Happy Reading!
Thank You For Being a Friend
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I love historical fiction. Historical facts mixed with a splash of fiction is the perfect reading cocktail for me. I have spent many hours of my reading life devouring books set during the Second World War. A time period filled with destruction, terror, and utter devastation has been the backdrop for so many award-winning books.
There is No Place Like Home
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
The second I read the synopsis for the book, Sugar Run by Mesha Maren, I knew I needed to read it and write about it. I came across this shortly after finishing a bunch of light reads and a few memoirs. I was ready for something with a darker vibe that I could really sink my teeth into. Maren’s book did not disappoint. She transported me to a world filled with chaotic characters and complete desperation.
Sei Bellissima!!!!
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Winter is still in full force in Maine, with no sign of spring in sight. The ground is covered in a snow-white blanket with skiing, sledding, and ice skating the primary outdoor activities. I decided to warm myself up a bit with Sue Roberts’ new book, My Summer of Love and Limoncello. This story is a dreamy read jam-packed with love and Italian food.
My Fiery Girl
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Love is in the air this Valentine’s week!!!!!! Nothing screams Valentine’s Day more than a romance novel. You know, the paperback ones often found in grocery stores checkouts or on your Kindle for $2.99. Through the years, so many of us have plowed through these romantic delights often referred to as smutty or trashy romance novels. Call them what you will, but know that these books make up a billion-dollar industry.
Whistle While You Work!
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Oh, how I love a good memoir, especially one that I can read in just one sitting. Maid, by Stephanie Land, will have you glued to your seat until the very last page. Land shares her experience as a single mom who lived in poverty while cleaning houses for a living. She is smart, hardworking, and determined to make ends meet for her and her daughter.
I Wish You Enough
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I am wondering how many people these days use an address book. Not the kind stored on your iPhone or computer. I mean a physical address book. You know, the paper ones with the letter tabs to alphabetize your contacts. What if your address book had every person that was in your life from when you were young? Imagine the story it could tell.
Is That the Blue You’re Using?
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Who is Eve Babitz? I can answer that it one word…Los Angeles. You know, The City of Lights, Tinseltown, La La Land. Eve Babitz was The L.A. Woman of the ’60s and ’70s. Daughter of Sol Babitz (a classical violinist) and Mae Babitz (an artist) and Goddaughter to Igor Stravinsky. She was an artist, a groupie, and a fixture on the L.A. social scene. Most of all though, Eve Babitz was a writer.
What’s Cookin Good Lookin???
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!! I am very much looking forward to all that comes in 2019. Let me first mention how the start of any new year symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings. What better way to kick off this new year than talking about my new favorite cookbook that not only includes delicious and family-friendly recipes but also promotes clean and healthy eating.
The Greatest Present to Give is the Gift of Being Present
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Fredrik Backman is such a beautiful writer. His work taps into emotions I never knew existed. I can easily laugh out loud, cry into a box of tissues, and ponder into the wee hours of the night after reading any of his books. His novella, The Deal of a Lifetime, is no exception. It was originally printed in Backman’s local newspaper in Sweden before being published as a book. This story is not easy to summarize.
Under the Sea
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I just recently met a girl at my local bookstore. We talked quite a bit about our favorite books. At one point during our conversation, she recommended that I read The Pisces, by Melissa Broder. I was hesitant because I heard there was a merman (yes…a boy mermaid) in this adult fiction novel. Could I actually go there? Could I enjoy a present-day book with real humans and a mythical sea creature? Guess what? I was absolutely into this book, and here is why.
Who Doesn’t Love a Good Backrub?
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Who doesn’t love a good backrub? I know it seems odd that I am opening up my letter today talking about something other than books and literary things. Stay with me though, I can explain. I am sure you have heard of the multi-billion dollar company, Google. But did you know that its original name was “Backrub” (no joke)? Well, I sure didn’t.
Audrey Hepburn is So Pretty
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I am going to get right to the question of the day. If you could invite five people to dinner, living or dead, who would you choose? Think of how many stories can come from a dinner party crafted by this one crazy list. Well, I am happy to say that Rebecca Serle took this question and put into words, one dinner party scenario that readers will never forget.
Devils Actually Do Wear Prada
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Reading about the New York City fashion world never grows old to me. How can you not love a female character who can flag down a cab in six-inch stilettos while juggling her high-end handbag, designer umbrella, diamond-studded iPhone, and piping hot Starbucks?
The Mars Room is Not in Outer Space!
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a 29-year-old woman having to serve two (not one) consecutive life sentences? Oh, and did I mention that in addition to this sentence, there would be zero hope (zilch) of ever seeing your young son again?
Unconditional Love at its Finest!
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Oh, how our lives are constantly filled with “what ifs”. You can make yourself crazy trying to answer that question, day in and day out about every little thing. However, there is much beauty in a question beginning with these two words. There is a certain mystery in it that will not only evoke interest but will create dialogue, debate, and overall awareness of a new or existing issue.
A Cherry is Not Always Sweet!
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I just finished the book Cherry by Nico Walker. WOW…I’m definitely all amped up after reading it! This semi-autobiography mixed with splashes of fiction is a heroin and OxyContin fueled ride that is not for the faint of heart.
What Do You See When You Look Out Your Window???
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Can you see your neighbors when you look out your window? I can, but it is not particularly entertaining. They mow their lawns, start their grills, play with their dogs, and shoot hoops with their kids. Imagine if one day when you glanced out your window, you saw someone being murdered in your neighbor’s house! Keep that thought in mind while I set you up for your next big read.
Quirky Lead Ladies I Just Want to Hug!
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I feel so lucky to have connected with so many characters on my reading adventures. Characters come and go as fast as books are finished and new ones started. Every now and then though, I come across someone in a book that I can’t stop wondering about long after I’ve finished reading their story. How are they doing? What have they been up to? I want to just pick up the phone and give them a quick call.
Wicked Fast Reads
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
The number of books on my ever-growing “To Be Read” list can seem completely overwhelming at times. There is nothing more satisfying then gobbling up a few super-fast reads while enjoying my morning cup of Joe or a cocktail on my front porch on a warm fall evening. I am not always looking for a book that is a literary work of art, just quick, entertaining, and a little bit mysterious to keep me on my toes.
A Memoir That Makes You Go 😱
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I just read a memoir that I most certainly could not put down. I found the pages of this book practically turning themselves. Readers will absolutely escape their own reality and be transported back to Westover’s childhood where they will be thanking their lucky stars it was not their own. I was beyond captivated by Tara Westover’s story and utterly baffled by her childhood and family dynamics.
Tangerine…Not Just a Led Zeppelin Song
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
I will admit, I picked up the book, Tangerine, by Christine Mangan based on looks alone. It was hard to resist a cover that screamed style, class, and Marilyn Monroe. Though this book does take place during the prime-time Marilyn era (1950’s), it has nothing to do with the lovely Norma Jeane. Instead, it follows fictional characters Alice Shipley and Lucy Mason as they both individually narrate this story in alternating chapters.