Chaletmomma

Over the last few months I’ve enjoyed the following:

this is the story of a happy marriage.jpeg

Mary Poppins Comes Back: P.L. Travers - My opinion that Mary is not a soft touch has not changed… but, I enjoyed this story when she returned to the Banks children and 17 Cherry Tree Lane.

Brava Valentine: Andrianna Trigiani - I thoroughly enjoyed this story of the cautious Valentine Roncalli, her family and her family business the Angelini Shoe Company. I am a big fan of this author I loved The Shoemakers Wife. She has a large library of titles. I have a few on my To Be Read list - including: Kiss Carlo and Lucia Lucia.

The Good House: Ann Leary - What can I say… something I loved about this book I learned when I was finished reading it…. which is Ann Leary intended the book to go in another direction and the main character Hilde was not supposed to be the main character - But, Hilde took over the story because she’s quite a character… she likes her wine too much….

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: Margareta Magnusson - It’s a sweet book - it takes you through Mrs. Magnusson’s thoughts on keeping and letting go… This is not Marie Kondo - this is a very practical woman advising you to ask if anyone wants something and if they don’t - just get rid of it!

Every Last One: Anna Quindlen - This is a gripping novel… it went in a direction I never expected but, I was committed to seeing where it went and it left me better for having read it.

Joan Didion:Netflix Bio Pic The Center Will Not Hold.- I chose to watch this documentary of Ms Didion although I have yet to read her. I enjoyed learning about her life as her nephew Griffin Dunne interviewed her. She is a prolific author and I have added The Year of Magical Thinking to my reading list.

Gossip: Beth Gutcheon - I loved listening to Loviah French share the details of her life and her dearest friends since boarding school days (she was there on Scholarship). Now, as the proprietress of a high-end dress shop on Manhattan’s Upper East Side - she sees and knows all!

Pachinko: Min Jin Lee - This is the moving story of one Korean family through several generations - beginning in Korea in the early 1900’s and following them to Japan. Sunja is the lovely daughter who makes a hard choice and ends up in another country in exile. Her family endures much as foreigners in their new land.

I was fortunate to attend The Friends of the Ridgewood Library 30th Annual Author Luncheon featuring Min Jin Lee on April 3rd. What a wonderful event and Miss Jin Lee was an exuberant and entertaining speaker. If you are local to Northern NJ I recommend getting on the mailing list. It was truly wonderful

If you are unfamiliar with this book and this author I can’t recommend it enough - and also I would recommend a book I read last year: White Chrysanthemum: Mary Lynn Bracht- I was unfamiliar with the history of Japans invasion of Korea and of girls kidnapped from their families This story is gripping and hit home with me as a sister and a woman. Hard to put down.

This Is The Story Of A Happy Marriage: Ann Patchet - shares her life from childhood to the current day. I listened to this book through Hoopla and to Ms. Patchet reading it… It makes it all the better when the author reads their own words. I previously read Commonwealth and this book still pops into my brain.

Victoria on Masterpiece: Now, that Victoria on Masterpiece is over for the season…

I started watching quite a bit of You Tube. I love Fake or Fortune the fabulous BBC show that marries art and detective work - is that art on the wall a priceless Renoir or simply a good fake??? Oh and the art friends.. its all so beautiful!

But lets talk about my newest love! I am OBSESSED by all things Quintessence - Stacey Bewkes wonderful creation the Lifestyle Blog, the IG feed and The YouTube At Home Series hosted by Susanna Salk - offering access to the most magnificent designers and tastemakers in their homes around the globe - while Stacey films the beauty and conversation.

I have a way too long To Be Read list that currently numbers 98 titles - and growing daily! It includes Jane Erye, Crazy Rich Asians, the Poisonwood Bible - just to name a few.

I read fiction but, will read a biography - What Remains. I especially love historical fiction… give me New York City around 1900 and I’m there… The Angel of Darkness, The Waterworks but, I’ll share an in-depth list of recommended titles before summer starts - #bookjunkie

Til next time friends!

Hi Friends as we all gear up for Thanksgiving this week I’m sharing my annual installment of Thankful for the Written Word. Last year I wrote about Books I was thankful were in my permanent collection. This year I’m sharing titles I was fortunate to enjoy in 2018.

This is a building which holds a special place in my heart. I grew up visiting the Library weekly with my mother. Rita was a avid reader and would read multiple titles a week. If my mother wasn’t doing laundry or cooking - you found her reading.

I volunteer and am treasurer of the Libraries Friend Group - we work to defray costs and purchase materials that are not in the Municipal budget. A library is the cornerstone of any community. I sincerly hope you have a library card.

I have a basket under my desk filled with books I want to read - lent to me predominantly by my sister - in addition I’m borrowing from the library and if anyone sees me with my earbuds in - I can pretty much guarantee I’m listening to a book through the app Hoopla.

So let’s get down to the list: all titles are linked to Goodreads.

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train: What might happen if the Queen wandered off for a day.
Secrets of a Charmed Life: Makes you think about history on a personal level. Hard to put down
Commonwealth: Stirs caring for these souls in a profound way. Hard to put down
️Stars over Sunset Boulevard: A not always friendly look at friendship.
️Brain on Fire: A riveting true medical mystery. Hard to put down
What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love: She lost her best friends and husband within weeks of each other. Hard to put down
️Daughter of Empire: Enjoyable memoir of Pamela Mountbatten Hicks childhood growing up in England and India.
The Little Book of Hygge: I always thought we lived Hygge in the Chalet and we do!
️A Man Called Ove: He pulls you in just as he is pulled in by those around him. Hard to put down.
The Paris Secret: A hunt for the truth about priceless Art.
Library at the Edge of the World: I felt myself rooting for Hanna to claim her place.
The Hidden Kennedy Daughter: Without this tragedy the Special Olympics would not exist.
️Killing Monica: I have always been a Candace Bushnell fan. This book did not disappoint.
White Chrysanthemum: I was unfamiliar with the history of Japans invasion of Korea and of girls stolen from their families. This story is gripping and hit home with me as a sister and a woman. Hard to put down.
Lady Fortescue Steps Out/ Miss Tonks Turns to Crime/ Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace/ Sir Phillip’s Folly/ Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue/ Back in Society: These six titles are The Poor Relations Series A delightful series of books taking place during Regency Era London (1811–1820 ) I equally enjoyed listening to the British accents and their escapades.
Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt This is an all encompassing history of the Vanderbilt family: I found very interesting.
The Glitter and the Gold - Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan: After reading Fortune’s Children it was interesting to hear directly from a daughter of privilege.
️What Alice Forgot: What would you do if you woke up and had lost ten years of your life?
️Every Crooked Nanny: Detective book with a softer edge.
️Revenge Wears Prada: hum…. I found myself thinking “What happened to Andy Sachs???”
️The Shoemakers Wife: I can’t express how much I enjoyed these characters. I listened to this on Hoopla and was really sad when it was over. (I was sad when I finished The Perfume Collector and Rare Objects last year too.) All three are Hard to put down.
️Benjamin Franklin Autobiography: I enjoyed hearing his take on himself - I also watched the History Channel’s documentary to fill in missing details and learn more.
Capital Gains: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff: Chip Gaines is a very motivating personality. This book should be shared. So enjoyable.
Mary Poppins: What I know - is Mary does not suffer fools gladly; at times she’s a bit callous and Mr. Disney definitely softened her. It’s an interesting read - that’s for sure!
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune: A fascinating story of the reclusive heiress - daughter of copper magnate W. A. Clark, she owned mansions she never set foot in. It’s a mystery that I’m still reading!