What I’ve been reading since we last chatted, and what I want to read next week

[@BigboyErnie]

Please read A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. It is my favorite Christmas story. Cozy, an old lady, Queenie the terrier…and no one writes a better sentence than Capote! It’s short, poignant, and unforgettable.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

I've wanted to read that forever! Thanks for the reminder!

[@eileennielsen5165]

Hi Gina! Like your hair😊 I'm the one who gold you I didn't care for Sarah Morgan's book. I like her bks. but this one just didn't have a "yay" effect on me. I have SO MANY Cmas bks! That's what I've been doing all month; reading my own collection. Have to confess bought a few more. Will never get to read ALL. Every yr. I HAVE to read " A Christmas Carole " by Dickens, " A Child's Cmas In Wales" all the same little bks. you showed, two Victorian Cmas Anthologies I dip in and out of. Did buy Miss Reads Country Christmas; read "Christmas With The Queen" by Hazel Gaynor( A fave author) and Heather Webb. Really liked that. Also enjoyed"A Quilt For Christmas " by Sandra Dallas (like her also). Guess what I am re-reading right now? YUP! Winter Solstice! Will be forever grateful to you for talking about it so much last yr!!🤗😁😘 Sorry your reading wasn't so great. Don't understand about your husband retiring? Did you mean from cats or his job?? Have the merriest of Christmas' and a healthy, happy, prosperous, enriching and rewarding 2025! Hope to hear more often from you next year; just enjoy you lots🤗.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

@@eileennielsen5165 hi Eileen! My husband worked for the Humane Society, and when they said they were going to euthanize this kitten he quit in protest. He was getting ready to retire anyway so this just sped things up a bit.

[@booksimnotreading]

Merry Christmas, Gina! A fifth cat? Can’t wait to hear about the newest member of the family! 💛🎄🐈‍⬛

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

@@booksimnotreading OMG it’s a bit much, but the humane society had her slated for euthanasia and we just couldn’t allow that.

[@booksimnotreading]

@ You and your husband are very good people! ❤️

[@CorinneHSmith]

I thought of you yesterday, Gina. I was out shopping for good used books for a homebound friend of mine. She likes Maeve Binchy, Barbara Delinsky, and Anne Rivers Siddon. At one unexpected site, where I didn't think I would find anything AT ALL, I found three brand-new paperbacks in Miss Read's Thrush Green series. The store's deal for the day was to Buy 3 Books, Get One Free. So I added one Dick Francis mystery to the stack, since my friend likes his books, too. And that was one of my good scores for the day. I hope she likes them!

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Score!!! What a great find!

[@krommama]

Merry Christmas! In your last video you recommended No Holly for Miss Quinn by Miss Read and High Rising by Angela Thirkell. I promptly bought both. Thoroughly enjoyed them! Thank you! I'm currently reading Winter and Rough Weather by DE Stevenson. Up next is some Christmas Betty Neels.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Oh I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them. DE Stevenson is such a favorite of mine too. Merry Christmas.

[@jensreadinglife]

I always smile when I see you have a new video! 😊 This was just as lovely and cozy and chatty as always. I have that same Susan Branch book to read this coming week as well. And how disappointing about The Willows at Christmas. I really enjoyed The Willows in Winter so I’m sad to hear this one wasn’t good. Oh well! Plenty of other books to read! 😁 Merry Christmas! Enjoy your time off.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Awww, thanks Jen! My cozy friend loves the Willows, so maybe it was just me.

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Gina, You are looking fabulous this holiday season! I will look for the DE Stevenson book. She can be hit or miss for me. But your description sounds like fun! I love Nancy Pearl too. Aloha friend

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Thanks so much MMM. Happy holidays my friend ❤️

[@annlitwack5623]

It is great to see you back on book tube. I am currently about halfway through the Holiday Cottage By Sarah Morgan and am really enjoying it. In fact it is been hard for me to put it down.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Oh that’s good to hear. I do like her writing.

[@anenthusiasticreader]

It sounds like you'll have a lot of new adventures with a retired spouse and new cat! Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Gina. :)

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

It’ll be an interesting year. I’m going to retire in 2025 too (trying to work while my souse is sitting two feet away video gaming is a bit challenging lol).

[@spreadbookjoy]

The Willows at Christmas does not sound like the cosy read I'd expect! 😱

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

@@spreadbookjoy yeah, I was quite surprised by it, and I admit a little disappointed.

[@spreadbookjoy]

@ such a shame!

[@amy8458]

Merry Christmas Gina. Sorry about your meh reading month and the chaos. What does contrived mean regarding Young Mrs Savage?I've read four books so far this month all have been contemporary. . My favorites have been A Lake Shore Christmas (Lake shore Chronicles #6 ) by Susan Wiggs and A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Neigle.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Hi Amy, Merry Christmas to you too. By contrived I meant that there are some very random coincidences that are very important to the story. (ie the main character just happens to bump into some people that make for the happy ending). It works for the story and DE Stevenson can get away with it though.

[@gerrid9092]

Just finished Mrs. Tim Carries On and loved it. It’s always time for another cozy DES book. Btw, love your new hair style!

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

@@gerrid9092 thanks so much!

[@theresepazell7875]

Take care Happy Holidays we take care of 8 cats as of now Tomorrowihht be 10 by the end of winter.Take care.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Happy holidays! 😻

[@StephaniePatterson-jb5it]

I love Jane Haddam. I’ve read the Demarkian series twice. She got me through the pandemic. Unfortunately, Haddam died in 2019.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

@@StephaniePatterson-jb5it I was so excited about finding this series. It’s fantastic. Ive been wanting to sink my teeth into a nice juicy series and this is it! So well written.