LWD Book Club ~ November 2018

November 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

I’m no fan of our currently cool and rainy weather – I actually had to wear socks and boots yesterday! – but I have to admit that there is great pleasure in curling up with a good book and a steaming hot cup of tea on a rainy evening. I’ve been trying to get to bed earlier and knowing I have a good book to read has helped give me an incentive to slip beneath the covers at a semi-reasonable hour.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD NOVEMBER BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

Rejected Writers’ Book Club

I’m giving NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) another whirl this year and when I saw this in my large collection of unread Kindle books it seemed like a good choice this month.

Librarian Janet Johnson is puzzled when she is invited—and practically dragged—to her first meeting of the Rejected Writers’ Book Club. This quirky group of women would much rather celebrate one another’s rejected manuscripts over cups of tea and slices of lemon cake than actually publish a book. But good friends are exactly what Janet needs after moving to the small town of Southlea Bay, Washington. Just as the ladies are about to raise a teacup to their five hundredth rejection letter, they receive bad news that could destroy one member’s reputation—and disband the group forever. To save the club, Janet joins her fellow writers on a wild road trip to San Francisco in search of the local publisher who holds the key to a long-buried secret. As they race to the finish line, they’ll face their fears—landslides, haunted houses, handsome strangers, ungrateful children—and have the time of their lives.

A Gift From the Sea

I bought a nice used copy of this classic in hardback at a used book store many years ago but have never read it. My aunt has a copy in one of the guest rooms at her beach house in California and I put my copy on the bedside table in our guest room. I’ve been craving the sea recently and I was reminded of this book.

Drawing inspiration from the the shells on the shore, Lindbergh’s musings on the shape of a woman’s life will bring new understanding to readers, male and family, at any stage of life. A mother of five and professional writer, she casts an unsentimental eye at the trappings of modern life that threaten to overwhelm us — the timesaving gadgets that complicate our lives, the overcommitments that take us from our families — and by recording her own thoughts in a brief escape from her everyday demands, she guides her readers to find a space for contemplation and creativity in their own lives. With great wisdom and insight she describes the shifting shapes of relationships and marriage, presenting a vision of a life lived in enduring and evolving partnership. A groundbreaking work when it was first published, this book has retained its freshness as it has been rediscovered by generations of readers and is no less current today.

The Heartbreak Cafe

I don’t generally read much contemporary romance but this is the first in a 9 book series set in an Irish village. It’s the setting that intrigues me so I’m hopeful this will be good.

When a baby is found on the steps of the Heartbreak Café in the tourist village of Lakeview, everyone rallies round to help figure out the mystery. Hollywood actress Ruth is home in Lakeview for the summer. But has an ill-advised fling with a handsome co-star resulted in a seriously unplanned consequence? Jess feels increasingly left out as the only non-mum amongst her friends. Terrified she might lose them altogether, she embarks on a cunning plan. Or is it? Nina has come to Lakeview to live with her estranged father, Patrick after a bad break-up. But will she ever dare tell him about the secret she is concealing? One thing’s for sure: someone knows more than they’re telling. And in this town, the truth won’t stay hidden forever…

I’m really trying to make more time in my day to read and I just listened to a podcast on that very topic. The Productive Woman is one of my favorite podcasts and Laura McClellan addresses this in a recent episode:
Making Time to Read

My thoughts on book buying: I’m a huge proponent of public libraries and that’s where I encourage you to look first for LWD Book Club selections. Next up would be local bookstores (used or new). However, as someone who lives in a small town with limited resources, I understand that buying online from Amazon is often the most convenient, or sometimes only choice. I include Amazon links in my book club posts for your convenience if that is your book buying choice and I appreciate the small portion of the sales which I receive as an affiliate.

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

LWD Book Club ~ October 2018

October 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

Fall has officially arrived and with the cooler, shorter days comes the desire to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book. For the LWD October Book Club, I have chosen books which are perfect for a rainy fall day.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD OCTOBER BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

The Little Pleasures of Paris

Take an enchanting tour of Paris’s most charming places, objects, and pasttimes in this lovingly compiled Francophile handbook. Organized by season, The Little Pleasures of Paris takes the reader through a year’s worth of quintessentially Parisian experiences, from secret gardens bursting with roses to exotic plumage at the city’s bird market, candied violets at Paris’s oldest sweet shop, dazzling colors in the stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle, and more. The friendly text and whimsical illustrations make this delightful volume a poetic letter to the City of Light. Unusual details that might otherwise go unnoticed are celebrated and offer a uniquely intimate perspective in this triomphe of je ne sais quoi and joi de vivre!

