2018 Reading Log

                                        

"We all do the very best we can."  P.C. Henry

The Bookshop on Water's End, is the story about Bonny Blankenship as her life falls apart.  She asks her friend Lainey and her daughter Piper to join her as her family's summer home in Waters End, South Carolina.  However the mysteries from the past help Bonny and Lainey work through some of their personal struggles.  This is a wonderful summer book and I will give it ⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.  

This was my favorite book this month.  It's Winter Carnival in Quebec City during Louise Penny's Bury Your Dead novel and Chief Inspector Gamache is on leave after a terrible attack on his fellow officers and himself on their last case.  Gamache stumbles across a murder at the Literacy and Historical Society.  In order to solve the murder he must undercover a 400 year old secret in Quebec's history....AND Gabriel is sending him letters daily stated Olivier didn't do it.  It doesn't make sense. Chief Inspector Gamache is starting to second guess all his decisions. This is a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 star book.    

In the book, How to Find Love in a Bookshop, Emilia is trying to keep her promise to her father, to keep his bookshop going after his death.    Emilia is struggling with bills her father left behind while a property developer is aggressively trying to buy the bookshop from her.  Nightingale Books  seems to be the center of the community and Emilia quickly makes new friends.  Many of her customers rely on her for advice for books and life.  At times there seems to be so many different story lines/characters to keep straight but they all fall into place by the end of the book.  I enjoyed reading this book and would give it ⭐⭐⭐/5 stars. 

Commonwealth begins when Bert Cousins shows up uninvited to Beverly and Fritz Keating house for the baptism party of their daughter Franny in Southern California.  Bert has his eyes set on Beverly and from there the two families are forever changed.  The story is mainly told from Franny's point of view.  She describes her life growing up in a blended family far away from her father.  The novel deals with family relationships as the family goes through different transitions throughout life.  This is a ⭐⭐⭐/5 star book.  

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan is a not your typical bookstore book.  Lydia works at the Bright Ideas Bookstore in Denver and tries her best not to be noticed.  She was involved in an violent crime as a child that she still struggles with emotionally.  So working in the quiet bookstore with the "BookFrogs" and shelving books quietly each day helps her make it through each day.  Until one day when Joey, one of the "Book Frogs" commits suicide in the bookstore leaving lots of questions for Lydia.  Like, why does Joey have one of her childhood birthday pictures in his pocket?  Why does Joey leave her all kinds of books with holes in them?  Lydia is forced to rethink and remember everything she can from her childhood including that violent night.  This story made me feel uneasy at times but I was constantly motivated to read what happens next.  I think this is a ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 star book. 

The Cafe by the Sea, by Jenny Colgan, is a charming story.   Flora has to go back to the island she grew up on to represent a client. Flora comes home to her brothers and father who like Flora and still struggling with the death of their mom.  Once back on the island everyone wants to remind Flora how wonderful the island is, but Flora's heart is with someone else, her boss.  This is a cute and charming story.  A reminder that it is important to be part of the community.  This is a ⭐⭐⭐/5 star book.  

 A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman is a wonderful story about an old man who has lived his life working hard and following the rules.  After the death of his wife he is struggling with the purpose of his life and how to move forward.  Ove's neighbors help him find his way and develop new friendships.  The book is very humorous.    This is a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 star book.   

 Ann Bogel's book, Reading People, is one of those books that you wish you would have read years ago when you first got married and your kids were little. The ability to understand and label certain personality traits can help you put into perspective why someone else is doing something  and that could help you understand your husband or child's way of thinking.  This is a ⭐⭐⭐/5 star book.

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes begins with Jennifer Sterling, in London.  She doesn't remember anything from the car accident she was in.   She doesn't remember who she is, who her husband is, or her friends, or who was in the car with her.  Her husband is acting very nervous and not answering all her questions. She comes upon a love note signed B, however Jennifer does not know who B is.  The first half of the book is about Jennifer's struggle trying to figure out who B is?  The second half of the book is about Ellie, a writer, who comes across the letters in the newspapers' library. She wants to write a story about Jennifer's love story.  While writing the story she begins to make comparisons to her own life.  This was a great love story, I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars. 

I loved the book Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore so much I decided to listen to Ajax Penumbra 1969 on Audible.  It was a cute short story.  In 1969, Ajax Penumbra is sent by the university that he works for to San Fransisco to look for a very old book.  Ajax stumbles upon an 24 hour book store and there he finds the answers to his questions.  He finds a whole new group of friends and a new purpose for his life and never returns to the university.  This is a ⭐⭐⭐/5 star book. 

