April 2016 Reading

Barbarian Days by William Finnegan (library) The story of a surfer from California to Hawaii and the rest of the world
Catherine by April Lindner A modern retelling of Wurthering Heights
Nuts by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg The story of Southwest Airlines unusual management style and why it has been so successful
The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan The story of the women who worked at Oak Ridge, TN during WWII ...a part of the Manhattan Project. I really enjoyed this one! And I will be doing some more research about Oak Ridge and maybe reading some more about this part of the war effort in the USA. I am especially fascinated with Ed Westcott's photos of the area.
The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by  Dominic Smith (library) very interesting following the history of a painting by a woman (gasp) thru it's history of sales and fraud
Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky (library) so much fun, a group of friends stalking their favorite Boy Band end up kidnapping the most lame member of the band
Bettyville by George Hodgman ( library). So sad. But very good.  I enjoyed reading it, but it was really depressing. Be warned, if you are feeling fragile.
Open Season by C J Box the first of the Joe Pickett game warden books.   I'll be going thru all these in this series.
The Mystery of the Martello Tower by Jennifer Lanthier fun kids mystery by a Canadian author. There is another Hazel Frump mystery and I will try to track that one down too!
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (library) so much fun a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I really enjoyed it!!
The Secret River by Kate Grenville (library) the story of a family sent to Australia as convicts in the 17th century. After their prison terms were served most stayed in Australia and joined the other settlers, with some rising to prominent positions in Australian society. Approximately 20% of modern Australians are descended from transported convicts. Once deemed the "convict stain", it is now considered by many Australians to be a cause for celebration to have a convict in one's lineage.
Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson (library) about a reclusive author and her quirky son Enjoyed very much, the author is a cross between JD Salinger and Harper Lee
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann This book is just too precious. I loved it. It is a murder mystery and it is told from the point of view of Sheep!! They wake up one morning and their shepherd is dead, it is foul play and they decide to find out what happened. There is another book by this author, but as she is German, it has not been translated into English yet!!  Bummer. Another reason I should have learned German!!!

Monday's Postcard 2016: Horses

When I was a kid, I had a bit of horse fever like every other adolescent girl. Reading Black Beauty, The Black Stallion and Misty of Chincoteague and these antique postcards were probably acquired during that era.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Barbie

       I love aviation themed postcards and these Barbie Flight Attendant cards are awesome!!

Monday's Postcard 2016: Floral Ships

                                      I just love these antique postcards of Floral Ships.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Books

     As a reminder, this years collection of postcards are just to illustrate that you don't have to travel to exotic places to find postcards. I bought a bunch of these postcards several years ago at a bookstore. Lots of images of books.

March 2016 Reading

The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin Truman Capote among the rich and famous in NYC I enjoyed it
Blues of a Lifetime The Autobiography of Cornell Woolrich Ed. by Mark Bassett  I have been fascinated with this Author once I found out that he wrote so many books that were made into Films during the 30's and 40's, but how many recognize his name?
The Big Short by Michael Lewis (library) made into a movie, about the bursting of the housing/loan bubble. I could barely keep up with all the financial wheeling and dealing. Basically, only a few saw it coming and no one else thought there was anything wrong?
Not my Father's Son by Alan Cumming (library) Very interesting Autobiography of one of my favorite actors
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty (library) I really really enjoy this author and this is now one of my favorites by her
The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty by Amanda Filipacchi (library) There was a lot in this book that was just plain silly, but the message is looks are not everything.
Ghostman by Roger Hobbs (library) a heist book. I really liked it. About a casino robbery gone wrong in Atlantic City and the "fixer", the Ghostman who comes in and cleans up the mess.
Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards (library) dealing with grief by helping an abused horse
What was Mine by Helen Klein Ross(library) about a woman who kidnaps a baby and raises it as her own and what happens when the child finds out when she is 20 years old.
My Sister, My Love by Joyce Carol Oates (library) thinly disguised re-telling of the Jon Benet Ramsey tragedy from the point of view of a sibling.The format was a little odd...very disjointed and that bothered me reading it. Lots of weird footnotes and so forth.
Looking for Andrew McCarthy by Jenny Colgan Fun Chic Lit Ellie thinks that Andrew McCarthy can solve her relationship problems. something Kinda weird....both this book and What Was Mine had scenes in an Ikea store at the beginning of the book. Such a weird coincidence !

Monday's Postcard 2016: Sailboats

  These postcards were advertising for these sailboats that were available for charter in the 1970's. I found them in a bunch of my Dad's papers after he died.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Daiso

I bought these postcards at Daiso...what I call the Japanese Dollar Store. They have quirky things from Japan and everything is $1.50  Check them out and see if there is a Daiso store near you!! Daiso

Monday's Postcard 2016: Bears

I got these postcards as examples of an artist in California many years ago. I could not afford to buy a painting, but I can buy postcards. I love these!

Monday's Postcard 2016: Brussels Sprouts

I am not a fan of Brussels Sprouts, so some people think it is funny to send me postcards that feature this vegetable.

