Book Review: This Book Made Me Think of You - Highly Recommend

This book made me think of why I love books! They can meet you right where you are and tap into your most intimate wishes, hopes, and dreams. They can soothe sorrows! I don't know if I was merely ripe for this book by Libby Page (daughter to author Sally Page). Perhaps, This Book Made Me Think of You is merely brilliant for anyone and everyone. Oh, how I adored it! The characters are relatable. The premise is perfect. Plus, the book is brimming with book recommendations. Like I said, it is a brilliant book! My favorite read of 2026!

Listen to this outstanding first line: "The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever." That's what Alfie, the owner of Book Lane believes. When Alfie calls Matilda Nightingale to tell her she has a book to pick up at the bookstore, she insists she didn't order anything. Alfie explains her late husband scheduled a year's worth of monthly books to get her through the first full year without him. Of course, ever since his death six months ago, Tilly hasn't been able to read. What follows is a year-long adventure as Tilly regains her reading mojo and learns to live again without the love of her life.

I immediately thought, "Man, if my husband died and left me twelve selected books, I would be utterly blown away by the gesture." Like Tilly's husband, my husband is not really a book reader (he does read some, but only in his slim selected categories and, primarily, God's Word) so I know I'll never experience this scenario. Ah, but because of this book, I was able to live through it vicariously, through Tilly. Even though it deals with grief, it is incredibly life-affirming.

It took some time but I jotted down all 96 book titles mentioned in this book. Probably half to two-thirds are titles I've heard of or know. I have only read 19 of the books listed. So, now that I have the whole list, I have much to add to my endless file of books to read. Book recommendations are always welcome, as are books that feature a bookshop. And how can you not be sucked in by characters who love books?

I adored Tilly! She and I would be friends IRL. We would be two peas in a pod. Here's a line that could describe me: "After reading, crafting has always been her way of relaxing, but what she has in enthusiasm she does not possess in skill." Ha, too true! Like Tilly, I took a leap and visited Paris on my own. What fun when she explores Shakespeare and Company and finds this quote: "I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being." So many parts of her story gutted me.

I also want bookish friends like Alfie and Rachel. Everyone should have a special bookstore, and a special bookseller, like Alfie. His role in this book is tremendously touching. Rachel's part of the story made me squirm. If Tilly can forgive Rachel and restore friendship, I know I should be able to forgive and restore a friendship with a "Rachel" in my life. Bookish friends have a value beyond expression.

Indeed, this is a love song for books, both in the long recommendation lists and in the way individual books meet Tilly's need at just the right moment. Here's another line that resonated: "Maybe this is what books do, she thinks, whether stories real or imagined or poems compiled in one place for people to flick through in search of what they need. They offer something universal but allow you to find your own meaning among the words. They are for everyone and yet they are for you too." At the end, Tilly says, "I am the person I am because of the books I have read. My reading history is a map that shows the path of my life." I want to be like Tilly, a "bookish soul eager to help steer you on your way." Indeed, I wish I could read this for the first time all over again!

Word of caution: The emotions in this book are very raw and real. If you've recently lost a loved one, the story might be bookish cryptonite for you - just a place you cannot go for the moment. Still, there is merit in following Tilly's journey as she heals from the grief and finds solace in books. Moreover, I did mark this as a clean read, but should note that there are one or two curse words and a few times the Lord's name is taken in vain.

Mid-month Mention: Smiling With Josh and Jase

These days one's Facebook feed can be pretty depressing. Life just keeps racheting up a notch. Division rules the day. But, I've recently been blessed by a new bright light of sunshine in my Facebook feed. I'm sure it is driven by algorithms. The more I watch, the more of this content I see. 

Well, in this case, that's absolutely fine by me. That ray of sunshine comes from two British blokes who love to travel to the United States. Josh Clarke and Jason Riley go by Josh and Jase, and they are everywhere on the internet these days. I could listen to them talking all day long. I love their accents. I adore their wacky reactions to crazy things about my country. At some point, I saw a short about words that don't mean the same thing in the UK. I can't find it now. Alas, it made me laugh as I remembered my own accidental use of words that are taken differently in Britain.

