Sharing a collection of recent books and if they are worth adding to your collection.
Hello friends! How are you? I hope your week is off to a good start. We are exploring Kyoto – it’s so beautiful here!!- and having the best time. I’ll share more photos on Friday Faves and a recap when it’s back.
Meanwhile, I wanted to discuss books. TBH, my book goal has fallen by the wayside this year. I’ve been consistent for the past few years, but lately, when we go to bed, I’m tired and I crash. I might read for five minutes before I decide to go to sleep… and it takes a long time to finish a book that way!
Now that summer is here, I will spend more time reading with the staff, during the day (<— hope this makes a big difference). My current plan (we'll see how this works) is that in order to have screens, the kids have to make their bed, get dressed and brush their teeth, complete two tasks, read for 30 minutes, and move their body (or at least plan to swim or move their body in some way during the day). I will join them for 30 minutes of study time and use the time they finish homework to do work, and we can go on activities for the day. We'll see how this plays out in real life lol.
Here’s a recap of some of the books I’ve read recently. If you have a favorite summer read, please share the goods in the comments!
a summary of a recent book
Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino
She’s one of my favorite lighthearted authors and this one is about a new widow, who has an unexpected long-term visit from her mother-in-law. Her plan to get rid of him is to find her a man and she ends up finding out that her mother-in-law has the same plan FOR HIM. There are a lot of shenanigans and I found this to be a fun read, but not my favorite. (My favorite SGC novel is this Don’t Forget to Write). 6/10
Response from Amazon:
It’s 1963, it’s been two years since Barbara Feldman’s husband died. She raises two children, finally breaking out of her cocoon of misery. It is not yet a butterfly, but it is in a hurry to spread its wings.
Then one day her mother-in-law, Ruth, arrives at her door with five suitcases, waiting for her own room with a suitable mattress. Shy and stuck in her ways but well meaning, Mother Ruth arrives without warning to help with the children. How can Barbara fall for a woman who is not only a widow herself but also a grieving mother? As Ruth’s visit turns from days to weeks to what seems like an eternity, Barbara realizes that Ruth has to go. But Barbara has a clever plan: introduce Ruth to the right gentlemen and marry her as soon as possible.
Soon, something tells Barbara that Ruth is trying to do the same to her. At least they found something in common—helping each other to move forward. Even if it’s in the most unexpected ways two completely different women have ever imagined.
Hearts That Don’t See Rage
This is one of those books that takes a lifetime, and it took me a lifetime to finish.
It’s about Cyril Avery, a man who grew up with foster parents in 1940s Ireland, the circumstances after his birth, his evolution and the relationships in his life (and how they all fit together). While reading this book, I found myself wondering if all the extra headlines and details were completely necessary… and they were. It broke my heart a little bit and the ending was perfect. Well written, clear, descriptive – a deep and compelling read. 10/10
Response from Amazon:
Cyril Avery isn’t the real Avery – or at least, that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if she’s not the real Avery, then who is?
Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl abandoned in her rural Ireland and adopted by a well-to-do if impersonal Dublin couple through the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is an outlaw in the world, supported only by his heartfelt friendship with the handsome and dangerous Julian Woodbead. By the grace of luck and coincidence, he will spend the rest of his life not even knowing where he came from – and in his many years, he will struggle to find his identity, home, country, and much more.
In this, Boyne’s most extreme work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us of all the redemptive power of the human spirit.
High Protein Plate by Rachael DeVaux
This was a new addition to the cookbook collection as I am always looking for healthy protein and fiber dense meal ideas. I have Rachael’s previous book and we love many of the recipes, so I’m excited for new ideas! I read it cover to cover and haven’t done anything yet – found it in the middle of packing and planning our trip – I’ll definitely report back.
Response from Amazon:
Getting enough protein is important. It is necessary for health and strength in all walks of life. The more protein you eat, the more satisfied, energetic, and resilient you will be. It builds muscle, fuels hormones, and supports all organs.
In The High Protein Plate, Rachael DeVaux, New York Times bestselling author of Rachael’s Good Eats, shows how anyone at any stage of life can incorporate protein into their diet. The High Protein Plate includes the following:
– 100 high-protein, desirable protein-packing recipes from breakfast through dessert.
– Specific guidance on how much protein you really need – and why it’s important.
– Macros for every recipe, so you can easily track what’s right for you.
– Confidence in planning and preparing balanced, meaningful meals.
– Meal prep tips to set you up for success throughout the week.
– A 28-day plan to help you get started and stay on track.
Real-life performance meets science-backed nutrition in Rachael’s approach. Adopt a better-for-you exchange than strict diet rules and share alternatives to packaged foods so you can create the best protein plates that are satisfying and easy. From Buffalo Chicken Baked Tacos and Honey Blackberry Overnight Oats to Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta, these meals are made for everyday life.
Snow Flower and Secret Fan by Lisa See
Lisa See is one of my favorite authors (read Lady Tan’s Women’s Circle if you haven’t already) and this was a great story about your sister, resilience, and what it was like to grow up as a woman in 19th century China. 9/10
Response from Amazon:
In nineteenth-century China, where wives and daughters were chained to the feet and lived almost alone, women in a remote Hunan region developed their own secret code of communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old boys,” in emotional games that lasted throughout their lives. They paint letters to fans, embroider messages on handkerchiefs, and write stories, thus trying to separate themselves to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
With the arrival of the silk fan where Snow Flower built Lily an introduction poem about nu shu, their friendship grows stronger and they become “old things in common” when they are seven years old. As the years pass, through hunger and rebellion, they reflect on their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find comfort, forming a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a rift arises, their lifelong friendship threatens to suddenly fall apart.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a stunningly realistic journey back into an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is tragic. With the period details and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotional novel delves into the most complex of human relationships: female friendship.
Okay friends, what books have you read lately? What’s on your list right now?
I am currently studying Hormone Shift again Our Perfect Storm.
no
Gina
Try again later
