Hey thanks Jane. Good to hear from you. I’m glad you really liked the Erik Larson book …. my favorite Larson book is In the Garden of Beasts which blew me away … but I need to read more of his. Many people loved Hamnet so I will get to that one too. Hope your Christmas time has been great. Read on!

I absolutely loved The Splendid and the Vile – Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors and this is one of his best books.

I absolutely love your photos – what gorgeous views, especially from an armchair near the fire! Stay healthy and read on!

Thanks Lesley, 2020 be gone! good feedback comments as usual. We are often on the same reading wavelength. I too read The Snow Child this year & liked it a lot. So much back list & front list to read. I have high hopes for Addie LaRue. We will see. Here’s wishing you & your husband a very happy 2021! May our reading year be bright, and covid be gone.

Yes, my reading list is always in flux. Last year I decided to look at the very first book I listed as TBR on Goodreads. It had been there since 2012, so I added it to my stack and read it in February. What was it, you ask? The Snow Child, which wound up being one of my favorite reads in 2020. So today I looked to see what I could pick to read this year and so many of those early choices didn’t appeal to me any longer, so I deleted a bunch, but added Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman to my January stack. I also pulled a bunch of books off my shelves to focus on in January. Some have been there since 1994. What have I been waiting for?! I’ll share a photo of my stack in another week or so. I love reading from my old stacks.

Of course, there are new books that I can’t wait to read, too. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is high on my list and I plan to nominate it for my book group’s 2021 list. Hamnet is also on that list. I have The Splendid and the Vile in my stacks and will probably save it for the Nonfiction November challenge. My husband said it’s very good.

I’m currently listening to a “feel good/fluffy” romantic story (The Overdue Life of Amy Byler), which is also not my usual genre, but it seemed like a good choice to listen to it while I ride the bike since my “in print” books have all been nonfiction for the past two months. I still have a few more hours of listening time, but it’s been entertaining in a brain-candy sort of way. It won’t make my 2020 list of favorites, but sometimes a little fluff is necessary to make us appreciate those more literary works.

Have a safe and Happy New Year. Good riddance to 2020!

Thanks Deb, great thoughts on those three books! My sister too really liked Hamnet so I will get to it! I will send snow in a package to you, ha ! We currently have too much of it here right now …. but I like it! The shoveling yesterday was nonstop but we have dug out! Have a great week.

Thanks Rachel! Good to hear from you. I totally can relate about the Obama book — it’s too much all at once … I will read it in bits and pieces likely. I will keep checking your site to see what you’re reading & what you’re liking. So many stacks of books lately! Enjoy your holidays.

Thoughts about books on your list: Splendid and the Vile…a big yes. Vesper Flight…just lovely. Hamnet…don’t miss it.

Happy holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Thanks Dorothy, yeah 2021 has got to be better right? With more of the vaccines becoming available & with Biden coming in … I am hopeful. So far the holiday is indeed peaceful and very white here — due to a big snowfall yesterday. A lot of shoveling going on. I’ll be really interested to hear if you have high regards for Homeland Elegies … I have heard a lot about it. & plan to get to it. Merry Christmas!

Yeah I can relate Helen. I had started The Girl with the Louding Voice on audio once but due to dialect & all — I decided to stop & read a print copy, which I haven’t done yet. I heard good things about this book! So I will have to get to it when more time for concentration. Enjoy your Christmas.