new on my LindaKindle 4

 I debated between the new Dave Eggers novel and this Whistler by Ann Patchett. You can see that I chose Ms. Patchett, partly because her Bel Canto remains one of my all-time favorite books and I will always owe her for that. It's good to set goals and yesterday I finished Yesteryear. Oh, now I get it ~ that kind of plot. I look forward to the blockbuster (I bet) Yesteryear movie because Ann Hathaway was involved in this story from early on. 

books are back downtown

t

 Ah, nice. The Best Bookstore has opened at 226 Powell Street in Union Square. Small, warm and friendly and already busy. I had a chat with the owner and I certainly wish him well. The shelf labels were all still hand written and he was still stocking, but everyone, please support all bookstores everywhere.

I need a week of rain

 My LindaKindle4 is packed full of wonderful books to read. I thought that when I retired I would spend all day/every day reading, but that is not the case. Last week I did catch up with my New Yorkers and am almost to October. Yay! The 4th book pictured here by Vindela Vida is for our next book club, so I need to get moving on that one. I'm a little disappointed with The Hallmarked Man (#3) to tell the truth. Too much to read? Ah, such a problem, right?

the friends, the food, the book

 Yesterday we met at Laurence's for fish stew and yes, I "cooked" again, this time a pretty summer tomato/watermelon salad and we had a delightful few hours talking about This Tender Land and a gazillion other things. A very good Friday to be sure.

three for my Lindakindle4

 Yesterday I downloaded a couple of mysteries for the trip. I had already started James for our next book club and I like it a lot. But we all know that a couple of maybe-trashy novels help calm the nerves during long trips into other countries/worlds. I leave the USA  one week from today ~ eeeeek!

Irish book, stew and movie

 Small Things Like These was the very moving book by Claire Keegan and after a delicious dinner we watched the movie on Prime TV. We all highly recommend both! Lee was our delightful hostess serving Irish lamb stew and of course since we believe in diversity we dabbled in German chocolate cake and Chinese fortune cookies with our English tea. A lovely time.

books, friends and food

Suze set a warm and lovely table for the book club Sunday night ~ I brought the cake as you may have guessed. We discussed Apeirogon, a fictional account of a touching story set in Israel. An Arab father and an Israeli father bond after the deaths of their daughters. Not easy, but beautiful. Our book for the January meeting is Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan who wrote Foster. It is not easy finding time to read during this holiday season, but you already know that.

 

my lazy Sunday, then...

 ...Book Club at 5pm up at Karen's home on Moultrie ~ many writer memories on that street. We discussed The Lion Women of Tehran and friendship and lots more. A lovely time.

another birthday

 Not mine, thank goodness. This was for Helene, shown on the left in the photo. Gini hosted the lunch yesterday and it was colorful and pleasant. We belong to the now defunct "old book club" and it was nice to gather again, with or without book reports.

next book club book

 I just ordered The Lion Women of Tehran for my LindaKindle 4 and our next book club meeting. We won't be able to get together until October due to vacations and assorted obligations, but I will start reading and making some notes this week.Yesterday I finished Tom Lake and yes, I do recommend that novel. I will miss the Olympics, needless to say. A job well done, Paris!

ye olde book club

 We had a reunion yesterday at Gini's and yes we talked about books, but not in an organized (bring your notes) kind of way. The weather was gorgeous and we sat in the sun porch and the grand girls visited us to add a few insights. A very nice day.

book clubbing

 We met here Sunday night to thoroughly discuss What you are looking for is in the library, my selection which was loved by all. I provided overdone ramen and Laurence brought miso soup, Suze with a huge salad and Heidi a dessert. Two women with other plans, but we four had a lively evening. Flowers courtesy of my dear step daughter, Nancy. We are already trying to find a free meeting day/night for all in June (not easy) and our book to read is above, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Getting out my ear buds now. 

dogs and books on Easter

 I dog sat for Charli and Birdie yesterday morning and relaxed on the sunny deck while Jen went to her cooking class. They have special diets and I fixed their lunches and then Jen fed me scotch eggs and other treats from chef school. Then book club at Lee's where we discussed The Wren, The Wren and many, many other things of interest. I'm going to host the May meeting and my selection is pictured above. What you are looking for is in the library. Agree.

beginning today

 I will start the wren, the wren today for our March book club. This novel has had glowing reviews and I will listen to it with my lovely ear buds and read it on my LindaKindle4. And yes, I am looking forward to this important assignment.

women, books and (oh yeah) football

 A spirited discussion last night about Girl, Women, Other along with good food and lovely humor and observations and a few most welcome texts about the 49ers winning. (Just to be clear, I really did like those Detroit Lions and would not have grieved had they won.) This book group is more fiction-based than the previous one which really appeals to me because reality can often be harsh. Perhaps you have noticed?

more than a spoonful of sugar

 Gini has the perfect Victorian SF home for tea and scones and cookies and candy. The book club gathered yesterday to trash tRump at our annual Christmas tea. A lovely afternoon for sure.

women, food and books

 Oh yes, and the incredible SF view. A lovely evening with Lee, Laurence, Heidi and Suze (from the left in the bottom photo) as we discussed Trust Exercise and everything else imaginable. A hearty soup and salad, bread and dessert. Yum. 

a day in Penngrove

 tt was a beautiful day up in Sonoma with the book club yesterday. Mad Rose and her husband live in this stunning home and it was a warm day in many ways. And a full day what with the long drive and road construction.

an unlikely spy

 I had to put down Covenant of Water in order to "prepare" for our October Book Club. So I'm reading a fun WW II novel by Ashley Weaver entitled A Peculiar Combination about a young woman safe cracker in London who helps her country by picking locks and spying. Fun.

book club in Marin

 We met at the Left Bank in Corte Madera yesterday and it was a fine and sunny day on the patio. Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle) was good fiction based on the life of a woman bootlegger back in the 1920's during prohibition. Ms. Walls is an excellent writer and I really liked this book.