Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Reading list #5 for 2022 it was time well spent.

Looking forward to more books, using yards and yards of fabric from the stash first order of business is to straighten up the stash. And knitting some of the yarn stash as well. I’m so glad there are libraries and kindles so I don’t have an overwhelming stash of books…….the library keeps them so well organized.

Happy new year

1. The Mill Girls of Albion Lane by Jenny Holmes takes place in England in 1930’s woolen mills. I found it interesting because I toured the Faribault woolen mill in Faribault, Minnesota almost 3 years ago. The story finally picked up the last 3rd of the book when a crime happens and the mill girls start asking questions because the police are not.
2. A Drop in the Ocean by Jenni Ogden a 49 year old introverted medical researcher looses her research grant. What to do with her life? She makes the commitment to live on an island off the coast of Australia overseeing a campground for a year. Life on a small island agrees with her, she becomes friends with the locals and comes to peace with her past. Very good I will be looking for more books by this author.
3. Hutchins Creek Cache by Deborah Garner a New York journalist goes to Colorado to write an old west story about railroads and trains and gets in the middle of a century old theft of gold coins from the Denver mint. Just for fun.
4. Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone Diana Gabaldon final book of the Outlander series very long I learned more about how battles were fought during the Revolutionary War than a person really needs to know.
5. Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger takes place in the arrowhead of Minnesota up there in the north east point. Murder mystery defeated former sheriff is asked to help find a missing Native American boy in the process he uncovers a county full of corruption. Much like C.J. Box Joe Pickett series except it takes place in Minnesota.
6. The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis takes place in 1919 and 1966 in New York City. About a young woman who posed for sculptures in NYC then becomes a private secretary to Helen Frick heir to the Frick fortune and art library. The 1966 story is about a model being photographed at the Frick museum she has some artistic disagreements with the photographer and ends up being snowbound at the museum with a young intern. Together they unravel some mysteries from 1919.
7. The Bitterroots by C.J. Box book 5 of the Cassie Dewell series.
8. Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles contemporary story set on the English coast a young woman dealing with the death of her mother and learning family secrets. Light reading.
9. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny book #5 of series.
10. Treasure State by C.J. Box book 6 of the Cassie Dewell series.
11. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes for book club as good the second time I had forgotten most of the characters and plot. I read it almost 2 years ago no wonder I forgot so much.
12. Murder in the Manor by Fiona Grace just for fun newly divorced New Yorker goes to the seaside town in England where she went on holiday as a child also the last time she saw her father. On impulse she leases a store and opens an antique store then she ends up in the middle of a murder mystery and a burglary.
13. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald for book club a Swedish girl goes to visit a pen pal in a small town in Iowa. The pen pal dies before she arrives, the residents make her feel welcome. Fun to read. I could see it as a fall hallmark movie.
14. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva fiction some factual how Charles Dickens came up with his Christmas Carol. To get in the spirit of the Christmas season. I started The Chimes a short book written by Charles Dickens. There were so many words and didn’t seem to be making progress with the story but I kept reading for a while. I gave up when I realized I was making mental notes of five letter words for Wordle.
15. Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger second book in the series.
16. Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger another thriller with lots of twists in northern Minnesota.
17. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah stories of Trevor Noah growing up in South Africa.
18. Foster by Claire Keegan a short book less than 100 pages about a little girl being cared for by relatives.
19. Ruby and Roland by Faith Sullivan 1910’s prior to WWI an orphan girl goes to live in Iowa then Minnesota. The characters were interesting, strong independent women, it was a nice short book just over 200 pages. I would have liked to know more about some of the characters and their lives. 
20. A Villa in Sicily  by Fiona Grace short book a woman veterinarian from Boston quits her job and goes to Sicily to restore a fixer-upper. First book of a series, I doubt I’ll read the series.
21. The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum  the transformation from revelry and over indulgence in the streets to our contemporary domestic celebration. Interesting but repetitious. A very thorough look at the socioeconomics and politics of the 1700’s, 1800’s and early 1900’s. It reminded me of something an art history professor said “art did not happen in a vacuum” art was influenced by everything happening around it.  Our Christmas traditions evolved out of the books that were written and stories published in magazines and newspapers, traditions brought by immigrants, abolition, newsy boys, children’s aid society, orphan trains, gift giving and receiving, charities, and reconstruction of the South. I never understood why the Christmas tree was kept as a surprise to the children many years ago……the decorations were the gifts to the children toys, candies, fruit and cookies. Presents were not wrapped and placed under the tree. I really wish I could ask my parents and grandparents how Christmas was celebrated when they were little.
22. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan a very short book set at Christmas time in Ireland in 1985 about the Catholic homes for unwed girls.

Wow I have read a lot of books in 2022 some have been wonderful and others not so much. I will continue reading the William Kent Krueger and Louise Penny books.  It looks like it’s going to be a long snowy cold winter here on the prairie good thing I like to read…quilt….knit and read some more. Ann