On Tuesday, you Bitches will have your turn to tell us what you've been reading during the first two months of The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.
But TODAY, we look at the Mistress's list of books for January and February.
NON-FICTION:
Over the Top and Back: An Autobiography by Tom Jones (published 2015)...
The “Panty Magnet” confessed to bedding 250 women a year at the height of his fame and he had a string of extramarital affairs. But if you're after the juicy details, look elsewhere. This memoir isn’t a kiss and tell. Rather, it’s an enjoyable account of Tom Jones’ journey from a working-class family in a Welsh coal-mining town to becoming an international sex symbol. Anecdotes galore, delivered in a congenial manner will keep you turning the pages.
Maggie Smith: A Biography by Michael Coveney (published 2015)...
Beloved for her role on Downton Abbey as the Dowager Countess, Lady Violet, Dame Maggie Smith's career spans an incredible six decades on stage and screen. This well-researched account of her life shines a light on her remarkable career and talent. It’s a little more difficult to get a handle on her private life as she’s known to be reclusive and doesn’t give interviews. For an actress so illustrious and accomplished, she remains a mystery.
Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon (published 2015)...
"This book is my way of going back through my childhood, my music, my romances, my marriage ... and trying to make sense of it all," Simon says. She shares her deepest desires, fears and regrets as she chronicles her rise to fame, her struggle with low self-esteem, depression and stage fright, and her tumultuous marriage to singer/songwriter James Taylor. For those of you wondering about her "boys in the bed," you'll find accounts of her flings with Cat Stevens, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, and other lovers.
The Sound of Music Story: How A Beguiling Young Novice, A Handsome Austrian Captain, and Ten Singing von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time by Tom Santopietro (published 2015)...
Since its debut over 50 years ago, The Sound of Music has gained legions of fans the world over. It's the third highest grossing film of all time, behind only Gone With the Wind and Star Wars. This thorough account chronicles the real-life Maria von Trapp and her family, and delves into the compelling story of the making of the both the Broadway play and the movie. Did you know that Doris Day was considered for the role of Maria before Julie Andrews was chosen? Or that Christopher Plummer so disliked working on the film that he called it, “The Sound of Mucus?” If you’ve enjoyed this iconic film or you’ve faithfully attend sing-a-longs dressed in a dirndl or lederhosen, "I Have Confidence" that this book could become one of your "Favourite Things."
Poison Penmanship: The Gentle Art of Muckraking by Jessica Mitford (published 1988)...
Poison Penmanship collects seventeen of Jessica Mitford’s finest pieces of investigative journalism. Included are essays regarding her exposés of the funeral business and corruption in the American prison system. The New York Times wrote, "Mitford's pen is mightier than the sword." An irrepressible writer with rapier wit, Mitford died in 1996 but her legacy lives on through her writing.
The Wild Oats Project: One Woman's Midlife Quest for Passion at Any Cost by Robin Rinaldi (published 2015)...
The self-indulgent true story of how a San Franciscan woman’s extra-marital affairs destroyed her marriage.
My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life by Ruth Reichl (published 2015) Thanks to Normadesmond for this recommendation...
When publisher Condé Nast folded Gourmet magazine and laid off its staff, editor Ruth Reichl, at age 62 was at loose ends. She found solace and regeneration in her own home kitchen where she whipped up a tempting array of dishes over the course of a year. The result is this mouth-watering cookbook/memoir. Reichl says, “A good cookbook should make you want to get up and cook." Mission accomplished.
The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind by Michio Kaku (published 2014)...
Theoretical physicist, Michio Kaku is The Mistress’s go-to resource for understanding science in a fashion that the layman can understand. In this book, he clearly explains how our brains function and the mind-boggling possibilities that lie ahead for the future of the brain, our third largest organ.
FICTION:
Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe (published 2014)...
Narrated by 9-year-old Lizzie as she plots to find a husband for her divorced mother. A charming novel that makes me want to read more from this author.
American Housewife by Helen Ellis (published 2016)...
Twelve short stories about the psyche of the American housewife. The Mistress must have a different sense of humour than the venerable Margaret Atwood who called this book, “cackle-making.” Or perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for this one.
The Piano Maker by Kurt Palka (published 2015)...
Set in a Canadian town in the 1930s, this story follows a mysterious woman with a troubled past. Told in flash-backs, the story is slow-moving but beautifully crafted.
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. (published 2013 in Sweden.) Translated from the Swedish by Alice Menzies. (English translation published 2016)...
A young, Swedish woman leaves home for the first time and travels to small-town Iowa to visit her elderly, bibliophile pen-pal. She arrives at the station but no one is there to meet her. What's a girl to do? This delightful debut novel is recommended for readers who like reading books about friendship and for those who like reading books about books. Happy ending guaranteed.
And so ends Part One (January-February) of The Mistress's reading list for the 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.
12 books in 2 months! That's thanks to a long, cold Canadian winter. It's unlikely I'll top those numbers for the remainder of the year.
On Tuesday, March 1st, we'll be asking YOU Bitches what you've been reading. Until that time, we hope you've enjoyed browsing The Mistress's choices for January and February.
