Spines & Vines

a love affair w/books & wine⁣⁣⁣ reading, reviewing & pairing⁣⁣ creator of #diversespines⁣⁣⁣ Follow @spinesvines on Instagram & Twitter⁣⁣

[spinesvines]

Oh just another Wednesday morning....⁣ 𝐇𝐢𝐦: Studying ⁣ 𝐌𝐞: Am I disturbing you taking photos for #bookstagram?⁣ 𝐇𝐢𝐦: Of course not, honey. You’re either reading or taking photos of books 😂 (the “honey” let me know, yep I’m bothering him, lol) ⁣ ⁣ But seriously all jokes aside, @wayetu you made my darn week! Thank you so much for sending me your upcoming memoir (release date 6/2), #TheDragonsTheGiantTheWomen. This is one of my must anticipated reads of the summer. I loved her debut #SheWouldBeKing. So I’m going to take my tea, remove myself from the kitchen & dive right in. I know this one will be fantastic! (synopsis in comments)⁣ ⁣ Happy Wednesday y’all. What’s your hump day read?⁣ 📚☕️⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #spinesvines #diversespines #autographedcopy #coverlove #booksandtea #wayetumoore #wellreadblackgirl https://www.instagram.com/p/CAajYyaAnVF/?igshid=xxgu4gqwea73

[spinesvines]

TGIF!! OMG, I’ve never been more happy to see Friday. What a week! Wine is chilled, uncorked and a serious #winedown session is going on over here 👏🏽💃🏽🍷⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I had several bookish surprises this week. I received a copy of #PrettyThings by @janellebrownie that I won in @jordys.book.club’s giveaway. I’m so excited to dive into this book because I’ve seen nothing but rave reviews. Everyone is loving it and it’s also the #jordymademedoit May selection. Many thanks to the folks at @sudio for gifting me the TOLV earphones. This audiobook lover is screaming with joy to have these super stylish earphones. They sound incredible!! I’m going to spend time listening to the #PrettyThings audiobook as well. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you are looking for some super chic earphones, look no further. You can receive 𝟏𝟓% off when you place an order using my special referral code “𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒” ⁣⁣ Here’s a little info on the TOLV:⁣⁣ With its wireless design, minimalistic charging case, and microphones on both sides, Tolv is the perfect match for any adventure. The sophisticated earbuds hold 7 hours of battery life while the portable case offers 4 additional charges for an astounding 6 days of standby life. Tolv introduces a new graphene driver for intense and clear sound quality. It also features the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology compatible with IOS and Android, and up to 15 meters of range. ** @sudio is currently running a campaign that includes a free tote bag with every purchase! ⁣⁣ ✨ ⁣⁣ I hope you guys have a nice weekend. It’s going be gorgeous this weekend in DC and I’m looking forward to it. What’s your #fridayread? ⁣⁣ ☀️📚🍷⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #sudiomoments #sudio #winedown #cakebreadcellars #sauvignonblanc #napavalley (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAObg0Pg3if/?igshid=efsd49q55val

[spinesvines]

Cheers to Friday Eve!! This #throwBOOKthursday stack is in honor of #AAPIHeritageMonth. These books have been some of my most enjoyable and memorable reads. They ALL deserve a #ReadThisSpine tag but I specifically want to highlight #TheAtlasofRedsandBlues by @devislaskar. This book still haunts me to this day. The prose is beautiful and the subject matter is critical. It speaks to policing of black and brown bodies that occurs every day. It’s an important book that everyone should read! ⁣ ⁣ Excerpt from @washingtonpost:⁣ The novel’s plot is both straightforward and complex: In a Georgia driveway in 2010, Mother lies bleeding from a gunshot wound to her midsection. Below her is the fast-warming concrete of the hot day and above is a cloudless, bright blue sky. Law enforcement officers with Kevlar vests and automatic guns traipse through the house and around her prone form, shoo the neighbors away and trade quips with the dispatcher. It’s a nightmarish scene, and one that comes to us only in fragments throughout the novel — but it is the place from which all other fragments unfold, moving backward and forward in time. “The Atlas of Reds and Blues” is a quick read, in part because of these short sections, some only two sentences long. But it’s a page-turner, too, because of the urgency of each small story, each revelatory memory.⁣ ⁣ Do you see any of your favorites in this stack?⁣ 📚🍷⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #diversespines #bookstack #bookspines #APICelebrAsian #API #APAHM (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CALuP9SA5HV/?igshid=xiz4opk6nnww

[spinesvines]

Rosé and Blue Boxes make for a perfect day. The rain has finally stopped, the sunshine is here☀️ & my blue box just arrived! I’ve logged off from work, poured a glass of rosé and now I’m soaking up all of the Vitamin D on my deck. ⁣ ⁣ This month I decided to use some of my credits to complete my @riley.sager collection. I also added #TheBoyfriendProject by @farrahrochon simply because #bookstagrammademedoit! ⁣ What did you put in your #bookofthemonth box this month?⁣ 📚🍷⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #bookspines #bookstack #roseallday #rosewine #fridayeve (at National Harbor, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5yqN8g1nR/?igshid=1fy1221hh5jae

[spinesvines]

STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND #READTHISSPINE! #PubDay Book Review 🎉🎉 @acevedowrites has done it again!!! #ClapWhenYouLand is out in the world today 👏🏽✈️💚💕💙⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What a heartbreaking yet breathtaking book! WOW! This is the story of two sisters, Camino and Yahaira, who never knew the other existed until their father dies in a plane crash. Liz addresses several familiar themes; class, culture, race, grief, trauma & family secrets but at the core is love! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There were so many times I was reduced to tears reading this book. Having lost my father in a tragic car accident I felt the searing pain through Liz’s beautiful words. In an instant life as you know it has changed. One moment he’s here and in a blink of an eye he’s gone. It’s beyond life altering. You literally want to world to stop, to acknowledge your pain and scream at everyone to stop what you’re doing my dad is dead. The truth of the matter is the sun will rise the next day and life goes on while you are stuck with suffocating grief. I felt every movement of Camino & Yahaira’s journey through grief. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This story touched my heart in such a way that makes me want to shout from the rooftops that everyone should read it. I don’t know how Liz does it but she captures the essence of human traits, feelings and circumstances to perfection. As a reader you can’t help but to connect to her characters & the story. She addresses real life issues & her writing gets more beautiful with each book. ⁣ ⁣⁣ “How could I have known then there are no rules, no expectations, no rising to the occasion. When you learn news like this, there is only...falling.”⁣⁣ ⁣ Rating: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 Cheers ⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m a FOREVER FAN! Happy Book Birthday Liz! Cheers to you 🎉⁣⁣ ✈️⁣⁣ I paired this book with my favorite rosé @miraval. Seems like I’m always pairing a rosé her books 💕⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 📚🍷⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwines #diversespines #drinkthisvine #drinkthiswine #bookreview #mustread #roseallday #miraval (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_07-YNAYPF/?igshid=ii86agvqk6y

[spinesvines]

#DrinkThisVine | This is the only #mondaymotivation that I need! Wine delivery from @cakebreadcellars 👏🏽🙌🏽 The smile on my face when this box arrived was priceless. Oh the JOY! I was introduced to Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc over 10 years ago and I’ve been a fan ever since. It’s exquisite, definitely my favorite 💚💛 ⁣ 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟖 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬⁣ ⁣ The wine opens with vivid tropical aromas of white flowers, ripe melon, and sweet citrus. The citrus and tropical characters extend onto the palate with ripe guava and crisp pink grapefruit, balanced by bright acidity and accented by a flinty vein of minerality. This is a zesty wine that stands up well to shrimp, crab, grilled vegetables and is perfect for a cheese plate!⁣ 📚🍷⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #drinkthiswine #napavalley #cakebreadcellars #sauvignonblanc #californiawine #winedrinkers #winetime #quaranwine (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_yOLplgqzu/?igshid=q0we54stxzzg

