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GRACE by Paul Lynch
I have mentioned this book but not yet written a review on it. It is, unquestionably, a book with strong feelings. Before opening the first page we know 1) this is an Irish writer (they tend to be more raw and honest in their writing) and 2) the subject matter is the potato famine in…
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In. And then out.
We’ve spent months looking forward to our son and daughter-in-law’s visit (and future grandson!) from Kansas City. We packed their visit as full as we could get it, bookended by trips to their favorite burger place, In-n-Out. The week went far too quickly. Their plane arrived in the afternoon and we were on the road…
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THE FAMILY by Naomi Krupitsky
It is difficult to believe that this is Krupitsky’s first novel. The Family is both riveting and endearing. I picked up the book casually but held on to it thirstily. After devouring it, I am closing the back cover, satisfied and intrigued for more. Krupitsky is a beautiful writer who seamlessly unfolds a story like…
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A HISTORY OF WILD PLACES by Shea Ernshaw
I was opening my Book of the Month box just as my dad called yesterday. I told him what I was doing and he (84 years old) immediately said he remembered the first Book of the Month they ever received: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962) He also said he remembered ordering To Kill a…
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Meet Me at the Front Door
The anticipation had been building for six hours. We’d sung The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and my personal favorite, Sweet Violets. We’d found things out our car windows that started with an A, anthill. Then a B, bird! Always cheating our way through those pesky letters like Q or X. Our sandwiches…
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Deeply thankful.
Since Scott works next week, we decided to have our Thanksgiving dinner together on Friday. When your family is sitting down to turkey next Thursday we will be in the oh-no-not-turkey-again stage of leftovers. This was supposed to be a table set for five. Our children were going to be here all at one time…
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THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett
I was glad to finally be able to sit down with this Book of the Month feature and all-around popular Bookstagram book, The Vanishing Half. The concept intrigued me. Stella and Desiree are twins and both born light-skinned Black. Both of them wanting to escape the confines of their small town and to live a…
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WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
This is the second book I’ve read from Acevedo and I listened to both of them on audio. I believe she is an author that should not only be read, but be heard as well. Her reading is thick with a Dominican accent and her placement of words melt together like a cherished recipe, passed…
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Beautifully Mundane
It is early morning and I start another day. Tilly has an amazing internal alarm clock that insists on no more sleeping past 5:30am. Sometimes, it’s 5:33am. I would love to be one of those people that wakes up pleasantly, stretches and thanks the Lord for a new day. I am not. I would like…
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Tilly’s First Tide
Vacationing without vacationing seems to be our rallying cry this summer. Keeping things local, daytrips, and ‘cheap entertainment’. Like so many of you, COVID has left its mark on many. We continue to be grateful, however. For health and the health of our extended family as well. And, of course, for Tilly and all of…
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GHOST by Jason Reynolds
I miss Castle. I realize this isn’t something I need to hide (anymore.) But you have to understand, I started this secret habit back before it was cool. I was a full-fledged adult with full-fledged middle school and high school children when Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants first came out. I hid in my bedroom and…