Hi all, how’s everyone doing? Did your April showers bring May flowers? We were having a very dry month here until yesterday when we had a slushy snowstorm hit. I kid you not. I was at a friend’s house and took this photo out the window of their pretty back yard.
Good thing we hadn’t planted the vegetable garden yet … other than a few rows of potatoes and onions, but they’re safe … despite the overnight frost warning, which has confused me. What month are we in? Is this a time travel thing? I guess the novel Yesteryear is on my mind lately as Tina and I are continuing our buddy read of it. And there is an element of some hocus pocus going on. It seems the main character Natalie has bit off a bit more than she can chew.
Meanwhile, we still plan to plant the vegetable plants later this week when it heats back up (you can see from the photo it was nicer earlier last week). And I’m starting to think about which books will go on my summer reading list this year. I’ll likely post my list on Sunday May 31. Usually it includes mostly new releases — from the present to the past eight months or so — that I hope will be captivating. New books by such popular authors as Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, and Maggie O’Farrell will likely “make” my summer list but then I’ll be looking for others I want to include. Do you have any books — old or new — that you’re looking forward to reading this summer?
Also you might have seen that recently the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper put out its list of the 100 greatest literary novels ever published in English, as voted on by authors, critics and academics worldwide. Many classics dominate the list but a few contemporary authors have made it on as well. Though it’s George Eliot’s long novel Middlemarch from 1871 that has the #1 spot and I never have read it, but there’s still time to get to it and some others.
I’ve read about 25 books from their list but others were so long ago that I couldn’t recall if I had read them or not. So this list is a good reminder of what to revisit or pick up for the first time. I like lists. And it might remind you of the list the New York Times put out in 2024 titled “The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.” Perhaps if you cross-reference both lists it’d be interesting which books made both and at what number. Though many of the considered best books came long before the 21st century.
And now I’ll leave you with a review of what I finished lately.
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff / Simon & Schuster / 288 pages / 2025
3.6 stars. This debut novel is cut into three parts each told by a member of the Bright family … first the mother Lillian narrates telling of her up and down marriage and life — starting in 1979 Texas — with Ryan, an artist, who after she divulges a secret to him, carries on with his father’s alcoholic tendencies; then their daughter Georgette narrates detailing tragic circumstances of what happens next as she’s growing up; and finally the father Ryan narrates the last part in a letter to his granddaughter.
I’ve tried purposefully to be vague so you can read and find out the ins and outs of this strained family drama. Alcoholism plays a part and missed years and opportunities and how that affects each of them. The story of the family kept me engaged as it went along, though the characters come to annoy at certain points. The last part with the father Ryan’s narration and character seems the weakest developed part .. and at that point you want a bit more from the story and him. Still I’m glad to have found out what the commotion over this novel was about. It reminded me slightly of Patrick Ryan’s novel Buckeye since I finished that recently and it also involves a broken family and its various members.
That’s all for now. What about you — are you making summer reading list plans and what’s on it? Enjoy your week.
I am hoping to read Yesteryear this summer!
Hi Erin, Yesteryear is a doozy of a read — see what you think! I’m getting near the end … different and provocative but also a bit hard to turn away from. Enjoy your week.
What a change in the weather all of a sudden, just…wow. The snow photos are pretty but you are right, good thing you didn’t get the vegetables planted.
This book is weirdly enjoyable and I think Karma is going to visit Natalie, if it hasn’t already.
Glad you posted the links for the best books and I will go take a look at those this afternoon. I also like lists and always have one going for chores, books and letters to write.
I still have The Bright Years on my Kindle and will get to it this year. Besides reading YesterYear I finished a light womne’s fiction about mudlarking and relationships. It was short and easy to fit in. Trying to hit the books on my Kindle. My Classic Spin number tells me I am reading Anita Brookner’s book Hotel Du Lac. It’s a short book so that will be easier than if I had gotten a Michener or Shute book.
That’s all for me…reading, staying in after 11, making lists and doing a puzzle.
Hi Tina, this book YesterYear is a doozy. I’m not quite at the end but nearing.
It looks like the weather here will be stabilizing and into the 70s this coming weekend. So I will get into the planting.
I had to look up mudlarking … interesting — I will watch for your review of the book. I have read one of Anita Brookner’s books long ago … but it was a different title than yours. I’m curious if it will be readable. Good luck and happy reading.
Wow, apparently the weather department UPstairs hasn’t gotten the memo that it’s springtime. 🙂 How far along are you on Yesteryear? The ending is bonkers, but fitting. I’m reading the romance Cherry Baby at the moment, and when I’m done—possibly in the next two days or so— I’ll start the Strout’s, whose hold came super early from the library. Enjoy the crazy weather and I hope you get nice temperatures soon. We’re starting a mini heatwave from today until Wednesday. Let’s hope this summer is bearable. Have a great week!
