Jillicious Desserts: Recent Adult Reads

It's summer!  Time to sleep in, sit in the sun, catch up on home projects, prepare for next year, and read, read, read!  The summer is also the time I allow myself to indulge in a few adult books.  Here some recent reads:

The Pink Suit
by Nicole Mary Kelby 

The Pink Suit  is based on the story behind the iconic pink suit Jacqueline Kennedy wore that fateful day in Dallas in 1963.  This unforgettable ensemble and many others from "The Wife's" wardrobe came from Chez Ninon, an exclusive New York  boutique which specialized in creating French-inspired designs for American royalty.  The book incorporates factual information into a fictionalized tale about all those involved in the creation of the suit - from the President who ordered the suit for the First Lady to Coco Chanel who designed it to the eclectic ladies who ran Chez Ninon to Kate, the talented seamstress who labored over every stitch and pleat to craft the perfect pieces.  
 
This is a fascinating tale of fashion, politics, New York City, and love.  It focuses mostly on the seamstress Kate, which I didn't expect, but really enjoyed.  The novel transports the reader into 1960s NYC as experienced by an Irish immigrant.  Kate lives in an Irish neighborhood and has captured the attention of Patrick the local butcher.  But, her world is quite different than his as she selects fabrics, perfects stitches, and imagines but never attends the events for which her designs are created.  The Pink Suit is a unique, captivating novel that takes readers behind-the-scenes of a fashion boutique and of an unforgettable moment of history.      

The One and Only
by Emily Giffin 


The One and Only is the story of Shea Rigsby, a 33-year-old avid football fan who has spent her whole life in the small town of Walker, Texas supporting and then working for her beloved college football team.  The novel opens at the funeral of the wife of the football team's beloved coach and mother of Shea's best friend Lucy.  In light of this tragedy, Shea begins to question the choices she has made and must face her deepest desires.  

I was drawn to this book because of the subject & setting - college football in a small Texas town. It isn't a top pick, but I did like the football and all of the Dallas references (the small town is outside of Dallas), including The Ticket (my favorite radio station), Highland Park HS (the high school in my school district), and Mi Cocina (my favorite Mexican restaurant).  :) 

Me Before You
by Jojo Moyes  

Louisa is from a working class family and has never thought much beyond her small British town.  She lives an ordinary life and enjoys her simple job in a local cafe.  But when her boss has to let go, her life is shaken up, and she is suddenly in desperate need of a job.  She finds work caring for Will Traynor, a highly successful man who lived his life on the edge until a paralyzing accident confined him to a wheelchair.  Will is bitter and depressed.  Louisa isn't sure she can make it a day in this new situation, but she needs the money and is out of options.  Slowly things start to thaw between her and Will, and he begins to show her a world beyond their town, a world she never expected. 

I adored this book. Louisa is funny, original and endearing.  She lives in the shadow of her sister and has settled into the life and family role that she believes she is fit to play.  But gradually, she starts to wonder and to dream.  

Me Before You is an excellent novel. It breaks your heart and also inspires you to live every moment to the fullest. Read it, and be sure to have a box of tissue nearby.       

Jillicious Gift Ideas!

Need a few ideas for your last minute shopping?  Read on!

Everything I Need to Know I learned in a Little Golden Book   
by Diane Muldrow

I LOVED the Little Golden Books.  I read and treasured so many, favorites being The Poky Little Puppy and The Saggy Baggy Elephant.  This new book celebrating this special collection was created by Diane Muldrow.  Longtime editor of the beloved Little Golden Books, Muldrow realized that these books offer excellent advice for almost every real-life situation.  She combined these lessons and original illustrations into this special little guide to life manual.   Give Everything I Need to Know I Learned in a Little Golden Book  to those who grew up reading the Little Goldens, to  lovers of children's literature, or to anyone who needs to be reminded what is important in life.

Book Lust To Go
by Nancy Pearl

A friend gave this at a recent book exchange, and I thought it was such an excellent idea for a book!  Librarian/author Nancy Pearl has created a guide of recommended reading for travelers.  Book Lust To Go includes fiction and nonfiction books to read before traveling to a new locale.  From San Francisco to Sri Lanka, travelers will find recommendations for over 120 travel sites.  A must for the traveler (or armchair traveler!) on your list!

  
Tequila Mockingbird  
by Tim Federle

Having recently finished Federle's first middle grade novel, I came across this fabulous little book he also published this year.  The cocktail guide contains 65 recipes that pay homage to literary favorites including Brave New Swirled, Gin Eyre, Romeo and Julep, Huckleberry Sin, and Are You There God? It's Me, Margarita.  Tequila Mockingbird is a fun gift for the readers, book club members, or cocktail enthusiasts on your holiday gift list. 

Anna Karenina: A Fashion Primer
by Jennifer Adams 

This darling board book is perfect for every little (or not-so-little!) fashionista on your list.  A dear friend gave it to me, and I am head over heels.  Author Jennifer Adams has created several other board books for the young reader inspired by classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. I think I've got a new collection to work on!

Poems to Learn by Heart
by Caroline Kennedy, illustrated by Jon Muth

This collection of poems has a verse for every occasion.  Some silly, some serious, some familiar, some new, but all worth reading, reciting, and remembering.  I love this illustrated collection; it reminds the reader of the beauty of verse and the power of learning something by heart. Give this to wordsmiths young and old. 

