A Month in Summary - June 2026

Little Whale Cove

June 2026

We rarely see hot temps on the coast, but the above photo was taken on June 14th when we hit 80 degrees. We grabbed some cold drinks and headed out to the back deck before the sun disappeared behind the trees. It was wonderful to sit outside, soaking up the warmth of the sun, listening to the birds sing. Fortunately, the sunny weather stuck around for a family gathering later that week. My three brothers and some of their family members, as well as our granddaughter, came to visit over the course of a week. Good times!

My reading didn't seem to suffer from the busy month, and there were a few winners in the bunch. I'm eager to read more by Sally Hepworth and Liz Moore. I have one more of John Boyne's in my stacks for this summer's reading challenge, but I'll wait until August to start that one.

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne (4/5)

Long Bright River by Liz Moore (4.5/5)

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth (4.5/5)

Upgrade by Blake Crouch (4/5)

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (4/5)

Gave up on:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Mink River by Brian Doyle

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano

I'm sure these books have their merits, but I've grown too impatient to stick with a book that doesn't grab me early on.

Movies & TV Series:

Unfamiliar - We enjoyed this series about two former spies living in Berlin with their teenage daughter.

Sherlock - We decided to re-watch this series, but stopped after a few episodes because they were so familiar.

Project Hail Mary - Watched this with my husband and my mom. We all read the book and agreed it was so much better than the movie. I liked how Rocky was portrayed, but overall this was a disappointment.

Oppenheimer - Very, very good.

Lee - Also very, very good. I wasn't prepared to be so moved by the story. Kate Winslet is outstanding as Lee Miller.

 

Visitors:

My heart is full!

A Month in Summary - May 2026

Port Townsend, Washington

May 2026

What a fun month! We celebrated my husband's 74th birthday, and my mom's 93rd. No photos, but we went out for a nice dinner. And there was cake (twice), too. My mom has been doing her PT for her hip, and her recovery has gone very well. So well that Rod and I decided to take an RV trip up to Port Townsend and the surrounding areas. Two of my brothers came to visit my mom while we were away, tag-teaming their time so she wasn't alone for too many days. Rod and I enjoyed our R&R, reading, walking, sitting in the sun, etc. Our good friends joined us in Nehalem for the last three nights, which was also fun. The weather cooperated for the most part, especially in Port Townsend, which made for enjoyable walks into town, as well as watching two eagles and a half dozen blue heron fishing on the spit. I even spotted a otter scampering down the sidewalk in front of our RV! He looked like he knew exactly where he was going.

You would have thought I'd get a lot of reading in, but I gave up on two books, and only finished one while on our trip. I'm about a quarter of the way in on my current read, and while I'm enjoying it, it's taken me over a week to read 150 pages. I'm hoping to make more progress today between folding laundry. I did manage to get a lot of reading in before our trip, and finished six books for the month. My favorite was Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna, which is excellent!

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (4.5/5)

Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (3/5)

Wreck by Catherine Newman (4/5)

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (4/5)

Heart the Lover by Lily King (4/5)

Clear by Carys Davies (3.5/5)

Gave up on:

The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor

Movies & TV Series:

Remarkably Bright Creatures - This is the rare case in which the movie is better than the book. My husband and I both got choked up at the ending.

The Nordic Murders - Meh. Not great, but not terrible. Not sure if we'll watch any more of this series.

Ted Lasso (Season One) - I know I'm late to the party, but I'm so glad I decided to give this another try. We watched the first episode several years ago and weren't impressed. This past month, I watched the first season by myself and loved it. Lots of laughing out loud, which is always great. 

Detective Hole (Season One) - I  haven't read any of Nesbo's books, but this series was quite good. Very gritty and dark, but very good. 

Travel:

Nehalem Bay State Park, OR

Quinault River, WA

Point Hudson, Port Hudson, WA

Quinault River, WA

Neahkahnie Mountain

(looking toward Manzanita, OR)

Looking Back - The Hours

 Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

1998

Fiction

Finished on April 17, 2002

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that became a motion picture starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman, directed by Stephen Daldry from a screenplay by David Hare.

In The Hours, Michael Cunningham, widely praised as one of the most gifted writers of his generation, draws inventively on the life and work of Virginia Woolf to tell the story of a group of contemporary characters struggling with the conflicting claims of love and inheritance, hope and despair. The narrative of Woolf's last days before her suicide early in World War II counterpoints the fictional stories of Samuel, a famous poet whose life has been shadowed by his talented and troubled mother, and his lifelong friend Clarissa, who strives to forge a balanced and rewarding life in spite of the demands of friends, lovers, and family.

