First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Good Riddance, Elinor Lipman

Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read. (This week's pick is by one of my favorite author's.)

Good Riddance; Elinor Lipman

Houghton, Mifflin Harcourt - 2019

1.

The Grateful Class of 68

"FOR A FEW WEEKS after my mother's death, I was in possession of the painstakingly annotated high school yearbook that had been dedicated to her by the grateful class of 1968.

Yes, she'd been their English teacher and yearbook advisor, but that didn't explain her obsessive collecting of signatures and tributes next to every senior's photo.  I could picture her --age twenty-three, her first job after college, roaming the corridors or Pickering High School, pen and book in hand, coaxing the shyest, least engaged boy or girl to sign--Write anything, I want to remember every one of you. Could you personalize it, just a few words?"

Would you read more or take a pass?

My Week in Review

Outside 

We woke up to snow, snow and more snow (about 5"- 6") and now sleet and freezing rain. Colder temps are moving in this tomorrow - perfect reason to stay in and read.

Thankful

It was nice having a no-stress week.  It's also so nice to live in a condo and not have to worry about snow removal on days like today.

Reading - Still reading The Overstory; Richard Powers (beautiful writing, but, a tough read for me). This may be a DNF.

New Book Arrivals 

Some wonderful new books
from: Viking, Penguin, Atria, Candlewick, Celadon, Bookouture

Finished -  I  finished (3) other books (no reviews yet) : What to Eat When; Roizen & Crupain (just okay as it contained a lot of familiar info) and An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good; Helene Thursten (loved it) and Waiting for Bojangles; Oliver Bourdeaut (another loved it)

(Still) Listening To - The Whistler; John Grisham

Watching - Thrilled to see: The Good Doctor, The Residents, New Amsterdam and This is Us return after it's winter break.  We also watched The Founder (McDonald's story). We saw this one at the movies, but, enjoyed it again a second time.

In The Kitchen - We always eat out a lot but, I did make a pasta primavera with shrimp one day.

New To Me Stuff - Frye Melissa Tote (this one is similar but mine has a zipper closure) and TJ MAXX had a much lower price.                            

Last Week - I did go to yoga M-W-F , I visited 3 different libraries, had a hair appointment and I  had lunch with my daughter and one granddaughter.

This Coming Week: Book group on Wednesday, yoga W and F and, I hope to have lunch with my son, DIL and  granddaughter on Friday.

Hope you all had a good week!

One Day in December; Josie Silver and The Travelling Cat Chronicles; Hiro Awikawa

TITLE: One Day in December (416 pages)

AUTHOR: Josie Silver

PUBLISHER: Crown Publishing

PUB. YEAR: 2018

SETTING:  London
FORMAT:  - eGalley (Edelweiss)
RATING: 4/5 stars

• It feels like love at first sight when Laurie sees a man through the window of a bus she is on. Their eyes connect but then he is gone.  His name is Jack but, all Laurie can do is search, yearn and hope that their paths will cross once more.  Then one day at a party they meet, nut, Jack is dating Sarah, Laurie's best friend.
• Romantic comedy with movie potential - think of Sleepless in Seattle.
• A feel good story to be enjoyed by anyone longing for a nice lighter read.
• The story is told through Laurie and Jack's POV.
• It makes you think about the "one that got away".
• A nice story that I enjoyed way more than I  enjoyed way more than I  expected to.

TITLE: The Traveling Cat Chronicles (288 pages)

AUTHOR: Hiro Awikawa

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUB. YEAR: 2018

SETTING:  Japan
FORMAT:  - print (sent by publisher)
RATING: 4.5/5 stars

• Translated from the Japanese and told mostly from the POV of a once stray cat.  The cat was taken in by the kind-hearted Santoru after it was hit by a car.  The cat was named Nana (based on the Japanese word for seven-a lucky number). After 5 years together, the two head out on a road trip to visit old friends from Santoru's past. We are not sure why, but, it appears as if Santoru is trying to find a new home for Nana.
• Without giving spoilers, this book is a must-read for anyone who has had a special bond with a cat (or any animal for that matter).
• Funny, sad and a quick read as well. It's a story of family, old friendships, love and loss.
• I loved this story so much but, I do wish that it was all told from the POV of the cat.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good; Helene Tursten

Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read.

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good: Stories; Helene Torsten

SOHO Crime - 2018 

An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems

"THE SHRILL SOUND of the doorbell sliced through the silence.  Maud sat motionless in her armchair, making no attempt to get up.  She knew the bell would soon ring again. And again. And again. This had been going on for weeks"

I came across this on the "new book" library shelves last week, the size is so cozy, smaller than my Kindle and just 171 pages.  It's not often fiction is written about senior citizens and a mystery collection as well so I decided to give it a try. What do you think?

My Week in Review

Outside 

It's  22° with snow predicted on Friday and continuing through the weekend. 

Thankful

On Tuesday I had a biopsy and I'm feeling thankful that the results came back as benign.  Not so thankful for my first UTI (ever) but, at least the meds are working.  Also our middle granddaughter had a terrible bout of the flu, spent time in the ER and lost 3 lbs in a few days but, finally she has turned the corner.

Reading - The Overstay; Richard Powers (beautiful writing, liking it, but it's lengthy and a tough read for me)

Finished - One Day in December; Josie Silver (no review yet) 4/5 stars and The Traveling Cat Chronicles; Hiro Awikawa (no review yet) loved it -  4.5/5

Listening To - The Whistler; John Grisham

Watching - We binge watched The Sopranos this week (1 season)

In The Kitchen - We ate out a lot this week as I was kinda stressed but, I did make pancakes and banana nut bread this morning.

New To Me Stuff - Love Beauty & Planet Lavender Deodorant (love this stuff)
                              - Harney's Tropical Green Tea (liked it)

This Week - Back to yoga M-W-F (I missed all last week due to medical stuff for me, but thankfully thats all behind me. Bringing my SIL to airport on Tuesday and have a hair appointment Wednesday.

Hope you all had a good week!

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Traveling Cat Chronicles; Hiro Arikawa

Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read.

The Traveling Cat Chronicles; Hiro Arikawa

Berkley - 2017 (277 pps)

(translated from the Japanese by Philip Gabriel)

Prologue

The Cat With No Name

"I am a cat. As yet, I have no name.  There's a famous cat in our country who once made this very statement.

I have no clue how great the cat was, but at least when it comes to having a name I got there first.  Whether I like my name is another matter, since it glaringly doesn't fit my gender, me being male and all. I was given it about five years ago--around the time I came of age."

What do you think? Pass or read a bit more? I'm enjoying it so far.