 Champagne: How the World's Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times
Don & Petie Kladstrup Champagne is one of my favorite wines. Anything with effervescence gets to be in my glass. I also like reading books about the history of things. Ergo, when my dad dropped this book off during his last visit, I knew it would be a read for me. I'm only about 50 pages in, but I'm enjoying the narrative non-fiction style. I love seeing how the history of champagne weaves in and out of the history of France.
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 Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids
Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross I started reading this book for two reasons. First, it’s been hanging around on my bookcase for awhile and it’s about time. Two, I have a book due to come in from the library that’s got a growing wait list. I needed something I could stop reading and then pick back up again. So far, it’s reaffirming our decision to not get our kiddo too many toys. We live in a small home and I don't like to be overwhelmed by stuff - physical or mental. This book is providing me ways to keep all that clutter at bay.  A Court of Silver Flames
Sarah J. Maas I’ve decided that I need to clear some space on my bookcases. While the non-fiction shelf is the most crowded, I was not in the mood to dive into something intellectual. I went on a Maas binge the year our kiddo was born. It was one of the things that got me through the first few sleepless months. It’s been nearly two and a half years since I read the last book in this series. While the writing is just as enjoyable as I remember, my memory of the characters is shot. Might need to dive into an online summary to reorient myself to everything. I’m about 100 pages in and pivotal plot points are coming back to me in fits and spurts. I don’t know why, but I’m surprised that the author shifted to focus on two other characters. The choice makes sense, but it has me wondering where everything is headed. That said, Maas has never led me astray. I’ve enjoyed all her books.  The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary Thanks to a lot of time devoted to reading this past weekend, I am already three-quarters through this one already. In my mind, the premise is kind of a stretch, but I love how the author is telling the story. It’s a modern spin on the epistolary novel and I find the whole thing delightful and charming.  What Chefs Feed Their Kids: Recipes and Techniques for Cultivating a Love of Good Food
Danae Aaron This book has been sitting in my bin for months. I found it on one of the display shelves at the library and I thought it would be a good read. I'm just over halfway done and, while it's well organized, some of the information is outdated. (It was published over a decade ago.) I also disagree with some of the author's premises. That said, the recipes look really tasty and some of the tips to get kids to vary their palates are great. Recently, I also read Oddball by Sarah Andersen in one sitting. It's a short compilation of some of her webcomics and it is delightful.  Journal Me Organized: The Complete Guide to Practical and Creative Planning
Rebecca Spooner One of the categories of books I can't say no to is titles about organization, journaling, and productivity. I fell down a rabbit hole of linked subject headings when looking at books available through my public library... and that's how this book ended up coming home with me. As a bullet journaler, I love the artsy stuff. I honestly am not expecting to learn much. I just want to look at the pretty pages. These books are a comfort read for me. Additionally, I also started and finished Born on the Water from The 1619 Project. I had intended to read this book with my kiddo, but it's too advanced for her age. The book is wonderful, so I will save this on the list of things to read to her when she's older.  Solutions and Other Problems
Allie Brosh I've read Allie Brosh's work since she had a web comic. She mixes laugh out loud comedy with philosophy and personal narrative so well. This book is a bit deeper and darker than the rest of her work, but I still find myself laughing on almost every page.  I, somehow, got out of the habit of sharing what I am reading. So, here's my current read and a list of what I missed posting.
Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone Diana Gabaldon This is the ninth book in the Outlander series and it's a doorstopper. At 928 pages, I am sure that it could keep an airplane hanger door open. The size is intimidating, but I know from past reading experience that it never feels long. Gabaldon does do extensive backstory, character development, and scene setting but none of it feels like fluff to me. I'm already 100 pages in and, just like her other novels, it feels like being welcomed by family I have not seen in a very long time. It's been seven years since the last novel in this series came out, so my memory of plot points is a bit fuzzy. I'm fairly able to keep up, but I do think I should have reread book eight. Since I last posted, I also read:
 Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam
Mark Bowden My reading pace with non-fiction is a glacial crawl. I try so hard to read every detail and remember every fact that my pace is about 15 pages an hour. Luckily, Mark Bowden has a way with writing non-fiction like it's cinematic fiction so my page per hour count jumps up a little bit. Bowden is my favorite non-fiction writer and I’m (slowly) working on his entire bibliography. A book about the Vietnam War is not exactly light reading, but fall feels like a good time to finally start this 600 plus page doorstopper which has been sitting on my bookcase for several years. Also, complete forgot to post that I started (and finished reading) Well Played by Jen DeLuca last week. It was a delightful rompy romance.  I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final Year
Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker I started reading this book last week. WaPo excerpted several chunks of the text and I devoured them all. Figured it was worth reading the rest. For non-fiction, it’s a quick and easy read. That could be partly because I am hate reading this. It’s reminding me of just how angry I was for the four years of his presidency. The first chapters almost read like a thriller. The virus is emerging and you know what's coming, but watching the train wreck of government in-action ratchets up the tension. |
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