Passionate, profound, and deeply moving, this is Cunningham's most remarkable achievement to date.

My Original Thoughts (2002):

Very imaginative and enjoyable. Much easier to read than Mrs. Dalloway, but I'm glad I read that or I would have missed too much in The Hours. A surprise ending, although I should have known! "...the story of three women: Clarissa Vaughan, who one New York morning goes about planning a party in honor of a beloved friend; Laura Brown, who in a 1950s Los Angeles suburb slowly begins to feel the constraints of a perfect family and home; and Virginia Woolf, recuperating with her husband in a London suburb, and beginning to write Mrs. Dalloway." "Seamless transitions. Clarissa's day mirrors Mrs. Dalloway's... with, however, an appropriate degree of modern beveling..." Did you know that The Hours was Virginia Woolf's working title for Mrs. Dalloway?

My Current Thoughts:

I feel as if I've written about The Hours and Mrs. Dalloway more than once on this blog. I'd completely forgotten that I'd re-read The Hours just last year! (Reviewed here.) I doubt I'll read Mrs. Dalloway again, but I am looking forward to making time to watch the film version of The Hours. 

Say Nothing

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

Nonfiction

Narrated by Matthew Blaney

2019

Finished on October 28, 2024

Rating: 2/5 (OK)

Publisher's Blurb:

In December 1972, Jean McConville, a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten, was dragged from her Belfast home by masked intruders, her children clinging to her legs. They never saw her again. Her abduction was one of the most notorious episodes of the vicious conflict known as The Troubles. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the I.R.A. was responsible. But in a climate of fear and paranoia, no one would speak of it. In 2003, five years after an accord brought an uneasy peace to Northern Ireland, a set of human bones was discovered on a beach. McConville's children knew it was their mother when they were told a blue safety pin was attached to the dress--with so many kids, she had always kept it handy for diapers or ripped clothes.

Patrick Radden Keefe's mesmerizing book on the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath uses the McConville case as a starting point for the tale of a society wracked by a violent guerrilla war, a war whose consequences have never been reckoned with. The brutal violence seared not only people like the McConville children, but also I.R.A. members embittered by a peace that fell far short of the goal of a united Ireland, and left them wondering whether the killings they committed were not justified acts of war, but simple murders.

Patrick Radden Keefe writes an intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions.

I've been meaning to read Say Nothing since I first heard about it after its publication in 2018. Two friends recommended the book, but it wasn't until I learned that Hulu had adapted Keefe's book that I decided to try it on audio. Matthew Blaney's exceptional narration (and lovely Irish accent) should have held my attention, but this is a book that needs to be read in print, perhaps with a yellow highlighter in hand. I wound up listening at 1.50 speed (my usual is 1.0, but that was far too slow for this book), but it still felt excessively long. I lost track of several of the people mentioned, and the chronology was difficult to keep track of as I listened. I was expecting a more detailed story about Jean McConville's abduction (and ultimate execution) rather than an excruciatingly detailed account of the Troubles and the Price sisters' hunger strikes. I went into the book with very little knowledge of the Troubles, although I have vague memories of news reports of various bombings in Ireland. I was surprised to see (while looking up a list of "notable" bombings on Wikipedia) that there were at least 10,000 bomb attacks from 1968 to 1988, and there were additional attacks up until 2001.

Despite my lackluster response to the book, I still intend to watch the TV series. 

The Hours

 

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

Fiction

1998

Finished on May 29, 2024

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that became a motion picture starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman, directed by Stephen Daldry from a screenplay by David Hare.

Passionate, profound, and deeply moving, The Hours is the story of three women: Clarissa Vaughan, who one New York morning goes about planning a party in honor of a beloved friend; Laura Brown, who in a 1950s Los Angeles suburb slowly begins to feel the constraints of a perfect family and home; and Virginia Woolf, recuperating with her husband in a London suburb, and beginning to write Mrs. Dalloway. By the end of the novel, the stories have intertwined, and finally come together in an act of subtle and haunting grace, demonstrating Michael Cunningham's deep empathy for his characters as well as the extraordinary resonance of his prose. 

