Are You a Bookworm?

I should have spent this pandemic year learning a second  language. Monty assures me sarcasm should not be considered my second language. I might have learned to play the fiddle, actually I kind of had my heart set on a ukulele, but alas my birthday, Christmas and Valentines Day passed without one appearing on the door step.  

I take that to mean although Monty loves me he is keenly aware of my lack of musical talent.  When we were dating he mentioned that I must have learned to sing before they invented ’tunes’.  I was shocked! I’ve never let the lack of ability to sing on key or even along with the melody stop me from belting out a song along with the radio.  (OK, only in the car by myself).  

Music was one of the required subjects in junior high, I loved the class and the teacher never made me sit in the back and just mouth the words so I thought I could sing.  My lack of ability might have lost me the chance to run off with John Deutschendorf the guy who sat next to me.  When John grew up he changed Deutschendorf to Denver moved to Colorado and sang about Rocky Mountain Highs.  I always wondered if he had fond memories of that little blonde girl who sat next to him.   

So, while I wasn’t learning a language or practicing scales, I fell comfortably into the habit of spending a couple of hours a day reading.  I’ve always loved to read but never had this much unencumbered  time to enjoy it.  

When we first retired we visited our nearby library, gazed at all the books and declared we wanted to read them all.  I’ve discovered that might be impossible but I’m gonna give it my best shot.  

This past year as been somewhat of a challenge with libraries closed to browsing but open for Reserve pick ups sometimes and then completely closed at other times.  Monty and I have both utilized more e-books this year than previously.  I prefer to have a real book in my hand but the e-books have worked out just fine.  It  is so convent to simply browse the available books on line and with one click you can start reading.  No need to change clothes and jump in the car.  

I want to give a shout out (when did that become a popular expression?)  to my book buddies who share my love of a good story.  These folks have never failed to let me know what they are reading and if they discovered a new author.  I love these friends for sharing. Thank you.  

Here are books I’ve loved over the last few months. There were many others that I enjoyed but this is a Best Loved list.  At the moment my favorite is ‘Anxious People,’ I absolutely fell in love with Fredrick Backman’s latest book.  How he could weave such charming characters into a heart warming tale amazes me.   This is one book I hated to see end.  I loved the zany people this Swedish author created.   Otherwise the list is in no particular order.   

Anxious People by Fredrick Backman 

The Searchers  by Tana French

The NightWatchman – by Louise Erdrich 

This Tender Land by William Kent Frueger

The Hollows by Jess Montogomery

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon 

The Woman in Cabin Ten by Ruth Ware

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennet 

The Racketeer by John Grishman  

Take Me With You by Catherine Hyde  

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty 

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

Next Year in Havana – Chanel Cleeton

Last Train to the Florida Keys – Chanel Cleeton

As Close To Us As Breathing by Elizabeth Poliner

 You know I can’t  offer a brief description of each book because I’m not able to write briefly about anything .  Google knows everything and he will surely know a bit about each author or book.  Personally I use my library site, it is perfect for that purpose. 

I will hint that Woman in Cabin Ten and The Silent Patient are both suspense.  There might be a murder or two but no gruesome serial killers. The three by Chanel Cleeton offer a glimpse into life in Cuba and some Cuban history.   

PS.   John Denver really was in my music class (would I lie about such a thing?) his dad was stationed at Davis Monthan Air  Force base.