Top Ten Tuesday: Books for People Who Liked Author X aka “If you liked X, you’ll likely enjoy Y”

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I’m really HATING blogging right now because of all the problems I am having with Word Press. I’ve finally had time to make a video and am trying to discover where to send it so someone can SEE the problems. I’m sorry that, again this week, there are no links to my reviews or to Amazon for the books (I do not make any money off this blog–the links to Amazon are for your convenience only)

There’s an obvious copy-cat cover in the top selection. The last two selections–I tried, I REALLY tried to use some different books! Dick Francis wrote in the current day, while Derby Day is set in the late 19th century. In fact, it could be a pair with the next “second” book–Goodnight, Sweet Prince which is set a little later than Anne Perry’s Monk books.

Why not join in with us next week. Top Ten Tuesday is a lot of fun!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie! Some Cookbooks I Want to Check Out or Own

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I love to cook at least as much as I love to read/listen to books. A surprise hit post in 2021 was a a post about 3 favorite new recipes–all of which I’m still loving! So, for my freebie this week I thought I’d post about some cookbooks that interest me.

New to me–late Christmas Gifts

I got an Instant Pot as a Christmas gift last year? Year before? Who knows. I use it more than I thought I would. Dry beans are cheap–Dollar Tree usually has 2lbs of dry black beans for $1.25. I can’t buy truly in bulk because I have absolutely no where to store such things, so this is a good price. Williams Sonoma’s take on Instant Pot cooking is pretty nice and fancy. I should love this one! Instant Pot by Williams Sonoma.

Sheet Pan Dinners–these are what I make most nights. Since I’m alone except when my adult son is home on the weekends, that’s just fine. This book features meatless sheet pan dinners and that is just fine with me.Sheet Pan Suppers Meatless by Raquel Pelzel

Cookbooks I’ve Seen Only Online, Have Had Home From the Library or Want to Request From the Library

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Twice in one week I’ve got caught not recording where I found a book! One of you bloggers posted about this cookbook–especially a salad with beets. I want to try THAT salad and more from this book. It looks as though I will have to purchase it though. That may take a while. Community: Salad Recipes From Arthur Street Kitchen by Hetty McKinnon. If you are the one who mentioned it–please leave you name so I can link to your post.

 

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While I may never get to have my longed-for wood fired pizza oven in the backyard, I’m doing pretty well with just my old oven in the stove. I now have Chicago and Detroit pizza pans and have successfully made both. Time to tweak! This one I may even order tonight, I’m not a huge fan of cookbooks on Kindle, but for the price? Maybe. Perfect Pan Pizza by Peter Reinhart.

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I did have this one from the library for two weeks only. The founds sounds as delicious as the cover looks. I’d love to have this one, if only to look at. Half-Baked Harvest Every Day by Tieghan Gerard.

 
 

Having just finished listening to Nuclear Family by Joseph Han, I want to try the foods of Korea, Hawaii and Guam–the SPAM capital of the world. The SPAM “biography” is a bonus! Kimchi–I want to eat it, but have no desire to make it! There are kimchi cookbooks out there if you are interested. See the end of this post for a fun kimchi video.  Korean American  Aloha Kitchen and Hawai’i Cooks With SPAM

 

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I forgot this one! It’s languishing on my Kindle. It’ll come to light very soon when I finish listening to My Family and Other Animals this week. I loved the TV series and had to read the book(s)– by various Durrells.  Dining With the Durrells by David Shimwell.

 

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Later this year, this book and a few others will make sense to you. No! I’m not traveling! Tune in during the summer….. Living the Good Life in the Eternal City by Elizabeth Minchiluli

 

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books Read in the Last Ten Januaries

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This week’s topic is supposed to be:  Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2023, but I’ve already covered that in this post:

TTT: Books on my Winter 2022/23 To Read List

Since I’ve tracked my reading for a long time now, it’s pretty easy to do this kind of post.

 

Bonus: In case you missed it, here is my first book review of January 2023

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The Pavilion in the Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith

 

January 2022

 

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The Cat Who Saved Books: A Novel by Sosuke Matsukawa

 

January 2021

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When We Were Young and Brave: A Novel by Hazel Gaynor

 

January 2020

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Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

 

January 2019

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The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson

January 2018

 

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Turtles All the Way Down by John Greene

 

January 2017

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Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman

January 2016

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Mrs. Engles: A Novel by Gavin McRae

January 2015

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Sima’s Undergarments for Women: A Novel by Ilana Stanger-Ross

   

January 2014

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Storm in the Village by Miss Read

January 2012

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How to be an American Housewife: A Novel by Margaret Dilloway

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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2022 Not in My Favorite Books of 2022 Posts

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You can read my Favorite Historical Fiction Books post here.

You can read my Favorite other Fiction and Nonfiction Books post here.

You can read about my Favorite Book of 2022 here--it has other good geeky book stuff in the post, too.

Since I’d already published the three posts linked above, I’m tweaking today’s topic of Favorite Books of 2022, to be favorites that didn’t make it big in any of those posts. Still excellent books–all with 4 stars (I rarely give a 5 star rating).

Other Favorite Christmas Book

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25 Days till Christmas by Poppy Alexander

The Read-Along Book I Loved

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Sugar & Slate by Charlotte Williams. Thank you to The Book Jotter for suggesting it. (Won’t you be kind and go visit her blog and leave a comment? Come on! It’s New Year’s Eve! Leave a comment. Comments make a blogger’s day).

