Wednesday, January 30, 2019

January 2019 books

January - 7

1. Little Christmas
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
fiction  1964 in book form, 1947 in Farm Journal magazine
print
reread
finished 1/6/19 (on Little Christmas)
American writer/American setting

This is such a special book. I wrote about it here.

2. Someday the Rabbi Will Leave - book 9 in the Rabbi Small series
by Harry Kemelman
mystery 1985
Kindle
reread
finished 1/7/19
American writer/American setting

3. One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross - book 10 in the Rabbi Small series
by Harry Kemelman
mystery 1987
Kindle
reread
finished 1/10/19
American writer/American setting

4. The Day the Rabbi Resigned - book 11 in the Rabbi Small series
by Harry Kemelman
mystery 1992
Kindle
reread
finished 1/14/18
American writer/American setting

5. That Day the Rabbi Left Town - book 12 (and last) in the Rabbi Small series
by Harry Kemelman
mystery 1996
Kindle
reread
finished 1/19/19
American writer/American setting

My beloved Rabbi Small books came to an end with this one. They have a very strong sense of place - Boston and its suburbs. There is a lot of talking, which may put some off, but I love it. I love reading about what it means to be Jewish, I loved reading about Israel, I love the relationship between Rabbi Small and the Irish-Catholic police chief, Lanigan. This was my second-go-round of the books, and I still look forward to reading them all again.

Kemelman's obituary is here. The books were very popular. I love this picture of him. Such a cheerful, pleasant looking fellow, and I believe that spirit comes through in the books.


6. If Morning Ever Comes
by Anne Tyler
fiction 1964
Kindle
library book
finished 1/24/19
American writer/American setting

You may have noticed on the sidebar that I've announced 2019 to be my Anne Tyler year. I got thinking about it in November of last year when I read this. I went to my authors list and saw that I have read only four by her since I began the blog - Back When We Were Grownups, Noah's CompassA Spool of Blue Thread, and now If Morning Ever Comes. I'm really looking forward to reading/rereading her work.

I borrowed this from my state's downloadable books program. I didn't notice when it was written and was completely astounded to learn after I had finished that this was her first book. What a way to begin! She was only 22, yet the book reads as if it were written by someone much older. I loved every minute of the book. A young man comes back home for a bit from college in New York City. Home is a small town in North Carolina, in a houseful of women - his grandmother, mother, and six sisters. The interactions between them all, the descriptions of their lives, the town and its residents were all so well written. As a reader, I loved being amongst these people. I thought it was a  wonderful book.

7. The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker
by Jenni Keer
fiction 2019
Kindle
finished 1/30/19
English writer/English setting

I loved this book. The author describes her writing as "romantic comedies with a twist", which I think is just perfect. The characters are believable, there is romance, and the interiors are beautifully described - which is very important to me as a reader. I like to know where I am in a book. This book gave me the same kind of feeling as a book I read last year, Frances Garood's Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles. What a complete pleasure it was to read each of them.

There was a lovely friendship between a 25-year-old woman and a 79-year-old woman. The older woman reminded me of a character in Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Firs. They are both herbalists, growing herbs in their gardens which they make into remedies for ailments. Her kitchen was "a room that resembled an old-fashioned apothecary, with racks of jars and tins on every wall." There is a wee bit of magic in the book, which I believed in. It was quite, quite perfect for me. Addendum: I meant to say that I first heard of this new book here.

In January I read:

3 fiction
4 mysteries

6 Kindle
1 print

4 by men
3 by women

1 - 1940s (woman)
1 - 1960s (woman)
2 - 1980s (man)
2 - 1990s (man)
1 - 2011-2019 (woman)

6 by American authors
1 by an English author

5 rereads
1 library book
1 new-to-me author

20 comments:

  1. I love that you love the Rabbi Small books to not only reread them all this time but do it again at a later stage. Hoping to read book 2 in February.

    I've never read anything by Anne Tyler but I love the sound of the one you read this month. *And* I don't have North Carolina yet for my American states challenge.

    I hope you're not too affected by this polar vortex weather we're hearing about over there? If you're in that region, stay safe.

    You'll be pleased to hear that I'm just coming to the end of my book 7 for January. LOL

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  2. Anne Tyler is very special. A very, very good writer and storyteller. I think you'd like her.
    As far as the weather, just a normal winter here. Snow, cold, wind. Repeat.
    I felt quite sure you were finishing up book 7!!!!

