Episode 416 || What Would Susie Read?

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie is chatting with her mom, Susie, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes.

To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website:

Small World by Laura Zigman

Go as A River by Shelley Read

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren

How It Went by Wendell Berry

The Portrait by Emilia Kelly .

You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich

Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen

When in Rome by Liam Callanan

From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.

A full transcript of today’s episode can be found below.

Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.

Thank you to this week’s sponsor, the 102nd Annual Rose Show and Festival in Thomasville, Georgia. Come visit us for the weekend of April 28th-29th and experience the flowers, fun, food, and shopping in Beautiful Thomasville. Plan your visit at ThomasvilleGa.com.

This week, Annie is reading The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Susie is reading When the Moon Turns Blue by Pamela Terry.

If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Or, if you’re so inclined, support us on Patreon, where you can hear our staff’s weekly New Release Tuesday conversations, read full book reviews in our monthly Shelf Life newsletter and follow along as Hunter and I conquer a classic. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

Our Executive Producers are... Donna Hetchler, Cammy Tidwell, Chantalle C, Kate O’Connell, Nicole Marsee, Wendi Jenkins, and Laurie Johnson.

Transcript:

Annie Jones: [squeaky porch swing] Welcome to From the Front Porch, a conversational podcast about books, small business, and life in the South. [music plays out]

“‘Every day,’ Sister Therese (THERESE) said. ‘The sister asked me every day, and finally — I was a bit thick — I learned to ask myself. We sisters take a series of vows. Simple vows, final vows. Those are choices. But we also make a choice every day. It can be hard to remember that in a city as beautiful and busy and whipped-cream filled as this — and sometimes visitors distract —

‘Sorry—’

‘But I choose.’

‘You choose,’ Claire said.

‘I choose,’ Sister Therese said, checking her watch, looking around. ‘And here we are.’” ― Liam Callanan, When in Rome

[as music fades out]

I’m Annie Jones, owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia, and this week, I’m back talking to my mom about books for readers with PG-13 tastes.

Before we get started, a thank you to everyone who’s been leaving reviews for From the Front Porch. iTunes reviews and ratings are how new listeners can best find out about From the Front Porch and — as a result — find out about our indie bookstore, too. Here’s a recent review from jenflo76:

Thoughtful Book Recs!

Such thoughtful recommendations! I don’t read exactly like the host, but she makes me want to hear all about the books! I love that she includes recommendations from others as well. The Currently Reading group had a curated book selection suggested by Annie’ and her team, and one of those books turned out to be a book that will be in my all-time top 10. If you love books, this is a great podcast!

Thank you so much, Jen! If you haven’t left a review, all you have to do is open up the Podcast App on your phone, look for From the Front Porch, scroll down until you see ‘Write a Review’ and tell us what you think. Your reviews help us spread the word about not only our podcast, but about our small brick-and-mortar business, too.

Annie Jones [00:02:13] Hi, Mom.

Susie [00:02:19] Hi, Annie Sue.

Annie Jones [00:02:20] Welcome back to the Front Porch.

Susie [00:02:23] So happy to be here.

Annie Jones [00:02:25] So your book reviews are beloved. People like hearing from you.

Susie [00:02:28] Well, that's very kind.

Annie Jones [00:02:30] People love hearing from you. And we last had you on in November, so it's been a minute.

Susie [00:02:34] Yes. And I've read a lot of books.

Annie Jones [00:02:35] I'm so excited to talk to you. If this is your first time listening to an episode with me and my mom, as a reminder, my mom enjoys books-- I wish I could remember how we normally land on it because sensitive readers is not your favorite way to describe yourself, right?

Susie [00:02:54] Right. Well, it's not a terrible way because I think readers like me enjoy a good plot and like good characters, and we're not afraid of sensitive subjects. But we would rather not have graphic violence, sex, and language.

Annie Jones [00:03:14] That's fair.

Susie [00:03:15] How about that?

Annie Jones [00:03:15] Yeah, that's good. Nothing too graphic for my mom. And so, if you are a reader like her, we used to say maybe PG, but we think it's more appropriate to say PG 13. So, if you find yourself maybe preferring PG or PG 13 lit, you are probably a Nancy who's one of our Bookshelf booksellers. You're probably a Nancy reader or a Susie reader. And if you are a Nancy or a Susie reader, we actually have a shelf subscription designed just for you. Part of the reason I wanted to talk to you this spring was, yes, you're my mom, but also strategically, Mother's Day is not far from us. And so, a great Mother's Day gift could be a shelf subscription. And you might find that your mom reads like my mom. And so, a Susie or Nancy subscription. Nancy and my mom go back and forth and alternate those selections. Those books might be a fun gift for your mom this Mother's Day. So, we know it's only March, but maybe you're thinking ahead and you want a subscription that could be gifted to your mom in May. And then last year, perhaps all summer long or all year long. And so, that's part of the reason I wanted to talk to you in the spring.

Susie [00:04:22] Well, that's a great idea. What a great gift.

Annie Jones [00:04:24] I think it's a great gift. And I'm very happy that I was proactive and past Annie was looking out for future Annie. Okay, it's been since November, so you've read a lot of books. Talk to me about the first of those books.

Susie [00:04:37] Okay. Well, my first book on my list, I read it last year, but it came out this January, as my shelf subscription, and it's called Small World.

Annie Jones [00:04:48] Laura Zigman?

Susie [00:04:49] Yes, that's right. Laura Zigman. And I thought of you while I was reading it, because you are always talking on the podcast and in your book reviews about your love for dysfunctional families. I'm not really sure how I feel about that because I don't think you came from a dysfunctional family.

Annie Jones [00:05:09] Look, to borrow a phrase, all families are dysfunctional in their own way.

Susie [00:05:14] Really?

Annie Jones [00:05:17] No, I think I love books-- Kate, who used to work at the Bookshelf, she used to say, "Is it dysfunctional families or is it dysfunctional families but who really like each other?" I don't know. I love literature that covers the really messy families. And then, yeah, dysfunctional families too. And maybe it's because I didn't grow up in one, mom.

Susie [00:05:38] That's what I always tell myself anyway.

Annie Jones [00:05:41] Maybe I'm living vicariously through fictional characters.

Susie [00:05:44] Well, you would have loved this one because it is about a dysfunctional family. It's also about sisters, and I love that.

Annie Jones [00:05:51] Yes.

