Yesteryear, The Young Will Remember and a new Matt Haig book :-)

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke was certainly a page turner.   The characters were mostly unlikeable but the story was fascinating.  In real life there are folks who have a huge following on social media and labeled influencers.  They have people flocking to their website and buy what is presented, be it merchandise or a lifestyle.

The "influencers" are looked at with envy, sometimes jealousy, but there is that side dish of judgement as well. This fictional story is about Natalie and how her lifestyle was all an illusion.

Presented is a homey life wth lots of happy children, being reared on a farm with fresh milk, organic vegetables, room to run and explore nature instead of looking at a television or phone.  They had lots of attention from their parents, Christian tradwife  Natalie and her handsome cowboy husband Caleb. Homemade bread, fresh veggies and meat from their farm served in picture perfect photos.  Natalie posts about "our sweet little farm" and people eat it up.

But it's an illusion.  Behind that pantry wall are modern conveniences such as food processors and microwaves, all hidden from view.  The lovely children and their loving mom interacting? Nope.  As soon as the camera is off they are handed off to their nannies.  The farm is a money pit and the produce has chemical help (which is illegal to label it organic). Natalie has zero maternal feeling for her offspring, although she seems to like some kids more than others.  The children are unwitting actors in the presentations online.

The subscribers who tune in to see the perfect life feel envy, wishing they weren't pulled in so many directions with work, daycare, making a good dinner and spending quality time if there is an hour left in the day to do so. How does Natalie do it?!  Well...with nannies and lots of extra help you never see on her Instagram. (This is not a spoiler, all of this is in the begining chapter)

But then.... Natalie is suddenly in 1855 living "the dream" of that lifestyle she was trying to sell.  No electricty, no modern conveniences such as an oven, washer/dryer (laundry day was particularly horrible), making soap and more. Pioneer living, just as she had sold it.  Did she lose her mind or is this time travel?  Read on to see....there are wild revelations in this story.

 📚📚📚

Next is The Young Will Remember by Eve Chung.

There are many characters in this historical fiction but the focus is on Eleanor Chang, a Chinese American news correspondent. It's 1950 and Ellie is on a plane full of injured American soldiers trying to get a story.  They are shot down in the mountains of North Korea. Soldiers surround the plane, kill the pilot and decide Ellie is a Chinese prostitute for the Americans.  She is about to be taken prisoner when a Korean woman called "Emma" shows up. Emma saves Ellie from certain death, declaring Ellie is her daughter Song Yun-Hee, placing herself bodily between the soldiers and Ellie.

Emma has been searching for her daughter Song Yun-Hee for years.  The sad thing is, her daughter was conscripted into service in the Korean Army so the mother has no idea where her daughter is or what became of her.  If there weren't any males in the family to draft into service the military took the young women.  Some went to factories to work, most certainly under horrendous conditions.  Others had it worse, especially if they were pretty, and were conscripted to service as "comfort women"...basically sexual slaves.  Those details are thankfully not described in this story.

I didn't know that white was the color of mourning, but in Korea it was also the color of resistance. During  colonial rule, the Japanese had forbidden Koreans from wearing white, so it became a symbol. And so the rebels wore it. Lots of interesting facts in this book.

There is focus on the travel through North Korea to the south, rebel fighting, American women serving in the military as nurses and correspondents and so much more packed in this book. I would defintely read more by Eve Chung. Themes of resistance, sacrifice and war. A satisfying ending although there was much sadness.

📚📚📚📚

I wasn't sure what I would read next but the library just notified me the newest Matt Haig book - The Midnight Train - was avaliable for pickup - yea!  So that is my plan today, going to the library.

Last but not least is the plan for a haircut.  This unruly mop needs trimming.  A brush is begging my acquaintance: -)  More later.

What are you reading or what is in your lineup? Posting my list of summer reading soon.

Hotel Du Lac and Two Old Women (two very short books)

The Classic Club Spin number was 9 so I read Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner.

This book is short at 184 pages but it felt long....because nothing significant happened. I found myself starting to skim and who does that with a book under 200 pages. I'm in the minority as I see its gotten good reviews but this one didn't do it for me.

Our main character is Edith Hope and she finds herself leaving London and spending time at Hotel Du Lac in Switzerland.  An exile of sorts.  She abandoned her fiancé as well as the married man she was diddling around with.  A faithful woman she is not. There are many descriptive chapters but not a lot of dialogue.

