Sister's Choice Quilts

4 More Sampler Spree Blocks

This is all I have to show for my day yesterday. I puttered a bit in the morning, walked Archie, and read for a couple of hours. After lunch I made the four blocks you see above. I noticed I was low on my Teal and Light Orange blocks so decided to concentrate on making more of those. 

The book I am reading is The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger, which is so good. It was just a bit slow to start, but I am so engrossed in it now. It is both a mystery and a portrait of mid-century American life in Minnesota, with characters you will remember long after the book is over. Set in the decade after WW2, this book contains flawed characters, who are deeply relatable. Not sure just yet how it will all be resolved, but if you enjoy a literary mystery with amazing description of scenery and carefully drawn-out characters, give this book a try.

Tomorrow is the first official block of Moda Blockheads, so check in with me to see my fabric pull and first block!

Books Read in August 2023

August was a pretty good reading month for me, with almost 12 books read. I ended up quitting one of them about 75% of the way through. The best part of my reading this past month was that most of the books were really good! Eight of them were 4-5 stars! I'll give a brief recap and my rating. I'll do more complete reviews of my favorites in another post.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. may be the best book of the year for me so far. In the spring of 2020, Lara's three daughters return to the family cherry orchard to wait out the pandemic and beg their mother to tell them the story of her brief relationship with a famous actor. It is all about family and being grateful and happy with what you have. 5 stars

September by Rosamund Pilcher. I know I read this back in the 80s, but it definitely is worth revisiting. This author is a master of description, and you will love immersing yourself in the world she creates in the Scottish Highlands as we follow a diverse cast of characters who gather in September when the heather is in bloom and the hint of fall is in the air. This book is a long but lovely journey. 5 stars

Yellowface by R.F.Kuang. Juniper Song is a bestselling author who definitely did not write the book she says she wrote. And she also is not Asian American. This is a book about consequences and is thought-provoking and very well done. Features social media, cancel culture, plagiarism, and own voices.
4.5 stars

When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff. Billy, a pre-med student at Princeton is arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Unpleasant topic, unpleasant characters, this book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. 2.5 stars

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent. Strange is right. The main character of this book is "neuro-divergent" and takes everything quite literally. When her father tells her to "put him out with the trash" when he dies, she does just as he asks. This book was very dark, but funny at times.  Trigger warning for child abuse. 4 stars

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange. This is a family saga about the secrets you keep from your family and the secrets you keep FOR your family. We have four generations of an Irish-American family who are investing in a family pub, but something is threatening their livelihood and they must band together as a family in spite of their differences. 4 stars

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent. This book is light-hearted, but the main character, Birdy is a liar. She impersonates her best friend and takes a summer job as a sommelier at a Scottish hotel, even though she knows nothing about wine. I found the main character annoying and the plot implausible. 3 stars

How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior. A curmudgeon of an old woman, her estranged grandson, and a flock of Antarctic penguins come together and find that it's never too late to change and become the best version of yourself. Charming and heartwarming. 4 stars

The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe. This is a well-researched novel about John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force and their scandalous romance and disastrous honeymoon aboard the Titanic. Very moving and rich in detail of the Gilded Age in New York. Free on Kindle Unlimited 5 stars

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain. There wasn't a likable character in the book, which was painful to read. It did have a satisfying ending, however. Trigger warnings for infidelity and child abuse. 3 stars

Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado. This book was a very pleasant surprise. It is a fast-paced thriller that is destined to become a series.  I can see why it was a best-seller in Spain, as it features a remarkable female detective that may put you in mind of Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo. Never a dull moment, and if you enjoy page-turning mystery you will enjoy it.  Free on Kindle Unlimited. 5 stars 

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. No, just no. I DNF'd this at about 75% and wish I'd done it sooner. It is about a man who is mutating into a great white shark, and his wife who sticks with him throughout the ordeal. No. People are raving about how great it is, but this book was for sure not for me. Do not be tricked by the beautiful cover.  0 stars 

Hope you will give some of these a try and let me know what you think.

Happy September and have a great weekend.

