The Yogi of Wall Street
Breathe In, Cash Out by Madeleine Henry gave me a refreshing glimpse into the world of ruthless banking on Wall Street (boy I miss NYC), while also getting my zen on with some much needed yoga. Henry delivered a soul searching story that not only enlightened me with wisdom and laughter, but seriously charmed the pants off of me.
Fly Me To The Moon
K.A. Tucker’s, The Simple Wild fulfilled my Alaskan dreams. Not only did I get to experience Alaska’s beauty between the pages of her book, but I got to meet some pretty wonderful characters along the way. Let’s take a look, shall we!
Kelly’s Top 10 Books Of 2020
Here are my Top 10 Books Of 2020 in random order! Whether I laughed out loud or was completely moved, each one of these books spoke to me in a unique way!
All Aboard
Confessions On The 7:45 by Lisa Unger begins with a nanny-cam gone wild, a train ride home from work, and all the dirty little secrets that were shared. Lets see what happens when the train pulls in the station, shall we.
The Jury Has Spoken
Today my friends, I have a book that will make it impossible to fall asleep after just a few pages. This book has built in momentum, pages that practically turn themselves and a riveting storyline with an ending to please. Britney King’s latest psychological thriller, Savage Row, is out now! It’s time for your bedtime story!
Bits & Pieces
I am excited to tell you that I just read my very first Holly Bourne novel and I can’t stop thinking about it. Bourne’s latest novel, Pretending, blew me away. She tapped into all of my emotions in one swoop. What I thought was going to be a light and fluffy experience, turned out to be an emotionally raw and engaging read with quite a few laughs on the side. Let’s take a deeper look into this novel, shall we!
Guest Writer
Dear Book Friends,TGIF!!!! Today is the last day of The Dear Mr. Hemingway Guest Writers~ Bookstagram Bonanza Edition. I can’t believe how fast that went by. I am super excited to introduce you to today’s final writer…Zubs J. Malik.
Guest Writer
Dear Book Lovers,
I have such a mouthwatering treat for you this Friday. Today’s Guest Writer is the ever so talented Holly Berfield, creator of the Blog, BookCookLook and Instagram account @bookcooklook. Who doesn’t love a fabulous book paired with something absolutely scrumptious to eat. BookCookLook features book reviews and delicious food inspired by the story. How perfect is that!
Guest Writer
Dear Lovely Readers,
Today is a wonderful day! The Dear Mr. Hemingway Guest Writer is Selina A. I have been chatting with Selina for a few years now. Even though she is literally half a world away, we still have wonderful conversations about books and writing.
The Magic of Christmas
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Please hear me out before you think I am crazy. I am fully aware that it is the middle of October and the fall mums I love to decorate my yard with have yet to be purchased, while plans for this coming pandemic Halloween are still non-existent.
Guest Writer
Dear Book Worms,
TGIF! I am so happy to introduce you to today’s Guest Writer, Kylie Sebert. This fellow Mainer is the creator of the wicked inspirational Bookstagram page, @notsotwentysomething. The beautiful pictures on her account are a testament to her passion for all things books and writing and miles and miles of gorgeous trails to hike.
Guest Writer
Dear Book Lovers,
Happy Friday everyone! I am so happy to introduce you to today’s Guest Writer, Chase Waskey. I met Chase online a few years ago when I was starting up Dear Mr. Hemingway. Through the years, we have managed to chat all things books and writing, while never even meeting in person. Chase is the creator of the very successful BLOG, The Bookend Diner and Bookstagram page, @thebookend.diner (over 28,000 followers 😮). If you have never visited her blog or instagram page…MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Open Your Eyes
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I wish I could say that I spent more time in Mexico over the years. Warm sandy beaches, unique landscapes, and scrumptious cuisine continue to call my name during this time of literally no frivolous travel (at least for me). My only recollection of this country is of me sipping lethal cocktails from a three-foot-long plastic cup in Cancun and wandering the bustling streets of Tijuana in search of some bottled water and a pharmacy.