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    1. Glad to hear you're ok re the weather.

      I've reserved this Anne Tyler book from the library, it's out at the moment but hopefully it won't be too long before it comes in.

      LOL... yes... it's quite clear we read at exactly the same rate. In fact I'm the slowest reader in my family, I read every word, they skim read. Nothing new for me to be distracted by my husband turning over half a dozen pages at once 'because this bit is a bit dull'. I've no idea how he can do that.

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    2. I'm pleased to know that she is read over there as well. I NEVER skim read. I wouldn't know how. If a writer put the word there, then I am going to read it! If I skipped six pages in a book then I would just quit it and go on to a book I liked better.

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  3. The Rabbi Small series sounds like a gem; congrats on a great reading month, but more important, an enjoyable month of books.

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    1. I pretty much quit anything that doesn't make me happy reading it!

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  4. You did have a good reading month. I don't read as much as you do. I should be able to keep a list similar to this. Why don't I, especially since it is too cold to get out and do anything?

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  5. I wish I was able to read 7 books in one month! I finished 4, two of which weren't long and one was mostly still read in November and December of last year; reviews will follow on my blog.
    The comparison you made with Frances Garrood's "Ruth Robinson" made me want to read "Lucy Baker", too.

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    1. You've got to remember that I don't have a job, I don't see the grandchildren as much now that they are in preschool, and your eyes are still getting over their ordeal! You have a very busy, full life. Mine is quite slower just now.

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  6. So, love the header picture. Guess you've had some snow? Ha! That will make you very happy I know. Nice reading month for you. So happy you enjoyed your reread of the Rabbi Small books.

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  7. Nan, I read Little Christmas on Little Christmas too! Such a beautiful little book as are other Turnbull books.

    And now I see that the Rabbi books didn't end on the 7th day so I must find all the others now. There just is something about them, right? I don't ever read mysteries written by men so it's odd that I love these, but I do, even though the first 7 anyway were written during a time period that certainly isn't my favorite. I think the rabbi's very calmness in all situations is very helpful to me too.

    I've written down the Jenni Keer book as it sounds exactly the kind of book I would like, probably need to buy it rather than from the library as it sounds like a keeper, especially for someone who loves growing and using herbs. Btw, I've been watching the British show on Netflix about small gardens with Monty Don and have decided that I will go back to pronouncing herbs as the man's name Herb as that is what the British do. I grew up pronouncing it that way because my father did but I think it was dear Martha who made me change it. Ha, I was right the first time!

    Hmm, I wonder what you have in store for us in February, Nan? Happy, reading,
    Dewena

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    1. I really must look into her other work. I'm quite sure you will like the JK book. Gentle, kindly, modern but old-fashioned at the same time.
      I "think" I don't read a lot of men until I actually tally up the figures. So many of the old mysteries I've read have been by men. And right now I'm reading another Grisham book!
      I love your idea of pronouncing it the British way. We, and our children because they heard it from us when they were little, say bass- il not bays-il. And that comes, of course, from Fawlty Towers. When we first saw the show in the 1970s, we hadn't ever heard of the plant, and when we first learned of it, we just assumed it was pronounced like Basil's name in the show! And yet, our dil's father, a Londoner, says it with the long a. Go figure!

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  8. Oh, Nan, I left a comment for you early last evening, and I guess it must have disappeared.
    I waxed on lots about the Rabbi series, especially because I grew up in the Boston area and all the adults in my world were reading them then. I must try Friday the Rabbi Slept Late.

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    1. I can't imagine what happened. I moderate my comments and always get notification if there's a new one. Weird. I love what you just wrote. I have no memories of adults around me reading anything. Well, there were books on the shelf, but it must have been wonderful for you to see. I bet Boston area people adored them!

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  9. Well done, Nan, both with your reading and your keeping track of it. I read all those Rabbi Small books as they came out and have done several rereads.
    I may read that Jenni Keer book which you make sound so interesting. Books are such a blessing.

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    1. It pleases me no end that you have read the Rabbi Small books!! I did so love the Jenni Keer. Kindly and warm, with serious overtones as well. (but nothing awful!)

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  10. What an inspiring entry.
    I'm currently housebound with Bronchitis, and I am rereading the Joseph Hansen Brandsetter mysteries. When I am done, I will go reread the Rabbi series again. Thank you.

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    1. Gosh, thanks so much.
      I've just left a comment on your blog about bronchitis!
      I haven't heard of these mysteries. Will look into them.

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