 

 

Best Books of the Summer 2023

I've sure been reading a lot of books this summer, sitting in my chaise lounge in my bedroom, which is a pretty cozy spot. For June, July, and three weeks into August, I have plowed through 36 books. It would be ridiculous for me to try and review them all for you, so I will give a brief synopsis of my absolute 5-star favorites. I am leaving a few favorites off this blog post because I mentioned them in other book review posts. Those additional 4.5 and 5-star mentions were Fourth Wing, The Wedding Dress Circle, & The Secret Book of Flora Lea. Stick with me until the end, when I reveal what may be the best book of 2023!

So onto my latest recommendations!


Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash. It is 1940 and working-class Londoners Millie and Reginald Thompson send their 11-year-old daughter Bea to America to live with another family to keep her safe until the war is over. Her temporary family, the Gregorys, live in Boston and have a summer home in Maine. They also have 2 sons near about Bea's age. As she gets close to her lovely American family, it is a struggle for Bea to have her heart and home on two different continents. This is a powerful book, with deep and complicated relationships between characters you will care for. Very well written, and you will feel the sea spray on your face and smell the blueberry muffins as you read. 5 stars - Free on Kindle Unlimited

The Trackers is another winner from Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain. It is 1937 and "Val" Welch has been sent to the small town of Dawes, Wyoming to paint a mural in the post office as part of one of FDRs New Deal projects. A wealthy local art patron and rancher, John Long, and his glamorous wife Eve, offer to put Val up on their property. Eve has a shady "past" and an ex-husband who may not be happy about her new marriage. When Eve suddenly disappears, John Long talks Val into playing private eye and going after her. And soon Val has some no-good desperados after him. Great secondary characters and lots of Yellowstone vibes. Great plot, terrific descriptions, and everyone is slightly unreliable. This was so good! 5 stars

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman. Do you love the romance trope about an ordinary person who falls in love with a celebrity? I sure do. Billy Perkins is a single dad who lives above a record store in Baltimore. He is a happy man who doesn't wish for much more than to spend time with his teenage son and teach piano. His peaceful life comes to a halt when his son Caleb pulls some strings and manages to bring Billy's longtime adolescent crush back into his life. This is none other than reclusive, "retired", rock star drummer Margot Hammer. If you enjoy middle age romance, quirky characters you will root for, and second chances to reinvent your life, you will enjoy this book as much as I did. 5 stars for doing this genre exactly right.

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom. You may have read her previous book, The Kitchen House (free on Amazon Kindle), which was also excellent. Crow Mary is based on a real-life character, an indigenous Crow woman named Goes First. The book begins in 1863 where we get a close look at the life Goes First lives with her tribe and as the daughter of a Chief. In 1872 our main character is married off to a white fur trader named Abe Farwell. He renames her "Mary" and they embark on a journey to Saskatchewan, Canada. Mary comes to love her husband but is conflicted between wanting to retain her own culture and becoming a part of his world. A real event called The Cypress Hills Massacre takes place in 1873, and Mary commits a heroic act that results in her saving the lives of a number of native women who have been abducted and abused by white men. This act of bravery and the subsequent fight to see justice served will take a toll on Mary and her marriage for years to come. If you are interested in historical fiction, the conflicts between cultures, and the suppression of indigenous people, put this book on your "to-be-read" list. I thought it was very well done and that sensitive scenes were handled carefully. 5 stars

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander. It has been 1214 days and Meredith has not set foot out of her house. She has her reasons, for sure, among them are depression, agoraphobia, and years of abuse. She supports herself by working remotely, has a cat named Fred, and a friend Sadie who visits regularly. She also belongs to an online support group, loves to bake, and does jigsaw puzzles. Her life gets a shake-up when she starts to receive home visits from Tom, a volunteer for "Holding Hands", a charity support group. The book flips back and forth between the present and the events in Meredith's past which have led her to her current situation. The secondary characters are really well fleshed out, even the ones you hate. Meredith's courage and humor will have you both laughing and crying. The book is very hopeful in tone and I rated it 5 stars. 

