Playing Favorites (2017 Edition)

A new year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. —unknown

My New Year's resolutions were to blog more, eat less, and buy a new home. Twenty days in and I've yet to write a single post, I'm 0-for-feels-like-500 in house shopping, and my jeans will be the first to say the whole eating less thing ain't happening either. Time to hit the refresh button and this seems like the safest bet—seeing that I have a penchant for foods I shouldn't eat and homes that aren't actually for sale. I need a win, people. Speaking of winning, here are my top picks from 2017.

MY TOP THREE

Hillbilly Elegy should be required reading. One caveat: you've gotta have a stomach for some seriously salty language. Mamaw Vance has a mouth that could turn a sailor scarlet. Ah, but her love is as fierce as her tongue, and before you know it, you'll be her biggest fan. Hers is the saving kind of love. The kind this world needs a whole lot more of. 

Vance offers a no holds barred, unflinching look at his family and a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans—and "what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck." Because it's told from the inside, it never feels patronizing or heavy handed. As Vance reminds us, "there are no villains in this story. There’s just a ragtag band of hillbillies struggling to find their way—both for their sake and, by the grace of God, for mine.” 

Beneath a Scarlet Sky is a must-read. It's as simple as that. Read Tray's review of this winner here. Word has it we'll be seeing Tom Holland as Pino Lella on the big screen sometime soon. Sounds like a must-see to me.

2017 found me binge watching Stranger Things with Tray and binge listening to the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. Seriously. I. Can't. Stop. I'm in the middle of her 11th, yes, I said eleventh, novel, The Nature of the Beast, and this is the first one I haven't loved. I have a feeling it has more to do with this being the first novel not narrated by Ralph Cosham, the original and consummate Inspector Gamache, and less to do with the storyline. I feel as though my beloved Inspector died with dear Mr. Cosham. I'm sure the new narrator, Robert Bathurst, is a lovely man, but I'll be reading, rather than listening to, the next two books.

I foresee some serious Three PInes withdrawals when I finish, but thanks to a tip from one of our favorite readers, Marilyn Brinton, I've now discovered Louise Penny's blog and can continue to feed my obsession there. You're the best, Marilyn. As are all of you, dear readers. Thanks for sharing the book love. Here's to a new year with new reads and more blog posts!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The One-in-a-Million Boy

Posted by Rachel

Throwback Thursday

“Mr. Wonka: "Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted."
Charlie Bucket: "What happened?"
Mr. Wonka: "He lived happily ever after.” —Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Let’s talk about chocolate. Have you heard what Cadbury’s got goin on in the delicious U.K.? In true Willy Wonka fashion, the company has included select white Cadbury Crème Eggs amid the traditional milk chocolate distribution. One lucky winner, Natasha Bream, just scored 1,000 pounds because she happened to buy 1 of 34 possible eggs of the light variety.  Lucky Natasha—I wonder if she feels a little bit like Charlie Bucket? 


Let's talk about Charlie Bucket. He, like all Roald Dahl characters, is memorable. Charlie’s endearing, especially when you compare him to kids like Veruca Salt and Augustus Gloop. He’s definitely unassuming. And unlike his counterparts, he doesn’t succumb to childhood temptations. Charlie’s temperance, humbleness, and kindness are all additives for a good-hearted boy—makes you root for him to win a lifelong supply of Wonka’s scrumdiddlyumptious creations. Reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory makes me wish I could climb into Roald Dahl’s brain—surely I’d find more “oddball fantasies” inside his magical head, complete with undeniable wit and laugh-out-loud humor fit for children and adults alike. For me, reading Roald Dahl is part of a functional childhood. Be honest, what kid doesn’t love a story about chocolate? 

Or the chance to meet Oompa Loompas?

Posted by Tracy

Bel Pino

"Books can change your life. Some of the most influential people in our lives are characters we meet in books." —David McCullough

Pino Lella is an influential person in my life. Rachel raved about him last year in one of many sparkling conversations we had about books. Are we book nerds or what? Yes, yes we are. But if you’re being honest with yourselves, chances are you love a nerd. (Think Sheldon, Liz Lemon, and Ross—oh, and don’t forget my personal favorite, Dwight Schrute.) But I digress. Since Rae is the consummate book recommender, I made haste and read Beneath A Scarlett Sky only to meet one of my favorite war heroes. Ever. 

Pino Lella, an Italian teenager full of adrenalized energy and charming dreams, was forced to put his aspirations on hold in the wake of the Second World War. His parents sent him to the quieter, safer countryside to save him from potential death. But Pino wasn’t content to sit idle during one of the world’s greatest atrocities. Instead, the seventeen-year-old opted to smuggle Jews out of Nazi-ridden Italy when he joined forces with the Catholic Church as part of the Italian resistance. I didn’t realize that nearly 20 percent of the Italian Jewish population was exterminated during Hitler’s regime—Sullivan’s story opened my eyes to the expansiveness of the Carpet-eater’s reach. Lella saved hundreds of Jews at his own peril. That story alone is heroic. The fact that the Italian boy later spied on General Hans Leyers, a Commander focused on weapons development (and the man responsible for slave labor in Italy to keep the German war machine going), adds to his remarkable true story.  

I’ve never met a war hero I didn't like, but Pino was especially endearing. I will read his inspiring story again.  And I’ll be the first in line to watch Hollywood’s rendition of his fascinating contributions to thwart the war effort. I’m in complete agreement with best-selling author Joseph Finder: “Beneath A Scarlet Sky has everything—heroism, courage, terror, true love, revenge, compassion in the face of the worst human evils. Sullivan shows us war as it really is, with all its complexities, conflicting loyalties, and unresolved questions, but most of all, he brings us the extraordinary figure of Pino Lella, whose determination to live con smania—with passion—saved him.”   