This month went by fast and I seemed to be struggling to find time to read.  I got a bit carried away with L. Penny stories.  My plan was to read one book a month but I am completing got caught up in the stories.   I just need to find out what is happening with the characters....my biggest question is why and how?  I am not so interested in the murders that take place.  I am more interested in the relationships between the characters.  My favorite book this month was hard to pick again!  But I will have to go with L. Penny's, How the Light Gets In, because I couldn't stop reading this book.  I almost finished it in one day.    

L. Penny did not disappoint in the seventh book in this series, A Trick of the Light.  We find Armand Gamache back in Three Pines solving another murder that occurred in Clare’s garden.  The victim was Clare’s childhood friend.  Lots of twists and turns in this story and a bit of a surprise as Peter and Clare decided to separate for a year.  This is a great ****/5 star story. 

I had to read book number eight right after I finished book seven because they came together on my library holds.  I generally like to space them out a bit but I didn’t have a choice this time.  I was mesmerized in L. Penny’s book, A Beautiful Mystery.  There was so much going on.  There was the murder in the monastery that was hidden deep somewhere in the wilderness of Quebec.  The only people there were the 24 monks who lived in silence except during prayer, they sang beautiful chants.  They lived an isolated life growing their own food, raising their own animals no contact with the outside world.  Then there is the tension between Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir.  The ending left me speechless.  This is one of the best Three Pines stories yet.  It earned *****/5 stars in my mind. 

It is so cold here that I had to take a quick beach break.  So I found Elin Hilderbrand’s, The Identicals, on my bookshelf. The story takes place on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.   Harper and her twin sister Tabitha haven’t spoken for more than a decade.  They each live on different islands.  After their father passes away Harper reaches out to her sister and her mother to let them know.  After the funeral, their mother falls, and Tabitha needs Harper’s help to watch her daughter.  They change islands and life begins to change for each of them.   This book is a light and fun read, ***/5 stars. 

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is a spiritual book I purchased years ago that just sat on my bookshelf.  I started reading it back in January and read a section a day whenever possible.  It has A LOT of information in it.  I still need more time to absorb everything I read.   However I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.  I need to spend some time rereading sections and journaling about it.  However, that will be perfect for the rest of Lent.  This is a *****/5 star book.  A must read for all Christians. 

 

I couldn’t wait for next month to read book 9 in the Three Pines series so I jumped ahead to, How The Light Gets In.  I was just left with this sad feeling in my stomach for Chief Inspector Gamache.  I just had to read the next book.  WOW!!!!!!  It was even better than the last couple of books, which I thought were amazing. Again there are two different story lines going on in the story:  1.  Myrna Landers, from Three Pines, sends Armand Gamache a message; her friend did not arrive for Christmas and she is worried.  Her friend turns out to be a famous person in Quebec.  2.  Chief Inspector Gamache is dealing with his Homicide Department being dismantled and the continue assaults on his character.   He is getting closer to finding out who leaked the video and corruption with in the Surete of Quebec.  

This book was just awesome.  I just could not stop.  I finished the whole book in a day and a half.  I just had to know more details.  I don’t want to seem like I am over-rating these books but I love them!  *****/5 stars AGAIN!!!!

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, is an absolutely adorable story.  It has everything loss, love, mystery, personal struggle, friendships, and standing up for yourself.  It’s hard enough to be in high school but Jessie has to start all over in a new school her junior year two years after her mother passed away because her dad decides to remarry.  Jessie has to move from her home of Chicago to California where she knows nobody. She now lives in the home of her dad’s new wife and her son. Jessie is now the new girl and it’s not easy to make new friends when you are different.  Jessie ends up making a friend online, Somebody Nobody, who helps her navigate her way through her new school.  ****/5 stars

I know a fourth L. Penny book is obsessive, but honestly when a library hold comes available you have to read it or go back to the end of the line.   So when I receivedThe Long Way Home, it was back to Three Pines for me. The story begins as Armand Gamache, former Chief Inspector of Homicide with the Surete du Quebec, as he settles down in his retirement with his wife in Three Pines.  Gamache is enjoying the peace and routine he is establishing in the town.  However, Clara is troubled, her husband Peter did not return on the anniversary of their year separation as promised.  Together Armand and Jean-Guy reunite to help Clara track down Peter and they all go on an adventure to search for Peter.   The story focuses a lot on the relationships between the friends and their healing from previous events.  As they put the pieces together they begin to understand themselves and their friends.  L. Penny will not disappoint you, she saves a few surprises for the heart-breaking end.  This is another ****/5 star book. 