Hi Carmen, I’m nearing the end of Yesteryear … it is crazy but hard to turn away from. Should finish in a day or two. It’s unique. How is Cherry Baby? And I’m looking forward to the Strout … hope you like it and will vet it. I think it’ll go on my summer list. So far I’ve heard good things.
And the weather is turning around here and will be into the 70s this coming weekend. I hope you don’t swelter there. Happy reading.
Nice picture, Susan, but I agree – what month are we in? We had 90’s in February and it’s been cooler since that time. We have had rain and now the humidity has arrived. We’ll see what this summer is like. People that have moved here from other places keep thinking it is so hot, but we’re kind of liking the cooler as long as we can. Have a good week!
Thanks Kay. Glad you haven’t had too hot temps. Things are turning around here and will be mid-70s by this coming weekend so it’s changed quickly. I need to start planting asap. Hope things don’t swelter there too soon. Enjoy your week too.
Hmm, The Bright Years has been on my radar but I’ll probably give it a pass. I think she may have a new novel coming out this summer. Hope that snow is already gone. I still remember the year we had a Mother’s Day snowstorm in central NY -ugh. We actually stopped by the town beach this evening – the water is only 55 degrees, but it was beautiful sitting in the sun! Hope you have a good week.
Thanks JoAnn. Things seem to be turning around here quickly and will be sunny & 70s this weekend. It’s amazing the temp differences here can be so quick. It sounds good your back in NY and CT … and enjoying it there. Much to do I’m sure. The Bright Years wasn’t a big read/listen for me. It was fine but nothing too excellent. Enjoy your books.
Oh, you must read “Middlemarch”! If I made a list of my ten all-time favorite books – which I never have – that would definitely be on it. I’m looking forward to new books from a few of my favorite writers, some of which you mention here. I think it is going to be a very interesting summer of reading.
Hi Dorothy, good to hear about Middlemarch. Perhaps I’ll put it as my big read for 2027. That would be cool. I do want to read it. Enjoy your books this summer. It’s usually one of the best times for reading, yay! Cheers. Have a great week.
I actually bought Yesteryear, thinking I’d never get to the top of the reserve list and I was so curious. However, I paused after 2-3 chapters because the heroine was so unpleasant and I didn’t like her description of Harvard. I left it in NYC this weekend for my sister to read (along with Still Life by Louise Penny) so will have to finish it later.
Hi Constance, yes the narrator of Yesteryear continues to be pretty unpleasant through the entire book …. so I’m not sure if it’ll be for you … but it is provocative and in that way a bit interesting. It is a bit of a dark satire (a bit funny in a dark way) and a train wreck that is hard to turn from. I wonder what your sister will think of it? I will finish it soon and see where it goes at the end. Cheers. Have a good week.
Thanks for the UK Guardian List. I have read 25 books on their list and these books are my favorites but also my top favorites in general.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Frankenstein
Things Fall Apart
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
Middlemarch
Hi Kathy, I like your picks. I’d like to read and reread some of these. They are so good. I need to make room for more reading of the classics. Your recent post was good too … and I have jotted some titles down from that. I hope to read a classic or two this fall. Thx for the impetus. Have a great week.
Oh, I hear you on the planting. We haven’t had snow and it is finally very warm, but it could drop precipitously in the next few days. Most of what I do is in pots so it can come in the garage if need be. Good luck!
Hi Jeanie, it looks like we’re in the clear now … this coming weekend should be very warm here too … so I will start planting now. It’s good you have things in pots there. But I think (fingers crossed) the snow is behind us now. It’s time to plant asap, lol. Enjoy your week.
I read Middlemarch but I feel like I raced through it too fast; I want to read it again. Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, and Maggie O’Farrell—I forgot to include all of these author’s new books on my list. I am eager to hear what you and Tina think of Yesteryear.
Hi Deb, ohhh Yesteryear is a doozy … I don’t think it’ll be for you as the narrator is an unpleasant person and has much negativity throughout … but i think it is meant to be provocative and satirical … so I’m staying interested … it’s different. Will finish soon. And I might make Middlemarch my big read in 2027. I need to read more classics … but this summer will be mostly from new releases. I hope you enjoy those big three writers … their new books look good. Cheers!
Whoa! Nothing like a late spring snowstorm! My cousin in Longmont (CO) posted a picture of it snowing the other day, too. Can’t complain about the moisture, though, right? Thanks for the reminder about summer reading lists. I put together my titles before we left on our road trip, but need to gather the images and make a collage. I doubt I’ll get through all 20, but it’s fun to have a goal. I’ve often thought of trying Middlemarch. Maybe that will be my year-long read in 2027. Have a good week, Susan!