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. Some years past, a hugely popular children's author quit writing books under strange circumstances. His hoards of followers have been waiting for a new book for a long while. Suddenly the reclusive author comes out of seclusion with a new book and a competition. He will host four of his fans on his private Clock Island for a game. Whoever wins, will be given the rights to the new book, which is sure to make a fortune. The competitors are each compelling and deserving, especially Lucy Hart who is a struggling preschool teacher whose goal is to be able to foster/adopt one of her students. This was a sweet book, about found family, facing your fears, and making dreams come true. 5 stars

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange. The author's previous book "We Are the Brennans" was a big hit a year or so ago, but I actually liked this second book better. Tara Connelly is 30 years old when she is released from prison after 18 months on a drug charge. Her only choice is to move back home with her family, which now consists of the siblings she grew up with. Tara tries to rebuild her life, but her family presents many challenges to her moving on.  The story is made more perplexing by the secrets each member keeps, and the romantic interest the cop who put Tara away is showing her. You want to root for all these characters and the complicated family dynamics will keep you turning the pages. There are plenty of roadblocks to Tara's rehabilitation, and readers will hang in there to see how the story unfolds. 5 stars

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett may very well be the best book I've read in 2023. This author writes so well and consistently portrays life in a way that seems not only realistic but evocative of the deepest meaning of existence. Set during the 2020 pandemic at a cherry orchard in northern Michigan, a mother is reunited with her three adult daughters during harvest and relates to them the story of her youth while they pick cherries. She shares with them the history of her brief romance with an individual who became an extremely famous movie star. They met during a summer stock performance of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town", which was performed at a repertory theater located on Tom Lake in Michigan. "Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart." Honestly, I think this book is a masterpiece.  Captivating characters, masterful storytelling, and, the writing is poetic. I loved every minute of this book. If you are smart, you will get the audiobook version, which is narrated by none other than Meryl Streep. I urge you to read it. 500 stars. 

Each of these books was amazing, and if you read them, do let me know what you thought of them!

I Had One Block In Me

This is the third block in the Halloween Figs sew along, hosted by The Quilt Spot. I tell you, this block took a minute. The half-square triangles measured 2 5/8", so using triangle papers wasn't an option. I made them a bit bigger and trimmed them down to size, and everything came together beautifully. As a matter of fact, I am completely amazed at how great this block worked out. All the points are right on the mark, and everything lines up perfectly.

This quilt has some blocks with applique coming up, so wish me luck. Every time I do machine applique it is like reinventing the wheel. I guess I just need to do it more often.

I don't have any pictures to share, but Eva had a swim meet last night and man oh man, can that girl swim! She came in first or second in every heat she was in. In other heats for the same event, some other kid may have beat her time, but goodness, she did great. What a good swimmer she is. Freestyle and breaststroke are her events for sure.

Tomorrow is Eva's twelfth birthday, can you believe it? She has turned into such a lovely young lady. Her other grandma gave her a gift certificate for her birthday and she used it to get a new backpack for middle school, which starts on August 16. This is going to be a sad weekend for us. Her other grandpa passed away a few weeks ago and the family is attending a memorial service for him. I can imagine it could be upsetting for her to see the grownups in her family sad and upset at the event. 

Do any of you have experience with taking kids to memorial services or funerals? In the old days, when I was a kid, it was customary to have the deceased in a coffin at the funeral home prior to the burial, and people would come over a couple of days and pay their respects with an open coffin situation. I recall being 10, and attending the funeral/wake of my grandmother and being quite traumatized by it. By that I mean, I spent many sleepless nights afterward recalling the event and endlessly reexamining the images in my mind of my lifeless beloved grandma. This weekend will be quite different in that it is a celebration of life where the accomplishments of the deceased will be lauded, and he will already have been cremated, but I still wonder about having a 12-year-old attend. Is that an appropriate age to go through this experience? She is a pretty pragmatic kid, so I think she will be fine. What do you think? Her attendance is not my decision, but you all always have such wise observations, I'd love to know your thoughts and experiences in similar circumstances. 

Something Different

I am so tired of making those half square triangles and basket blocks, I just had to switch things up for now. I pulled out the Sunny Patches project, which is made with a jelly roll and some fabric. This is an easy project and a cheerful and colorful one for summer. This is sponsored by Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts. I have most of the large jelly roll/half square triangle blocks made and trimmed. I believe there are going to be six patchwork blocks incorporated into the quilt top and I made the first one.



