Tag Archives: Non-fiction

Books I Read in October, November, & December 2024

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Lessons in Chemistry

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

  1. 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

    1. 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

      1. 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

        Books I Read in May 2024

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        A wonderful selection I found at the library!

        I had no idea I was so far behind on publishing my reading lists! I can only attribute it to how busy we have been. Or maybe poor memory. We have been building a 12 x 16 ft. storage shed! Who knew I could lift my half of a 12 foot framed wall onto the prepared floor base? Certainly not me. My husband designed the shed and is the brains of the operation. I help lift things, run for tools and more boards, etc. Several days during construction have reached 90 degrees and I am NOT a fan of heat. I tried to keep my whining to a minimum and we are now under roof. The worst is over. Famous last words. I have learned a lot and surprised myself with some of the things I was able to do. All those hours watching my dad when I was a kid and handing him tools have paid off. I’ll share a photo of the shed some other time. Maybe when it’s all done. For now, here is my list of books read way back in May.

        1. Good Housekeeping, Organize Your Life (Non-fiction)

        Usually, I’m disappointed by organization books, but not this one. It has some realistic ideas for regular people. I love a good idea on how to make my things look organized and less like junk.

        2. Noon-Meike Peters (Cookbook)

        These are recipes so simple; you can easily make them for lunch hence the name of the book. Each recipe is beautiful in the accompanying photo and indeed easy to prepare. There are food combinations that I never thought to put together, and they do sound delicious. I will be trying some new meals soon!

        3. Mrs. Pargeter’s Patio-Simon Brett

        A British mystery written in classic style. Mrs. Pargeter finds a skeleton with a bullet hole in the head when a stone in her patio cracks in half. This leads to her trying to find out why it is there and how it happened. She uses her deceased husband’s little black book of helpful people to handle the task. Mrs. Pargeter never catches on to the fact that all of these men are criminals with different specialties as was her husband. A comic murder mystery.

        4. One Summer, America, 1927-Bill Bryson (Non-fiction)

        This book took me the better part of two months to read. I did read other books at the same time. There was a lot of information to digest. Everything from the various flights of Lindbergh and other pilots of the day to baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Prohibition, various gangsters, nazis, and anarchists are presented, and we’re given a look into their personal lives. Bryson puts a personal spin on the characters to keep things interesting while we learn about history. I learned a lot so it’s definitely worth reading. 660 pages not including the 90 pages of index and references.

        5. The Ikaria Way-Diane Kochilas (Cookbook)

        A nice book with some good recipes. Lots of dishes similar to what I throw together in my kitchen. The photos of the area are beautiful and it’s worth checking out this book simply for them. I enjoy reading about the longevity of the Ikarians who are in one of the Blue Zones where many people live longer than average.

        6. You Are My Sunshine-Sean Dietrich (Non-fiction)

        The author’s wife cajoles him into undertaking a long bike ride across The Great Allegheny Passage and the C & O Canal Towpath. One major obstacle-Sean is afraid of bicycles, so his ride is an adult sized trike. Just one of many hilarious obstacles that the couple overcame on their journey. The author also has a blog and podcast-Sean of the South.

        Magazines:   Cuisine at Home (2), Country Cottage, Cottages and Bungalows, Cottage Journal

        Books I Read in March 2024 (with Solar Eclipse photo!)

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        Solar Eclipse, Ravenna, Ohio
        Solar Eclipse, Ravenna, Ohio, April 8, 2024, at 3:00 pm.

        Hello, friends! Just wanted to share this photo from the solar eclipse we experienced on Monday. We went over to my mother-in-law’s house to share the experience and make it more festive. Some people who live one street over made it into a party. When the eclipse reached totality, everyone yelled and cheered. It was a momentous thing to see.

        And now, on to my book list for the month of March, short though it is.

        1. Njuta:  The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment- Niki Brantmark (Non-fiction)

        This refers to savoring the moment from the Swedish perspective. There are chapters suggesting how to do this at home, at work, outdoor, for special occasions, etc. Basically, learn how to “take time to smell the roses”.

        2. Come Rain or Come Shine-Jan Karon

        This is the first book I have read from the Mitford series. The series has been around for years and seems to maintain popularity, so I thought I should give it a try. The story centers around two high school sweethearts tying the knot. The husband just graduated from veterinary school and is taking over the local practice as the old vet retires. The two also get word that the boy they applied to adopt from a poor situation is on his way. He arrives in time to take part in the wedding. They are surrounded by family, friends, and community as they prepare for the big day. A tale about family and community, sometimes one and the same. I found the book to be a little too “goody two shoes” for my taste, but if you are looking for an uplifting story, this may be it.

        3. Oodles and Oodles of Vegan Noodles-Cheynese Khachame (Cookbook)

        The first half of this book has recipes for cold noodle soups and cold noodle salads which aren’t really my thing. Although, the recipes in the second half look delicious, they require several items per recipe that I don’t have, and I consider myself to have a fairly well stocked kitchen.

        4. The Twelve Months of Christmas-Sheila Roberts

        Molly, Sunny, and Arianna all have lousy Christmas’. The three become friends and decide Christmas needs to be celebrated each month of the year to spread joy and make up for their rotten holidays. Family and friends become involved in the celebrations and the friendships grow after some rocky times. Almost makes me want to try it myself even though I enjoyed my Christmas. More socializing and celebrating is a good thing.

        5. Landlines-Raynor Winn (Non-fiction)

        Winn and her husband walk across England and Scotland and back again. Over 1,000 miles. Impressive in itself, but even more so because Winn’s husband suffers from a degenerative brain disease. They undertake this journey in the hopes that he will improve as happened last time they undertook a long distance hike. This is the author’s third book about her hiking adventures. I feel her pain and see the beauty as she and husband Moth take to the trails. The tale is inspiring as they persevere.

        Magazines:  The Nature Conservancy, AARP, Country Living, Midwest Living, Food & Wine