Bandit Queens

December 2, 2023Challenge, Family, Pie, Wian2023favorite challenge, Feminism, India, Litsy Summer Camp, Samosa is pie, TOB2023, What's In a Name, WiaN Punctuation categoryCare

Thoughts by Parini Shroff, Ballantine Books 2023, 342 pages

(I read this in June but need to review it for the WiaN Challenge!)

Challenge: What’s in a Name: Chess Piece category

Genre/Theme: Female Friendships

Type/Source: Hardcover / Indie bookstore

What It’s About: from official blurb:

Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff’s The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won’t soon forget.

Thoughts: I loved it. Geeta is a character to root for. Set in India, Geeta’s husband has disappeared but town gossip claims she killed him. When other wives decide it could be advantageous for them to have disappeared-husbands, Geeta becomes sought after for advice and devious deeds.

Rating: I gave it 5 slices of pie. High in comedy and snark, female friendships, and a look into small town India, this was an enjoyable read.

I also attempted to read The Once and Future King for this but ended up DNFing because I had too much going on…

Copyright © 2007-2024. Care’s Books and Pie also known as and originally created as Care’s Online Book Club. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Care. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Absolution

November 29, 2023Book Picked Me, Family, Read in Published Year, Reviewbook #92 of the year, Women on the edge of historyCare

Thoughts by Alice McDermott, Harper Audio, 10 hours 3 minutes

Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, Rachel Kenney.

Challenge: Personal whim, part of my introduction to Alice McDermott

Genre/Theme: Adult Literature / American Wives during the Vietnam War

Type/Source: Audiobook / Audible

What It’s About: A newly married young woman, eager to be a “helpmeet” to her attorney husband, meets Charlene, a force to be reckoned with. They are in Saigon, it’s the Vietnam War, and so many Americans – both military and corporate – are enjoying quite the exotic life of the ex-pats: garden parties, servants for every need, charity work; more parties and parties, it seemed. These heady days of being newlywed and in a foreign country are told by Tricia to Rainey, the daughter of Charlene. Rainey is now in her early 60s and has reached out to Tricia, to reconnect, make some sense of those years in Vietnam, and share their memories.

There is a LOT in this, lots to think about and not just with the characters, but their lives against the backdrop of history.

Thoughts: McDermott can write evocative sentences and rich descriptions; setting the reader, right there, seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, reliving the action. The pluses of the novel are also what I doubted – how could anyone remember all these juicy details in a letter, decades later? Maybe I am wondering if the epistolary format was the best idea.

I have this feeling that I’ve missed something in this and know that a pointed discussion, weighing pros and cons – and not really that or rather “think about this“, might bring this up to a 5 star read. It was good. It was complicated, it had its scary and sad – McDermott had my heart-pounding with dread during a few key scenes. But I know I question some other parts and pieces, and wonder about my own skewed perspective. I think it could well be a case of missing the forest for the trees. This could be an excellent book club book.

Rating: Four slices of pie.

I read Charming Billy by Alice McDermott before this, its having been recommended to me as a good place to start to explore this author’s work. I gave it 5 slices of pie, and yet that is waning, a bit. What did I like so much about that? Had to be the writing. I’m thinking now that I will be thinking about Absolution more and having it grow in my esteem.

Ann Patchett was the person to recommend Absolution to me.

Nonfiction November, Week FIVE 2023

November 27, 2023Book Blogging Community, Challenge, Lists, NonFictionHashtags #NonFicNov #NonFictionNovember, NonFiction, sure feels nice to be blogging againCare

Link to the host for this month’s celebration of reading nonfiction:

Challenge: Read NONFICTION in the month of NOVEMBER #NonfictionNovember #NonFicNov2023 #NonFicNov

Week FIVE: What books I’ve added to my NonFiction shelf. [on gr]

I didn’t add as many as I thought I did! So that means I get the pleasure of going through everyone’s post with a more dedicated eye to putting titles on my tbr. Thanks Everyone!

I did clip the latest additions to my tbr (I thought I had added a few from Rebekah’s Palestine list? I will!) and a few are from this month’s #NonFicNov activity: (an obvious pic of how my interests are all over the place.)

I am interested in learning more about the Gaza strip to understand more what is happening there. I appreciate the books that explore the charged American topics such as Gun Control and Right vs Left. After having read The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin, I am eager to read the book that she wrote with Anthony Ray Hinton about his being innocent and in prison for 30+ years, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row.

And I can’t forget to share that I’m reading Ross Gay’s first of the Delightful series and have the next 2 ready to go:

PLUS! ***newsflash*** Apparently one of the TOB Long List books is narrative NonFiction! So I will hopefully be reading this soon. (I’m loving all the TOB books so far...)

