Not Vile, Just Splendid

“It was magnificent and terrible: the spasmodic drone of enemy aircraft overhead; the thunder of gunfire, sometimes close, sometimes in the distance; the illumination, like that of electric trains in peace-time, as the guns fired; and the myriad stars, real and artificial, in the firmament. Never was there such a contrast of natural splendor and human vileness.” —John Colville via Erik Larson, The Splendid and The Vile

 “I never gave them [Britons] courage. I was only able to focus theirs.” — Sir Winston Churchill, 1941

For a hot lil’ second, I was an English major and a History minor. Like Tracy and Rachel, I was a resident of 27 Palace Court for a semester abroad and became captivated by the city and its history. The major and minor didn’t stick, but the fascination with all things London did. When I heard that Erik Larson was writing a book about Churchill’s experiences with the Blitz, I almost started salivating.

The Splendid and the Vile takes a complete 365-day view of Churchill’s first year in office. From May 10, 1940 when he was sworn in as Prime Minister through May 10, 1941, Larson dives into Churchill’s cabinet and how they weathered German’s year-long aerial blitzkrieg. Through years of research in London and Washington DC, Larson cites from multiple personal journals from prominent players in the War, such as John Colville (one of Churchill’s private secretaries), Mary Churchill and even Joseph Goebbels, one of Hitler’s evil henchmen. I loved that this wasn’t just a history lesson—Larson weaves together their stories with the facts, keeping us interested in the characters and their storylines on top of the history lesson. A perfect marriage of English and History. (Seriously, can Larson just write textbooks? I think we’d all have learned a lot more in school!).

Even better, the book is dedicated to the first year of Churchill’s leadership to give us a comprehensive look into the German blitzkrieg and how desperately Hitler wanted Churchill to call for a peace treaty. As I started the book, I was a little bummed that we wouldn’t be reviewing all of his devout years in office. By the end, I was satisfied that it was only a year. There are A LOT of WWII books out there and I feel as though this was one area that I hadn’t learned about. Thanks to Larson, I now feel that I understand it better.

The hype is real–Larson truly delivered a hit! If I could give half a star, I would give it 4.5 out of 5. I learned a lot from reading The Splendid and the Vile. For those that aren’t as devout to a physical book as I am, it would be a great listen. A little long, but worth the time.

P.S. If you read my last post, this book made Barack’s list. Seems like reason enough to read Larson’s latest, no?

Posted by Michelle

If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Live Here

“I do not need a statue or a flag to know that I am Southern. I can taste it in the food, feel it in my heart, and hear it in the language of my kin.”

Is it me or is Rick Bragg above cancel culture? As a “Yankee” who finds herself currently living in the deep South, picking up Bragg’s latest was a no brainer. (I’m still whoopin’ about All Over But the Shoutin’, 24 years after the fact.) The prize-winning journalist resonates with me for several reasons—first, you’ve gotta admire a man who comes from Possom Trot only to arrive at the Pulitzer; second, he has a strong penchant for putting a human face on a story; and third, he shares with a raw honesty that ultimately makes him a very endearing writer. Please say those reasons seem as stellar to you as they do to me. If so, grab yourself a moon pie, pull up a seat, and crack the spine on Where I Come From: Stories From the Deep South.

Maybe it’s time to let Bragg do the honors—here’s how he described his newest ode: “The stories in this collection are of the South’s gentler, easier nature. It is a litany of great talkers, blue-green waters, deep casseroles, kitchen-sink permanents, lying fishermen, haunted mansions, and dogs that never die, things that make this place more than a dotted line on a map or a long-ago failed rebellion, even if only in some cold-weather dream.” What a tease, that man. He makes Southern living look good, or does he? You’ll have to read to find out, but one thing’s for sure: you’ll laugh along the way!

p.s. This book is worth buying if only to have “My Affair with Tupperware” handy. Or if you’ve had a run-in with fire ants, you’ll definitely want to read “The Grumpy Gardener.” Tee-hee.

Posted by Sharee

In Barack I Trust

“Memories are always bent retrospectively to fit individual narratives.”

Towards the end of last year, Barack Obama shared an Instagram list detailing his best reads of 2020. Near the top of his list was Emily St. John Mandel’s The Glass Hotel—what more did I need to convince me to pick it up? Boy, did it deliver! Mandel’s storytelling is a work of art. The book starts at the end and ends at the end. Confusing? Yes. Intriguing? Most definitely. 

