The Art Thief by Michael Finkel {2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

Here is a true crime book about art theft that had me turning the pages. This was a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card.

I have bookmarked so many passages on my Kindle while reading this book.  It's incredible that Breitweiser was able to steal so many masterpieces in such a short period.  After finishing the book I realize he must have some mental issue that made him continue down a path of destruction, not only for the loss of his own freedom but at the expense of his mother and his beloved girlfriend, Anne-Catherine.  He is completely different from other art thieves as he never sought to sell the items.  He needed to surround himself with the beauty.

At first I felt sorry for Anne-Catherine when she gave him the ultimatum of choosing art or her....he paused and had to think about that.  But did she walk away then knowing she would always hold second place to his art obsession?   She did not.  Then the lies she told in court dissolved any sympathy I had for her. As for his mother...wow, zero sympathy for her. She did some despicable revenge.

It was stated that when museums had more financial resources where they could beef up security they chose to buy more art instead.  I think I understand that because if you already have security it's more inportant to acquire more art for ALL people to enjoy.  More art draws larger crowds. That certainly changed after Breitweiser's crimes were revealed.

Reading this true crime narrative educated me on security systems as as well as art detectives.  I didn't know so many detectives were employed solely to investigate art thefts.  Italy has the largest number of detectives boasting 300, Switzerland has a handful, France has 30 and the United States employs roughly 20 detectives and produces their own Ten Most Wanted list for missing art. These figures are from the date of publication here so I imagine there are more now. 

This book is shared with:

 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: True Crime

September reading and October plans

 Well we got through September.  While I am longing for fall temperatures here, my friends in the southern hemisphere are about to experience Springtime :-)  Clearly I need a home is two  parts of this world, haha.

So a wrap up of September reading and watching.  

I was saddened to learn of Nan's passing.  She wrote at Letter from a Hill Farm and will be missed.  Les wrote a lovely tribute to Nan and you can read that HERE. 

📚 Books read 📚

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (a buddy read with Susan at the Cue Card)

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal

Forever Home by Graham Norton

Vanishing Cornwall by Daphne du Maurier - a nonfiction for my 2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge at Book's Out. and British Isles Friday.

I enjoyed the book and learning so much about the history of Cornwall.  It was a place du Maurier had such a passion for and influenced so many authors we have read in classic literature.  The part about Yorkshire and the Bronte sisters and family was very interesting to me.  Reading about their Cornish mother and aunt and how it sparked their imaginations, inspiring the plots and locale in their books.

The myths and legends about Arthur, King Mark and Tristan were page turners as well.  Too many stories in here to address all but if you have an interest in the history, landscape,  myths and legends about Cornwall, please check your local library for a copy of this book.

As a few commenters stated they didn't know Daphne du Maurier wrote any nonfiction.   I thought I would include a screen shot of the book listing her books.  She wrote many about Francis Bacon, I suppose her big interest, as well as memoirs.

Category for the nonfiction challenge is Myths and Legends.

Watching

We have enjoyed all three of these shows.  You can't go wrong with Gary Oldman in Slow Horses and while I have not read the book series by Mick Herron I like the show.  Looking forward to the next season as it airs.

Chief of War is almost entirely in Hawaiian and is subtitled so be prepared to read it. 

Slow Horses

Chief of War

Friends and Neighbors

Sharing with

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Challenge 

Joy for British Isles Friday 

Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Hidden Libraries from Lonely Planet{2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

When I saw this book by Lonely Planet titled Hidden Libraries I couldn't resist checking it out. There are 50 libraries here that would make a good international travel list for those of us who love books.  Exotic locations and more.

"Book swap your latest read in a cool 1950s style fridge in New Zealand or hike through the ethereal woodlands of Eas Mor in Scotland where a hidden library in a small log cabin awaits. Each entry shares the library's mission and impact on the local community and offers fascinating stories from its resident caretaker."

Here is an excerpt from the Kenyan mobile library:

"Every morning the Kenyan Library Service prepare three camels for travel.  The party consists of a librarian in charge, two assistants and a skilled camel herdsman who knew how to keep the moody beasts healthy and in check. One camel is tasked with carrying a whopping 400 books, another is packed with a tent, reading mat and chairs. The third just waits for one of the other two to fall apart so it could sub for it.  They work Monday through Thursday and travel 7 miles in any direction from home base."

