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December 2023 Book Report

Hi friends! I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, where I will post a daily blog post all month. That’s 31 blog posts! I look forward to reading other people’s blogs who are doing this challenge with me. I also really appreciate the likes and comments you bestow upon me. It helps to know I have a real live audience and that I’m not writing into cyberspace. I promise to respond to every single one of them! Thanks in advance for reading.

At the beginning of December, I was eight books behind on my 2023 Goodreads goal. I thought there was no way I’d read that many books in one month.

I thought wrong.

Knowing that listening to a book is much faster than reading them on the couch, I figured I had a chance to reach my goal. In case you are someone who thinks listening to books is cheating or not really reading, just imagine being read to by a talented narrator while making dinner or running errands. And then, imagine that the story is so good that you tack on a few more errands just so you can finish another chapter.

Convinced? Well, I tried. 🙂

This month, I read four books on Audible, one Kindle download, and three in print. To reach my Goodreads goal, some of the books I selected were less than 200 pages and were just as enjoyable as the others. I can’t remember the last time I read eight books in a month, but I’m proud of myself for not only reaching my goal but being able to enjoy each of these titles. Here are the books I read in December.

Fiction

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
272 pages/Kindle

I was afraid to read this book at first. It received a lot of hype, and when that happens, I’m often left disappointed. But the title kept coming up in the reading-themed podcasts that I listen to, so I gave it a shot. I’m so glad I did.

Nora is a romance channel writer who turns the story of her failed marriage into a big-screen, blockbuster movie. When the actors and crew film at her home, the tables are turned on her life. She finds herself falling for the lead actor who happens to be playing her husband. Of course, he is nothing like her husband, but it all gets complicated in the most entertaining way. Add in a few adorable and inquisitive children and you’ve got yourself a great read.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
309 pages/Audible

Go behind the scenes of an SNL-type show and step into the shoes of a writer who pulls back the curtain on how sketches are selected and produced each week. The author did not leave out any details, making it so easy to get into the book.

On top of this, the relationship between the writer and the guest host did not disappoint. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying neurosis in a typical partnership, and you’ve got yourself a great read. The narrator was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
288 pages/Audible

When someone in my book club recommended this to the group, I was all in. Historical fiction is my jam, and surprisingly, I haven’t read a lot of it this year. This is something I will rectify in 2024.

Here is the setup: Jasmine comes from a rural Chinese village where she left her controlling husband to search for the daughter she was told had died in childbirth. Meanwhile, Rebecca appears to have the perfect life in NYC with a fantastic job, a wonderful husband, and a beautiful adopted Chinese daughter. The story that unfolds for each woman has many twists and turns. I was fully invested in their storylines. When their lives intertwine, the result is both surprising and captivating.

I also learned a lot about Chinese culture and the “one-child policy,” where women were subjected to sterilization and abortion and abandoning daughters for sons. The historical context, along with modern themes of women’s empowerment and economic and cultural differences, drew me into this story and left me wanting more.

This is one of the books that I added miles on the car just to keep listening. 🙂  Highly recommend! I can’t wait for book club to discuss this one.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
352 pages/Audible

I chose this as my last book of the year. It was a fun ride as I felt myself sitting in the backseat of a classic Jaguar, enjoying the banter of Tanner, a 21-year-old woman with an uncertain future, and a not-to-be-underestimated elderly woman named Louise. They are on the run, but only Louise why. Tanner is behind the wheel, but Louise is doing all of the steering throughout this road trip. Parts of the truth unfold in rest areas, diners, bars, and hotels until they finally reach their destination.

Tanner and Louise are accompanied on this trip by side characters who are just as intriguing as the protagonists. Everyone has a backstory and plays a sizeable role in the plot. I’d definitely recommend this one to people who enjoy a little mystery, romance, and humor rolled up into one excellent read.

Nonfiction

I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs by Francesco Marciuliano
112 pages/Print

This little book of poetry will have dog lovers and owners laughing out loud. Some of my personal favorites include: “I Lose My Mind When You Leave the House,” “Purse Dog,” and “Halloween.”

For cat lovers, this author has a companion book of poems called “I Could Pee On This.” I haven’t read it because I’m highly allergic to cats, but I’m sure felines are just as funny. Maybe…

Nothing Like I Imagined (Except for Sometimes) by Mindy Kaling
118 pages/Audible

I love it when a celebrity is also a brilliant writer. Mindy Kaling’s smart collection of essays addresses everything from single parenting to social anxiety. This is the first book I read about her and by her, but definitely not the last.

