In the High Peaks
















Saturday, February 19, 2022

2022 Roared into My World with Books

 Over the past 5 months, I haven't managed to squeeze blogging into my week. I have certainly been reading with gusto, though. 

I've really been enjoying this winter--it's been wonderful for hiking with snowshoes and also on snowmobile trails. I loved how cold it has been--a real winter. I hate to see it rush by.

My reading path for 2021 was to indulge in recently published books. I have been continuing to do the same this year for the most part. One difference this year, and a big change for me, is that I am borrowing almost all books from the library. 

My favorite book this year was Nancy Thayer's An Act of Love, a republished book of hers from 1998. It was a superb novel about a step-family of four--two adults, two teen-aged children--the adults living with  their child from a previous marriage. I believe that this novel is now my favorite of Thayer's. It was flawlessly executed--pitch-perfect. I am so in awe of her grasp of her material. I listened to it in audio, and the production was so well done.  I believe I've mentioned before that I much prefer Thayer's novels from the 1990s when compared with her more recent novels--the earlier books have so much more depth, deeper characterizations as well. I feel her more recent books just skim the surface of family relationships and emotional issues.

Captivating reads from books published this year include Vladimir by Julia May Jonas, The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis (set in the Frick Collection in NYC), Silverview by John Le Carre. Another notable is Last September by Nina de Gramont (set in Massachusetts, in Amherst and Cape Cod). De Gramont has a new book out, The Christie Affair, which I've decided to skip. I really liked The Mysterious Mrs. Christie, which came out early last year, but one fictionalized version of Agatha Christie's 11-day disappearance is more than enough for me.