In The Library at the Edge of the World, by Felicity Hayes-McCoy, Hanna Casey has moved back to the small Irish town she grew up in with her daughter after she found out that her husband was having an affair.  She is now the local librarian and drives the book mobile around the Irish countryside to the little villages.  When the town councils wants to close Hanna’s library she must rally the town and help the community pull together to stand up to be heard and fight for what is important to them.  This is a wonderful story about a creating new friendships and a community working together to make a difference to help one another.  I am giving this book ***/5 stars. 

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, took me forever to read.  I almost gave up reading at the beginning of the book because it just seem like a lot of rambling,  However Cheryl convinced me  to hang in there and keep reading.  The second half of the book was wonderful.   Jane Eyre follows the emotions and experiences of a young girl into adulthood who is living in England.  Jane’s parents die when she is very young and she is sent to live with her uncle’s family.  Once her uncle passes away her Aunt is very cruel to her. She is sent away to an all girl school.  The school is like an orphanage for unwanted girls.  It is very strict and religious.  At sixteen she becomes a governess and falls in love with the master of the house Mr. Rochester. 

#mmdreadingchallenge2018

#unreadshelfproject2018.

 84 Charring Cross Road by Helene Hanff, is a wonderful story about a writer in New York City and the employees at an used-book shop in London, England. 

It is the actual correspondence between author Helene Hanff and the booksellers.  Even though they never meet in person, they develop a friendship based on their love for books.  It is a charming story that shows the love and kindness that readers share everywhere.  It is an adorable ****/5 star book. 

#unreadshelfproject2018  #mmdreadingchallenge2018

One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul is a look into a young girl’s life who struggles as she grows up with her Indian immigrant parents in Canada.  She is exposed to stereotypes, and sexism and other cruelties of society.     This was one of my challenge books for Modern Mrs. Darcy, to read a book about another culture.  This was definitely outside my little box but it was interesting.  I think it is ***/5 stars. 

#mmdreadingchallenge2018

It’s out of control, my love for this series.  I have two more books left before I will be forced to wait for the new book to come out.  The Nature of the Beast was a bit different from the other books.  Armand is trying to enjoy retirement but a little boy is murdered in Three Pines and the former Chief Inspector’s team comes to town to help him solve the murder.  There are spies, terrorism and even a serial killer in this book.  I give this book ****/5 stars. #unreadshelfproject2018

Maisie Dobbs  by Jacqueline Winspear was a recommended by topshelftext on Instagram.  Maisie starts working for Lady Rowan Compton at the age of 13 as a servant.  The story begins in 1910 in England before WW1.   Lady Compton realizes that Maisie is extremely intelligent.  She sets her up with a tutor, Maurice Blanche.  Maisie studies with Maurice however is called to serve as a nurse during WW1 where she falls in love with Simon.  When Maisie returns after WW1 she becomes an appetence of Maurice and then eventually Maisie starts her own business as an investigator after he retires.  As she investigates a place called The Retreat, where WWI veterans go to get away from society, she discovers the veterans  have to sign away all their money.  An nobody ever seems to leave that place alive.    I give this book  ****/5 stars. 

In the morning I like to read books that I think will somehow improve my life.  I found this book on instagram and I am not going to lie, I am a sucker for simplicity books and throw in the pink flowers and of course I had to get the book, Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver.  My goal this year is to get rid of stuff my husband and I don’t use.  I really liked the short chapters; it made it easy to read one or two chapters a morning. 

Quick Take Aways:

·      I do things I don’t want to so I can be healthy.

·      Make a list of ten things you don’t want to do that you know will help you. Then choose one thing from your list and put it into action immediately.

·      What changes do I HAVE to make to be healthy NOW and in the future?

·      Create your own project 333!  33 clothes items for 3 months. 

·      Create a daily routine that contributes to your long-term health and goals.

#unreadshelf2018

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is a middle grade book that has a lot of today’s social issues packed into a heart-warming story.  Red is a neighborhood tree that is home to many animal families and a silent observer of the people in the neighborhood.  People have brought their wishes to the tree each year for over 200 years.   Over the years the tree has witness many new families in the neighborhood, some families were welcomed and others were not.  The book deals with friendship, hatred, stereotypes, and building a community of understanding.  I thought it was a ***/5 star book.

#middlegrademarch   #middlegradebooks

The Vanderbeekers of 141^st Street by Karina Yan Glaser is my second middle grade book for Middle grade March.  The Vanderbeekers are a biracial family that lives in Harlem, New York in a brownstone.  The family is part of the community. They know almost everyone in the neighborhood by name.  The just before Christmas their landlord decides not to renew their lease.  What will they do? They have lived here forever and they don’t want to move.  They have 11 days to win over their landlord and change his mind.  I  like this book for kids for several reasons:  1.  It shows a positive family unit.  2.  It shows siblings with differences still working together.  3.  It shows the kids getting involved with their neighbors. I give this book ***/5 stars. 

