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We’re manifesting. By the wonderful Grace Farris.
P.S. You’re doing a great job, and which jean jacket are you?
Spring Reading
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The lilac and daffodils caught my attention … I love reading in the garden and admiring the first delicate spring blooms. I adore the delicate fragrance of lilacs.
+ bzzzz
This sounds like the perfect day to me. Unfortunately, this time of year in the PNW is just rain, rain, and more rain. I can’t wait until I can read my book outside. Until then, I will be cuddling up on the sofa instead while I read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
Autumn where I am and finally getting cooler. So similar reading vibes! I just finished Small Hours by Bobby Palmer (so good!) and follows it with his first book that was also brilliant (and ET ish) Isaac and The Egg. Just started Gone to the Wolves which I read somewhere is a similar feel to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow but set in Metal scene over couple decades. Really enjoying it so far.
It’s not Irish, but listening to NK Jemisin’s The Fifth Season after having read both Dune and The Parable of the Sower within the past two months is *chef’s kiss*
Ha! On spring break and just started reading The Bee Sting by Irish author Paul Murray. And yes, my lilacs started blooming before I left home ;)
Katie I’m about to finish it! What a sweeping book, the prose is so gorgeous. Hope you enjoy it!
Ooh, I’ve got The Bee Sting in my stack waiting to be read. :)
Paul Murray is coming to Australia for Melbourne Writer’s Festival. I might try to see him speak. Thanks for book rec!
It’s been raining for weeks in Scotland, so my spring reading has mostly been cold and under a blanket with the dog to keep my feet warm.
I just listened to Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby and loved it, and now I’m in the midst of Sure I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford. If ever there were a very specific, niche sub genre of book I’m into, it’s memoirs by neurodivergent, female comedians.
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady?
Putting this on hold at the library now. Thanks for sharing!
Claire Keegan! She fits perfectly in with the illustration. I just finished So Late in The Day, but Foster was and always will be my favorite. Also in the middle of Small World by Laura Zigman and I am loving it sooo much. It’s such a great weather for reading with a big blanket and sweater on and my cats around me. I only stop reading to watch The Great British Baking Show.
I just read So Late in the Day yesterday, and I can’t stop thinking about it! I will check out Foster asap!
I recently read Small Things Like These by her- she’s just excellent.
Huzzah for Claire Keegan! Thanks to CoJ I plowed through all of her writing and agreed, Foster is my favorite.
I’m going to dream of this while digging out from the 24″ of snow that got dumped on Vermont yesterday… (SOB!!!!!!!!!!!)
It’s snowed everyday this week where I’m at *cries in Arctic* reading is still in fuzzy socks under the duvet
Fellow Vermonter currently installing a utility sink, because mud season, and getting into Eclipse Mania! The daffodils will bloom sometime, right?
My daughter goes to UVM and is so excited to have more snow! Taking advantage and skied both yesterday and today!
So far, here in WI, just the beast and a few brave daffodils. Looking forward to living scenes just like this, but with my dog! Bring on the lilacs!
Reading The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook. It’s not at all new, but it’s my first time reading, and it was leant to me by a CoJ friend! I can see why she loves it.
I’m really enjoying The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard, which my SIL recommended. May I also mention that I think Grace Farris’ lovely illustration (minus the captions) would make wonderful greeting cards.
What a lovely picture *sigh* Its still freezing cold in Michigan but can’t wait for spring weather and the colors *heart eyes*
In reality though, my picture will also include 2 boys hanging around right next to me ..or at least calling out to me every ten minutes ..and please someone take away my phone so I don’t get distracted aand sucked into tiktoks and reels ,lol!!
Looking forward to all spring/summer reading recommendations <3
Right here with you in freezing cold Michigan, waiting for spring to arrive in earnest. Might make a fire when I get home. Hang in there!
I strongly disliked Where’d You Go, Bernadette? so take my recommendations as you will.
I’m currently reading The Book of Lost Things, which has really drawn me in. Recently enjoyed novels include:
Three Bags Full (set in Ireland, even! haha)
North and South
Psyche and Eros
The Girl in His Shadow / The Surgeon’s Daughter
The Mercy Thompson / Alpha & Omega series (adventure not steamy, as the covers suggest)
I did not like Where’d You Go, Bernadette? either (and Lessons in Chemistry, Remarkably Bright Creatures, or anything by Fredrik Backman… I sometimes wonder if there’s something wrong with me when I dislike another 5-star bestselling novel, lol), so I am willing to try these, Peach!
Olga! You just named every book that was strongly recommended to me in the last year and which I hated! You are not alone!
We should send each other our book recs… I’ll start with Birnam wood!
Fingers crossed, Olga!
My reading life dramatically improved when I stopped reading (nearly all) best sellers and instead figured out how to pick out what *I* enjoy reading instead of what the major publishers wanted to sell me. Good Reads was a big help, since I could find people who liked the same books I liked and then see what else they liked (or didn’t like!) Librarians are excellent resources, too. Many have a service where you can submit a web form etc with books you liked and they’ll send you similar suggestions!
The Rachel incident is a new release and Irish! I really enjoyed it!
I did too! Captured the feel and nostalgia of the mid 2000s college years, and kept me engaged through the unexpected ending.
I just read The Rachel Incident and loved it also. Just read Claire Keegan’s So Late in the Day and all of her books actually. Lucky you, EAGERFORSUMMER to have your boys around :) Fleeting !!!!
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