Garlic and Sapphires

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love books about food, and Ruth Reichl is great at writing about food. What's not to love? The book got a little long in portions, but overall it was a thoroughly delectable read. I only wish I could have walked the streets of New York as I was reading to get a better feel for what she was describing.

Happy reading and happy eating--

Kingdom of the Blind - Round Two

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I seriously love disappearing into Three Pines. Add it to the list of fictional places I wish were real.

Happy reading and happy imaginary traveling-

Sisters of the Resistance

Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honestly, I was only sorry that this book ended. I really liked this story of sisters fighting in the French Resistance in Paris during the Nazi occupation. It had elements of Jennifer Robson's The Gown because of the presence haute couture fashion as part of the story. Those visual details were fantastic, though I wish there had been an author's note to explain what was fiction and what was fact, since Christian Dior was part of the book. Definitely worth a read, and I really like the audiobook narrator (Saskia Maarleveld) who reads this one and some of my other favorites.

Happy reading--

One True Loves - Round Four

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've read this book four of the last six summers. The only reason I missed those two summers was that I was having my babies. Otherwise, this book is everything I want in a summer read minus the drinks with the tiny umbrellas. Happy reading--

The Night Portrait

The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and da Vinci's Italy by Laura Morelli
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh man - I should have stopped this book partway through. The premise of The Night Portrait is a good one. I love stories of art and history being woven together, and I like the artwork this book is centered around (Leonardo da Vinci's The Lady with an Ermine), but this book just wasn't for me. The writing was choppy and often cliche. Even harder for me were a couple of the audiobook readers - they just were not good. I had picked up this book because two of my favorite historical fiction writers endorsed it. Apparently, that was not enough. Oh well. On to the next.

Happy reading--

ps. I think had I read a physical book, rather that the audiobook, that this probably would have been a three star for me. However, I still would only recommend it if you love WWII fiction and are a high volume reader. Otherwise, there are better books out there.

Glass Houses - Round Two

Glass Houses by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as good the second time. I really like the cobrador imagery and discussion surrounding opioids. Penny is often topical without being overly pedantic. Definitely worth working hard to get through the series.

Happy reading--

The Road Trip

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm sorry to say that Beth O'Leary's The Road Trip is almost a two star review. I did not really like this book. I LOVED The Flatshare and I liked the Switch, and this one just fell flat for me. O'Leary still managed to create interesting lead characters - you're totally rooting for them, but the rest was just so weird and their road trip felt interminable. Normally, I'm so glad to be a long for the ride, but this time, I just wanted it to be over. The reason it gets the bump to three stars is that I did want to know how it played out, but I wouldn't really recommend it. Reread The Flatshare. That will be a better use of your time.

Happy reading--

A Great Reckoning - Round Two

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Louise Penny. The end.
(Seriously though - she's just really good at keeping your attention from beginning to end....to the point that I'm sure I'll reread these all again in a few years just because I miss Three Pines and the characters Penny has created.)

Happy reading--

Notes on Grief

Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has a gift of getting down to the heart of an issue and then articulating her thoughts on it in a way that no one else can. Because of that gift, I expected a little more from her Notes on Grief - more takeaways or broader ruminations. Literally though, this is her experience of losing her dad, and perhaps because it was so recent (June of 2020), there hasn't been time for her draw on lessons learned, etc.

I wouldn't really recommend this book unless you are looking for a window into someone else's loss. I am preparing for grief. My grandfather is terminally ill, and our whole family is seemingly holding our respective breaths waiting for our patriarch to die. The world seems to be shifting a bit with the imminence of this loss, and I'm sorry for the reminder of how short this life really is. I appreciate how long Chimamanda's love for her father radiates off every part of her experience. That is part of why the loss is so hard, but that love is what makes life worth living.

Happy reading and here's to more intentional living--