I think each of the blocks will be framed like this.

School's out!  Woo Hoo! This week should be a quiet one, without Eva, without any work to speak of. I am reading some great books, and plan to sew sew sew.


And check this out, our girl is On A Roll again! The Principal's Honor Roll, no less. That's for kids who are hovering at or around 4.0 GPA. 


Hoo boy, do I have a book recommendation for you. This might not be for everyone, but if you enjoyed Hunger Games, this book might hit the spot. This book is sold out everywhere, and it is difficult to find a copy at this time. We found one at Walmart, believe it or not. The book is about a college that trains young people to ride dragons to do combat with a neighboring empire that threatens their own. And not only do you need to watch out for the unpredictable dragons, you better keep an eye on the other students who might want to do you in. This book was so plot propulsive I finished it in two days. 528 pages. I tell you I just sat on the patio and read for two days straight. It was so good. Dragons are very cranky it turns out. Lots of action, good character development, and like I said, the plot MOVES. This book is not YA, with a couple of sex scenes that were a bit over my spice level. But you could skip through them easily. If you want to. 

Hope you all had a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Did It Get To Be June?

My life has been pretty dull lately, but I do have a great recipe and a good book recommendation for you.

The dish pictured above is called Caprese Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms. I took the photo just before popping them in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. They were so good, I swear I could eat them every night for a month straight and still not get tired of them. It is low-calorie and loaded with flavor. What you don't see in the picture is the balsamic glaze I drizzled over them for even more taste sensation. 

They were easy to make too. Mix cut-up raw chicken breast bits and season with garlic salt and pepper and some olive oil. Clean your portobello mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Fill with the chicken mixture, then press in halved cherry tomatoes wherever there is a gap. Sprinkle lightly with mozzarella (that was my addition), more salt and pepper, and then drizzle with balsamic vinegar you have reduced with some honey. Bake for 25 minutes at 425°. So good. I thought they were perfect.

I am all prepped for the 4th week of the Summer Memories sew-along. I am thoroughly sick of making half-square triangles and basket blocks. It is an effort to force myself to keep going with this project, but I am determined. It is actually stealing away my sewing mojo. The finished quilt top will be gorgeous and I know I will be happy in the end that I stuck with it. I see hsts in my sleep.

This book is doing a great job of holding my interest and keeping me in the rocker on my front porch. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan. You may remember this author's previous works The Chilbury Ladies' Choir and The Kitchen Front. Her novels tend to be set during WW2 and concern the women in England who were left behind to hold down the fort and keep things going at home. In this novel, a group of women work together to repair a beautiful vintage wedding gown so it can be passed from bride to bride so they have something traditional, white, and beautiful to wear for their wedding. Fabric suitable for a wedding gown was nowhere to be found, so they cleverly figured out a way to "make do". I am really enjoying it. 

Have a great weekend everyone!  How did it get to be June already?

Milestones

Some happy book mail came yesterday. The one called Fourth Wing is hugely popular and is sold out everywhere. My husband managed to snag a copy for me at Walmart of all places. The one on the bottom of the stack is "The Midnight News" by Jo Baker. She is the author of "Longbourne", which you may have enjoyed. It is about a housemaid who worked for the Bennett family of Pride and Prejudice. If you like Jane Austen retellings, you might love it. And of course on the top is "The Murder of Mr. Wickham", also a Jane Austen retelling. Can't wait to read that one.

I had a busy weekend with a trip to my father's house and a day spent clearing out the storage area of his garage. Things are progressing. My nephew who lived with my father for many years is moving out and starting new adventures up in Vancouver, Washington. Lots of changes coming.

Another big milestone is Eva graduating from 6th grade and going to her first dance. A new dress was involved, as well as a proper hairdo. I took her to my stylist and the results were pretty spectacular.

The back of her "do" was so pretty. Her hair doesn't hold a curl very well, so many products were involved. 

She looked so pretty. Afterward, she told me the boys all stayed on one side of the auditorium and the girls on the other. The girls danced with each other and had fun. When I was 12 our middle school had something called "sock hops", which were in the gym, during the lunch hour. I remember they were fun, but there wasn't any interaction between the boys and the girls then either!