[spinesvines]

#flashbackfriday ✨ Flashing back to some of favorites to introduce #ReadThisSpine— my new hashtag to share my book recommendations. My goal is to be more focused on letting this community know the books that I’ve loved & think everyone should read. I hope you’ll give the hashtag a follow 😉⁣ ⁣ Maybe I should do a #DrinkThisWine too 🤔😂🙃🍷 Have a fantastic weekend !! #spinesvines #diversespines #flatlay #coverlove #homegoing #salvagethebones #themotherd #thebookofharla (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qcaLVgIWA/?igshid=fwh0qmlnf1is

[spinesvines]

At this point every darn day is #winewednesday 🤷🏽‍♀️🍷📚 ⁣ .⁣ #tuesdaythoughts #quaranwine #spinesvines #booksandwine #winetasting #winelife #winetime #winedown https://www.instagram.com/p/B_i5dlLgKTw/?igshid=1jua5dxh8r30t

[spinesvines]

Leopard is always a good choice. But so is sparkling rosé. Leopard, sparkling rosé & a very intriguing story makes for a perfect Sunday. 🐆✨🍷📖 #currentlyreading #TheHouseofDeepWater by @jeni.mcfarland ⁣ ⁣ Synopsis:⁣ Three women reluctantly return to their small Michigan hometown in McFarland’s fine debut. Linda Williams never wanted to return to River Bend, but when she leaves her husband, she has no choice but to go back to her grandmother’s house. Also coming back to town is her estranged mother, Paula, who might finally ask her long-abandoned husband for a divorce. And then there’s Elizabeth DeWitt, who grew up as one of the only black girls in town. She’s lost her job and marriage, and the recent arrest of the man who abused her as a child is dredging up traumatic memories.⁣ ⁣ 📚🍷⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #diversespines #rainyday #sundayreads #sparklingrose #winelover #booklover #roseallday (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_dPVDiAedg/?igshid=794pwl4aax7y

[spinesvines]

⁣⁣Today is #IndependentBookstoreDay!! 👏🏽💃🏽🎉📚 While the physical celebration for Independent Bookstore Day is postponed until August 29th, I’m excited to celebrate & join @librofm’s #VirtualBookstoreParty 🎧📚🎉⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We are fortunate to have so many AMAZING indie bookstores here in the DC metro area — @politicsprose, @solidstatedc, @loyaltybooks, @kramerbooks, @mahoganybooks, @capitolhillbooks, @oldtownbooks & @eastcitybookshop (Happy 4th Birthday ECB💚🎉) just to name a few. Unique in their own special way, they provide safe spaces to gather, places enjoy food & wine, outstanding author events & are vital to their communities. I appreciate all that you give to our communities & to book lovers everywhere! 😍📚❤️(check out my IG stories to see some of my favorite bookstore visits)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🎧📚⁣⁣ For today only 4/25, as a thank you for supporting local bookstores, #Librofm will be giving away 2 audiobooks to anyone with a (free) Libro.fm account.  Libro.fm makes it possible for you to support the independent bookstore of your choice when you purchase audiobooks. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🎧🧦⁣⁣ Lastly, thanks @librofm for the adorable #ListeningSocks in support of #SocksforBinc. #Librofm partnered with a range of artists to create 10 pairs of socks for book lovers to support booksellers across the nation affected by COVID-19. Let’s celebrate & support!! (more info in my stories)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 📣Shoutout your favorite indie ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 📚🍷🎉⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #diversespines #bookstoreday #virtualbookstoreday #indiesfirst #librofmlisteningsquad #merryedwards #sauvignonblanc #sonomacounty #russianrivervalley (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aW2QKA8I8/?igshid=uank9d502899

[spinesvines]