When I first visited Britain, I studied with Wheaton College's summer program at Oxford. I took a bus and spent a weekend with some American friends who were living in London. Of course, these American friends had British friends who wanted to teach me a British sport called Rounders (similar to baseball). I was concerned that they might ruin their white clothes, so I called out, "Don't slide, David! You'll soil your pants!" Everyone burst out laughing as David, looking horrified, cried out in his delightful British accent, "Oh! I hope not!" Apparently, they believed he was wearing white "trousers" while I used their term for men's underwear, "pants." My bad! It would have worsened if I had said, "You might fall on your fanny!" It can be tricky not to mis-step with language.

Josh and Jase are highly entertaining. I'm an older person, so I'm not on Tik Tok or Instagram and am only now encountering this delightful duo. You really must go check them out.

They can be found under several handles on Facebook: Josh and Jase, Josh from England, The Accent Guy, Life With Josh, or Josh's Faith Corner (Josh has sadly lost followers after declaring his Christianity).

Or you can watch their You Tube channel: Josh and Jase.

If you'd rather, you can find them on TikTok or Instagram.

And if you wish to send some support their way, here's a link to their Patreon. I didn't realize how important their support is until I watched this recent video about their lengthy process acquiring visas for travel to continue their content creation in the US. 

To think they had to spend $60,000 in various fees to get these visas blows my mind. Subscribe. Follow them. Let's keep them coming to America and making their fun, lighthearted videos to brighten everyone's day. Maybe one day they'll come to Indiana. I'll stay tuned.

Book Review: Some Like It Scot

I thoroughly enjoyed Pepper Basham's contemporary rom-coms with a nod to Great Britain (Authentically, Izzy and Positively, Penelope). In Some Like It Scot, we follow an American on adventures in Scotland. I'd love to visit the Appalachian Mountains here and compare them to the Scottish landscape. Basham's book identifies similarities between these two, but my eye has yet to verify. This would make an excellent book club activity. I can just imagine joining a group of women reading this book, then travelling cross-country and internationally following the steps in this book. Hey, I'd even enjoy an Edwardian Experience (that's got to be better than the Victorian Slum House experience I watched once in a PBS documentary).

Katie Campbell has made a name and a following through her "misadventures" in travel. This provides great fodder for the comedy portions of the novel. The romance blossoms in her attraction to a brusque and burly Scot. Don't let the rom-com genre fool you. As lighthearted as this book is, it also carries great depth, tackling subjects like grief, abandonment, faith, family, and home. We all long for a sense of belonging. Every family faces its own baggage.

I always enjoy a peek into the process. In the author's note, Pepper Basham explains that one month into the writing, her own brother died. Although I've yet to experience sibling loss, I have watched my husband bear the burden of his brother's suicide. Everyone grieves differently. And sometimes grief complicates relationships. I felt great empathy for Katie's insecurities and her plight. The dialogue was delightful, and the descriptions made me want to jump on a plane. If you're looking for an uplifting read, pick up Some Like it Scot. Come for the colorful characters, bask in the witty banter, and stay for the satisfying resolution. Now, I anxiously await a chance to read Sense and Suitability and the future release of A Brewed Awakening. Clever titles, sure to fulfill any itch for clean rom-coms.

Book Review: A Marriage at Sea

A Marriage at Sea, a survival biography by Sophie Elmhirst, offers a fascinating look at circumstances that challenged a young British couple. The author divides the book into four sections. Section one focuses on this intrepid couple's courtship and voyage. Section two outlines their survival at sea after their yacht sinks. The third section covers the popular obsession with their rescue tale and the unique challenges of their rise to fame. In the final section, the couple moves on from the spotlight and must live out their days.

Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, two unique and interesting individuals, don't seem like a perfect match. He is awkward and unsociable. She is optimistic and independent. It is unusual that they end up together. Even more unusual, their differing personalities mesh and work when life throws significant challenges their way.

Maurice is hard to like, making Maralyn's devotion hard to understand. What a tale of contrasts! Maralyn is optimistic. She clings to the hope of reaching the Galapagos. Maurice, knowing about winds and currents, despairs. The author writes that Maurice "found himself wondering if they had enough gas in the canister to kill themselves." Maralyn encourages him to keep rowing, while he considers her delusional. She never questions their survival. Being alone at sea causes Maurice to contemplate his personality, his rough edges. He sincerely wants to be different. But is he capable of changing?

