A Book Can Be A Star

Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn! —Robert Burns

Oh my Mr. Burns, you couldn’t be more right. The Scottish poet, the Pioneer of the Romantic Movement, must have had a crystal ball back in the day. I can’t wrap my brain around what’s gone on in Rachel’s backyard—makes me mourn. I’m so grateful that Rae was nowhere near the inhumanity. 

The good news is a book can be a star to diminish the darkness. In Lauren Wolk’s latest novel, Beyond the Bright Sea, you’ll find light in a young girl named Crow who is both curious and brave. There’s plenty of mystery surrounding Crow. She lives on a small, isolated island with Osh, the man who discovered her afloat in an old skiff when she was a brand-new baby. Her life is both simplistic and serene. Like most orphans, Crow searches for answers to her puzzling past. The boys and I particularly liked that there were mini-mysteries to be solved within Wolk’s chapters. You’re sure to find hidden treasures in Beyond the Bright Sea. 

p.s. For what it’s worth, Jonah like Beyond better than Wolf Hollow; Luke thought just the opposite. 

Posted by Tracy

Delicious Autumn

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.” F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Fall hustled in overnight: one day 80 degrees, the next 58.  It hasn’t been Vegas-hot here, never is, but it has been unusually warm this summer.  To be honest, I’m ready for sweaters, chili with cheese a top, and fires aflicker. Oh and when it gets crisp, some of the most highly anticipated books of the year appear in print.  Feels like life is starting all over again F. Scott. Now is the perfect time to mull the cider with spices, grab your fleece throw, and cuddle up with one of these lookers. 

The World of Tomorrow by Brendan Mathews

I’ve been binging on stunning World War II novels as of late.  The World of Tomorrow takes place on the cusp of the war against Hitler. NPR raves, “The World of Tomorrow is that rarest of historical novels, a book that catches a moment in a jar, holds it aloft, and displays it for what it really is: Somebody else's day before tomorrow, the instant right before the future comes…Mathews's entire novel takes place over the course of one week in June, culminating at the World's Fair itself, in a fast-paced finale worthy of a Scorcese long-take.” Feels like a head turner to me.  

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brene Brown

This one’s for you Rae.  (I know how you feel about Brene.) Our world seems to be increasingly disconnected—if anyone can show us how to create vital connections, it’s Brown. In her latest, the best-selling author explores what it means to truly belong. One reviewer shared this thought: Braving the Wilderness is a must read for “anyone who cares about doing their part to create a more caring and just world.” Count me in—besides, I wanna see me be brave.

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

In researching the best fall reads, this book appeared on every list I perused.  Every last one. I like what I have read of Ward so far.  She pinned William Faulkner’s “wonderfully cranky” Nobel Prize acceptance speech above her desk, to remind herself “to create from the heart, not the glands.” Her novel Salvage the Bones earned a National Book Award. “Sing, Unburied, Sing grapples with the ugly truths at the heart of the American story and the power, and limitations, of the bonds of family. Rich with Ward’s distinctive, musical language, Sing, Unburied, Sing is a majestic new work and an essential contribution to American literature.”  Something tells me this one may warm the English major in me.  

Posted by Tracy

September Book Club Selection

"She generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it). —Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Oh Alice. Me too. I told myself we should skip book club for September since we are embarrassingly behind on reviews—and we're halfway through the month already. But then I heard they're making this beautiful read into a movie and all reason flew right out the window. What good is reason anyway if it keeps us from reading this timely book, full of beautiful reminders like this one: "The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless—just workin our way toward home."

If you haven't read this, do. You'll be glad you did. Or if you're like me and read it years ago, pull it out for a reread. Then let's all meet up in October to see it in theaters, shall we? Milk Duds are on me.

Posted by Rachel

Tennis anyone?

“There’s a lot of good waiting for you on the other side of tired. Get yourself tired.” 

