Leyla's House: A Novel by Zülfü Livaneli

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

Love, love, love the cover of this wonderful book. You can see the history and beauty of such a grand home - the way it must have looked once upon a time. Of course, you can see how loss and neglect have left the home forgotten and uncared for. And yet, an elderly woman named Leyla resided in the space - a connection to her aristocratic heritage - until she was thrown out of it and made homeless. So, what happens next?

Well...

"Evicted from her Istanbul mansion, an elderly aristocrat forms surprising new connections across class and culture.

A colorful, nuanced novel about old and new money, the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey, from the internationally bestselling author of Disquiet.

The last living member of a great Ottoman family, the refined yet sheltered Leyla finds herself homeless and vulnerable when her house is sold by the bank to a business tycoon and his ambitious wife. Forced out of this historic mansion on the bank of the Bosphorus, Leyla is rescued and taken in by Yusuf, the son of her family’s former gardener who has become a journalist. She follows him to a modern, cosmopolitan district of Istanbul where she discovers a world of artists and outcasts alongside Yusuf’s partner, Roxy, real name Rukiye, a hip-hop singer. Despite initial hostility, a real friendship gradually develops between these two very different women.

When Leyla’s former home is emptied of its furniture, a hidden family history resurfaces thanks to the discovery of a photo revealing the old lady’s uncanny resemblance to a British officer. Could Leyla be the product of an illegitimate union between an Ottoman woman and an Englishman?

With a marked sense of romance, this vibrant novel displays all the layers of a society where social classes as diverse as the former Ottoman aristocracy, the nouveau riche, and the Turks who returned after immigrating to Europe coexist." (summary from Goodreads)

How fascinating does that sound? Exploring what home truly means, along with the history and romance that houses can foster and carry. This book sounds like a definite must-read for fans of historical literary fiction. Plus, reading about Turkey and its history - talk about armchair travel at its best! I'm excited to dive in deep with Leyla's House and lose myself in her story.  And, I'm happy to recommend you do the same - grab a copy and read it up. I just know you'll fall in deep with this book - I'm looking forward to doing the same. Happy reading!

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday Musings...

I would like to sleep in on the weekends. It seems like no morning is a good morning to just sleep, sleep, sleep. Then again, if I'm honest, I just want good sleep - the kind that is deep and you wake up not knowing where you are, because you slept so damn hard. Sometimes I think about booking a hotel room for the night and ordering room service and just sleeping in until it's time to check out. Maybe that's something I'll gift myself this year. 

I'm meant to be packing, but I can't seem to start. I want to pare down and only keep what I truly love, but I can't seem to figure out how to begin that culling process. Ugh. Procrastination is the worst. Mind you, we haven't sold our home or bought a new one, and yet we want to get a head start on the packing. Oh my.

I'm reading The Surf House by Lucy Clarke - how did I miss this one? I normally gobble her books up straightaway - they're mystery thrillers, which I love. Oh, and I'm also reading The Village Beyond The Mist by Sachiko Ashiwaba - it's such a fun one. Its the first book for JLC19 and I'm happy I chose that one to start off with. 

Alright, I'd better get started on one of my tasks on that never-ending to-do list. Wish me luck! Hope you all have a wonderful week. Happy reading!

My Friday Five...

1. The Burbs. I love that Tom Hanks film. It's always been a favorite and just cracks me up. He's on vacation and becomes fixated with the new neighbors that moved into the dilapidated looking house on the street. He thinks they are murderers. The other neighbors are also convinced that something isn't right with the new neighbors, so they do a bit of sleuthing. It's pretty crazy, but definitely a fun movie. Have you seen it? Well, they are doing a remake on Peacock TV. It's a new TV show and stars Keke Palmer. She's moved into a new neighborhood with her husband and baby. There's a creepy looking house that she is wondering about. Some people have just moved in, but no one ever sees them. So, of course the her and her neighbors get together to do a bit of sleuthing to find out what is going on with that house and the owners. Looks like it'll be fun one to watch. Comes out February 8th. 

