Tag Archives: book group books

The Monday Check-In ~ 7/31/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

It was a whirlwind of a week — my daughter came to town for a visit, and it went by much too quickly!

What did I read during the last week?

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay: Terrifying and impossible to put down. My review is here.

With Love, From Cold World by Alicia Thompson: Sweet, engaging read about an opposites-attract romance. My review is here.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: I loved this book! My review is here.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers: I listened to the audiobooks of these two novellas this past week. Beautifully written, funny, gentle sci-fi about the meaning of life and personhood. Highly recommended.

Pop culture & TV:

I just got around to starting the newest season of The Witcher (season 3). I’ve only watched one episode so far, and feel like I need a major refresher on what happened in season 2.

Fresh Catch:

No new purchased books this week, but I did pick up a library hold that just came in:

(I’m not sure that I remember where volume 3 left off, but I’ll give it a try anyway.)

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye: I wasn’t sure I was in the mood to start this one… but it sucked me right in and I read about 60% in one day.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley: This audiobook (narrated by the author) grabbed me immediately. I wish I had more listening time each day!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 148 and 149 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s classic read — we’re reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. Progress: 57%

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 7/24/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

A mostly quiet (but busy) week — work, errands, family projects… and whoooosh! All of a sudden, it’s Monday again.

Blogging:

Carol at Reading Ladies Book Club was kind enough to include me in her One Great Summer Read round-up. Check out her post, here.

I shared a post about the timing of ARC reviews, and I would love to hear any opinions on the topic! The post is here.

What did I read during the last week?

Sleep No More (October Daye, #17) by Seanan McGuire: I loved this book! This series… just tear out my heart and stomp on it, why don’t ya? Since Sleep No More doesn’t release until September, I’m holding my review for now.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray: This novel about a unique historical woman should have been fascinating — but instead felt flat and left me mostly bored and disengaged. My review is here.

The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan: A sweet, funny, lovely read. My review is here.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: Loved it! Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished Manifest! All in all, I was hooked throughout my binge of the show’s four seasons. Not every question got answered, not everything made sense, and there are certain aspects of the series finale that I take issue with… but overall, it was a great viewing experience!

Now I’m catching up on new episodes of shows I’ve watched in their earlier seasons, including What We Do in the Shadows and The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay: I thought I’d just read a page or two to get a sense of whether I was in the mood for this book… and clearly I was, since I’m at about page 100 right now!

Now playing via audiobook:

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: I loved this book when I read it last year, and decided to do an audio re-read before moving on to book #2.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 146 and 147 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s classic read — we’re reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. Progress: 45%

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Book Review: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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Title: The Personal Librarian
Authors: Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: June 29, 2021
Length: 347 pages
Genre: Historical fiction
Source: Purchased

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian—who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

The Personal Librarian is a fictionalized depiction of the life of historical figure Belle da Costa Greene, a powerful figure in the New York art and rare book world of the early 20th century. A novel about Belle should have been powerful, but instead, it left me cold (and very tempted to DNF).

The set-up is intriguing: Belle’s family is Black, and her father is a renowned, outspoken figure in the fight for racial equality, justice, and civil rights. Yet (according to the novel), her mother realizes that her light-skinned children will have a better shot at successful lives, free from the rampant racism, violence, and segregation of their time, if they pass as white.

From her teens onward, Belle presents herself socially and professionally as white, and uses an invented Portuguese ancestor (and the invented name “da Costa”) as a way to explain her darker complexion. She makes connections while working at the Princeton library that lead her to J. P. Morgan, whose driving ambition is to create an unrivaled personal library full of rare and valuable treasures. When he hires Belle as his personal librarian, her ascent to influence, social acceptance, and power in the world of collectors and dealers gets its start.

Belle’s story should have been fascinating, but I have a feeling I would have been better off reading a biography rather than reading this novel. Too much is invented or assumed. Belle’s internal musings on race and identity provide the background for her decisions and actions throughout the book, but given that the real-life Belle destroyed all her papers and letters before her death, we can’t actually know what she was thinking or feeling.

There’s a romance (of sorts) with a married man that lasts for years of Belle’s life, and this is documented in real life through her letters to him (which he kept, while she destroyed any letters that she’d received) — but the fictionalized version of this story makes assumptions and adds incidents that apparently are not established by more than speculation.

Beyond the question of fact versus fiction, I simply did not enjoy the writing. I felt at arm’s length from Belle throughout, and frankly, I was often bored. The writing is surface-level, jumps ahead by months at a time, and didn’t let me feel connected to Belle as a person. Her emotions are understandable only because we’re told what she’s feeling, not because they’re tangible in any way.

