It's the end of the year, which means it's time for everyone (including me!) to share their favorite books of the year. Many of the books that blew me away this year were not published in 2016, but that doesn't mean they aren't worthy of your time. The following 10 books are in no particular order and range from political non-fiction to historical fiction, so no matter what you … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2016
‘Commonwealth’ Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
Every year there's a bestselling novel that I can't get onboard with. In years past it has been The Book Thief, Fates and Furies, and The Luminaries, and this year it's The Vegetarian by Han Kang and Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. It's not that I don't understand the underlying complexities within both stories, nor that I don't appreciate the writing, but rather that I … [Read more...]
7 Last Minute Gifts You Can Get Right Now
Christmas is in two days, so it's safe to say that it's too late to start ordering gifts online if you want to ensure they are on time. But don't panic - I have you covered with these 7 gift ideas for the various people in your life that are available in stores as readily available (for most) as Target and Bed, Bath, & Beyond. So if you're a last minute shopper like me … [Read more...]
Keep It! 5 Purchases That Were Totally Worth It
2016 was a big year for big purchases in our household, and I must say, they were all worth it. After a year of hunkering down and saving like crazy, my husband and I were finally able to purchase our first home. Because were were so thrifty for so long, we made up for lost time with a few purchases to complement our new home (okay, maybe some of them were just for fun...). … [Read more...]
‘Winter of the World’ Hits Close to Home
Every time I pick up a Ken Follett novel, particularly one of his trilogies, I know I'm going to love it. I first discovered him with Pillars of the Earth, which is a stunning historical fiction series about the building of a cathedral, and was such a hit it was turned into a mini-series. His latest trilogy, The Century Trilogy, is just as stunning but takes place in more … [Read more...]