Book Review: Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jessie Redmon Fauset moves to Harlem from Washington D.C. in 1919 to take a position as the first literary editor of The Crisis, the NAACP magazine.  She works with W.E.B. DuBois in a position that he created for her.  Over the next six years she becomes "the midwife of the literary side of the New Negro Movement and the Harlem Renaissance" through her work at the magazine and the young authors and poets she mentors -- Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and more.  She is also in a longstanding relationship with W.E.B. DuBois, much to the chagrin of her family members. 

This was a fascinating account of a time and place I was not very familiar with.  The reader is immersed in the setting of Harlem and New York City from 1919-1925 -- restaurants, music, jazz clubs, literature, poetry and more.  Jessie's role in the development of these authors was profound; she was an inspirational Black author, editor and business woman, paving the way for others to follow.  

Once again, I loved Victoria Christopher Murray's writing and her ability to bring historical figures to life through her well-researched fiction.  I first became aware of her writing with The Personal Librarian, another historical fiction book that she wrote with Marie Benedict about Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan.

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Book Review: The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Curtis Wilson, his father Zippy, and surrogate mother Larissa live in the Washington DC projects.  Curtis receives a cello through a charitable organization when he is 5 years old, and it changes his life.  He immerses himself into practicing his cello, attends Julliard, and his goal is to become a cello soloist with major orchestras.  He is so close to achieving his goal when his family's life comes crashing down due to his father's drug dealing.  His life is forever changed and his family is on the run. 

I have read both of Brendan Slocumb's other books and love how they are  infused with classical music and musicians, a theme which is continued in this book.  In addition, this novel brings in superheros, comics and animated videos, juxtaposing them with both classical music and rap.  The chapters alternate between the three main characters - Curtis, Zippy and Larissa - each bringing their own point of view and enhancing the development of each character.  The themes of class struggle, the importance of family, commitment, haves and have-nots, goals and success are all addressed.  Overall, quite a page-turner!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.  This book will be published May 13, 2025.  

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Book Review: The Long Way Home by Louise Penney (Armand Gamache #10)

The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache have both recently retired and moved to the small village of Three Pines.  They have successfully created a slower and more peaceful lifestyle, spending time with long-time friends.  Clara approaches Armand with a problem - Peter has not returned after their one-year trial separation, and she wants to find him.  Armand, Jean-Guy, Clara and Myrna set out to follow his tracks, hoping to discover his whereabouts.  This search takes them to Toronto, Montreal, calls and emails to Scotland, and finally to the northern artists' community in Tabaquen.

The pacing of this book is very different from the previous nine in the series - much slower.  There's a mystery, and there's a murder.  However, Armand is no longer the Chief Inspector Gamache leading the team, although he does use his contacts in the Sûreté du Québec to help answer some questions and track Peter's travels over the past year.  The book focuses on Peter's art, along with his reaction to Clara's artistic success.  It will be interesting to see where Louise Penny takes Armand Gamache from here.  

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Book Review: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (Killers of a Certain Age #1)

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Billie, Mary Alice, Natalie and Helen have worked together as assassins for "The Museum" for the past 40 years.  Having retired at age 60, they are offered an all-expenses paid cruise by their employer.  Soon after boarding, they realize that they have been targeted by one of their colleagues.  False rumors about them have been spread to The Museum powers-that-be, resulting in the hit on their lives.

We follow the four in their attempts to stave off being killed, while figuring out who started the rumors and who in The Museum is actually involved.  The book combines light hearted, humorous passages with serious plotting and assassinations.  There are flashbacks to early 'jobs', and it's obvious that these four ladies have a long-standing friendship, willing to do anything for others in their group.  

This was a quick and fun read.  I loved reading how these ladies were continually underestimated and dismissed due to their age and the fact that they were women!  I also enjoyed finding out more about their backstories and their jobs together.  I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series, and can definitely envision this being made into a streaming series.  

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Book Review: Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown

Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is part memoir, part essay, and I enjoyed every page of it!  We get an inside peak into his life -- a young Alton growing up, his food inspirations, how he got started with Good Eats, Ma Mae's famous biscuits, behind-the-scenes at Iron Chef America, his thoughts on the martini, and MUCH more!

