16 Comments

Hey Janelle - thanks for reading The Big Portuguese Wine Adventure...my recommendation is "The First Global Village, How Portugal Changed the World" by Martin Page...a great, accessible and well researched history.

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Fantastic! Thank you Alastair! I really enjoy The Big Portuguese Wine Adventure. Your last post on Cuba caught my interest and I looked it up afterwards. I will order that book and give it a read. So glad you recommended it. Have a great New Year!

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Dec 3, 2022Liked by Janelle Holden

Am I the friend and subscriber that introduced you to David Sedaris??? He's definitely changed/saved my life!

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You ARE!!! Back when I used to do my “best books of the year” group on FB. You recommended Me Talk Pretty One Day and it changed my life! Thank you Mary!

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Dec 3, 2022Liked by Janelle Holden

I'm honored!!!

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Dec 3, 2022Liked by Janelle Holden

divine timing... can be so frustrating and yet is so compassionate & loving 💗

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You are so right Stacy! Thank you for the encouragement!

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Hi Janelle, there's one book I would highly recommend, it helped me understand the "Portuguese" a bit better "The Portuguese: A Modern History by Barry Hatton. Oh, we love David Sedaris and his audiobooks are just the best.

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What great fun that we both love David! My Christmas tradition each year is listening to SantaLand Diaries. I cannot help but cry with laughter every time. And thank you for that recommendation! I’m ordering that book! I need to check in on your move too. How are things going?

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Things are good, thanks for asking. Weather hasn't been the best, however, we've met lots of really nice people and for Thanksgiving we had a lunch buffet with another 70 American expats (immigrants, refugees??) I've enrolled in a language class and can't wait to start :)

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Oh so glad to hear that! That’s a lot of people at Thanksgiving! Must have been fun. Been thinking about you. That’s great about the class!

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Nice post. I’m with you on the “every book is life changing,” but still, two recommendations: “The Overstory,” by Richard Powers, which is the one that changed my life the most in the last year, and a book I’m 30 pages from finishing right this moment, “How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness,” by Russ Roberts, which is one of the best guides to how to live that I’ve run across in a while.

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Thank you for the book recommendations Tom! I have them both in order. Looking forward to reading them. The Overstory looks incredibly compelling. And what a surprising book on Adam Smith! I read the reviews and love the concept. Hope to discuss them both with you a bit.

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Dec 1, 2022Liked by Janelle Holden

I am truly sorry your house didn't sell. Hopefully it will during the next window of opportunity.

Thank you for sharing what you are reading. I've added these books to my list to get to before our next trip to Portugal.

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Thank you Jen! That’s so kind of you! I have a friend who says we’re all “right on time” so somehow I believe the timing will be right eventually. Hope you enjoy the books and thanks for reading!

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Thank you Astrid! Yes, please do! Or really any other book suggestions too. I’m always open.

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