The Joy of Ritual

Ritual is a universal language that gives substance and meaning to our lives. People are eager to honor the significant moments in their lives and Barbara Biziou, one of America’s foremost ritual experts, teaches us how to restore ritual to its rightful place as food for the soul through practical, easy-to-use ritual recipes that are inspiring and fun. Rituals can enhance daily routines, enrich milestones, and guide us through difficult transitions. Whether you’re releasing fear, bringing deeper meaning to a family or community gathering, or celebrating an important event, THE JOY OF RITUAL is like a wise best friend that reconnects us to our hearts and souls.

Her Sister’s Shoes

Set in the South Carolina Low Country and packed with Southern charm and memorable characters, Her Sister’s Shoes is the story of three sisters—Samantha, Jackie, and Faith—who struggle to balance the demands of career and family while remaining true to themselves. Samantha Sweeney has always been the glue that holds her family together, their go-to girl for love and support. When an ATV accident leaves her teenage son in a wheelchair, she loses her carefully constructed self-control.

In the after-gloom of her dreaded fiftieth birthday and the discovery of her husband’s infidelity, Jackie realizes she must reconnect with her former self to find the happiness she needs to move forward. Faith lacks the courage to stand up to her abusive husband. She turns to her sisters for help, placing all their lives at risk. In the midst of their individual challenges, the Sweeney sisters must cope with their mother’s mental decline. Is Lovie in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, or is her odd behavior normal for a woman her age? No one, including Lovie, understands her obsession with a rusty key she wears around her neck. For fans of Dorothea Benton Frank, Her Sister’s Shoes is a contemporary women’s novel that explores and proves the healing power of family.

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

LWD Book Club ~ September 2018

September 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

Can you believe we are on the cusp of autumn? Where did my summer go?? September always feels like a new beginning to me. The start of a new season, back-to-school, and my birthday on August 27th…all of these together send my brain a signal that makes me evaluate my daily routines and get myself back in order. Two of our book club selections this month address the sort of changes I’m looking to within myself. And the third simply promises to be enjoyable. Let’s take a look at the September book club selections, shall we?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

Whether readers want to get more sleep, stop checking their devices, maintain a healthy weight, or finish an important project, habits make change possible. Reading just a few chapters of Better Than Beforewill make readers eager to start work on their own habits—even before they’ve finished the book.

10% Happier by Dan Harris

After having a nationally televised panic attack, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing he always thought was his greatest asset: the incessant, insatiable voice in his head, which had propelled him through the ranks of a hypercompetitive business, but had also led him to make the profoundly stupid decisions that provoked his on-air freak-out.

Finally, Harris stumbled upon an effective way to rein in that voice, something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless: meditation, a tool that research suggests can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain. 10% Happier takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America’s spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel by Mary Ann Shaffer

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . .

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

LWD Book Club ~ August 2018

August 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

A new month means new books! I’m pretty excited about the August book club selections. There is a marvelous independent book store in Oklahoma City called Commonplace Books. A few weeks ago, after dropping David off at the airport I made a little visit. This is the sort of place where the books are carefully curated and there is a resident dog.

I could easily spend a whole afternoon and a ridiculous amount of money there but my time was limited and I promised myself before I went in that I would only buy three books. These are the books I selected. Enjoy!

(*Note: The bookstore is temporarily closed for repairs after someone drove right through the front of it. Fortunately no one was hurt.)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD AUGUST BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

The Art of the Wasted Day by Patricia Hampl

The Art of the Wasted Day is a picaresque travelogue of leisure written from a lifelong enchantment with solitude. Patricia Hampl visits the homes of historic exemplars of ease who made repose a goal, even an art form. She begins with two celebrated eighteenth-century Irish ladies who ran off to live a life of “retirement” in rural Wales. Her search then leads to Moravia to consider the monk-geneticist, Gregor Mendel, and finally to Bordeaux for Michel Montaigne–the hero of this book–who retreated from court life to sit in his chateau tower and write about whatever passed through his mind, thus inventing the personal essay.

The Trip to Echo Spring: On Writers and Drinking by Olivia Laing

In The Trip to Echo Spring, Olivia Laing takes a journey across America, examining the links between creativity and alcohol in the work and lives of six extraordinary men: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, John Berryman, John Cheever, and Raymond Carver. Captivating and highly original, The Trip to Echo Spring strips away the myth of the alcoholic writer to reveal the terrible price creativity can exert.