Who is one of your go to authors? One of my favorite go to authors is #JesmynWard. She has a way of writing a story that instantly grabs your attention. Her characters haunt you long after you've read the final sentence. I remember reading #MenWeReaped & was speechless when I finished. The story centers on Black males that she has lost and speaks volumes to how Black men are perceived. It’s one of my all time favorite memoirs. If you haven’t read any of her books, I highly recommended them. I can’t wait to receive her latest book, #NavigateYourStars, a 2018 commencement speech for Tulane University. “A revelatory, uplifting, and gorgeously illustrated meditation on dedication, hard work, and the power of perseverance.”⁣ ✨ ⁣ On a personal note— I haven’t felt much like reading. I’m drained after being sick but looking forward to regaining my energy and being back in full swing very soon. I hope you guys are doing well & reading something great 📚💕📚💕 ⁣ ⁣ .⁣ #wcw #spinesvines #diversespines #booksconnectus #salvagethebones #singunburiedsing #wherethelinebleeds #thefirethistime (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_TGrhQgZ_s/?igshid=7g7t05qombrs

[spinesvines]

I was tagged by the lovely @prose_and_palate for the #quarantinememoir challenge. This was a lot of fun and if you want to join the challenge, consider yourself tagged 📚❤️⁣ ✨⁣⁣ 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃, as I think about 2020 when it was safer at home, I really don’t know 𝗪𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍. There are moments when I can focus on reading but then there are times when I’m just a 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝗪𝐍 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 about going safely back into the world. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ During the period of #socialdistancing I’m 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 a better chef. 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 because I’ve never really enjoyed being in the kitchen. But now I’m trying out new recipes daily & cooking 𝗪𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Some people are not doing well with self isolation and I’ve made it a point to check on my friends/family to remind them that they are 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 & 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 💕⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ When quarantine life is over I can’t wait to take a 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 with my girlfriends to feel 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝗪𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒. Upon arrival we will head directly to 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐋𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 & soak up some sun 𝐒𝐎 𝗪𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝗪 ✨☀️🏖⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Most of all, I remain 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 (wine not a book 😉) and know for certain that 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝗪𝐍𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄!!⁣⁣ 📚🍷❤️⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #diversespines #booksconnectus #groundedwineco #californiawine #cabernetsauvignon #winewednesday #winedown #alwaysreading #booklover (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BBKaAArkI/?igshid=hb8aekz77ick

[spinesvines]

BIG MOOD👏🏽⁣🙌🏽 I needed this pick me up🍟📖 Piping hot fries and the forthcoming book by @acevedowrites definitely puts a smile on my face.⁣ ⁣ I’m super excited to have #ClapWhenYouLand in my hands. Elizabeth Acevedo’s books are perfection & I know this one will not disappoint! ⁣Thank you Audra & Liz for the gifted book 🥰⁣ ⁣⁣ #ClapWhenYouLand will be out in the world on May 5th & I suggest that you preorder it now! (check my IG stories) ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💖💚⁣⁣ ⁣.⁣ .⁣ #spinesvines #diversespines #bookmail #elizabethacevedo #quilltreebooks ⁣⁣ https://www.instagram.com/p/B-vFrlPAuR_/?igshid=gbywmnrrmmh5

[spinesvines]

#BookandWineReport | Thank you to the tagged publishers for the gifted books! There are so many great books out today (happy #pubday 🎊), I’ve restocked my wine & the weather forecast is predicting my favorite reading weather... RAIN! 🌧👏🏽🙌🏽⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #ConjureWomen by @afiaatakora ⁣⁣⁣ - The April #BNBookclub pick ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #HowMuchOfTheseHillsIsGold by @cpamzhang⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #TheGirlsAt17SwannStreet (paperback release) by Yayra Zghab (@aristotle.at.afternoon.tea)⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #MiracleCreek (paperback release) by @angiekimask ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #Afterlife by @writerjalvarez ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ • • • ⁣⁣⁣ #MircaleCreek is the only book I’ve read from this stack & I loved it. It was a 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 cheers read & made my Top Reads of 2019 list. A thrilling courtroom drama that you must read. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ • • • ⁣⁣⁣ What have I been drinking? Well, I’m glad you asked. Like my reading mood, my wine mood has been all over the place. I tried @19crimes Cabernet Sauvignon for the first time (looking at you @candice_reads 👀😜) and I enjoyed it. I was introduced to #ComteHenryDAssay Sauvignon a few weeks ago and have since purchased two additional bottles. I love it!! @miraval & @charlessmithwines (I’m a big fan of their cab, merlot & rosé) are no-brainer purchases. When it comes to choosing a Rosé, you can’t go wrong with Miraval, it’s outstanding! If you’re a #winelover, drop me a recommendation in the comments 🍷💕⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📚🍷⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #diversespines ⁣⁣ (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sTmu9gLpH/?igshid=1x9wc8twwzkro