The NonFiction book I’m currently enjoying is Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg, all about her friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Lots of good history in this, and feminine power. The TOB book I’ve got going FEELS like nonfiction, but they are calling it a novel. DO check out Dayswork by Jennifer Habel and her husband Chris Bachelder – about literary history, marriage, and all sorts of odd/fun flotsam and jetsam. Lots of goodness about Melville and Hawthorne; I’m 30% in.

Click on this link to travel to the Official blog for this fifth week’s festivities -> Hopewell’s Public Library of Life: New to My TBR

Happy Holidays!

Nonfiction November, Week FOUR 2023

November 22, 2023Book Picked Me, Challenge, NonFictionHashtags #NonFicNov #NonFictionNovember, how did it shape my thinking?, I don't necessarily think it is the book everyone *must* read, Michael Servetus, might not actually fit the theme as suggested by this week but the first book that came to mind, NonFiction, Sticky Book, the GoldstonesCare

Link to the host for this month’s celebration of reading nonfiction:

Challenge: Read NONFICTION in the month of NOVEMBER #NonfictionNovember #NonFicNov2023 #NonFicNov

Week FOUR: Books that SHAPE understandings -OR- the ONE book that EVERYONE MUST READ!

I have a category in my goodreads that is labeled THAT-BOOK, so that I can easily find it when conversation goes in these kinds of directions. Which I guess is weird – why/how could I forget the title and author?! But I would or have, but maybe not so much now that I put it in a place to help me remember.

The book I refer to as THAT BOOK!

This book tells about Michael Servetus, scientist who is credited with the discovery of the pulmonary circulation of the human body. But you’ve probably not known about this because the book that he wrote to explain it (well, this interesting thing and more about how wrong the church powers that be were wrong, oops) was considered heretic! and Servetus was burned at the stake, along with most of the copies. Only three managed to survive. It took CENTURIES before his discovery was made known.

In my first blog post about it, I wrote:

I found it captivating, enthralling and unforgettable. Before book blogging and any attempt to track my reading, I did often forget the title AND the authors, but I could never get the STORY out of my head and would tell everyone about it – WOW! It’s got church history, medical history, book history, drama drama drama and more drama. If that appeals to you, I recommend it.
Also Known As STICKY BOOKS <– link to post from June 2009

Is there a book that you’ve read that rocked your world in some way, changed (or shaped) your thinking, or just was so good — THAT good — that you want everyone to read it? Or do you have a collection of books on a topic that you wish more people would become interested or more knowledgeable about?

Click on the image above to find the Official blog for this fourth week’s festivities – Rebekah’s introductory post for this week is THAT good, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nonfiction November, Week THREE 2023

November 15, 2023Book Picked Me, Challenge, Lists, NonFiction, PieHashtags #NonFicNov #NonFictionNovember, NonFictionCare

Link to the host for this month’s celebration of reading nonfiction:

Challenge: Read NONFICTION in the month of NOVEMBER #NonfictionNovember #NonFicNov2023 #NonFicNov

Week THREE: Book Pairings

I have two pairings to suggest: the first, I read both – kind of by accident! and the second, is a pairing recently brought to my attention that looks quite intriguing. Come to think of it, both of these suggestions could bring in the film to make a triptych – or nevermind. ANY book pairing probably has a documentary telling more, do you think?

The FIRST Book Pairing:

The classic All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque was my choice to satisfy the What’s in a Name Challenge 2023 category of a Title with Q or X or Z. But I had accidently requested the Modern Critical Interpretations book from the library instead. Which I read it anyway, of course. I also fell down a rabbit hole reading about Remarque – interesting guy.

The Interpretations was a collection of history and literary scholars discussing why the book was important, its major themes, its reception by the world, etc. VERY good stuff. A few were dry, some quite fascinating.

My review of the Nonfiction Interpretation s.

My review of the Fiction Classic:

The Second Book Pairing:

When I heard that Scorsese was making a film of David Grann’s The Killers of the Flower Moon, I figured it was time to finally read this book club darling. It seems like many people I know had read it. What struck me the most and shouldn’t be a surprise, especially in light of so much hate, terror and war on our globe right now, but still! Mankind has a scary appetite for greed and violence.

AND THEN, someone posted a comment on Facebook about an author and one of her books, Linda Hogan: “a Native American poet, storyteller, academic, playwright, novelist, environmentalist and writer of short stories.” (Copied and pasted from the goodreads page) and how sad it is that Grann has all the attention/fame/fortune this story of these crimes against the Osage AND that he likely read this book: (Which, according to the recommendation I saw, is better written.)

