The arm is much worse today than yesterday, so no needles or treatment for me until Monday. So that means I will behave carefully and watch fluid and food, ice and elevate, and rest and breathe for the foreseeable future. My pajamas and I are both freshly laundered and my hairs smells of some new leave-in conditioner concoction that was a free gift with a shampoo purchase a billion years ago. It smells like clean cotton. Remember when that was a thing?
My JB Magoo is pacing and chattering like a circus monkey about politics and the covid virus, which means he is worrying about me but doesn't want to say. I find it endearing and am very grateful to have him fretting over me, which makes me feel awful that I am such a freakin mess all the time.
No plans for the weekend, except to change the bed, launder the towels, take down the Christmas decorations (yes...I play on THAT team), try to sort WiPs, clean up the dining room/snack table, do a mani/pedi, and fuss about in Erin. If the weather cooperates, I'd like to try a walk or two, and if it doesn't, maybe I could find some kind of fat girl yoga video on the TeeVee. I'd also like to clean out and re-organize the fridge, freezer, and pantry, plan a menu for next week and find a few Ina recipes to make, finish the book I'm reading, start another, cure cancer, get a new kidney, and for once and for all solve world peace.
(That last bit was to see if you're still paying attention.)
Seriously...no plans but to rest and get this arm back together. I won't have the option to miss Monday, so getting the pain and swelling down is my only priority.
I hope that your weekend is peaceful and lovely, Dearies. Before I bid you adieu, I have a question for all of you readers out there. What is your favorite book about books, bookstores, or reading? I have been watching 84 Charing Cross Road on a loop, and just finished Helene Hanff's Q's Legacy, and am detecting a theme for the new year. Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore got me started, and now I'm reading Confessions of a Curious Bookseller, but after that I'm afraid it will be back to The Starless Sea.
Any suggestions?
If you like a mystery: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
ReplyDeleteDepends on whether you're looking for a romance, a mystery, a historical fiction... I loved the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series starting with Shadow of the Wind - good mystery etc. Elegance of the Hedgehog, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Thirteen Tale, The Book Thief, People of the Book, Reading Lolita in Tehran - all good. I LOVE Goodreads.com and have been a member for years. Check out this list: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/books-about-books
ReplyDeleteIf you like 84 Charing Cross Road then the Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is her follow-up, about her "pilgrimage" to London. I was captivated when I stumbled on it by accident (MANY years ago!)
ReplyDeleteI would second Nancy B's recommendations of Elegance of the Hedgehog, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (the movie is good too), and The Book Thief.
ReplyDeleteMystery series about the Scottish bookshop.
ReplyDeleteIf you like non-fiction, Nicholas A. Basbanes writes some great books about books. Also Allison Hoover Bartlett's "The Man Who Loved Books Too much" about a book thief - also non-fiction. Helene Hanff is wonderful! Fiction-wise, I enjoyed The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy and The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George.
ReplyDeleteThe Name of The Rose by Umberto Eco springs to mind. Historical murder mystery where a labyrinthine library and a mysterious missing book play a central part in the plot.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed “The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry” and “The Midnight Library”. Hope you feel better each day.
ReplyDeleteThe Library Book, by Susan Orlean. It takes a real incident (the burning of the Library of Los Angeles) and through this, it tells the story of librarians, of books and of booklovers. I do not think I have read any more bookish-book than this (and believe me, I have read a lot). What also fascinated me is that it is neither fiction, nor reportage. I can not find a name for what genre it is, except it is book-loving.
ReplyDeleteThe Book Thief
ReplyDeleteThe bookshop on the corner by Jenny Colgan. A happy book.
ReplyDeletePrayers,
Rose
Being a librarian (a medical librarian) I love these comments! Some of the posted books I've read, others not. Great to add to my TBR list. I just downloaded to my Kindle a book on books that were sent to soldiers during WWII. Additionally I love Rumer Godden's book China Court. Not exactly about books per se, rather about how books save an old family country house in England.its dated...written in 1960...but no one can weave a story like Rumer Godden...
ReplyDeleteSending you healthy thoughts, good mojo & prayers...luv, MaryO
I'm usually not much on fiction, but I really enjoyed The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katrina Bivald. I also love Rumer Godden, esp. In This House of Brede. For something completely different, you and your Jersey Boy might get a kick out of History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage. It's great fun finding out one of the first words ever written was "beer."
ReplyDeleteThere is a fun cozy mystery series by Jenn McKinley about a small town librarian in Connecticut. I found them all for my Kindle from my local library. The first title is “Books Can be Deceiving.” She also has several other series I have enjoyed. Fast reads.
ReplyDeleteAlso Jenny Colgan has a three book series about a mobile bookshop, the first one is “The Bookshop on the Corner.”
Oh forgot Susan Wiggs “ The Lost and Found Bookshop”
ReplyDeleteI always liked fiction of the silly kind (Terry Pratchett), or sci-fi, until Barbara Brackman (quilting genius) posted about diaries written by ladies during the American Civil War. I very much enjoyed The Story of Aunt Becky's Army Life - by Sarah A Palmer. Gives an amazing insight to the history. I have more diaries from other Civil War ladies that I'm about to read - when I'm not consulting the vegetable oracles!
ReplyDeleteNo it would be lovely to hibernate until spring! Poor JB. I know how he feels - it's just everything upside down - up to us girls to turn it back round the right way by being as normal as we can to diffuse - and bring about world peace! LOL! I no longer read the news but jump to the letters for entertainment, but even that has started me getting like Mr JB! So oohhhhmmmmm in Lotus position as near as possible without the agony! I do hope your poor arm is better by Monday, I'm sure it will be tickety boo by then.
Connie, go to Amazon so you can read book descriptions. I recommend Krista Davis Pen & Ink series, which also comes with a page you can print and color. On a different venue, also look at her Paws & Claws books. You will absolutely love her little dog sidekick. Both of these series are cozy mysteries... not gory at all. Take care and I hope Buzzy behaves!
ReplyDeleteLike Needlenut10, I love the Pen and Ink books. If you like “Cozy” mystery’s the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delaney is very good
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading Ann Hood's The Book That Matters Most. Without giving it away...how the members of a book club are all connected by books and a bookstore. And dont forget The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiano Davis...just started it but it's a goodie...multi-generational story with the New York City Library as the connecting thread. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI would recommend "The Bookshop of yesterdays" Really enjoyable for me. I finally finished THe Starless Sea. I'm not sure what the point was or anything. I almost gave up on it several times - not that it was so terrible but it was far too long and complicated and got to be really weird.
ReplyDeleteI have another recommendation. The Bookseller by Mark Pryor. I really enjoyed it. The author has a total of 9 book. I recently finished (in 2021) the next one in the series - The Crypt Thief. Also good reading. Whatever you find to read, let us know.
ReplyDeleteThe Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay was one I read last year that I thought was very good. Relax and rest this weekend, Coni! Thinking of you.
ReplyDeletemy new find from the library, the Call Me Ishmeal Phone Book. written in classic phone book style (ads and all) it lists books by subject and includes an "extension" to the main line to call in and hear real people comment on why it is their favorite book.
ReplyDeletejust plain fun !!
I loved Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore! It reminded me a lot of Ready Player One which is also a good book. As for books about books I haven't read it yet but I keep hearing about The Midnight Library and it sounds very interesting. It is definitely on my to read list. I hope you are doing a lot of resting and getting that arm better!
ReplyDelete