Author: michardillo
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“Even the moon was embarrassed by the beauty of Barcelona.”
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it? This quote is from Andrew Barger’s book The Divine Dantes: Paella in Purgatory (Smashwords Edition, 2015), which is part two of Barger’s The Divine Dantes trilogy, which takes the characters of Dante’s The Divine Comedy and brings them forward to modern times. Full…
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A Cajun, an Italian, and a Belgian walk into a bar…
What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals? The title of this essay is a take on the age old joke, “A priest, a minister, and a rabbi walk into a bar…” But, these three cuisines really define three meals my family loves time and time again. I grew up in southeast Louisiana, on a…
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Book Review: Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove
Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove (St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, February 17, 2026) is described by the publisher as a “lighter, modern gothic mystery,” and I think that is pretty accurate. I only recently discovered that I like a touch of magical realism mixed in with my mysteries, thanks to Evie Woods’ books, The…
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My 2026 Reading List: An Essay About Books
Thanksgiving 2025 is nearly upon us and I can’t wait to start my cooking and baking tomorrow! But, I am equally busy trying to complete my reading goal for 2025: as of today, I’ve read 64, halfway through my 65th, and have 10 more to read to meet my annual goal for this year of…
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Book Review: Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman
I just finished my 64th book of the year, Every Tom, Dick & Harry (Harper, February 2025) by Elinor Lipman. First let me say right off the bat: I LOVED THIS BOOK. Elinor Lipman is one of my top favorite authors, and she sits amid some pretty prestigious company, with Elizabeth Strout, AJ Pearce, Ann…
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Book Review: Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker
First, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this memoir (via audiobook) which was published by Macmillan in September of this year. Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker explains a lot. Some time ago I was aware via social media that something was going on with her, there was an ominous post on…
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France 🇫🇷 or Scotland 🏴, which would it be?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? My maternal grandparents were Scottish immigrants, born and raised in Glasgow, who came to America for better jobs and religious freedom. My grandfather fought (and was gassed) in WWI, and never fully recovered his health after that experience. They were born Catholics living…
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Book News: Newly published!
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/784323/the-white-octopus-hotel-by-alexandra-bell/ See my book review here!
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Book Review: Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Two years ago I read the first book in The Guncle series, and I absolutely loved it. I gave it 5 stars and wrote about it here. Last night I finished reading on my Kindle book 2 in the series, Guncle Abroad (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, May 2024) and while I loved revisiting Patrick, brother Greg,…
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Book Review: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
At the start of each new year, I look back over the books I read the previous year and some years, I make a top ten list, not necessarily ranking them but always coming up with my favorite book of the year. Oh, boy, I will be having lots of trouble in January due to…
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo 