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Thursday, October 19, 2017

Breakfast With The Authors & Books on my Radar



Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you had a good week.  A couple of weeks ago, my friend Kathy and I attended another wonderful Buttonwood Breakfast with the Authors.  It took place in Cohasset, and this was our magnificent view.

What a great way to spend a few hours. 




Kathy the owner (middle) and her gracious staff make a habit of greeting every guest at the door.  It was a full house, as always.





Buttonwood Books & Toys had much to celebrate.  It was their 50th Breakfast With The Authors.  I've only been to 4 of them - I'm sorry that I missed the other 46!








When I first spotted Benjamin in the sea of lovely coiffed, middle-aged ladies, I assumed that he was someone's son.  You know what assume means, right?  Benjamin may look young, but he is an accomplished author.
  
A few years ago, Benjamin spotted a small article in his local North Carolina newspaper about a man who was being released from prison after twenty-four years.  The thing that caught Benjamin's eye was the fact that this gentleman was exonerated due to his innocence.  The author thought this would be a fascinating magazine story.  After meeting all the key characters and researching the case, Benjamin found himself with two integral stories and 48 pages of text. Thus, the book, Ghost of the Innocent Man was born.  

Considering the fact that I can't live without watching the TV shows 48 Hours and 20/20, this sounds right up my alley.

***** 





I was fortunate enough to sit at Lisa Duffy's table.  Lisa lives locally and runs a busy household consisting of one husband and three busy teenagers.  She also has three grown children that live in the area.




The Salt House is a beautiful story about the aftermath of a family that lived through a heartbreaking tragedy.  It chronicles each family member's way of handling their grief.  I wrote a review of the book here.

I mentioned to Lisa that the thing that I appreciated the most about the book was her portrayal of the multi-dimensional characters.  I did not want the book to end because I did not want to say goodbye to this family.  She told me that she felt the same way writing it.







Tova Mirvis is another local author who has written her first memoir.  The Book of Separation began as an article that was published by The New York Times.  It chronicles Tova's journey of leaving her marriage and her orthodox-Jewish faith. She told interesting stories of her children as well as herself adjusting to their new lives. 

*****    




As always, Buttonwood Books kept us all well fed as we listened to the authors speak.



Besides the great books, fabulous authors, and the stellar Buttonwood staff, the functions that are hosted attract the nicest people.  This is my new friend, Marie who introduced herself and a good friend of my Regis pals. 

Marie told me that she gave The Salt House to one of her friends with a note that she was taking her to the Breakfast.  She said that she is not giving gifts to her friends anymore - just experiences.  I thought that was a great idea.  I just may borrow a page from Marie's book.  





One last thing...
did I mention the view?

*****





I just finished listening to Beneath A Scarlet Sky and enjoyed it. I feel odd using the word "enjoy" in describing this epic tale based on a true story because it's not pretty.  It takes place in Italy during World War II and centers around a teenager who wants nothing to do with the Nazis and yet ends up working for Hitler's second-in-command.  There isn't a dull moment in this page-turner.  It is an inspiring story of love and resilience. 




The Mister and I listened to The Professor on one of our road trips.  We both enjoyed it very much and will probably listen to more of Robert Bailey's books.






I just started listening to The Good Widow.  It grabbed me within the first five minutes.  A young wife answers the door and is greeted by a police officer who breaks the sad news that her hubby was killed in a car accident in Hawaii.  Spoiler alert:  he told her he was in Kansas on business.

I'll be watching the Mister with very closely when he books his next business trip.




I'm still reading The Designer and like it very much.  It's got all the glamour of the design industry in Paris in the 1940's along with plenty of colorful characters.

 


The House by the River is described as a family saga covering the lives of a mother and her five adult daughters.  It's gotten very good reviews.




 
One of my book club friends read The Alice Network and highly recommended it.  If it's good enough for my buddy, it's good enough for me. 






I look forward to reading Winter Solstice because I am curious as to what happens to the lovable Quinn family.  I enjoyed the past three books in this series.  I like to read light books around the holidays and also enjoy giving them as gifts.  




You know I love a good suspense, and The Spinster Wife looks like it fits the bill.  The main character faces many fears and takes refuge in a remote cottage in Ireland.

