I have been remiss in posting lately and hope to do better in the new year. Happy 2025 my Friends! I don’t really have a good excuse for not writing. I’ve spent quite a bit of time taking care of Zekie the wonder dog and working on my new hobby of painting, but mostly I’ve just been lazy. So, on to my list of books read for the last months of 2024.
You will notice that I have begun listening to an occasional audiobook. I still love print books but have decided to listen to audiobooks upon occasion when I am in the car or cooking dinner. This way I can add another book or two a month! I have discovered that I only really enjoy non-fiction works on audio. I tried a couple works of fiction and having the characters voices read by one person does not work for me. I also have trouble keeping my mind on the narrated story line. I’m ok with that. Increasing the non-fiction works I take in is a good thing!
Out of all the books following, there is one that stood out to me from all the others as my number one recommendation-Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. It has been a long time since I read a book that I could not put down. This one did the trick. I related to the main character and her struggles to be taken seriously as a woman of science. Elizabeth Zott is a strong-willed, memorable character.
My second recommendation of all these books is Somewhere Beyond the Sea-by TJ Klune. It is the sequel to The House Under the Cerulean Sea. Arthur Parnassus and Linus Baker are back along with the assorted magical creatures who are their children. It is a book about inclusivity, kindness, and doing what is right. The characters are all endearing, except for the “bad guys”!
October 2024
- Fire and Bones-Kathy Reichs
Tempe is called to Washington DC to examine the remains of fire victims, interfering with her planned romantic getaway with her partner Ryan. Tempe feels duty bound to do her best to identify the victims even though it puts her at odds with Ryan. Tempe follows a tangle of clues, making friends and enemies along the way.
2. The Last Mrs. Summers-Rhys Bowen
Georgie O’Mara’s friend Belinda inherits a tiny, rundown fishing cottage in Cornwall. The two take a trip to check it out. They discover it in nearly uninhabitable condition. They meet a childhood friend while there and are invited to stay with Rose at Trewoma Hall. Turns out Belinda had an affair with Rose’s husband before they were married. The husband is murdered, and fingers are pointed at Belinda. There was also a previous murder at the estate. Georgie must quickly solve the case before Belinda is tried for murder.
3. Creative Collage-30 Projects-Clare Youngs (Non-fiction)
The book shares techniques and supply information and then gives specific project ideas.
4. Lessons in Chemistry-Bonnie Garmus
Oh my gosh, this book was so good! I couldn’t stop reading it. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 1950’s. She is not your typical woman in any way. She meets the love of her life, award winning chemist Calvin Evans but refuses to marry him because she wants to remain a chemist and be taken seriously. They do move in together and adopt a dog named Six Thirty who of course has an enormous understanding of the English language. Calvin dies and Elizabeth discovers she is with child. Another hurdle for her in 1950’s California. Elizabeth struggles to be taken seriously as a scientist and provide a home for her child. She falls into a job as an afternoon tv host on a cooking show and bases her recipes on chemistry. This book is hilarious while pointing out the challenges of a woman trying to be taken seriously.
Magazines: Down East (2), Fall Gardening, Oh Reader
November 2024
- Tell Me Everything-Elizabeth Strout
Lucy Barton is back, along with Bob Burgess and Olive Kitterage from previous books. About relationships and life in Crosby, Maine. Bob is defending a murder suspect from their town.
2. Close Knit-Jenny Colgan
This centers around knitting and flying an airplane. Gertie lives with her mother and grandmother. Frequently their friends come over to knit. Gertie works at the local market but takes a short-term job with the wee, local Scottish airline. Her new boss and former school mate, Morag, is also her new flat mate. Struan is a teacher at the school and is ordered to take his students on an overnight camping trip. Struan is also Gertie’s school crush. An unexpected blizzard hits when the students are camping. Gertie, Morag, and Struan must all work together to save the children.
3. You Could Make This Place Beautiful-Maggie Smith (Audiobook)
No, it’s not written by that Maggie Smith as I thought when I checked it out. This is about a wife and mother of two, and her experiences struggling through her divorce. It was a little depressing for my taste but not a bad book.
