I’ve just finished reading Ann Patchett’s memoir, Truth & Beauty [a friendship]. Patchett shares the evolution of her friendship with author Lucy Grealy. Meeting in college with aspirations of publication, both women had much in common, but it’s their differences that tell the story. When a child, Grealy had cancer and extensive chemo and radiation…
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Cookbook Signing with Gina Homolka
Last night I got to meet the author of a series of cookbooks who has made my life easier and tastier since I discovered her during the Covid lockdown. Gina Homolka is the author of seven cookbooks, most recently of Skinnytaste Simple. Not only do her recipes taste good, they are easy to make, add…
August Reads (a little late)
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, Monthly Reads, Summer Reading, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
Still catching up from a fast-ending summer…In August I read two middle-grade novels and two adult novels. Ashes to Asheville by Sarah Dooley is a book I picked off the shelf at a bookshop/toy store in Waynesville, North Carolina, while on vacation, and I’m so glad I did. The story takes place in about 24…
Summer Reading: Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
Caregivers and teachers, if you are searching for a middle-grade novel for your student’s summer work or for your bookshelf, Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk is a must read. Ellie and her family have moved to the woods of Maine and her father suffers an accident that leaves him in a coma for months. As…
July Reads
Not a huge pile for July. Kate Morton’s The Lake House is a hefty read with a cast of about forty people across three generations – a lot to keep track of. It’s a great story, especially if you like to get lost in a mystery full of dark family secrets, crimes, and hidden identities.…
Summer Reading
How to Catch a Polar Bear by Stacy Dekeyser Caregivers, if your child is looking for a fun, neighborhood, family adventure, Stacy Dekeyser’s How to Catch a Polar Bear is the perfect choice for that summer reading assignment or long road trip. Mishaps abound as Nicky and his two pals, Ace and Penny, try to…
Summer Reading
Looking for an adventurous, animal-centered story for your summer reading project? Look no further than Dave Eggers’ The Eyes & the Impossible. My library has this beautiful edition with front and back covers made of wood. The illustrations are gorgeous. This book is a pleasure to behold, and to read. Johannes, a stray dog, is…
Monthly Reads: June
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, Monthly Reads, What I'm Reading, WritingLeave a Reply
This month I’ve read two fiction books, and one non-fiction book on the craft of writing. Anne of Green Gables is a children’s classic that I just read for the first time. It is interesting to see how the craft of writing and publishing standards have evolved over the years. Hang the Moon was about…
May Reads
Three books for the month of May: Fredrik Backman’s The Winners; Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ruby; and Rebecca Serle’s One Italian Summer. Serle was a new author for me and I enjoyed this story set on the Amalfi Coast – what’s not to like about that? TOaO Ruby is the third in a…
On My Bookshelf: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Monthly Reads, On My Bookshelf, Teacher InspirationLeave a Reply
Recently, I was reminded of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, one of the first books I read for eighth grade English in grammar school. This picture is the exact one I read in eighth grade – my name and homeroom, “8A,” are written on the inside cover. I remember following Jonathan’s journey to get…
