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Illuminating Pleasures in The City of Light, Recent & Current Reads + Book Events

Every age is an age of infinite possibilities! 

[hardcover copy of I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris by Glynnis MacNicol propped up inside a hat box with a pattern of the Eiffel Tower and "PARIS L'EXPOSITION" around the rim of the top] 

I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris by Glynnis MacNicol 
non-fiction memoir 
Viking/Penguin Life, June 2024 

In a world that works hard to shove women over forty into irrelevance and invisibility, this author celebrates life as viewed, lived, experienced to its fullest by one grown woman and other grown women in the present and from the past. The breezy, contemplative narration style invites readers to observe and consider the author's adventurous journey of investigation and confirmation of self through the uninhibited pursuit of all kinds of pleasure. References to other memoirs, movies, art, history, fashion, geography and more parallel, reflect, intersect, and diverge throughout with seamless integration. 

[a horizontal book stack of 3 books from top to bottom: Business Casual by B.K. Borison, The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey, Yellow face by R.F. Kuang] 

Business Casual (Lovelight #4) by B.K. Borison 
romance fiction  
Berkeley, July 2024 

Nora and Charlie's love story is laugh aloud funny, emotionally substantial and everything between those two points. It's a charming farewell to this tenderhearted, delightful series that celebrates found family, chosen family, and the power of intentional friendships that endure. Plus, super sexy scenes of multifaceted intimacy. 

Evie and Beck's story remains my absolute favorite with Nora and Charlie's as a photo-finish second place. The author teases the possibility of future visits to the Lovelight community and this reader - after managing to take days instead of hours to read Business Casual in order to savor this series finale -  hopes that happens sooner rather than later.  


Although The Au Pair Affair (Big Shots #2) by Tessa Bailey did a good job of acknowledging the power imbalance between Tallulah and Burgess, and their complicated family dynamics along with the overlapping extended circles of friends, teammates, and associates that offer compelling interest and amusement, something about it just didn't work for me overall. 

Currently reading Yellow face and enjoying it so far.  
   

[a screenshot of 4 books: Promises & Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller, The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch, I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming, Hazardous to a Duke's Heart by Sabrina Jeffries] 

Enjoyed Wednesday night's Buzz Books/Publishers Lunch Editors and Authors Romance Panel chat as an author and as a reading fan. Sav R. Miller, Sara Raasch, Kimberly Lemming, and Sabrina Jeffries and their editors entertained and educated as they discussed their lives, publishing careers, current and upcoming book releases with humorous, thoughtful candor. https://www.youtube.com/@BuzzBooks?app=desktop  

And now that Sara Raasch and her editor Erika Tsang shared their fantasy about having Matt Bomer play Nicholas "Coal" Claus in a movie or television adaptation of The Nightmare Before Kissmas, he's now fixed in my mind as that character even before I've read it.   


Library of Congress National Book Fest! 
 
[3-image collage: author Sandra Cisneros, an "I <3 BOOKS" t-shirt, journalist Rachel Martin and author Sandra Cisneros in conversation while seated facing each other on a stage] 

[screenshot of Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden as she stands in profile at the podium on the Main Stage at the 2024 Library of Congress National Book Fest] 

So thankful for the live streaming option for opportunities to hear Sandra Cisneros (who's composing a "The House on Mango Street" opera!), Doris Kearns Goodwin; Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Tiya Miles conversing with Martha S. Jones about Harriet Tubman and Audre Lorde; Kathleen DuVal and Ned Blackhawk in conversation with Shelley C. Lowe; Abby Jimenez and Casey McQuiston with Megan Labrise; Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden's dishy chat with Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling about their cookbook and their lives, amusing, insightful  banter between moderator Cyndee Landrum and the writing duo of Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck who publish as James S.A. Corey; Emily Kwong and Rebecca Yarros talk dragons, tropes, Chappell Roan, censorship, fan art (with special appreciation to Dr. Hayden for her boss move of extending their session to allow a few additional questions and comments) and more... Plus, thoughtful questions and comments from the audience.  

That's what I was able to watch in real time with plans to check out the Library of Congress YouTube channel and the CSPAN content sometime soon. 

Happy reading, writing, creating, thriving! 



 

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