What I’ve Read Recently, Vol. 2
📍 Downtown St. Pete, Florida

Dress || Similar Sandals || Handbag || Earrings || Book

When I was a kid, I was an ardent bookworm. There was always a book in my hand and my nose in a book. I really wanted to find that passion again. So each year, I set the resolution to read more, and each year it’s completely overlooked. Maybe it’s because I spend more time at home, but I’m happy to report that I’m reading again! I’ve read through ten books in just the past few months, averaging about one per week. Here’s a quick look at the new additions to my bookshelf and what I’ve read recently. 

Educated

Educated is such an incredibly powerful book. I’m almost ashamed that it took me so long to read. Admittedly, there are several instances in this book that made me uncomfortable. I either feared for Tara’s life or couldn’t comprehend how cruel people could be. Still, the message is clear, especially now. Education is such a gift and isn’t one to be taken for granted. No matter the grade or subject, every teacher should take the time to read this memoir.

Park Avenue Summer

In 1965, Cosmopolitan magazine named Helen Gurley Brown as their new editor-in-chief. Because of her willingness to talk about female sexuality and identity, it was considered an incredibly controversial decision. Park Avenue Summer is a fictionalized account of her first year at the helm and the pressures she faced by being at the forefront of this new frontier. This book was such a fun read, which you’ll absolutely love if you’re a fan of Mad Men. 

Capote’s Women

I find the 1960s in New York City an exciting point in American history. The glitz and glamour of city life begin to fuse with the traditional values from the 1950s. The fashion was great, but the stories that came from this time period are even better. Author Truman Capote was at the center of NYC social life, along with the high-society women he kept close by. Capote’s Women shares the lives of these powerful women and how Capote ultimately let all of these relationships slip through his fingers.

In the Great Green Room

I don’t want to overstate this, but In the Great Green Room may be the favorite biography I have ever read! You may know Margaret Wise Brown as the author of Goodnight Moon, but she was a prolific children’s writer who worked under countless pseudonyms. Behind the scenes, her life was filled with love, adventure, and just a touch of scandal. Although she left this world tragically too young, it’s a story about following your passions and trusting destiny.

Sunshine State

While visiting a St. Pete bookstore and wine bar (what a terrific combination), I decided to pick up their book club’s pick of the month. It was all on a whim, but I’m so happy I did! Sarah Gerard is local to the area. Sunshine State is a series of essays she shares about growing up in the area. While it was different from my own experiences, it was interesting to see the city from a different viewpoint. Her piece about homelessness in the area was especially powerful! 

Made in Manhattan

Compared to some of my other recent picks, this was probably the most light-hearted. Consider Made in Manhattan a modern-day version of My Fair Lady, only with reversed roles. When the path of a prim Upper East Sider crosses with a party boy from Louisiana, they learn more from each other than they ever thought possible. I ended up reading this book in one day because it was such a fun time that I couldn’t put it down!

Confident Women

Just by chance, I started reading this book while watching Inventing Anna. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. While Anna Delvey is the most recent woman to con her way into our hearts, she is by no means the first or the most accomplished. Confident Women shares the stories of over a dozen women with a penchant for manipulations and cons. While they all have incredibly different backstories, their shared ability to charm and inspire is unmistakable. Tori Telfer has also written Lady Killers, which is coming up on my to-read list.

Lost in Paris

Mother-daughter relationships can be complicated, especially for Hannah Bond. Let’s throw a mysterious inheritance into the mix, and tensions are almost guaranteed to rise. Lost in Paris is the story of Hannah Marla, who just learned about an inherited apartment in Paris, stuck in time since 1940. While navigating this new development, they begin to learn more about each other and grow a strong bond because of it.

The next book on my journey to 50 in 2022 that I’m currently reading is Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters. Although I just started it, I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of The Crown or anything else about the Royal Family. Before I get ahead of myself, you can expect a mini-review in my next issue of ‘What I’ve Read Recently.’ Until then, keep reading!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

What I’ve Read This Summer
📍 Vinoy Hotel, St. Petersburg

Blouse || Jeans || Ballet Flats ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Clutch || Earrings || Bracelet

When I was a kid, I was an ardent bookworm. There was always a book in my hand and my nose in a book. I really wanted to find that passion again. So each year, I set the resolution to read more, and each year it’s completely overlooked. Maybe it’s because I spend more time at home, but I’m happy to report that I’m reading again! I’ve read through ten books in just the past few months, averaging about one per week. Here’s a quick look at the new additions to my bookshelf.

