1.) Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
I am a Kelly Corrigan fan. I like her podcast, show on PBS, social media, and now her books.
From Goodreads:
When Kelly Corrigan was in high school, her mother neatly summarized the family dynamic as “Your father’s the glitter but I’m the glue.” This meant nothing to Kelly, who left childhood sure that her mom—with her inviolable commandments and proud stoicism—would be nothing more than background chatter for the rest of Kelly’s life, which she was carefully orienting toward adventure. After college, armed with a backpack, her personal mission statement, and a wad of traveler’s checks, she took off for Australia to see things and do things and Become Interesting. But it didn’t turn out the way she pictured it. In a matter of months, her savings shot, she had a choice: get a job or go home. That’s how Kelly met John Tanner, a newly widowed father of two looking for a live-in nanny. They chatted for an hour, discussed timing and pay, and a week later, Kelly moved in. And there, in that house in a suburb north of Sydney, 10,000 miles from the house where she was raised, her mother’s voice was suddenly everywhere, nudging and advising, cautioning and directing, escorting her through a terrain as foreign as any she had ever trekked. Every day she spent with the Tanner kids was a day spent reconsidering her relationship with her mother, turning it over in her hands like a shell, straining to hear whatever messages might be trapped in its spiral.
In this memoir, Kelly Corrigan talks about her relationship with her mother juxtaposed with telling the reader about the time that she was a nanny in Australia for 5 months after college. This is a story about mothers and daughters and their often complicated dynamic and how it evolves over time. Growing up the author's relationship with her mother was difficult not like the easy uncomplicated relationship that she had with her father. Kelly often found herself in power struggles with her critical mother and as a result didn't feel as close to or as understood by her mother as she did by her dad whom Kelly adored. But when the author travels to Australia and becomes a nanny to two motherless children she finds herself channeling her mother (as most of us do) and comes to appreciate her mom for who she is and how she was raised.
Mother/Daughter relationships can be just as exasperating as they are rewarding. They are often messy and frustrating even when they are bursting full of love. There need to be more books that discuss the complex dynamic of the adult child/parent relationship and the disconnect that seems (and must) happen before that relationship can evolve into something new and wonderful albeit different. I've experienced this with my own mother and as the mother of an adult daughter. The bonds between mothers and daughters are powerful and yet we often find ourselves at odds as those relationships begin to evolve. Love grows as mothers and daughters come to understand and appreciate one another. This is what Glitter and Glue is all about and the author writes about it in a humorous and heartfelt way.
I loved the Tanner family and enjoyed reading about them and the lessons that they taught the author about her own relationship with her mother. I enjoyed reading about Kelly and her mother although there were times when I wanted to shake both of them and tell them to be nicer to each other. I particularly loved the Q&A at the end of the book with Kelly and her mom. So funny. I am glad we got an update on the Tanner family too.
There were some wonderful quotes that resonated with me:
“And it occurs to me that maybe the reason my mother was so exhausted all the time wasn’t because she was doing so much but because she was feeling so much.”
“But now I see there's no such thing as "a" woman, "one" woman. There are dozens inside every one of them. I probably should have figured this out sooner, but what child can see the women inside her mom, what with all the Motherness blocking out everything else?”
"The living mother-daughter relationship, you learn over and over again, is a constant choice between adaptation and acceptance.”
“I was meant to be her daughter, and I consider it a damn good thing that she, of all people, was the principal agent in my development.”
This was a very quick and thoughtful read.
My Rating: Good.
2.) The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
This is a National Book Award winner with a very sweet premise. Four sisters and their widowed father spend their summer vacation in a cottage that they rent on a sprawling estate in the Berkshires and adventures ensue.
From Goodreads:
The Penderwick sisters busily discover the summertime magic of Arundel estate’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. Best of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, the perfect companion for their adventures. Icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is less pleased with the Penderwicks than Jeffrey, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Is that any fun? For sure the summer will be unforgettable.