Reading this book made me ponder a bit too about what I appreciate in historical fiction — and what I don’t. In general, I think I appreciate historical fiction more when it focuses on ordinary/unknown people in historical settings, even up to and including brushes with or relationships with real people, rather than taking a historical figure and inventing thoughts and feelings for them that may be nothing more than speculation. I’m sure this factors into why I didn’t especially care for The Personal Librarian.

As I’ve mentioned, Belle herself seems like a fascinating historical figure. You can read more about her via the Morgan Library & Museum’s website, here. I’ve given The Personal Librarian three stars — I’m glad that this book introduced me to Belle’s life, even if it didn’t particularly work for me as a reading experience.

The Monday Check-In ~ 7/17/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

I took one day off last week to run some errands, catch up on minor projects, and just get a little more time to kick back — it was great! Sometimes, one extra day can make a big difference.

What did I read during the last week?

Be the Serpent (October Daye, #16) by Seanan McGuire: I did an audiobook re-read of the most recent book in the October Daye series, and was blown away by it all over again. (My review from last year is here.)

The Tempest by William Shakespeare: After seeing this play on stage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival last summer, I decided to finally read it too. I liked having the “No Fear” edition to refer to, and took the approach of reading the original language for each scene, then reading the plain English version for comparison. A fun little reading project!

The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon: A satisfying conclusion to this romance trilogy. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Another fantastic Outlander episode this week!

And — big surprise — I’m still watching Manifest, with just a few more episodes to go. This final season is really good! I can’t wait to see if the show sticks the landing.

Fresh Catch:

I ventured out to a brick-and-mortar bookstore to use some of my store credits, and came home with these two books — total spur-of-the-moment impulse buys:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Sleep No More (October Daye, #17) by Seanan McGuire: I am *this close* to finishing this book!! I wish I didn’t need sleep… I’d power through to the end!

Next up:

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: My book group’s pick for July. I’m a little behind schedule, and I haven’t really been in the mood for historical fiction, but I’ll do my best!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan: I’m so happy to have a new Jenny Colgan book to listen to! This one is lovely so far, and the narrator’s absolutely delicious accent is a huge plus.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 144 and 145 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s classic read — we’re reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. Progress: 39%

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 7/10/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

It’s been a busy few days chez moi! The sun actually came out over the weekend, so I enjoyed lots of glorious outdoor time. I also fit in an evening out with friends (which I haven’t done in a long time), and went to a local theater production with family. All in all, an unusual amount of activity, all really fun!

What did I read during the last week?

Ravensong (Green Creek, #2) by TJ Klune: Plain and simple, I’m in love with this series. My review is here.

Passing by Nella Larsen: I listened to the audiobook of this 20th century classic, with narration by Tessa Thompson, and thought it was so well done. Looking forward to watching the Netflix adaptation soon too.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston: A terrific time-slip novel with great romance and a wonderful premise. My review is here.

Thief Liar Lady by D. L. Soria: An interesting (but not entirely successful) take on the Cinderalla story. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I seem to be repeating myself week after week, but it’s true: Season 7 of Outlander continues to be terrific! The 4th episode keeps the action moving forward, and overall, this season really delivers.

Still deeply immersed in Manifest over on Netflix. I’m now in the final season, which is where the show moved from network television to Netflix, and I feel like the production quality and storytelling have both picked up. I have about 10 episodes left — can’t wait to see how it wraps up!

Fresh Catch:

Earlier in the week, I asked for help in identifying a dimly-remembered book from my college days… and with my sister’s input, got the answer I needed! The book, The Wanderground by Sally Miller Gearheart, was available through my library, so I snagged a copy right away. I do have other books to read first, but I’m eager to see how it compares to my memories.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Hookup Plan (The Boyfriend Project, #3) by Farrah Rochon: This wasn’t exactly what I was in the mood to read this week, but since it’s due back at the library soon and I want to finish the trilogy, I went ahead and started it. It’s light enough that I should wrap it up quickly!

Now playing via audiobook:

Be the Serpent (October Daye, #16) by Seanan McGuire: I’m doing an audio re-read of the most recent October Daye book, getting ready for the release of TWO more books in the series this fall. Be the Serpent is so good and so engrossing that even thought I know what’s going to happen, I still feel like I’m on the edge of my seat the entire time I’m listening. (Here’s my review from when I originally read this book last year.)

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 142 and 143 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s classic read — we’re reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer.
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition): I’m reading the “No Fear” edition of this play — reading the original text, then the “plain English” version on each page. I finished Act III this week.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 7/3/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

Happy (almost) 4th of July!