#middlegrademarch   #middlegradebooks

Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors is the second book Katie wrote about her life’s journey in Uganda.  (The first book is Kisses for Katie.)  I received this book as a Christmas gift from Monica. 

Katie is an extraordinary young woman who moved to Uganda to follow her life mission to help others.  She has adopted 13 young girls and started the Amazima Ministries.    Daring to Hope recounts Katie’s struggle with her faith as she helps terminal friends.  

It is amazing to me how someone with fourteen children can find more time and energy to help others with more children.  Katie writes about people she takes into her home that are homeless and out casted by their own families because of their illness.  She writes about her struggles, as her prayers for life for her new friends are not always answered.  She has to go through theses struggles to learn through God. 

#mmdreadingchallenge2018

This is my current read for Day 1 of Anne Bogel’s #12daysofBookstagram.  I love this book.  First I love the cover it is the most beautiful book cover.  Second I love the references to gardening and reading about her imperfect attempts is giving me the courage to try to garden again.  Third I am inspired by Lara Casey's faith and trust in the Lord.  She is so down to earth with her approach to praying.  I will be looking into more of her books and products. 

#unreadshelfproject2018 

Day 2 of #12daysofbookstagram, book stack.  This is my little collection of Pride & Prejudice books.

 

Day 3 Favorite Reading Spot #12daysofbookstagram   I don’t have a favorite reading spot.  I pretty much read everywhere, on the sofa, in my rocking chair, in the car, in the bed and on the front porch.  But my favorite reading takes place with my little grandchildren.  I feel very strongly about reading and I hope to pass down my love for reading to them.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman, was a cute story about a bond between a granddaughter and her grammie.    Elsa adores her grandmother.  Her grandmother is crazy but is always there for her.  Grammie tells her crazy stories and makes her feel better after a bad day at school.  However Grammie passes away, and leaves behind a huge adventure and mystery for Elsa to solve.  As Elsa begins to deliver Grandma’s letters she also learns more about Grandma’s life before Elsa, some good and some bad.  Elsa meets all the people living in their building and sees them in a new light and becomes friends with them. 

I loved this quote about a grandmother (Day 4 #12daysof bookstagram  favorite quote.)  What a perfect description of what a grandmother does.  Someone who is always there for their grandchild no matter what. 

#unreadshelfproject2018

I picked up Sourdough by Robin Sloan because I absolutely loved his other book, Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore.   I found, Sourdough, to be an interesting story about Lois Clary who works as a software engineer in San Francisco at a robotics company. She doesn’t like to cook so she orders take  out food everyday from the two brothers who run a tiny take-out restaurant. Then the restaurant closes because the brothers have visa issues but they leave Lois the bread starter behind. She must keep the starter alive; she must feed it daily, play special music, and learn to bake it.

Lois begins to bake the bread and begins to experiment with the starter until she develops delicious bread.  She is able to sell the bread and eventually makes it into a special food market where she makes the bread with a robotic arm.  She gets caught up in the world of food and the history of the starter.  It is a great story ****/5.  

Day 5 More than books  #12daysofbookstagram

In Louise Penny’s 12^th novel, A Great Reckoning, Armand Gamache begins a new challenge as Commander at theSûreté Academy.  He has high expectations to retrain the cadets to be a kinder and thoughtful force.  As always Gamache tries to make the transition smooth, however when the old commander turns up murdered events change quickly. 

Not only is Gamache a suspect for the murder but  so are all the cadets.  There are so many questions that lead to Gamache:  Why is the map important?  Who is Amelia, one of the cadets, to Gamache?  Why are there so many fingerprints on the weapon including Gamache’s?

This story ties up so many story lines that have continued from previous books:  Gamache’s relationship with Michel Brebeuf, The history behind Three Pines and finally the depth of Gamache’s kindness and forgiveness. 

This is a *****/5 star book. 

#threepines

#unreadshelfproject2018

Day 6 Flat Lay #12daysof bookstagram

I was so excited to read By the Book, Julia Sonneborn.   To be honest I picked this book based on the cover.  What’s not to love, a red door, a pile of books, and a bike?  This cover was designed to entice me to buy it.   Anne is an English professor at Fairfax College in California.  She must write and sign a book deal in order to unsure that she will get tenure. If that is not enough pressure she discovers her ex-fiancé has just become the president of her college and her father is ill.  As the school year continues Anne pines over Adam and the life they had planned. 