My husband and I have been watching Alton Brown since the early days of Food Network when he was doing Good Eats.  Those episodes were a magical combination of cooking, eating, food, science and entertainment, and we learned so much from them.  Unfortunately, I agree with Alton that the Food Network has now become the Food Game Show Network.  Shows that actually teach cooking skills are few and far between.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has watched and appreciated Alton Brown's sense of humor and love for cooking and food.  Five stars!!

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Book Review: Spook Street by Mick Herron (Slough House #4)

Spook Street by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

River Cartwright, Jackson Lamb and the rest of the Slow Horses are back in this fourth installment of Mick Herron's Slough House series, including two new faces in the group.  River's grandfather is a retired MI-5 operative, but River has been concerned about his grip on reality recently and has started visiting him more often.  In another story line, there has been a bombing in a London shopping center which killed more than 40 people.

The action is fast-paced and there are multiple locations around London, Kent and even into France.   Chapter sections switch back and forth between all of the players, keeping the reader in suspense.  Bits of humor are interspersed throughout, usually involving Jackson Lamb's personal hygiene and political incorrectness.  Personally, I have been loving the Apple TV+ streaming version of the novels, and look forward to more books in the series and more seasons of the show.  

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Book Review: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An unlikely trio of individuals meet under unlikely circumstances and discover things about themselves and the others. 

Harriet is a retired school teacher who volunteers at the local women's prison by running a book club for the women inmates.  Violet is a young woman serving time in the prison because of bad decisions resulting in the death of a woman in a traffic accident.  Frank is the widower of the woman killed in the accident who also carries a secret with him.  

As you probably know, I'll read any fiction books about books, reading, libraries, and book clubs.  This book shows the power of books and reading, and how it can draw people together from vastly different backgrounds and bring them to a common place to discuss books.  Each chapter is written from a different point of view by each of the three characters.  It deals with loss, loneliness, second chances, starting over, emotional growth, friendship, the importance of books and reading, and forgiveness.  That's a lot to cover in just about 300 pages, but Monica Wood does an incredible job of packing this novel full of emotion along with humor.  Highly recommended!

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Book Review: The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eris is a tidal island located in the Irish Sea off the west coast of Scotland.  It can only be reached via the causeway twice each day when the tide is out.  There is only one house on this tiny island, once inhabited by the artist Vanessa Chapman.  The story is told by three people -- Vanessa (through her diary entries and newspaper/magazine articles about her art), Grace (her companion and caregiver), and Becker (the art expert who is curating Vanessa's works after her death). 

There are mysterious disappearances, unsolved mysteries, unreliable narrators, red herrings, and other events which leave the reader guessing until the very last page.  The non-linear time frame, along with the multiple points of view only contribute to this heart-thumping, page-turning thriller.  I found myself holding my breath as I read this book, unable to put it down.

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Book Review: The Color of Air by Gail Tsukyama

The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The setting is the small coastal town of Hilu on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1935.  The Mauna Loa volcano has just started erupting again, slowing spreading lava towards the town 40 miles away.  The book focuses on the very close-knit Japanese American community in Hilu and in the neighboring sugar plantation -- shop keepers, fishermen, and cutters or workers on the sugar plantation.  They treat each other like family because they are one very large supportive family group. 

The story is told from multiple points of view:  Koji is a former cutter and now runs the sugar train on the plantation, Daniel is the young doctor who has just returned from medical school and residency in Chicago, and Mariko is Daniel's single mother who worked very hard to send him to medical school.  The story takes place over a six-week period from November 1935 through January 1936, but also includes flashbacks by various individuals to the early 1900s.  

This is the second book that I've read by Gail Tsukiyama.  I fell in love with her writing in Samurai's Garden, and it happened again when reading this book.  Once again I became immersed in her story, experiencing the place and time of the book, learning about the sugar plantation, the food and customs of the Japanese Americans living in Hawaii, and feeling the heat and humidity of Hilu.  Highly recommended!

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Book Review: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma experiences a family trauma right after high school graduation which forever alters her career plans.  Ten years later, she is a work-from-home romantic comedy screenwriter and has the chance of a lifetime to go to LA and work with her idol.  Charlie is an incredibly talented and famous screenwriter of blockbusters, but doesn't know she's coming, doesn't want to work with a partner, and doesn't think his screenplay needs re-writing.  In spite of everything, they start writing together.  They experience roadblocks and left turns along the way, until romance finally blossoms and love wins out.