I loved it. This is the first book in the Penderwick series. It is wonderful children's literature and is a great read-aloud. I found it refreshing. It's contemporary fiction but with a nostalgic and old-fashioned feel to it. It's stylistically timeless and a nice change of pace from all of the fantasy that seems to overload middle grade books right now.
This family is lovable and charming. They are kind to one another and look out for one another. I loved the way that sisterhood was depicted. The four sisters were so endearing: Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty. I identified with Rosalind the eldest Penderwick but I really loved Jane the aspiring author! The character development was marvelous.
This novel has the makings of a cozy contemporary classic. There were great themes of courage, loyalty, friendship, and forgiveness. I read this book after reading about another group of sisters in the All-of-A-Kind Family series. I think that series would make a good book pairing with this series.
My Rating: Wonderful.
3.) 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
This was my book club's pick for November 2021. This book was TRIPPY. Even after reading it I am still asking myself: What did I just read? But I liked it!
From Goodreads:
Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.
There was A LOT going on in this novel. You think that it is a murder mystery at an English Manor House. That would be an understatement. The plot is complex with a capital "C" and there are a staggering number of characters to keep track of and a million details. The whole book is mind bending and confusing but that is the fun of it. It is a literary puzzle with so many pieces that you are trying to fit together. There are layers upon layers of storytelling and characters with various intentions. You see the story play out from multiple perspectives while trying to solve the mystery of who killed Evelyn Hardcastle. The plot constantly twists, and twists, and then twists again. I was always confused and wondering what was going on?!
How Stuart Turton's mind works is insane! The construct and premise are incredibly clever and confusing and you will need to discuss this book with someone ASAP. This is a great novel to buddy read with someone or to read with a book club. I can't believe this is a debut novel.
Besides being tremendously confusing, even after finishing and discussing it with my book club, it was also a tad too long. The middle section slows down a bit too much. I also think that a tiny bit more character development would help readers keep all of the characters straight. There were so many! Also I wanted more backstory to all of the characters and the before and the after but Turton said that this is all left up to the imagination of the reader.
My Rating: Truly a unique reading experience!
4.) The Obesity Code by Jason Fung
Everything you believe about how to lose weight is wrong. Weight gain and obesity are driven by hormones—in everyone—and only by understanding the effects of insulin and insulin resistance can we achieve lasting weight loss. In this highly readable and provocative book, Dr. Jason Fung sets out an original, robust theory of obesity that provides startling insights into proper nutrition. In addition to his five basic steps, a set of lifelong habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels, Dr. Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight—for good.
This is an informative and science based book. I was fascinated to learn more about insulin and its relationship to weight gain. Dr. Fung debunks many of the dieting myths such as "eat less/move more." He does a great job of explaining how insulin works and how insulin resistance happens. I thought this book was incredibly eye-opening. Fung builds a strong case for the benefits of intermittent fasting.
My Rating: Good. A comprehensive and informative read.
5.) The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
If you are looking for a dark and atmospheric campus thriller/fantasy novel to read in the Fall; this book fits the bill. It is dark academia at its most disturbing. The novel takes place at Yale and its world of secret societies, power, privilege, and dark magic.
From Goodreads:
Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. Their eight windowless “tombs” are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street’s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.
This darkly intriguing novel about the eight ancient houses at Yale and their secret societies is compelling. There are ghosts, murder, mystery, and magic. The setting is fascinating and the world building is captivating. Each of the eight ancient houses specializes in a particular kind of dark magic that keeps their members rich and powerful. The protagonist, Alex, has been given an opportunity of a lifetime. A free ride at Yale and the opportunity to work for the House of Lethe...the ninth house...whose job it is to monitor the activities of the other eight houses as they work their dark magic. Alex is a flawed and gritty character who comes from a difficult background seeking redemption as she makes her way through the privileged circles of Yale and the members of the various secret societies. She can also see dead people aka grays and her skills are needed to ensure that the other houses don't abuse their powers.