Susie [00:05:52] Because I have three of them myself. And so, this was about a sister that lived on the East Coast, a sister that lived on the West Coast. And the West Coast sister, I think I've got this right, had a messy divorce and came over and her sister-- that they'd been a little bit estranged. But her Boston sister said, "Come on over here and you can live with me for a little while, while you look for a place of your own." And then you begin to unravel why they are like they are because they had another sister who died and she was very disabled. And so, she had a lot of challenges. The mother wound up giving that sister all of the attention. And you can understand how it happened. Therefore, these sisters just watched their mother's life completely revolve around what could she do as an advocate for the little sister? What could she do for her? She might have been the middle. She might have been in between these two. It's been a few months. Anyway, as that all unfolded, you really got the gist of why they were the way they are. And then there were some fun stories about the neighbors that moved in upstairs and the business they had and then how that transpired into helping the two sisters work through some of their messiness. And there was some language in this book which I disclosed on my shelf subscription.

Annie Jones [00:07:35] Mom takes her shelf subscription role very seriously.

Susie [00:07:37] I do. It's hard because I'm, like, sometimes you can get into something and I don't really love that you can become desensitized. You know I talk about this all the time. You've become desensitized to words and language. But this book, you didn't really have any until you're about midway into it. And I'm, like, I'm not stopping now. I'm not stopping because of this potty mouth person. I got to keep going. And so, I did. And it was very good. And I did use that as my-- January is a really hard month to turn a book..

Annie Jones [00:08:09] Tough month in publishing.

Susie [00:08:10] Yes. Someday Nancy, and are going to have to flip flop.

Annie Jones [00:08:13] It's going to be Nancy's turn.

Susie [00:08:14] But, anyway, it is hard. But I thought this was really good.

Annie Jones [00:08:18] I was curious about this one. I think, if I'm not mistaken, Laura Zigman wrote, I think, a book called Separation Anxiety.

Susie [00:08:27] I think she did.

Annie Jones [00:08:28] Yeah. Which is a book that did pretty well at the Bookshelf for us. I want to say somebody on staff a few years ago read that one. And so, yeah, I do think this book would be appealing to a wide range of our readers.

Susie [00:08:40] And I had not read anything by her before, so this was all new to me. But I thought it was really well-written. I thought it was a good book. And you know what I like? I don't mind some dysfunction, but I always like hope.

Annie Jones [00:08:54] Yes. That's a through line. I feel like you like redemption and hope you don't mind unlikable characters or sensitive subjects. But I think the book has to end kind of on a hopeful note.

Susie [00:09:08] Yes. It would be too much like our Daily News if it didn't. And one of my other books by Matthew Quick, it was really, really good. But it was heavy. It was hard, but there was hope. I loved that book. So, that was my end of the year. And, of course, I read the Bible last year.

Annie Jones [00:09:36] She conquered that classic also.

Susie [00:09:38] That was what I called my conquering a classic. And so, I've done that before, but I hadn't done it in a long time, and I did a different version.

Annie Jones [00:09:46] Okay. What version did you do?

Susie [00:09:47] I used The Message?

Annie Jones [00:09:48] Oh, I love The Message.

Susie [00:09:50] I had never done that before. I loved it. I was diligent with it and I kept up with it all year long.

Annie Jones [00:09:58] That takes real dedication.

Susie [00:09:59] And when I tallied up the number of books I read last year, I wanted to add 66.

Annie Jones [00:10:03] I mean, I think you should. That's only fair. That's quite the commitment.

Susie [00:10:08] So, then guess what I did in January?

Annie Jones [00:10:11] What did you do?

Susie [00:10:12] I joined the Little Women Book Club.

Annie Jones [00:10:15] You conquered another classic.

Susie [00:10:16] And that book that we started when you were a little girl at eight years old.

Annie Jones [00:10:22] Did we start reading that together? I truly do not remember. I just remember I read it because it's the first book that ever made me cry.

Susie [00:10:29] Well, we didn't finish it together.

Annie Jones [00:10:31] No, I read it by myself. No offence, but that's what memory I have.

Susie [00:10:35] I know. But we started it. I thought it was going to be too hard for you because it was a big honking book. And you were eight. And now I've read it, I'm like, "How did she do that at eight? Just a genius daughter."

Annie Jones [00:10:48] To be fair, I don't know. Who knows if I really comprehended everything that was going on? That's one of the things I do love about a book like Little Women is reading it as a kid, then I definitely read it as a teenager, read it in college, read it as an early young adult. Now I feel like I'm reading it as an older adult and I know I'll read it again and I do feel like I get something new out of it every time because I'm different every time. But this was your first time finishing it.

Susie [00:11:14] This was my first time. And I really saw through it.

Annie Jones [00:11:20] You sped ahead; I think.

Susie [00:11:21] I went way ahead of the club because I was so into it. And I'm going to tell you, it's still intimidating for me to pick up a big book like that with a lot.

Annie Jones [00:11:31] You had just read the Bible, so it's should be easy breezy.

Susie [00:11:34] I did it all year long.

Annie Jones [00:11:35] Yeah, that's true.

Susie [00:11:36] So, I was a little intimidated when I first got into it. I loved it and then it got a little slow to me. And then I got angry at how some things were turning out. And then I don't know when it happened, but I just fell in love with it. And at first I was really using it like homework. I promised I was going to do this; I'm going to do this. But then I fell in love with it. And then when it was over, I wanted to go back to the slowness. I wanted to go back to the language. I wanted to go back to the time. And so, when it was over, I felt really weird because it was something that I don't know why I had put it off all these years, but I did read it thinking, "How in the world did she know what this means?"

Annie Jones [00:12:26] I'm sure I didn't. I think what I remember crying over when I was eight was Lori and Joe. And then now as an adult, that's not what moves me at 37.

Susie [00:12:43] It still moves me and makes me angry.

Annie Jones [00:12:44] Well, I think that makes sense because I think that's how you should feel the first time you read it. But this time, upon my reading it, what moved me the most was Beth and Jo's relationship.

Susie [00:12:57] Oh, yes.

Annie Jones [00:12:58] Obviously, the story of Beth has always moved me. It's sad. But this was the first time where the sister relationship felt like it overpowered the boy-girl friendship/romance. To me, the sisterhood, relationships became the forefront for me upon this reading. I'm curious, so when you read it, the first half is really book one and it's about their younger lives and then book two is really about their adult lives; did you like one more than the other?

