Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

This is a Post About Books

Reading is an important part of my daily life and I usually have a book to read.  For those interested in knowing I keep a running list on this blog of the books I've read.  

The last book I read was "The Swedish Art of Death Cleaning".  Strange title I know but its about getting rid of your "stuff" so your children or heirs don't have to.  We did much of this already before we moved to this retirement apartment.  So it was nice to know why we did what we did.  I plan to do more culling with my cookbooks by photocopying the recipes I liked from the books and giving the books away.  That is on my to do list for one day in the future.

But the main purpose of this posting is to lament the lack of successful reads since the Death Cleaning book.  Has this ever happened to you?  You start a book you think you're going to like but can't get into it.  Here's a list of books I've started and stopped reading:




"The Girls in the Picture" by Melanie Benjamin.  I selected this one because I read "The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb" which she wrote.  That was great, this one not so.


"No Man's Land" by Simon Tolkien.  Again selected because of three other mysteries of his that I read.  This one was terrible.

"The Weight of Water" by Anita Shreve.  I read "The Stars Are Fire" not too long ago and it was a good read.  This one, blah!

"The Lying Game" by Ruth Ware.  I couldn't get beyond the first chapter and now "All the Beautiful Lies" by Peter Swanson, I can't get beyond the summary on the flap.






I think I have been spoiled by some excellent writing.  "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles was superb. Have you read it?

I went to the library website last night and searched for some books to place on hold.  I hope I'm successful in finding something to read soon.  

Maybe I'll need to go back and re-read an old favorite like "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" or one from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.



I'm open to suggestions for books to read!






4 comments:

Kitty said...

I have a book I think you will love - "Crooked Heart" by Lissa Evans. Just give it a try.

Marcia said...

Thanks, Kitty. I"ll look for that one.

Elaine said...

You have my sympathy, Marcia. I am going through a similar dry patch at the moment. Like you, it is not a lack of fresh material from good authors, it is simply that I am unable to really get into any of the ones I have tried. At times like this I turn to my very old recipe books for they are not all about recipes, they are journey's through time. I also dig and delve into my local history books. I know that a book will come along and I will be swept up in the glory of a jolly good read again, I just hope it happens soon - for both of us.

Cynthia said...

I've gotten more picky lately and made a decision not to waste my time finishing books I didn't love. I have reread the Potato Peel Society more than once! Not sure what types of books you like, but I just finished Educated and it was really good.