After reading Michael Cunningham's latest novel (Day) this past March, I was inspired to pick up my copy of The Hours (which I read in 2002) and give it a second reading. It was as enjoyable as the first time I read it, and I was just as surprised with the twist at the end of the novel as I was the first time around! I'm now eager to re-read Mrs Dalloway and re-watch the movie adaptation of The Hours, which as I recall was outstanding. I am also, once again, motivated to start reading The Measure of Life: Virginia Woolf's Last Years by Herbert Marder, which has languished on my shelves since 2007! 

The Hobbit

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Fiction - Fantasy

1986 Del Rey Books (first published in 1937)

Finished on July 24, 2001

Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

Whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole in Bag End by Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Although quite reluctant to take part in this quest, Bilbo surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar! Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant success when published in 1937. Now, in 1997, this special new edition, illustrated by Alan Lee, commemorates the sixtieth anniversary of a great classic. 

My Original Thoughts (2001):

Anticlimactic! Started off great, but lost momentum toward the end. Easy to put down, but I didn't give up. I'm not sure if I'll read the trilogy--at least not for a while. I thought the Harry Potter books were more enjoyable from start to finish.

My Current Thoughts:

I probably would have enjoyed this more if I had read it after watching The Lord of the Rings film series, which I enjoyed immensely.

Looking Back - Pay It Forward

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Fiction

1999 Pocket Books

Finished on May 29, 2001

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

The story of how a boy who believed in the goodness of human nature set out to change the world.

Pay It Forward is a wondrous and moving novel about Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy in a small California town who accepts the challenge that his teacher gives his class, a chance to earn extra credit by coming up with a plan to change the world for the better -- and to put that plan into action.

The idea that Trevor comes up with is so simple and so naïve that when others learn of it they are dismissive. Even Trevor himself begins to doubt when his "pay it forward" plan seems to founder on a combination of bad luck and the worst of human nature.

In the end, Pay It Forward is the story of seemingly ordinary people made extraordinary by the simple faith of a child. In the tradition of the successful and inspirational television show Touched by an Angel, and the phenomenally successful novel and film Forrest Gump, Pay It Forward is a work of charm, wit, and remarkable inspiration, a story of hope for today and for many tomorrows to come.

My Original Thoughts (2001):

I really enjoyed this book! I like the premise behind it--do something nice for three people and then they do the same for three more people. I have not yet seen the movie, but am familiar with the actors (Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment) and could easily envision them as I read the book. I did think there were a couple of predictable events, but was still shocked by the ending.

My Current Thoughts:

This would be fun to read (and watch) again. I remember enjoying the movie, once I got the chance to watch it. Pay It Forward is the only novel that I've read by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Apparently, she's written over 40 books!

Looking Back - All the Pretty Horses

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

Border Trilogy #1

Fiction

1992 Vintage International

Read in February 2001

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

The national bestseller and the first volume in Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy, All the Pretty Horses is the tale of John Grady Cole, who at sixteen finds himself at the end of a long line of Texas ranchers, cut off from the only life he has ever imagined for himself. With two companions, he sets off for Mexico on a sometimes idyllic, sometimes comic journey to a place where dreams are paid for in blood. Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction.

My Original Thoughts (2001):

Wonderful story! Engrossing. Beautiful passages. I never thought I'd enjoy a western so much, but I did and now I want to read the other books in this trilogy. The only negative comment I have is my frustration with the large amount of untranslated dialogue. I relied on my Spanish dictionary throughout the entire novel. 

A story filled with horses, cowboys, gunplay and romance. 

My Current Thoughts:

I remember how surprised I was that I enjoyed this novel as much as I did. I never did get around to reading the other books in the trilogy, but I still have my copy of this book so maybe I'll read all three back-to-back. The only other western that I've read is Whiskey When We're Dry, which I also loved. And, yes, I still have Lonesome Dove on my TBR list... 

Looking Back - Chocolat

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Fiction

2000 Penguin Group (first published in 1999)

Finished on May 14, 2000

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

When the exotic stranger Vianne Rocher arrives in the old French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique called “La Celeste Praline” directly across the square from the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock. It is the beginning of Lent: the traditional season of self-denial. The priest says she’ll be out of business by Easter.

To make matters worse, Vianne does not go to church and has a penchant for superstition. Like her mother, she can read Tarot cards. But she begins to win over customers with her smiles, her intuition for everyone’s favourites, and her delightful confections. Her shop provides a place, too, for secrets to be whispered, grievances aired. She begins to shake up the rigid morality of the community. Vianne’s plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community. Can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair?

