#spinetalk

Staying up an extra hour tossing and turning to find a good position that doesn't hurt.

#spinetalk 📖 ⁣ #AllThisCouldBeYours by @jamiattenberg ⁣⁣ 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 Cheers ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I always look forward to @starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte in the fall & a new Jami Attenberg book. HOLY CRAP— she’s done it again! It’s a no brainer read for me when it comes to Jami Attenberg. I had no idea what this book was about (avoided reviews or overviews) but it’s Jami so I knew it was going to entertain me to the fullest. I’ve been a fan since her debut novel #TheMiddlesteins in 2012. She just tells a good darn story...period! Especially dysfunctional family stories. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I paused all of my other books to read ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS. The patriarch of the family is dying and his wife & children, well let’s just say they don’t give a damn! The family has lived their lives in the grips of a toxic & abusive man. As Victor lies on his death bed his wife (Barbra), kids (Alex and Gary) and Gary’s wife Twyla journey through their memories of life with this horrible man. The drama in this book had me laughing and yelling expletives out loud! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Attenberg is one of those authors who just makes me feel good & gets me out of any reading slump. I enjoy reading her stories. So let me leave with this— be nice to your family. You don’t want to end up like Victor! OMG 😱🤣 (I had to chuckle because I couldn’t believe it!)⁣⁣ 🎧📚🍷⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #spinesvines #books #wine #booksandcoffee #pumpkinspicelatte #psl #jamiattenberg #bookrec #bookreview #bookrecommendation #audiobook (at Alexandria, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NtIwagkbN/?igshid=1c6z98luwoypp

#spinetalk 📖 #TheBeekeeperofAleppo by @lefterichristy ⁣ 🍷🍷🍷🍷 Cheers⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ "Sometimes we create such powerful illusions so that we do not get lost in the darkness." ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ This quote truly sums up this heartbreaking story about war, profound loss and the struggle to hold on to hope despite tragic circumstances. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ Nuri is a beekeeper in Aleppo,Syria and his wife Afra, who becomes blind after a bombing, is an artist. As violence continues to erupt they have no choice but to leave their war-torn homeland where they’ve lost everything, including their son. As they travel the dangerous Syrian refuge trail through Turkey, Greece & to the UK, where they are seeking asylum, you bear witness to the trauma via Nuri and Afra’s memories, dreams and nightmares. They are victims of hatred and prejudice simply because they are seeking a better place. This is such a relevant and timely story but it was also very difficult to read. Their life was good, they were happy with their family & friends before death & destruction took over —now they are displaced and seeking refuge in an unknown land. My thoughts were all over the place and I kept thinking about being displaced. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ This is gorgeous storytelling weaving the past & present. You get an intimate look behind the scenes of how these horrific events impacted the mind, body and spirit of the characters. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you’ve read this book, let me know your thoughts? ⁣ ⁣⁣ Many thanks @randomhouse for the gifted copy.⁣⁣ ⁣📚☕️⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣⁣ #spinesvines #books #wine #diversespines #sundaymorning #tea #bookreview #bookrec #bookrecommendation #minibookreview (at National Harbor, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4H9WdygOIk/?igshid=1u30d4qq4137b

The National Book Foundation has announced the longlists for each of the five National Book Award categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Young People’s Literature, Translated Literature, and Poetry. There are some really good books on these lists!