Love and Ruin: A Novel by Paula McLain

In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It’s her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. There she also finds herself unexpectedly—and unwillingly—falling in love with Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend.

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

Francophile Books ~ A Wishlist

July 28, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

I have a nice collection of Francophile books but a book-loving Francophile can never have too many. Right? Here are five books currently on my Francophile wishlist. Have you read any of these?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

5 Francophile Books on My Wishlist

A Paris Year: My Day-To-Day Adventures in the Most Romantic City in the World by Janice MacLeod

Part memoir and part visual journey through the streets of modern-day Paris, France, A Paris Year chronicles, day by day, one woman’s French sojourn in the world’s most beautiful city. Beginning on her first day in Paris, Janice MacLeod, the author of the best-selling book, Paris Letters, began a journal recording in illustrations and words, nearly every sight, smell, taste, and thought she experienced in the City of Light. The end result is more than a diary: it’s a detailed and colorful love letter to one of the most romantic and historically rich cities on earth. Combining personal observations and anecdotes with stories and facts about famous figures in Parisian history, this visual tale of discovery, through the eyes of an artist, is sure to delight, inspire, and charm.

I read Paris Letters a few years ago and look forward to reading MacLeod’s latest book, too.

A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse by Mimi Thorisson

When Mimi Thorisson and her family moved from Paris to a small town in out-of-the-way Médoc, she did not quite know what was in store for them. She found wonderful ingredients—from local farmers and the neighboring woods—and, most important, time to cook. Her cookbook chronicles the family’s seasonal meals and life in an old farmhouse, all photographed by her husband, Oddur. Mimi’s convivial recipes—such as Roast Chicken with Herbs and Crème Fraîche, Cèpe and Parsley Tartlets, Winter Vegetable Cocotte, Apple Tart with Orange Flower Water, and Salted Butter Crème Caramel—will bring the warmth of rural France into your home.

I read cookbooks like novels. This sounds like the perfect combination of cookbook and novel.

My Twenty-Five Years in Provence by Peter Mayle

Twenty-five years ago, Peter Mayle and his wife, Jennie, were rained out of a planned two weeks on the Côte d’Azur. In search of sunlight, they set off for Aix-en-Provence; enchanted by the world and life they found there, they soon decided to uproot their lives in England and settle in Provence. They have never looked back. As Mayle tells us, a cup of café might now cost three euros–but that price still buys you a front-row seat to the charming and indelible parade of village life. After the coffee, you might drive to see a lavender field that has bloomed every year for centuries, or stroll through the ancient history that coexists alongside Marseille’s metropolitan bustle. Modern life may have seeped into sleepy Provence, but its magic remains.

I read A Year in Provence a long time ago and was enchanted. I’ve gone on to read a few more Mayle books, enjoying each one. I can’t wait to read his final book.

My Grape Year by Laura Bradbury

At the age of seventeen in a last-minute twist of fate, Laura Bradbury is sent to Burgundy, France, for a year’s exchange. She arrives knowing only a smattering of French and with no idea what to expect in her first foray out of North America. With a head full of dreams and a powerful desire to please, Laura quickly adapts to Burgundian life, learning crucial skills such as the fine art of wine tasting and how to savor snails. However, the charming young men of the region mean Laura soon runs afoul of the rules, particularly the no-dating edict. Romantic afternoons in Dijon, early morning pain au chocolat runs, and long walks in the vineyards are wondrous but also present Laura with a conundrum: How can she keep her hosts happy while still managing to follow her heart? Follow along on Laura’s journey to I’amour in My Grape Year.

This looks like a fun series. We all need a light read now and then. I’m envisioning setting aside an entire day to curl up with this one, while ignoring all my responsibilities.

L’Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home by David Lebovitz

When David Lebovitz began the project of updating his apartment in his adopted home city, he never imagined he would encounter so much inexplicable red tape while contending with the inconsistent European work ethic and hours. Lebovitz maintains his distinctive sense of humor with the help of his partner Romain, peppering this renovation story with recipes from his Paris kitchen. In the midst of it all, he reveals the adventure that accompanies carving out a place for yourself in a foreign country—under baffling conditions—while never losing sight of the magic that inspired him to move to the City of Light many years ago, and to truly make his home there.

I’ve recently starting listening to the audio version of this one but I will probably end up purchasing it for the recipes.

Have you read any of these? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Any other Francophile favorites to share? Leave me a comment. I can always add another to my list.