There’s a lot to do around here with me AWOL and Rachel climbing corporate ladders. I deserted with good reason—I was finding respite at the U.S. Open.  You’ll be relieved to hear the weather was sublime, devoid of east coast humidity. And week one did not disappoint: Roger graceful, Sharipova glittering, and Rafa brim with passion. We put in a twelve-hour day at Flushing Meadows. Never tired of deuces. All that back-n-forth got me thinking that it’s high time I read one of my sister Cindy’s favorite autobiographies: Open. Nin had trouble limiting her use of the word fascinating. I’m an Agassi fan, so no real convincing required. But she added it’s an autobiography everyone will enjoy because Andre’s story is so compelling and honest.  

Open is a New York Times Notable book and a Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, and Washington Post Best Book of the Year. One critic raved, “Agassi may have just penned one of the best sports autobiographies of all time. It’s one of the better memoirs out there, period…an unvarnished, at times inspiring story [told] in arresting, muscular style…Agassi’s memoir is just as entrancing as his tennis game.”  What’s more, I’m on an ear-lovin roll right now and the audio version of Open has been highly touted. If you think I’m overstating, check out this recent review.  Time to learn a little bit more about “The Punisher.” Who’s game? 

Posted by Tracy

Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga Ooga-Chaka

“I cannot live without books [or football].” Thomas Jefferson

While Rachel’s dropping the B-bomb on our blog, I’m dreaming about being in Devon Kennard’s “vibrant” book club.  Can’t say that I’ve met the Giant’s linebacker, but honestly speaking, I may be in love with the perfictionist. (Not to worry Peyton or Steph, to quote Orleans “You’re Still the One.”) If you know me at all, you know that I love me some professional football.  The game, in all its workout warrior maleness, may or may not have me Hooked on a Feeling.  (Okay, I’ll stop with the 70’s song references before I get outta hand.) 

Combine the gridiron, pigskin, and hail marys a la Aaron Rodgers with books glorious books, and this girl’s happy heart is sure to palpitate. The thought alone makes me starry-eyed. I’ll take razzle-dazzle and reads from here to eternity. All that to say, way to go DK!  He assigned two of my all-time favorite reads this summer: The Alchemist and To Kill a Mockingbird. I was deeply impressed that Kennard wanted joinees to relate reading to real life.  Books are exquisite teachers. We need to draw from the deep well literature has to offer.  And while Kennard may have incentivized his readers to think deeply by offering signed memorabilia, that seemed to be a smaller, secondary reward to the insights students gained.  Now that my book-lovin heart is sufficiently warmed, I’ll speak for me and Rae: next year DK, sign us up—the two middle-aged girls at twenty-seven are all in!

Posted by Tracy

Weekly Wrap-Up (Pretty Books Edition)

"I am simply a book drunkard." —L.M. Montgomery

WHAT WE LOVE THIS WEEK

Pretty books. To think all these years we've been buying books to read them. Instagram opened our eyes to a whole new world of collecting beautiful editions of our favorite reads and now we've got an acute case of book envy. She's wily that way. Just what we needed: an excuse to spend more money on books. But seriously, our shelves are simply screaming for this lovely Knickerbocker Classics Edition of Wuthering Heights. Little Women and Pride and Jane Eyre too.

Who can resist the Puffin in Bloom Collection? This edition of Anne of Green Gables is gorgeous.

Still swooning over the Penguin V&A collection. The Wind in the Willows never looked cuter.

We'll take one of each of the Penguin Threads editions. Already own Emma and Little Women, next up: The Secret Garden. Then The Wizard of Oz.

Mr. Boddington's Classics. They're all the rage. This lovely edition of Jane Eyre will cost you a pretty penny.

Speaking of pretty pennies, you'll also need lots of them for this White's Books edition of Emma. 

Must have: My Antonia from Penguin Drop Caps.

Being the logophiles we are, these Word Cloud Classics have our name all over them. Speaking of names, Captain Wentworth is a glorious one. This copy of Persuasion will start our collection off nicely.

War and Peace never looked so good. Apparently there's a whole Vintage Classic Russian Series we knew nothing about. This may be the nudge we need to tackle Anna Karenina.

Pride and Prejudice is next on our wish list of Penguin Clothbound Classics.

Every library needs the Puffin Classics collection. Especially ours. We'll start with Little Women.

We're just scratchin the surface here folks—much to our book budget's dismay. As if either of us knows anything about budgeting.

Posted by Rachel