Hi Lesley, yes the moisture is much needed here so I can’t complain too much. And the temps are turning quickly and should be mid-70s by the weekend.
Glad you’ve made a summer list … I find them sort of fun to make … and pursue. And I am thinking too of making Middlemarch a big read in 2027. We’ll see.
I hope your road trip is going well … and you’re enjoying the sights! I look forward to your report on it. Enjoy the week as well. Cheers.
I read Middlemarch back in the nineties and would be hardpressed to come up with much detail from it, but I do remember being surprised that it was so readable. I suppose I had been intimidated by its length as much as anything. The Bright Years sounds interesting. I like the way it’s structured into separate layers and points of view, so I’ll see about grabbing a copy somewhere.
Hi Sam, this is good to hear about Middlemarch being so readable … it is intimidating to read a book that long from a different era … I might make it my big read for 2027. I’m curious of course to find out the story.
The Bright Years is not as strong as Buckeye … maybe it’s a weaker version but see what you think. I wish the last part with the father was a bit more developed. Enjoy your weeks & reads.
Much as I hate lists like the one published in The Guardian, I nevertheless feel compelled to see how many I have read. In this case, 45, which feels good because there are a fair number on the list that I will never read (e.g., Lolita), and so many I have read multiple times! Anyway, they never seem to state their criteria, which invalidates the whole exercise.
I love Middlemarch–I first read it in college and identified so strongly with Dorothea I was half-afraid of talking myself into marrying a Mr. Causubon (yuk!). Over the years, I have read it a good 5-6 times and mean to reread it again before I lose my eyesight to AMD. I just don’t think listening to it would work the same magic. Much as I loved the story and the characters, one of my favorite aspects is the narrator–she is so kind, so forgiving, so empathetic, so understanding of the frailty of being human.
BTW, we had a massive snowstorm two weeks ago, and it has been raining for the last two days, so finally…green everywhere! We lost some big branches in our crab apple trees and the peonies were destroyed, but I will take moisture in any form.
Hi Jane, yes these best book lists are subjective and a bit mysterious about what criteria they use … but I guess they aim to get what the majority of critics or other writers have picked. Hmm.
I like hearing about your history reading Middlemarch. You make it sound very good with the narrator especially – so I’m keen to get to it … and I’m considering a big read of it in 2027. Yay! Thx for the impetus. But I’m really sorry to hear of your eyesight and AMD. terrible … I hope you don’t lose your full eyesight … ugh. You can’t lose your reading. Hoping it won’t worsen. Sending best wishes your way …. and glad to hear you got good moisture recently there and things are green. Makes a big difference. I hope your plants will rebound. Enjoy your week.
I *think* this may be a post that I’ll need to comment on more than once! Thank you for the meatiness! I am very much looking forward to Maggie O’Farrell’s Land, and the new Elizabeth Strout, and the new Ann Patchett. All of the above! I’m trying and trying to pull together a 20 Books of Summer List, but I tend to be such a mood reader that I often have to substitute a third of the books on the list. BUT, like you, a number of the books are books published in 2026.
Wishing you a wonderful growing season, and I’ll be back!
Hi Judith, thanks, good to hear. Yes I’m hoping these new books by Strout, Patchett, and O’Farrell will be good …. and it’s great you’ll be making a summer list too. They are fun to do … but as you say – hard to stick to at times. My mind strays to other reads too … but I hope to keep my eye on the list as well. I think it’s fine to sub out books on summer lists. They come, they go.
It’ll be sun sun sun this weekend so off to plant I go. Enjoy your week.
Snow! It’s 95 degrees here. I haven’t read any of the mentioned books. I do believe I have Bright Year on my TBR though.
Hi Hena, Snow felt weird for a day … but now the temps are changing quickly and will be into the mid-70s by this coming weekend. Go figure. It’s time to plant, yay! The Bright Years is a pretty quick read …see what you think.
Enjoy your week. ps. your boys might see that Montreal is doing well in the NHL playoffs … what a nice surprise for Canada … lol.
I loved Middlemarch so much. That snow is crazy! I’m sitting here with my AC cranked. lol
Hi Jinjer, glad to hear you’re a Middlemarcher! I think I’ll plan a read for it in 2027. It’s big but can it be conquered?
The temps are changing into the 70s soon here – so the snow is just a weird memory now. Keep your AC cranked … but hope it doesn’t get crazy hot in May.
Enjoy your week.
I love the snow picture but I cannot believe you are getting that kind of weather now, and it seems to have happened multiple times.
Glen and I will probably be getting a copy of Yesteryear later in the year. The Bright Years sounds like my kind of book; I like that kind of structure. But I seem to be focusing on new books and I have so many other good books I already have that I should be reading.