 

Summer Memories Week 3

I am all ready to trim and press my half-square triangle units for Week 3 of the Summer Memories sew-along. A week behind, but I'll catch up. Only three blocks for Week 3, whew. 

What a beautiful weekend we had. I sat outside and read my book and loved all the fresh air and sunshine. I did dive into The Secret Book of Flora Lea, and it is super good. Here is a much better description than the one I provided in yesterday's Summer Book Recommendations:

Two sisters were evacuated to the Cotswolds during WW2, to get them out of London during the Blitz. To comfort her little sister Flora, Hazel makes up stories about a secret place called Whisperwood, which is located along the River of Stars. We don't know what happened, but Flora disappears and is thought to have drowned. 20 years later, Hazel is working in a rare bookstore in London and opens a package containing the original illustrations and a copy of the best-selling book "Whisperwood" by an American author. The thing is, the book is full of those secret stories only Hazel and Flora knew about...Could Flora be alive?

Hope your week got off to a good start!

 

Summer 2023 Reading Recommendations

Do you read differently in the summer?  Do your reading habits change with the seasons? Perhaps with summer a designated "vacation time", it is assumed that we have more leisure time to devote to a good book. Whatever the reason, there are a ton of summer reading lists coming out lately, and I'm going to add my two cents worth to the mix. I have only read a few of the following books, but the others are definitely on my TBR (to be read) radar from now until autumn. 

During the summer, my tastes turn more toward lighter subject matter, cozier mysteries, and romantic comedies, and my list reflects that.

Weyward by Emilia Hart. How about that cover? I literally gasped when I saw it. So gorgeous. This book is the story of three women in the Weyward family. Altha (1619), Violet (1942), and Kate (2019). All three share a strange gift and a strong affiliation with birds and insects. Each of the three timelines is compelling and you will turn the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens next. The book is a combination of historical fiction and magical realism, with gothic overtones. All three women have serious challenges to overcome and all seek refuge over the generations at Weyward Cottage. Highly recommend. 5 stars

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. Loved loved loved this romantic comedy. The hate-at-first-sight and opportunity for second chances story was everything I want in a rom-com. Dr. Briana Ortiz and Dr. Jacob Maddox do not exactly hit it off when they first meet in the emergency room. Jacob wants a re-do of the first impression he made on Briana and sets out to make it right by writing her letters. He proves he is likable and funny, and not out to get the promotion she has been hoping for. He ends up offering her something she can't refuse and the story takes off from there. It was laugh-out-loud funny and may have even squeezed a tear or two out of me.  5 stars

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. To be honest, up until now, I have not been a fan of this author. I don't know why I selected this as a Book of the Month Club choice, but I am really glad I did. Our main character, Sally, is a sketch writer on a late-night tv show (think Saturday Night Live) and has sworn off love.  I found it fascinating to glimpse behind the scenes of a late-night comedy show, where Sally ends up, against her better judgment, getting involved with a famous musician/rock star who was a host on the show. The characters were totally believable and having them fall in love during the COVID pandemic was a cool plot device. I enjoyed the witty dialog and could not put this book down. 5 stars

The Murder of Mr. Wickham and The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray are the first two in what I hope will be a series, based on the characters in Jane Austen's novels. These books fall squarely into the category of "cozy mysteries" and will be right up your alley if you enjoy that genre. A charming English House Party murder mystery with lots of amusing dialog in Austen's distinctive style, these books will provide hours of entertainment. 



The Marlow Murder Club and Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood. Our heroine Judith is a seventy seven year old, whiskey-drinking, crossword puzzle author living her best life in the English countryside where nothing ever happens. Until it does. Judith's neighbor gets shot while skinny dipping in the Thames and she is determined to find out who-done-it in the first book of the series. The second book in the series continues with another Agatha Christie-inspired mystery that fans of The Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osmond will devour. I can't wait to dive into these cozies. Death Comes to Marlow is out May 30.


