The Mother-Daughter Dish: November 2024

Good morning, and welcome to The Mother-Daughter Dish, where we get caught up on what’s keeping us educated and entertained these days.

The first Sunday of the month, we’ll be offering a deep dive on our Feature Book complete with the perfect pairings to accompany it (did you check out our last issue, Kate Quinn’s fantastic The Briar Club?). And on the third Sunday of every month, check in here for our Mother-Daughter Dish.

So far, in November, we’ve had A LOT to dish about. We’ll try to keep you updated on some of the more positive conversations we’ve shared.

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What’s on our nighstand

Katie: On my nightstand is Lisa See’s newest book, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. I am finding it very interesting, although the plot is a bit meandering. Her previous books I’ve read have always been great, so I have a feeling this one will pick up soon.

It will also be my 52nd book of the year, once I finish it! That’s kind of always my goal, although I certainly don’t always meet it - to try and read a book for each week of the year. What’s helped me this year are two factors that I won’t always have to fall back on haha - pregnancy insomnia, and middle-of-the-night feedings with baby! But I do find having a Kindle has really upped my reading game, because it’s a lot easier to bring with me than a physical book, and I can read in the dark!

Julie: I have had high hopes of reading more by Lisa See, after enjoying Snow Flower and the Secret Fan almost a decade ago. Sadly, her books have never found a way back to my nightstand. I’ll be waiting to hear your thoughts when you finish this newer one.

I’m about three quarters of the way through Real Americans by Rachel Khong. I’m going to reserve any comments until I’m finished, but suffice it to say that I’m thoroughly engaged in this family drama, and look forward to picking it up whenever I get the chance. It’s a book club pick for me that we’ll be discussing at our December meetup.

Next up for me is The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. I’ve had this on my TBR since I first heard about it pre-publication (February 2024). If it were not that it’s a library book, with no holds available, I may be tempted to pass for later on. The publisher’s blurb notes: “The American Daughters is a novel of hope and triumph that reminds us what is possible when a community bands together to fight for its freedom.” And although that sounds exactly like what I am all about, I know that to get to hope and triumph you have to go through a lot of other stuff. I’m not sure that I’m up for that right now. Honestly, I’m in the mood for some light, fluffy escapist diversion. Any suggestions, BookStarrs? Maybe The Beachside Inn, Katie, that you’ve recommended in a past issue of The Dish.

Katie: The Beachside Inn is definitely cute, escapist reading! I certainly don’t blame you for wanting something more like that. Maybe one of Elin’s Winter Street books?

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What we’re recommending

Julie: How many times have you seen an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet? The 36th revival of Shakespeare’s play is currently on Broadway. I thought I was a shoe-in for getting all correct answers in this Romeo And Juliet quiz (NYT gift). If only they had asked more about the play itself, rather than reimaginings, I may have scored better than 60%.

Keeping on a pop culture theme, I have to recommend a new-to-me album for fans of Tom Petty and country music. It’s called Petty Country (2024), and is a 20-track compilation of big name country stars covering Tom Petty’s most iconic songs. Hard to pick a favourite! As Apple Music says, “ It’s possible that Tom Petty was the last thing we could all agree on.”

Katie: OMG the Tom Petty cover album! BRB, going to download immediately.

I think my favourite adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is the one we saw in Toronto in 2022, & Juliet! Speaking of soundtracks…that’s still one of the best! And I just saw when googling the show that it’s coming to the Kennedy Center here in DC next month! Squee!!

I’m recommending The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden. Wow! What a book. Aside from The Diary of Anne Frank, this shortlisted Booker Prize novel (the first Dutch story to achieve this honour) is the most memorable book about the Holocaust I’ve ever read. Van der Wouden approaches the topic in such a fresh and compelling way, and shows how easy it is to be a perpetrator, even unknowingly. The book has serious Gothic vibes too, with notes of paranoia and obsession, and an LGBTQ romance that makes me think of Sarah Waters, the novelist of the terrific The Little Stranger, Affinity, and The Night Watch.

Also, the cover art is absolutely stunning, evoking the Dutch Old Masters to perfection.

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What we’re doing

Katie: Library storytime with my little Baby Bookworm! :) It’s so much fun. I love getting to see her take more notice of the other babies and get excited when we start to sing familiar songs, and the post-storytime chats with the other moms while we bounce, feed, change, and play with our babies are a big plus too.

Right now she is loving two terrific books that my friend Tyler gave her when he visited - Touch and Feel Canada (perfect for sensory learning!) and Sweetest Kulu, a gorgeous lyrical lullaby centered around traditional Inuit beliefs by the Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk (“Kulu” is a term of endearment in Inuktitut used for babies and young children, meaning “Sweetheart” or “little one”). The illustrations are beautiful, and the message - all about the different gifts the animals of the Arctic give little Kulu - is such a good one.

Here’s a read-aloud of the book:

Julie: Oh, I am beyond thrilled that you two are enjoying your library visits, and connecting with families with similar values and passions. Book people really are the best people! I can’t wait to have the opportunity to join in on my next visit! And fantastic books that Tyler has added to the beautiful home library that is developing.

I’ve been reconnecting with old and dear friends lately, keeping my close-by family as close as possible, and planning for your visit next month (yay!).

After a return to quilting after a l-o-n-g absence, I’m starting another project with the hopes that I will be at the hand quilting stage by the time you arrive, and we can enjoy some quilting and knitting time together. Basically, I’m just trying to cram my days with as much fun, awe, hope, and wonder that will fit. Oh, and trying to keep my inbox manageable with all these (unsolicited) Black Friday and Holiday sales pitches. Anyone else?

Katie: Oh, perfect! I’ve got two knitting projects on the go that I’m planning to bring back with me. Fingers crossed we can find some time to be crafty together!

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Thanks for reading, fellow BookStarrs! Join The Dish in the comments - let us know what you’re doing, what’s on your nightstand, and what you’re recommending. As always, feel free to share our newsletter with fellow bookish people in your life.