[spinesvines]

Virtual Blessings 👏🏽🙌🏽 If you need a little sunshine in your corner of the world, THIS is my recommendation to lift your spirits!! Coming this week the authors of two of my favorite books are blessing the virtual world by reading from their National Book Award winning novels 👏🏽🎉💃🏽⁣ ⁣ ✨ @jacqueline_woodson will be reading from #BrownGirlDreaming every day (April 6-10) 10:30AM EST on Facebook Live at Jacqueline.Woodson⁣ ⁣ ✨ #ElizabethAcevedo will be reading from #ThePoetX followed by a Q&A on April 7, 2:30 PM EST on Instagram Live at @acevedowrites ⁣ ⁣ Don’t miss this greatness! Both of these novels in verse were 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 Cheers reads for me! ⁣ ⁣ Happy Sunday ☀️🌿⁣ ⁣ .⁣ #booksconnectus #nbawards https://www.instagram.com/p/B-m3T4-ATsn/?igshid=1rdyefhatvz13

[spinesvines]

Its’s a #readroserepeat kind of a Friday🌹🍷[#partner @randomhouse]⁣ ⁣ I’m buddy reading #ImboloMbue’s second novel (on sale 6.16.20) with Chelsea over at @suspensethrill! I’m about 75 pages in and I already know this will be one of my favorite reads. You can’t help but it think of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the BP oil spill and so many other atrocities. ⁣ ⁣ HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE is the story of “what happens when the residents of a fictional African village named Kosawa decide to rise up and fight back against an American oil company that has been polluting their land. Spanning forty years, it follows a generation of children growing up in this village, and what happens to them as they watch their parents fight the oil company, and when they themselves take up the fight.”⁣ ⁣ I don’t know about you but this book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. Super thankful to the amazing folks @randomhouse for sending it my way 🖤⁣ ⁣ What are y’all reading? I hope you are doing ok. Sending you virtual hugs 🤗⁣ • • •⁣ Wine: #Sancerre Rosé ⁣ 📚🍷⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #diversespines #roseallday #buddyread #fridayreads #howbeautifulwewere (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-iYnNEAE6s/?igshid=656p2hapra66

[spinesvines]

#DiverseSpines coming in HOT!!! 🔥🔥🔥 ⁣ ⁣⁣ Thrilled to introduce the upcoming @diversespines selections and collaborations. 👏🏽🙌🏽🤗🥰⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎⁣⁣⁣ #TheMountainsSing by @nguyenphanquemai_ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Summer Reading Series⁣⁣⁣ 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎⁣⁣⁣ #TheVanishingHalf by @britrbennett ⁣⁣⁣ *Once again we’re joining forces with our good friends at @forcoloredgirlsbookclub for a group read-along ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎⁣⁣⁣ #Americanah by @chimamanda_adichie ⁣⁣⁣ *Book selected from the #diversespines mug ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎⁣⁣⁣ #TheseGhostsAreFamily by @librarylovefest ⁣⁣⁣ *Thrilled to be reading along with @thisbrownegirlreads to close out summer reading.⁣⁣⁣ ✨⁣⁣⁣ **You can support independent bookstores by shopping for all of these books via the #diversespines bookshop at @bookshop_org. 🔗 Link above in bio 🔗⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📚🍷⁣ .⁣ .⁣⁣⁣ #spinesvines #booksandwine #booksconnectus #readwithdiversespines #spineofthemonth #bookclub (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-f9QtEgNTN/?igshid=f171puccdcge