I thoroughly enjoyed Leanne Morgan’s memoir, What in the World?! I have read several memoirs over the last few years written by women who have succeeded, achieved, and overcome whatever life threw at them. Among my favorites are Cher, Ina Garten, Belle Burden, Jennifer Lauck, Jeannette Walls, and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. I now add Leanne…
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What I’m Reading: The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
I’ve recently finished reading The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, and I must say that I liked it more than I thought I would. Not for any reason other than the title sounded like so many other stories: The Stationery Shop, The Little Paris Bookshop, The Bookshop, The Last Bookshop in London. I guess I…
Summer Reading: Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
It’s that time of year…lazy days of reading, drawing, bike riding, fishing, or whatever kids want to do. Parents looking for a book to engage their young readers will be happy with Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. Set in Manhattan, the mystery around a painting unfolds as young Theodora tries to figure out…
On Writing: Why Short Pieces Help in the Long Term
As writers, we are often advised to write daily, same time, same place, and to meet our daily word count. Showing up on a “bad” day and still getting words down separates the true writers from the imposters. I beg to differ. Yes, daily writing matters and helps, as does daily reading, and walking. But…
On My Bookshelf: The New American Diner Cookbook by Julissa Hernandez Roberts
I love promoting books written by friends, and this week’s blog post is about a cookbook that is exactly that. A long-time friend, Juli, has written The New American Diner Cookbook, The classic American diner is an institution unique to the Northeast, especially New Jersey (I may be a little biased). Growing up in the…
What I’m Reading: The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz
I like to read more than one book at a time, and reading books in different genre is a good way to avoid confusing characters or plot lines. A novel paired with a non-fiction book works out quite nicely. To prepare for an up-coming trip to Europe, I have recently read The Sweet Life in…
Independent Reading: Halfway to Harmony by Barbara O’Connor
Barbara O’Connor is one of my favorite contemporary middle-grade authors. Her stories focus on relatable, likable characters who work together to achieve a goal, and there is often an animal involved. What’s not to love about that? In Halfway to Harmony, grief-stricken Walter Tipple, his new neighbor, Posey, and her rescue dog, Porkchop, discover a…
What I’m Reading: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My first novel of the New Year (it’s only the 21st, so still “new”) is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I am a fan of Reid – Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones and the Six are my top favorites, plus Evelyn Hugo and Carrie Soto are right behind those. I liked Atmosphere, but admittedly not…
A Classic [not] to Consider: Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Classic to Consider, Care Givers, On My Bookshelf, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
I wish I could say otherwise, but after spending months trying to get through Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, I can only say, unless you are determined to read it, choose something else. Each year I incorporate a few classics among my reading selections. I approach each as a work of art, rather than as a…
What I’m Reading: Perfect by Rachel Joyce
Rachel Joyce is a British writer of contemporary fiction. Her characters have such depth of feeling they seem real, as if they are in the room with you. The details she employs to show their moods and thoughts add to the story in a subtle yet impactful way. In Perfect, young Byron watches his beautiful…