In the old days, my Mother's biggest fear was that I was going to be a spinster. 





The Ghost Writer has received fabulous reviews.  It revolves around a popular romance author who writes her last book.  It's nonfiction, and it's her final confession.
I can hardly wait!!!




I've read several of Colleen Hoover's books, and I will most likely read this one.  Without Merit delves into a quirky, unorthodox family that lives in a repurposed church and is filled with secrets.  Colleen Hoover's  writing reminds me very much of Jodi Picoult's style.
   



A small town in Georgia faces tragedy when three high school cheerleaders are killed in a car crash.  When We Were Worthy tells the stories of the people and families involved as well as the aftermath in the community.  




Three law students figure out that the school that they are attending is not all it's cracked up to be.  It sounds like The Rooster Bar is John Grisham at his best. 

Have you read anything good lately?



Until next time...




Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

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20 comments:

  1. I love your book recommendations. Thank you so much. Have you read "Our Souls At Night"? I really liked it. So diffefent.

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  2. Missed you yesterday but so glad to get this in-depth book review list. You remind us to take time for ourselves to read. Haha...I would of thought Mr Cutie was someone's son too. What a great son to go to book event with his Mom is what I'd surmise. Checking out his book now.

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  3. Giving an experience? That's what I've started doing with the grandkids...it makes me nauseous how many toys they have...cannot buy another one. this way they all get to experience each one's birthday. It always involves an overnight stay in a hotel and they LOVE that!!!

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  4. It's posts like this that really make your blog shine! I especially love all the book recommendations!

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  5. So many good books! I will be adding several to my reading list. Thanks Katie!

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  6. As usual, I love your recommendations. I've added several to my library reserve list. The last two books I read were Secret Life of Violet Grant and Young Jane Young. I really enjoyed both! Have a good weekend!

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  7. Hi Katie, The "experience" gift seems to be a new thing and I am loving it too. My kids even do this with each other--a massage, a class, a day out somewhere, etc. So many books!! You've made them all sound exciting, especially the true confessions of the romance writer and the law students. I'm listening to a mystery now called The Secrets of Wishtide. It's very good but I'm halfway through and I still don't know why it has that title! See you soon!! Linda

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  8. Love the gift idea of experience. Speaking of, have a great weekend. Wish I was with you!

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  9. Great book recommendations. Have a wonderful weekend! Weather is supposed to be fabulous!

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  10. I need to bookmark your review posts because I know I would love some of these books. I'm pretty sure I have Beneath a Scarlet Sky on my Kindle. Will make sure I do. Thanks always!!

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  11. I will definitely keep these in mind for some winter reading. What a view. (oh, you thought I meant the water LOL ) xo Laura

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  12. When we were Worthy was so good. Look at you hob dobbing with these lovely authors. With your humorous and elegant writing prose, you could write your own book and I'd be one of the first in line to buy it! Happy weekending!

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  13. Just finished reading "The Ghost Writer"-loved it! Hope you read/listen to it and give your review.

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  14. Read THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX by Maggie O'Farrell. I think you will like it.

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  15. Who needs a book store when we have you? Wow I am impressed by how much you get around in the literary world! If there's one thing I miss now that I am working full time its reading. I really need to start making the time to try and read even if a few hours a week....there is nothing as great as finding a book that grabs you and getting lost in the story. Thank you for all the recommendations and I loved seeing your recap....fun!!

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  16. The Good Widow looks fantastic, thank you for the recommendation. Will stop by Buttonwood to pick it up. The photo of Kathy is great! Read Winter Solstice last week, I still love Margaret Quinn.

    annie g

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  17. Oh I love Tova Mirvis...Her book, Ladies Auxiliary about the Jewish community in Memphis TN is a favorite.

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  18. Katie, I keep forgetting to ask you if you are watching "The Collection" on PBS after Poldark. If not, try to find it somewhere online or amazon or something and catch up. Very good!

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  19. Thanks bunches for this wonderful list! Also, why have I never thought about giving a book to pals at Christmas. I just read The Book of Summer and know sever people on my list that would love it. Into their Christmas stocking it goes!

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