21 Comments

Ideally, this would be three covers, which I have and can send if you tell me how. All great library reads in 2021: Writers and Lovers by Lily King; A Single Thread by Tracey Chavelier and The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain. Three authors, three countries.

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Miracle Country by Kendra Attleework, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, California Apricots by Robin Chapman

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Nov 27, 2021Liked by Elizabeth Marro

Not about books, but: Happy post-Thanksgiving, Betsy. This is a really good Spark and I'm still enjoying it. But you know me: I can get stuck on a phrase like "friends and relatives eaten twice," and be there for an hour, chuckling and, yes, revising---even though the reminiscence of past Thanksgiving meals is much less fun that way.

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Nov 27, 2021Liked by Elizabeth Marro

I very much enjoyed reading about your preparation of a holiday meal. It was beautiful and instructive. Three of many favorite books of 2021: A Swim in a Pond in The Rain by George Saunders; Bewilderment by Richard Powers; and for sheer page-turning pleasure, Michael Connelly’s newest, The Dark Hours. I want to add a fourth, and that is Nathaniel

Hawthorne’s The House if the Seven Gables. I underline every other sentence for its wisdom, relevance, interest in decency and justice, hilarity, passion and/or beauty. Thanks for the opportunity.

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I loved the reflection of holidays in the past and your 2 person holiday sounded wonderful. I haven't read anything this year that was "fantastic" which is unusual as this category usually has 3-4 books in it. I've read several good books and from that list I'll pull my 5+1:

The Book of Lost Names, Kristin Harmel

Surviving Savannah, Patti Callahan

The Venice Sketchbook, Rhys Bowen

The Lions of Fifth Avenue, Fiona Davis

The Last Ship Home, Heather Webb

We Are Not Like Them, Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

All but the last one are Historical Fiction, and The Last Ship Home is an ARC coming out in February 2022.

I'd love to know what others have read also. My TBR always needs more books. :)

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Loved this blog, Betsy and this invitation to share book titles. Mine are: The Liar's Dictionary, by Eley Williams; One Long River of Song, by Brian Doyle, which I savored every morning...just a single essay or poem: delicious; Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell; and Things That Are, by Amy Leach (such delightful word play while writing about, well, things that are). I look forward to your round-up of books read/to be read. Thanks.

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My five are: At The End of the Matinee, by Keiichiro Hirano; The Fortunicity of Birdie Dalal by Claire Duende; Humankind: A Hopeful History; Frosted Glass by Michael J Vaughn; Her Own Vietnam (thank you!).

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Nov 27, 2021Liked by Elizabeth Marro

Books that stuck with me so far this year: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Severance by Ling Ma, Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden, and Reasonable People by Kate Kasten. I'm on track to read 50 books or more by year's end.

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Dec 4, 2021Liked by Elizabeth Marro

Books I loved this year - My grandmother told me to tel you she’s sorry and Overstory. Apparently my parents couldn’t agree on my name at both and I was named Susan Beth. When I was 2 whoever won the battle must have lost their power as thaws has it legally changed to Susan Beth. My Christmas stocking has Susan knit into it and has Beth embroidered over it. They both are gone more to ask more questions but my mom once told me they each called me by the name they wanted. Identify problems?

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Nov 27, 2021Liked by Elizabeth Marro

Never Too Late: From Wannabe To Wife at 62 by B. Lynn Goodwin Talent by the same author.

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The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant, Neglect by Kim Wozencraft, When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash

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My first comment got lost in outer space! But a few of the books I loved this past year or so: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Matrix by Lauren Groff and Deacon King Kong by James McBride ( although to really appreciate “Deacon” you may have to be a New York City girl like me.Bobbie

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