What I Read – November 2016
Yikes! DECEMBER is almost over, so I’m quickly backtracking to talk about the books I read in NOVEMBER!
My Southern Journey: True Southern Stories from the Heart of the South by Rick Bragg. If you’re from the South, you’ll want to read this book! If you’re NOT from the South, you’ll want to read this book! My favorite feature in Southern Living each month is Rick Bragg’s essay. It’s the last thing in each issue, and it’s always amazing. This book is a collection of his essays from Southern Living and other publications along with some that haven’t been published before. I laughed out loud. I might’ve cried a little. Really good stuff. I listened to the audio version of this book. Rick Bragg himself is the narrator, and I enjoyed hearing him share his own stories of “his people,” but his essays are just as enjoyable in print.
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. I don’t think I would’ve picked this book up if I hadn’t met Mr. Beatty and heard him pitch the book at #ReadSavannah back in September. I’m all about YA fiction, but I usually need a recommendation from someone before I read it. Mr. Beatty totally hooked me with his presentation, and I’m happy to tell you that his book is REALLY good! It’s set at the Biltmore House in North Carolina, and/but thankfully it doesn’t read like a tour guide of the house. I love when the last lines of a suspenseful book make a shiver run up my spine, and this one totally got me!
Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty. This is Book 2 in the Serafina series. Thankfully I took BOTH of these books with me on our last camping trip! I finished the first one and immediately grabbed the second one. These books are already suspenseful, but you should try reading them by a campfire on the edge of a forest on a really dark night! Super creepy in a delicious way!
How to Cook Everything: The Basics by Mark Bittman. I heard about this book from Sheila over at Making the Most of Every Day. It contains tons of great information like the Fannie Farmer Cookbook I told you about a while ago AND adds beautiful photography! I’ve already purchased a couple of copies of this to give to my son and my daughter, and both of them liked it!
I also read:
Lucy by Randy Cecil. A sweet book! Features beautiful, whimsical illustrations and not a lot of words.
Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach. This is a very interesting story/cookbook, but I didn’t love it.
I think read and/or listened to a few more, but these are the ones I recorded in my bullet journal! I’ve GOT to remember to track what I read! I love being able to look back at the list of books. It’s like a brief visit with old friends!
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4 thoughts on “What I Read – November 2016”
I totally agree about Rick Bragg! I love his article in SL each month. He just has such a beautiful way with words. And that Mark Bittman book looks like it might replace my usual Joy of Cooking as the perfect graduation/wedding/birthday gift.
Hooray for another Rick Bragg fan! My son gave the hardback book for Christmas! I had listened to the audio book for the library, so I’m thankful to have the print version now for my very own. Maybe your library has the cookbook so you can scope it out before you buy it.
I looked up Robert Beatty thinking I was familiar with something he has written but didn’t see a book I recognized. The Serafina series looks great. Pinned the covers and will be looking into them. Thanks for the suggestions.
Here’s the trailer for the first book!!! (Still deciding if I like the idea of trailers for books, but it’s probably great marketing!) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uFZvSzfnm6I