Susie [00:13:28] Well, obviously, I really loved the first part. I just loved that because even though the dad was gone, it's still had this carefree sort of everybody was whole and healthy and. And it was childhood.

Annie Jones [00:13:46] Yes.

Susie [00:13:47] So, obviously, I loved that. But part two was harder.

Annie Jones [00:13:54] Part two is sadder.

Susie [00:13:56] It's sad.

Annie Jones [00:13:58] I think I've said this before on the podcast, I love Little women. It's one of my favorite books of all time. My favorite book by Louisa May Alcott is called An Old Fashioned Girl, which I love, and I've reread it many, many times. And I was trying to think, "Why do I like this better than Little Women?" And I think it's because it is overall much lighter. Little Women becomes a deeply sad book.

Susie [00:14:18] Yes, it does.

Annie Jones [00:14:21] One of the things I said as a member of this Little Woman Book Club kind of talking about it with Jamie Ivey and with Melissa Zaldivar was I love the depth of Little Women and how Louisa May Alcott was not afraid to write about hard, sad things. But I also very much relate to Jo. One of the reasons I feel like I continue to relate to Jo in adulthood is because Jo did not want to grow up. And she didn't want to grow up not because she was scared of independence or didn't want to be a grown up, she just didn't want to leave childhood. I think she looked back on her childhood with fondness and so she was not ready for her and her sisters to grow up. And that resonates deeply with me. And so, I think I love the first half because they're just little girls.

Susie [00:15:07] It's so carefree. And they're just little women.

Annie Jones [00:15:11] Yeah, little women doing their thing. I'm so happy for you. Okay. Melissa, on the Little Women Book Club would always ask, which sister are you or which character? She didn't narrow it down to sister. Which character did you most identify with?

Susie [00:15:25] I actually thought about this while I was reading it, because I thought, well, obviously, today I feel like Marmee.

Annie Jones [00:15:38] Yeah. You're Marmee. You're a mom.

Susie [00:15:41] However, when she interfered and sort of told Jo. I'm like if I had done that, my kids would have put me in my place so fast.

Annie Jones [00:15:49] That was one of the moments where I thought you got to see Marmee's imperfection a little bit.

Susie [00:15:53] Yes.

Annie Jones [00:15:54] Because I do think she overstepped there.

Susie [00:15:55] She did. Yeah. And I didn't like it one bit. And I also thought to myself, honey, try living in 2023 and you try doing that with your children today. She literally squashed that relationship for that little snotty Amy. So, I'm not Amy. Let's put that out there. I'm not Amy. And if I chose a sister, I bet I would be more like Beth.

Annie Jones [00:16:25] I do think you are like Beth.

Susie [00:16:26] I think I would be more like Beth.

Annie Jones [00:16:27] You know who I think is our family's Beth? My cousin Caroline is.

Susie [00:16:33] I do too.

Annie Jones [00:16:33] There are real parts where she reminds me of Beth. Not the sickliness or anything like that, but just the homebody-ness.

Susie [00:16:41] Yes, the homebody-ness and the wanting to make people happy.

Annie Jones [00:16:44] Yes.

Susie [00:16:44] She wanted to make the old man. And I think she just was in tune with people's feelings. Even in her own sickness, she was thinking of other people's feelings.

Annie Jones [00:16:56] That feels like you a little bit.

Susie [00:16:57] I felt like Beth resonated with me sometime. I've already lived longer than Beth, so having to worry about that now.

Annie Jones [00:17:06] Can you remove that worry from your life. Okay. I don't know if you remember this-- you probably do. But a couple of years ago, one year ago, I sat down with you and Dad and watched the 2019 Little Women.

Susie [00:17:17] Yes.

Annie Jones [00:17:18] You guys were not into it.

Susie [00:17:19] Well, I felt guilty because you have drummed it into my brain. Literally. You can't watch this, Mom. You haven't read the book.

Annie Jones [00:17:28] I know. That's terrible of me.

Susie [00:17:28] So, now I want to watch it again.

Annie Jones [00:17:29] I would love for you to watch it again. It is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Susie [00:17:33] And I want to watch that version. I've seen the old black and white version.

Annie Jones [00:17:38] Yes, Aunt Carol, that's who I first saw the old Little Women with. And so, you probably have also seen the Susan Sarandon version.

Susie [00:17:48] I think I've seen parts of that one, but this is the one I want to see again.

Annie Jones [00:17:52] I think you'd love the nineties version. You should watch it at Christmas. It's a fun Christmas movie, but my preferred Little women is the 2019.

Susie [00:18:00] Yeah, I think that's what I want to see.

Annie Jones [00:18:02] Okay, well, I'm just thrilled. I'm so glad that we no longer have this rift between us.

Susie [00:18:08] Me too. And I'm very proud of myself.

Annie Jones [00:18:09] You should be proud of yourself. That was like a bucket list book for you.

Susie [00:18:13] And it was. I did it and I'm so happy I did.

Annie Jones [00:18:15] Yes, I am too.

Susie [00:18:16] Oh, I skipped Go as the River.

Annie Jones [00:18:18] Okay. Tell me about Go as the River.

Susie [00:18:20] Okay. Go as the River I think is my March shelf subscription. So, a lot of people are talking about it being kind of like Where the Crawdads Sing.

Annie Jones [00:18:35] Okay. I have a question about that because publishers are saying that a lot.

Susie [00:18:39] I know that.

Annie Jones [00:18:40] Because everybody wants--

Susie [00:18:41] They want it to be that.

Annie Jones [00:18:42] They want the success of where the Crawdads Sing.

Susie [00:18:44] It's not.

Annie Jones [00:18:44] Okay. Thank you.

Susie [00:18:45] That's just my personal opinion, everyone.

Annie Jones [00:18:49] That's fine with me because I felt ambivalent about Where the Crawdads Sing, but you didn't. You loved Where the Crawdads Sing.

Susie [00:18:55] I loved Where the Crawdads Sing.

Annie Jones [00:18:56] Yeah.

Susie [00:18:56] Loved the movie afterwards. And I think the reason people might say this is because it's a young woman fighting in parts of the book in the wilderness in Colorado. So, I'll tell you about it briefly. This Victoria Nash is the star of the show and she has led a hard life. And her mother was killed, leaving her. Now, this is in Colorado on a peach farm in Colorado.

Annie Jones [00:19:24] Oh, interesting.

Susie [00:19:25] I'm like, did somebody make that up? Are there peaches in Colorado?

