Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace
-Anne Lamott
-Anne Lamott
This one is our January pick for book club this month. It must be pretty good because I've been on the library wait list since November!!
From Amazon: "Our victories over hardship and pain may seem small, she writes, but they change us—our perceptions, our perspectives, and our lives. Lamott writes of forgiveness, restoration, and transformation, how we can turn toward love even in the most hopeless situations, how we find the joy in getting lost and our amazement in finally being found."
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
-Lorna Landvik
Landvik's book is my pick for the February meeting of book club, and I'm really psyched to read it. It looks like a fun read...a nice mix of friendship, poignancy, and humor. Right up my alley!
From Amazon: "Sometimes life is like a bad waiter—it serves you exactly what you don’t want. The women of Freesia Court have come together at life’s table, fully convinced that there is nothing good coffee, delectable desserts, and a strong shoulder can’t fix. Laughter is the glue that holds them together—the foundation of a book group they call AWEB—Angry Wives Eating Bon Bons—an unofficial “club” that becomes much more. It becomes a lifeline."
The Apple Orchard (Bella Vista)
-Susan Wiggs
I finished this one and the sequel (listed below) in a few days. Compelling story that touches on the Danish Resistance Movement during World War II, it's set in modern-day California (Sonoma). I could picture everything...great descriptions. A fun read without being too syrupy sweet.
From Amazon: "#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs brings readers into the lush abundance of Sonoma County, in a story of sisters, friendship and the invisible bonds of history that are woven like a spell around us."
The Beekeeper's Ball (Bella Vista Chronicles)
-Susan Wiggs
Follows up with the characters from The Apple Orchard and leaves room for a third book. I love that Wiggs includes recipes!!!
From Amazon: "Isabel Johansen, a celebrated chef who grew up in the enchanting Sonoma town of Archangel, is transforming her childhood home into a destination cooking school—a unique place for other dreamers to come and learn the culinary arts. Bella Vista's rambling mission-style hacienda, with its working apple orchards, bountiful gardens and beehives, is the idyllic venue for Isabel's project…and the perfect place for her to forget the past."
The Hurricane Sisters: A Novel
-Dorothea Benton Frank
Frank's novel caught my eye in the library over the weekend. I am drawn to pretty things like a moth to a flame, like a magpie, like a raccoon. The lovely cover made me pick it up and read the jacket. Looks like an intriguing story!
From Amazon: "Once again Dorothea Benton Frank takes us deep into the heart of her magical South Carolina Lowcountry on a tumultuous journey filled with longings, disappointments, and, finally, a road toward happiness that is hard earned. There we meet three generations of women buried in secrets. The determined matriarch, Maisie Pringle, at eighty, is a force to be reckoned with because she will have the final word on everything, especially when she's dead wrong. Her daughter, Liz, is caught up in the classic maelstrom of being middle-age and in an emotionally demanding career that will eventually open all their eyes to a terrible truth. And Liz's beautiful twenty-something daughter, Ashley, whose dreamy ambitions of her unlikely future keeps them all at odds."
Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life
-Ruth Soukup
I mean, this seems pretty self-explanatory, right? Downloaded on sale a few days ago!
From Amazon: "Have you ever that your life--and budget--is spiraling out of control? Do you sometimes wish you could pull yourself together but wonder exactly how to manage all the scattered pieces of a chaotic life? Is it possible to find balance? In a word, yes. "
Who Do You Think You Are? -Megan Smolenyak
I am fascinated by genealogy and family history. My dad's mother was very diligent in her research (much more difficult year ago!) and my aunt gifted me with her records. I love looking at the names and dates.
From Amazon: "With [this] official companion guide, anyone can learn how to chart their family's unique path. Featuring step-by-step instructions from Megan Smolenyak2, one of America's top genealogical researchers, this book offers everything readers need to know to start the journey into their past, from digging through old photos, to finding the best online resources."
Delicious! -Ruth Reichl
Again, I totally judge books by their covers. This one looks, well, delicious. Can't wait to dig in!
From Amazon: "Billie Breslin has traveled far from her home in California to take a job at Delicious!, New York’s most iconic food magazine. Away from her family, particularly her older sister, Genie, Billie feels like a fish out of water—until she is welcomed by the magazine’s colorful staff. She is also seduced by the vibrant downtown food scene, especially by Fontanari’s, the famous Italian food shop where she works on weekends. Then Delicious! is abruptly shut down, but Billie agrees to stay on in the empty office, maintaining the hotline for reader complaints in order to pay her bills. To Billie’s surprise, the lonely job becomes the portal to a miraculous discovery. In a hidden room in the magazine’s library, Billie finds a cache of letters written during World War II by Lulu Swan, a plucky twelve-year-old, to the legendary chef James Beard. Lulu’s letters provide Billie with a richer understanding of history, and a feeling of deep connection to the young writer whose courage in the face of hardship inspires Billie to comes to terms with her fears, her big sister and her ability to open her heart to love."
That's my current list for this winter.
What's on your reading list? Please do share titles in the comments section!!
