Cindy’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2009)

Cindy’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

23, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I will read more by this author, a light fun read.

22. Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
Another look at our friends on Blossom Street. Right after I finished this - I got to meet Debbie Macomber at the Book Expo in NY and received a signed copy . I'm looking forward to the next installment of these friends on Blossom Street.

21. About Face by Donna Leon
Another Brunetti novel and good as always. I love Donna Leon's work and this character.

20. Serendipity by Louise Shaffer
This is my favorite Louise Shaffer book to date. I loved how her main character Carrie Manning uncovers the family she had not known and comes to understand herself better in the process. I found the New Haven setting interesting particularly since I have family that came from the Italian-American community there too.

19. Not Becoming My Mother: and Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way (Hardcover)
by Ruth Reichl

I expected this to be another humorous collection of Mim tales from Reichl, which I have loved in the past and was surprised by this thoughtful and serious look at the life of her mother Miriam. I think many women who grew up prior to the women's lib movement would appreciate this short book.

18.Grave Goods (Mistress of the Art of Death, Book 3)
by Ariana Franklin

This is my first book by Ariana Franklin, and I loved it. I would recommend it for any fans of the Brother Cadfael series.

17. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
I hadn't read anything by this author and this was recommended as a similar piece to Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I didn't see the similarlity, but enjoyed it never the less.

16.The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club
by Gil McNeil
For those who like Sophie Kinsella, or the Friday Night Knitting Club, or even the Debbie Macomber Blossom Street books - you will love this. Although not much knitting discussion in terms of projects, the characters are delightful. I particularly liked the children so cute.

15 The Reason for Crows: A Story of Kateri Tekakwitha
by Diane Glancy
We have a local church here named Blessed Kateri - I wanted to learn more about this woman, but this book was not very helpful. A fictional diary of sorts of Kateri and the French missionary priests.

14 Still Life by Louise Penny
I'm always looking for a new mystery writer and hit the jackpot with this one. I'll definitely followup with the other Inspector Gamache stories she has written. An interesting set of characters set in a small village in Quebec.

13. Alice B Toklas Cookbook
I loved the description of travel between recipes and who made each of the interesting foods included in this book. Alice Toklas and her friend Gertrude Stein certainly shared an interesting life, and a love for good food. I wish I'd read this before I travelled in the South of France, it would have served as a roadmap for some interesting trips.
The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook

12. Sara and Eleanor by Jan Pottker
Living in the Hudson Valley I've always been aware of the Roosevelt influence and admired all that Eleanor did. This book gave me a different perspective on her and her relationship with her mother-in-law. It has inspired me to do more reading on Sara and to research some of the other Roosevelt and Delano homes in my region.

11. Payback by Margaret Atwood
A departure from her great fiction, this book is a look at the nature of debt in history, in religious context and in literature. Very interesting and I agree with her conclusion of our debt to nature that is coming due.

10. Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline
Another quick and easy read.

9. Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo
What a great book, a little long but really worth the time.

8. Knit Two by Kate Jacobs
I love her work, I feel like I know these women. I recognize my knitting buddies in her work.

Deb wrote: "Hi Cindy - Great Start! What did you think of a Song yet Sung? I have it on my to read o

I thought it was interesting- particularly the idea of the importance of one life and all the connections and implications on history.

7. Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scot

6. Made from Scratch by Jenna Woginrich

5. Devils Corner by Lisa Scottoline