LWD Book Club ~ July 2018

July 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

It’s July and that means it’s time for new book club selections. We will be celebrating our second annual Francophile Week this month so it only seems fitting to look to France for this month’s book inspirations.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD JULY BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

L’Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home

When David Lebovitz began the project of updating his apartment in his adopted home city, he never imagined he would encounter so much inexplicable red tape while contending with the inconsistent European work ethic and hours. Lebovitz maintains his distinctive sense of humor with the help of his partner Romain, peppering this renovation story with recipes from his Paris kitchen. In the midst of it all, he reveals the adventure that accompanies carving out a place for yourself in a foreign country—under baffling conditions—while never losing sight of the magic that inspired him to move to the City of Light many years ago, and to truly make his home there.

Ooh La La!: French Women’s Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Every Day

French women are not born more attractive than anyone else. They simply learn at a very young age how to feel beautiful, confident, and sexy, inside and out. It’s an allure that outlasts youth–in fact, some of France’s most celebrated women are femmes d’un certain âge. Experience only makes them more irresistible. Growing up, Jamie Cat Callan had a French grand-mère to instruct her on style, grooming, and genuinely liking her reflection in the mirror. Now she shares that wisdom along with advice from other French women on fragrance, image consulting, makeup, and more.

Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic: Lessons in Everyday Elegance

Just step out your door today and you will notice that poise is a rarity in our wired, fast-paced, and unmannerly world. As uncivil behaviors like flip-flops at Broadway shows and digital oversharing proliferate, this timely book reminds us of the quiet power of behaving with dignity, kindness, and grace. Jennifer Scott’s Parisian mentor, Madame Chic, embodied poise, and not just with the good posture, stylish attire, and natural manners that made her extraordinarily elegant. She also demonstrated steady assuredness and graceful calm in everything she did—from interacting with her family and receiving guests at home to presenting herself in public. Jennifer L. Scott passes on the lessons she learned as well as some of her own hard-won wisdom, addressing topics such as proper attire at social events, good grooming, communication skills, hospitality and being a good guest, our interactions with neighbors and strangers, role models, self-discipline, and self-image.

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

LWD Book Club ~ June 2018

June 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 6 Comments

Summer officially arrives this month and with it, dreams of lazy afternoons totally absorbed in a good book. I’ve purposely selected somewhat lighter reading for the June book club, including a “beach read” I’m really looking forward to. No, I don’t have plans to go to a real beach this month but I’m going to make do with a lounge chair and inflatable pool in the backyard.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD JUNE BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World’s Happiest People

In The Little Book of Lykke, Meik identifies the six factors that explain the majority of differences in happiness across the world—togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness—and explores what actions we can take to become happier. As he reveals, we can deepen our blissfulness and contentment with little adjustments in our behavior, whether it’s eating like the French (sitting around a table and savoring our time) or dancing the tango like Argentinians in Buenos Aires.

Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life

How can you have a rich and fulfilling life? The choices you make, not your income or financial assets, are the most powerful determining factor for your quality of life. Women have never had so many options. Yet we often experience a kind of paralysis, an unconscious willingness to follow societal dictates rather than become the CEOs of our own lives. When we mindlessly follow the dots, we smother our innate gifts and miss opportunities to fulfill our true potential. There is another way—choosing to live a simply luxurious life. This book will show you how to invest your time and what to eliminate from your life.

The High Tide Club

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm. Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

6 Books That Help Me Create a Beautiful Life, Plus 3 On My To Read List

May 16, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

For a number of years I’ve been on a mission to intentionally create a beautiful life. It’s not always easy but I do believe we each have the power within us to mold and shape a life that brings us joy. I draw inspiration from a number of sources but as a lifetime book lover, it’s no surprise that I often turn to the printed word to help me create the beautiful life I seek.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

6 Books That Help Me Create a Beautiful Life

1. Living a Beautiful Life

I bought a copy of this book back in the early 90s and became an Alexandra Stoddard fan immediately. I was totally enchanted by the lifestyle portrayed and have since read almost everything she’s written. Living a Beautiful Life is chock full of delightful ideas for adding beauty to our homes and our daily lives. I re-read portions of this book fairly often.

2. Chic & Slim

I “met” Anne Barone, the author of the Chic & Slim books (there are several) in a Yahoo Group many years ago. She was one of the first to try to explain just what it is about French women’s lifestyle that keeps them slim. Far more than a diet book, Chic & Slim explores the culture and daily lifestyle of the French. There is much to emulate here.

