Booking It ....

What reads are keeping me sane.

I have been trying to read in the early morning and in the evening.

Or when knitting.

Or gardening.

Or making jam.

The stories of others are the perfect escape from the news of the day.

Seriously … hiding in the well-written fictional stories of others may get me through the horrors of the 47th administration.

Oh wait …. I am on the wait list for Regime Change by Jonathon Swan and Maggie Habermann. That will be more than enough horrors for me.

Recently finished ….

OK … Buckeye by Patrick Ryan was an interesting read. Is that the polite way of say “meh”?

It is set in rural Ohio just prior to WWII. It follows two couples whose lives become intertwined during the war and through the late 70's. It is just the daily ups and downs of life.

It is not a thriller. It is not a cute love story or a beach read. It is a well-written, solid story. It has been DNF'd by many but there is something that has remained with me.

No surprises. No twists. Just a solid story about ordinary lives and the mistakes that happen.

3.75/5

Grumpy guy meets and insults adorable, funny girl. Grumpy guy falls in love …

This was a cute, long-distance romance. Almost the perfect beach read.

This book helped break my reading slump. It is so light and fun …

4.0/5

I LOVED Olive Kitteridge. But try as I might, I could not follow the plot this book.

I thought I had read My Name is Lucy Barton which was the first book of the Amgash series. The second book is a string of chapters about people living in a very small Illinois village. I, unfortunately could never string those chapters and knit together a story.

I may try it again. But it will be awhile.

2.0/5

Okay … in this political climate, a man marrying a woman for a green card … is not a plausible story.

But I loved the clumsy, socially inept heroine so much!

Christina Lauren's books are not deep … but delightful. I really needed this.

Again … a wonderful palette cleanser.

4.5/5

Oh … I love a thriller. This was a plot cross between two classics … Jane Eyre and Rebecca.

And definitely an easier read than Wurthing Heights! 🤣

Not a lot of surprise twists but still a really good book.

4.25/5

My current read …

I really like this … the story of a marriage over 75 years. I am only halfway through but so far, delightfully written.

On the nightstand …

Okay … not really. But these are are loaded on my phone and ready to go.

We are remaking several gardens due to some plant shares, sale shrubs and trees. And these audio books will keep me focused on the tasks necessary.

Heather Cox Richardson gives me hope. I may not read her every day but her thoughts and reflections on the daily atrocities of the corrupt administration helps me understand how we got here and how we get out of this regime.

I know nothing about this book or author … but I saw a brief review on Instagram.

Facebook and Instagram readers’ posts are fun for me. Five books you must read. Five books not worth the hype.

And this was on such a list.

Now it is on mine. I will let you now.

The week ahead looks to be brutally hot. It may be time for nearly naked canning!

The neighborhood will be grateful for my closed gate and cameras. They warn me when to throw on that shirt!!!!!

Stay cool, my friends.

I will talk to you later.

Cathy

www.buymeacoffee.com/misseffie