^^ Well, having many a lilac bloom is definitely a bonus for having a harsh winter! Our winter hasn’t exactly been harsh here in Virginia – it’s just been long and dreary. I feel like normally, by this time of year, we are having half-warm days in the 60s and 70s and half-winter days. I think we’ve only had ONE warm day thus far. (I also think my standards for warm are warmer than most people’s.) But perhaps I am just remembering previous winters wrong!
The above quote came from Lilac Girls, which I finished last week. I really can’t put a finger on how I feel about the book now that it’s over. I didn’t realize until about mid-way through that it’s based on a true story of the women-only Ravensbrück concentration camp during WWII. As I read the author’s notes at the end of Lilac Girls, I realized that all of the main characters were based on real people and the book was based on as much truth as possible. It certainly made me think differently about the story. While Lilac Girls is far from the top of my favorite books list (I enjoyed The Nightingale so much more), I found myself missing it when it was over. And I have a lot of respect for the amount of research that went into Martha Hall Kelly’s writing process.
In other media news, we LOVED The Handmaid’s Tale!! It’s definitely worth doing a free trial over at Hulu to watch. (Although I will say we have had some technical trouble with Hulu being overloaded in the evenings and the show not loading for us on Chrome.) The show definitely got a bit darker towards the end, but we couldn’t wait to watch each episode. The next season comes out April 26, so I have cancelled Hulu for now and will do another round when it comes out.
We didn’t love A Wrinkle In Time, which we saw in the theater over the weekend. While the costumes and scenery were beautiful, we just didn’t love the plot, characters, or the acting. The only conclusion I can come to is that a book from the 1960s doesn’t translate well to film. I didn’t connect with the main characters at all, and we thought it was quite predictable and cheesy. (And I like cheesy things!) I don’t like not giving something a good review and I absolutely love Oprah, Mindy, and Reese, but I left the theater really disappointed. (It crossed my mind that maybe I just wasn’t the target audience, but we all three loved Peter Rabbit a few weeks ago! I thought everything about that movie was super well done.)
Here is a lovely lilac smoothie for you with mixed berries, banana, oats, milk, spinach, and Vega vanilla. I had a side of cinnamon chip toast and butter with coffee for the warm part of breakfast!
I want to read something lighthearted, modern, possibly romantic, and a potential page-turner next. I would love your recommendations!
Happy birthday to my mom!
Claire says
I remember reading a Wrinkle in Time when I was at school and enjoying it, but there was a film made in 2003 that wasnt any good either. This new one has received lots of bad reviews. Perhaps it just doesnt make a good movie and should stay in book form only!
Charlotte Dixon says
A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite books when I was a kid (I’m much older than you). My sister and I read it and re-read it over the years. I haven’t seen the movie, and I probably won’t. It looks like they made it way too glitzy and Hollywood. The book contains timeless themes about love and being different, and they just might not marry well with the Hollywood treatment.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Lilac used to be one of my favourite colours when I was young! The smoothie looks really good – you could probably sell it for a lot if you market it right, haha! 😉
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Paige says
The Light we Lost is fantastic. I just finished it. Beautiful and romantic.
Mandy says
I recently finished The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. It is not exactly light hearted, modern, or romantic, but it is for sure a page turner with very touching moments. Kinda has a Forest Gump-y thing going on.
Meghan says
Have you read Crazy Rich Asians? It’s well-written, considering the subject matter, and really funny. A fun look into a totally different world! I sped through the books (there are three, and it’s also being turned into a movie) and definitely enjoyed them.
How to Eat a Cupcake is another book in that same vein: contemporary “chick lit” that’s well-written. One of my favorite genres!
Ellie Lawrence says
Have you read What She Ate? It’s fun but also very interesting.
Also I enjoyed American Marriage. It’s not romantic but a good book to make you think.
Liz says
Have you ever read anything by Jennifer Weiner? She is a fun author and I have loved all of her books. I would suggest anything by her.
Jennifer says
I was just coming here to say the same thing! Jennifer Weiner is my go to after I read a really heavy book. I don’t think I’ve read anything by her that I didn’t like.
Leah says
I really enjoyed Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty. It’s got a little bit of everything in it–a fun read.
KathEats says
Thanks for all of the reading recs so far! I am taking notes!
Kristen says
I don’t think Hulu lets you have another month for free.
KathEats says
I’ll just pay for the next month.
Sally says
The Arrangement is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. I picked it up at the airport on a whim a few weeks ago, and finished it in 2 days. The subject matter is unconventional but hilarious. Definitely recommend!
Melissa (fitnessnyc) says
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!
KathEats says
I have this on my kindle already! Maybe it’ll be the winner 🙂
Ash Diamond says
YES loved Evelyn Hugo!
Becky says
My book club just read Wrinkle in Time so we could see the movie together. Reading the book as an adult ruined my chilhood love for it. I actually found the movie better than the book.
Amanda says
I just finished reading I’ll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa De Los Santos. (I’ve read all of her books.) Reading some of the other suggestions, I will second Crazy Rich Asians and also The Light We Lost.
Renee says
You listen to the YHL podcast – get reading The Selection per Sherry’s recommendation! 🙂 I did – finished the first book in a matter of days. Now I’m waiting for the 2nd book to come in from the library. It is so teeny bopper, but sometimes that’s a nice mental break, right? I think you’ll like it. And even if you don’t, it’s so short you’ll be done in no time.
KathEats says
I did see she loved it! I’m not into teeny bopper at alllllll because I find them hard to relate to! I tried one a year or so ago and couldn’t get into it. Let me go read the synopsis!