If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
-Lorna LandvikLandvik's book is my pick for the February meeting of book club, and I'm really psyched to read it. It looks like a fun read...a nice mix of friendship, poignancy, and humor. Right up my alley!
From Amazon: "Sometimes life is like a bad waiter—it serves you exactly what you don’t want. The women of Freesia Court have come together at life’s table, fully convinced that there is nothing good coffee, delectable desserts, and a strong shoulder can’t fix. Laughter is the glue that holds them together—the foundation of a book group they call AWEB—Angry Wives Eating Bon Bons—an unofficial “club” that becomes much more. It becomes a lifeline."
The Apple Orchard (Bella Vista)
-Susan WiggsI finished this one and the sequel (listed below) in a few days. Compelling story that touches on the Danish Resistance Movement during World War II, it's set in modern-day California (Sonoma). I could picture everything...great descriptions. A fun read without being too syrupy sweet.
From Amazon: "#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs brings readers into the lush abundance of Sonoma County, in a story of sisters, friendship and the invisible bonds of history that are woven like a spell around us."
The Beekeeper's Ball (Bella Vista Chronicles)
-Susan WiggsFollows up with the characters from The Apple Orchard and leaves room for a third book. I love that Wiggs includes recipes!!!
From Amazon: "Isabel Johansen, a celebrated chef who grew up in the enchanting Sonoma town of Archangel, is transforming her childhood home into a destination cooking school—a unique place for other dreamers to come and learn the culinary arts. Bella Vista's rambling mission-style hacienda, with its working apple orchards, bountiful gardens and beehives, is the idyllic venue for Isabel's project…and the perfect place for her to forget the past."
The Hurricane Sisters: A Novel
-Dorothea Benton FrankFrank's novel caught my eye in the library over the weekend. I am drawn to pretty things like a moth to a flame, like a magpie, like a raccoon. The lovely cover made me pick it up and read the jacket. Looks like an intriguing story!
From Amazon: "Once again Dorothea Benton Frank takes us deep into the heart of her magical South Carolina Lowcountry on a tumultuous journey filled with longings, disappointments, and, finally, a road toward happiness that is hard earned. There we meet three generations of women buried in secrets. The determined matriarch, Maisie Pringle, at eighty, is a force to be reckoned with because she will have the final word on everything, especially when she's dead wrong. Her daughter, Liz, is caught up in the classic maelstrom of being middle-age and in an emotionally demanding career that will eventually open all their eyes to a terrible truth. And Liz's beautiful twenty-something daughter, Ashley, whose dreamy ambitions of her unlikely future keeps them all at odds."
Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life
-Ruth SoukupI mean, this seems pretty self-explanatory, right? Downloaded on sale a few days ago!
From Amazon: "Have you ever that your life--and budget--is spiraling out of control? Do you sometimes wish you could pull yourself together but wonder exactly how to manage all the scattered pieces of a chaotic life? Is it possible to find balance? In a word, yes. "
Who Do You Think You Are? -Megan Smolenyak
I am fascinated by genealogy and family history. My dad's mother was very diligent in her research (much more difficult year ago!) and my aunt gifted me with her records. I love looking at the names and dates.
From Amazon: "With [this] official companion guide, anyone can learn how to chart their family's unique path. Featuring step-by-step instructions from Megan Smolenyak2, one of America's top genealogical researchers, this book offers everything readers need to know to start the journey into their past, from digging through old photos, to finding the best online resources."
Delicious! -Ruth Reichl
From Amazon: "Billie Breslin has traveled far from her home in California to take a job at Delicious!, New York’s most iconic food magazine. Away from her family, particularly her older sister, Genie, Billie feels like a fish out of water—until she is welcomed by the magazine’s colorful staff. She is also seduced by the vibrant downtown food scene, especially by Fontanari’s, the famous Italian food shop where she works on weekends. Then Delicious! is abruptly shut down, but Billie agrees to stay on in the empty office, maintaining the hotline for reader complaints in order to pay her bills. To Billie’s surprise, the lonely job becomes the portal to a miraculous discovery. In a hidden room in the magazine’s library, Billie finds a cache of letters written during World War II by Lulu Swan, a plucky twelve-year-old, to the legendary chef James Beard. Lulu’s letters provide Billie with a richer understanding of history, and a feeling of deep connection to the young writer whose courage in the face of hardship inspires Billie to comes to terms with her fears, her big sister and her ability to open her heart to love."
That's my current list for this winter.
What's on your reading list? Please do share titles in the comments section!!
**You can find previous lists in the Books Movies and TV category on my sidebar (or just use the blog's search feature for "Reading List")!
Sounds like some good reading ahead during this cold winter.
ReplyDeleteoh man, i have to say, i had to stop reading delicious. i loved ruth's other books, but this was so...saccharine? predictable? i don't know, but i couldn't stomach it, actually. i just got done reading 2 that are worth mentioning. everything i never told you by celeste ng, and the good girl, by mary kubica. both great books.
ReplyDeleteb
I love your reading lists! The only one that I've read is Angry Housewives Eating BonBons. I remember liking it.
ReplyDelete