Today my friend Julia Seymour joins me to continue the conversation on Far From the Madding Crowd. We discuss how our love of the story has grown with each reading, our mutual love of Gabriel Oak, and our newfound respect for Thomas Hardy's writing. My conversation with Julia was an absolute delight, and I can't wait to share it with you!

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Far From the Madding Crowd

Vanity Fair

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denosivich

Pan Tadeusz

Atomic Habits

I've recently re-read one of my favorite books of the last twenty years, Far From the Madding Crowd. I have to admit that I started reading it with some trepidation. Would I love it as much this time as the last? I am happy to report that I loved it as much, if not more, on this reading. Join me as I introduce part one of this sweeping, tragic romantic classic.

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Far From the Madding Crowd

If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know that Elizabeth Goudge is one of my favorite writers. Her writing is so peaceful and calming. So, you may not be surprised that I'm featuring one of her books again on the podcast. Today I have my friend Whitney Boroski on the podcast to talk about The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge. Whitney has some beautiful insight into this rich story, and I can't wait for you to join us in our conversation.

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The Dean's Watch

Today I'm sharing another favorite read from 2022, Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden. Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy is the story of Lise Fanshawe, a former prostitute, Madame, and murderer. Lise enters the religious life of the Sisters of Bethany after being released from prison. Her life is a beautiful story of salvation and redemption. 

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Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy

One of my favorite books that I read this past year was The Devil’s Advocate by Morris West. The Devil’s Advocate is the story of a dying priest sent to a rural Italian village to investigate a man for possible martyrdom and sainthood. What follows is a novel rife with mystery, intrigue, and the depths of human nature.

Find me at- awellreadlife.com

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The Devil's Advocate

Today I’m sharing A City of Bells by Elizabeth Goudge. Set in the fictional cathedral town of Torminster. It is the story of Jocelyn Irvin, his family, friends, neighbors, and their life in this quaint English village. When you read it, prepare for cozy bookshop scenes and a meditative look at one’s vocation in life. 

My website

A City of Bells

Sister of the Angels

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Wildoak

Today I'm giving a behind-the-scenes peek at the books I read this fall. These are books I haven't shared on the podcast yet, but a couple of them that I will share soon in full-length episodes. This season included some of my favorite books of the year, and I can't wait to share more about them in the new year!

Books mentioned in today's episode:

The Mousewife

The Kitchen Madonna

Affiliate links to Bookshop.org:

Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy

Mouse House

The Great Divorce

The Devil's Advocate

The Genesis of Gender

My friend Karen Schwind joins me on the podcast to talk about Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. We both enjoyed this haunting novel immensely, and there was much to discuss with this short but rich book. I hope our conversation will inspire you to read the book, too.

Bookshop.org affiliate links to books mentioned in the episode:

Never Let Me Go

The Remains of the Day

A Gentleman in Moscow

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denosivich

August 1914

The Ambassadors

A Test of Wills

And Then There Were None

4.50 From Paddington

Gilead

Abide With Me

War and Peace

Dr. Zhivago

The Secret Keeper

Today I'm thrilled to have my friend Olga Pyshnyak-Lawrence on the podcast to talk about her book Out of the Wilderness: My Journey to the Land Called Heaven.

Out of the Wilderness: My Journey to the Land Called Heaven

An Everday Mama Finds a Passionate Life

Living an Empowered Life Personally and Professionally

Olga's Etsy Shop

Olga's Blog

I'm wrapping up my series on Reading Like Kathleen Kelly today with Roald Dahl's memoir Boy. It is one of my all-time favorite books, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Roald Dahl Museum

Krokan Ice Cream Recipe

Affiliate links to books mentioned in the episode:

Boy

Going Solo

The Witches

Danny the Champion of the World