Melissa says
Hi, I was wondering if you read anything about the high levels of arsenic, lead & bpa in Vega (especially the vanilla for whatever reason)? I was so excited to buy this, and love the taste, but my aunt in law sent me a link from consumer reports about it and made me nervous. Just curious about your thoughts as a pro! Love reading your blog
KathEats says
No I’ve never heard this!
Melissa says
https://www.consumerreports.org/dietary-supplements/heavy-metals-in-protein-supplements/
This was the link she sent to me. I know there’s unwanted chemicals in almost everything we use daily, so I’m not sure if i should just take it with a grain of salt. Vega is the only protein powder I actually enjoy so it was kind of bummed to read this. I just was wondering if you had read it too!
KathEats says
Wow, that is kind of scary. All I can think is “this is why we need to eat whole foods in their original form.” I do use Vega, and I am not adverse to protein powders, but this does raise a red flag for me. I tend to use them a few times a week, in a small dose, in a smoothie, and don’t rely on them as a daily protein source. I think our best reaction is to continue eating a diverse diet that is founded on whole foods and use anything processed – even if it is plant based, organic, and whole food originated – as an accent to our diet.
Samantha says
The Secret Life of Violet Grant was great if you haven’t read it yet!
Carrie says
Hi! The Light We Lost is a great book. It follows the main character from her senior year of college in 2001 to present day. It is a love/ coming of age story set in NYC. I highly recommend!!
Sarah F says
I just started reading “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah (same author as “The Nightingale”). I planned to only read a few pages last night- and ended up staying up and reading almost 100 pages! So I would definitely recommend based on how it’s beginning 🙂
KathEats says
Just read the description and it sounds amazing! I love frontier novels, and I trust anything by Kristin Hannah because I loved the Nightengale. I read this book right after The Nightengale but I hated the first half. The second half, however, redeemed the book, but it still wasn’t as good as NG.
Kristen Iskandrian says
Hi! You might like my debut novel, Motherest 🙂
KathEats says
Oooo congratulations! I’ll send a sample to my kindle : )
Kristen Iskandrian says
<3
Jane Van Sant says
I Loved Motherest!
Katie Toomey says
Have you heard of The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory? It’s the hot new romance novel that everyone is raving about! My library has quite a wait-list, but I’ve been on it for a few weeks and my eBook should come through any day now.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33815781-the-wedding-date
I very recently read the graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time that was just published a few years ago. It left no impact on me whatsoever, which was sad because I know it’s beloved to many people. I agree that I’m just not the target audience. I’m not a real hardcore sci-fi and fantasy reader, but I bet budding sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts love it?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13513205-a-wrinkle-in-time?from_search=true
Linda @ the Fitty says
Beautiful shades of purple! Purple is my new favourite colour:)
Emily says
Your breakfast is beautiful! The smoothie is gorgeous and the bread looks delicious.
Kelly says
It’s not lighthearted or modern, but it’s most definitely a page turner and has some romance – if you haven’t read The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy – it’s a must read and possibly my favorite all time fiction book. Set in Charleston during the 60s, it is inspired by Conroy’s time at The Citadel.
Jane Van Sant says
The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani is really good.
Julie Rosene says
I loved the Handmaid’s Tale so much too!
For a light beachy read, (with depth), I really enjoyed The Vacationers by Emma Straub.
Denise Belyavsky says
“French Toast” by Marcia Muir Mitchell (she’s the mother of Hollywood actor Ben Feldman) and I worked with her many years ago. Her book is a memoir of her years living in France and trying to make a life after her third divorce. I couldn’t put it down.
Katie B says
I just read “Girl in Translation” by Jean Kwok, and I highly enjoyed it…In fact, I liked it so much that I started her next book yesterday, “Mambo in Chinatown,” and I’m almost done with it.
Sara says
I wouldn’t say that these are “romantic” books but All the Missing Girls” and “The Couple Next Door” were both amazing page turners! I finished them both in about 1.5 days because I couldn’t put either of them down!
KathEats says
Thanks!
Eva says
Have you read Emily griffin’s books before? Basically meets your criteria of lighthearted modern with romance. They’re technically “chick lit” but I think she’s an eloquent writer so her books aren’t trashy at all, and it feels like you’re actually reading a decent book (at least in my opinion)
KathEats says
I have heard of her, but I don’t know if I’ve actually read any
Cori R. says
By the Book is a fun read. Written by Julia Sonnenborn. It’s a modern take on a Jane Austen novel. Loved the main character, she was so realistic and she had a great friend, Larry that made me laugh. Highly recommended for a light but enjoyable book!
Coleen says
I have really enjoyed the books from Sarah Jio.
I just finished The Identicals by Elin Hildebrand and liked it a lot.
I also like to alternate more intense books with light hearted ones. I will be rereading The Diary of Anne Frank next because I am going to the Anne Frank House next month. I
KathEats says
I like to alternate too. That’s cool about your upcoming visit! Love Elin Hilderbrand.
Kelli H says
No Time to blink by Dina silver
Eva @ All Books Considered says
I really liked Lilac Girls too. Can’t wait for season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale soon!
If you want a real thriller, I HIGHLY recommend Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine. I could not put it down!
KathEats says
Downloading a sample!
Nancy says
Have you read The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect yet? I liked the first book better but they were both really fun reads. I also recently finished A Man Called Ove and am just starting My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by the same author. I also love anything by Jennifer Crusie. Her writing is witty and interesting and thoroughly enjoyable.
You got me hooked on Elin Hilderbrand. The Matchmaker is my favorite by far.
KathEats says
I read the Matchmaker last year!