Out with the Old
Dear Mr Hemingway,
I am skipping the small talk today and launching right into my most recent read. Where has author Camilla Lackberg been all my life? This Swedish gem’s latest crime novel, The Golden Cage, was the reading buzz I so fancied! I cannot believe I am just now discovering her. I guess I was hiding under a ginormous rock. A lavish tale of a scorned wife and her tangled plot to seek revenge on the man she once loved.
“Ernest” Chitter-Chatter
Dear Book Friends!
Can you believe that it is OCTOBER??? Wow…fall is in full force, that’s for sure. In my opinion, the best way to kick off October is to read a thriller. This month’s “Ernest” Chitter-Chatter book pick is The Wife Who Knew Too Much by bestselling author, Michele Campbell.
#bringthemback
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
It is always wise to remember the past when talking about the future. History doesn’t always remain a distant memory. It often likes to rear its ugly head when you least expect it, begging you to pause and reevaluate.
Christina Dalcher’s contemporary dystopian tale, Master Class incorporates contentious issues from the past and present into a fictional world where the unimaginable may not be far from the truth.
Mannequin
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
It always comes back to Paris. I’m not going to lie. It is truly one of my favorite cities and I often catch myself daydreaming of going back there one day. Cappuccino scented cafes and cobblestone streets were the backdrop for so many stories, so many glorious works of art in the1920s.
Real Estate 101
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Is it possible to fall in love with an author’s work, EVERY SINGLE TIME ???? Apparently so! I have just been WOWED again. Fredrik Backman’s new book, Anxious People, comes out next week (September 8, 2020) and he once again delivers a five star read. Move over Bear Town and A Man Called Ove.
Barley Tea Just For Me
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Hello there and happy Tuesday! Today I am doing something different on the blog. I am sharing with you and all my readers a Q&A with author Nancy Jooyoun Kim about her debut novel, The Last Story of Mina Lee. I absolutely love reading about countries and cultures different from my own. It is a wonderful way to explore the world from the comfort of my own couch (perfect during a pandemic). In Kim’s book, Koreatown, Los Angeles and Korea are the backdrop, with family secrets taking center stage.
You Thrill Me Right Round Baby
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Today I am writing to you about two books that literally thrilled me to death. Suspense and crime fiction have really added some zest to my summer days. I’m not going to lie though, you weren’t exactly Mr. Thriller back in the day. As you are aware from previous letters, I will always rely on your simple, yet zealous writing. But once again, I am leaving the thrills and chills to a few others. Let me introduce you to E.G. Scott and Alice Feeney.
Batteries Not Included
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
As I write to you each week, it never escapes me that you too, wrote letters. Whether it was to F. Scott Fitgerald, Ezra Pound or even James Joyce, you were known to write your letters on anything that resembled a piece of paper. To me, there is something so intimate about writing an actual letter as opposed to an email or text (trust me on this one). Well Mr. H., I couldn’t help but think of you and even myself when I read Mary Pauline Lowry’s book, The Roxy Letters.
Ernest “Chitter-Chatter”
Dear Beautiful Book Friends,
Last night the Dear Mr. Hemingway Community had their final book discussion and Zoom with Author Abdi Nor Iftin. I am not going to lie…it was incredible. No worries if you were not able to join, there is more chit chatting about books coming your way. The “Ernest” Chitter-Chatter August book pick is Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank & Asha Youmans. This book is an absolute juicy treat! You will not want to miss dishing about this gem.
Happy 121st Birthday Ernest Hemingway
Dear Readers,
Happy 121st Birthday Ernest Hemingway! WOW!!!! As I continue to chip away at reading his work, friends are always asking where they can start on their own Hemingway Journey. As of right now, my recommendations remain the same…A Farewell To Arms, A Moveable Feast and The Sun Also Rises. These three never fail, no matter how many times you read them.
Paint Me Into Your Life
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
You once said, “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life”. Loneliness, oftentimes yields individual efforts that beg to be explored. I can only presume you know it well. This palpable feeling of loneliness exists on the pages of some of your finest writing. You touch upon this solitude in Cat in the Rain and The Old Man and the Sea. Moving forward now to 21st century writing, Luster, by Raven Leilani is a sharply written story that takes on this complex emotion and state of being with a modern flare. In her debut novel…