"I love the way that each book — any book — is its own journey. You open it, and off you go…" – Sharon Creech
Our Kindles are right up there with our phones and our bed pillows as Senior Nomad Travel Essentials. We’ve had them for ten years - and they still work perfectly. Almost all our Kindle books come from the Seattle Public Library, either directly from their website or the Libby app. Of course, you have to wait for popular titles, but they come eventually and are free! In the meantime, there are always plenty of books in the “Available Now” section to keep us reading!
When I told Michael it was time for him to give me his list of favorite books of 2022, he went directly to Goodreads, his favorite app for keeping track of what he’s read - and what he wants to read. We scanned the list together and had to chuckle because it revealed a lot about the fiction he’s drawn to when it’s time for a new book. Many of his choices have Library or Librarian in the title, along with Bookshop, Paris, Putin, and French. But the word that appeared the most was Wife! After 44 years of marriage, is he still trying to figure me out?
Nancy Pearl - America’s Librarian calls Seattle home.
Speaking of Libraries, our hometown of Seattle is home to Nancy Pearl, the librarian, author, and an NPR regular. She is often referred to as America’s Librarian and is so famous she has been made into an action figure! She has also written several books herself. Book Lust to Go offers reading recommendations for travelers, vagabonds, and dreamers. And in The Writer’s Library, Ms. Pearl interviews well-known authors about the books that changed their lives. Another one of my favorite sources for new books is NPR's interactive Book Concierge.
Here is the deluxe version of Nancy the Librarian. There is also a super hero version complete with red cape.
We both enjoy finding libraries in the cities we visit. The library usually has a bulletin board for local events and activities. And on a rainy day, it’s nice to settle in to peruse books from the English section.
Two of our most memorable library visits happened last year in Paris. Michael enjoyed a book called The Paris Library (of course), which featured The American Library - a book lending service created for American soldiers fighting in WWI. Since that noble inception, it now houses the most extensive collection of English-language books in all of Europe.
The American Library is in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Oh the Places You’ll Go! Grand daughter Colette was impressed with the young adult choices and multiple bean bag chairs.
Today, it is a private institution that is supported by membership fees; as visitors, we were invited to take a look around with our granddaughter Colette. If we ever live in Paris, we would join immediately to take advantage of the books on offer, author appearances, and Expat events.
But the most stunning library we’ve ever seen is the renovated French National Library Richelieu. It took almost 15 years to restore and enhance the Palais Mazarin - the magnificent 18th-century building that housed the library when it first opened in 1722. There are several ornate reading rooms - some are open to the public, and others are for patrons only.
A busy morning in the public Oval Reading Room.
Beyond thousands of books on offer, there is a space to review rare documents (with the proper credentials), a music library, and 9,000 graphic novels to peruse. There is also a lovely cafe and, perhaps best of all, a museum filled with treasures you won’t find anywhere else.
The renovation of the buildings took almost 15 years - but the results are stunning, and every room has treasure to discover.
The museum showcases possessions that belonged to “The Kings of France” dating back to the 1500s. The collection includes Egyptian and Roman artifacts, jewels worn by Marie Antoinette and other royalty, rare coins and medals, paintings, magnificent maps of the world, original scores by Mozart and Beethoven, African treasures, and unique memorabilia from the 19th and 20th centuries.
A Cameo brooch worn by Marie Antoinette that you could get close enough to see every detail.
The variety of items on display was mind-boggling. Everything from music by Mozart to fine art and military wear, to hand-drawn maps of the new world from the 1400s.
On the day we visited, there was a captivating exhibition on the life and works of Molière, France’s favorite 17th-century comedic playwright. If you can only visit one museum in Paris, I recommend this one. Not only will you walk the same polished floors as The Sun King, but the museum also delivers a more intimate and interesting experience than The Louvre for a fraction of the price.
Now on to our book selections. We read a few of the same books - so give those titles two times the recommendation. We especially enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry and The Good Sister for their strong female characters and excellent storytelling. And The Plot and The Violin Conspiracy were page-turners we couldn’t put down. I bought my first iPad during the holidays, so I've added cookbooks and art books with full-color images to my reading list.
OUR Favorite BOoks of 2022
Michael’s list:
The Red Notebook - Antoine Laurain
Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
The Violin Conspiracy - Brendan Slocumb
The Plot - Jean Hanff-Korelitz
The Good Sister - Sally Hepworth
The Code Breaker - Walter Isaacson
The Paris Library - Janet Skeslien
The Orphans of Mercy House - Marty Wingate
The Lions of Fifth Avenue - Fiona Davis
Debbie’s List:
Anxious People - Fredrik Backman
Where the Forest Meets the Stars - Glendy Vanderah
Fingersmith - Sarah Waters
The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O’Farrell
The Ardent Swarm - Yamen Manai
The House of Broken Angels - Luis Alberto Urrea
The Good Sister - Sally Hepworth
The Plot - Jean Hanff-Korelitz
Fly Girl: A Memoir - Ann Hood
Bloomsbury Girls - Natalie Jenner
My Paris Kitchen - David Lebovitz
The Smitten Kitchen - Deb Perelman
In June, our sixth grandchild was born. In the spirit of “you're never too young to appreciate a good book," our oldest daughter Kelly organized a Baby Book Shower for Weston. Almost every family member, including the French continent, was in Seattle, so it was also a family reunion. Everyone contributed a few childhood favorites or books they enjoyed reading to their kids. It was fun to hear the stories behind the books we chose. There was great banter between parents and grown children about which books were most memorable. It didn’t always match up!
The Campbell Clan gathered at Discovery Park for a Book Shower for Weston. His bookshelf is filled with three dozen family favs.
Weston is about to turn 8 months old and already loves his books.
We recently spent two weeks in Puerto Vallarta and are now in San Miguel de Allende, our favorite winter destination. There will be plenty of time for reading before we leave in mid-April for France, so we look forward to your recommendations in the comments.
Thanks for following along,
Debbie and Michael Campbell