This is a dark and vividly disturbing book. There are multiple trigger warnings. It is not for the squeamish as the plot takes some very disturbing and macabre turns. The storytelling is densely layered with multiple timelines and flashbacks as the tension and intrigue gradually build. It was a page turner for me. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that this was the first book in a series. Ugh. It ends on a cliffhanger, as is always the case with books in a series, and the next book isn't due to be published until 2022 so that was a disappointment. I wish this was a standalone book with the mystery wrapped up at the end. However, this was a good October read. A dark academia fantasy novel with a very creepy vibe and plenty of the paranormal.
My Rating: Good but definitely not for everyone...especially sensitive readers.
6.) Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
This was my book club's pick for December 2021. It is short and sweet. Perfect for a busy December.
From Goodreads:
Generations of believers in hope and goodwill have made Valentine Davies’ Miracle on 34th Street a treasured part of their holiday traditions. Millions of copies of this award-winning story have sold since its first publication in 1947, delighting readers of all ages. A facsimile edition of the book is now faithfully re-created, offering a new generation--and fans of the original--the beauty of the classic 1940s design. Details of how the book came to be written, and made into a beloved film, are included in a brief historical note.
This best-selling novella is about a disillusioned single mom and her skeptical little girl who meet a mysterious man and come to believe in the magic of Christmas. The author was inspired to write this story while standing in a long line at a department store and wondering what Santa Claus would think about the commercialization of Christmas. He took his story idea to a friend who wrote the screen play for the 1947 movie. Valentine Davies then wrote the novella and both came out at the same time. So this 1947 book/movie combo didn't follow the usual pattern.
I listened to this on audiobook. Some how the novel adaptation that I listened to was the one that paired with the 1994 movie and not the 1947 movie. Things were modernized in my version. Fred became Bryan. Doris became Dorey. Macey's became Cole's. There were cellphones and beepers mentioned. I hated that. I loved the mid-century setting of the original story and movie. I also prefer the plot in the older version and how Fred *proves* that Santa is real. I wish I would have listened to the older version of the novella.
Don't get me wrong, I like the 1994 movie. It's a John Hughes film! But I prefer the old 1947 version and I definitely prefer the 1947 version of the novella. What is cute and charming in the John Hughes film was lackluster in the updated novella. What worked for the screen didn't work for the page.
But regardless of what version of novella or movie, the message remains that "Christmas is not just a day, it's a state of mind." It is a message of hope and faith that continues to be needed 74 years later.
I also loved these quotes:
“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”
"Anyone could have faith when everything was fine. But real faith meant believing, rain or shine."
Miracle on 34th Street is a holiday tradition. It's a nostalgic quick read.
My Rating: Good... but only for the 1947 version. The updated version is only...Okay.
7.) Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
From Goodreads:
Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica. Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo.
The setting is WWII and the story is told from the perspective of several children: Otto, Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy who live in various places...Germany, Pennsylvania, and California. They live in different circumstances and one even lives in a different time and yet their lives and stories are woven together through music and a very special harmonica.
Each of the main characters experiences very difficult life circumstances... WWII Germany injustices, racial segregation, and life in an orphanage and yet each, through music, finds belonging and meaning in their lives. This is an especially great novel for children living through a pandemic.
Echo is a beautifully and compassionately written middle grade novel with memorable and complex characters. It is a novel that both children and adults will love. We did.
My Rating: Excellent
8.) The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall
This is the second book in the Penderwick series. This is a sweet and charming middle grade series about four sisters and their widowed father. Book two takes place in their own neighborhood after they have returned to school after their summer vacation; which was the setting of the first book.
From Goodreads:
The Penderwick sisters are home on Gardam Street and ready for an adventure! But the adventure they get isn't quite what they had in mind. Mr. Penderwick's sister has decided it's time for him to start dating--and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster. Enter the Save-Daddy Plan--a plot so brilliant, so bold, so funny, that only the Penderwick girls could have come up with it. It's high jinks, big laughs, and loads of family warmth as the Penderwicks triumphantly return.
This is a cozy comfort read. It is perfect for a read aloud. The sisters are delightful and enjoyable. The storyline cute and entertaining. I loved the themes of family values, honor, honesty, friendship, love, and loyalty. The setting is wonderful! Despite being set in the 2000s this series has a timeless quality. No cellphones are mentioned and very few "screens". The sisters play outside and roam the neighborhood with the neighborhood kids. It is charming and nostalgic. I especially loved all of the literary allusions peppered throughout the novel.