 With her ruminating about her situation, she finally settles on a life decision.  She is knowingly settling and accepting how her life will be with neither enthusiasm or regret, just acceptance. Some people loved this book but I did not.

Anita Brookner was an English novelist with many publications. Maybe I'll try another book of hers in the future.

 📚📚📚

I also read Two Old Women (Anniversary Edition) by Velma Wallis. Publication date 1993, 140 pages. #oldercharacters

This is a story about a migrating group of indigenous people, trying to survive the harsh Arctic conditons without starving or dying of hypothermia.  It was survival of the fittest and with food scarce, it was decided to leave two elderly women behind as they continued their trek to find shelter and good hunting.  

Some tribesmen didn't want to leave the women to freeze or starve while others knew the burden of slowing their pace or sharing the little food they had. The women, both over 75 years of age, were heartbroken by this betrayal.  They decided they would die trying before giving up and surprised themselves.  After some introspective thoughts they started hiking towards a area where fishing was plentiful.  They set snares to capture rabbits, they worked together and while it was slow progress, they weren't ready to lie down and die.

We have learned much during our long lives. Yet there we were in our old age, thinking that we had done our share in life. So we stopped, just like that. No more working like we used to, even though our bodies are still healthy enough to do a little more than we expect of ourselves.”

This short book was packed with themes of resilience and determination. 4 stars

Armchair travel took me to Alaska, France and England.

📚📚📚📚

Upcoming a list of books to get off the shelves and kindle and a monthly wrapup.

Sharing with:

 Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday (for the Anita Brookner book)

The Classics Club

Mudlarking would be a fun hobby

The Mudlarkers Club by Jane Riley is a very light positive read.  This women's fiction is predictable in many ways with cosy descriptions of friendship and personal growth.    This is set in London where our main character, Gemma, learns about trust and self discovery after her husband abandons her.  

I'm not usually drawn to cosy type books but I liked the connection with a group who share a passion for mudlarking... which sent me down that rabbit hole.

The topic had me look up mudlarking which led me to follow an Instagram account to see the treasures people find.  Here are snaps of two Instagram accounts with their mudlarking finds.

Just finished YesterYear with Susan at The Cue Card and just... wow. Review upcoming but I'll say this was a surprise ending. Funny how captivated I was by a book with awful characters.  Well written and I'll post a review here and on Goodreads.

Currently reading The Young Will Remember by Eve Chung.  Well I just started it this morning so, not too far in.

The Classic Club spin number indicates I will read Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner.  This is a short book so I may add another title from my classics list. Knock out two, why not.   

Other than that, I am still fiddling with flowers, seeds and weeding early in the day.  It gets awfully hot after 10:30 so I am in...reading. Hope your life is full of good things and great books.

Linking with:

Joy for British Isles Friday 

Classic Club Spin Time

 The time for the Classic Club Spin!  Check that out through the link 👈 and join in if you'd like.  It took me years to finally join the Classics Club and I've enjoyed having a goal of reading books on my list.  The Spin is a fun little game.

Here's my book list for the Classics Club Spin 

1. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
2. And The There Were None by Agatha Christie
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
4. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
5. Daisy Miller by Henry James
6. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
7. Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
8. Goodnight, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian
9. Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
10. It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
11. Lost Horizon by James Hilton
12. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
13. Out of Africa by Blixon, Karen 
14. Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier
15. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
16. The Covenant by James Michener
17. The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
18. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
19. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
20. The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell

When the spin number is announced on Sunday 17th of May, I will (hopefully) read that book before 5th of July, 2026.  Wish me luck!

Will you be joining in?  Check out the announcement post HERE.

Sharing with:

The Classics Club

British Breakfasts, Classics and bookish plans

Hello to my bookish friends!  I am inside for a very rainy day and getting some good reading in.  Taking a break to post about books and have more coffee. 

Currently I am reading YesterYear by Caro Claire Burke with Susan at The Cue Card. The start of this leads me to believe we are getting a snapshot of events from our main character's future, us being dropped in the middle of a crazy situation.  I read on to see what happened beforehand.  She isn't a very likeable person yet I am interested to see how events unfold, before and after. It's a page turner.

Recently I finished a nonfiction by Felicity Cloake titled Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey.

This was a fun book about traveling through England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the Isle of Man, in search of regional breakfast preferences.  Felicity Cloake rides her bike, meeting up with other cycling enthusiasts and samples a traditional breakfast from the area. The end of the chapters, after eating, they state their preferences for using a red or brown sauce, or nothing added at all.

