The
Goldfinch
by Donna
Tartt
I was
surprised at how much I enjoyed The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It had elements that might have been
depressing, including a majorly traumatic event, characters with PTSD,
depression and substance abuse. I’m not
exactly sure why, but I actually found the book to be uplifting. Perhaps it’s because I listened to the audio
version. David Pittu did an excellent
job of narrating. The story was told in
first person and it seemed like the character was talking right to the
listeners. Most importantly, I think
that it was the way Tartt told the story.
There was simplicity to her telling, not giving too much detail or
dwelling on the negativity. The action
kept moving. The characters, their
emotions and reactions were real. Art
and antiques flowed throughout the story.
I’m glad that I picked up the Audible.com edition when it was on sale,
but it would be a great listen at full price.
At
Seventy: The Journal of May Sarton
By May
Sarton
I love May
Sarton’s journals. I’ve read several of
them over the years, and each one was perfect for a particular time in my
life. At Seventy records Sarton’s
life and thoughts throughout her seventieth year. Although I’m not yet seventy, I could
definitely relate to many of her thoughts and experiences with aging. I especially loved her descriptions of her
garden and life on the coast of Maine. The intimacy and the ordinariness of her
writing always gives me the feeling that she’s writing just to me. It’s like visiting with an old friend. This journal made me want to go back and
reread earlier ones, which I think I may actually do. All of Sarton’s journals, including At
Seventy, are consistent and endearing reads.
The Last
Anniversary
by Liane
Moriarty
Liane
Moriarty continues to be my current guilty pleasure. The Last Anniversary has all of the elements
that I look for in her books: strong female protagonists, a somewhat exotic
setting, and complex family relationships.
Once again, sisters and their relationships are at the core of the
story. Although the ending was pretty
evident early on, the winding path that took the reader there was involved and
engaging. Male characters existed, but
were definitely in support of the stronger, more dimensional females. Without giving away any spoilers, there was
an unusual twist at the end and I’m not sure how I felt about that. It did make the story interesting and perhaps
more realistic. I listened to the
Audible version and Caroline Lee's narration was great. The Last Anniversary did not disappoint and
is definitely a good listen and/or read.
Calm: 50
Mindfulness and Relaxation Exercises to De-Stress and Unwind by Dr. Arlene K. Unger
I love,
love, love this book!!! It is a beautifully
illustrated little gem that I intend to keep at my bedside for a good long
time. As soon as I got it, I read
through all of the 50 exercises. They
range from breathing and meditation techniques to mindful activities to
incorporate into daily life. There is a
photo at the beginning of each section that can be used to enhance the activity
being described. There are also several
pages that the reader can color. I like
the book so much that I’ve given it as a gift to family and friends. This one is a keeper! I highly recommend Calm: 50 Mindfulness
and Relaxation Exercises to De-Stress and Unwind by Dr. Arlene K. Unger to
anyone looking to modulate the stress of the 21st Century.
Murder
on Vacation (Molly Sutton Mysteries Book 6)
By Nell
Goddin
I was so
happy to return to another Molly Sutton Mystery: Murder on Vacation. This sixth book in the series was not a
disappointment. All of my favorite
Castillac characters, including Ben, returned to help solve the mystery. This time Molly needed more assistance than
usual due to illness. The murder and
investigation involved Molly’s B&B guests and took place close to
home. As with all of the books in this
series, Murder on Vacation is an engaging cozy mystery and definitely a
good read!
