Share a collection of the latest books and whether they are worth adding to your collection.
Hello friends! what are you doing I hope your week is off to a good start. We are exploring Kyoto – SO wonderful here!!- and having the best time. I’ll share more photos in Friday’s Faves and a recap when we get back.
Meanwhile, I wanted to chat about books. TBH, my book goal has fallen by the wayside this year. I’ve been so consistent the past few years, but lately, by the time we go to bed, I’m exhausted and cranky. I might read for five minutes before I decide to go to sleep… and it takes a long time to finish a book that way!
Now that summer is here, I’ll be spending more time reading with the crew, during the day (<— hopefully that makes a huge difference). My current plan (we'll see how that works) is that in order to have screens, the kids have to make their bed, get dressed and brush their teeth, complete two chores, read for 30 minutes, and move their bodies (or at least plan to swim or move their bodies in some way during the day). I will join them for the 30 minutes of reading time and use the time they finish their chores to finish their chores and we can head out on the day's adventures. We'll see how that goes in real life lol.
Here is a recap of some of the books I’ve been reading lately. If you have any summer reads you’re enjoying, please share the products in the comments!
last book summary
Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino
She’s one of my favorite authors for light reads, and this one is about a new widow, who has an unexpected long-term visit from her mother-in-law. Her plan to get rid of her is to find her a husband, and she eventually discovers that her mother-in-law has the same plan for her. There are a lot of shenanigans and I found this to be a sweet read, but not my favorite. (My favorite SGC novel is Don’t forget to write). 6/10
From Amazon:
It’s 1963, two years since Barbara Feldman’s husband died. Raising two children, she finally comes out of the cocoon of her grief. It’s not a butterfly yet, but it wants to spread its wings.
Then one day her mother-in-law, Ruth, shows up on her doorstep with five suitcases, waiting for a room of her own with a proper mattress. Abrasive and stuck in her ways, but well-meaning, Mother Ruth arrives unannounced to help with the children. How can Barbara say no to a woman who is not only a widow herself but also a grieving mother? As Ruth’s visit turns from days to weeks into what feels like forever, Barbara realizes that Ruth has to go. But Barbara has a clever plan: she introduces Ruth to some worthy gentlemen and marries her off as quickly as possible.
Soon, something tells Barbara that Ruth is trying to do the same for her. At least they find common ground – helping each other move forward. Even if they are in the most unpredictable way two completely different women you have ever imagined.
The Hearts Invisible Furies
This is one of those books that spans a lifetime and it took me a lifetime to finish.
It’s about Cyril Avery, a man growing up with foster parents in 1940s Ireland, the circumstances behind his birth, his development, and the relationships in his life (and how they all interact). As I was reading this book, I wondered if all the extra stories and details were absolutely necessary… and they were. It broke my heart little by little and the ending was absolutely gorgeous. It is well written, vivid, descriptive – a deep and fascinating read. 10/10
From Amazon:
Cyril Avery isn’t a real Avery — or at least, that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And it never will be. But if he’s not the real Avery, then who is?
Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out of her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do and eccentric Dublin couple through the intervention of a hunchbacked redeemer nun, Cyril drifts into the world, anchored only by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more charming and dangerous gypsy. At the mercy of fate and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime getting to know himself and where he came from – and over his many years, he will struggle to discover an identity, a home, a country and more.
In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are presented with the history of Ireland from the 1940s to the present through the eyes of an ordinary man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel that will make you laugh and cry, reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit.
High protein plate by Rachael DeVaux
This was a new addition to my cookbook collection as I am always looking for healthy protein and high fiber meal ideas. I have Rachael’s previous book and we love so many of the recipes so I was excited for some new ideas! I’ve read it cover to cover and while I haven’t made anything yet – I got it in the middle of packing and planning for our trip – I’ll definitely be back.
From Amazon:
Getting enough protein is essential. It is needed for health and strength at every stage of life. The more protein you eat, the more satisfied, energized and resilient you will feel. It builds muscle, fuels hormones and supports every organ.
In The High Protein Plate, Rachael DeVaux, New York Times bestselling author of Rachael’s Good Eats, shows how anyone at any stage of life can easily incorporate protein into their diet. The high protein plate includes the following:
– 100 high protein recipes you crave for packing protein from breakfast to dessert.
– Simple guidance on how much protein you really need—and why it matters.
– Macros for each recipe so you can easily keep track of what works best for you.
– Confidence in planning and preparing balanced, purposeful meals.
– Meal prep tips that will set you up for success all week long.
– A 28-day program to help you get started and stay on track.
Real-life practicality meets science-backed nutrition in Rachael’s approach. She embraces “better-for-you” trade-offs for strict eating rules and shares alternatives to packaged foods so you can create balanced protein dishes that are satisfying and simple. From Buffalo Chicken Baked Tacos and Honey Blackberry Oatnight Oats to Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta, these meals are made for everyday life.
The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Lisa See is another one of my favorite authors (read Lady Tan’s Circle of Women if you haven’t) and this was a beautiful story about sisterhood, resilience and what it might have been like to grow up as a woman in 19th century China. 9/10
From Amazon:
In 19th-century China, when husbands and daughters were bound by the feet and lived in near-total isolation, women in a remote Hunan county developed their own secret code of communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotong, “old selves,” in emotional struggles that lasted a lifetime. They painted letters to fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs and composed stories, reaching from their isolation to share their hopes, dreams and achievements.
With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed an introductory nu shu poem for Lily, their friendship is sealed and they become “old selves” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect on arranged marriages, loneliness and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to unravel.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a remarkably realistic journey back to a time in Chinese history that is both deeply moving and sad. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.
Ok friends, what books have you been reading lately? What’s on your current bucket list?
I’m currently reading The Shift of Hormones and Our Perfect Storm.
xo
Gina