I grew up using ketchup on eggs, still do. That is apparently a regional thing as I witness anything from raised eyebrows to revulsion here in the south.  Completely unsolicited opinion on MY breakfast.  I grew up in the Philadelphia area and that's what I was used to.

They stop at pubs, tour farms and are educated about honey and bread making, disappointed by being turned away at the Marmite factory as it was during lockdown/covid times.  They ride in beautiful weather as well as rainy gloomy conditons. Felicty suffered a hamstring injury early on but managed to adapt, making her way across the British Isles.  This is a story about cycling. friendship with a detailed foodie element. Oh, there are also some recipes included.

The English-speaking peoples are differentiated from the other nations of the earth by the peculiar and substantial character of their breakfast … to the nation as a whole the British breakfast remains as sacrosanct as the British constitution. – F. Marian McNeill, 1932

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

Last but not least, the Classics Club has announced another Spin event HERE and I will write up a post about it next.  Hope to participate with a book from my list.

I hope you are well, have a stack of great books and enjoying life.

Linking with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge for the Food category

Joy for British Isles Friday for British author Felicity Cloake

April roundup of books and movies

Well...April went by fast. I've read, planted more seeds, enjoyed some tv time in the evenings and have started walking more. I like writing letters and watching the rabbits in the backyard in the mornings ..that's my exciting life.

Here are two of the larger rabbits who graze as seen from the screen porch.

 Here's the April breakdown.........

Watched........ 📺

Just started Ted Lasso again.  It's been a while.

This month we watched a variety of genres.  We finished Shrinking (love that show), season 3 of Colony,  season 3 of Blue Lights (a police drama set in Belfast) and started Ted Lasso again as we heard a 4th season was coming out.

Still waiting on For All Mankind to drop all the episodes. 

📚  Read   📚

I had a good month of reading.  Reviews may be found by clicking on the title links.

Nonfiction 

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Dog Days by Andrew Cotter

Fiction

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (a buddy read with Susan)

I Should Have Told You Sooner by Jane Ward

A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen

Contemplating

Every once in a while I get restless about the blog format or how often to post.  Do I make a schedule?  Should I post once a week (ideally that would be good for me) or just stick to Goodreads and post there exclusively? 

I think I will post randomly this month and see where that takes me as I have not been joining up with much of the blog hops lately.  Just wool gathering here.

Well....that's it for now.  End of April, over and out!

I don't think I ever want to do a DNA test

Here we are about to slide into May - ALREADY!

My last book of the month is More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen. This is my first by this author and I was pleased to see there are many more titles, both fiction and nonfiction, for me to check out.

I liked this book about relationships, friendships and discovery. Polly Goodman is a character I could see having as a friend.  She is a high school English teacher, dealing with IVF treatments with support from her best friend Sarah and her lovely husband Mark.  The husband is a large animal vet at the Bronx zoo and the little bits about his interactions, with both people and the animals, are great.

Polly meets with her three friends for a book club, a book they never read, and they hash out all sorts of topics.  On Polly's birthday one of her gifts is a DNA test kit.  It was meant as a joke but opened up Pandora's Box.

Another character who will win the supporting actor category, in my opinion, is Polly's brother Garrison.  He's supportive, funny and he needed more page time in this story.  When they meet and she tells him about the DNA test ...well, that conversation is great.  He keeps her grounded for the most part.

"I love you, Garrison said.  I'm all you've got. Live with it."

"Oh, Gar, you are so much more than enough."

Polly and Garrison's father Jack is on the fast road with dementia, a sad progression , and their mother Mary is a judge.  There are surprises about the relationships and I think it was written well.

There are many other characters who are very realistically written.   I loved Sarah, Helen Mark's parents Lou and Skipper, and tolerated Jamie. 

The thing about you, Polly, is that you’re lucky. You let life in. I know because I don’t, and I’m fine with that. I never have. But you want, and you give, and you open your arms to everyone but her. 

Topics include cancer, DNA testing, infertility,  friendship, love.  Rounded to 4 stars

📚📚📚 Nonfiction is on the agenda next 📚📚📚

I just started Felicty Cloake's book Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey   It's about traveling via bicycle through the British Isles and researching the different sorts of regional specialties for breakfast.  She has friends she meets up with, other biking enthusiasts, and they enjoy the riding, the eating and scenery throughout the country.

That's it.  Hope everyone is well, your weather is good, your book stacks are filled with all you want and life is good for you.