This was a quick and fun read, and came just in time for Valentine's Day.  I had to wait for MONTHS to get it on Kindle from my library, but it was worth the wait.  This is the second book I've read by Katherine Center, and really enjoy her writing.  Sure, there's romance, comedy, the 'will-they-or-won't-they?' moments, some bumps along the way, and the moment they finally realize they are destined to be together.  But she also provides depth of character and moments of drama as well.  I'm looking forward to reading more of her books, and hopefully also seeing this book make it to streaming service near me.

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Book Review: The King Arthur Baking School: Lessons and Recipes for Every Baker by King Arthur Baking Company

The King Arthur Baking School: Lessons and Recipes for Every Baker by King Arthur Baking Company
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted some basic background information on bread making techniques.  This is a beautifully comprehensive book written by the folks who make King Arthur products and teach classes at the King Arthur Baking School. 

The basic bread recipe is the first one in the book, and covers quite a few pages.  I knew I was in trouble when there was more than one page devoted to the various mathematical formulas you need in order to calculate the temperature of the water that you add to your bread mixture!  This book was not for me -- much too complex and over-the-top for this person who just wants to make an occasional loaf of bread.  Back to the library it goes.   I'll look for something much more simplistic and leave this book to the home cook chef wannabees.   

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Book Review: Martha: The Cookbook—100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen by Martha Stewart

Martha: The Cookbook—100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen by Martha Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Martha Stewart's 100th (!!) cookbook - quite an accomplishment!  In addition to her 100 favorite recipes, it contains various memories plus historical photos, all wrapped up in a gorgeous coffee table book.  There are full color photos of each of the recipes, plus step-by-step instructions.  Some of the recipes are quite complex and intricate (puff pastry from scratch!), while some are quite straight-forward, using just a few quality ingredients.  I learned the secret to creating the beautiful ice shards on the top of a martini - using crushed ice instead of ice cubes in the shaker!  Of course she calls her recipe Martha-tinis. 

This book is an excellent overview of her career through her recipes.  Highly recommended.

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Book Review: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Anne Bogel -- her blog, her podcast, and her book club.  I bought this book when it was first published and read it quickly at the time.  Now that I'm retired, a member in four book clubs, and spend an inordinate amount of time each day reading, I wanted to re-visit the book and savor it again.  It was even better the second time around! 

She has such insight about all aspects of reading, and she reads an incredible amount of books each year.  This enables her to give "what should I read next" recommendations to her podcast guests, make such spot-on suggestions in her annual winter, spring, summer, and fall reading guides, and also to select such wonderful books each month for her book club.  She writes about her reading life when she was growing up, as a recently married young woman living right next door to her public library (envious!!), and her life now being fully immersed in everything bookish.  I would highly recommend anyone who loves reading and is NOT familiar with her work to read this book, but also to go to her website and explore -- you won't be disappointed!  https://modernmrsdarcy.com/

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Book Review: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Sandwich by Catherine Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very honest look at life through the lens of a peri-menopausal mid-50s wife/mother/daughter.  She is spending the week in a cottage rental on Cape Cod with her husband, her two adult children (plus one significant other) and her parents.  Welcome to the sandwich generation.  We discover family secrets, backstories, opinions, loves, hates, and more. 

Her internal monologues often actually get spoken out loud.  She is very opinionated, and the book deals very frankly with sexuality and menopause.  I laughed...I cried...often on the same page of the book.  It was a very poignant read and brought back a lot of memories from my life.  It's also a very quick read (226 pages) and I polished it off in two days.  It could have easily been read in just one day, but life intruded on reading.

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Book Review: Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder #1)

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kate Burkholder is the chief of police in the small town of Painters Mill, Ohio, in Holmes County which has the largest population of Amish in the U.S. There have been three brutal murders of young women, which bring back memories of similar murders from 16 years ago.  Chief Burkholder has a small but committed group of officers and dispatchers, but they are not equipped to handle a serial killer of this extent.  State FBI and local sheriff personnel are called in to help catch the killer.

This book is intense, the violence towards women is graphic and gory, and I really didn't want to read it before bed.  That being said, I was on the edge of my seat turning pages, wanting to find out exactly 'who dunnit.'  There's a large cast of law enforcement characters, so once again I made my trusty list to keep track of them.  

