This was a bit more interesting of week for me because my library book group actually met in person on a glorious sunny day ...in the park...socially distanced of course. Although only 8 showed up (we are all seniors except for 2 members), it was great to see readers in person after 6 months apart. Planning more outdoor meetings, weather permitting for September and October), The book we read was one I didn't think I'd have interest in but, it was very good. Everyone liked this book to some degree, parts were quite sad. Next month's book is Unsheltered; Barbara Kingsolver which I read and reviewed in October of 2018.
(Description)
Soon to be a major television event from Pascal Pictures, starring Tom Holland.
Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours.
Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.
In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.
Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.
Outside…Beautiful sunny day with high temps 76 degrees, windows open for sleep tonight for sure. Looking forward to fall temps but not what follows.
Watching…
I didn't watch any of the RNC, I've heard more than enough lies from this administration in the last 4 years. The news was sad enough with yet more shooting of black men that just didn't need to happen. We did watch (2) repeat movies that I loved: Hidden Figures and The Help.
summer-reading-list-2020
Update
I've read 9 of 10 books I selected for my Summer Reading List. The exception was: Kept Animals (hopefully, I'll get my hands on a copy by year's end).
A Week at the Shore (4/5 stars)
If It Bleeds (4/5 stars)
Double Indemnity (4.5/5 stars)
Death in Her Hands (2.5/5 stars)
28 Summers (4.5/5 stars)
Tomorrow There Will Be Sun (2.5/5 stars)
Girls of Summer (4/5 stars)
Kept Animals (did not read yet)
Finished Reading...
This week I finished -
- Beneath a Scarlet Sky; Mark Sullivan (which I liked)
- Preaching to the Chickens{ Story of John Lewis); Jabari Asim (loved it)
- 28 Summers; Elin Hilderbrand (loved it)
Currently Reading...
- One By One; Ruth Ware (in progress)
- The Lying Life of Adults; Elena Ferrante
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.
I'm glad you were able to get together in person with your book club. Our book club got together one evening in June, and it was lovely, but July and August are too hot here. We are thinking of trying again in September. One woman in our book club lives by herself, and book club is a huge outlet for her especially. We read Beneath a Scarlet Sky, too. I was like you; I really didn't think I'd like it, and I was pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteYou did great with your summer reading. I need to go back and see your review of Death in Her Hands and 28 Summers. I'm on the waiting list at the library for these. Maybe I need to cut Death in Her Hands from my list. I wonder if Kept Animals is at my library. A lot of books seem to have become late arrivals there. I guess the publishers have postponed the publishing of some books.
I feel like I need to find a few better reads for me. The last few books have just been so-so.
I hope you have a great week, Diane.
Hidden Figures and The Help are both such good movies!
ReplyDeleteMy book club has been meeting by Zoom and probably will continue to do so for the rest of the year as our library isn't open to go in (curbside pickup of holds). I enjoyed The Girls of Summer.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to meet with your book group in person! Have a good week, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThe weather was beautiful here today, Spring officially starts tomorrow,
ReplyDeleteMy local library has just started a monthly zoom event which I joined this week which was fun. They were saying our library region hosts 72 individual book clubs, remarkable since there is only about 15 libraries.
Wishing you a great reading week and more good weather
Yay for in person book group! We help our Friends of the Library board meeting outside this month, our first meeting since March. It was nice, but the weather won't cooperate for too many more months here in Ohio.
ReplyDeleteBeneath a Scarlet Sky looks good and it's going to be a movie too I see. I miss going to the movies :(
Have a great week!
My book group has been meeting face-to-face for a couple of months now. We gather in my driveway, which is large and level and the sunniest spot on our property. We have chairs spaced 6-8 feet apart and only allow for a dozen members to attend. So far, we haven't had any problems with an overflow of requests to attend. In a few more months, we'll be back to Zoom since the rainy season will interfere. Or, we may use our community center. Of course, masks are required for that since it's indoors. I have heard good things about Beneath a Scarlet Sky and hope to get to it later this winter. We're about 10 degrees cooler than you and I'm still waiting for summer temps to arrive! :) I'm so weary of the news and am about ready to give up Facebook. I can skim the headlines on various news sites, but FB is so divisive and depressing. Makes me feel like I want to bury my head in the sand for the next two months. Ah, The Help is such a great movie! I may have to watch it again when we finish binging on Bosch. Have a wonderful week, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you actually got to get together for the first time in a while!
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you were able to meet your book group in person. It's a sign of normalcy. I really want to read 28 Summers. I put it on hold at the library so hopefully I'll get it soon. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAwesome that your reading group met in person. I am still awaiting a month when that will feel safe here in Los Angeles. At least the numbers are going down again, but we have a long way to go I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you think of the new Ferrante!
That is so wonderful that you had a chance to meet with your book group! I don't think my book group will be meeting in person any time soon. And, that's great that you are enjoying some nice weather too. We're still experiencing temps in the 100s. So ready for Fall.
ReplyDeleteBeneath a Scarlet Sky sounds *excellent*, my kind of thing. Must into that one.
ReplyDeleteI read and enjoyed Hidden Figures a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I remember when I read it that one of my patients had been a NASA engineer who helped design the arm that held the Saturn V rockets. I recommended the book to him. I don't know if he ever read it but he probably did. I've never seen the movie. I should see if I can stream it somewhere. Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteBeneath a Scarlett Sky sounds really interesting; a twist on the typical WWII novel. You've got some really good books listed and the idea of having outdoor book groups sounds lovely after 6 months of mostly isolation! I also avoided the RNC as I am disturbed enough by the lies and the hate being spewed; I don't need to hear more.
ReplyDeleteHidden Figures and The Help were quite good as movies, I thought.
ReplyDeleteAll this political unrest is getting to me but at the same time I can't keep quiet about it.
My book club is wanting to meet in person but one person refuses to wear as mask. That is an automatic NO for me.