3. Lessons From Madame Chic

This beautifully-written book by Jennifer L. Scott reveals many secrets of the French “je ne sais quoi” that many of us find so alluring. Ms. Scott has published two additional books and is working on another. I will be reading them all!

I wrote a 4-part review of this book which you can read here.

4. The Cozy Life

While I admittedly draw much of my inspiration from the French, I have also been smitten by the Danish concept of “hygge”. I’ve written a couple of posts on the subject:

How to Create Your Own Cozy Hygge Corner

Hygge in the Springtime

5. Lagom (Not too little, not too much)

While “hygge” has become extremely popular in the past couple of years, the Swedish “lagom” is just starting to enjoy widespread popularity. I’m reminded of the childhood story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in which Goldilocks discovers that which is “just right”.

American culture is often a study in extremes. Hoarding or minimalism. Obesity or eating disorders. Overwork or excessive idleness. Lagom is all about moderation and balance – something I believe to be a worthy goal.

6. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

This last book may seem an odd choice but hear me out. If you aren’t familiar with the concept of “death cleaning”, here is what the author has to say about it:

“Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up; it is about a permanent form of organization that makes your everyday life run more smoothly,” she explains. And you may even find the process itself enjoyable, she adds. “It is a delight to go through things and remember their worth.”

The idea is to avoid leaving a gigantic task to your loved ones when you die. The author suggests this should be undertaken somewhere around one’s sixth decade but it can certainly be done earlier. In fact, I would argue that it’s not a bad idea to have this concept in the back of one’s mind even if you’re only 30 years old. Many of us accumulate way more than we actually need or enjoy and that excess complicates our lives.

Life With Dee‘s tagline is “create a beautiful life” so it should come as no surprise that I am constantly on the lookout for resources to help me do just that. If you have any suggestions I’d love to hear about them!

Three More On My To-Read List:

You may also enjoy these posts:

Aging Gracefully ~ How the French Woman Does It

LWD’s Favorite Francophile Books

Create a Beautiful Life ~ Afternoon Tea Ritual

5 Lessons I Learned From ‘Little Women’

May 11, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 5 Comments

I don’t recall exactly how old I was the first time I read Little Women but I’m guessing I was around 10. I loved it and have read it several times over the years. A brand new three-part adaptation premiers this Sunday on Masterpiece Theater and I am so excited to see it! There have been several adaptations over the years:

Little Women Movie & TV Adaptations

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see the 1949 version starring June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh and Margaret O’Brien at a local theater. I had dozens of things on my to-do list but some things are more important. I hadn’t seen this particular version before. As I watched I was reminded of some of the lessons that can be learned from this classic story.

5 Lessons from “Little Women”

1. It’s better to give than to receive.

The March girls give up their own Christmas presents in order to buy gifts for their hard working “Marmee” and experience the joy in giving to someone they love. In a more challenging lesson, they give their Christmas breakfast to a very poor and hungry family. It’s not so difficult to give to someone dear to us but to give to someone outside our circle of family and close friends stretches us and deepens our sense of empathy.

2. Money doesn’t buy happiness.

Both Aunt March and Mr. Laurence, the “old gentleman” next door have riches that anyone might envy. And yet money hasn’t brought either of them happiness. Aunt March is a cantankerous woman and quite difficult to get along with. Mr. Laurence can be rather crabby himself but we find over time that he is actually rather kind. Still, he’s not a happy man.

3. We all have character flaws but we can work to overcome them.

Meg is prideful; Jo is rebellious; Amy is vain; Beth is timid. Each girl possesses a character flaw with which she struggles. And while elements of those traits no doubt remain deep within, each girl makes great strides in overcoming these challenges.

4. Friendship is a valuable treasure.

The four March girls are not only sisters, they are one another’s truest friends. They also develop a close friendship with Laurie, the boy next door. These relationships sustain them through difficult times.

5. Listen to well-meaning advice.

All of the girls are the recipients of Marmee’s wise counsel and are the better for it. And while it was painful for her to accept at first, Professor Bhaer’s reaction to Jo’s early writings ultimately makes her a better writer.

