35 Comments

Mr. Bass. I copied the list....only one book on it that I've read....but several that I've thought about reading. MUCH THANKS for sharing this info!

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Always more to read. I think it's helpful to know what others are reading and recommend.

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Me, too....which is why (soooooooooooo many good reads) I copied and pasted the list into an email that I'll be printing at the liberry (grin) tomorrow AND using to get a good read or two.

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Feb 15Liked by Richard Bass

Waiting for the next with bated breath, the first two wonderful, I love it that you and Diana work so closely,

supportive and with little competition. Inspiring!! Rarely delightful!!’

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Feb 15Liked by Richard Bass

Thanks for your post, Richard. Check out Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese and Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Both were incredible reads!

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Looking forward to listening to and reading the suggestions you included. Retirement was different for me…I stayed home after starting our family and I (we) home educated all three. I’m realizing that this is the first month, many years after my husband retired, that I am not trying to keep up the image of a productive stay at home mom/wife/church member, etc. etc. Not carrying what I perceived as my job requirements feels great!

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Thanks. I just picked up the audio version of The Heaven and Hearth Grocery Store. I'm always looking for recommendations for good books. I too just recently finished Tom Lake and really enjoyed it.

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Feb 14Liked by Richard Bass

Thanks once again Richard for another great post! I love Wilco and am halfway through the interview with him. That said, I'm cutting my comment short but thankful for you!

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Feb 14Liked by Richard Bass

I enjoyed Tom Lake a lot and am really happy to learn that Jim Wallis has written a new book. I look forward to that. I hope you like Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. It was a fail for me, but that may well have been because I listened to the audiobook. Same for The Covenant of Water. I think those two books really require reading vs. listening.

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Feb 13Liked by Richard Bass

Thanks for the Ann Patchett video. It's great!

Looking forward to Jim Wallis!

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Richard, the resources about retirement couldn't have been more timely. I also will be turning 69 later this year and have worked full time for 45 years. This is the big year, so I am really grateful for these suggestions. Thank you!

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author

Thanks. And there are a lot more where they came from. I expect retirement will be a continuing theme of the Reader.

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Richard. — I just bought James McBride’s book you’re going to read this month. I hope I can join in its discussion group online. Please let me know where to find it.

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Beautiful words and thoughtful recommendations on books to explore. Thank you 🙏❤️🙏

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Feb 13Liked by Richard Bass

Another book I found helpful for retirement is:

From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life Kindle Edition

by Arthur C. Brooks

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Feb 13Liked by Richard Bass

Love this! I didn’t experience Reader #1 but so glad for #2. Can’t wait to read Tom Lake. You and Diana are WONDERFUL - what a TEAM: Together Everyone Achieved More! We sure do! Blessings to you both!

So glad to be here as a paid subscriber.

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*Achieves - present tense!

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I was surprised when I saw Cottage Reader #2 in my inbox today. Was there a Cottage Reader #1 that I didn’t get or I missed?

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It's a once a month thing. Here's the first one: https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/p/the-cottage-reader-1

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Feb 13·edited Feb 13Author

Yes, there was. Anytime you think you may have missed something, check back over your email. You can also check out the Archive. The Cottage isn't just an email - it is also a website full of great past posts! https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/archive. And thanks for subscribing!

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founding

A suggestion. if not recommendation. Marilynne Robinson has just published a book entitled Reading Genesis. Well reviewed by Judith Shulevitz in the Atlantic. No surprises there. For what it's worth.

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So a musician wrote a book about particular songs that influenced him in one way or another? Wow. Couldn't we all write such a book? It's fascinating that someone actually did it. Some of the titles on the Spotify list resonate with me as well, though many are unknown to me. Music speaks to us in ways that words alone cannot (in fact, some of the likely music on my list, were I to try and write such a project, would be instrumental or symphonic), and reaches deep into our emotions and psyches. I'll have to look up this book. Thanks for the recommendation.

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author

Right. He says we all could write our own book, and also that he could have written it about 50 other songs. His memoir, Let’s Go (so we can get back) is good too.

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