No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of A League of Their Own by Erin Carlson
320 pages/Print/Library Book

This year, I read three behind-the-scenes books about some of my favorite movies. The first one was “The Church of Baseball,” which was about the making of Bull Durham. I loved that book because I’m a fan of both the movie and the sport. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy “Surely You Can’t Be Serious,” about one of the funniest movies I’ve ever watched, Airplane! This book was more about getting the movie made and sold rather than great stories about the film itself. (I do a full review this book, here). After I finished the book, the only thought I had was that it looked like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking. 😉

When I heard about this book, I was thrilled. I loved this movie and watch it often. The author did her homework about this movie and leaves nothing out. From Penny Marshall’s directing style to Madonna’s diva-like attitude on set to giving Tom Hanks his second chance in movies, there were so many anecdotes. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I’ll say the story behind casting Geena Davis instead of Debra Winger was a winner. Minor characters and plot lines were also discussed in the book which made this book that much more enjoyable.

I finished this book in two days and will probably reread it and then watch the movie again.

The Art of Living: Reflections on Mindfulness and the Overexamined Life by Grant Snider
144 pages/Print

How do I even begin to explain this book? For once, I’ll have to go to the Goodreads description because I can’t do it justice. “Beloved cartoonist Grant Snider has created a humorous, uplifting look at mindfulness in this collection of one- and two-page comics that map his inner thoughts, poetic observations, and frequent failures at living mindfully.”

In a word, this author/cartoonist is brilliant. I also enjoyed “I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf,” which should be on every book lover’s shelf if it isn’t already. Each of his cartoons in “The Art of Living” makes you think a little and smile a lot. He has a way of breaking down his thoughts into small moments that truly capture my heart. I highly recommend this, especially at the start of a new year.

What did you read in December? Let me know in the comments!

XO,

Elisa

Reading Goals: Then & Now

Hi friends! I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, where I will post a daily blog post all month. That’s 31 blog posts! I look forward to reading other people’s blogs who do this challenge with me. I also really appreciate the likes and comments on my posts. I promise to respond to every single one of them! Thanks in advance for reading. 

As many of you may know, I’m a big ole book nerd, so I wanted to start the new year by reflecting on my reading life over the last 12 months. I had high hopes and managed to check a few things off of my bookworm to-do list.

  • More library visits: I borrowed more books and saved a lot of money. I’m there so often now that the woman at the drive-up window recognizes me. I don’t know her name, but she always greets me with a smile and grabs my books off the reserved cart before I can get out my library card. She also knows I’ll ask for the latest issue of Book Page, a free library magazine with many recommendations. Most libraries carry them; just ask!
  • Discovered a new indie bookstore: We vacationed in Bar Harbor, Maine, in September and stayed at an Airbnb located a few blocks away from Sherman’s Books. I hung out there almost every night after a long day of touring, perusing their shelves that reached from floor to ceiling, talking to the friendly staff, and supporting their business. If I could have found a way to hide myself in that bookstore overnight, it would have been amazing.
  • Summer book project: I reorganized the bookshelves in my house. Now, I have curated shelves in the office, bedroom, and living room. I also cleaned out my kids’ shelves and got rid of several thick SAT guidebooks. The shelves all look so nice, and it has been a joy to rediscover the books I forgot I owned.
  • Book blogs: I wrote many book reviews last year and learned that several readers learned about some great books from my posts. In fact, some of my highest open rates were from my book blogs. If you want to read them, search for “book report” in my blog search bar. And stay tuned for my December book report coming soon. 
  • No Book Buy July: Between borrowing books at the library, organizing my shelves, and refraining from buying books for a month, I enjoyed the books I had instead of buying new ones. It wasn’t easy because I’m always looking for the “it” book that everyone is reading. Plus, July was Amazon Prime Day, where the books were super cheap. And yet, I didn’t buy one book and lived to tell about it.
  • Book stats: I completed 34 books this year. My Goodreads goal was originally 40 titles last January, but then I reduced it to 35 and then again to 33 as the year went on.

2024 Reading Goals

  • Number of books: Today, I set my book challenge to 40 books, hoping to finally reach that magic number.
  • Backlist books: I signed up for the Backlist Book Challenge where each month I read a book or two published in a specific year. Preferably, the books I pick are ones I already own. January has been assigned the year 2012, so I will read The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and a nonfiction book still to be chosen.
  • Track my books: I downloaded a Google spreadsheet from the women who host the Currently Reading podcast. I want to dig into my reading habits a little more this year, such as where I get my book recommendations, whether I bought or borrowed it, and why I liked or didn’t like specific titles. The more details I provide, the better I’ll know myself as a reader at the end of 2024.
  • Buy less and borrow more: When I buy a book, it has to be from Audible or an indie bookstore, not a big box store or downloaded to Kindle. This way, I’ll have to go out of my way to get to the store and buy it. I will also only buy physical books if there is a long wait at the library or if no one has it and I must read it by a certain date (like for book club). I will keep in mind that I have plenty to read already and learn to tune out the hyped books that everyone is talking about. This is going to be my hardest goal, but I’m putting it out here and willing to give it a shot.

