Day 311: When I Was an Alligator

Chatting Books Online Day 311. Today's recommended book , "When I Was an Alligator" by Gayle Weber , is a new addition to the children's regional storybook section.

The book is about a little girl who is a curious Cajun Kid who likes crawfish, peanut butter, riding her bike , and fishing in the marsh with her Dad. In the book the little girl is watching the animals in the marsh and falls asleep where she dreams she is all kinds of marsh creatures including an alligator, a heron, an opossum, a frog, and many more before finally transforming back into a little girl - or is she a mosquito? You'll have to read the book to find out! Filled with lively illustrations this is a fun addition to our local storybook section .

This new hardcover storybook from University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press sells for $20 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you . Now Mask Up and enjoy the book!

Day 310: Bridging the Mississippi

Chatting Books Online Day 310. Today's recommended book is Bridging the Mississippi: Spans across the Father of Waters by Philip Gould.

Philip Gould's books have long been favorites at The Conundrum. From the beauty of The Louisiana Houses of A Hayes Town, to the fabulous photography of murals in The Public Art of Robert Dafford , to the exceptionally captured characters in Louisiana Faces and Natchitoches and Louisiana's Cane River we just cannot get enough of Philip's fabulous photography so of course now that he has published a book so close to our hearts we love it as well.

Philip Gould's newest book looks at the bridges that span the Mighty Mississippi from Minnesota all the way down to New Orleans. Philip Gould spent several years photographing 75 of the 130 bridges that span the river and shares them with us in this book.

To hear more about the book directly from Mr. Gould himself watch this episode of Art Rocks hosted by St. Francisville's own James Fox-Smith. And if you are not currently watching Art Rocks on LPB you should be . It is a great way to see and hear about art going on all around us, thanks James and Country Roads Magazine for sharing art with us all in this lock-down world!

Link to Art Rocks with Philip Gould (first interview in the episode) : https://www.lpb.org/videos/art-rocks-episode-810

This book of photography is Paperback and sells for $ 39.95 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you . Now Mask Up and enjoy the book and video !

Day 309: Eloise at the Plaza

Chatting Books Online Day 309. Ever wonder how I choose the book of the day? Sometimes it is the last book I read (if I really liked it) , sometimes it is one that for some reason has been particularly popular in the shop recently, sometimes I just wander around the shop trying to think of what I might like to write about, and sometimes I am reminded of particular favorites by seeing or hearing about them in conversations or even in movies or television shows. That is how it occurred to me that Kay Thompson's "Eloise at the Plaza" should be today's book of the day.

Eloise at the Plaza has been one of my favorites since I was a little girl myself. Actually I am told I named every baby doll I was given as a child - and my rocking horse - Eloise. I guess I was always fascinated by the idea of staying in and even living in luxury hotels, and let's be honest, causing a bit of mischief. I was reminded of my love for Eloise last ight while watching Season 1 , Episode 1 of The Sopranos of all things. I have never seen this show and my husband has long talked about it . So much as I recently watched all 5 DieHard movies (I am really a good wife) , I agreed to start binging The Sopranos and have committed to watching the entire series. Well anyway, in episode 1 Carmella and their teenage daughter Meadow are on the outs and on a particular day Carmella shows up in her room in a suit with a pair of gloves in her hand and asks why Meadow isn't dressed for their annual trip to have tea at The Plaza under the portrait of Eloise. Meadow , being an obstinate teenager, tells her she has long thought this tradition dumb and refuses to go . All I could think was "Well I'll go with you!" Of course The Plaza (last time I was there) is now partly a Fairmont and partially condos and currently fully closed to the public thanks to Covid. But you know, if it was back in 1999 when The Sopranos was originally filmed .

Anyway, Eloise is , as she has always been, a delightful scamp living in a penthouse at The Plaza in New York city , causing mischief in the hallways and enjoying life. I think we can all take a little delight just reading about her escapades.

We stock this book currently as a board book , selling for $8.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you . Now Mask Up and cause a little mischief!

Day 308: The week in Review January 11-17, 2021.

Chatting Books Online Day 308. The week in Review January 11-17, 2021.

This week I recommended The Gumbo Shop cookbook perfect for cold weather , Blooming Trees and Shrubs for the Coastal South (arranged in sequence of blooms !). A favorite children’s book (oddly about appendicitis ) in Madeline , and a favorite daily devotional in Jesus Calling . And two enjoyable works of fiction : a mystery (about the queen of mystery herself ) in The Mystery of Mrs , Christie , and a bit of Hollywood glamour in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

I must say quite an interesting week. If you missed any of these reviews and want to read what I had to say about them you can see all of our Chatting Books Online picks by visiting our website at: http://www.conundrumbooks.com/chatting-books-online .

We still (and always will going forward) offer shipping if you cannot make it to the store. Or just stop by the shop during or normal hours . See you soon !

Day 307 : The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Chatting Books Online Day 307. Today’s recommended book is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and the Six.

When a friend told me she couldn’t put this book down I knew it was one I wanted to read. Then I read the back cover and it seemed interesting enough, and I am always looking for a good book, so I decided to give it a go. This is a book about an uber-glamorous nearly octogenarian recluse of a former movie star , Evelyn Hugo, who decides it is time to tell her story and selects an unknown magazine writer for the job. When Evelyn asks specifically for Monique Grant her selection comes much to the surprise of everyone including Monique herself and her editor. Evelyn first calls the magazine and asks for an appointment with Monique under the pretense of a fluff piece about some dresses she is donating. It is only as they start the interview process that the whole story unfolds filled with glamour, celebrity, struggle, seven husbands (you read that correctly) ,ambition, conniving, an Oscar , love , friendship , and both the lovely and the ugly side of relationships. And only at the end do we find out why Monique has been asked to be part of this project and how the pieces finally come together. It will certainly keep you turning the pages - which is fine- it’s cold outside anyway so curl up and read this good book.

Originally published in 2017, we currently carry this book in paperback , 385 pages long with discussion topics and book club questions included at the end.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you .

Day 306 : Jesus Calling

Chatting Books Online Day 306. Today's recommended book is "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

This daily devotional gives you just a little something to think about each day. It is a reason to slow down and be quiet within yourself each day of the It is written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you. It gives words of encouragement , comfort , and reassurance of His unending love.

What better time of year to start a new devotional daily practice than January ? .

This perennial best seller at our shop is available in hardcover for $16.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you .

Day 305 : Madeline

Chatting Books Online Day 305. Today's recommended book is "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans.

A little girl in a Paris boarding school who suddenly has a ruptured appendix in the middle of the night may be an unusual story line for a children's storybook but in this case it is somehow charming and has certainly stood the test of time. This book was originally published in 1939. We all have some memory of Madeline , the school marm Miss Clavel and the 12 little girls in two straight lines in her charge. Somehow though I remember this book from my childhood I had completely forgotten that the main storyline is Madeline's appendicitis , subsequent 10 day hospital stay and jealousy inducing belly scar . Again, as I said odd storyline but charming none the less.

This hardcover storybook sells for $18.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you .

Day 304: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie

Chatting Books Online Day 304. Today's recommended book is "The Mystery of Mrs. Christie" by Marie Benedict .

This new book, which I just finished reading today, is written by Marie Benedict. You may have read some of Marie Benedict's other books such as "Carnegie's Maid" or "The Other Einstein" and if so you know what she likes to do is take (usually a lesser known) female character from real life , research their lives and tell their story from their own point of view imaging what their thoughts might have been during this now historical event.

In this book she actually takes a very famous woman, Agatha Christie, one of the best selling mystery authors of all time and an event that there is very little information about and uses these as the basis of the story. In this case the event is Agatha Christie's very real 11 day disappearance in 1926. Where was she? Why did she go? Was it voluntary ?

Perhaps Mrs. Christie's most unsolvable mystery this story of her life will keep you turning the pages - and probably get you in the mood to read more Agatha Christie novels . I know it has me in that mood so we will be expanding our offerings of them at The Conundrum ! It also has me wanting to visit Torquay, England (where my husband wanted to go last year while we were in the UK but aside from wanting to sing the Pirates of Penzance in its natural setting I had no desire to take the long train ride. Please remind me never to pass up possible travel again, You never know when it will not be an option anymore and you will wish you went. But that is another topic entirely).

This book is currently available in hardcover . It is 266 pages, it includes a reading guide and an interview with the author and sells for $ 26.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you .