Main character Vincent grows up quickly, before our eyes, after she experiences a large childhood tragedy. While bartending at a five-star hotel on a remote island in Canada in her early 20s, she meets Jonathan Alkaitis, investor extraordinaire and owner of the hotel. We follow her story over the years as her life changes from that of a poor girl to a rich woman, along with the reckoning that comes with the ultimate reveal of Alkaitis’s actual profession – running one of the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Not a spoiler, I promise!

Mandel’s ability to toggle between grief and guilt and delusional reasoning keep you hooked from the beginning (or should I say the end?) – a solid 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

BONUS: For those interested in some pre-pandemic life predictions, Mandel’s first big hit was back in 2014 titled Station Eleven. It’s EERIE how close she called some aspects of pandemic living!

Posted by Michelle

Birthday Cake Crush

“Winners train, losers complain.”

Not sure which anonymous winna made that bold claim, but I seriously gotta start to train.  Today I’m talkin’ winners because it’s my boy Steph’s birthday.  And the Dubs are beating the Jazz, which feels like birthday cake to me. I could write an effusive, gushy ode to Steph, but I’ll spare you because you’re here to read about books that—like Charlie Sheen—scream “winning!”

If you’ve read our posts for any length of time, you’ll know we think you can take Jane Harper’s books to the bank. Rae and I aren’t alone. Dave Baldacci and A.J. Finn have lavished praise for “the Australian crime author everyone seems to be reading.” I pre-ordered her February-release The Survivors. It won’t surprise you that once again Harper created an atmospheric setting in Evelyn Bay—a sometimes sleepy, sometimes turbulent beach town on the Tasmanian Coast. When a body is discovered on the beach, age-old secrets loosen. Harper’s latest involves a missing girl, a sunken wreck, and unanswered questions that, over a decade later, still fester and haunt the small fettered coastal town.

You’ll feel compelled to turn Jane Harper’s pages. While I think The Dry and The Lost Man top her latest, The Survivors is definitely worth a read. Let’s face it, Jane Harper is a trained winner.

Posted by Tracy

Life Imitating Art

“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.”  —Agatha Christie

This post is all about big nods for Agatha Christie. Clearly, she has a sense of humor. (Give me an archaeologist or give me death!) And having just finished The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, I can confidently say Miss Marple’s brainchild has got moxie. The famed British crime writer wrote 66 novels and 14 short story collections. She inspired suspense and captivated readers for decades. But Christie’s greatest mystery was left unsolved—her real-life disappearance for 11 days after an argument with her husband has yet to be unlocked.

Almost 100 years later, Marie Benedict, teller of untold women’s stories, takes a crack at explaining Christie’s vanishing act. Benedict weaves two timelines together in her latest—one sheds light on Christie’s early courtship with her husband, Colonel Archibald; and the other explores each day during her inexplicable disappearance. Not surprisingly, this read left me with questions. I wondered how much of the story was fact and how much was pure fiction. (Knowing Benedict, she did ample homework.) And I seriously questioned, despite gender expectations for women in the 20’s, if the prolific Mrs. Christie was really as submissive and sometimes naive as portrayed here? I found that a bit difficult to believe. More than anything, I want to learn more about the matronly author of mystery via her own creative pages. Here’s to you, Agatha!

Posted by Tracy

Lift Where You Stand, Ladies

“Love is the most powerful and underused force for change in the world.”

I have many feminist icons: the late RBG, Ruby Bridges, and Susan B. Anthony, to name a few. Of course, in true millennial fashion, I gotta throw Beyonce into the prolific mix (#beyhive forever)! Melinda Gates is my latest idol. This woman has done it ALL–completed an undergrad in Computer Science, an MBA, worked her way up the Microsoft ladder through her multimedia material ideas, and more. But what inspires me most about her is how she left behind a life of success and fame at Microsoft to not only raise her family, but to give back to those around the world who need it the most.

