All posts by Ti

Hi, I'm Ti! I blog about books and life over at http://bookchatter.net
Book Review

Review: Pinch Me

12 Comments

Pinch Me book cover including the Italian countryside.

Pinch Me
By Barbara Boyle
She Writes Press, 9781647428327, Feb 2025, 216pp

The Short of It:

If you want to feel wonderful about the world again, pick this up. It’s a beautiful, feel-good memoir.

The Rest of It:

This book is wonderful. In its brief 216 pages, I lingered and made the recipes and scanned all the QR codes for photos. Yes, people! Delicious Italian food AND photo albums of the restoration process of this beautiful 300 year old farmhouse. Barn, really.

Barbara Boyle and her husband Kim visit a small Italian town for vacation and fall in love with the town, its people and the overall sense of place. So much so that when they return to their US home in San Francisco, they begin to dream about a possible home there. Could that work?

With the right realtor, a dedicated construction crew and lots of trips back and forth, they purchase what is essentially a barn and turn it into the most beautiful home, overlooking the hillsides and wildflowers and yes, grapevines too.

I am not a big RENO person. As soon as foundation talk enters the chat, I tune out but not in this case. Solving the foundation issues in a 300 year old relic, takes precision, care and creative solutions. I found this part to be fascinating. Also, how they started with the roof! I would never have even though to start with that when the walls are crumbling and held up by mud.

Construction aside, the relationships that this couple built there are admirable and the kindness of strangers, who eventually become neighbors was so comforting and sweet. I loved hearing about their interactions with the local businesses too. All of the delicious restaurants and pasta making experiences and the emphasis on fresh produce and simple ingredients.

Reading Pinch Me was a palate cleanser for my soul. Anyone in need of that needs to find a copy immediately. I will say this, there is a deeper topic introduced towards the end and also a COVID pandemic mention given how it affected that region. But, it was just what the doc ordered as far as escapism.

Highly recommend. It will be on my fave list at the end of the year. Would make a great gift too. I would include some photos of the house but I want you to get the book and scan those QR codes for the albums!

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: Hopeful?

11 Comments

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

Hello, friends. What a week! Senator Booker’s 25 hour filibuster was something! It gave me hope for three full hours. Maybe it will encourage others to step up? So far, no. It seems as if there is more pushback in regards to most things but what will come of it? I’ve no idea.

Right Now:

Hosting the online service and then student ministry. And today is extra special because we have a meeting after all of it. They are treating us to Chipotle. Yay! Guac.

This Week:

Man, I have accomplished a lot work wise but not a lot on the reading front. Just too distracted.

Reading:

Honestly, none are holding my attention at the moment.

Watching:

Nothing, but I did see a new Shonda Rhimes show on Netflix that looks interesting. The Residence! Anyone seen it?

Grateful for:

  • The pup. She is still here! She is almost completely blind in one eye now. Age is a beast.
  • Spotify Premium. One of the best purchases ever. Love the non-stop plays, no ads but really love the newly released audio books. Makes my walk so much better.

On a more serious note, a friend’s husband passed away early Friday morning. I’m helping her plan the celebration of life and other needed arrangements. It’s rough.

Hug your loved ones. Tell them how awesome they are.