Now, I haven’t read this yet; I do think more people should know of her work and give it a try, maybe a terrific way to celebrate during Native American Heritage Month (November). I’m ordering my own copy — and will be stopping by our Mid-America Indian Center to check if they have it on their giftstore book shelf.

What has been YOUR favorite FICTION read this year so far that has inspired you to look for a NONFICTION book for further study? Do you enjoy book pairings? I do.

Click on this image to find the Official blog for this third week’s festivities:

Nonfiction November, Week ONE & TWO 2023

November 9, 2023Book Picked Me, Challenge, Lists, NonFiction, PieHashtags #NonFicNov #NonFictionNovember, NonFictionCare

Link to (what I hope is) the host for this month’s celebration of reading nonfiction!

Challenge: Read NONFICTION in the month of NOVEMBER #NonfictionNovember #NonFicNov2023 #NonFicNov

Week ONE: What NONFICTION have you read so far this year?

Type/Source: Doesn’t matter where you get it or in what format you enjoy

I’ve read 18-19 so far, depending on whether or not you count the 1-2 hour Audible Musician “Words + Music” nuggets as “books” which goodreads only does sometimes.

This image is missing the Pete Townsend and the Alice Cooper. I have a thing for musicians, I guess. Also, I have no good time record of when I listened to some of those, so . . . In other words: “whatever”.

Interesting mix, doncha think? I do love nonfiction.

Which brings us to the prompt for Week 2:

Week Two: Choosing Nonfiction?

I have no idea what motivates me to pick up what when. Most can be attributed to spur of the moment and availability. The Dern and Ladd book was super quick: I saw them being interviewed on the Today Show and was already planning on visiting a bookstore that day so I bought it. The Many Lives of Mama Love? I have no idea how that hit my radar but I had requested the eBook from Libby and when it was ready to borrow, I read it. SO GOOD. The Roz Chast Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? was a gift from the Library kicking off the “Wichita (KS) Reads” program to spark community discussion and resource exploration on death care. VERY GOOD. Killers of Flower Moon because the movie… Walking With Sam was for an author event.

What has been YOUR favorite NONFICTION read this year so far? Mine is this one:

Because I just finished it and I can’t pick a favorite. Recency Bias for the win!

Maggie O’Farrell is a HOT author right now, coming off the success of Hamnet and her latest doing quite well, too. Someone recommended this and it was available. Had just finished an eBook so was ready for another.

In this memoir from 2017, she discusses all the near-misses and brushes with death she has experienced in her life and ends with a chapter on how parenthood challenges skew all of that perspective considerably. Fascinating and written SO WELL; I just might have to add her to my authors-to-read-EVERYTHING-written list. (IS there a good way to title this list? I never know quite how to phrase it…)

Poetry 2023 Edition 1

November 1, 2023Lists, Poetry12 revisions later..., finally a poetry project that is working, Poetry 2020 Goal, Poets of Kansas, sorry for the wonky sentences, yes I love ellipsesCare

Poetry Goal 2023: to read a poem* every day.

So. I haven’t yet given you any posts on the poetry collections that I’ve been enjoying this year.

Moving on…

Can I just get away with posting the above image? My blogging skills are rusty. This list is presented most recent at top.

My favorites happen to both be created by Kansan poets, which I think is really cool. I am sad to say that when I researched Diane Wahto, I discovered she recently passed away. Her legacy reached beyond artistic endeavors – she was a passionate advocate for womens rights and human rights. Jamie Lynn Heller is the other.

I dedicate the following share to Jeanne who recently visited Niagara Falls:

At The Edge

On the observation deck, the Niagara’s roar

drowns out voices, thought, all that is rational.

Fist tight around the rail, you know your position

is precarious, sense the ease of a weightless fall

into that mist. So much depends on an upright

stance—the husband who stands beside you,

children who are waiting at home, a cat

who must be fed every day. No free fall

for those who are tied to the flesh of those

who occupy the house still waiting, the key

still fitting into the lock of the solid front door.

I’m taking a bit of a break from poetry for the remainder of the year and am instead, leaning into essays; particularly and specifically, the work of Ross Gay, himself a noted poet but I am delighting in his Book of Delights. His second book of delights is on my shelf but I think I can plan it that I can start that one on January 1, 2024 when I finish his first. (He has an additional title Inciting Joy, which I also own.)

I often find that my blogging habit is often on my mind with guilt when I fail to post, so jumping back in, even with something short, can spur me back to a more regular posting. Cheers to you all and may you find pie in your reading, pie as dessert after a fabulous meal, and pie with coffee with a friend or while you are reading some spectacular book. Or poetry collection.

Code Pie above is my first attempt to bake with Pie Geometry by @LokoKitchen

*Or more. I’m not tracking, I’m just reading. I’m not limiting this experience to one poem a day – that is only the minimum.

