It's such a sweet book! I think it's my favorite E.B. White too, although it's been a long time since I've his others.

Thanks for popping in, Lynne!

Right? It's so great. One of my all-time favorites as well.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leslie!

Same! I need to read more of Backman's because they just make me happy :) I also love Harper. I'm caught up with hers. For now, anyway!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Bree!

I've really enjoyed the Rockton/Haven's Rock series. I listen to the books on audio because I like the narrator and they're good ones to enjoy in that format - fast-paced, entertaining, easy to follow, etc. I hope you enjoy the series when you get to it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Wendy!

So far, I've read three books by Harmon. I loved two of them and thought the other was only so-so. I need to read more of her backlist. She's a lovely writer.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Vero!

Right? EXILES is my favorite of the Falk books because it's so much more intimate and personal than the others. I'm definitely interested to see what will happen next in Falk's personal life!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Rachel!

I'll have to look for the musical. It would be interesting to see how the book was adapted for that format.

Yes, I loved the satisfying ending to EXILES. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carol!

Have you read EMPTY MANSIONS? It's really fascinating. I would love to tour Huguette's home, now that I know so much about it! It's always so interesting to hear/see how the other half live :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

EMPTY MANSIONS is super interesting. I enjoyed reading about all of the U.S. history as well as the Clark family history. Huguette is fascinating in her own right, especially because of how she chose to live because of/in spite of her wealth.

I hope you love A MAN CALLED OVE. I found it funny and heartwarming.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cheryl!

Ove is a great book! I'm so glad I finally read it in 2023. It will probably go on my list of all-time favorite books. That's how much I loved it :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Athena!

Narrative nonfiction usually works well for me on audio. If a NF book has too much detail or the ideas it presents are more complex, then I need to read it in print form instead.

I'm glad you did well with your nonfiction listening. Which ones were your favorites? I'm always looking for good listens.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Diana!

I know I've read OKAY FOR NOW, but it's been a few years so I don't really remember it. I loved THE LABORS OF HERCULES BEALE, though, and will definitely look for more of Schmidt's work.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kathryn!

Right? It's chock-full of interesting insights and questions. I really have not stopped thinking about it since I read it. It should make for a great book club read/discussion. Can't wait!

Thanks for the link to your review, which is excellent. You hit all the nails on the head. I'm glad the book made as big an impression on you as it did on me.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lory!

I feel like my reading isn't very varied, actually, but maybe it is more so than I think! Thanks for pointing that out :) I do try to change things up occasionally :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, M!

EXILES made me happy for lots of reasons :)

Thanks for popping in, Joy!

VERY addictive. I'm especially enjoying listening to them on audio. They're the perfect listens to make my housework go faster!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Ellie!

Same! They're such nostalgic comfort reads :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Caroline!

Right? Armstrong writes so fast it's hard to keep up with her. I feel like I'll never complete her backlist mystery books, but that's not such a bad problem to have. LOL

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jessica!

I don't read a ton of nonfiction, but I'm a fan of narrative nonfiction, which tells a true story in an engaging way. THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN is a compelling one that just leaves you feeling good about humanity. OVE is definitely a new favorite of mine. I loved it SO much. THE KITCHEN FRONT is a great read. I'd say it's my second favorite of Ryan's books after THE SPIES OF SHILLING LANE. She's fabulous. I hope you do read more of her and enjoy her other books.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Davida!

I've only read the one book, but it was so much fun that I want to read the rest of the series! I hope we both love it.

Thanks for popping in, M.T.!

I don't remember reading TRUMPET OF THE SWAN when I was a kid, but I was such a voracious reader, I can't imagine how I would have missed it. I'm so glad I read it (or re-read it) this year because it was such a fun read for me. I need to go back to other children's classics for some great, nostalgic reads.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Denise!

You should definitely read OVE. I should have read it when it first came out! Jane Harper is great. I've enjoyed all of her books, with EXILES being my favorite. I hope you enjoy her last two!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Dini!

Oh, really? I felt like I was the last person on Earth to read A MAN CALLED OVE! It's a great book and the film with Tom Hanks is excellent too. I hope you enjoy them!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Stephen!

It's a great feel-good, restore-your-faith-in-humanity kind of read. Although it's about a horrific event, it really is very inspiring and heartwarming. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Megan!

I listened to EMPTY MANSIONS on audio, although I do have a paper copy of it which is nice since it includes photographs. After I read it, I talked about the book so much that my husband read it. We've enjoyed discussing it together. THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN is also a good one to listen to together. I hope you both enjoy them!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Rebecca!

It really is a great read. I'm glad I finally read it. Seriously, it's one of my all-time favorite reads. I hope you love it too when you read it!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Hannah!

CALAMITY JANE kept me royally entertained! It's funny and engaging and clever and just so enjoyable. I hope you love it if you read it!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Louise!

Everyone seems to love A MAN CALLED OVE and I can definitely see why. It's a great read. I hope you love it when you get to it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Maureen!

I really enjoyed A GIRL CALLED SAMSON. It's interesting, engaging, compelling - all the good stuff! I hope you like it when you read it. And more Armstrong is always a good idea :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lisa!

It's a quick read and a good one. I think you'll enjoy it!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deb!