Have you read Little Women? What did you think of it? Do you have a favorite movie adaptation? Are you planning to watch the new version? Who is your favorite March girl?

~~~~~

I’m now even more excited to see the new adaptation and truly hope it does the story justice. Click the photo below for more information if you want to see it, too.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD Book Club ~ May 2018

May 1, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

Can it truly be May already? I just noticed I still have Santa mugs on a display shelf in my kitchen. Please tell me I’m not the only one who *thinks* I have all the holiday decorations put away, only to find a few stragglers weeks (months?) later. But yes, according to the calendar page I just turned over this morning, it is May. And that means it’s time for the May edition of the LWD Book Club. Let’s see what’s up for this month!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD MAY BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

Death at the Chateau Bremont by M. L. Longworth

I listened to a podcast the other day with the author of this book. She has a brand new book out but I want to start with the first in the series.

The first installment in the beloved, sumptuous mystery series set in Provence, featuring chief magistrate Antoine Verlaque and his old flame Marine Bonnet, who must team up to solve a pair of murders

When local nobleman Étienne de Bremont falls to his death from the family château, it sets the historic town of Aix-en-Provence abuzz with rumors. Antoine Verlaque, the charming chief magistrate of Aix, suspects foul play, and when he discovers that Bremont had been a close friend of Marine Bonnet, his on-again off-again girlfriend, Verlaque must turn to her for help.

The once idyllic town suddenly seems filled with people who scould have benefited from Bremont’s death—including his playboy brother François, who’s heavily in debt and mixed up with some unsavory characters. But just as Verlaque and Bonnet are narrowing down their list of suspects, another death occurs. And this time, there can be no doubt—it’s murder.

A lively mystery steeped in the enticing atmosphere of the south of France and seasoned with romance as rich as the French cuisine that inspires it, this first installment in the acclaimed Verlaque & Bonnet Provençal Mystery series is as addictive and captivating as Provence itself.

If you’d like to check out the podcast here is the link:

203: M.L. Longworth’s New Provençal Mystery and Life in Provence

The Fringe Hours: Making Time For You by Jessica N. Turner

Every woman has had this experience: you get to the end of the day and realize you did nothing for you. And if you go days, weeks, or even months in this cycle, you begin to feel like you have lost a bit of yourself.

While life is busy with a litany of must-dos–work, parenting, keeping house, grocery shopping, laundry and on and on–women do not have to push their own needs aside. Yet this is often what happens. There’s just no time, right? Wrong.

In this practical and liberating book, Jessica Turner empowers women to take back pockets of time they already have in their day in order to practice self-care and do the things they love. Turner uses her own experiences and those of women across the country to teach readers how to balance their many responsibilities while still taking time to invest in themselves. She also addresses barriers to this lifestyle, such as comparison and guilt, and demonstrates how eliminating these feelings and making changes to one’s schedule will make the reader a better wife, mother, and friend.

Perfect for any woman who is doing everything for everyone–except herself–The Fringe Hours is ideal for both individuals and small group use.

Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making a Home by Danielle Postel-Vinay

French Women Don’t Get Fat meets The Little Book of Hygge in this lively, sophisticated, and practical illustrated lifestyle guide that shows how to enjoy la belle vie—to live like the French every day—transforming your house into a home defined by beauty, family, and accessible elegance.

How do the French create the elusive and alluring sanctuaries they call home? This question long intrigued Danielle Postel-Vinay. Thanks to a chance encounter with a French expat in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and years of immersive research, she embarked on a quest to discover the secrets of the French home aesthetic.

Experiencing first-hand la belle vie—the beautiful life—Postel-Vinay now shows everyone how to create their own French sanctuary, a home sweet maison, no matter where they live. Providing more than just interior decorating and design tips, Postel-Vinay teaches you how to foster the warmth, beauty, and rituals inherent in the French home and create an environment better suited to living a rich, full, connected life. At the center of the book is the idea that your house should be a reflection of you, your hobbies, your family history, your rituals, all the things that make your life unique. A happy home is a home that expresses your rituals and your taste, not one that relies on prefab décor from a mass retailer.

Home Sweet Maison takes a room-by-room approach to show how the French view:

The Aesthetic: why the objects in your home matter, why minimalism is overrated, and why the French always choose the perfect décor for their salons

The Practical: how to use mise-en-place, or the French art of organization, in your kitchen, and how to find the right stain-removing potions to create your own French laundry

The Sensual: the way the French employ scent in their home as a personal signature

The Philosophical: the idea that every room in a French house has a specific purpose, and that the activity in one room should never bleed into the others

Home Sweet Maison encapsulates the very heart of the French way of seeing the world: set the table formally, adhere to all the conventions of ritual and tradition, then take pleasure in indulgence. It’s about using French concepts and routines to change our homes, our relationships, and our lives for the better.