Nice photos accompany the stories and it's well worth a browse if you like books and travel.  I particularly liked this one of a phone booth library.  This one is in Somerset England and according to the book, Queen Camilla has been known to drop off books at these unique box libraries for others to enjoy.  There are many other locations in the British Isles which would make a good U.K. travel vacation for a few weeks.

This one below - the Bethnal Green Underground Library in London is labeled as In Memoriam.  During the second world war this subway was used as a bomb shelter.  When the bombing started librarians scrambled to save the books, digging through debris and brought them here. While over 5,000 East Enders sheltered there, librarians brought in thousands of books hoping to preserve them from the destruction.

There are locations complete with addresses (and some in memorium for those not existing anymore) in remote areas of China, Afghanistan and even the South Pole. Great book for those who love libraries and travel ideas.

This book is shared with:

 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Travel

Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Vicki for Monday Mailbox

Joy for British Isles Friday

Rick Steves on the hippie trail(2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

Rick Steves' travel books and shows are always informative and entertaining.  This publication isn't a typical guide book.  Actually, it's not a guide book at all. It's a memoir and diary of an amazing trip he and his friend endured when they were in their twenties.

I did say endured as it was described as an primitive adventure with total lack of refinement. Filthy conditions for sleeping, dangerous border guards and at times meals with questionable concern regarding preparation. That said, it's exactly what he and his friend wanted to check off the bucket list.  The Hippie Trail. You know straight off you'd have rough conditions but it's the adventure of a lifetime.

This is actually the diary of two 23 year old friends who make this trip work on a showstring budget.  They controlled themselves by limiting photos to 11 per day.  These were the days of film and no cell phone snaps. 

The appeal to me was reading about the youthful carefree attitude regarding travel.  Something I have done, but wouldn't repeat now.

I was in Europe the same year Steves arrived to start this journey but my loose itinerary was all about seeing western Europe (and as much of it as possible) before money ran out. A one way ticket from Miami to Luxembourg and savings lasted me (and the now ex-husband) for a year and a half before returning home.  I interject this because I get the youthful sense of adventurous traveling, sleeping in a van, discovering new foods and cultures with zero responsibilities. 

Much thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is shared with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Published in 2025

Also sharing with Vicki for Mailbox Monday.

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci{2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

This book is filled with food (hence the title), love of family and travel stories.  I very much enjoyed this book. 

Straight off I wanted the salad of cannellini beans, canned tuna, red onion, tomatoes, basil and olive oil.  I wish I had added cucumbers but I will do that next time. (please excuse my poor photograhy skills)

His love of soups - "it's the greatest culinary invention which can be made with two ingredients or twenty ingredients.  It can be served hot or cold. It can be cooked fast or slow. It can be vegan, vegetarian, paleo, pescatarian or carnivorian.  Soup is life in a pot."

The entry for April 27 was poignant with the memories of his former home, the life he and his first wife Kate created with their children. Memories of raising their children there until her death in 2009.  "The house he watched his children leave for the first days of school, where they learned of their mother's illness, where Kate passed away and where the magnolia tree where some of her ashes are scattered."

The stories in the October entry about working with Ukrainian refugees was very moving to me.  Hearing the women talk about what was left behind and how they are managing with young children but wanting nothing more than to be home. 

So much food and so many ideas I am inspired to prepare from reading this.  It is after all called What I Ate in One Year.  I liked the diary like format and descriptions of life with his family and his working projects as well.

This book is shared with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Food

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan is a stunning book. It’s not one you’d read through very quickly but one you would want to pick up over time. It’s filled with delightful stories about birds, nature and personal observations.

Naturally I needed to use my favorite bird mug for sipping while reading.  (That mug made it through many years with me at work and brought me happiness in a Dilbert world)

I like the forward of the book written by David Sibley where he’s talking about early birding memories and starting a life list of birds he has seen.

When I was reading the forward I noticed she mentioned not driving and I wondered why.  Turns out she has Lyme Disease and I read about that on her website HERE.  It's a very interesting article.

Besides the commentary about the birds and observations, she also sketches the birds and does the artwork.  This labor of love is a result of our author needing escape from the state of our country and racism she encountered.  What a lovely way to channel distress into something positive.

In the back of the book, there is a selected reading list, sharing many authors and resources during the writing of this book.