Annie Jones [00:19:28] If you're a Colorado listener...

Susie [00:19:29] Would you please tell us if there are peach farms in Colorado? Because I had to get past that a little bit because I was trying to picture rocky mountains and peach farms.

Annie Jones [00:19:39] That is weird considering we live near peach farms.

Susie [00:19:41] Considering we live in peach counties. So, her mother was killed and left her the only female to run this household, filled with really very troubled men. Her daddy is damaged from the loss of his wife. And so, her brother is a piece of work and he is terrible. And she's got to do everything for them as a kid.

Annie Jones [00:20:06] Okay. How old is she?

Susie [00:20:09] She's young. Like a teenager. And so, she ventures into town one day and meets this young man. His name is Wilson Moon.

Annie Jones [00:20:19] Oh, great name.

Susie [00:20:20] It is a great moon. It's a great moon. It's a full moon. That's a great moon.

Annie Jones [00:20:29] You did it again. It's a great name.

Susie [00:20:29] He's a drifter who escaped from a retraining of Native American child.

Annie Jones [00:20:35] Oh, interesting.

Susie [00:20:37] Yes.

Annie Jones [00:20:38] I just read a book based on one of those.

Susie [00:20:41] I don't remember what book I read, but it was also regarding that. So, anyway, he is in town; she meets him. He's charming, very charming. I don't even realize he's Native American at first. He's just this charming young man. And they have this physical attraction where they are drawn to one another. And then you begin to see that he's Native American. It is forbidden. He's traded at this time. Oh, I wish I could remember the time frame of this book when it was written.

Annie Jones [00:21:14] It looks like it's in the forties.

Susie [00:21:16] It is. Thank you. Treated terribly.

Annie Jones [00:21:21] Right. Very ostracized.

Susie [00:21:22] Yes. So, when Victoria learns about her brother and his treatment of Will, because something happens to Will, she winds up-- can I tell all about this now because it's already out there?

Annie Jones [00:21:38] I mean, people are weird about spoilers. Just say a basic plot.

Susie [00:21:44] She winds up pregnant and totally on her own trying to hide it. That's why this probably feels a little bit like Where the Crawdads Sing, because now you're going to see her leave the peach farm and go out into the wilderness on her own, hiding the fact that she's pregnant from her father and her brother.

Annie Jones [00:22:05] And is that kind of survival story, what a lot of the book is?

Susie [00:22:09] Well, yes.

Annie Jones [00:22:10] Okay.

Susie [00:22:11] And so, that is why people are saying it's like Where the Crawdads Sing. But I personally wouldn't go that far; although, I liked this book so much that I chose it for my selection. It is a great book. It's well written.

Annie Jones [00:22:26] I was going to say it's gotten really good reviews, I will say.

Susie [00:22:28] It's a hard book because of the treatment that she goes through and her out on her own at such a young age. But here is what I love, there's hope. I'm not going to tell you what happens, but just go read it so you get to find out what happens with her.

Annie Jones [00:22:47] This one just came out too. It came out March 7th.

Susie [00:22:52] I am curious-- and I should Google it-- about peach farms in Colorado.

Annie Jones [00:22:57] Yeah, I'm curious about that too. I'm sure she based that on reality.

Susie [00:23:01] Can't wait to hear if that's true. It had to be right.

Annie Jones [00:23:04] Yeah, I would assume. I'll look it up too. I'm curious.

Susie [00:23:07] Okay. So, I go back to that then I read Little Women, and then I've read another ARC which you've given me. The Secret Life of Flora Lea.

Annie Jones [00:23:17] And I gave this to you because you love you some Patti Callahan Henry.

Susie [00:23:23] I really do.

Annie Jones [00:23:24] She's a reliable author.

Susie [00:23:26] She is. Let me see. Becoming Mrs. Lewis.

Annie Jones [00:23:30] That one about the wardrobe?

Susie [00:23:33] Yes.

Annie Jones [00:23:34] You know what I'm talking about?

Susie [00:23:35] Yeah. I really like her. And so, I knew I was going to love this book. And you know what else I've discovered about me?

Annie Jones [00:23:42] What?

Susie [00:23:42] I kind of like books that go back and forth. So, this is going to be a book that's back in World War Two, the beginnings of World War Two in London. And it's about the children being-- what do they call the kids? They have a name for what they call the kids when they have to bus them all out of London into the countryside. And then if you're not watching All Creatures Great and Small on PBS--.

Annie Jones [00:24:07] I know. I got to get into that.

Susie [00:24:08] Let me just put a plug in, the best television ever.

Annie Jones [00:24:12] You're very hooked on it.

Susie [00:24:13] I've finished it waiting for another season, I hope. But this past season, it was part of the war starting. So, these children are being farmed out into the countryside, and so one comes into...

Annie Jones [00:24:27] Into the village.

Susie [00:24:28] Yeah. And so, it made me think of this book. So, this book goes back and forth between World War Two and the 1960s, which is also fascinating and that I love. So, it's about a story about her, she and her sister getting shipped out and her dad gets killed in the war. And so, her mom has to send them out on a train-- they've taken from them. I wish I could remember what they're called, but historians that are listening will know what they call them. And so, she and her sister are out and something happens to her little sister. And then many, many years later, something happens.

Annie Jones [00:25:11] Okay.

Susie [00:25:12] And you have to read this book. I don't want to spoil this at all. Comes out in May.

Annie Jones [00:25:20] Comes out in May. Is this a five star for you?

Susie [00:25:22] Yes. I loved this book.

Annie Jones [00:25:24] Because you really do. I was looking it up. It's Becoming Mrs. Lewis. And then it's Once Upon a Wardrobe.

Susie [00:25:31] Once Upon a Wardrobe. And I loved them all.

Annie Jones [00:25:33] Yeah, you've loved them.

Susie [00:25:34] I just think she's a very good writer. And this one's different.

Annie Jones [00:25:40] Well, my understanding, I do think-- hmm, did I see this somewhere? It sounded like she was doing research on England, and I wondered if she was doing research on her C.S. Lewis adjacent books. And then she stumbled upon this history of these kids and so decided to write this book, which is a bit of a departure, I think, from the last couple.

Susie [00:26:03] I'm so thrilled to recommend this one when it comes out. It was wonderful and I loved it.

Annie Jones [00:26:09] It sounds great.

Susie [00:26:11] But I don't want to tell too much more about it because it doesn't come out until May. And some of the others I've read now are oldies I can tell about. The next book I read was book that I'd had for over a year.