The book read like fiction. I enjoyed the first three sections. Although I couldn't understand their wanderlust (or their comfort with life at sea), it was fascinating. Sad to say, if in their shoes, I'd be more like Maurice, losing hope and giving in to despair. I loved watching how Maralyn's optimism bolstered Maurice's defeat. The rescue was riveting. The whirlwind media blitz was exhausting (almost more daunting than surviving life in the elements at sea).

I found section four depressing. Still, it was a provocative and gripping tale of personalities tested by trial. I appreciated the author's expansion, likening this survival tale to every marriage relationship. We are all tossed about in a dinghy, trying to survive the elements and waves of life together. We can make each other stronger, or we can pull each other down. Thus, I found much to contemplate from this intriguing survival story. Despite a scoffing tone toward faith, the book's outline of relational struggles encouraged me to contemplate my own faults. I want to be beneficial, not detrimental, in my relationships. 

I end this review with an illustration from the book. The author shares the story of a downed plane. The pilot left to seek help, only to return and find the two passengers dead. Elmhirst writes, "Able only to sit and wait, what could they do but die? It is not so much the feats of endurance that keep people alive as the absence of surrender. Maurice, lacking occupation, became desolate. There was no evidence to convince him that survival was likely, and he found it hard to believe in things he couldn't see. What was the point of trying?" May we strive to be like the pilot and Maralyn, focusing on hopes for the future, instead of fixing on frustrations and limitations of the present. 

Book Review: The Atlas of Untold Stories

Sara Brunsvold was a new-to-me author when I happened upon her author talk at a local church. Her books are easy to devour. The pacing is great, and the characters are realistic and relatable. My favorite book is still The Divine Proverb of Streusel (because I relate to so many aspects of the story), but I enjoyed this third novel, The Atlas of Untold Stories. Each Brunsvold book is full of Midwestern charm!

What could be better than a road trip across the Midwest to explore places associated with Midwestern writers? When I was in college, I created a London-walking-tour for future Wheaton-in-England participants. It traced various sites in London associated with Charles Dickens, my then-favorite writer. I don't know if the professor I created it for ever used the materials, but it was great fun creating that guide. Sara Brunsvold peoples her Midwest road trip with a mother and two daughters, each bearing a secret kept from the others. They explore sites associated with writers like Ernest Hemingway, Langston Hughes, Frank Baum, Joan Lowery Nixon, Willa Cather, and Mark Twain (among others). With my pre-order, I secured a complimentary PDF of a "Bookish Road Trip Through America's Heartland." Although I have no desire to visit every site mentioned, I might enjoy a road trip to a few of them.

Chloe Vance has a secret she needs to share with her mother, Edie. She knows Edie will not appreciate her plans to leave for a missionary teaching stint in Prague for two years. When she cannot get the words out, she invites Edie on a 9-day road trip to visit literary sites. Edie, unsure about the trip, invites her other daughter, Lauren, to join them. As the three spend days cramped together in Chloe's yellow hot-box car, personalities present and conflict. Life is easier in books. But books also open a window of understanding for the conflicts we face.

This is a quick read. It holds equal parts character development and touring information. The reader learns about the authors, but also about the realistic conflicts that drive each woman. Family is so important. While relationships can be fraught with disappointment, they also can soothe and heal deep wounds. This is yet another Brunsvold book that dives into relational friction and the powerful healing touch of faith. 

I wish I had headed out for extensive travel (perhaps for my anniversary). Brunsvold offered a contest for people who took a small paper copy of the yellow car along on trips. Genius! Brunsvold shared on Facebook that the winner took Flat Goldie all the way to New Zealand. What a great marketing idea!

Book Review: One Italian Summer

Every time I read a book set in Italy, I think of my Italian blogging friend Maria Novajosky, author of An Ocean, an Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses. Rebecca Serle's One Italian Summer is a highly entertaining Instant New York Times Bestseller. I loved dropping into Positano, Italy, and reading descriptions of the Amalfi Coast. What's more, I adored the characters in this book. The intensity of this mother-daughter bond was reminiscent of the beloved pair in The Gilmore Girls. Although I was close to my mother, and felt the mother-loss keenly as I read, ours was never as tight as these fictional relationships.

Katy Silver is utterly bereft upon losing her best friend and mother, Carol. Their bond was intense and her grief knows no bounds. Thus, Katy embarks alone on the trip to Italy that the two had planned to take together. Just as in Rebecca Serle's previous bestseller, In Five Years, magic is afoot. Katy bumps into 30-year-old Carol in the town of Positano. Katy is eager to spend as much time as possible with this younger version of her mother. She is learning unknown things from the past, but it brings conflict in her present.

I really enjoyed this book. It held me spellbound for over an hour. I couldn't tear my eyes away. That's saying something, given my current challenges in reading (lots going on and difficult to focus). Thankfully, I read this in hardcover, so I skipped through the brief sex scenes (2 - unnecessary and 1 adulterous). Overlooking that cautionary content, the book is a great exploration into the power of a strong mother-daughter bond. There's a tension in finding your place in the world when motherhood defines you. It may have been more difficult to read about such a loss if my mother had not already passed from Alzheimer's. So, know that up front, if this might be a trigger-warning for you. 

📒 Content Caution: brief sex scenes toward the end of the book

Book Review: The Olive Farm

After a few unacceptable attempts at audio book novels, I moved to the non-fiction section this time. I happened upon Carol Drinkwater's memoir, The Olive Farm. Drinkwater is an actress I'm unfamiliar with. I enjoyed listening to her tale of finding love and family in her dream-come-true, owning an olive farm. 

The author narrated it and I was eager to find out what she looks like. It said on the cover, "Drinkwater will be forever remembered for her part as the wholesome Helen Herriot in the television series All Creatures Great and Small." Although I couldn't access the one she performed in (from the '80s), I dashed off to the library to pick up the newer Masterpiece Theater version of All Creatures Great and Small. It was great fun watching the three seasons of the show (something I may not have done had I not listened to Carol Drinkwater's book). 

I loved the author's narration. Her British accent was delightful, and she rattled off in French too. It turns out she has a whole series of books with the word olive in the title. I could access them on Hoopla, but I think I'll pass. She even has a new one coming out this year, called Return to the Olive Farm (also available on Hoopla). My Hoopla audio list keeps growing and growing. Not to mention, I've recently learned how to access audio books on Libby.

Book Review: Christmas Baggage

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway was another holiday read to spur me into the holiday mood. I loved being transported to London with the main character. The whole time I was listening on Hoopla, I kept thinking of this Facebook video by Wonders of London, showcasing the Christmas lights in London. Don't have Facebook and can't follow that link? Try this one for Christmas videos on their You Tube page. It would be fabulous to be in London in December! Want to go there but can't travel? This book will transport you into the sights and sounds of London during the holidays.

Poor Claire Frost! Her boyfriend dumped her and, as usual, her parents would rather be on a cruise than spend Christmas with her. Then her best friend begs Claire to accompany her on a visit to relatives in England. She even finds her a discounted airline price. How can Claire say no?

From her first encounter with her friend's cousin, Liam, Claire is as frosty as her name. What a jerk he is! Who cares if he's drop-dead handsome! She couldn't possibly be interested in someone so rude and condescending. Or could she? Especially with that fantastic British accent. Swoon!

As the Amazon page articulates, this book is perfect for clean read romance lovers. It provides a happily ever after and warm Christmas feels in a British setting. It follows the popular enemies-to-friends-to-love-interests pattern. The book transported me to a world of wonder and magic. What better place to fall in love than London? What better time than at Christmas? 

Book Review: A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea

Just about a week prior to my oldest son's September wedding, I needed an audio book to fit the remaining treadmill time I had before we departed for Dallas. Having enjoyed Liz Eeles' first book in the Heaven's Cove series, Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea, I selected the second book, A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea. I was grateful for the same narrator, Francesca Waite. I had hoped to write up my review before we left, but with all the stresses of getting ready, that didn't happen. Hopefully, I can call forth the details enough.

Lettie Starcross makes her way to Heaven's Cove with an old key and a letter given to her by her departed great-aunt Iris. Iris Starcross lived in Driftwood House in her youth, but left Heaven's Cove on uneasy terms long ago. Lettie is determined to discover the secret behind the key and the love letter. She faces her own demons as she flees job loss and family burdens in her life in London to seek refuge for a time in Heaven's Cove. She finds a deep sense of community and a refuge of peace.

Once again, the story swept me in. I copied one quote that stood out to me: "People may disappear from your life, but they always leave echoes." Too true! I felt drawn to this seaside community. Heaven's Cove may not be a real place in Devonshire, England, but I'd love to visit a similar little seaside village and pretend I'm walking the streets Lettie traversed. The locale's description made me eager to visit. The characters came to life in my imagination. I would happily seek the third book in this Heaven's Cove series. 

Book Review: The Getaway Girls

 

I can't remember how I happened upon Dee MacDonald's The Getaway Girls. Perhaps I searched for "light-hearted reads," or "wholesome and funny." The cover (maybe glimpsed on Amazon) may have pulled me in, with blurbs like "Feel-good," "Wonderful," "Inspirational," and "Laugh-out-loud." I mistook the word inspirational, to have religious implications. It did not, but was none-the-less a funny, easy read.

Connie McColl is wrapping up a flower arranging class. With a sudden strike of wanderlust, she purchases an RV. Before she knows it, two of the class members, Gill and Maggie, have invited themselves along on her adventure to Italy to seek for long-lost relatives. Both Gill and Maggie have their own reasons to get away, and their own diverse personalities as well. The obstacles Connie, Gill, and Maggie encounter along their journey only solidify their newfound friendship. If you are looking for a simple beach read for your vacation, Dee MacDonald delivers.

Book Review: Homeless Bird

I still adore Listening for Lions more than any other book written by Gloria Whelan. I gave Homeless Bird a try and wanted to love it more. It was a National Book Award winner. Sadly, I felt Listening for Lions was a far more compelling and inspiring story. Homeless Bird left me rather depressed. Even though the ending brought some happiness into the main character's life, her life's description until that point was tragic.

Thirteen-year-old Koly is getting married to the young man her parents have settled upon. This is not an unusual arrangement in India. Her parents hope she is marrying well. They will offer a pair of earrings for the dowry. However, the groom's parents have ulterior motives. They need the dowry to help pay for a medical cure for their son's illness. Koly's life progresses from one hardship to another. Eventually, she finds herself alone in a strange city. Her only hope lies in her expert ability with a needle.

The story is probably very true to life. Moreover, it opens young eyes to the difficulties some girls face in India. Yet, it was a hard read. Koly is a homeless bird longing for wings to fly. I can only say, I loved Listening for Lions. This one, not as much.

Book Review: The Heart Between Us

I'm grateful for several things. My library's involvement in Hoopla has been a real blessing in my life. I believe they pay for their patrons to access the Hoopla titles, and their payment level determines how many titles each patron can check out per month. (Of course, I pay to use my library - since I don't live in that town - so I guess I'm helping to cover that bill.) Thanks to Hoopla, I've found many titles like this one to listen to while I walk on my treadmill (when the weather is too inclement for outside exercise). I'm also grateful for the wireless headphones my husband purchased for me for my birthday last year. I only seek audio books at my local library for my time in the car (I have almost exhausted all of interest anyway). Most of the audio books I've been listening to may have eluded me without Hoopla.

The Heart Between Us, by Lindsay Harrel, is a simple and sweet tale of twin sisters, Megan and Crystal. Megan is a recent recipient of a heart transplant. Crystal, the healthy twin, has endured what many siblings encounter when a sibling is sickly and weak. I recall a young woman in one of my high school classes whose younger brother had many physical, educational, and emotional issues. She expressed how difficult it was, as the high-functioning child, to be overlooked in the focus on her brother's many needs and trials. Perhaps similar struggles propelled Crystal to flee just prior to Megan's heart transplant. Despite a new heart, Megan remains fearful of living life to the full.

Then she meets the parents of the young woman whose heart now beats within her. She determines to pursue the bucket list their daughter left behind. Megan's mother is concerned. She begs Crystal to talk Megan out of going. Instead, Crystal agrees to join her sister on this whirlwind trip to some of the world's amazing structures and natural wonders. Crystal is an architect working towards a senior architect position. She hopes the trip will inspire her with ideas for the account that may clinch her promotion. Both need a chance to heal and restore their relationship and others.

I enjoyed this travelogue tale. It was fun to explore the locations vicariously. The sibling relationship issues were believable. The story drew me in quickly. But beyond my own enjoyment of this book, an Amazon review touched me. Labelled "Delightful and Impactful," the reviewer explains she had just endured a cornea transplant and this was the first book she attempted to read. I adored her review (thank you, Sarah K). It reminded me that sometimes a story meets people at different intersections of life. One person's experience of a book will not be another's. This book hit this reader right when and where she needed it most. That is the wonder and balm of books! I thank God for books!

Mid-month Mention: Armchair Travel to the British Isles

Photo by Elie Khoury on Unsplash

March began with a roar. I will write more later concerning my first week of March. It was a grueling time, caring for my Alzheimer-afflicted mother. You could certainly say it came in like a lion.

When the seasons are in flux, I'm desperate to spend some time escaping to locations I love. My favorite place to go? The British Isles! Thanks to Viking TV, I've been able to whisk myself away to places of interest from the comfort of my recliner. I'd love to one day take a Viking River Cruise. In the meantime, I was thrilled to discover 61 videos, of varying lengths, covering the British Isles. You can learn about Winston Churchill, explore Highclere Castle (film location for Downton Abbey), celebrate Scottish poet Robert Burns, and visit other historic homes and landmarks.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments, if you've ever gone on a Viking River Cruise and would recommend the journey. Or let me know what your favorite destination would be. March may still roar along, but you can spend some time in armchair travel with Viking TV (to your favorite location) and perhaps it will calm to go out like a lamb.

Photo of Lake District National Park by Danny Lines on Unsplash

Compilation - 15 Books About Victorian London

Photo by Hert Niks on Unsplash

My favorite era/location for study is Victorian England. As a teen, I fell in love with Dickens. As a young adult, I pursued a masters degree in history with a focus on Victorian history. Thus, I often read books set in that time/country. Here are some past reads (with links to my reviews) for those who might be interested in fiction or non-fiction about Victorian London:

Fiction:

1. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep - 1st in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
2. A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep - 2nd in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
3. The Old Lace Shop by Michelle Griep - 3rd in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
4. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
5. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 
6. At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
7. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
8. Kidnapped by River Rats by Dave and Neta Jackson

Nonfiction:

1. Dirty Old London by Lee Jackson 
2. The Victorian City by Judith Flanders
3. A Metropolitan Murder by Lee Jackson (I apologize - on further review, this is a mystery novel)
4. London by A. N. Wilson
5. Victoria by Catherine Reef
6. The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale
7. The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

Book Review: A Walk in the Woods

I remember rocking with laughter while reading this book years ago, waiting for my husband and oldest son to emerge from a Yu-gi-oh card tournament. Since it held such rollicking memories for me, I decided to revisit it in audio form during my treadmill time. I think my tolerance for crudity and crass humor has dried up. I hadn't remembered those bits. Still, it was a fun listen and I'm always interested in books that explore walking journeys. And, well, it is Bill Bryson. Despite his sometimes raunchy humor, I find him delightful and funny.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail recounts Bryson's attempts to hike with his friend, Stephen Katz. The two were pals back in childhood days in Des Moines, Iowa, but time has taken them in different directions. Bill lived in England for two decades and Stephen sunk into alcoholism. As travel buddies, they are hilarious. Bryson teaches while you laugh. This time around, you learn about the Appalachian Trail (an over 2000 mile trek with a fascinating history).

What do I love about Bill Bryson? His humor is generally delightful. He describes scenes and events with great fervor and zest. Amid laughter, you're always learning. He is perhaps more fit for a trek along the Appalachian Trail than I am. Yet, he honestly shares his struggles. Leaving behind the comforts of home to walk endless paths full of trees, nature, and wild animals requires a certain hutzpah. How convenient to travel along by his side, vicariously experiencing all the enchantment and obstacles the trail offers! A 2015 film version of their journey is available, but may be just as crude. If you can overlook that, you will have a belly laugh or two.

