one book leads to another
In which spy craft runs in the family. Amanda Cole has the CIA in her blood. Her father, Charlie, was a field operative for years until his abrupt relocation from Helsinki to a desk job at Langley. Amanda is a trusted agent as well, respected and on the rise. Charlie’s past and Amanda’s present dramatically … Continue reading The Helsinki Affair
All the books I read this year 1) Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter 2) Colors of the National Parks by Jenny Miriam 3) The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak 4) The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz 5) Marigold and Rose by Louise Gluck 6) Improbable Libraries by Alex Johnson 7) On Writing by Stephen … Continue reading 2024 book roundup
Hop in the van, we're going on a road trip! I felt bad for about half a second before grabbing this off the new books shelf at the library. Sure, it's for babies and toddlers (and parents) but I feel no shame. It's a great little book! First, just look at that cover with the … Continue reading Colors of the National Parks
You mean love doesn't conquer all? Sometimes a book will surprise me, like when the writing is much better than I expected. Sometimes the surprise is more like a swindle, like the time I eagerly started a psychological thriller only to discover that it was more of a sad mental health story. Sometimes you want … Continue reading Love and other crimes on Hot Springs Drive
I read 38 books in 2023 which is pretty normal, but I only reviewed 14 of them. What can I say, it was a strange year. A good percentage of the 38 books were re-reads (comfort reads) and some were new-to-me books in series that I stopped reading years ago. Here's more on that - … Continue reading The best books I read in 2023
Love what you love Van Gogh's Second Gift: A spiritual path to deeper creativity is one of my favorite books of the year. It's a look at the artist and his life, his paintings and philosophy, all through the lens of his own words. Van Gogh's cache of letters offers insights about himself, of course, … Continue reading The Gifts of Vincent van Gogh
In a world where you want to read more but can't find the time, remember the mighty novella. These slim stories can be just as profound, moving, and satisfying as regular-sized novels. Foster, by Claire Keegan, weighs in at less than 100 pages but it has subtle depth and power. Definitely worth your time and … Continue reading Foster by Claire Keegan
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