Thank you to the publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing, for the free book featured in this post.
It’s been a while but I’m back. I shared in this catch up reel post why I’ve been absent and how I’m hoping to get back on track now. In weather related news, the temperatures are finally cooling off and in can say I’m almost on the fall bandwagon.
What I finished reading
Where the Crawdads Sing was one book I didn’t want to put down but am so glad to have read. I’ve linked my reading review so check it out and tell me what you think. I’d be happy to discuss it if you’ve read it.
A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie was a cover buy–the tea cup on the front! I can’t seem to resist tea cups, real or on book covers. When the audiobook hold came in at my library, I decided to find out how Rex Fortescue dies from a poisoned cup of tea! A quick whodunit, with a note to self- Always prepare your own tea. 
Anne of the Island – I’m finally getting around to reading the Anne of Green Gables books as an adult. I enjoy getting to know her, laughing at Davy and his mischief, but watching Anne mature. Her fanciful ideas of romance are tested and by the end of this book, I’m happy with how she’s learned more about life and herself. 
In Other Words : An Illustrated Miscellany of the World’s Most Intriguing Words and Phrases (courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing). A fun way to look at languages across the world with colorful illustrations. Not every expression can convey the same color, meaning or intention when translated or in the case of this book and, are considered untranslatable. Reading this over tea, surprisingly not MASALA CHAI (Urdu), but felt HYGGE (Danish) all the same.
Sweet Bean Paste is a book I first heard about from Diana at Ideas on Papyrus. Her review convinced me to pick it up on my Kindle as my evening read. I just finished reading it about an hour ago and am still processing my feelings. I thought it was a wonderful little book that makes us consider what’s important.
What I’m reading
The Gilded Years is a historical fiction book based on the true story of Anita Hemmings. Anita is in her senior year at from Vassar College in 1897 as the first African-American women. It just that no one knows that and at this time in history, the school didn’t admit black students. So how is this possible, Anita is passing as white and no one knows that. Books about racial passing are always fascinating to me.
Steep of the Week
☕️The Cup: Coconut Pouchong |🍃Tea Type : Oolong | From: a friend by way of Golden Moon Tea
When a tea smells so good, you have to sit down and enjoy every moment of the experience. From the time you pour the water over the leaves, inhaling the fragrant aroma. When you pour that first cup and close your eyes while you savor the smell as the tea cools just enough to have your first sip. And the smooth buttery sensation of this tea with coconut notes. It’s the tea that keeps on giving, even after 3 steps. I’m besotted and my order for this tea has been placed. I can’t wait to spend more time with it using my gaiwan.
Books By the Cup 
I must say there have been some pretty bad cover illustrations for the Anne books over the years, but that one has to be the worst ever! Haha – I guess we all have our own internal image of what she looked like, and that one sure ain’t mine! That girl looks more like a witch plotting evil than our lovely auburn Ann-with-an-E. 😉
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Someone gave it to me so I used what I had. I don’t imagine Anne to look like this at all. 😂
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I haven’t read that Christie yet, so I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it! I also keep hearing such good things about Where the Crawdads Sing.
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Christie is always a nice comfort read! I like Poirot more but I think it’s because from the few books I’ve read, Poirot is present in much of the book. Miss Marple doesn’t seem to be, just occasionally. Where the Crawdads Sing was one I think lived up to all the fanfare.
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Have you read any of her Tommy and Tuppence books? In terms of series, those have been my favourite from Christie so far.
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No, I haven’t. But I’ll look them up too!!
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Great post, thanks for the mention, and I am glad you enjoyed Sweet Bean Paste! I am actually looking forward to watching a Japanese film based on this story sometime this week, too. I hope it lives up to its original inspirational material.
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I need to re read Anne, are you reading the complete series? I too put Sweet Bean Paste on my TBR but haven’t got around to it yet, I’m interested Diana says there’s going to be a film, I better get on with it!
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I do plan to read all of the series (Anne) and might be able to fnsih by the end of the year. It’s been wonderful picking up the audio as a cozy comfort read in between some of my longer books. And I agree about Sweet Bean Paste. I need to put together a short review Ave get ready for the film! 😉
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This is a lovely wrap-up post, Shell. I hadn’t realized that you started reading the Anne of Green Gables series recently. I read all 8 of them a few years back. If you’re interested in any of my reviews, head over to Grab the Lapels on a computer and type in the title of the book in the search box in the upper right.
I recently got a copy of The Road to Yesterday, which is apparently a collection of short stories set in Anne and Gilbert’s town!
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I have my first review for Anne of Green Gables done so will post that on a few days. Then I can check out your review for the first one! I’ll make note of the short story collection to look up when I finish the series. Thanks!
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I loved Anne of the Island – one of my favorite of the series. I participated in an Anne readalong a couple of years ago and it was so much fun. They are wonderful comfort reads. Enjoy!
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