Kate Burkholder is an incredibly strong female character and her intelligence, strength and commitment to her job help her solve these crimes.  This is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series, and I am definitely going to be following this author and reading more of Chief Kate in the future!  I'm not sure that I would have picked up this book to read on my own, which is the joy of so many of the book club selections -- reading books not necessarily in my wheelhouse!

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Book Review: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The setting is a very upscale mansion and the summer camp that the Van Laar family owns in the Adirondack Mountains.  The story takes place between the mid-1950s and 1975, and is told from multiple points of view.  An 8-year old boy has gone missing in 1961, never to be found, and then a 13-year old girl goes missing in 1975.  The book is an incredible family drama, and has multiple mysteries, secrets and red herrings before you reach the end. 

The structure of this book is very unique, but works quite well in the telling of the story.  There is a very large cast of characters, both main and peripheral characters.  The chapters are short and the point of view changes with each chapter.  On top of this, the timeline of the book is not at all linear.  I ended up keeping a running list of the characters in order to keep them all straight in my mind.  In addition, I kept flipping back and forth to keep the timeline clear.  All this to say, reader, pay attention when you are reading!  And I'm not sure how it would work if you are listening to the audio book.  Bonus feature is the map of the compound, the summer camp, and the surrounding area.  It's always helpful when an author includes a map so that the reader can get the lay of the land.

This was quite a page turner, and I raced through the 476 pages in three days.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Liz Moore.  And I can certainly see why it was chosen as Jimmy Fallon's Summer Book Club Pick for 2024!

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Book Review: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (Neapolitan Novels #1)

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of two best friends - Elena and Lila - living in the slums of Naples, Italy during the 1950s.  It is the first in a series of four books - The Neapolitan Novels.  The girls both live in the same run-down area of Naples and the book begins when they are in 1st grade and continues until they are 16 years old.  Lila is the strong-willed troublemaker and Elena is the studious and introspective follower.

Reader, be prepared!  There is a Index of Characters at the beginning of the book, however I found it very difficult to keep all the characters and their families straight.  There are nine different families with a total of 47 characters listed, and this doesn't even include other children in each of the families and additional peripheral characters.  

I love the ambiguity of the title - My Brilliant Friend.   Through the majority of the book, we assume that it refers specifically to one of the girls.  However, towards the end of the book , it’s actually the other girl who says it to her friend - “Not for you,” Lila replies ardently, “you’re my brilliant friend, you have to be the best of all, boys and girls.”  Looking at the book as a whole, this phrase can be used to describe each of the girls.

This author and book series kept popping up as recommended, and I had to wait months for the Kindle version from my library.  I started reading it as soon as I downloaded it, but it took me at least 30-40% of the book before I got into the story and the characters.  I was ready to abandon the book several times.  I plugged away at it and finally got caught up with the story, and I'm giving it a strong three stars.  However, I'm not sure whether I'll be reading the three other books in the series.  Time will tell.

Content warning for violence. 

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Book Review: The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Evan Friss has written an incredibly comprehensive and compelling history of bookstores in the United States, ranging from Benjamin Franklin's printshop/bookstore in the early 18th century to Ann Patchett's independent bookstore in Nashville, Parnassus, opened in 2011.  In between he includes early bookmobiles (bookstores on wheels), Marshall Field, the Gotham Book Mart, The Strand, specialty bookstores, Barnes & Noble, sidewalk booksellers in NYC, and Amazon -- and how they have shaped bookstores and reading today.

As the back book flap indicates, Friss has written a "love letter to bookstores," and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a love of reading and bookshops.  It is riveting narrative non-fiction, and incredibly well-researched.  The notes at the back of the book cover 70 pages!  And in the introduction, he admits "To you, dear reader, who thumbs through the index and finds no mention of your beloved bookstore:  I'm sorry....While this book covers a lot of ground, it hardly covers everything.  Word-count restrictions, ticking clocks, my own blind spots, and the availability of sources imposed limits."  Run, don't walk, to your local bookstore or library and read this book immediately!  You will not be sorry!

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Book Review: Italian American Forever: Classic Recipes for Everything You Want to Eat: A Cookbook

Italian American Forever: Classic Recipes for Everything You Want to Eat: A Cookbook by Alex Guarnaschelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Alex Guarnashelli's latest cookbook and is truly a combination cookbook and memoir of her family life growing up in Manhattan.  Both of her parents were great cooks and many of the recipes included are family recipes or inspired by childhood memories at the "red-checkered tablecloth joints" of NYC.  The recipes are definitely targeted to the home cook, with detailed instructions and beautiful photographs.   She includes two pages of "My Italian American Pantry" where she even mentions her favorite brands (un-sponsored!) 