Bubble in the Sun

This was the book that genuinely re-sparked my love from reading. I always was a fan of non-fiction, and nothing is better than reading about the state you call home. Bubble in the Sun is more closely aligned as a cautionary tale on how the land grab in 1920s Florida ultimately brought on the Great Depression. With so many moving to the Sunshine State this past year and real estate prices skyrocketing, I can’t help but wonder if history is doomed to repeat itself. 

Becoming

Regardless of where you metaphorically stand on the political aisle, this is a must-read! While one of the most beloved and influential women of our lifetime, Becoming is an intimate look into the life of Michelle Obama. Her grit and hard work, starting during her childhood on the South Side of Chicago, paved the way for a historic future.

We’ll Always Have Casablanca

Hands down, Casablanca (1942) is my all-time favorite movie. It is a classic story that has everything from romance to laughs. While the film is practically perfect, the story behind making it happen is even more fascinating. I read the book, We’ll Always Have Casablanca in record time. I couldn’t put it down! In all honesty, learning more made me fall even deeper in love with the Oscar’s 1944 Best Picture.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.

Next, I went seamlessly to learn the history of another favorite movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which you’ll learn more about later. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly has adorned many college dorm rooms, but did you know she was originally envisioned to be played by Marilyn Monroe. In Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M., you learn more about the movie that helped bring the rise of the modern woman. 

In Cold Blood

This next pick was a hard turn from reading about my favorite movies, but Truman Capote was the theme of a book order. The path as to why will be clearer soon. Although written over 55 years ago, In Cold Blood is still regarded as one of the best true crime books of all time. This was before our endless podcasts and documentaries. Capote’s telling of a tragic family’s murder in rural Kansas was a page-turner. It kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. 

Bunny Mellon: The Pursuit of Perfection

Bunny Mellon’s biography The Pursuit of Perfection has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few years, just waiting to be read. I instantly ordered it after being inspired by Bradley Agather. My only regret is that I wait so long to read it. For those unfamiliar with Bunny, she was a beloved gardener and socialite, having married into the Mellon family. By the time I finished this 500 plus page epic, I felt like I personally knew Bunny for all her strengths and flaws. 

We Are the Brennans

I’m guilty of judging a book by its cover because I purchased this one solely on the name. Brennan is a family name and one of my favorite baby names. We Are the Brennans is the story of an Irish-American family full of secrets. This was actually the first novel I read in a long time, and it took me a moment to get used to the dialogue again. Once I overcame that hurdle, I sped through this book because I just had to know more about this dysfunctional family. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I truly hope there will be a sequel! 

Come Fly the World

Am I the only one who daydreams about living in a different decade? Sometimes I would love to spend a few days in the 1960s. If you loved Mad Men, you just have to read Come Fly the World. It follows the lives of several Pan Am flight attendants, formerly known as stewardesses. At the time, Pan AM was the only airline that flew exclusively international flights. What followed was a woman’s liberation where they could control their own destiny and careers. It’s a perspective of history I never really considered before. 

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

While many people have seen the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, not everyone knows it was originally a novella written by Truman Capote. Because it’s only 80 pages long, this Breakfast at Tiffany’s could easily be read in one sitting. Be warned, while you’ll find word-for-word scenes from the movie. This original version of Holly Golightly is crasser, but you’ll still love reading this all the same. 

You Lucky Dog

Romantic comedies typically aren’t my thing but sprinkle in a few Basset Hounds, and I’m quickly sold! What I loved about You Lucky Dog, apart from the canine sidekicks, is how smart these characters are. They’re relatable, making them more developed than a traditional light read. I’m already daydreaming about whom I would cast in this movie because it would be perfect on the big screen. 

I’m so happy to have reading back in my life. I think it truly does the body good, and it’s something I look forward to each day. My TV stays off in the evening, I’m on my phone less, and I use my off-hours reading instead of on social media. I’ll be keeping this trend going. Lookout in the next few months to see what I read next! I already have my books on standby.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.