomorrow because of the weather. I’ll be back to work on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Like you, I’m planning on good reading time, and maybe even a nap or two.
Merry Christmas!
Dare I commit blasphemy and say I haven’t read anything this week! I’ve been following the news with Zelensky’s visit yesterday, all day, and the J6 committee’s last hearing, etc. I’ve been playing a word game on my iPad – does that count? Still have the end of FOREIGN ECLAIRS to get through. Maybe tonight.
Even we in Florida expect the coldest weather in 20 years to hit tomorrow as the front blasts through. We had snow all those years ago, on Christmas Eve. It didn’t stick but it sure did come down. We’ll bring in our potted plants. I hate to disturb the Christmas cactus but I don’t want them to freeze either. Too cold!! But then I watch the weather reports for up north, and I cringe.
Merry Christmas to everyone here. Especially you Lesa who gathers us together each day. Josh will give you cuddles from each of us. Keep warm and much love to you.
Merry Christmas, Sandie! We never had a really cold Christmas in Arizona, but we had a nasty one with rolling blackouts in Florida the year my father-in-law came to visit, before he moved in with us. Stay warm! I know that you might not have our winds and snow, but those temperatures are cold in Florida, too.
Sometimes, it’s just not the right time to read. It is the right time to write this with Josh draped on the keyboard, purring away.
Merry Christmas & hugs to you, Bill & all of your furbabies. I’ll think of you when I open my package on Christmas Eve!
Hi everyone and happy holidays! Besides serving at church on Christmas Eve, I am now off until Jan 3. I still have my hefty Jim Thorpe biography to finish and definitely need more fiction for my vacation. This week a reading high point was “Part of Your World” by Abby Jimenez. I was so pleased to find out it was set in the same world as “The Happy Ever After Playlist.”
As much as I enjoy nonfiction, yes, you do also have some fiction to read. Enjoy your time off, Trisha! Happy Holidays!