I thought that the Guardian’s list was very interesting. I have only read about 20 of them, and most of the others I an not in a big hurry to read. We have a copy of Middlemarch; the comments I see here make me want to get to it soon.
Hi Tracy, we should have mid-70s here by this weekend … so the weather is still going up & down quite a bit. I hope it’s nice where you are.
I think I’ll be reviewing Yesteryear next post …. I’m nearing the end. It’s quite a dark satire with an unlikable protagonist … so I’m not sure it’s for everyone … but I have found it interesting and lively .. a bit crazy too.
The Guardian’s list reminds me I need to read more classics but not sure when I’ll fit them in … I’ll be curious to see what you’ll be reading this summer. There’s piles to read I know! Enjoy your garden & kitty.
Snow in May?! That’s ridiculous. We’ve had the usual May fog, but today is upper 70s and lovely.
I’ve chosen my 20 Books of Summer and they are stacked on my coffee table so that I can’t ignore them.
Have a great week.
Hi Helen, thanks. Yeah May snow … surprising. But we should see mid-70s here this weekend. Big temp changes still going on.
And Yay glad you’ve chosen your 20 summer reads … I look forward to seeing them. I think I’m choosing 15 but we’ll see. I have a couple more weeks to decide the list, lol. Half the fun is picking the books. Enjoy the week too.
I can’t believe you got a snow storm so late! It is pretty, though. Good thing you kept the vegetables out. I’m very curious about Yesteryear, but don’t have time to fit it in just yet. Maybe over the summer. I’m interested in your final thoughts.
Hi Rachel, looks like we’ll be planting vegetables this weekend! It’s going like from 35 degrees to near 80 soon. Crazy flux.
And I think you’d like the audio of Yesteryear … it’s a doozy. The narrator is pretty unlikable but you sort of want to see what happens. I’ll post a review I think this weekend. Cheers! Enjoy your garden.
Ph goodie. After I leave this comment I am heading over to see the list of the 100 best books published in English. I love that kind of stuff.
Not sure if you saw my review for Moby-Dick which I published last week. You had asked about some of my insights. Here you go: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/05/classic-review-moby-dick.html#disqus_thread
I just visited the Guardian list (thank you) and surprised that it was merely a list with no commentary. I have read about half of the books and hope to get to others, already on my TBR. Some I haven’t even heard of before. Middlemarch was top, huh? That is really surprising to me. I thought the book was fine but it wasn’t my favorite. I then read a memoir called My Life in Middlemarch which helped open up the classics for me. Here is my combined review of the two books: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2023/11/middlemarch-my-life-in-middlemarch-look.html
Oh Anne: just saw your 2nd comment … I might put the big Middlemarch on my list for 2027 … and then I’ll read the memoir you mention which sounds interesting. I’m glad you say it helped you. That sounds really worth while to read afterwards. Thx for the links.
Hi Anne, thanks for your link to your review of Moby-Dick …. I will stop by to check it out soon. Yes I’m curious for your thoughts. I think I need to start adding more classics to my reading …. especially since the best books lists like the Guardian’s favor the classics ….
Snow in May?!? Oh no!! Where I live, we just came off a streak of 90-degree days. Now it’s back down in the 60s and 70s.
I don’t care for George Eliot. It’s funny, though, the picture on the cover is the same one that’s on the front of my copy of Jane Eyre!
Hi Karis, the weather here has been pretty up & down …. now it could reach 70 and last weekend was 35. Ha. I hope you don’t swelter too soon where you are!
That’s too funny …. it’s the very same photo of the girl for both books? How crazy. I will try Middlemarch for next year …. but I think Jane Eyre might win that comparison. We’ll see. Cheers. Have a great weekend.
Always surprising to get that much snow in spring. We’ve had two really good rain days all spring. Just two. And last month our temps went up into the 90s. We’re in severe drought here with no end in sight. Oh, and there were a few days of freezing cold weather just in time to kill most of the fruit tree blossoms, so it’s not looking good for canning season in the fall. Fun times. And I really liked Eliot’s Middlemarch. It’s one of my favorite classics. But it is really long. Have a great weekend! 😀
Hi Lark, your drought sounds really terrible there. I hope you get some rain! It’s always so arid here … that we wish for it too.
I’m glad you’re a George Eliot fan … I might add it to my stacks for a 2027 read. We will see if I can get through it … very long indeed.
Enjoy your weekend too. Happy reading.
Wow! That’s a late snow storm. I hope you get gardening weather soon.
I’m waiting for my turn at the library for Yesteryear.
Hi Joy, yeah I think it was the latest full snowstorm that I ever recall since moving here in 2010. Usually by mid-April winter snow is done. But May?? It lasted about two days … but now we’re having a heat wave only a couple weeks later, go figure.
See if you can get a copy of Yesteryear … there’s a long wait list for it. Good luck!