I’m taking the day off today, so that makes it a four-day weekend, and who doesn’t love those? Mostly, I’ve been staying close to home, taking care of some organizing and other projects, and trying to get in some outdoor time too.

We’ll see — maybe I can convince my family to head out in the sun somewhere for a day trip on the 4th!

What did I read during the last week?

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher: I loved this Sleeping Beauty retelling! My review is here.

Longshadow (Regency Faerie Tales, #3) by Olivia Atwater: Sadly, this final book in the trilogy did not work for me. My review is here.

Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: My Classics Club Spin book! Even though many of the concepts and ideas are now outdated, it’s fascinating to read this early 20th century take on the concept of a feminist utopia. My review is here.

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon: A fun 2nd book in a series that emphasizes friendship as well as romance. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Season 7 of Outlander continues to be terrific! We’re now 3 episodes in, and I’m loving how much ground is being covered, and how well the stories are playing out on screen.

On Netflix, it’s still a Manifest project for me. I’m halfway through season 3, and then just have the (very long) final season to go. A lot of it is ridiculous… but I’m too far into it not to see it through.

Fresh Catch:

Two excited new arrivals this week. First, an advance copy of the 3-in-1 paperback bind-up of the first three books in the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. This edition will be released July 18th:

And now for my precious…

I splurged and ordered this special edition of Wolfsong by TJ Klune after reading the book a few weeks ago and falling in love with the story and the characters. Look how gorgeous this is:

This is the Waterstones special edition, and I was hoping to see a similar edition for the next book in the series… but it doesn’t exist (yet??) as far as I can see.

Puzzle of the week:

Pretty tricky, but I got it done!

I realized this week that I’ve accumulated an absolutely ridiculous number of jigsaw puzzles over the past few years, so I put up a Craigslist ad to try to sell a few. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t think I’m willing to put in the effort needed to list them all on EBay.

Has anyone else found a good way to sell (or swap) used jigsaw puzzles?

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Ravensong (Green Creek, #2) by TJ Klune: A long weekend seemed like the perfect time to start a (very) long book. I love the world of this series, and I’m thrilled to be back in it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Passing by Nella Larsen: I’ve been wanting to read this book for some time now, and when I saw it available on Audible with narration by Tessa Thompson (who stars in the Netflix adaptation), I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve listened to half so far — it’s very good.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 140 and 141 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s new classic read — we’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. It’s really fun so far.
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition): I saw a stage version of The Tempest last year, but have never read it. I thought it might be fun to give the “no fear” edition a try. I’m enjoying reading the original text, then comparing it to the “plain English” version on the facing page. I didn’t actually make any more progress this past week — but hope to dive back in and read Act III in the next few days.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 6/26/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

I went back to the office this week — big milestone in my post-COVID days! It actually felt pretty good to be back, although by each mid-afternoon, I was craving naptime.

And here’s this week’s moment of cuteness with our little houseguest Benji:

What did I read during the last week?

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano: Sad, powerful, impossible to put down. My review is here.

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw: A fun little foray into drama! I really enjoyed reading this play (which is the basis for My Fair Lady) — and it was interesting to see how the story here is different from the story in the musical.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray: Clever concept, but my attention wavered quite a bit. My review is here.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: I think I’ve found my new favorite by this author duo! My review is here.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center: Fascinating, funny romance with a unique premise. My review is here.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher: This Sleeping Beauty retelling is a fast but totally engaging read. Review to come later this week!

Pop culture & TV:

Loving the new season of Outlander! We’re two episodes into Season 7, and the show is absolutely delivering. I love how they’re wrapping up dangling plotlines from previous seasons and propelling the story forward. This week’s episode covered a lot of ground, but also had incredibly powerful character moments.

I’m still making my way through Manifest over on Netflix. There are a LOT of episodes! I’m about halfway through season 2 at this point. I roll my eyes a lot… but I also want to see where the story goes, so I’m sticking with it.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

Puzzle of the week:

I just started this one yesterday — it’s going to take a while.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Longshadow (Regency Faerie Tales, #3) by Olivia Atwater: This e-book was available to borrow from the library right when I needed a new book. I enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy, so why not got ahead and finish?