How was your reading year? What bookish goals are you setting for 2024? Let me know in the comments.

XO,
Elisa

Hanukkah 2023

Happy Hanukkah!

In many Jewish circles, Hanukkah is considered “a minor holiday.” This is because its observance is not required in the Torah, like Rosh Hashanah and Passover. And yet, so many of my Jewish memories come from celebrating Hanukkah with family. So, I don’t think I can ever discount it.

More importantly, this is a time of year when diversity and inclusion should shine like the candles on a Hanukkah menorah or a Kwanzaa kinara. With the rise of blatant antisemitism and racism in this country and around the world, it seems even more critical this year to celebrate all of these festivals.

Here are a few of my favorite family Hanukkah stories to share with you. I hope you will share your holiday memories (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or others) in the comments.

Hanukkah Then

As far as gifts go, my parents were quite creative. One year, we were told to open the hall closet, where we found two brand new high school jackets hanging there with our names and graduation years embroidered on them. Another time, we were given fuzzy socks, but stuffed inside were tickets to a show. I think it was Annie, but I can’t remember for sure.

The best present was when my sister and I unwrapped small phone books and told us to turn to K for our last name. There, we found our own phone number! We were getting our own phone line! For those of you who weren’t born before cell phones, the value of this gift is the equivalent of unwrapping your first iPhone.

Besides gift giving, we lit the menorah, ate potato latkes with sour cream or applesauce (or both!) and jelly doughnuts, and played dreidel for chocolate coins and M&Ms. We shopped at the annual Hanukkah Bazaar. We learned the three blessings and the Hebrew and English versions of Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) in Sunday school. We heard the story of the Maccabees fighting for religious freedom every year. However, we could never agree on the correct spelling of Hanukkah. It’s a good thing spelling didn’t count in Hebrew school.

Then & Now

By the time my kids were born, Hanukkah had moved way past the Dreidel song at holiday concerts. Jewish songwriters everywhere must have had a meeting and decided we needed more. I’m sure lots of latkes, doughnuts, and gelt were served to foster divine inspiration. And although we don’t have as many songs like Christmas carols, this year, Jewish acapella groups have put out not one but TWO Taylor Swift Hanukkah song mashups — here and here. Pretty cool!

One year, I decided to make homemade latkes for Andrew’s preschool class. Unfortunately, I didn’t know not to put all the potato peelings down the garbage disposal. We had to call a plumber, and those latkes cost me $350! Happy Hanukkah to me!

Another year, I asked a cashier at the grocery store if she had anything other than Christmas stamps for sale. It was one of the few years I was sending out holiday cards and didn’t want to send them affixed with Santa stamps to everyone on my list. I had to explain to the cashier why Santa was not representative of my holiday, nor were the stamps with the candy canes and decorated pine trees. I don’t think she ever caught on to what I was saying; she just got annoyed. Exasperated, I bought American flag stamps instead. I remember that story often when I’m at the post office and see menorah and kinara stamps available for purchase.

A few weeks ago, I was astounded to find an entire aisle of Hanukkah decorations. A WHOLE AISLE! I stumbled upon it at Home Goods and was floored. Typically, Hanukkah décor is relegated to an end cap or one shelf of dreidels and wrapping paper. You’ve seen them (or maybe you walked right by it). It’s a sad representation of our otherwise joyful holiday. I don’t expect that trend to end anytime soon, and I live in a fairly Jewish neighborhood.

Support the Jewish Community this Hanukkah

This is a tough time for our community as we are witnessing the old adage, “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.” It’s actually pretty scary. I have had conversations with friends who are afraid to put menorahs in their windows for fear of retaliation. Even something as simple as a Jewish star necklace or a kippah may be deemed too risky to wear in public these days.

If you want to show your support, look up Project Menorah to print a paper menorah and hang it in your window  —even if you aren’t Jewish. For my Jewish friends, take out all your menorahs and light as many as possible to shine a brighter light into the world. And one menorah for the hostages still being held by Hamas, who can’t celebrate this year.

I don’t want to end this post on a sad note, so here are some photos of my family celebrating Hanukkah over the years.

Photos of my family at Hanukkah throughout the years.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

XO,
Elisa

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