Book Club

[BirkiLady]

@LoriLori  Sounds like you've lived through a horror story of your own. Hope you are beginning to feel better and glad to have you back among us. Take care and be good to yourself.  

I've recently had retina surgery and have been reading like a crazy woman, but have decided listening to audio CD's might improve the vision in my right eye (rather than trying to use it too soon). I listened to some the week following the surgery (first-time ever) and found it relaxing. Picked up a few more yesterday and am back to keeping my head down (part of the recovery process). 

[BirkiLady]

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson (2+ Stars) Audio CD

Quick, easy, short chapters in a sweet story about a young girl with an imaginery friend. At her 9th birthday, he must leave her. Years later, she is successful and attractive, but still lonely. Then she meets a man, Michael, who is handsome, intelligent, caring, fun, and reminds her of her imaginery friend from so many years ago. He also realized Jane is the same person he befriended long ago. Jane teaches him to love; he gains a heart and falls in love for the first time.

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin (5 Stars) Audio CD

Excellent historical novel based on true-life events of an American woman and a French gentleman in Paris. The author has researched Blanche Auzello and her husband, Claude, with accuracy and fascinating detail of events prior to and during WWII. Claude was Director of Hotel Ritz, but also had a mistress on Thursday nights (read the book for more details). Blanche was active in the Resistance without anyone's knowledge. Both were friendly with Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Duke & Duchess of Windsor and so many more famous people . . . and Lily. The German Army took up residence at the Ritz during WWII.

Wonderful tale of true events that threatened to imperil both of their lives, bring down the Ritz, and the inspiring love story of a couple who discover the best in each other amid the horrors of fighting communism and war. 

[Lilysmom]

@BirkiLady , Mistress of the Ritz sounds like a good audible for me to try.  Going to check the library to see if it is available.  Thanks for the interesting review. LM

[sunala]

This January 2020 thread is now closed. Please post on our new February thread.

Happy reading!!!

[BirkiLady]

@Lilysmom  You'll find suspense and wonderful surprises in this wonderful true tale of the Hotel Ritz, WWII and Blanche & Claude's marriage. Historical fiction and memoirs are my favorite books to read. I am enjoying audio CD's for a few weeks and this one is well-read. 

Another excellent audio CD is One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson. Pretty sure I wrote a review on it earlier this month with 5-10 Stars! 

[BirkiLady]

An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor

ALL THE GALLANT MEN (Audio CD)

The First Memoir by a USS Arizona Survivor by Donald Stratton
(5+ Stars)

Outstanding! Best account of Dec. 7th bombing of Pearl Harbor that I've ever read. Highly recommend this book. Written by one of the last of the "Greatest Generation" with a vivid memory, accurate details, compassion and humility. Would give it 10 Stars if Goodreads would let me!!

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman (3.5 Stars)

Lippman does it again with a unique spin on this mystery. Good weekend novel.

[BirkiLady]

Two more audio CD's:

Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly

Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky

Going to try reading, again. Hope my eye is ready this time. 

[tansy]

@BirkiLady, move onto the February thread 🙂

[FindingMyJoy]

I finished A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. Its book 4 in her Armand Gamache mystery series. This is set at a fancy resort out in the wilderness. Gamache and his wife are staying at the resort and the other guests are a very rich disfunctional family. I originally thought this wasn't a good book but then realized it's because Penny writes the family so well that I really ended up disliking the entire family. They were all obnoxious horrid spoiled brats. I will continue reading the series since I really like the main character and know that most of this horrid family shouldn't appear again after this book. 

[BirkiLady]

OPPS! Thanks, @tansy , for the correction. I'm still having problems with my vision, but will be more cautious in the future. Actually thought I was in February!!