The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry is actually the next book I plan to pick up. It is getting rave reviews on Goodreads. Another Book of the Month pick, this book is historical fiction. While working in a bookstore in London, Hazel opens a package to discover a rare and secret book that only she and her sister Flora had known about. Could this book have come into her hands by way of the person who had abducted her little sister during WW2? Supposedly the reader will be blindsided by the ending, so I can't wait to read this one!


If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook. It just wouldn't be summer without a juicy, messy family drama, right? When family patriarch Gerry dies, his grandkids flock to Georgia to attend his funeral. Only when his eulogy is delivered they are informed of a secret that rocks their worlds. "While no one can break your heart like your family can, there's really no one better to put you back together".


The Celebrants by Steven Rowley. Remember "The Guncle" by this author from a couple of years ago? Now that was a fun book. This one has a plot similar to the movie "The Big Chill", where a group of college friends gathers in Big Sur for periodic reunions where they stage "funerals" for themselves to remind them to make the most of their lives and not waste a minute of it. Now that they are turning 50 life has become more something to get through than to enjoy. This book is a celebration of life despite its challenges and how our friendships can get us through. Out May 30.



Drowning by T.J. Newman. Did you read this author's previous book "Falling"? If not, get it from the library! T.J. Newman is a previous flight attendant, turned best-selling author, and let me tell you, she can write a thriller. This book is another airplane disaster story, so you may not want to choose it for your inflight reading. Six minutes into a flight taking off from Hawaii Flight 1421 crashes into the ocean. Many of the passengers are able to be evacuated, but there is an explosion that means the doors have to be closed, leaving 12 passengers to sink to the bottom of the Pacific. There is a slim chance they can be rescued by professional diver Chris Kent. This is going to be a heart-stopping thriller that you will not be able to put down. Out on May 30.

Most of these books are out now but notice that a few of them come out in a week or so on May 30.

I cannot wait to jump into a summer full of great books and hope you will let me know if you read any of these or if you have some good recommendations to share. Happy reading!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Reviews February and March 2023

I read 21 books in February and March, but I am not going to review all of them here. I have picked my top 10 books, which were all 4 or 5 stars. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and let's settle in. Here is my rating system:

5 Stars: Loved it and highly recommend.
4 Stars: Really enjoyed it and recommend.
3 Stars: It was good.
2 Stars: Not for me right now.
1 Star: Nope.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is a ridiculously funny book that had me laughing out loud from the first chapter. Finlay is a frazzled single mom and author who is just trying to get by. She has a meeting at Panera with her agent and is overheard discussing the plot of her latest murder mystery. An eavesdropping nearby diner is convinced that Finlay must be a contract killer and offers her a ridiculous amount of money to kill her husband. All sorts of hilarious hijinx ensue and I loved it. Free on Amazon Prime/Unlimited right now. 4 stars

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka. I hardly know where to begin describing this book. The structure is absolutely brilliant. The book begins with a description, almost a litany of the thoughts and actions of a group of people who regularly swim laps in a public pool. The sentences are in a stream-of-consciousness style with details rendered clearly, but the underlying emotion somehow comes through with a punch. When I say stream of consciousness, this book in no way resembles works such as James Joyce's Ulysses. It is always totally obvious what the author is talking about. The book moves away from the swimmers, into the life and mind of one of them, a woman named Alice who suffers from dementia. It is clear that Alice is the author's mother, and the depiction of Alice's confusion and the tragedy of her lost mind is a deeply affecting study of how dementia affects not just an individual, but a family. This short (192 pages) book is a masterpiece of writing. 5 stars

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. You probably have heard of this book because it has been hugely hyped and won many BEST OF 2022 book awards. This book has been very well described and reviewed by countless others, so I won't go into much detail. This book was....complicated. Plot summaries may say it "is about video games", but that isn't exactly right. The main characters do become hugely successful based on their creation of some video games. I know nothing of video games (and you don't have to either to enjoy the book), but I found the contrast between real life and video games fascinating. In life, we sure don't get the "do-overs" that gaming allows us, and I wonder how this mentality of always having a second chance affects the psyches of young people who play games obsessively. The relationship between the two main characters was very compelling. There are many types of love and who is to say that platonic love between colleagues/co-creators isn't as real/important as romantic love? The main characters' inability to communicate their feelings to one another and talk things out when they had conflicts certainly was a theme. Is this behavior typical of millennials? Obviously, this book has given me a lot to think about. Very well written and imaginative, but a bit longer than necessary. 4.5 stars

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. My husband and I have been enjoying the PBS tv series The Durrells of Corfu. So much so that when the four seasons ended, I made us start over and watch it all again! Highly recommend. Anyway, in real life, two of the Durrell children became famous writers. Lawrence Durrell for The Alexandria Quartet, and Gerry Durrell for his memoirs on his family's life on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next two in the series. If you love stories about animals and quirky families, you will eat this up. 5 stars.