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World is not your traditional “girl power” book. It’s not light and fluffy, and it doesn’t leave you feeling all warm inside. Melinda Gates shares insights surrounding the world’s heaviest issues, which requires grappling with the weight of their impact. From the get-go, she shares a story about her dad’s work on rocket ships, and the moment of “lift” when they leave planet Earth. Gates admits that, for decades, she has pondered the idea of “lift” in two lights: the first being the traditional religious view, with the idea of lift being Jesus Christ’s grace; the second, however, is through a lens of curiosity. It revolves around the idea of learning more about those in different positions of life, and how that can propel us to become our best selves. The philanthropist with a big heart shares hundreds of stories that are both gut-wrenching and motivating. It sounds cliché, but I put the book down and felt inspired to make the world a better place.

The Moment of Lift is a solid 5 out of 5 stars for me. You should know it’s not for the faint of heart. Some of the stories are absolutely devastating and heartbreaking, but the results are crystal clear—when communities focus on helping women, regardless of the scenario or circumstances, societies become a better place for all to live. I’ve been raving about this book non-stop. Grab yourself a copy right away. (And here’s a nice little bonus: book proceeds are donated to the organizations discussed in the book. Giving back and a good read all in one!)

P.S. If you get hooked like I do…Gates shares some of her important ideas in a Netflix episode of “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.” Great date night activity or pick-me-up after a long day.

Posted by Michelle

Still Playing Favorites in 2020

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes…Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever. “ —Neil Gaiman

It’s no secret I’m a Neil Gaiman fan, and not just because he’s given me permission to make mistakes. Having Covid symptoms for the whole of January and beyond felt like one giant mistake. (C19 hammered Rae too.) Not posting my 2020 faves, while a bit of a blunder, has got me thinking it’s not too late to bring on the thunder.

FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR

I’m still in Never Never Land over Maggie O’Farrell’s stunner Hamnet. If you are curious as to why Shakespeare titled his most famous play after his only son who died at age 11, you’ll want to check out Mag’s theory. If that’s never been a source of curiosity, don’t worry—O’Farrell’s poetic pages ultimately deal with hope and healing. And who couldn’t use a bit more of those soothing remedies right about now? Click here for my review.

FAVORITE MEMOIR

This remarkable real-life story about a girl, her grandpa, and soul-saving honeybees will stay with me for a good long while. I’ve given this book to more than a dozen friends. No lie, it’s the bee’s knees. You can read all about it here.

FAVORITE THRILLER(S)

American Dirt has been called a “romance thriller”; regardless, it’s a page turner. This novel about Mexican immigration will change the way you think and feel. What an eye opener. (And heart stopper at times.) Check out my review here.

I sent Rachel The Dry ages ago. It was The Lost Man that made me an instant Jane Harper fan. In the middle of the pandemic, I devoured The Dry, which solidified Harper as a fantastic storyteller as far as I’m concerned. And Stephen Shanahan’s voice is pure silk. (This selection could easily fall under Favorite 2020 Listen.) Check out Rachel’s awesome review here!

FAVORITE LISTEN

What did Rachel say? “My list, my rules.” I’m going to let you choose which audible narrator is better—Richard Armitage or Juliet Stevenson. Good luck with that! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Jane Austen Society and our book club selection, Wuthering Heights. Both listens constituted classic lit ear candy. You can read all about them here and here.

 Posted by Tracy

Hope Springs Eternal

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” —The Shawshank Redemption

As a lover of historical fiction, I could hardly wait for the release of Kristin Hannah’s new book, The Four Winds. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the drought-plagued region of Texas known as the Dust Bowl, the story follows Elsa Martinelli’s journey from her beloved homeland in Texas to the promise of a better life in the golden state of California. However, Elsa soon realizes that she’s traded one set of problems for another. In an effort to save her children from starvation and the respiratory illnesses associated with breathing in too much nasty dust, she heads west—only to find herself homeless. In addition to her living woes, Elsa quickly discovers that the state is overrun with impoverished people desperate for work and food at a time in history where minimum wage and labor regulations are non-existent. On top of it all, the migrant workers earn the lowest wages and are treated with indifference and cruelty by the farm bosses.

Elsa’s character is reminiscent of a Jane Austen heroine living in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath era. At one point, I felt like there was too much heartache and struggle woven within Hannah’s pages for me to love them. When I finished the book and thought about Elsa’s story, I realized that her tragic tale was really a story of love and hope. And hope is always a good thing.  

*On a scale of 1 to The Nightingale, I’d give this new release at a definite 8, maybe higher.

Posted by Sharee