4. Living the Creative Life-Rice Freeman-Zachery (Non-fiction)
The book features several artists and gets their answers to various art-related questions. Everything from what is creativity? to what are your workspaces and habits? More about a creative lifestyle than the art itself.
5. After You-Jojo Moyes
This is the sequel to Me Before You. The original is spectacular and is burned in my memory. This book is good but as always, the first one is better. After losing Will, Louisa’s life is depressing and seems to be on hold. Enter Sam Fielding a paramedic who treats Louisa after a freak accident. The book centers around Louisa attempting to get her life on track and figuring out what and who is important to her.
6. Cottage Core Simplified-Katie Merriman (Non-fiction)
This book delivers what the cover offers-a guide to countryside charm, comfort, and happiness. A nice cozy book.
7. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear-Elizabeth Gilbert (Audiobook)
An inspiring book for writers and other artists. Personal experiences from the author of Eat, Pray, Love.
8. The Christmas Tree Farm-Melody Carlson
Maddie McDowell returns to the Christmas tree farm she and her sister Addie have inherited from their grandparents. Maddie has been teaching in Mongolia for the past five years. The two sisters are at odds over whether to keep the farm. Enter Gavin, the neighbor both girls are smitten with. There is a lot of back and forth bickering before a conclusion is reached. A cozy holiday novel.
Magazines: AARP, Yankee, The Power of Connection (Oprah), Forks Over Knives-Plant-based cooking, Best Friends
December 2024
- Somewhere Beyond the Sea-TJ Klune
Arthur Parnassus, Linus Baker, and their menagerie of magical children are back in this sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. I think of this book as the inclusive version of a fantasy story. The group is once again combatting the powers of evil that try to control them and rule their lives. I do so enjoy these books!
2. The Murders in Great Diddling-Katarina Bivald
In the book, author Berit Gardner attends a tea party in the tiny village of Great Diddling. The event takes place at the home of a wealthy estate owner. Her estate is set to be inherited by the disliked nephew. (I’ve read the first 30 pages of this book two times and cannot get into the story. Back to the library it goes. The story sounds interesting, it just isn’t holding my attention right now.)
3. Does This Taste Funny?-Stephen Colbert & Evie McGee Colbert (Cookbook)
The Colberts are from the South and so are the recipes featured in this book. Many from Evie’s mother. There is also humorous commentary from the authors, the two being from the late night talk show that bears their name.
4. The Heart Healthy Plant-Based Cookbook-Pulapaka
Many intriguing recipes are shared. They sound tasty but most require ingredients I don’t have on hand/are quite spicy, not necessarily hot. Not what I’m into right now but I may check this book out at another time.
5. A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime & Croissants-Ann Claire
Sadie Greene is successful at her corporate job and offered a promotion. She is also so busy that when her best friend comes by and asks her to go for a bicycle ride, she turns her down. Her friend is killed by a hit and run motorist on this very ride, forcing Sadie to reexamine her priorities. She quits her job and takes on the dream she and her friend shared of owning and running a bicycle touring company in the French countryside. Murders seem to follow Sadie, and she must solve them to save her new dream job.
6. A Christmas Carol-Charles Dickens
Even though I have seen several versions of this Christmas classic on screen, including the Mr. Magoo version, I had never read the original. Now, I have! It is as you would expect, and well worth the read.
7. The Rose Arbor-Rhys Bowen
Bowen’s books are a lovely combination of historical timepiece and cozy murder mystery. Liz Houghton is a former investigative reporter trying to fight her way back to the newsroom. She focuses on a missing child and wonders if the current case is tied to three unsolved missing child cases from years before. An evacuated and bombed English village comes into play in the cases. It took me a bit to get pulled into the story, then I couldn’t put it down.
8. Lucy Burdette’s Kitchen, Recipes & Stories from the Key West Food Critic Mysteries (Cookbook)-Lucy Burdette
I thought this was going to be a book about a food critic’s life on the island since I wasn’t familiar with the author. Instead, it contained recipes from a murder mystery series. Still, the book gave a nice island feel, and I may check out the mystery series.
Magazines: Real Simple
Sanctuary Acres 