Annie Jones [00:26:24] Oh, that happens to the best of us.

Susie [00:26:26] Yes. Been on my nightstand, and I'm like, okay, getting this book out, I'm reading you.

Annie Jones [00:26:29] Good for you.

Susie [00:26:29] It is Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren and I loved her book Liturgy of the Ordinary.

Annie Jones [00:26:36] It's a great book.

Susie [00:26:36] Loved that book.

Annie Jones [00:26:37] Yeah.

Susie [00:26:38] This one was harder for me.

Annie Jones [00:26:39] Okay. Why?

Susie [00:26:40] Because she's using this nighttime prayer of Compline-- I wasn't familiar with that. But because she's going through a hard time. Her father has died.

Annie Jones [00:26:54] So this is nonfiction?

Susie [00:26:56] I would call it more like a memoir of this time period of her life. Dad reads her column every it comes out in the New York Times.

Annie Jones [00:27:04] She's a great Times columnist.

Susie [00:27:06] And then he will often read them to me out loud. And I love them. And I loved her first book. And this is a good book, but it is a sadder book because you know this about me. I don't really love questioning God.

Annie Jones [00:27:19] Yeah.

Susie [00:27:20] I know. I have raised these two questioners.

Annie Jones [00:27:28] I know. So fun.

Susie [00:27:29] And I'm like, "Shhh. Don't wonder about God like that." So, this is about that. This is about when you're going through hard times. We're just coming a little bit out of hard times.

Annie Jones [00:27:43] Maybe this hit a little too close to home for you?

Susie [00:27:44] I don't want to go back into hard times, but she is a beautiful writer. She's very vulnerable in this book because she's got a lot of anxiety and suffering. I just think it was very good, but it was a harder-- I wouldn't call it an uplifting book.

Annie Jones [00:28:04] Would you recommend it to people who themselves are going through a hard time?

Susie [00:28:09] Yes.

Annie Jones [00:28:10] Okay. So, something that people might find comforting because...

Susie [00:28:13] Because she puts it out there.

Annie Jones [00:28:17] She's honest.

Susie [00:28:18] She's very honest and she's very relatable. And I have been through some dark times and it was very relatable, but I didn't want to revisit it.

Annie Jones [00:28:28] Yes. You and I are different in that way. I'm an Enneagram five, I never can figure out which wing I am. But sometimes my spiritual director, Julie, thinks I'm a wing four. And if that is true-- which sometimes I do think that is true-- I love sad books. I love books about grief. I don't know. I probably would love that book.

Susie [00:28:49] You probably would.

Annie Jones [00:28:50] A book about grief and loss by a questioning person.

Susie [00:28:54] Yes. And you're probably familiar with that prayer.

Annie Jones [00:28:56] Yeah.

Susie [00:28:57] And so, you probably would.

Annie Jones [00:29:00] I probably would like that one.

Susie [00:29:01] I can't say that I didn't like the book because that wouldn't be true. I feel like the world is hard and everything, and what I read for is almost like to escape.

Annie Jones [00:29:15] Yes, that's right. That's not why you read.

Susie [00:29:17] Take me to another time. Take me yet another place. And so, I feel like it was just a little bit heavier.

Annie Jones [00:29:23] Yeah, well, it's why I love books. It's why I love reading. It's why I like talking to people about books. Because everybody comes to books looking for something different.

Susie [00:29:35] That's right. And normally and I'm a nighttime reader.

Annie Jones [00:29:40] Yeah. And right before you go to bed you don't want those heavy things.

Susie [00:29:43] Exactly. So, I had to move that and make myself read that in the daytime because at night I needed something lighter before I went to bed.

Annie Jones [00:29:51] That's a great point.

Susie [00:29:51] But I would highly recommend her articles each week.

Annie Jones [00:29:54] Her column is great.

Susie [00:29:55] Her column is so good. And often dad winds up reading them to me out loud because he thinks they're so good.

Annie Jones [00:30:02] Okay, then what did you pick up?

Susie [00:30:04] Then I picked up-- thanks to Chad, introducing us all to Wendell Berry. And I've read so many of his books now, and we're doing that Lent practice with his poetry. Thank you so much for telling me about that.

Annie Jones [00:30:16] Actually, a listener, Alisha sent that my way.

Susie [00:30:18] Well, thank you, Alisha.

Annie Jones [00:30:20] Now [inaudible].

Susie [00:30:21] Yes, Chris and I are doing it. Dad and I are doing it. Alisa's doing it. You're doing it. And we're loving it. I got his poetry book first.

Annie Jones [00:30:33] Well, you've had that a while; haven't you?

Susie [00:30:34] I've had that a long time.

Annie Jones [00:30:35] Me too.

Susie [00:30:35] And so, I was thrilled when this came out that I already had that. Wait a minute, I've read book. That's not a book you sit down and read cover to cover. You pick it up, you read and you put it down. Then I read Hannah Coulter.

Annie Jones [00:30:50] And you've done that. You read Hannah Coulter years ago?

Susie [00:30:53] Yes, I read that a few years ago. And then I read Jaber Crow. So, this is called How It Went and it's 13 more stories of the Port William membership.

Annie Jones [00:31:03] Are these short stories?

Susie [00:31:04] This is very different. It follows the life of Andy Cartland. Dad's reading it right now and he is totally in love with it because of his Kentucky roots and his knowledge of very small towns like that from his grandparents. And so, he's eating it up, which I knew he would. And Wendell Berry, what a unique writer.

Annie Jones [00:31:35] I'm sitting here and I'm so frustrated because I still haven't. Jaber Crow is the first one I want to read, and it was my goal. This is my Wendell Berry year. And so, I wanted to read a book of his every quarter. I've not missed the deadline. We're still in the first quarter of the year. And Jayber Crow is the first one, but other than his poetry and some of his essays, because now I've read some of his essays this year, I've not read any of his fiction yet.

Susie [00:31:56] Well, I don't remember Hannah Coulter or Jayber Crow being quite like this book. This book is back and forth, again.

Annie Jones [00:32:05] I mean, is it a short story collection? Would you call it that?

Susie [00:32:09] I don't know if I would.

Annie Jones [00:32:11] I mean, because it's you said it's 13 stories.

Susie [00:32:15] That's what he says. But when I read it, I didn't read it like that's the end of that story because they all intertwined.

Annie Jones [00:32:21] They're connected.

Susie [00:32:22] Because it's really about Andy.

Annie Jones [00:32:23] Okay. They're connected stories.

Susie [00:32:25] More about the he says the Port William Membership. Well, dad said today, "I wonder if he's basing Andy Catlett on himself a little bit."

Annie Jones [00:32:34] Oh, interesting.

Susie [00:32:35] His remembering a childhood and his 80 something year old now, so it goes back and forth to Andy's childhood to now. And it incorporates all these characters that were in Jayber Crow and Hannah Coulter. You have to get into the rhythm to me of reading Wendell Berry. And it's not like little women, but it's like little women in read it slow.

Annie Jones [00:33:02] Yes, I can see that.

Susie [00:33:03] You don't read it fast.

Annie Jones [00:33:05] There's a lot to unpack there.

Susie [00:33:06] If you do read the Bible and you read the Apostle Paul who takes four paragraphs to say once sentence--

Annie Jones [00:33:13] Not my personal favorite.

Susie [00:33:15] That's what I compare this to a little.

Annie Jones [00:33:19] Yeah.

Susie [00:33:20] And the language as he talks is very-- sometimes I'm like, "Now what?" And I have to read it again. And at first I thought, is this me? And my dad said no. And then I as I kept reading it and falling in love with it, of course, I thought that's the why some books are meant to be read. And I thought that was the way about Little Women.

Annie Jones [00:33:41] Yes, I can totally see that.

Susie [00:33:42] I think the language is very different.

Annie Jones [00:33:45] And you have to get used to the rhythm of a book.

Susie [00:33:47] You do.

Annie Jones [00:33:47] We talk about that in the book club.

Susie [00:33:49] And I talked about Little Women that I read ahead and stuff. Well, that's because I was just so into it. It did not mean that I read it super-fast because that would diminish what I think Little Women should be read. So, it's just that I couldn't put it down after a chapter a day. So, this is really, really good.

Annie Jones [00:34:07] And it just came out recently.

Susie [00:34:09] Yes, it's his newest. And anybody that loves Wendell Berry will love this. Dad is totally into it right now.

Annie Jones [00:34:17] Okay. And that's called How It Went.

Susie [00:34:18] How It Went. Okay. This is so much fun.

Annie Jones [00:34:22] Okay.

Susie [00:34:23] This is a book a listener sent to me.

Annie Jones [00:34:25] That is fun!

Susie [00:34:26] I could cry. I got a picture from Olivia at the Bookshelf with a manila envelope that was addressed to me at the Bookshelf. And I went, "What in the world? Who ordered something and had it sent to the Bookshelf?" A Listener sent it to me, her name is Emily and she's in Utah.

Annie Jones [00:34:46] Oh.

Susie [00:34:47] And she sent me this book called The Portrait. Hi, Emily. If you're out there, I hope you're listening. Because it was just the kindest thing. This is by Emiliha Kelly. She thought I would like this book, and she was right.

Annie Jones [00:35:00] Oh, good. What a relief, Emily.

Susie [00:35:02] Kindred spirits. I couldn't put it down.

Annie Jones [00:35:05] Okay, good.

Susie [00:35:06] I absolutely loved it. Totally PG.

Annie Jones [00:35:08] Okay.

Susie [00:35:09] Totally perfect for PG and sensitive readers, but filled with mystery. It was very, very good. Takes place in 1850 London. Iris is caring for her younger sister, Hope, and her dad. They've lost their mother. And she meets a mysterious man that they have to sell their place out in like the beautiful-- I don't know places, but it's famous out in England. Out there in the country of England.

Annie Jones [00:35:44] Okay.

Susie [00:35:46] She gets there on a train. They have to move into the city. So, they had to sell their estate and move there.

Annie Jones [00:35:53] I understand. Okay.

Susie [00:35:54] And so, she meets this man on the train, the very first thing. Winston. After this, you probably won't want to name your dog Winston.

Annie Jones [00:36:04] Oh, interesting.

Susie [00:36:05] Okay. But he's so kind, and I don't know, they just hit it off. That's her only friend there. So, they take walks together. They build a relationship together. He's very wealthy, prominent family in the glass business. His father has died, so he's like the head of the family in a way, but we all know it's really his mother. Of course, it is. And so, he starts being super kind, helping her little sister, wanting to do what's best for her little sister. And she's not really in love with him, but she loves how kind he is.

Annie Jones [00:36:47] He takes care of her.

Susie [00:36:48] She sees him as a way of being taken care of.

Annie Jones [00:36:51] Yes. Okay.

Susie [00:36:52] Because she knows they need it. So, he does send off the sister and the dad to a healthier place. So, trying to help her get better because London is smoggy and nasty. It really makes London sound very nasty in 1850.

Annie Jones [00:37:07] Yeah, I think that's probably pretty accurate.

Susie [00:37:09] And so, she moves. And along the way she discovers something. She's having her portrait done because he proposes. She's not really sure she wants to do that, but because of finding out that he could help her sister, she's going to do it.

Annie Jones [00:37:24] It's a financial enterprise.

Susie [00:37:26] So, she accepts the proposal and when he's out of town, she'll spend some time at his home. The mother is not there very much because that must have been where the dad died and she can't stand to be there. But, anyway, they had these humongous portraits and he wants hers painted. She doesn't want to have it painted. And then the artist is an American, I think, from Boston. So, he's brash and he's just loud.

Annie Jones [00:37:53] Love that Boston accent.

Susie [00:37:55] And he's just kind of crass and annoying to her. But while she's waiting in the house to have her picture done and stuff, she spends the night there, I think, one night and finds under the mattress this diary from a missing woman. And then I'm not going to tell the rest of the story too much because it's a beautiful book. It's a beautiful paperback book.

Annie Jones [00:38:23] Did Emily write this book? The author is Emiliha.

Susie [00:38:27] I know. If she did, she's so smart.

Annie Jones [00:38:29] Emily, did you write this book?

Susie [00:38:31] Because it's just so good.

Annie Jones [00:38:32] Yeah.

Susie [00:38:33] And a big story history unfolds and a lot of twists and turns. You're going to be surprised.

Annie Jones [00:38:41] I'm so glad you liked that. And I'm so glad she thought of you, because I don't know if I would have thought, oh, 1850s London mystery. I think sometimes we make assumptions about sensitive readers, maybe about what they like and don't like. But, really, you do read across a wide range of genres.