If you have a bird lover in your family this would make a wonderful gift.

This book is shared with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Garden

The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke

 Two families, one heart and the medical miracle that saved a child’s life

A girl from Devon and a boy from Cheshire became intertwined by the most tragic circumstances. In 2017 nine-year old Keira Ball was in a car accident which left her brain dead. For several months prior to that accident nine-year old Max Johnson's heart was slowly failing him.  He'd contracted a virus which weaked his heart causing acute cardiomyopothy.

This book is a page turner and takes you on the journey of Keira and Max's lives when they were both happy and healthy children. The experiences of both sets of parents, before the accident and afterwards, will leave you with such empathy for both familes. I did shed a tear or two while reading.

I found this a fascinating book, learned so much such as how ventilators were invented, the beginnings of the first I.C.U. and so much more.  It was explained in laymans terms so I was never lost, it was never a dry narrative.  The coordination between hospitals, doctors and those working with matching the urgent needs for organ donation  is amazing.  I never knew how very detailed this process was.

"Grief, as nurses know better than anyone, is the form love takes when someone dies.  Perhaps grief hurts as much as it ought to - as much and as fiercely as the person who has died was loved."

Here is part of the letter Max's family gave to the anonymous donor family:

"To the donor family, We are writing to you as you hold a very special place in our hearts.  Our son, Max, is 9 and he had a heart transplant.  He was very poorly and a heart transplant was his only chance of coming home and starting a new life.

We are so very sorry that you lost your loved one, but we would like to thank you for the incredibly kind, courageous decison that allowed organs to be donated. We do not know the circumstances, but we can only imagine what a dreadful, harrowing time you have been through and are doubtless still going through, with the loss.

Even in your grief, you have made a selfless decision to help others and we are indescribably  grateful to you....."

Dr. Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor and the author of many books. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and children.

This book are shared with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Health

Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday

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Olive, Mabel and me by Andrew Cotter & be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten

My first book of the year was Olive, Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter.  Reading wise this was the perfect start of the year as I like books about dogs.  The adventures Mr. Cotter described with his two labradors, especially the mountain climbing, was so well written.  

During the pandemic when everyone was on lockdown Mr. Cotter, a sports broadcaster, found himself out of work as all events were cancelled.  So he posted a YouTube video of Olive and Mabel.   The first video had many hits but the second one called Game of Bones was an overwhelming success.  I think I read it is still getting views and is over the 2 million mark on hits now.  

 There are so many observations about his time with Olive and Mabel and the quirks which any dog owner/pet parent can relate.  He delivers with humor and an excellent writing. Very down to earth, relatable narrative.

Mr. Cotter lives in Scotland and often takes the dogs on long hikes much to their mutual enjoyment.  There is quite a bit about the mountain climbing and hiking relayed here which I also found interesting.  It was explained in a way anyone could understand.  

There are loads of photos in the book and I sure hope he writes another one. 4.5 stars

 📚📚📚

Be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten

I had been hearing good things about Ina Gartens's memoir and was pleased when the library had my copy available.  

If I'd had that childhood and such awful parents I don't think I would have succeeded  in much of anything.  They were demeaning, cruel and honestly should never have had children.  That said, she rose above the negativity despite the lack of support from her parents, obviously succeeding with most ventures she tackled.

The more negative reviews point out what a privileged upbringing she had with well-to-do parents in a Connecticut suburb. Money never being an issue doesn't mean you have a happy childhood nor does it mean you glide through life without strife.

There were many things I never knew about the famous cookbook author and the narrative moves smoothly through childhood to present day.  The fateful day she impulsively made an offer on the food shop Barefoot Contessa was interesting. 

Ina was in a fairly impressive position working on nuclear energy policy at the White House yet walked away to pursue something which made her happy - cooking.  Who would think someone with that gig would abandon it to work long exhausting hours preparing large quantities of baked goods and casseroles in a little shop?  That isn't saying she didn't burn the candle at both ends working for the government.  High stress there and all nighters for sure.

Ina is a type A personality and had the drive to make all of her endeavours succeed.  Cooking, gardening, business ventures.....I got tired just reading about all the work she put in.  Overall I found this to be an interesting memoir.  The parts about her husband were quite interesting to me as well. 4 stars

These books are shared with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Memoirs

Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday