Tuesday, March 31, 2020

March 2020 Reading Log
























Fiction
At the Water’s Edge.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Book Charmer.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Dutch House.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Great Gatsby.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meet Me in Monaco.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A  Prayer For Owen Meany. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Still Alice.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nonfiction
Destination Simple.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don’t Overthink It.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Duchess on Bloomsbury Street.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Penny Pitchers Guide to Saving Money.  ⭐️⭐️
A Room of My Own.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Middle Grade
The Big Wave.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hold Fast.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pay Attention, Carter Jones.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Single Shard.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Small Steps The Year I Got Polio.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Thief Lord.    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twenty and Ten.   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did a lot of reading this month.  Mainly at the beginning of the month, I was trying to cram as
many Middle Grade books from the battle of the books list as I could before the competition.  
Unfortunately, like everything it was cancelled. 

I read a lot of absolutely amazing books this month but after some reflection I decided that A
Prayer for Owen Meany was my favorite book although A Single Shard is a close second.  
Both books were unique and different. A Prayer for Owen Meany made me laugh and I just
enjoyed the character Owen even in these uncertain times.   

Book 31



Hold Fast
By:  Blue Balliet
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

I have to admit I sort of procrastinated reading Hold Fast by Blue Balliet because I knew
nothing about the book or the author.  However, it is on my list for the Battle of Books so
I had to read it. But I have to say I was absolutely surprised! I loved it and I am giving it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.   I will not shy away from other books written by Blue Balliet again.  

Hold Fast, is the story of the Pearl family, and what can happen when your family falls apart
in an instant.  Early Pearl is a young girl in fifth grade and one day she finds out her beloved
father has disappeared. This is so out of character for her father.  He loves his family very much
and he is very dependable and honest. The next thing Early knows four masked people have
broken into their house and taken everything they own and threatened her mother, Early and her
little brother.  Now they must go to a homeless shelter and their lives are turned upside down.
Early’s mom cannot find a job, her father is now wanted by the police and someone is still after them.
Early must figure it all out in order to help her family.  

This is a great story shedding light on what it means to be homeless from a child’s point of view. 
Early’s determination to help her family find a home is amazing. I think this book is a great book
for reading groups because there is so much to discuss:  family issues, social issues, bullying,
and standing up for your dreams.  





Book 32
Penny Pitchers Guide to Saving Money Box Set
By:  Kathy Stanton
Genre:  Nonfiction

I purchased this book set because my husband and I are getting ready to live on a fixed
income as we retire.  My family reminds me all the time that I am not going to be able to
buy whatever I want. I think they are really referring to books.  Anyways I picked up this
set of six mini books to read on my Kindle (because that was cheaper) and I only found a
couple helpful tips that I could implement in my life right now.
📚Don’t waste your money on unhealthy foods and snack on healthy choices.
📚For a couple of months, write down everything you purchase and then you can see what
you can eliminate or  rethink.  
📚Go through your emails and unsubscribe to any lists that you do not read.  
📚Try to make all your storage containers clear and the same size.  This will give you a cleaner
look. (I don’t think this will save me any money.)
📚The simpler your home is the easier it is to clean.  Simplify!!
📚Enjoy the small and simple things in life.  

Although I found a couple useful tips, I found the books to be very repetitive and I was disappointed. 
I give the set of books ⭐️⭐️ stars.  



Book 33 
Destination Simple Everyday Rituals For a Slower Life
By:  Brooke Mcalary
Genre: Nonfiction

This was a quick short read with some nice reminders to slow down.   I am interested in developing
morning and evening routines and there is a whole section about this in this little book.   I enjoyed
this book and found several great ideas I want to incorporate into my life now. If you want to read
more about my daily routines stop by my blog. I am sharing them here.   

I want to keep things simple in my life.  I don’t want to fill up my morning and evening routines with
too many steps.  

The first thing I did was look at my existing steps in my Morning Routine and Evening Routines. 
Then I moved things around so it would make sense. I added a few items that I thought would be
a good addition, mainly finding time to reflect and read.  I also wanted to add in time to create a
list of gratitude. However setting time aside is always a challenge.  

Morning Routine
Get up/bathroom/brush teeth & hair/meds
Make Bed & Pick up bedroom
Reflect on Schedule
Morning Stretches
Get dressed & Pack for the gym
Swim classes

Evening
Dinner
Clean Kitchen
What do I need for dinner tomorrow?
8:00 Unplug/Review Calendar & Gratitude
Exercise
Wash Up
Reading 
9:30/10ish lights out




Book 34
A Room of One's Own
By:  Virginia Woolf
Genre:  Nonfiction

Today is International Women's Day and I thought it was the perfect day to post A Room of
One’s Own by Virginia Woolf.   It was on my unread shelf forever and I decided this was the
time to read it. This book had to be eye opening when it was written for women back in 1929.
  Virginia writes “A woman must have money and a room of her own.”
She writes when women have money for themselves they have power to make their own
decisions.   

She also spoke out in her writing about the unfairness she saw around her,  “Lock up your libraries
if you like, but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”  She
was referring to the fact that women were not permitted in all libraries on college campuses. If fact
many women wrote under a man’s name just so their books would be seen as serious pieces of
literature.   

However, most importantly she encouraged women to speak out and be yourself. “No need to hurry. 
No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself,” and “A feminist is any woman who tell the
truth about her life.”

There is so much to learn from the women who came before us. If you are like me and have not read
this book.  I encourage you to do so.  



Book 35
Meet Me in Monaco
By: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Genre:  Romance

Meet Me in Monaco was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for me.  I listened to the audiobook and it
was just beautiful.  I loved hearing the story with a bit of a French accent.  The story about Sophie
creating a special fragrance for Princess Grace on her wedding day and the friendship they form
was enduring.   The love story between Jim and Sophie was heartbreaking. This story had a nice
flow to it and I loved how the author integrated Sophie and Jim’s story around the Prince and Princess’
story.   I thought it was very clever. Thank you @cozyboxread for recommending this book.  



Book 36
The Thief Lord
By:  Cornelia Funke
Genre:  Middle Grade Fiction

For the next week you are going to see a lot of middle grade books from me.  It is one week away
from the final battle and I want to squeeze in as many books as I can.  I know I’m not being quizzed
on the books but I like to know as much as possible as I quiz the children.  

The Thief Lord is a great book about some homeless children in Venice.   Two brothers run away
to Venice after their parents pass away. There they come across a group of homeless kids who
are looked after by the Thief Lord.   The Thief Lord is just a kid himself but he steals things to sell
to get money to buy the kids food and money.   

As the story unfolds the children make friends with a detective and a woman in the community. 
Together they form a friendship and go on a wild adventure that will change their friendship and
lives forever.  




Book 37
Don’t Overthink It
By: Anne Bogel
Genre:  Nonfiction 

Is this book appropriate for what is going on in the world right now??? Yes!!   When you go to the
store and you can not find any toilet paper to buy that is definitely a sign that many people are
overthinking.    You don’t need a lifetime supply just two weeks!!  

I am a big over thinker, however I have made some life decisions in the past year and now I have
to see what happens.  My biggest strategy for moving beyond my own thoughts is prayer. I know
it may sound simplistic but it is similar to Anne’s strategies of scheduling time to write down my
thoughts and then let them go.  For me scheduling time to pray for my family, my decisions and my
health and then just let it go and see what happens has worked for me this year.   

Something that has been reappearing in several of the books that I have read lately is creating a
simple look for myself and eliminating clothes that do not fit that look.   Decluttering my clothes
and keeping only a few key pieces will help me move beyond thinking and fussing about what I
am wearing. Anne writes that by limiting your options you will free up your mind to do other things.  
I want to come up with a signature dish, a signature look and focus on my AM & PM routines and
maybe even a weekly routine so I know what to expect from myself.  

I also liked Anne’s chapter on Small Steps to Simple Abundance, although I need to find small
rewards for myself that do not cost money.  Obviously finding little breaks in the day to read, taking
walks in my garden and neighborhood and enjoying the time with my grandchildren and children are
top on my list.  Riding my bike with my husband is another activity that brings joy to my life that does
not cost money. I need to find more of these simple moments.  

However, the end of the book left the biggest impression on me.  When Anne wrote, “We can create
love and joy, right where we are.”  I loved that Will and Anne stopped to give the homeless person
a granola bar and some money.  I have decided to have several granola bars wrapped with several
dollars on hand in my car for just this purpose as well.  There have been some homeless people at
the intersections by the library and this is a simple thing I can do to help someone else without
overthinking it.  Helping others is a great way to add more joy to your life.  

Thanks @annebogel for another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star book.  I hope you are back on your book tour
soon. I would like to see you in Wisconsin.  





Book 38
Twenty and Ten
By:  Claire Huchet Bishop
Genre:  Middle Grade Historical Fiction

Well I powered through four more stories this past week to prepare myself for the Battle of the
Books and now I don’t if the kids will ever get to compete.  Well I read some amazing books and
had some fun discussions with the kids.  

Twenty and Ten is a short middle grade historical story.   It is about a group of French students
and their teacher. The book is set during WWII when France was occupied by the Germans and
the children and teacher hide 10 Jewish children in the school.  It is a great story about friendship
and courage. 




Book 39
The Big Wave
By:  Pearl S. Buck
Genre:  Middle Grade Fiction

This is a great short story for middle grade readers about two friends living on a mountain in Japan.
  When a nearby volcano erupts and causes a tidewave the fishing village is destroyed. Kino’s family
takes in Jiya after he loses his home and family.  Kino learns a lot of lessons as he watches his friend
deal with the loss of his family and adjust to a new family. This is a great book for students to read and
discuss. I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.  




Book 40
The Book Charmer
By:  Karen Hawkins
Genre:  Fiction/Books about Books
Setting: North Carolina

I first heard of the book The Book Charmer when @_the_bookish_blonde_ reviewed the book last
July. I had it on hold at the library forever.  It was well worth the wait.  

It is a cute story about two women whose lives have been very different.  Grace has had a difficult life,
she was orphaned and moved from several homes.  When her younger sister passes away and leaves
behind a daughter, Grace moves her niece and her adoptive mother (with Azelmehers) to Dove Pond.
  Here she meets Sarah Dove, the town’s librarian, who not only talks to the books but claims the books
talk to her. Sarah believes the books are telling her that Grace will help save their town.  Now Sarah
needs to convince Grace.  

I really enjoyed this book and liked the characters Grace and Sarah.  Their friendship took a while
to develop and once it happened it was fun to read about their adventure together.  




Book 41
Small Steps The Year I Got Polio
By: Peg Kehret
Genre: Middle Grade Nonfiction Biography
Setting: Minnesota 

I didn’t plan on reading this short book but @piecesandcream said it was a good book and I couldn’t
resist reading it.  

This is the true story of Peg Kehret.  She wrote about when she was first diagnosed with Polio at the
age of twelve.  It was sudden and she was taken to the hospital 200 miles away from her family home.
  She was terrified at first because she was isolated from her family. (Isolation is something we are
learning about!)  However, with the encouragement of a doctor, her family and friends that she meets
along the way she is able to walk again.  

This is a wonderful book for children to read that needs to look at the bright side of a grim situation. 
Peg basically had to find the strength within herself to heal. 
Book 42
The Dutch House
By:  Ann Patchett
Genre:  Fiction
Setting:  Pennsylvania 

The Dutch House is our March Book Club pick and we postponed our meeting.  I tried to get the group
to do a conference call, but apparently that was way out there for our group. This social distancing
thing is great for reading but hard for discussing books with friends. 

I really enjoyed this family drama.  I wasn’t expecting it to be from a male’s point of view, but as I switched
to audiobook and listened to Tom Hanks read the story I really enjoyed the book.  I thought T. Hanks did
a nice job narrating and at times you felt like he was really indifferent to what was going on around him.
Then you could really sense the bitterness in his voice towards the end of the story. 

The story itself centers around the Dutch House, which is an old mansion out in the country.  Cyril Conroy
buys the house for his wife and daughter as a surprise. This fancy house moves his family from poverty
to wealth in a blink of an eye.   However, this sends his wife into an emotional tailspin.  

Danny, Cyril’s son, tells the family story beginning with how he and his sister Maeve are thrown out of
the house by their stepmother with no money of their own.   It is their brother and sister bond that holds
them together and gets them through life.  

Even though Danny and Maeve have been successful in their lives, there's something about that
house that draws them back.  Maybe it’s the mystery to why their mother left them. 

In the end I was angry with Danny and Maeve’s mother, I really felt she could have done more to be there
for those two kids.  She did all these kind acts for other people but not her own children. That seemed
off to me. Other than that I enjoyed this story very much and feel it deserves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.   











Book 43
A Single Shard
By:  Linda Sue Park
Genre:  Middle Grade Historical Fiction

This was my last story for Battle of the Books and it was beautiful.  I read this book because the
fourth grade girls said it was one of their favorite books.  So I was interested to find out what they
felt was a good book. These girls were right, this book is amazing. It tells an ancient story of an
orphan boy (Tree-ear) and a homeless man (Crane-man.)  Crane-man raises Tree-ear from an
early age and shares all his wisdom with him. Tree-ear has observed Master potter, Min, from
afar and wants more than anything to become a potter himself. However, Min does not trust
Tree-ear because he is an orphan.  Tree-ear is given many tough tasks and works for Min from
morning to night. However, Min does not see Tree-ear as an apprentice because Tree-ear is not
his son.  

I just love this story.  It is such an amazing story of strength and perseverance and reaching for
your dreams.  I love the relationship between Tree-ear and Crane-man, the respect and love
between these two characters is worthy of discussion.   This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star story and
I highly recommend you read this book.   


Book 44
Pay Attention, Carter Jones
By:  Gary D. Schmidt
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

“Make good decisions and remember who loves you!”  
“We are what we love”

Above are just two great quotes from this book.  I read this book with @lollipopsandlyrics for a
buddyread in March.  It was a great story about a boy who has to deal with his parents separating.
  After his grandfather passed away an English butler, Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick, appeared at the door
of the Jones family.  The butler turns the family’s life upside down however he helps them deal and
work through their emotions during a difficult time.  Thanks Brandi for suggesting this book.   

I think this book will be great to read with kids and discuss peer pressure and dealing with family
issues.  I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.   




Book 45
A Prayer For Owen Meany
By:  John Irving
Genre: Fiction 

I finally finished A Prayer For Owen Meany, it took me forever.   I read this book for a buddyread
with @lollipopsandlyrics and because I have it on my challenge page for thegreatreadpbs.  I
absolutely loved the friendship between John and Owen, how it lasted the test of time. Owen
was such an unusual person but his love for his friend showed through every action he did right
up to the very end.   Not everyone has a friend that has been with him through every important
moment in his life. Owen made his life decisions to make sure he was part of John’s life.   

Dan Needham was another character I liked.  He was steadfast and always offered good advice
to John.  When Owen got in trouble it was Dan who stood up for him and helped him out.   

Although this book is long, it is humorous and interesting.  I really enjoyed reading this book and
I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.   




Book 46
Still Alice
By:  Lisa Genova
Genre:  Fiction

I read Still Alice for two book challenges this month, #unreadshelfproject2020 the book that’s been
on your unread shelf the longest and  #20backlistin2020 challenge. I’ve had it sitting on my shelf
for so long I don’t even remember who recommended the book to me. Honestly I was procrastinating
because this book deals with Alzheimer’s disease.  A disease that hits home for me, both my
grandmother and my mother-in-law suffered from the disease and it is not easy to watch someone
slowly lose all her/his memories. The book Still Alice follows the character, Alice as she begins to
deal with the disease in her early 50’s.  She is a successful Harvard professor and very independent.
The story describes how Alice is feeling and dealing with the disease as well as the daily coping
strategies she sets up for herself and how her family deals with the disease as well. It is a beautiful
story that helps you see into the mind and emotions of someone who may not be able to articulate
all those things because of a disease.  It is a touching ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star story.  



Book 47
The Great Gatsby
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Genre:  Fiction

I read this book for two reading challenges that I am participating in #mmdchallenge (a classic you
didn’t read in school) and #greatreadpbs.   The story is told from Nick’s point of view. Nick gets
involved with his new neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who lives in the fast lane. He has parties every night
and all the wealthy of NYC want to be part of his social circle.  But Jay Gatsby has a secret, he is
in love with Nick’s other neighbor, Daisy Buchanan. She is married to Tom Buchanan, who is quite
the ladies man. The question is does Daisy love Jay or money?

It is a relatively short story but it has a little bit of everything, love, regrets, mystery, secrets and
jealousy.  





Book 48
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street
By:  Helene Hanff
Genre:  Nonfiction/Biography

I read the book 84 Charing Cross Road back in 2018 and @raqreadsbooks suggested I read
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street and so I ordered the book right away and the book has been
sitting on my tbr pile.  I am determined to read my goal of 56 unread books this year. I think I
have read 10 so far.    

Anyways, The Duchess on Bloomsbury Street, is a humorous book.  It continues where 84
Charing Cross Road left off. Helene goes to London on her book tour and meets the wife(Nora)
and daughter (Sheila)  Frank Doel, a person she had been writing to. She also meets a lot of
her fans. The book is a journal of her daily adventures. As per Helene’s writing style it is funny
and quirky.   It’s a great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read if you enjoyed 84 Charing Cross Road.    





Book 49
At the Water’s Edge
By: Sara Gruen
Genre: Historical Fiction

At the Water's Edge is the story of Maddie as she discovers who she is during WWII.  Maddie,
an American from Philadelphia, finds herself in a little village in the Scottish Highlands.  She
has arrived there with her husband, Ellis and his best friend Hank. Maddie, Ellis and Hank come
from money and are used to getting the things they want in a certain way.  But now that they are
in Scotland, to hunt for the Loch Ness monster, life is very different, especially because there is a
war going on.  


The local villagers are not all that excited to have Maddie, Ellis and Hank at the inn.  They see
them as fools and are upset that they are there because food is rationed and resources are limited.
  As Hank and Ellis run off, Maddie is left at the inn. There she forms friendships with the young
women who work there.  As her friendships grow with the young ladies she begins to see the
realities of her marriage and the secrets that her husband is keeping from her.  

I really enjoyed this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star story.  The character Maddie learns so much about herself
and what she is capable of.  I like how she takes control of her life.  









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