Susie [00:38:57] Yeah, and I love a lot of historical fiction as we talked about before. When I got it, I was like, "Well, no, that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done. I've got to read this." And I got into it and read it just within a few days. It was really, really good. I loved it. And it is pretty.

Annie Jones [00:39:14] Yeah, it is.

Annie Jones [00:39:14] It's a good paperback book.

Susie [00:39:16] Next, I moved on to Sean Dietrich's new book that I got when he came to speak.

Annie Jones [00:39:22] Oh, yay!

Susie [00:39:22] You Are My Sunshine.

Annie Jones [00:39:24] We love Sean.

Susie [00:39:25] We do love Sean and his wife. And so, this is a book about them going on a bike ride kind of during the pandemic. She gets a notion, and they go a really long bike ride where she has spent months preparing, and getting them all together. They're going to be sleeping in the woods.

Annie Jones [00:39:49] Sounds like something Chad would do.

Susie [00:39:50] It sounded just like your brother. And Becca could do it with him. I think she could do it with him. Anyway, they travel. I wanted to remember they go on the Gap-trail and the Sno-trail. And these two trails are in Pennsylvania and Maryland. And maybe because of the pandemic, I don't know really why, but some of these trails sound very primitive. I don't even know how he got his bike through it.

Annie Jones [00:40:18] Really remote.

Susie [00:40:19] But it's very Sean Dietrich. And the people that they meet along the way, that they do get to stay in some like off the trail-- like if you were doing the Appalachian Trail, there's little towns where you can get in and go get your hot shower and stay in a little bed breakfast. He does stuff like that, but it was grueling and it was hard and still funny.

Annie Jones [00:40:45] That sounds fun. A good little road trip book, almost.

Susie [00:40:46] Oh, it would be. And if you love Sean Dietrich's writings, you'll love this because it's very--

Annie Jones [00:40:54] He's consistent. We like that.

Susie [00:40:55] I do. And I like to laugh. So, I'd love to find a book that makes me laugh. We had some hard parts in it because bless them for being able to do it. II don't know how in the world they did that, but they have a story to tell now. And now it's a book. I finished that and then I started the book I'm doing right now. But your auntie had me ordered the book, Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen.

Annie Jones [00:41:25] Yes. I've never read this. I'm very well curious about it.

Susie [00:41:30] I've read another book by him but I can't recall the title. But Lisa just sang his praises.

Annie Jones [00:41:38] Jordan loves him, but I've never read him.

Susie [00:41:41] This book. And so, I had to order it for me. I went to bed at 9:30 and I finished it at midnight.

Annie Jones [00:41:50] I can't believe that. That's amazing.

Susie [00:41:52] I couldn't put it down and almost every page is highlighted, torn. Everything.

Annie Jones [00:41:57] Mom tears her books now too.

Susie [00:41:58] I do. Dad has torn his book too.

Annie Jones [00:42:01] I know. Hahaha!

Susie [00:42:02] I'm like, "Did you tear the pages of the Wendell Berry book? Yes.

Annie Jones [00:42:06] Yeah, I tore the pages of my fancy copy of Little Women.

Susie [00:42:08] Because you rule. You tell us, we do it. Anyway, this is a book about him writing to a friend, someone that interviewed him. And then they just became friends. And the person that interviewed him was sort of not sure of how his career was going, and Henry was just super supportive of follow your dream, follow your passion. And then they became friends. This man is Jewish.

Annie Jones [00:42:44] Okay.

Susie [00:42:44] And he could not understand all the place where Henry was coming from.

Annie Jones [00:42:54] Because Henry is a Christian.

Susie [00:42:56] Yeah, he's priest. Yes. And so, he has all this advice and this really wonderful personality. He must have just been delightful. And so, this guy says, "You know what you really need to do? You really ought to write a book for people like me and my friends who are living in the real world, the secular world. And we don't get it. We just don't get it." They don't know. And so, he writes this book. The reason you'll love it and fly through it is because it's written like a letter.

Annie Jones [00:43:33] Okay.

Susie [00:43:35] I forgot another book I read like that that was written like a letter.

Annie Jones [00:43:39] Yeah, we do like epistolary books. Although, this is truly a letter. This is nonfiction. He's writing it in letter format.

Susie [00:43:46] He writes it to this man and he really thinks he's nailed it. He thinks, okay, this is going to really help him. So, he turns in the manuscript, shows it to his friend. And, look, this is a long time now. The friend's gone through a lot. They both have. He's been to multiple places in his ministry, in his work, and his friend has had different jobs. But when he submits it to his friend, it's not received very well.

Annie Jones [00:44:20] Ah!

Susie [00:44:21] That was so sad to me. I was like, "Whoa, dude. He was so kind to you about your writing and everything." He basically told him. This doesn't put me any further ahead than anything else because he basically told him, "You can't write for me because you're too who you are." [Crosstalk]

Annie Jones [00:44:40] To be able to enmesh in your world.

Susie [00:44:44] So, he decides to send it on to his publisher anyway. And then they tell him he had you write it, but it didn't turn out for him but it turned out for all of us. Which was beautiful.

Annie Jones [00:44:59] That's interesting. I don't know how I think about that. I have to read it.

Susie [00:45:01] It may not have helped him, but it helped all of us who have read it on the team here. And we want to publish it. And it is excellent. I think he was really trying to just set that baseline of how loved you are no matter what. There's nothing you can't do.

Annie Jones [00:45:21] You have to be in a place to receive that.

Susie [00:45:23] And he wasn't.

Annie Jones [00:45:26] I'd be curious to read it, but I also kind of get where his friend is coming from because, well, thank you priest who hangs out with priests. Well, thank you so much.

Susie [00:45:34] And that's what it was.

Annie Jones [00:45:35] Right.

Susie [00:45:35] Even though this is going over a long period of time now. They've had these meetings and he went to his wedding. He was there for him during his divorce.

Annie Jones [00:45:44] Are you telling me these people are no longer friends?

Susie [00:45:46] No. Well, he's dead.

Annie Jones [00:45:49] No, he's not.

Susie [00:45:50] Yes, he is.

Annie Jones [00:45:52] Oh, is he?

Susie [00:45:52] Yes. He died.

Annie Jones [00:45:54] When?

Susie [00:45:55] I don't remember.

Annie Jones [00:45:56] So, I guess they're definitely no longer friends.

Susie [00:46:00] But they were always friends.

Annie Jones [00:46:01] They maintained their friendship.

Susie [00:46:04] Because he finally looked back, he went, "Oh, I guess he's right. It's hard for me to come out of this is me."

