i have sunk deeply into a new book. THIS one! not my usual fare, but i must say it’s a good story. plenty of foreshadowing so that while you’re reading you have a feeling of impending doom. which is only slightly nervewracking… but in the best way!
for now it’s totally scratching the 17th century itch i’ve had since reading the 19th century tale of abe kicking some vampire arse. except it’s a totally different century and one has nothing to do with the other.
i went through my last BOOKS post to find your recommendations and next on the summer reading schedule is Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and Where’d You Go Bernadette. i found pettigrew for 1 cent on amazon used and i think it will be arriving about the time the salem witchcraft trials (taking place in my mind and on the page) conclude. then, look out bernadette here i come! don’t go anywhere till i get there.
What’s on your nightstand? Anything tantalizing?
Just read ‘The Kitchen Daughter’ by Jael McHenry….awesome book!!!! Highly recommend it. I love to read all year, but there is something special about summer reading, second runner up is winter reading in front of the fireplace 🙂
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9205766-the-kitchen-daughter
Lisbeth
I enjoyed “Harold Fry”, but could NOT get into “Major Pettigrew”…..I thought it was a snooze-fest. Would love to get your take on it, MAM……Right now am reading “Prizzi’s Honor” with “Paris” on deck…….
I loved Major Pettigrew, a delightful, gracious, civilized story. Someone mentioned the House of Sand and Fog, which was excellent, but I couldn’t read the ending. I knew what was going to happen and couldn’t stand it, so put the book away. Kind of like when you see that a train wreck is going to happen (figuratively speaking). If you have not read The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, I think you will love it as much as I did. When I need to regain my balance, I take my art supplies and books to retreat to a lovely little cabin in the woods in rural MO. On my last trip, I had Hearbeats with me, not knowing what it was about. It was so wonderful. I walked around the woods listening…
I recently read “The Maytrees” by Annie Dillard and I was blown away. The language was beautiful, the pace very comforting. I’m also rereading Hemmingway. Just finished The Sun Also Rises and working on A Farewell To Arms. Haven’t read these since high school. I’m enjoying the way they feel now and the memory of how they felt to me then….
Don’t know if you got my email…..I just read “The Bookman’s Tale” by Charlie Lovett…..Great read….about a missing Shakesperan manuscript…
Just finished reading “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain for my book club. Fabulous historical fiction about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson. You get a glimpse of what their life was like living in Paris during the Jazz Age, Another great historical fiction book is “Loving Frank” which tells the story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his affair.
If you like World War II books, I highly recomment Jodi Picoult’s latest “Storyteller”.No one tells a story better than she does.
I think you’ll really like Major Pettigrew–reminds me of Harold Fry (which I read and loved on your recommendation). Do you every read mysteries/crime/thriller? I really like Henning Mankell’s when I want something like that. They are escapist, suspenseful, and exciting, but still literary enough to keep you on board. Detective Wallander is a great character, too. Also Tana French for suspense genre is a good author. I loved Kate Atkinson’s new one, Life After Life. Fascinating, but I do love everything by her. This one is particularly good, though.
And thanks for YOUR recommendations!
COOKED by Michael Pollan…fabulous. In iine: Gone Girl.
Not familiar with this one, but sounds interesting..AND I love the cover:) I was going to go to the library today and they’re closed on Sundays! I figure I’m running out of space for full time occupants and read about “The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life” – Twyla Tharp…sounded inspiring…in the interim, Stephen Kings latest is on my nightstand.
jan, house of sand & fog was a FABULOUS unputdownable book. i was totally on the side of the persian family. not sure what that says about me but i just loved that father so so so much. the movie was also wonderful.
Loved Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand! Also loved House of Sand and Fog. Both have you thinking about the characters even when you’re not reading the book … for me that is a good book.
Non-fiction: God’s Hotel, by Victoria Sweet.
I just began From The Kitchen of Half Truth, by Maria Goodin set in England; current time; about a daughters unraveling of her past based on her dying mothers flights of fantasy and trying to find the truth about her father and how she came to be, sweet and funny, light reading, but totally enjoyable, the mention of food comes up quite often so it’s hard to read and not get hungry.
Next up A Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes this is what is written on the cover leaf; about a man taking leave of his youthful ideas is so beautifully written that you will want to take it very very slowly to make the pleasure last. The beautiful sentences will remain with you for a long time after. Hard to ignore the sound of that.
After I get through that it’s on to a thriller American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett for a completely different turn of enjoyment. Those are the books currently living on my end table.
I read both of your next ones and they are very different and very good. I have flown to Scotland ( in my mind) and am starting The Black House b y Peter May. “A grisly murder occurs on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides….” Will let you know!
I’m well into The Orchardist and loving it. Have you ever read Foudini M. Cat? I’m sure it is out of print but it is WELL worth hunting down. One of my all time, very most favorite books.
XO
i just finished hold still by nina lacour and am currently reading the accidental mother by rowan coleman.
Where’d You Go Bernadette is hilarious.
I really liked The End of Your Life BookClub
I am now reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (lovely so far)
I also love love loved The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards and liked The Burgess Boys
yey for good books!