Favorite Dean Street Press/Furrowed Middle Brow Book

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Spring Magic by D.E. Stevenson

 

Favorite Series Book

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It was such a relief to have the great Lisette Lecat back voicing this series. No one else can do it. A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection

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Kindle First Reads pick for December. I can’t remember the last one of these I actually read….Maybe this one will get read? Five Winters: A Novel by Kitty Johnson

 

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I ran out of steam on Christmas books, but this one is in the running for next year. Snowfall Over Halesmere House by Suzanne Snow.

 

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Another now on the list for 2023. I grabbed this on sale since I loved her 25 Days Till Christmas.

 

I hated the cover on the audio version I bought, so here is the much nicer cover from the Kindle edition. Miss Buncle’s Book.

 

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One of the reasons I got an Audible subscription (and kept it after my drastic drop in income) was to listen to the newest Chief Inspector Gamache book each year when it appears. Also, to listen to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency’s newest installment. Mari Kondo said keep things that “spark job”–these spark joy. I don’t usually review series books, but I enjoyed this one so much! A World of Curiosities.

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Another probably doomed free Kindle book! The cover is wonderful and her books all sound wonderful. Maybe? The Vibrant Years: A Novel by Sonali Dev.

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Me who has loved every Dean Street Press/Furrowed Middlebrow book I’ve read or listened to, dropped the ball pretty badly on the inaugural #DeanStreetDecember. This one I’m sure will get read eventually. Wine of Honor by Barbara Beauchamp.

 

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What Happened to the Corbetts by Nevile Shute was excellent. My review is linked.

 

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A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith is the newest in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series. And, thankfully, Lisette LeCat is back as the narrator! Wonderful! Like with Chief Inspector Gamache, I always listen to these books. I made an exception and reviewed this book–my review is linked.

 

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I think this was September’s free doomed book. The Fire and the Ore: A Novel by Olivia Hawker

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’ve Helped Santa to Bring This Year

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The topic is supposed to be: Books I Hope Santa Brings This Year, but my family has a woefully bad record of giving me the books I’ve asked for. So, I’m giving a list of the books I’ve gifted! Nobody who is getting one of these books reads my blog, so it’s safe.

For My Grandson-to-be due in March

For My Nephew’s School Aged Kids (4th and 7th grade)

All but the Tolkien were on their individual Christmas lists. My nephew is a big-time Tolkein lover–he and his son just finished reading aloud the first LOTR book. He didn’t know about the Letters to Father Christmas book though. It’s a family read aloud.

I was amazed by the historical fiction series Conspiracy: The Plot to Kill Hitler.  have read this in about 6th grade and would likely have devoured the series. I’m so happy that someone else in the family loves history.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Winter 2022-2023 To-Read List

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Fiction

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In March by Geraldine Brooks, we got the story of the absent (in the Civil War) father in Little Women. Marmee, obviously, tells the mother’s story (obviously, because the girls called their mother, what else, “Marmee”). (My review of March was lost on my old blog–I really liked the book). Marmee:A Novel of Little Women by Sarah Miller.

 

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I wasn’t as taken with the 70 page Booker Prize-nominated novella as others were. It was good, but I didn’t find it award winning or innovative. I found it….a short story. No matter! I want to read Foster by Claire Keegan in 2023.

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This one isn’t out until March but that’s still winter in my book. I love Old Blue Eyes! I listen to him all the time. And, I like Heather Webb’s writing. Strangers in the Night by Heather Webb. I hope she’ll continue on to write about Frank and Mia Farrow, too.

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England’s famous aristocratic Mitford sisters. From Unity who, in today’s terms, stalked Hitler and became one of his circle, to Diana who left her husband for the head of the British Fascists, to Decca who ran off with Churchill’s nephew to the Spanish Civil War and became a communist. This will either be good or awful. The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict. (I’m two for two in DNF-ing her books, albeit one was for the audio reader. I threw back Lady Clementine because I’ve read way too much on the Churchills).

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A Thousand Miles to Graceland:A Novel by Kristen Mei Chase just sounds fun!

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Judy Leigh has been a very fun discovery. I’ve enjoyed her books so much that she’s now a “must read” for me. I’m also working on her back list. The Golden Oldies’ Book Club by Judy Leigh

Nonfiction

I don’t always review the royal books I read. But here are the ones I most want to read. Courtiers is late coming out in the USA, sadly.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie–10 Random Books From My TBR

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The Language of Baklava: A Memoir by Diana Abu-Jaber

 

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The Break Up Book Club by Wendy Wax

 

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Shiloh: A Novel by Shelby Foote

 

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The Slow Lane Walkers Club by Rosa Temple

 

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Vivian by Christina Hesselhold  UK Link to Fitzcarrlado Editions

 

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The Native Heath by Elizabeth Fair

FYI this is a Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow book and it is #DeanStreetDecember. Read all the details here and see my introductory post for the event here.

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Swiss Watching 3rd edition by Diccon Bewes

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Blame it on the Brontes by Annie Sereno

 

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A Village in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

My review of Julia Boyd’s earlier book, Travelers in the Third Reich

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December ’41: A World War II Thriller by William Martin

Have you read any of these? Leave me a comment or a link to your review.

 

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Top Ten Tuesday: Cozy Reads

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This week’s topic is Cozy Reads–books that give off a cozy vibe!

Dean Street Press’s Furrowed Middlebrow series

Dean Street Press’s Furrowed Middlebrow series is the very essence of cozy!

The Cornish Midwife series is nice and cozy.

Cozy Nonfiction! Even author Meik Winking’s voice is cozy!

Judy Leigh’s books are fun and cozy.

 

Jan Karon’s Mitford is very cozy.

 

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All of the many Miss Read books are very cozy.

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Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books are certainly cozy.

 

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The March family lived a cozy, if often financially strained life. Little Women, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott.

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