Monday, February 3, 2020

My favorite books read in 2019 and Bookmarks


I read a lot of books in 2019 and enjoyed most of them. This is a list of my favorites from that year. I see themes developing in my favorites, many are about senior ladies, being happy, mysteries and dogs!
Still Happy by Elizabeth Berg.
I have read a few of her novels and enjoy them and I took a chance and bought this collection of her short essays, which were originally posted on FaceBook. Wonderful. Humorous. Smart. Berg also includes a memoir about her much loved dog, which makes it special. Yes, the dog dies, in case your heart is too tender to read this at the moment. Below is the cover of another book Berg wrote, which I haven't read yet, but I intend to, and I include it here because the cover is prettier!

Widow's Journey by Gayle Roper. 
 I relate to this author, she writes in a friendly style and has tips on going through the widow's journey and short vignettes about her own story. This is a small short book and easy and helpful to read. My husband died three years ago and this is a good pep talk refresher book. I have many books on grief that are big, helpful and full of sound ideas but rather a handful to read. This one is short and sweet.
Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver.
When I discovered Mary Oliver I thought I must be the last to the party, to discover her. This is a fabulous book of poems about dogs in her life. Easy to read, poignant, humorous, sad, and most of all uplifting to read. I love that when she signed contracts to teach at colleges there was always her own dog clause in the contract, giving her permission to bring her dog to class. She found that the visiting dog loosened up her poet students. 
Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker.
I reviewed this novel in 2019 on my blog. It has an original plot in which a young man and his friend invent an imaginary elderly eccentric lady to explain their presence where they shouldn't be. The book has some hilarious scenes. Imagine his horror when the lady turns up to stay at his parents' home where he lives, with her parrot, harp and bath in tow. She is delightful but soon develops a mind of her own and causes him serious problems. She gets stronger and stronger. Read the book to find out what happens.
Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. These are stories published between 1918 and 1922 and I think they are very funny, and like all his books, his writing is bound to bring me laughter and smiles. If you haven't read Wodehouse before you might start with "The Code of the Woosters" or just jump in anywhere with his books. The Blandings books are fun too, and feature The Empress, a huge prize winning pig doted on by the eccentric Lord Emsworth.
A surprise discovery for me was the ebook Miss Budge in Love by Daphne Simpkins. This book was offered to me by bookbub.com (are you all subscribed to this, free and inexpensive ebooks). Miss Budge is a kind senior Christian lady and the stories are all entertaining and rather upbeat.  I think there are other books about Miss Budge.
I like all the Mrs. Pollifax books and read  A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman in 2019. Mrs. Pollifax is a senior widow who finds herself accidentally becoming a secret agent who is able to not be found out because she definitely does not look like a spy. I think the first in the series is The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, a fun one to start with as you find out how she becomes a spy.

Bookmarks
What goes better with books than bookmarks? Here are some newer favorites of mine. The magnetic ones are cute and they do not fall out, so my place is saved.
The yellow one is one I colored from a Womens Bible study group last year. The study mixes creativity and study.

26 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I'm curious why I hadn't heard of the 2 Eliz Berg books that you mentioned? I wanted to read her most recent, The Confession Club, last book of a trilogy.

Betsy said...

Thank you for your list of books. I really want to do more reading this year. So far, besides my Bible, all I have read is "The Borrowers" series which is a set of childrens books written in the 1950's. I've sure enjoyed them and now my husband is reading them. I'll give them to Piper for her birthday this year along with a couple of DVD's based on the books. She loves to read too and this way, I can discuss the books with her. She loves that! When they lived just 6 hours away and I visited often, I read to her every night and then when I wasn't there we could talk about the books we had read. It's harder now because she's so far away, but she still reads every night with Mandy and on her own now too.
All of our children are HUGE readers. Books have always been very important to us all.
Blessings,
Betsy

Pom Pom said...

Hi Terra! Cute bookmarks! I like Elizabeth Berg.

Granny Marigold said...

Elizabeth Berg is a favourite of mine although I hadn't heard of these 2 books and my library doesn't have them. Are they new? My fav of all her books was The Year of Pleasures.
Mary Oliver's poems really speak to me. And I absolutely adore Mrs. Pollifax!!

