Reading goals. - goodbye 2020 - hello 2021!

 Today is the last day of 2020.   I have to say that I’m not sorry to see it leave.  Yuck.  It was a mixed reading year.   I discovered Audibles which I talked about earlier but I also struggled in the middle of the year to focus on reading anything more than a magazine article . I did have some pretty incredible reads!  ( not counting the Harry Potter books) I had 5 , 5 star reads!  

The World that We Knew-  Alice Hoffman.  She never lets me down.   This book is so good.   Probably my favorite of the year. 

The Dutch House- Ann Patchett-  so beautifully written.   I loved the characters 

Nothing to See Here-  totally wacky premise but you will not forget this book! 

Circe- Madeline Miller -  I loved this story!  I will say that i got super confused with all the characters but luckily the book has a list if each with the backstory.   That was necessary for me. 

Once Upon a River- Diane Setterfield -  listened to it with my sister in VA and it was good timing for a mystery/fairytale.

I did read several forgettable books.  Probably my biggest disappointed was The Starless Sea.  I know a lot of people LOVE this book but i just struggled with it.  Maybe it was the wrong time for me to read a book like this.   I'm going to blame it on 2020.  Still gave it 3 stars because it is beautiful but i really struggled with the story.  and I loved Night Circus so much that i really wanted to love this book.    

So many great books came out this year and i am so behind.  I missed my reading goal of 30 books.  I came in at 28 which isn't bad and I have 2 on my kindle right now that i'm almost done with.  Plus, like so many things in 2020, i'm giving grace to myself!!   I'm going to keep the goal of 30 books for 2021 .   I know I can hit it this time!!     
I'm doing some baking for New Years so I'll post some photos tomorrow!!  

I hope each of you (the 2 people who actually read occasionally) have a safe and healthy 2021 and that you read some amazing books surrounded by amazing friends and family- both physically and virtually!! 

Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson - Parmesan Shortbread

 I wrapped up the Charlotte Holmes series this year.  I read the first and second book last Christmas.  The last two this year.   I've always loved the Sherlock Holmes character and especially love the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock!   In this series they are the descendants of the real life Holmes and Watson .  

Charlotte Holmes has a complicated past and a crazy family.  Jamie Watson a little less and of course he falls hard for Charlotte.  The books take a through some adventures and mysteries.   Jamie is charming and sweet.  Charlotte a little more intense and tougher to love.   But overall it works.  

Really enjoyed all 4 of the books.  Probably liked book 1 & 3 the best.   Easy reads and totally fun.  A few times it was pretty unbelievable but here again, wasn't most of Sherlock Holmes unbelievable.   Of course Jamie loves Charlotte the entire time.  Charlotte loves him too but it takes her longer to admit it to herself and to him.  In book 4 they are officially a couple and no longer fighting it.   

I would recommend if you enjoy Sherlock stories and are okay with suspending belief for bit.  Good characters and page turning adventure.   ⭐⭐⭐⭐ across the board.  

Also, just because shortbread feels very English, I'm attaching my Parmesan shortbread recipe.  It is so good!  It will have you acting like Sherlock to find the recipe!! 

1 Cup + 1 Tbs of butter 

2 cups all purpose flour 

1/2 tsp of salt 

2.5 cups of grated Parmesan 

1/2 tsp cayenne 

1 egg for egg wash 

Cut the butter into cubes.  Mix the flour, butter and salt in a large bowl using either your hands or a pastry cutter/dough blender.  Mix until a crumbly consistency.  add the Parmesan and mix again.  Add the Cayenne (I use a little less then a 1/2 tsp.  that cuts the heat a bit)   If the dough is too dry and won't stick together, add 2-4 tsp of water.   Knead the dough on the surface and roll into a square logn about 12 inches long.  I usually do 2 shorter logs.  Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for min of 1 hour.  

remove.  Cut into 3/4 inch pieces.  arrange on nonstick or on parchment paper.   Brush with egg wash and bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes or till golden brown.  Try not to eat them all in one sitting!  

Reading in 2020

 Not going to start off apologizing for not posting.  I do that all the time  The truth is that this year is tough!  I've had trouble focusing and getting stuff accomplished.  The pandemic has shifted everything and I have decided to give myself some grace.     So, Happy to see you!! 

This year I discovered the joy of listening to books.  Now, I've had Audibles for a couple of years , but, I typically used it for car time .  In  2020 I have no car time!  I'm not going anywhere so I was about to cancel my account when i decided to start listening to books when I walk.   THis work from home thing is tough because you sit in the same place everyday for 8+hours and never walk anywhere.   When i moved in May, I started walking every evening after work to try to get a little bit of exercise and to explore the new neighborhood.  It's been fun.   Then I decided to download some "Comfort Books".  I choose Harry Potter.   I read HP years ago when they came out.  Since then I've seen all of the movies multiple times.  But I thought it might be fun to listen to them.  After the first one, I was hooked all over again.   I had forgotten so much of the details that are left out of the movies.  And...  Jim Dale is a treasure!   He is so good.   Not sure what awards they give to folks who read books but he should win all of them!   They are not short books.   We are talking 15-22 hours of listening each.  But all summer i was doing about an hour a day.  And most of the time I'd get home and not want to stop listening and keep my ear buds in while making dinner.  I was completely captured by the stories again and Mr Dale just brings it all alive.   I made it through the first 5 over the summer May-August.  The last 2 took a bit longer.  I had a 5 week trip to VA and then the rain started.  But, I am happy to tell you that over the past 2 months I have wrapped up the last 2 books.   If you haven't listened to them, I highly recommend it.  Not going to recap the stories because I doubt there are many folks left who don't know the what happens.  This is comfort reading at it's best.  And it has now introduced me to the real joy of listening to books.   I have since listened to 3 others.  As long as I work from home, this might be the thing!  

Enjoy some photos of my new neighborhood.