Posted by Tracy

Still Doin' the English Major Thing

"Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you." Carl Sandburg

Help, we've fallen and we can't get up! I honestly don't know what's become of us. Other people are spending my coin (and I'm pretty sure Rachel's too). I'm outta change people! But I've got a pocket full of resolutions, some revolving around our fabulously floundering blog. Not to worry, we're still reading. And we have plenty of good books to rave about. I've just finished my first William Golding novel. (Yep, I'm still doing the English major thing.)

I didn't read Lord of the Flies, Golding's most famous work that has been praised as "one of the most important novels of the 20th century." It wasn't my choice for the same reason I failed to read it decades ago for high school English—because funny guy and close friend of mine, Dave Rucci, wrote "Piggy dies by a rock" on the title page of my book. It still makes me laugh out loud to this day to think of it. Besides, Benedict Cumberbatch narrated The Spire. Can we just pause and have a moment of silence for Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch please? He could read legal briefs out loud and I'd probably swoon.

I guess it goes without saying that I thoroughly enjoyed Cumberbatch's reading of "William Golding's 1964 novel about the building of a spire...a study of bringing the near-impossible into being. [Golding's] writing is no less miraculous." If you like literary books that are rich with metaphor and require analysis to gain greater insight and understanding, this will be a fantastic listen for you. As for me, I'll commit to any novel read by Mr. Heart-me-snatch. I have yet to discover a finer audiobook narrator. (That's your cue to say, No Sheet Sherlock!)

Posted by Tracy

Last Minute Gifts for Book Lovers

If it wasn't for last minute, nothing would ever get done.

It's December 14th and I just started my Christmas shopping. Don't panic for me, I do a mean last minute. For those who don't already have Christmas wrapped up and under the tree, here are some great gift ideas guaranteed to please the book lovers on your list. Feel free to wrap a few up for yourself as well...from us to you. Merry Christmas.

P.S. Don't forget to check out our holiday gift guide to find the perfect book for everyone on your list.

If you want this one by Christmas, act fast. As in order it today.

No quitters here. We're swooning over these bookmarks. And pretty much everything in Carrot Top Paper Shop.

Wouldn't we all? Every book lover needs a copy of this lovely book.

We can't get enough of these novel journals by Canterbury Classics. There's a whole slew of them to choose from and Amazon will have them to you in two days. Procrastinators rejoice.

Truth. You can order this up as a book bag, throw pillow, poster, tee shirt or sweatshirt. So much book happiness.

For the superwoman in your life.

Every Austen fan needs one of these.

We'll take one of these please.

We're officially in love with Frostbeard Studio. So many book scents...you might need them all. 

Dog and book lovers unite! This one's also available book bags, shirts, and more.

A pair of these will keep 'em cozy while they're curled up with a great read.

For fans of the boy who lived.

Guilty as charged. Looks like there's one day left to order this up for Christmas.

Another excuse to stay home with a good book. As if we needed one. Order this one fast if you want it by Christmas.

For those who love things a little strange...

We Are Here

"The first indication that we are killing our dreams is lack of time." —Paulo Coelho

I’m killing my dreams.  I’m pretty sure Rachel is too. Because we’ve both had a serious lack of time. Rae went and got a grown-up job with adult responsibilities. And I can’t say no to aspiring college applicants despite two jobs of my own. December 1 can’t come soon enough, when current deadlines evaporate and a semi-regular sleep schedule reappears. (That’s pure optimism by the way as December is one of the busiest, late-nightiest months of the year.)

Anywho, I just wanted to pop in and say, “We are here! We are here! We are here!” We’re working into the languid hours on this year’s holiday gift guide. (Rae is anyway.) We have no intention of leaving you high or book dry this Christmas when it comes to indulging the booklovers in your life. May as well start now since December is just 15 minutes away. For the love of Lit, check out these recommends for your favorite bibliophile. 

Posted by Tracy

We're Horrible at Book Club

“Being a parent makes you feel like a blanket that’s always too small. No matter how hard you try to cover everyone, there’s always someone who’s freezing."

Time to raise the white flag. Turns out Tray and I are as bad at virtual book club as we are the real deal. I'll admit I winced a little when I looked back to see what month we read Beartown: May. May! Pretty much sums up my blogging proficiency as of late. Blame it on my new day job, my Inspector Gamache obsession, the new season of Stranger Things, or all of the above and more. Bottom line is there's been some serious slackin on my part around here and it's high time I share some of my favorite reads and maybe, just maybe, catch up on book club. A girl can dream.

Back to sharing favorites...and Beartown just happens to be one of them. I won't sugarcoat it here: this is a hard book to read. Fredrik Backman has never been one to shy away from hard topics and this book is chock-full of them: sexual assault, surviving the death of child, the pressures that come with playing and coaching big sports in a small town, and the courage it takes to do the right thing when things go horribly wrong. Throw in some locker room chat that will make you rue the day you signed your boy up for high school sports, and you might even be tempted to stop reading. I was...and I did—a few times, actually. Sometimes the best books are the ones that get under your skin.

Kirkus reviews sums it up beautifully: “Backman is a masterful writer, his characters familiar yet distinct, flawed yet heroic....There are scenes that bring tears, scenes of gut-wrenching despair, and moments of sly humor....A thoroughly empathetic examination of the fragile human spirit.” 

Posted by Rachel