Lin said...

Don't you just love Mary Oliver? I have a few of her poem books and I love to browse through them to find a new one to love.

Cynthia said...

I love Jeeves. Haven’t revisited these in a long time and I think I’m overdue! Thanks for reminding me.

Terra said...

Diane, I know, I was surprised to find these Berg books with Happy in the title. They are nonfiction, so they won't be shelved near her novels in bookstores or libraries, and there are 3 of them. The next Berg book I will read is no. 2 in the trilogy, Night of Miracles. Thanks for the tip Granny Marigold, I have 5 Berg novels waiting to be read and one of them is The Year of Pleasures.

Chatty Crone said...

Haha I haven't seen a post from you in a long time - now I know why - you are reading - I like to read too - but I haven't read any of those. Interesting.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

They all sound very entertaining.

Ann said...

They all sound like good books. I've taken a liking to cozy mysteries. Those are really cute bookmarks.

Michelle said...

Thank you for these suggestions. I am always on the look out for new books.

Jeanie said...

What a wonderful and diverse reading selection. I've been doing a lot of reading/book posts lately (one more to come soon, based on the comments and questions from the others.) And I love seeing the bookmarks. I haven't read E. Berg in awhile. Thanks for the reminder.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Oh I love your books. I think I have read some of the Miss Budge stories before, but can't remember which. I do want to check some of these out. They sound like books I would enjoy. I love your bookmarks. I have some unique ones that my son created for me with multi colored thread laminated to a bookmark card. He used to work at a t-shirt shop that did embroidery, and he collected the scraps of thread and made lots of different bookmarks with them. I love them and have them scattered throughout many of my favorite books. Bookmarks are special. Of course I often use whatever scrap of paper I can find handy if I can't find a bookmark right away! Have a blessed day and week. Good to hear from you again.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I've finished one book so far and started the second. Really would like to get in more reading as I have so many books piled up and tend to buy more when we travel. :)

Ramana Rajgopaul said...

Interesting and eclectic collection. I compliment you on . your taste.

Lea said...

Oh I love the P G Wodehouse books!
But they are getting harder to find here - old books are being discarded to make room for newer ones. The last one I read (for the third or fourth time) I had to get through Interlibrary Loan.
And I enjoy the Mrs. Polifax stories, too.
Have a wonderful day!

DawnTreader said...

I read Miss Hargreaves because of your review, and loved it! :) The Jeeves and Wooster stories are old favourites of mine, too.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh, I'll look for some of your favs! I see a couple that are very interesting and I have always loved Elizabeth Berg! I have several of her older books. Love pretty bookmarks too!

Debbie said...

i am not a reader but these book reviews are excellent. you sure have read a lot of wonderful books!!!

My Tata's Cottage said...

I am always looking for something good to read. My friend Suzanne (Melkoski) use to have a blog called Colorado Lady. She lost her hubby last month and she is so broken. I pray for her but I know she needs to visit with others who understand her pain. You are such an amazing lady. THank you for all your beautiful posts. HUGS

Patti said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog, Writing to Remember, recently and for following along. I am now following you.

I always enjoy reading about others' favorite books. I am on a bit of a cozy mystery craze right now, so the Mrs. Pollifax series sounds right up my alley. I will check it out.

Blessings,
Patti

Annie said...

Thank you for sharing some of the books you've read! I'm so intrigued about what happens in Miss Hargreaves, I might just have to add that one to my "to read" list. :)

stardust said...

I think I’ll go for Dog Songs to remember my late loved dog. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Yoko

Liz Hinds said...

You have reminded me that I have Miss Hargreaves on my kindle - after your previous review. Must get around to reading it soon.

A bit of self-publicity: I have published a novel you might like called The Dog-walking Club. Available on Amazon.

Friko said...

Like you I tend to concentrate on books about later life. Well, chick-lit isn’t really for pensioners, is it.
Also non-fiction by older people who have wisdom and humour. Mysteries, the old-fashioned kind, too, of course.
Reading is such a great solace, particularly on cold winter days.

Sandi said...

I like the yellow one! :)

I find it difficult to sit and read books, but I do read a million things on the Internet that are no where near as good as books. Maybe I should try harder! 😊