My week in books and tea 3.9.19

What I finished reading this week

A Mind of Her Own by Paula McClain

An Audible original for the month of March finally appealed to me and I picked it up as my first short read of the month. McClain provides a short snippet about the famed female scientist, Marie Curie. She has a no nonsense attitude when it comes to her education and has no time for falling in love with Pierre Curie. Just as I was getting into the story it ended! I hope this is a preview of a new book from Paula McClain but I guess we will have to wait and see. Which reminds me I have a book ony shelf, Love and Ruin by the author I can read in the meantime.

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84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

84, Charing Cross Road + Rose Estate Black Tea

“It’s certainly good to know that someone so many miles away can be so kind and generous to people they haven’t even seen…”

Who doesn’t enjoy a book about books? I spent an afternoon curled up with this delightful book thinking how wonderful it is to bond over a love of books and reading. Hanff’s wit and humor come through as I read the correspondence she shared with a book seller London. In her quest to find and acquire books for her own collection she befriends many people who work at the bookshop, even neighbors of those who work at the bookshop. I can completely relate to the desire to travel afar to meet book friends at a beautiful bookstore like Marks & Co. A perfect read while I recovered from being sick last week.

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The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

Sometimes sequels to books you enjoy let you down. Umrigar picks up where she left off in the first book, The Space Between Us, the stress and strain of a poor woman, Bhima and her granddaughter Maya, in Mumbai, India. I think this one needs a full review but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.

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Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built + Hazelnutty Black Tea

I don’t usually do well with series books but Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have become like friends I can catch up with over a cup of red bush tea (rooibos) although this time I opted for a different tea as Mma Makutsi has in the past. In this installment, Mma Ramotswe has to come to grips with saying goodbye to her tiny white van, thinking about being a traditionally built woman (which I love) along with solving her latest case. Mma Makutsi also faces a personal case of her own.

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What I have been drinking

☕ The Cup: Black Yunnan | 🍃 Tea Type: Black Tea | ✉ From: Tealeaves

When you have thoughtful friends from the real South (by way of Australia) they ask you if you’ve had said tea and proceed to send some over. This smooth black tea with a hint of sweetness from the cacoa is perfect in the morning or afternoon.

☕ The Cup: Hazelnut | 🍃 Tea Type: Black Tea | ✉ From: ZenTea and Field to Cup

I had some fun this week with a tea taste off, two hazelnut teas and my thoughts on how they measure up. Please note- The link to Field to Cup is an affiliate link. I will earn a small commission from your order.

Check out this post for details – Battle of the Hazelnut Teas

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What I’m Currently Reading

A Mountain of Crumbs + Yunnan Black Tea

A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova – my nonfiction pick for the month! In an effort to read my own books, especially some that have been there for many years, a conversation with a book friend has reminded me we talked last year about reading this one together. Traveling to Soviet Union Russia in the 1930s, the author has provided us with some background on her mother, who was a doctor. Immediately I’m intrigued but haven’t made much progress. I’m going to give it some attention this weekend for sure.

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The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See – I received a free review copy from the publisher (Scribner) and so far I’m enjoying the a book. I’ve enjoyed several of See’s books, and so far her recent book doesn’t disappoint. Young-sook, an old woman on the beach in 2008 is asked by a young woman if she knows Mi-ja, her grandmother. She immediately denies knowing her. But a few pages later we find out that’s not true. We go back in time to the 1930s, becoming acquainted with Young-sook and Mi-ja to find out how their friendship begins.

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Pride, Prejudice and other Flavors + Hazelnutty Black Tea

Pride, Prejudice, and other Flavors by Sonali Dev – I’m reading this one on my Kindle after receiving a free e-galley from the publisher (Harper Collins) in exchange for an honest review. After reading and enjoying Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal a few month’s ago, I decided to pick this one up. It took some time before I could figure out what the e the connection between this book and Pride and Prejudice until I read more of the book. The author makes Trisha, a neurosurgeon, from a well to do family, the arrogant protagonist.

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What I’m Planning

I think this section of My Week in Books and Tea should get revamped! I’d like to share what sorts of ideas are bouncing around in my head and here’s my latest.

• A Tea Party – my tea parties look a little like this before everyone arrives. I lkke to plan it around a theme. My last party was a fall theme called Fall into a latte. The guests could pick from a menu of teas, enjoyed as a cuppa on its own or with the option to latte. Before winter officially ends I’d like to plan my next one featuring white teas.