You definitely need to! I've read two books by Backman (OVE and ANXIOUS PEOPLE) and loved them both. For Harmon, I've read three. I loved WHERE THE LOST WANDER and A GIRL CALLED SAMSON, but THE UNKNOWN BELOVED was pretty meh for me. I hope you enjoy both authors if you get to them this year.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

Thank you so much, Hannah! I appreciate the kind comments. I hope your 2024 is wonderful in every way.

Thanks for popping in!

Neither do I and when I do, it's almost always narrative NF. If I'm going to read NF, I want it to read like fiction! LOL.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, sdn319!

As you know, I love a good mystery/thriller, but I can't handle anything TOO disturbing. I've found the Rockton books to be a little on the grittier side (as far as language and violence), BUT I feel like they're hopeful and upbeat overall. Also, I love the characters and just find the whole setup utterly addicting.

I'm a big Jane Harper fan too. I'm always tempted to re-read the earlier books in a series before I go on to the next one if there's been more than a year between them because my aging brain just doesn't remember ANYTHING anymore! LOL

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!

I agree. The book really shows how good humans can be, especially in the face of tragedy.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

For sure! It's a great one. Have I ever asked you which Harmon book is your favorite? I've read three so far, two of which I loved (WHERE THE LOST WANDER and A GIRL CALLED SAMSON) and one which was just okay for me (THE UNKNOWN BELOVED). I'm curious which is your favorite and which I should read next...

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Tanya!

I think I've read three by Harmon, as well. :) Making Faces, Where the Lost Wander, and From Sand and Ash. Making Faces seems to be most reader's favorite (and it was wonderful), but I truly loved From Sand and Ash. Such a powerful, beautiful story. I think you would enjoy that one.

I mean, most of us will never have to struggle with the question of what to do with our massive fortunes, but I still think the book raises really interesting questions about money. I think it's good for everyone to ask themselves things like: How much money is enough money? How much do I need to be content/happy? How much of my income do I want/need to contribute to charitable causes? And on and on. These are really interesting questions for me.

Thanks for popping in, Joy!

I tried to pick a variety from among my favorites of 2023. Apparently, I read more adventurously than I thought I did! LOL

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

That's how CALAMITY JANE was for me. Totally entertaining! I really need to read the rest of the series.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Anne!

I get that. The Rockton series is modern crime, but it has a unique setting and I find the books totally engrossing. I also really like her Rip Through Time mystery series. It's less gritty and is set in 19th Century Scotland. I hope you like her books if you give them a try.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicky!

I really need to read the other Janies books, too! It sounds like they're just as entertaining as CALAMITY JANE and sometimes (often) I just want a really fun read, you know?

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Haze!

I've enjoyed the whole series. I binge-read/listened to most of it in 2023. Now, I just have to wait for the audio version of THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR to come out so I can listen to the next book. I'm loving the series in audio.

Thanks for popping by, Tessa!

EMPTY MANSIONS is a great read. It's stayed with me over the months since I read it. Kelley Armstrong is awesome. I'm not interested in her urban fantasy books, but I love her mysteries. The Rip in Time series is especially fun.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Katherine!

Great minds think alike! THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN is such an uplifting one and MURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK is just entertaining. I hope we both find lots of new books to love in 2024!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

You should definitely read EMPTY MANSIONS! It's not a quick read exactly, but it's engaging and interesting. I really enjoyed it. THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN was such a fun little read for me. I just loved it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Elisabeth!

It's always tough to narrow down my favorites of the year!

I finally got all my decorations down on Wednesday. I basically spent the entire day just plowing through and then made everyone help put all the boxes back in the garage that evening. Phew! My house looks naked now, but it's nice to have things clean and fresh for the new year.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Emily!

It's a great, underrated book. More people should read it! I hope you enjoy it if you do.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Dara!

Thank you, Jessica! To you as well and thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting.

Oh, good! I'm glad you found a few to pique your interest. I hope you enjoy them if you read them.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kristi!

Oh really? You might be the first person I've encountered who didn't love OVE instantly. It is a little different and it does have some slow parts, so I can see why it might not have grabbed you. Different strokes for different folks and all that!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leah!

I love the Tom Hanks version of OVE. It's sweet and funny and heartwarming and all the good things! I started watching the Swedish film version and it just wasn't quite the same. My husband finished it and enjoyed it, though.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, AJ!

Same! It's SUCH a great read for so many different reasons. I'm glad I finally read it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Suzanne!

No! I've never even heard of the Gordon book. I'm going to go look it up right now. Huguette is so interesting. I'd definitely read another book about her. Thanks for the rec!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sarah!

Yes! You definitely do. I hope you love it when you read it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, nishitak!

Same! It's going pretty well so far, although I'm reading "have to" books at the moment instead of "want to" ones. I'm just about done with reading commitments for the time being - then I'll move on to just-for-fun reading. I hope you have a fantastic reading year in 2024 as well.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Ashley!

CALAMITY JANE was just such a FUN read. Totally entertaining. If the other books in the series are the same way, I'm SO in. Harmon's books are more serious, but she writes beautifully, and I've found the stories engaging for the most part.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Rissi!