One day I will get caught up on posting my Books Read lists. Today is not that day, but here is the next one. Only one month behind now. In addition to watering and weeding, my days are now consumed with harvesting, cooking, and freezing. Not a bad thing. It was the desired end goal of all the watering and weeding. I am also searching things on-line like “Different Ways to Use Cucumbers”. We must have 30 pounds of cucumbers. The output is slowing down. Meanwhile, we have a plethora of cucumbers. I feel like George’s mother in Seinfeld. “What am I going to do with all this paella?” (Insert cucumbers for paella.) According to Pinterest, you can sauté and even bake cucumbers. If I get brave enough, we will find out how well this works.

On to my book list:

1. The Sisters of Sea View-Julie Klassen

Sarah Summers and her sisters must find a way to make money if they want to keep their home. They begin taking in paying guests. One sister prefers a job reading to the disadvantaged. Her first assignment is reading to Major Hutton next door. The Major suffered military injuries and is not elderly as she expected. Between the boarders and other characters, there are many likable people in the book, and some are less so. The setting is Victorian England. An enjoyable story.

2. Afternoon Tea Is the New Happy Hour-Gail Greco (Cookbook)

This is a fun book. It has general information about tea and accessories. There are also fun recipes for various teas and foods to go with.

3. I’m So Effing Hungry-Amy Shah, MD (Non-fiction)

A book about why we crave what we crave and what to do about it. Useful and enlightening information. The answer isn’t just one thing, it’s many things from diet to 12 hour fasts, correct sleep, type of exercise, and circadian rhythms. Changes are explained through changes in various hunger hormones and studies are cited. As with anything, it’s not an all or none approach. I am of the opinion that if we learn one worthwhile thing from a book, it was worth our time.

4. The Plant Love Kitchen-Marisa Moore (Cookbook)

Information about transitioning to a plant based diet with small amounts of other foods. Good information and some interesting recipes.

5. Rescue Dogs-Sally Muir (Non-fiction)

This is a book featuring paintings of rescue dogs accompanied by a few sentences about the dogs. The dogs are from multiple countries, many from Britain. Lots of sight hounds and terriers. Very cute.

6. The Comfort Book-Matt Haig (Non-fiction)

This is a compilation of thoughts, ideas, and stories that Haig has recorded for himself to be used during difficult times. It is a wonderfully uplifting book. The words are also good input and inspiration for those who are not currently experiencing rough times. I think it could have also been called The Hope Book.

7. Forest Walking-Peter Wohlleben & Jane Billinghurst (Non-fiction)

This is a book about the life cycle of forests from the large to the microscopic. It also contains tips to make hiking more pleasurable. I spent my career working as an environmental scientist and still learned a lot from this book. Not the most exciting book I’ve ever read, but informative.

8. Under the Whispering Door-TJ Klune

A science fiction book that examines life and death. Wallace dies and is retrieved from his own funeral then delivered to a whimsical house. He is to spend time here until he is ready to cross over to what is next. Along the way, he builds loyalty to new friends and forms a family-worthy bond. Wallace transforms from a nasty man into a caring person before it is time to set off on his next phase. In this story, death is not the end. This book is awesome! It was slow to get going. At page 40, I didn’t know if I would finish it. By page 200 I couldn’t put it down.

9. The Stand-Stephen King (pages 500-749)

I should have included this on last month’s list, but I forgot. The book is well over 1,000 pages, so I’m reading it in installments. Between the fact that it is long, and I have to take breaks because it is depressing, it will take me a while to get through this one. Also, I had to return it to the library, so I will have to check it out again later. I am reading this one, because it is on so many “best of” lists.

Magazines:  Taste of Home (2 issues), Grit, Naturally, Danny Seo, The Seasonal Home

My number one recommendation from this month’s list? Under the Whispering Door! If you are not tolerant of books that do not have a Christian outlook, this book may not be for you. The fact that the main character is not Christian is only referenced a couple times, and the book has so much to offer, I think it is well worth the read.

Peace to you.