My Rating: Delightful!
9.) The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
Every year I like to read a Christmas rom-com type book. A Hallmark Christmas movie in book form if you will. Some years my book choices are better than others. This novel wasn't the best I've ever read but it did the job and made hours of holiday baking and gift wrapping more enjoyable as I listened to it.
From Goodreads:
Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley jointly writing as Maggie Knox’s The Holiday Swap, a rom-com about identical twin women who temporarily switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas and find unexpected personal and professional fulfillment along the way.
This is a contemporary romance about twin sisters who trade places and hijinks and romance ensue as each steps into the other twin's life. One sister runs the family bakery in a little mountain town and the other sister is a judge on a reality TV baking competition show in LA. The story unfolds via the alternating POVs of both sisters.
The story was very Hallmark-esque. Very clean. (Could have used a bit more spice!) Very predictable. Not emotionally or intellectually taxing. It was easy reading/listening fluff... but for me it wasn't Christmasy enough. I needed a lot more Christmas in this *Christmas* book.
I know that books, especially romance novels, require a level of suspended disbelief but the cavalier attitude about concussions and head trauma really bothered me. It took me out of the story multiple times.
I liked the parts of the story about the family bakery in the quaint little town and all of its residents the best and less about the baking competition show in Los Angeles. I actually quite liked the last chapter of the book and wanted a continuation of that story rather than the one I just read. It ended with a cute happy ending which was, of course, what I wanted. So maybe not the best Christmas rom-com I've ever read but not the worst either.
My Rating: Okay...might be better as a Hallmark Christmas movie.
10.) Magnolia Table: Volume Two by Joanna Gaines
Fantastic! I am a fan of both of Joanna Gaines cookbooks. I've made multiple recipes and all were winners. This one was just as good as the first cookbook. Highly recommend.
My Rating: Excellent!
11.) The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
From Goodreads:
When summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind . . . and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their old friend, Jeffrey. That leaves Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick)—a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially. Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage, with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor. But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out Rosalind's directions about not letting Batty explode? Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty—contrary to all accepted wisdom—the only Penderwick capable of carrying a tune? And will Jeffrey be able to keep peace between the girls . . . these girls who are his second, and most heartfelt, family?
This is the third book in the Penderwick family series. Once again it is summer vacation for the Penderwicks and this time most of the girls are vacationing in Maine with Aunt Claire. It is another great installment. The Penderwicks really are a modern classic. The delightful writing and the realistic and likeable characters makes these novels enjoyable reads for all ages. Perfect family read alouds.
I loved that in this novel Jeffery has returned and that his storyline progressed in an interesting way. All of the characters have grown and matured and it was fun to read about their new adventures in Maine while still maintaining the wonderful themes of trust, responsibility, loyalty, friendship, and family that made the other books in the series so special.
My Rating: A charming middle grades series.
12.) The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung
The Complete Guide to Fasting explains: why fasting is actually good for health who can benefit from fasting (and who won't) the history of fasting the various ways to fast: intermittent, alternate-day, and extended fasting what to expect when starting to fast how to track progress while fasting the weight loss effects of fasting how to ward off potential negative effects from fasting. The book also provides tools to help readers get started and get through their fasts, including a 7-Day Kick-Start Fasting Plan and healing liquid recipes.
This is a good primer for intermittent fasting. It has the same information that is in Fung's Obesity Code just in a glossier, more user-friendly, and picture-filled form. It discusses how to introduce fasting into our lives in a safe and effective manner. Explains how insulin works and the effects of insulin resistance and hormones on weight gain. The various fasting protocols are explained in an easy-to-understand way and includes practical tips. As I did in Fung's other book I liked the sections on the benefits of fasting...mental, spiritual, and physical...along with the history of fasting.
My Rating: Good, but I prefer Fung's other book The Obesity Code.