2. My sister told me to get rid of the wooden signs with positive phrases on them. Of course, if it were up to her I would get rid of pretty much everything. I have these four prints of The Beatles that I framed - they take up a pretty good amount of space, but I love them. I bought them at the Ohio County Fair decades ago - they also had one of those copycat Beatles bands playing at the fairgrounds. Anyhow, it reminds me of that time - my dad and I watched them perform (he got me into The Beatles) and I bought those prints there. And now that he's gone, well, it's a nice memento to keep. Suffice it to say, I am getting rid of the majority of the signs and keeping two. Decluttering to move is hard, but also cathartic. 

3. I'm still reading the Lily King book, because I am LOVING it. She's a wonderful writer and her short stories are ace. What a treat! I don't want it to end. 

4. I pre-ordered the new Chanel Miller book, The Moon Without Stars. I loved her memoir, Know My Name - it was excellent. And, I love that she's now writing children's books. Talk about a talented writer. 

5.  I finally watched Taylor Swift's docu-series, The End of an Era. It was fun and fascinating to get the behind the scenes details of such an epic tour. Plus, it reminded me of how much I do enjoy her music. I need to listen to it again. 

And now, I'm off to run some errands before the weekend. Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend. Enjoy and happy reading!

Three Things...

 1. Nightwatching. OMG! What a riveting story! I was hooked right from the start and I could not figure out who the Corner man was, or if there really was a Corner man. I just found myself swept  away and enjoying the ride - so many things happened that kept my jaw dropping each time. The story was fantastic! A woman is at home with her children. She's in her son's room when she hears a noise downstairs. There's an intruder in her house. WTF! She needs to be quick and decisive - run for help or hide. It's nighttime and  heavy snow is in the forecast. Plus, her neighbors don't exactly live right next door. And will her kids be able to hand that kind of trek? Then again, where can she hide and keep her kids safe? Yikes! And, that is all I will share, because this book is most definitely a MUST-READ!! I absolutely LOVED it! I'd definitely recommend to everyone - pick up a copy ASAP!

2. Book buying ban. I need to ban myself, because I wind up with books that I just don't like. Ugh. I'll see something on social media that sounds like a great read and I'll grab a copy and then it's a dud. Also, I need to just read what is already on my shelves. This was supposed to be a bookish resolution - stop buying books and I've already broken it. LOL!

3. Wooden signs with positive messages. Are they a 'keep' or 'donate' - I'm decluttering as I'm about to start slowly packing up my office. I'm at my desk and I am looking at all the framed art and photos I have on the walls. I noticed that I have quite a few of those wooden signs with "Just Breathe" or "Believe" written on them. I'm wondering if I should get rid of them. I'm looking toward this new beginning (when we actually do move) as motivation to decorate differently. A more minimal, but cozy vibe. So, I'm thinking of getting rid of those signs. Hmm...what do you think? Or should I keep one or two? 

Alright, I'm off to tackle some to-dos. Hope you all have a lovely day. Happy reading!

Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga - Thor: Ragnarok - The Art of the Movie by Eleni Roussos

(Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Get an exclusive look at the art and designs behind the Mighty Avenger's newest film in this latest installment of the popular ART OF series of movie tie-in books! 

A new all-powerful being threatens the destruction of Asgard, but Thor is trapped on the other side of the universe and must race against time to save his civilization. Go behind the scenes with exclusive concept artwork and in-depth analysis from the filmmakers in this keepsake volume! Continuing their popular Art Of series of movie tie-in books, Marvel presents its latest blockbuster achievement! Featuring exclusive concept artwork, behind-the-scenes photographs, production stills, and in-depth interviews with the cast and crew, this deluxe volume provides insider details about the making of the highly anticipated film.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a fun and fascinating book. I absolutely LOVED flipping through Eleni Roussos' new book, Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga - Thor: Ragnarok - The Art of the Movie - it was such a treat! I found myself dipping in and out of this book every day for over a week, because I wanted to savor the fun. 

So, what's in the book? Photographs depicting behind the scenes moments, along with stills from the movie itself. Loads of artwork - showcasing concept and production ideas.  And we get to read interviews from both cast and crew- everyone involved with the making of this film. There are just so many cool tidbits about the costumes - from the comics to the actual creation of them for the movie. I loved learning about it all and seeing the art involved. This book was truly a delight to read. Talk about an exciting reading experience for fans of the Marvel universe. 

I would happily recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves movies, especially Marvel Studios fans. You are going to LOVE this one to bits! Make sure to check it out ASAP! 

Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!