For the first time, here is a novel in which chocolate enjoys its true importance, emerging as an agent of transformation. Rich, clever, and mischievous, reminiscent of a folk tale or fable, this is a triumphant read with a memorable character at its heart.

My Original Thoughts (2000):

Don't read this book if you're hungry! My mouth didn't stop watering the entire time I was reading it. Entertaining.

My Current Thoughts:

I remember quite a bit about this book and think it would be fun to give it a second reading. The second book in Harris' trilogy (The Girl with No Shadow) is equally entertaining, but somehow I missed Peaches for Father Francis. It might also be time to watch the movie version of Chocolat again, which includes Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench. 

A Month in Summary - January 2021

Depoe Bay, Oregon

January 2021

In some ways it feels likes January flew past, but it also feels like New Year's Day was a long time ago. There was the Insurrection in Washington, DC on the 6th (which was horrifying) and the Inauguration on the 20th (which was uplifting and, thankfully, peaceful) and now we patiently wait for the green light to get our vaccines. My mom and my husband will get theirs in the next few weeks, but I'll have to wait a bit longer since I'm still in my 50s.

I finished three books before the end of the first week (which I started in December) and was on a roll for the rest of the month.  Not surprisingly, Louise Penny's latest mystery was my favorite, although my reread of Pigs in Heaven wasn't far behind.

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms (2/5)

Kindred by Octavia Butler (3/5)

The Fireman by Joe Hill (3/5)

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny (5/5)

The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner (3/5)

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver (4/5)

The Daughters of Erietown by Connie Schultz (4/5)

First Lines:

Dear Mom, So here's the thing. And I know you're going to make some weird big deal out of it because you're a mom and a nerd and you can't help yourself. You're going to make it, like, into a Facebook meme and then needlepoint it onto a pillow because you're crazy. But whatever, here it is: you were right. (The Overdue Life of Amy Byler)

The trouble began long before June 9, 1976, when I became aware of it, but June 9 is the day I remember. It was my twenty-sixth birthday. It was also the day I met Rufus--the day he called me to him for the first time. (Kindred)

Harper Grayson had seen lots of people burn on TV, everyone had, but the first person she saw burn for real was in the playground behind the school. (The Fireman)

"Hell is empty, Armand," said Stephen Horowitz. 

"You've mentioned that. And all the devils are here?" asked Armand Gamache. (All the Devils Are Here)

A brooding heat permeates the tight space of the barn loft, no larger than three strides by four. The boards are rough-hewn and splintery and the rafters run at sharp slants, making the pitch too low for Roza to stand anywhere but in the center. Silken webs wad the corners and thin shards of sunlight bleed through cracks. Otherwise it is dark. (The Yellow Bird Sings)

Women on their own run in Alice's family. This dawns on her with the unkindness of a heart attack and she sits up in bed to get a closer look at her thoughts, which have collected above her in the dark. (Pigs in Heaven)

Samantha McGinty pressed her cheek against the cold window and exhaled slowly to cloud the glass. She glanced at the back of her father's head in the front seat before lifting her finger to write in big block letters: LUCKY.  (The Daughters of Erietown)

Movies & TV Series:

 

My Octopus Teacher - This is the perfect documentary to pair with The Soul of an Octopus. Fascinating creatures! Highly recommend.

The Missing (Season 2) - This nonlinear thriller requires your full attention! The first episode was very confusing, but we enjoyed the show.

The Art of Racing in the Rain - I loved this book, but the movie was a little too sappy. 

News of the World - Another book to movie, which fell short of my expectations. Hanks and his young costar were very good, though!

The Bay - We watched all of Season One and the first three available episodes of Season Two. Very good! Recommend.

The Dig - This quiet film was lovely. Highly recommend.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Frances McDormand is excellent in this dark comedy/drama. Highly recommend.

Puzzlemania:

Only one puzzle this month, but it was fun! I love Edward Gorey's artwork.

In the Kitchen:

My mom gave me a new kitchen gadget and I'm in love! I've used it for pork tenderloin and beef filets and the results were outstanding. I think the steak was the best I've ever had. The sous vide cooked them to a perfect medium rare pink and the meat was extremely tender and flavorful. Click here for more information about sous vide cooking. 

Lastly, I finally got my haircut! I hadn't been to the hair salon since February and my stylist took off about 6 inches. It feels wonderful. :)

Stay safe, wear your masks, and hang in there, my friends. Spring is just around the corner!