I had the good fortune of eating at her restaurant, Butter, when I was in New York City in October 2024.  It was a delicious and lovely dinner, from start to finish.  She mentions several Little Italy shops which are her favorites -- grocery (DiPalo's), pasta (Piemonte), and pastry/bakery (Ferrara).  I'll definitely be visiting those the next time I'm in NYC!

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Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow - this book was incredible and I'm still thinking about it several days after finishing it. Definitely five stars!! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in a man's world in the 1950s and 1960s. After being fired for being pregnant without being married, she stumbles upon a job hosting a cooking show on the local TV channel. The show becomes wildly successful due to the way she approach cooking (like a chemistry experiment) and the support that she gives her audience of housewives. She has a very precocious 4-year daughter and a dog named Six-Thirty (the time he followed her home from the market). In my opinion, if you take Dr. Temperance Brennan from the Bones TV show, make her a chemist in the 1960s, and throw in Wes Anderson along with some quirky characters, and you've got Lessons in Chemistry. This is the author's debut novel, and I didn't want it to end. Looking forward to more from Bonnie Garmus in the future.

UPDATE:  I re-read this book in January 2025 after recently watching the Apple TV+ streaming version.  There were a lot of similarities to the book, but also content unique to the TV series.  Both were both entertaining and poignant.  Brie Larson was spot-on in her portrayal of Elizabeth Zott, and I was also very impressed by Lewis Pullman in the role of Calvin Evans.  I would definitely recommend watching this series, especially if you enjoyed the book!

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Book Review: La Paella: Recipes for Delicious Spanish Rice and Noodle Dishes by Louise Pickford

La Paella: Recipes for delicious Spanish rice and noodle dishes by Louise Pickford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We received a paella pan for Christmas so I was looking for instructions on how to use it and various recipes.  In addition to several basic paella recipes, it also includes various rice dishes, noodle dishes, soups and sweet treats.  There is a helpful section called The Spanish Storecupboard, which details and describes all the ingredients you will need. 

I was able to get this book from my local library, not in print, but from Hoopla.  I read it on my iPad so I was able to see the beautiful photographs.  It was simultaneously published in London and New York, and includes both American and British (metric) measurements.  Overall, I would recommend it as an excellent book of paella and related recipes.

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Book Review: The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Perveen Mistry #1)

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The setting is Bombay and Calcutta between 1916-1921. Preveen Mistry is one of the first female solicitors (lawyers) in India. By Indian law, she is not permitted to try cases in court, but she works with her father, an esteemed lawyer in Bombay. Omar Farid, a long-term client of her father has died and left three widows. These widows live in isolation and cannot come in contact with men, so it falls to Perveen to talk to them and discover why they have left their inheritance to a charity.

This book is part mystery and part historical fiction. Someone in the Farid household is murdered and a child a missing. Perveen questions everyone, investigates, and assists the local police. More riveting than the mystery is the historical information about the role of women in India in the early 20th century. It is amazing how they were treated and the expectation that their fathers or husbands would make decisions for them in all aspects of their lives.

I read this as a Kindle book, which was very helpful in getting the definitions of many of the Indian terms. When I finished the book, I discovered a glossary in the back; it would have been much more helpful if the publisher had put it in the front so the reader would be aware of it! There are two maps showing various portions of Bombay, so it’s easy to see where the action takes place.  This is the first in a series of four books. 

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Book Review: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first cookbook written by Ina Garten (published in 1979), and based exclusively on the recipes she used at her Barefoot Contessa shop on Long Island.  At that point, she had owned the shop for 20 years. 

A couple of interesting notes about this cookbook.   Ina uses a LOT of butter in virtually all of her recipes, but that's no surprise to those of us watching her on Food Network and reading her other cookbooks.  Because the recipes are based on her cooking and baking at her gourmet shop, most of the recipes are designed to feed 8-10 (or 12!) people, and not very useful for those of us trying to cook for our smaller families.  She mentions that quite a few of the ingredients are available at food specialty stores, which was definitely the case in 1999; however, most of these ingredients are now available at any grocery story (progress!!).