Annie Jones [00:46:11] He is enmeshed in his world and his worldview and his belief system. Interesting.

Susie [00:46:15] All along his writing, he thought he was doing that.

Annie Jones [00:46:19] Yeah.

Susie [00:46:20] But since I am a believer and I read it, I'm like he wrote it for me.

Annie Jones [00:46:25] Right. So, a Christian would find it comforting.

Susie [00:46:29] A Christian would find it comforting.

Annie Jones [00:46:30] Right. But a non-Christian might not.

Susie [00:46:32] And I could see it, too. I just thought it was kind of sad at the end.

Annie Jones [00:46:36] You don't like anything even remotely sad.

Susie [00:46:38] No. I was like, guy, couldn't you just have polished it up a little bit?

Annie Jones [00:46:43] Mom doesn't like any kind of conflict at all.

Susie [00:46:45] I do not.

Annie Jones [00:46:49] Well, that's interesting because I finished a book that I am going to recommend to you before we wrap up, because I started the top of the episode with a book, a quote from a book called When in Rome, and it's by Liam Callahan. I'm going to send you home with it today.

Susie [00:47:01] Oh, yay!

Annie Jones [00:47:02] I liked it a lot. Now, I didn't think the writing was what I wanted it to be. But the story is good, and I think you'll like the story. It's about a woman named Claire. And Claire is 52. She's just gone to a college reunion. And Claire when she was in college and a young adult, she had every intention of becoming a nun. She had met with this group of nuns in her hometown and she just knew she was going to take vows and become a nun. And then shortly after her graduation from college, she became pregnant and had her little girl. And so, she did not become a nun. She just kind of pivoted and her life changed. But now she's 52. Her daughter is grown and she has to go to Rome for work.

Susie [00:47:51] Okay.

Annie Jones [00:47:52] And part of what she does is take these historical sites and often they are religious sites. And she winds up selling them and helping because a lot of these religious sites are no longer needed, no longer religious sites. And so, she helps them find a buyer. She goes over to Rome to go to this convent. And while she is there, she all of a sudden falls in love with these sisters and starts to think, well, I couldn't become a nun when I was 22, but now I'm 52, could I become a nun now? Anyway, just coming up, the Henri Nowen book, it does make me think because Claire's best friends and her daughter are not particularly religious, and so they cannot believe Claire is even considering this. They don't understand it. They're definitely flummoxed. They're maybe even a little bit kind of mortified and not understanding. And then Claire also has a relationship with a guy from college who they were best friends. He also doesn't really understand. Maybe he even loves her. He's not sure. And yet she's now considering being a nun. So, it's a very sweet story. I really liked the premise a lot. I think you will like it a lot. And it deals a little bit with those ideas of faith and belief, but then when your faith and belief don't make sense to a lot of other people. And so, anyway, I think you might like. I'll send you home with it today.

Susie [00:49:19] Okay.

Annie Jones [00:49:21] Thanks, Mom.

Susie [00:49:21] Oh, it was fun, as always.

Annie Jones [00:49:23] All of Mom's books can be found on the Bookshelf website. Again, Erin has set this up beautifully for us. Bookshelfthomasville.com and type in the episode number. Today's episode is for 416. You can find all of bombs, books and recommendations listed there.

[00:49:42] This week, what I'm reading is brought to you by the 102nd Annual Road Show and Festival here in Thomasville, Georgia. Come visit us for the weekend of April 28th and 29th and experience the flowers, fun, food and shopping in beautiful Thomasville. Plan your visit at Thomasvillega.com. I mentioned on last week's episode, but truly, the road show and festival in Thomasville is one of my very favorite things to do. There are two really big cornerstone events in the city of Thomasville's calendar. One is Victorian Christmas and one is the Road Show and Festival. And I love Victorian Christmas. I think it's fun. But there is something about the springtime weather of Road Show and Festival. It feels so small town to me, things kind of kick off on Friday afternoon with the opening of the rose tent. And that is right down the block from the Bookshelf so we can see the rose tent from The Bookshelf stores. We hear the high school band come down and kind of play the drums and open the tent and do the ribbon cutting. There's a wonderful parade and there's a car show. There's just all kinds of fun things involved with Road Show and Festival. And it's one of my favorite things, particularly because of when it takes place. It's like before it gets too miserably hot here. And so, I adore it. And I think if you have been wondering what Thomasville was like or when would be a good time to visit? Now it'd be a great time to visit. So, you can go ahead and get your Airbnb, find a spot at the Marriott and come on April 28th and 29th to Thomasville for the Thomasville Road Show and Festival.

[00:51:18] This week, I'm listening to The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Mom, what are you reading?

Susie [00:51:24] I'm reading When the Moon Turns Blue by Pamela Terry.

Annie Jones [00:51:28] Pamela Terry, I should say here, is coming to the Bookshelf this weekend!

Susie [00:51:32] Oh, is it this weekend?

Annie Jones [00:51:33] No, it's this weekend as we're recording. time travel.

Susie [00:51:36] Yes. Because I was like, oh, good. I'll get to see her.

Annie Jones [00:51:40] March 18th. So, please come see us at the Bookshelf. Come see Pamela Terry with her new book, When the Moon Turns Blue. Thank you again to our sponsor, the 102nd Annual Road Show and Festival here in Thomasville, Georgia. Plan your upcoming visit and come see us by visiting ThomasvilleGa.com.

Annie Jones [00:51:59] From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website: bookshelfthomasville.com A full transcript of today’s episode can be found at: fromthefrontporchpodcast.com Special thanks to Studio D Podcast Production for production of From the Front Porch and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. Our Executive Producers are…

Donna Hetchler, Cammy Tidwell, Chantalle C, Kate O'Connell,

Executive Producers (Read Their Own Names): Nicole Marsee, Wendi Jenkins, Laurie Johnson.

Annie Jones: If you’d like to support From the Front Porch, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the show even better and reach new listeners. All you have to do is open up the Podcast App on your phone, look for From the Front Porch, scroll down until you see ‘Write a Review’ and tell us what you think. Or, if you’re so inclined, support us over on Patreon, where we have 3 levels of support - Front Porch Friends, Book Club Companions, and Bookshelf Benefactors. Each level has an amazing number of benefits like bonus content, access to live events, discounts, and giveaways. Just go to: patreon.com/fromthefrontporch We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

Caroline WeeksMarch 16, 2023