February 2016 Reading

Give Me Everything You have on Being Stalked by  James Lasdun (library) I read this book, because I had read a review of it that said: "the book's most terrifying revelation is the idea that all that is necessary for a person's life to be made utterly miserable is for another person to want this badly enough, for whatever reason. The internet is the genie that grants such poisonous wishes. And I have seen how crazy things can get between people on facebook and yahoo groups and other forums on the internet.
Maggie Smith A Biography by Michael Coveney (library) if you are a Maggie Smith fan, read it, but just for anyone....it was a little dry. She is just a fabulous person. It would be like reading a biography of your own grandmother or aunt.
The Storied Life of A J Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin   (library) Loved it!! I need to go buy it right now, So I can have it in my house forever
The Clue in the Crossword Cipher by Carolyn Keene my dose of Nancy Drew reading this month.
The Witches by Stacy Schiff  a telling of the Salem Witch Trials. I found it a little dry, but lots of detail and photos too!! Ryan says I need to qualify this comment. The photos were of houses still standing where things took place during the Witch Trials, also photos of portraits of some of the judges etc.
Letter From Home by Carolyn Hart  for fans of Elizabeth Berg's WWII books and if you like a little mystery too (and some coming of age drama) This book had it all. I recommend.
Twelve Drummers Drumming by C C Benison (library) I only read it for the Nancy Drew reference.  Cute, cozy mystery
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (library) Bring the kleenex. I cried buckets....being made into a movie
Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls by Bennett Madison. Modern. "Anti" Nancy Drew
Lulu Dark and the Summer of the Fox by Bennett Madison and another
Girl in the Woods by Aspen Matis (library) about a girl hiking the PCT after she was raped in College to clear her head. Similar a bit to Wild...so if you like that sort of thing.
Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon (library) Dyan Cannon's relationship with Cary Grant.
Scratch One by Michael Crichton. Some old books written under the name John Lange, while Crichton was in college.  Not bad. sort of a knock-off James Bond
Murder on the Ghost Walk by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter Wilmington, NC set murder mystery series. They are just okay and I mainly read them just for the local color of my hometown.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Garfield

                                                     Happy Leap Year from Garfield!!
It is pretty easy to find just about every cartoon imaginable on a postcard. I was a huge Garfield fan when I was a kid, so I had a bunch of these cards in my collection.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Airplanes

        Airplane Postcards! I will use cards like these when I write Thank You notes. 

Monday's Postcard 2016: Shakespeare

Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy some Shakespeare quotes on Postcards.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Antique Labels

I found these postcards of Antique Vegetable Crate Labels on a road trip across country when I was moving out to Seattle. I never sent them to anyone, cause I just loved looking at them myself!!

January 2016 Reading

The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig (library) I found this book on a list of stuff to read if you like Downton Abbey. It is set in that era of the 20's with changing social structure in England.
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (library) yes, the Lauren Graham that starred in Gilmore Girls. The book is about a young actress in NYC and it was a lot of fun. Chick Lit for sure, Reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada and that TV Show Younger.
The Revenant by Michael Punke (library) Very Good book. They made it a movie and I have not seen the movie yet, but I only hope it is as good as the book.
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King (library) great stories, I love his little commentaries before each story.
The Traitor's Wife by Alison Pataki (library) the story of Benedict Arnold's wife. I really enjoy this authors historical novels
The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford (library) WWII about a British woman who falls in love with a black American GI. And all the complications that that brings. I enjoyed it.
Making History by Carolyn See (library) Meh, not my favorite....about a family in California....too much money, too entitled. Bleh
Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon (library) I like this author, she is like the fast food version of Gillian Flynn. (Gone Girl) same sort of Psychological Horrorish Thriller.
Oranges and Sunshine by Margaret Humphreys (library) Very similar to The Orphan Train that I read last year about orphans in America, but this one is a little more disturbing....children were shipped off to Australia from England and often they were just taken from their mothers. There is a movie also!!
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (library) McLain also wrote The Paris Wife which was fabulous. This one follows the life of Beryl Markham! Out of Africa fans,you might like this one
A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George (library) I  just love her and this is her latest
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell (library) I just love that I am learning all the history I should have learned in school from Sarah Vowell. Very interesting!! 
In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (library) again if you are a Gone Girl, Jennifer McMahon, The Girl on the Train, etc fan....this is of the same vein with an unreliable narrator.  

Monday's Postcard 2016: Space

These postcards came from a Planetarium or Museum. Pleiades, Saturn and Mars.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Ansel Adams

Some of the best Art cards ever, Ansel Adams Photographs!! Love these and I have sent and received these many times over the years.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Sting

One of my favorites! That middle card was on my bulletin board during college. "Brand New Day" was sent to me by a friend. These types of postcards could be found at record stores.

Monday's Postcard 2016: Crowns

These postcards are of crowns obviously and I think these are in the collection at the Louvre in Paris. The postcards were sent to me by a friend who lives in Illinois. With messages on the back about how their summer was going! I know my friend has not visited the Louvre and I know they have not been to Paris, so I don't know where they got the postcards, but they are pretty random and could have come from a museum gift shop or a bookstore.