The photographs are beautiful, but not every recipe has an accompanying picture.  In fact, some of the more complex recipes should have had a photograph, but didn't.  She does give instructions (and photos) of how to make a platter -- fruit and cheese, roasted vegetables, crudites, fresh fruit, and desserts.

It's a beautiful book to look at, but the only way that I'm going to try any of these recipes is if I cut it in half or more!

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Book Review: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This small Tokyo coffee shop is famous for its ability to allow patrons to travel back in time - but only until their coffee gets cold and then they are abruptly transported back into reality.  However, there are quite a few very strict rules about time travel, the first being that the only people you can meet while in the past are those who have visited the cafe.  The book is divided into four sections, each the tale of a different person and a different reason for visiting the past -- The Lovers, Husband and Wife, The Sisters, and Mother and Child. 

This book was recommended to me by a couple fellow readers whose opinions I trust, and it certainly didn't disappoint!  A little fantasy, a little time travel, a little magical realism, all taking place in this small out-of-the way Tokyo coffee shop.  This is a very quick read, but I wanted a chance to savor it so I brewed a cup of tea and took my time reading it.  And I just discovered that this is the first in a series of what is now five books, so I'm very anxious to read the next in this wonderfully transporting series!

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My Year in Books - 2024!!

Apparently I have read 91 books so far this year, according to Goodreads.  I've got one more that I need to add and write a review, which will probably happen tomorrow.

You can see the details of my 2024 reading life -- https://www.myyearinbooks.com/user/1991998.

91 books
29,964 pages
50,939 minutes
Mystery was my top genre - 53 books (no surprise there!)
April was the month I read the least amount and December I read the most
I read 4 Louise Penny books this year (also not a surprise)

The website that generated this data was developed by Grace D. Li's younger brother.  She is the wonderful author of Portrait of a Thief - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57021127-portrait-of-a-thief.   From her recent newsletter -- "For the second year in a row, my younger brother has coded his own version of a Goodreads Wrapped (available to all!). I am delighted both as a reader and as his sister, obviously — you can check it out at myyearinbooks.com for some fun + personalized reading stats."

And here's the summary; click on this link to view additional information  -- 
https://www.myyearinbooks.com/user/1991998

Book Review: Persuader by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #7)

Persuader by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally read this Jack Reacher book (#7 in the series) back in 2016, and I gave it 5 stars.  I wanted to read it again just prior to Reacher Season 3 launching on Prime Video on February 20, 2025.  It's always interesting to compare how books transfer to the screen (either movies or TV) and I also wanted to familiarize myself with the story again.

Once again I'm giving this book 5 stars!  It is a heart-pounding, page-turning, whirlwind of a ride.  The publisher's dust jacket synopsis doesn't give the reader much to go on regarding the storyline.  And it's probably better if I don't try to describe the plot.  But this is Lee Child at the peak of his writing.  The book is written in the first person and I'm right there with Reacher, along for the ride and the non-stop action and violence.  

There are parallel plots -- the current one set in heavily guarded mansion on a remote peninsula in Maine.  The second one is Reacher remembering a time ten years ago when he was in the military and the utter disappointment and grief when a subordinate's case doesn't go as planned.  These two interspersed situations work to generate every more anticipation and suspense.  

I'm really looking forward to Reacher Season 3!  The good news is that it has already been renewed for Season 4.  The bad news is that we have to wait for it.  Be patient, Reacher fans; it's definitely worth the wait!

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Book Review: The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails: The Best Nogs, Punches, Sparklers, and Mixed Drinks for Every Festive Occasion by Nick Mautone

The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails: The Best Nogs, Punches, Sparklers, and Mixed Drinks for Every Festive Occasion by Nick Mautone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short book, but filled with wonderful holiday cocktail recipes.  I originally downloaded it because we were looking for a hot buttered rum recipe, but discovered quite a few others to try during this Christmas season!  Pictures are included for most of the recipes.  One really helpful thing is that each recipe indicates the glass that it should be served in.  My only quibble is that they indicate that champagne or prosecco should be refrigerated for 30 minutes prior to serving.  In my honest opinion, I think it should be refrigerated for at least 4-8 hours before serving!

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Book Review: Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten

Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was inspired to read this book after finishing Ina's recent memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens.  She described the time she spent camping in France during the summer 1972.  Her descriptions of the open air markets, fresh produce, and French wines wanted me to read more of her writing and French recipes.

