Currently Reading
It’s the last Friday of the month and that means it’s time to share what I’m currently reading.
Best Adult Fiction
Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Wow. This book was a committment due to its length, but I love family saga stories when generations of characters’ threads finally come together in the end. And let me say that the end of the book, gutted me. But it was worth it. I think I love Cutting for Stone more, but this is an amazing book and I’m so thankful I read it. This is the April selection for the Once-in-a-While Book Club and I can’t wait for our upcoming discussion.
Best Middle-Grade Nonfiction
Chinese Menu by Grace Lin. Some of you may be familiar with the author who also wrote Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. In this book, Lin takes all the items on a Chinese menu and writes the history and folklore of the dish. This also reads like a family food memoir mixed with illustrations of an amazing picture book. I originally checked this out from the library, but now I own a copy and I will be gifting it to family this Christmas. I love it that much!
Best Substack Newsletter
Dandilion Seeds is an absolutely gorgeous Substack with hand-lettered and hand-painted essays by Candace Rose Rardon. She writes, “Like wishing on a dandelion, I hope it’ll bring a moment of beauty and wonder to your day.” Check it out.
Best Reference Book With an Artsy Twist
The Elements of Style (illustrated) by Strunk, White, and Kalman. This is an illustrated version of the classic writer’s handbook created by artist Maira Kalman. Fun fact: White is E.B. White who also wrote Charlotte’s Web.
Currently at the Top of My To Be Read List
Family Family by Laurie Frankel.
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Book 1) by Trenton Lee Stewart (middle-grade series).
The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day (middle grade nonfiction).
Lorrie’s Little Free Library
For readers living in Palos Verdes, here are the books that will magically appear in my Little Free Library tomorrow morning! Subscribers get to grab them first! Happy reading.
Middle-Grade Fiction
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (Book 1 in The Underland Chronicles).
Gregor and the Prophecy of the Bane by Suzanne Collins (Book 2 in The Underland Chronicles).
Adult Fiction, Paperback
The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton.
Adult Fiction, Hardback
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
Adult Memoir, Paperback
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey.
Our library is conveniently located on BASSWOOD AVENUE between Silver Spur Elementary and Peninsula High School.