Now playing via audiobook:

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon: Another spur-of-the-moment library find! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and since #2 was downloadable right when I was ready for a new listen, I grabbed it. I’m at about 35% — really good so far!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 138 and 139 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s new classic read — we’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. We’re off to a good start!
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition): I saw a stage version of The Tempest last year, but have never read it. I thought it might be fun to give the “no fear” edition a try. I’m enjoying reading the original text, then comparing it to the “plain English” version on the facing page. This week, I read Acts I and II.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 6/19/2023

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

Getting better, bit by bit! After a couple of weeks of lingering COVID symptoms, I’m feeling mostly better at this point — I still get tired pretty easily, and my tastebuds aren’t quite functioning normally, but overall, so much better! I finally started getting out of the house, and honestly, that feels like a milestone!

I worked from home last week, but this week, I’ll be heading back to the office. Real life, here I come!

What did I read during the last week?

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman: My book group’s pick for June. Wonderful historical fiction. My review is here.

Lion’s Legacy by L. C. Rosen: Really fun YA adventure with positive messages. My review is here.

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano: Couldn’t put this one down once I started. Review to follow.

The Expert System’s Brother and The Expert System’s Champion by Adrian Tchaikovsky: A terrific sci-fi novella duology. My thoughts are here.

Pop culture & TV:

I was so sad to hear of the passing of Treat Williams this week. I’ve loved him in so many roles (Everwood was a stand-out), but his portrayal of Berger in Hair will always be my favorite.

In other pop culture moments…

Outlander is back! Season 7 began this weekend, and it’s going to be so good! I’m glad that the show skipped past certain book elements that dragged on for a long, long time and got the story moving forward. This season should be great! It’s supposed to be 16 episodes in total, although these will be split into two halves. No matter — I’m just thrilled that it’s back!

Also, while I love the original version of theme song, I also love that it changes every season. This season’s version is sung by Sinéad O’Connor! Check it out:

As for other viewing — I finished season four of Never Have I Ever (Netflix), and thought the show did a really good job wrapping up the various characters’ storylines. I was floundering a bit trying to find something else to dive into, so I decided to give Manifest a try. I’ve only watched a few episodes so far, but the premise is definitely interesting!

Fresh Catch:

Oh dear… I completely gave in to my obsession with the Green Creek series by TJ Klune and bought all four books on Kindle:

Puzzle of the week:

My third Charley Harper puzzle. I love how many hidden details there are to find that aren’t obvious at the start (like the adorable little bear cub, an owl, and a snake).

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I’m bouncing between two books right now:

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw: I picked up a paperback edition of this play earlier in the year, after seeing a production of My Fair Lady at a local theater. Just yesterday, I randomly took the book off my shelf and read Act I! I think I’ll read this in small pieces throughout the week.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray: I’ve had this in my Kindle library for a few months already, and decided to give it a try. I’ve only read the first chapter so far, but it looks like it will be fun.

Now playing via audiobook:

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: I’ve barely had time to listen, but now that I’m feeling better again and able to get back to long walks, I hope to make lots of progress.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 136 and 137 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: Starting today! My book group’s new classic read — we’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. Interesting in joining in? Just let me know!
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition): I saw a stage version of The Tempest last year, but have never read it. I thought it might be fun to give the “no fear” edition a try.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Book Review: The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

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Title: The Matchmaker’s Gift
Author: Lynda Cohen Loigman
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication date: September 20, 2022
Length: 320 pages
Genre: Contemporary/historical fiction
Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

From Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker’s Gift.

Is finding true love a calling or a curse?

Even as a child in 1910, Sara Glikman knows her gift: she is a maker of matches and a seeker of soulmates. But among the pushcart-crowded streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Sara’s vocation is dominated by devout older men—men who see a talented female matchmaker as a dangerous threat to their traditions and livelihood. After making matches in secret for more than a decade, Sara must fight to take her rightful place among her peers, and to demand the recognition she deserves.

Two generations later, Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful Manhattan divorce attorney, representing the city’s wealthiest clients. When her beloved Grandma Sara dies, Abby inherits her collection of handwritten journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. But among the faded volumes, Abby finds more questions than answers. Why did Abby’s grandmother leave this library to her and what did she hope Abby would discover within its pages? Why does the work Abby once found so compelling suddenly feel inconsequential and flawed? Is Abby willing to sacrifice the career she’s worked so hard for in order to keep her grandmother’s mysterious promise to a stranger? And is there really such a thing as love at first sight?

I’m not always a fan of dual timelines in historical fiction, but in the case of The Matchmaker’s Gift, this approach absolutely works.

In one timeline, we follow the story of Sara Glickman, a woman who emigrates to the United States in 1910 with her family, settling on New York’s Lower East Side. Sara realizes at age 10 that she has an unusual gift — she can “see” when two people are a match. First, she helps her sister find her bashert (soulmate, destined true love, the one that’s meant to be), and soon after, realizes she can see these connections for others as well.