I am very impressed with the ways that she modified traditional French recipes so that they are more approachable for the home cook with a limited amount of time.  Examples include an easy blender hollandaise sauce, brioche loaves, various soups and stews, a souffle, and creme brulee.   She also includes information on French wines, cheeses, cookware, how to set a table, and how to arrange flowers.  There are luscious color pictures of almost every recipe.  

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Book Review: How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armande Gamache #9)

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas in Three Pines.  What a peaceful and truly wonderful setting at Christmas!  And all of our favorite Three Pines residents are front and center.  This is the 9th book in the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, and I wanted to read it before Christmas. 

This is definitely one of her best books that I've read so far.  There's a lot of heartbreak, trauma and suspense -- ranging from the murder of an elderly woman with ties to Three Pines to the dismantling of Gamache's detective team.  Armand isn't sure who he can trust in the Surete de Quebec, which leads to new liaisons.  All of this is balanced with holiday preparations, food, friends, quiet contemplation and introspection.

Penny's writing is always a joy to read.  She has a wonderful mixture of literary descriptions, dialog, and humor.  This book references events from previous books, and I would recommend reading her books in order to fully appreciate the ongoing story lines.  

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Book Review: Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating "eco-thriller" / psychological thriller set in New Zealand which is difficult to describe. A rogue non-profit gardening group called Birnam Wood is busy planting crops on abandoned or uncultivated property. Their leader discovers a large abandoned farm and investigates it as a possible site for development. She meets an American billionaire who has plans of his own for the property. Neither of them is truly forthcoming about their goals, and their deceptions and hidden agendas propel the story forward.

I read this book for one of my book clubs. It's definitely not a book that I would have chosen, but I'm really glad that I read it. The description at the beginning of the book made it difficult for me to get into it, but once we get the back story on the main characters the story just pulled me in. The book is divided into three very large sections, similar to a 3-act play. Each section is not broken down into chapters which was a little unsettling at first, however reading the Kindle version seemed to alleviate this feeling of very LONG chapters. All in all, it was quite a page turner.

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Book Review: The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose (Molly the Maid #2.5)

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another book in the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose.  This is a charming novella just in time for Christmas reading.  It revolves around Molly Gray and her boyfriend Juan Manuel, who both work at the Regency Grand Hotel and are busy preparing for the holiday season and the employee Secret Santa Party.  Several events cause Molly to doubt some of the people in her life, but of course everything works out well in the end.

If you are looking for a quick read before the holidays (about 100 pages), this one is for you.  You don't need to have read either of the previous books in the series, but you'll fall in love with Molly and her world.

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Book Review: Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over by Alison Roman

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over by Alison Roman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I typically rate cookbooks based on the number of recipes that I absolutely must try myself. To be honest, there are not that many recipes in this book that I'm anxious to try. However, I absolutely love Alison Roman's approach to cooking for people. You can tell this by the book's sub-title - Unfussy Food for Having People Over! And the book starts out by her saying that "This is not a book about entertaining."

The book is divided into five sections: Snack Time (NOT appetizers!), Salads, Sides, Mains, and After Dinner (dessert or after-dinner drinks). I'm very intrigued to try her recipe for Overnight Focaccia, Tonight, which only requires a few hours! She also describes the Perfect Herby Salad, which seems so simply yet complex and delicious.

Both her recipes and her writing style just seem so approachable. I would love to be invited to some of her dinner get-togethers.

"Roasting a nice chicken for people is such a good way to say, 'I love you.'"

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Book Review: What I Ate in One Year [and related thoughts] by Stanley Tucci

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely wonderful food memoir and the title tells you everything you need to know.  It's basically Stanley Tucci's journal throughout 2023, chronicling what he cooked, what restaurant he went to, where he traveled, who he was with, and what he ate.  A fascinating individual and an enviable life!

Full disclosure, I love Stanley Tucci - both his writing and his films.  He has such an interesting life and a very dry wit which really comes through in his writing.  I read the print book, but I also have the audiobook on hold at the library and have been waiting very patiently for several months.  

Stanley, I keep waiting for my invitation to your London house for Thanksgiving dinner with your wonderful family and in-laws (Emily Blunt and John Krasinski).  I would love for you to make me one of your wonderful martinis!

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