Share a roundup of the latest books and see if they’re worth adding to your collection.
Hello friends! How are you doing? I hope your week is off to a good start. We explore Kyoto – SO beautiful here!! – and have the best time. I’ll post more pictures in Friday Faves and a recap when we get back.
In the meantime, I wanted to chat about books. Honestly, my book goal kind of fell by the wayside this year. I’ve been so consistent for the past few years, but lately when we go to bed I’m exhausted and collapse. 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 (<– I hope that makes a big difference). My current plan (we'll see how this works) is that in order to have screens, the kids have to make their bed, get dressed and brush their teeth, do two chores, read for 30 minutes, and move their bodies (or at least plan to swim or get some sort of exercise during the day). I'll spend the 30 minutes of reading time with them and use the time they're doing chores to do work stuff, and then we can head out for the day's adventures. We'll see how this plays out in real life, lol.
Here’s a summary of some of the books I’ve read recently. If you have any summer reads you like, please share them in the comments!
Latest Book Summary
Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino
She is one of my favorite authors for lighthearted reading and this book is about a recent widow who receives an unexpected extended visit from her mother-in-law. Her plan to get rid of her is to find a man for her and eventually she finds out that her mother-in-law has the same plan for HER. There are a lot of shenanigans and I found it to be a nice read, but not my favorite. (My favorite SGC novel is Don’t Forget to Write). 6/10
From Amazon:
The year is 1963, two years since the death of Barbara Feldman’s husband. While raising two children, she finally emerges from her cocoon of grief. She’s not a butterfly yet, but she can’t wait to spread her wings.
Then one day her mother-in-law Ruth shows up at her front door with five suitcases and is expecting her own room with a matching mattress. Aggressive and stuck-up, but still well-intentioned, Mother Ruth arrives without warning 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 sparkling visit develops from days to weeks into what feels like an eternity, Barbara realizes that Ruth has to go. But Barbara has a brilliant plan: She wants to introduce Ruth to some fine gentlemen and marry her as quickly as possible.
Soon, Barbara says that Ruth is trying to do the same for her. At least they find common ground and help each other move forward. Even if it is the most unpredictable way two completely different women have ever imagined.
The invisible furies of the heart
This is one of those books that spans a lifetime, and it took me a lifetime to read.
It’s about Cyril Avery, a man raised by adoptive parents in 1940s Ireland, the circumstances of his birth, his development and the relationships in his life (and how they are all intertwined). As I read this book, I wondered if all the extra plotlines and details were absolutely necessary…and they were. It slowly broke my heart and the ending was absolutely amazing. It is well written, clear and descriptive – a deep and absorbing read. 10/10
From Amazon:
Cyril Avery isn’t a real Avery – at least that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he’s not the real Avery, then who is he?
Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl expelled from her rural Irish community, Cyril was adopted by a wealthy if eccentric Dublin couple thanks to the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun. He drifts in the world, only tenuously anchored by his close friendship with the infinitely more glamorous and dangerous Julian Woodbead. At the mercy of luck and chance, he will spend a lifetime learning about himself and his origins – and over the course of his many years he will struggle to find an identity, a home, a country and much more.
In Boyne’s most transcendent work yet, we are shown the history of Ireland from the 1940s to the present day through the eyes of a common man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel that will make you laugh and cry and remind 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 ideas for healthy, protein and fiber rich meals. I have Rachael’s previous book and we love so many recipes that I was looking forward to some new ideas! I’ve read it from cover to cover and even though I haven’t done anything yet – I received it in the middle of packing and planning mode for our trip – I’ll definitely report back.
From Amazon:
It is important to consume enough protein. It is needed for health and strength at every stage of life. The more protein you eat, the happier, more energized and resilient you will feel. It builds muscles, promotes hormone production and supports every organ.
In The High Protein Plate, Rachael DeVaux, New York Times bestselling author of Rachael’s Good Eats, shows how anyone can easily incorporate protein into their diet at any stage of life. The High Protein Plate includes the following:
– 100 protein-rich, delicious recipes for protein intake from breakfast to dessert.
– Simple guide to how much protein you really need – and why it’s important.
– Macros for each recipe so you can easily track what’s best for you.
– Confidence in planning and preparing balanced, targeted meals.
– Meal prep tips to help you thrive throughout the week.
– A 28-day plan to get you started and help you stay on track.
Rachael’s approach is where practicality meets science-based nutrition. She advocates for healthier alternatives instead of strict food rules and introduces alternatives to packaged foods so you can create balanced, protein-rich plates that are filling and easy. From Buffalo Chicken Baked Tacos and Honey Blackberry Overnight Oats to Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta, these meals are made for everyday life.
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 wives and daughters were tied to their feet and lived in almost complete seclusion, women in a remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: Nu Shu (“Women’s Writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old equals,” in emotional struggles that lasted their entire lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and wrote stories to emerge from isolation and share their hopes, dreams, and successes.
With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has written an introductory poem to Nu Shu for Lily, their friendship is sealed and they become “old equals” at the tender age of seven. Over the years, through famine and rebellion, they reflect on their arranged marriages, their loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find comfort and develop a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when misunderstandings arise, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to collapse.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sad. With the historical detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel explores one of the most mysterious human relationships: female friendship.
Ok friends, what books have you read lately? What’s on your current list?
I’m currently reading The Hormone Shift and Our Perfect Storm.
xo
Gina
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