A Well Read Life

Today I’m sharing A City of Bells by Elizabeth Goudge. Set in the fictional cathedral town of Torminster. It is the story of Jocelyn Irvin, his family, friends, neighbors, and their life in this quaint English village. When you read it, prepare for cozy bookshop scenes and a meditative look at one’s vocation in life.  Elizabeth Goudge is one of my favorite writers. (I have covered two of her books...

Today I'm giving a behind-the-scenes peek at the books I read this fall. These are books I haven't shared on the podcast yet, but a couple of them that I will share soon in full-length episodes. This season included some of my favorite books of the year, and I can't wait to share more about them in the new year! Books mentioned in today's episode: The Mousewife The Kitchen Madonna Affiliate links...

My friend Karen Schwind joins me on the podcast to talk about Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. We both enjoyed this haunting novel immensely, and there was much to discuss with this short but rich book. I hope our conversation will inspire you to read the book, too. Bookshop.org affiliate links to books mentioned in the episode: Never Let Me Go The Remains of the Day A Gentleman in Moscow One Day...

Today I'm thrilled to have my friend Olga Pyshnyak-Lawrence on the podcast to talk about her book Out of the Wilderness: My Journey to the Land Called Heaven. Out of the Wilderness: My Journey to the Land Called Heaven An Everday Mama Finds a Passionate Life Living an Empowered Life Personally and Professionally Olga's Etsy Shop Olga's Blog

I'm wrapping up my series on Reading Like Kathleen Kelly today with Roald Dahl's memoir Boy. It is one of my all-time favorite books, and I can't wait to share it with you. Roald Dahl Museum Krokan Ice Cream Recipe Affiliate links to books mentioned in the episode: Boy Going Solo The Witches Danny the Champion of the World

It's time for the next installment in The Reading Like Kathleen Kelly series. Today I'm sharing about Ballet Shoes and Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. Two delightful books from the Shoes Books canon, famously mentioned in You've Got Mail. They are the perfect books to cozy up with this season. Enjoy! Affiliate links to Bookshop.org: Ballet Shoes Theater Shoes Dancing Shoes Skating Shoes

It was a delight to chat with Anna Rose Johnson about her new middle-grade novel, The Star That Always Stays. I read this book at the beginning of the summer, and it has remained a favorite read of the season. We talk about Anna Rose's inspiration for the book, a bit of the behind-the-scenes process, and many book recommendations. If you're a fan of Maude Hart Lovelace's writing, you will want to...

Today we continue the series on Reading Like Kathleen Kelly. Up first, I'm featuring Maude Hart Lovelace's delightful series, The Betsy-Tacy books. It was my first time reading the semi-autobiographical stories of the world of Deep Valley and these dear best friends, and I hope you will be as enchanted by them as I was.   Affiliate link to the first four books on Bookshop.org: The Betsy-Tacy Treas...

We start a new series on the podcast today---Reading Like Kathleen Kelly. Think favorite girlhood classics inspired by You've Got Mail and its iconic character bookseller extraordinaire, Kathleen Kelly. Throughout the series, I'll search for the elusive qualities that make up good children's literature, share why they should be read by all ages, and share a couple of debut writers. I hope you'll j...

Today I am thrilled to welcome Katie Marquette of the Born of Wonder podcast to the show. Katie is a delight to talk to, and I had the best time chatting about motherhood and reading. We share some of our favorite books, shifting perspectives on re-reads, and books we can't wait to share with our daughters. I hope you enjoy our conversation too! Born of Wonder The Genesis of Gender Bookshop.org af...

It's the last episode in The Yearling series today. I hope you have enjoyed your reading journey with this well-loved classic.   Affiliate link to Bookshop.org: The Yearling

How can The Yearling inspire us to long for the new heavens and earth? Find out in today's episode.   Affiliate link to Bookshop.org: The Yearling Cross Creek

I'm back after my months-long hiatus. Today I'm excited to share the first episode in a series about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' classic, The Yearling. It's a moving story of the year in the life of one family and their farm in rural North Florida in the 1870s. If you haven't read it yet, grab a copy, and join me in reading it this July. Affiliate link to Bookshop.org: The Yearling The Life She Wish...

I'll be taking a short break from the podcast during May, but before I do, I wanted to share the books I'll be reading this spring. I hope you'll join me in reading some of these delightful books!   Books mentioned this episode with affiliate links to Bookshop.org: The Miracles of Jesus Heidi Henrietta's House Vows Til We Have Faces The Hidden Art of Homemaking After Prayer George Herbert

On February 25 of this year, Shirley Hughes, the incomparable illustrator, passed away at 94. Her illustrations are a delight and joy to behold, and her passing leaves a hole in the picture book world. Today I'm sharing a brief tribute to the irreplaceable Shirley Hughes.   Shirley Hughes- What Do Artists Do All Day? Pt. 1 Shirley Hughes- What Do Artists Do All Day? Pt. 2

I'm back after an unintended short break. Today I'm talking about the last book in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy, The Cross. Oh, it's a good book, and we finally get to see Kristin's story come full circle. There will be a lot of heartbreak as the trilogy comes to an end, but we will also see beautiful pictures of redemption.

It's time to discuss the second book in the Kristin Lavransdatter series by Sigrid Undset, The Wife. Kristin and Erland finally have what they want, but what of the trail of betrayal and blood guilt they've left in their wake? Can they finally be happy, and more importantly, can they be forgiven?

I'm continuing my series on Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. In today's episode, I'm talking about the first book in the Kristin Lavransdatter saga, The Wreath. It's a story rife with temptation and seduction and the tension between Norway's pagan past and its present Christian faith.

This week I'm beginning a series on Sigrid Undset's medieval epic, Kristin Lavransdatter. It is the story of one woman's life from childhood to death. Today I'm giving an introduction to this fascinating trilogy about love, desire, betrayal, and ultimately redemption.     

It was a delight to have my friend Rachel Atkinson join me on the podcast today. I'm fortunate to not only be in a book club with Rachel, but I also get to have regular tea and book chats with her. Today we're talking about Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin. A modern-day classic set in 15th century Russia.    Buy Laurus on Bookshop.org Jessica Hooten Wilson article on Fathom Magazine

Today I have my dear friend Julie Bene on the podcast. Julie is one of my go-to people for book recommendations. In our conversation today, we're discussing Sweep by Jonathan Auxier--a new favorite of us both (and a book recommended to me by Julie).    The most delightful children's bookstore!

It's Christmas Eve in the town of Appleton, and in the window of the toyshop, a beautiful Christmas doll waits for a home. Wandering the Christmas market, a young girl searches for a home. Will their wishes come true on Christmas morning? Today I'm featuring Rumer Godden's exquisite children's Christmas book, The Story of Holly and Ivy.     

A second-hand bookshop in Dublin. A family of kind, if eccentric, booksellers. A young boy from rural Ireland in search of his missing uncle. These are just some of the elements which make up Patricia Lynch's heartfelt and charming children's book, The Bookshop on the Quay. Today I'm sharing about this book which captivated and delighted me through the autumn season.

Today is the day to share my favorite mystery novel of all time, Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers. Featuring the witty and erudite detective Lord Peter Wimsey and his love interest Harriet Vane, Gaudy Night is a classic mystery from the golden age of detective fiction. Affiliate link to Bookshop.org: Gaudy Night

It's time to talk about one of my favorite amateur detectives-- the precocious and endearing Flavia de Luce. Obsessed with chemistry and with a propensity for finding dead bodies about the village of Bishop's Lacey, her sleuthing skills are a force to be reckoned with. Join me as I talk about the first book in this delightful series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.   Affiliate link to Book...