The shadchanim (matchmakers) of the New York Jewish community are outraged — a young, unmarried girl has no business meddling in their business and potentially stealing their customers and their income. Sara swears to her father that she’ll give up matchmaking, but she’s unable to entirely ignore her calling and the good that she brings about.

In the other timeline (in the 1990s), we meet Sara’s granddaughter Abby, an associate in a prestigious divorce law firm who grew up scarred by her own parents’ divorce and is determined to make sure other women have the support her own mother lacked. When Abby learns of her beloved grandmother’s death, she’s grief-stricken — but she’s also inspired by Sara’s journals, which provide meticulous records of all the matches Sara made over the years. She’s also a little freaked out, though, when she starts seeing the same sort of connections that her grandmother once saw.

There’s so much to love about The Matchmaker’s Gift. In Sara’s part of the story, not only do we get to know what a strong and dedicated person she is, but we also get a beautifully written depiction of life in the Jewish community of the Lower East Side in the early 20th century. The characters, the environment, the traditions — all are brought lovingly to life.

Abby’s storyline, while more modern and perhaps less picturesque, still vibrates with a sense of New York in that time period. Abby interacts with characters from various walks of life through her work and through unexpected connections that come about after her grandmother’s passing, and it’s fascinating to see all the various ways that these people intersect and overlap.

I was particularly moved when Abby discovers that Sara came back to her matchmaking vocation in the postwar years of the late 1940s, when rabbis came to her to ask her help with making sure the Jewish people could survive after the devastation of the Holocaust. Sara saw it as her mission to bring together refugees and survivors, and it’s so powerful to read about. In fact, I wish this section of the story was explored in more detail — it’s not central to the plot, more something that’s filled in as a piece of Sara’s history, but it’s really beautiful.

Also very powerful is the information that later on in her life, Sara’s gift occasionally led her to see damaged connections, allowing her recognize an abusive marriage and help the woman escape and start over. Again, I might have liked to see more of this element of Sara’s gift, but the fact that’s it’s included at all made a big impression.

On a funny note, reading this book made me think of the Netflix series Jewish Matchmaking, and in the author’s notes, she mentions having consulted with Aleeza Ben Shalom — who is the host of the Netflix series!

Overall, I found The Matchmaker’s Gift to be very readable, engaging, and touching. Highly recommended!

The Monday Check-In ~ 6/12/2023

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

On the mend…

Four COVID cases later, my entire household is starting to feel better. I felt close to normal on Friday, then went back downhill on Saturday and Sunday… but I know it’s a slow process, and I’m trying to be patient, get lots of rest, and drink as much tea as possible! I’d planned to go back to my regular work schedule as of today (Monday) — remotely, of course — but that’s looking kind of iffy at this point.

In cuteness news…

We have a new house guest!

Meet Benji! (Formally known as Benji Bean, in case you’re ever looking to be introduced). My son and his girlfriend adopted Benji about a week and a half ago, right as we all started getting sick… so instead of moving back to her place as planned, Benji is staying here until everyone is healthy and ready to be out in the world again.

Look at that adorableness! I’m not hating it.

What did I read during the last week?

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris: Read the previous week, but just posted a review, here.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon: Positive contemporary romance with a strong emphasis on women’s friendship. My review is here.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley: Amazing road trip adventure! My review is here.

Wolfsong (Green Creek, #1) by TJ Klune: There are no words for how much I loved this book. I think I’ll be under its spell for quite a while. My review is here.

Ten Thousand Stitches (Regency Faerie Tales, #2): Another fun faerie story. Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

Has anyone watched With Love on Prime Video? Somehow it escaped my notice until now, but it’s such a fun, heartwarming series. There are now two seasons (eleven episodes total), focusing on the members of a large Mexican-American family and their ups and downs. It’s funny, romantic, and totally engaging. I hope there’s more to come! (Although I also hope they ditch the love triangle that’s been dragging on… so annoying!)

Fresh Catch:

One new physical review books, plus once again I succumbed to the temptation of adding to my (overwhelmingly huge) Kindle library:

Puzzle of the week:

Really pretty one this week, and it went very quickly too!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman: My book group’s pick for June. Just getting started.

Now playing via audiobook:

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: The library happened to have a copy available for download right when I was ready for something new. Looking forward to it!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

With a new group classic read starting next week, I’ll have two ongoing reads to keep me busy:

  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 134 and 135 (of 155).
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: We’re starting our group read next week, two chapters per week. Sounds like it will be great!

So many books, so little time…

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