The Storied Life of A.J. FIkry by Gabrielle Zevin was a delight. This is the first book by the author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, reviewed above. A.J. FIkry is not happy. He lives alone above his bookstore and has no friends. To top it off, his bookstore is doing extremely poorly. Then, something is left in his bookstore that changes his life. If you love books about curmudgeons and found family, this is one of the best. I was hooked from the first page and think you will be too. Lots of literary references that book lovers will adore. 5 stars

Maame by Jessica George. Other reviewers are calling Maame a "coming of age" novel, which I don't totally agree with. To me, a coming-of-age novel is written from the perspective of a kid, somewhere between the ages of 8-15. Maame is 20 but has been sheltered by being assigned the role of primary caregiver to her father, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. She gets no help from her older brother and her absent mother. She is socially awkward and naive in the ways of the world, which does make her less mature than other young people her age. Maame yearns to branch out, get her own flat, meet and date men, and above all use her creativity productively and be recognized for it. I found the character of Maame to be quite endearing and found myself wanting to put my arm around her and have a good chat session. She often finds herself unsure in new situations and is constantly "Googling" them for advice on how to behave or react. After a life of keeping quiet when treated unfairly, she finally comes into her own. Watching her character develop was like watching one of those time-lapse clips of a flower coming into bloom. I really enjoyed this book and think Maame is one of my favorite and most memorable literary characters in a long time. The beautiful hardcover edition is only $17 right now. 4.5 stars

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell. Head's up, all you cozy mystery lovers out there.  The Golden Spoon is a novel that takes place on the set of a baking show reminiscent of The Great British Baking Show. Filming is about to take place on the estate of beloved show host Betsy Martin, and six contestants are ready to show the world their baking skills. Only of course everything goes wrong. There is sabotage on the set: salt substituted for sugar, refrigerators left ajar, oven temperatures changed... And then someone ends up dead. This was an entertaining mystery that will keep you guessing. 4 stars

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. Love a book about a dysfunctional family? That is Pineapple Street for sure. The book is from the point of view of three women in the wealthy old-money Stockton family. Delaney, the oldest daughter who gave up her inheritance; Sasha, the daughter-in-law who married into the family and is unjustly considered a gold-digger; and high-principled millennial daughter Georgiana, who wants to give the fortune away. It was fun to read about the uber-rich, and yet I found the characters relatable. Entertaining and mildly thought-provoking. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Someone Else's Shoes by JoJo Moyes. This beloved author has come out with a new novel that her fans will adore. If you haven't read her work, this might be a fun place to begin. Two women accidentally swap gym bags with serious consequences when they are literally forced to walk in one another's shoes. Glamourous Nisha comes home from the gym to find that her rich rotten husband has locked her out of their apartment and all she has are the clothes on her back, which unfortunately belong to unstylish Sam Kemp, who is now hobbling to work on Nisha's Christian Louboutins. This book focuses on female friendship. I really enjoyed the witty banter between the characters and how well drawn and realistically the various women in the book were portrayed. The book is fast-paced and I found myself rooting for the main characters and hoping they would get their acts together and triumph against all the adversity they were facing. Good storytelling. It was a fun romp to read. Hardback is only $16.49 right now. 4 stars

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. A wonderful family drama based very loosely on Little Women. I don't want to give much away, so my review is brief. The book is the story of the four Padavano sisters whose characters are beautifully drawn by the author. You will witness their love, the way they hurt each other, their connection to one another over time, and above all redemption. The book is extremely moving, so have a box of tissues handy.  This is the richest and most complex family saga I have read in ages. Hardback only $17. 5 stars.