Content caution 📒: language, crass humor

Book Review: The Storyteller's Secret

I believe I came across this book in an e-book advertisement. Thrity Umrigar is a favorite Indian author of mine and I hoped it would be as moving as her books. I still prefer Umrigar's books, but this one was quickly absorbing. It held all the usual seductions: family secrets, relational struggle, forbidden love, loss, and redemption. India became a living entity. Their cultural beliefs and behaviors gave insight into a different world. The Storyteller's Secret held just enough conflict to keep an enticing pace and just enough promise to nurture hope in the reader. Though it didn't live up to an Umrigar novel, it provided a unique dip into Indian culture and norms.

Content Caution: 📒 - sex

Book Review: Around the World in Eighty Days

After the lengthy McCullough book, I was in the mood for something shorter. So, I picked up Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. This was published in serial form. It aroused so much excitement that "readers placed bets on the outcome of Phileas Fogg's endeavor." Serialized novels were all the rage, but are they making a comeback?

Last month, a sponsored ad appeared on my Facebook page for a book delivered in installments by letter (the Flower Letters). Yes, I opened the ad. No, I did not spend an arm and a leg to receive more interesting mail than usually comes in my post box. Are there really people willing to pay $12 a month for a year? $144 novel, just because they send it with stamps in 24 installments. Seriously? Now if only I could find a few writers in my writer's group willing to send their novels in installments, for review and critique, for the price of the stamps. That would be entertaining and productive in one go. Frankly, I'd be willing to send one of my novels, in installments, for just $5! It would be worth the difference to me to receive honest feedback. Anyone game?

But, back to the classic. At the gentleman's club where Phileas Fogg spends his time, he places a bet that he can traverse the entire globe in eighty days. The travel arrangements are fraught with obstacles and delays. Plus, a detective is trailing Fogg, convinced he is a criminal. I'm so glad I listened in audio form. I would have never pronounced the servant's name, Passepartout, correctly. They up the ante again and again, yet Fogg never flinches. He is determined to win his bet. I was determined to hear it out until I learned his outcome. My library has the 2004 movie version, but it is 3 hours long. Who has time for that?

2,000th Post - 100 Armchair Travel Books

Lately, I've been travelling from the comfort of my sofa to many a distant land and time. In my 2,000th post on my blog, I decided to cull 100 titles of books that will take you to a different place. Of course, all books take you places you may have never been. This compilation really is just a list of 100 suggested reads in that light. Instead of only listing travelogues, I have included books that immerse you in another locale and another historical moment. This was a time-consuming post to explore (after 15 years of blogging), so instead of listing the books in categories by places, I've just listed them in roughly reverse chronological order to when I read them. Whatever your particular interests (I'm heavy on Victorian England in this listing), I hope you'll submerge yourself in something new:

1. There and Back - travelogue coffee table book - various death-defying climbs
2. Neither Here Nor There - travelogue - Europe
3. Every Day in Tuscany - memoir - Tuscany/Italy
4. With Love from London - novel - London, England
5. Notes from a Small Island - travelogue - England
6. The World Played Chess - novel - Vietnam War
7. Facing the Mountain - history - WWII (internment camps)
8. The Last Bookshop in London - novel - WWII (London)
9. It Happened at the Fair - novel - 1893 Chicago World's Fair
10. Green Hills of Africa - memoir - Africa
11. Twilight at the World of Tomorrow - history - 1939 New York World's Fair
12. The River of Doubt - history - the Amazon (the River of Doubt in Brazil)
13. The Library Book -  history - 1986 San Francisco Library fire
14. We Dream of Space - middle grade novel - 1986 Challenger mission
15. Destiny of the Republic - history - 1880s America, President Garfield
16. The Five - history - Victorian London, Jack the Ripper
17. A Moveable Feast - memoir - Paris
18. For the Love of Europe - travelogue - Europe
19. The Splendid and the Vile - history - WWII England, Winston Churchill
20. The Wicked Boy - history - Victorian England
21. Walking Home - travelogue - The Pennine Way, England
22. Surprised by Oxford - memoir - Oxford, England
23. The Lost Girls of Paris - novel - London/Paris in WWII
24. An Ocean, an Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses - memoir - America/Italy
25. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey - history - Highclere Castle, England
26. All the Flowers in Paris - novel - Paris
27. On the Wings of Heroes - middle grade novel - small town USA WWII
28. Out of the Dust - middle grade novel - American "Dust Bowl" in the Depression
29. Love and Other Consolation Prizes - novel - 1909 Seattle World's Fair
30. The Tattooist of Auschwitz - novel - Auschwitz concentration camp
31. Little Heathens - memoir - Iowa in Depression
32. Last Christmas in Paris - novel - Paris
33. The Chilbury Ladies' Choir - novel - WWII England
34. Hiking Through - memoir/travelogue - Appalachian trail
35. Nights of Rain and Stars - novel - Greek seaside village
36. Prairie Fires - history - early American prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
37. Victoria - history - Victorian England, Queen Victoria
38. P.S. from Paris - novel - Paris
39. The London Eye Mystery - middle grade novel - London
40. Sisterchicks Go Brit! - novel - England
41. London - history - London
42. The Light in the Ruins - novel - WWII Italy
43. Three Weeks in Paris - novel - Paris
44. The Secret Life of Bees - novel - 1960s Southern US
45. The Girl from the Train - novel - WWII Germany
46. The Nightingale - novel - WWII France
47. Burial Rites - novel - 1829 Iceland
48. Revolution - young adult novel - revolutionary France
49. The Summer Before the War - novel - WWII, Rye, England
50. The Road to Little Dribbling - travelogue - England
51. A Faraway Island - middle grade novel - 1939 Sweden
52. The Invention of Wings - novel - 19th century Charleston, South Carolina
53. Wonderland Creek - novel - 1936 Appalachian Kentucky
54. A Night Divided - middle grade novel - Berlin Wall
55. The Carnival at Bray - young adult novel - 1990s Bray, Ireland
56. A Metropolitan Murder - history - 1860s London
57. The Victorian City - history - Victorian London
58. A Girl Named Zippy - memoir - small town Indiana
59. Dirty Old London - history - Victorian London
60. Kidnapped by River Rats - history - Salvation Army in 1880s London
61. Dead Wake - history - WWI, sinking of the Lusitania
62. Revolution - middle grade novel - 1964 Freedom Summer Mississippi
63. The Boys in the Boat - history - 1936 Berlin Olympics
64. Lily's Crossing - middle grade novel - 1940s United States
65. Criss Cross - middle grade novel - 1960s United States
66. Countdown - middle grade novel - 1960s American Cuban Missile Crisis
67. Number the Stars - middle grade novel - WWII Sweden
68. The Songs of Willow Frost - novel - 1920s & 30s Seattle, Washington
69. A Northern Light - young adult novel - 1906 New York murder
70. Out of the Easy - young adult novel - 1950s New Orleans
71. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - novel - Southern tip of England
72. One Thousand White Women - novel - 1854 Fort Laramie Peace Conference
73. All the Light We Cannot See - novel - WWII France
74. Tallgrass - novel - WWII Japanese-American internment camps
75. The Dressmaker - novel - sinking of the Titanic
76. Tara Road - novel - Dublin
77. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - novel - English walking tour
78. A Week in Winter - novel - Stoneybridge, Ireland
79. Blackmoore - novel - 1820s Northern England
80. The View from Castle Rock - memoir - early Irish immigrants
81. Under a Flaming Sky - history - 1894 Hinckley, Minnesota fire
82. Unbroken - history - Japanese POW camp WWII survival story
83. In the Garden of Beasts - history - Hitler's Berlin
84. Yielded Captive - novel - jungles of Peru
85. Whitethorn Woods - novel - Rossmore, Ireland
86. The House I Loved - novel - 1860s Paris
87. Breaking the Code - history - the Japanese Katakama Code
88. Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes - young adult novel - England/Europe
89. Minding Frankie - novel - Dublin
90. The Help - novel - 1960s Jackson, Mississippi
91. The Pleasing Hour - novel - Paris
92. The Postmistress - novel - WWII New England town
93. Year of Wonders - novel - 1666 rural England plague
94. The Book Thief - novel - WWII Germany
95. Ruby's Imagine - young adult novel - New Orleans Hurricane Katrina
96. The Case of Madeleine Smith - history - Victorian Scotland
97. The Aurora County All-Stars - middle grade novel - small town Mississippi
98. The Weight of Heaven - novel - India
99. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - novel - WWII Guernsey
100. Three Weeks With My Brother - memoir - trip around the world