Snowflakes Fall
by Patricia Maclachlan, illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Patricia Maclachlan and Steven Kellogg collaborated to create this heartfelt tribute to the lives lost in the Sandy Hook, Connecticut tragedy.  In this special book former Sandy Hook resident Kellogg and the Newbery Medalist Maclachlan celebrate individual uniqueness, the gift of life, and the hope that is found in renewal.  Give this to one who has experienced loss this year or to anyone as a reminder to treasure each day. 

 

Battle Bunny
by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matthew Myers

Now to end on a light note ... and to bring things full circle.  Hilarious authors Scieszka and Barnett along with illustrator Myers have created a truly original picture book.  It begins as a gentle, Little-Golden-Book-like story about a bunny's surprise birthday party.  Then, Alex, who receives the book from his Gammy, takes a pencil to the sweet Birthday Bunny and turns it into Battle Bunny, a devil-may-care rabbit intent to take over the world.  It is a riot!  Give this to young readers with a sense of humor.  After reading, these young creators can go to the Birthday Bunny site to download a clean copy of Birthday Bunny and then recreate the story in their own way.   


Good luck finishing up the last minute shopping.  Best wishes for a happy, book-filled holiday!  :)

Jillicious Dessert Menu: Adult Summer Reading

Need some adult reading ideas for the rest of the summer? Try any of these great titles or series you might have missed!  






The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
It is 1946 and author Juliet is looking for a new writing project.  Inspiration comes when she receives a letter from a member of "The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society", a special book club formed on the island of Guernsey during the Nazi occupation.  The tales of the author and the Guernsey inhabitants are shared in this charming epistolary novel that celebrates the power of books and the human spirit. 


The Flavia de Luce Mysteries
by Alan Bradley
(1st in the series: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie)
Flavia de Luce is the hilarious young sleuth at the heart of this series.  Flavia, a spunky 11-yr-old with a love for science, lives in a small town in the British countryside in the 1950s. Her curiosity constantly leads her into the middle of a local mystery and her smarts lead her to the clues necessary to unravel the crime.  Flavia is an absolute delight!  Her constant scheming and attempts to outwit her older sisters, the criminals, and the police are laugh-out-loud funny.  Going on a road trip this summer?  Pop one of these in the CD player; these stories are wonderful on audio.       


Maisie Dobbs 
by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie Dobbs runs a private investigation agency in England in the 1920s and 30s.  This first installment in the series tells of how Maisie, a bright, steadfast young lady, worked her way up from service to running her own business with the help of a wealthy benefactor and a mentor.  She takes on her first case which begins as a simple investigation into infidelity that leads to something much more.   
           
Any thriller by Harlan Coben
Looking for more complex, edge-of-your-seat, plot-twisting mysteries?  Try a novel by Harlan Coben such as Tell No One, Hold Tight, The Woods or any of the Myron Bolitar Mysteries.  They are fast-paced, entertaining and always keep the reader guessing.         

The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
If you haven't read The Help, you've just got to do it before the movie comes out August 10!  This novel tells the story of Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan who returns home to Jackson, Mississippi in 1962 after graduating college.  A budding writer, Skeeter decides to pen a daring book that sheds light on the lives of the African-American help that run the white households and raise the children but are treated like second-class citizens.  A must-read.   

American Wife

by Curtis Sittenfeld 

This fictionalized account of a life strikingly similar to Laura Bush's imagines what might motivate the reserved former First Lady.  A touching, compelling look at life within a political family. 

Loving Frank
by Nancy Horan
This fascinating novel describes the love affair between the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the wife of one of his clients, Mamah Cheney.  The story successfully blends historical facts, scandalous love, an early 20th-century woman's desire for an intellectual life, and insight into the brilliant architecture of the eccentric Frank Lloyd Wright.  A huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, I really enjoyed an inside look at this fascinating man.   


Bossypants
by Tina Fey 
Tina Fey talks about her nerdy childhood, improv comedy, marriage, and parenting in this hilarious autobiography.  Her observations, told with her trademark wit and self-deprecating humor, are laugh-out-loud funny.  If you are a Tina Fey fan, definitely check this one out (preferably the audio book read by the author)!       


Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind 
(and others in the Miss Julia series) 
by Ann B. Ross
Wealthy widow Miss Julia is shocked when a blonde bombshell shows up on her doorstep with a 9-year-old son claiming that the boy's father is Miss Julia's late husband of over 40 years.  This is quite a shock for the spunky Southern, Presbyterian lady, but Julia Springer takes this on as she takes on everything, in her own unique (and hilarious!) way.  This delightful series pokes fun at the church, small towns, and Southern customs in an amusing, charming way.  Great summer reads!   

Twenties Girl
(and anything else ... )  
by Sophie Kinsella
Lara starts receiving visits from her great-aunt Sadie who has recently passed away.  Is it her overactive imagination again?  Or, is there more to these visions of Sadie, the feisty flapper asking Lara for help in finding her treasured necklace?  Twenties Girl is a heart-warming, hilarious romp.  


These are a few books on my "to read" list.  They might be of interest to you too: 
  
Untold Story 
by Monica Ali
What if Princess Di had not died in that awful car crash in Paris?  Where might she be today?  This novel imagines a possible different ending.  
  
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
by Helen Simonsen
The story of Major Ernest Pettigrew, an honor-bound British widower who is struggling to get along with his changing family and falls for a local shop owner, a very unlikely match. 


Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by Jamie Ford
Set in the 1940s in Seattle during the Japanese internment period and alternately in the same area in the 1980s, Hotel of the Corner of Bitter Sweet is the story of Henry a Chinese-American widower and Keiko, the Japanese-American girl he loved in grade school.

Check out USA Today's summer reading lists for more ideas.