Honey, Baby, Mine

August 24, 2023Book Picked Me, Challenge, Family, NonFiction, Pie, Wian2023celebrity!!!!!!!!!!!, favorite challenge, I have never seen Jurassic Park, LD is about my age and we could be friends LOL, mothers and daughters, NonFiction, the word punctuation is a delight to type, What's In a Name, WiaN Punctuation category, Wild at HeartCare

Thoughts by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd, Grand Central Publishing 2023, 256 pages

Challenge: What’s in a Name: Punctuation category

Genre/Theme: Nonfiction / Mothers & Daughters, Life Stories, Overcoming

Type/Source: Hardcover / Indie bookstore

What It’s About: Diane Ladd was diagnosed with a health challenge and one innovative, daring doctor prescribed walking as a remedy for her limited-capacity lung functionality. Laura took it on as a mission to get her mother walking by telling stories — a big ask because walking and talking when walking hurts is a freaking BIG ask!

They walk til they can’t and they talk. They ask the big questions. They celebrate their history and they celebrate their love.

Thoughts: I loved it. I have a soft gooey spongey spot in my heart for these two because of one of the WEIRDEST movies ever and truthfully, a movie that didn’t show well the 2nd or 3rd time I watched it (ah, youth) but … what can I say? Certain culture touch-points are tagged in memory for a place and time and the movie they made together, Wild at Heart, as batshit-crazy a movie you may never watch, is one of those for my mid-20s. (How’s THAT for an endorsement – hey! I warned you, it’s nutty!!!)

I was watching the Today Show when these ladies were interviewed about this book and I immediately ordered it. Artists, they are. This book has love and just good stuff. Or, at least that is what I remember – I read this back in April/May and just now reviewing it as my entry for Punctuation.

Rating: I gave it 4 slices of pie. I probably wanted more. I don’t recall any flaws – it is perfect for what it wants to be. Photos, a bit of gossip, evolving and changing love between a mom & dot, history, overcoming challenges by actively moving bodies to cure and help a situation, all good stuff.

… “You (Diane Ladd) love to go on cleansing fasts and then break them with a piece of pecan pie and a scotch and soda.”.

A Little Book of Sloth

August 23, 2023Book Picked Me, Challenge, Library, NonFiction, Pie, Travel, Wian2023favorite challenge, NonFiction, rescued baby sloths can never be returned to the jungle, sloths are truly adorable, What's In a Name, Wian 7 Deadly Sins categoryCare

Thoughts by Lucy Cooke, Margaret K. McElderry Books 2013, 144 pages

Challenge: What’s in a Name: Seven Deadly Sins category

Genre/Theme: Nonfiction / Animals

Type/Source: Hardcover / Library

What It’s About: Lots and lots of photos of adorable sloths. Some cutesy descriptions of adorable sloths, and a few interesting facts about sloths.

Thoughts: Yes, yes, just another book to fit the What’s in a Name Challenge. This time for category of 7 Deadly Sins. I still have another book I hope to get to yet this year that will meet the challenge; we’ll see.

Rating: Three slices of pie.

… don’t be fooled by his sweetie-pie looks.

100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

August 23, 2023Book Picked Me, Challenge, Life, Lists, NonFiction, Pie, Travel, Wian2023Bucket List, favorite challenge, NonFiction, The cover shows the LARGEST hand-painted grain elevator by a single artist in the US, What's In a Name, WiaN You or Me categoryCare

Thoughts by Vanessa Whiteside, Reedy Press 2022, 144 pages

Challenge: What’s in a Name: You or Me category

Genre/Theme: Nonfiction, Travel

Type/Source: Tradeback / (I don’t remember if I got this at the Indie bookstore? probably)

What It’s About: I grew up in Wichita and am back after alllllll those years after college; most of that time enjoying the East Coast. Now I need to re-acquaint myself with my new old home town.

The bad news first: the pie shop is already gone. Or moved farther away and became more of a general dessert shop. I am sad. I did manage to visit before they embarked on that change (and I visited after but wasn’t impressed by their offerings.)

Good news is that Husband and I have visited quite a few of the other food delights and tourist attractions and other sundry odd & ends of places with a few more yet to do. So I’m glad I purchased this book to have it handy for guests and overall angst of “WE NEED TO GET OUT MORE” feelings that I often have when succumbing to hiding at home reading a book. (Not that there is anything wrong with that… ahem.)

Wichita, KS named 4th best US city for summer travel!
Wallet Hub 2023

Thoughts: To be honest, I bought this and read it cover to cover to count for the What’s in a Name Challenge category of YOU in the title! Yay me! LOL

Rating: Five slices of pie because WHY NOT? Everyone should read books about their home town.