It’s funny that Jane Austen’s classic; Persuasion is her favorite book because this book is a modern retelling of Austen’s book.  It’s a cute ***/5 star story. 

 Day 7 on my nightstand #12days of bookstagram

This is book two in Sherry Thomas’s Lady Sherlock series, A Conspiracy in Belgravia.  It is a complex mystery about Charlotte Holmes. 
 
Lady Ingram, wife of Charlotte’s friend, wants Sherlock Holmes (Charlotte) to find her first love, Charlotte has a hard time with this case because the missing man is, Myron Finch, her illegitimate half brother.  As Charlotte unravels new information she needs to figure out if her friend knows about his wife’s betrayal.   This mystery is a ****/5 story. 

Day 8 Book and Beverage  #12daysofbookstagram

Today I took my little sweetheart to the library, we read books about trains, trucks and orange clownfish.  We picked up two flyers:  The Summer Programs and Reading 1,000 books before kindergarten.  Day 9 library  #12daysofbookstagram

This is what I have on my May TBR list right now.  I will add more after I meet with my new summer reading group of kids.  Day 10  Books you want to read #12daysofbookstagram

Day 11 Bibliophile Life  #12daysofbookstagram

This is a peek inside my book journal.  I am doing things a bit different this year to save time.  When I type up my reviews and take my photos I condense the size so I can get several review on the journal page.  I also try to indicate what book challenges I am participated in by reading that book.  This saves me a lot of extra work of handwriting each entry.  The book Still Me by Jojo Moyoes is a fun light read.  I enjoyed this book more than the second book.  I liked that Louisa was able to develop her own voice and do some good for others.  I give this book ***/5 stars.   

   

 Day 12  Shelfie #12daysofbookstagram

This is my office/craft room.  I have changed it a lot over the years.  I used to do more crafts and school work in here.  However I needed a place for the books I enjoyed.  This is one of my favorite rooms in the house. 

I listened to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fineby Gail Honeyman on Overdrive and enjoyed it a lot.  I loved Eleanor’s social awkwardness.  As she navigates social media and social events all to meet a man, she finds the perfect friend for her is right in front of her at work.    There are many complex layers to Eleanor’s life and she still has a lot to work through but her new friend Raymond helps her see she has someone looking out for her.   I would give this book a ****/5 star rating.   I laughed and really felt for Eleanor’s tough life. 

#mmdchallenge2018 

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, is a book about the friendship of two girls from a poor neighborhood in Italy in 1950.  Lila and Elena begin their friendship in primary school and compete for grades, friends, and the teacher’s attention.  As they grow older the continue to compete for acceptance, attention and continual friendship.  I give this book ***/5 stars.  

#mmdchallenge2018

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes is an amazing story about standing up for others.  This book won the Newberry Award in 1944.  It’s an old story, but still relevant today.  Wanda is picked on at school because she has a Polish name, wears the same dress every day and comes from a poor neighborhood.  Peggy and Maddie pick on Wanda  each day because Wanda says she has 100 dresses in her closet.   Maddie feels bad about how she treats Wanda but doesn’t do anything about it.    This is a wonderful story for all children to read and discuss. #middlegrades  #battleofthebooks2018  

May has been an extremely busy month for me.  I didn’t have time to take book photos for Bookstagram so I am just posting the regular book covers this month.  I also didn’t meet my goal of reading five middle grade books for Battle of the Books.   So I may have to do some extra credit reading in June.   HAHA, my June calendar is just as busy as my May Calendar. 

I was so excited to read Shipwreck At The Bottom of The World by Jennifer Armstrong.  I have a fascination about Antarctica.  I LOVE penguins.  I guess I should have thought about the title a bit more before I jumped into it.   SHIPWRECK means you are going to read about extreme living.  These men went on an expedition to be the first team to cross Antarctica in 1914.    Needless to say things did not go as planned, the men of this ship survived ONE year in Antarctica on their own.  They had to be very resourceful and depend on one another in order to survive.  However one day they had to kill 600 penguins for meat and fat.  It was a necessity for them but I was horrified.   

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is a wonderful story about a young girl who is sent to Manifest for the summer by her father to live with one of his friends   Abilene finds a old cigar box hidden in the floor boards of her new room it full of someone’ old letters that hint that there is a spy known as the Rattler in Manifest. Abilene and her new friends Lettie and Ruthanne decided to figure out who the spy is.

As Abilene learns the secrets of Manifest she wonders how her father fits in the town.   

What could be wrong with a book entitled, Paris for One by Jojo Moyes.   Paris and Jojo Moyes, this book combination has two great things going for it.  But don’t be fooled there is some small print, and other stories.  I enjoyed the first story about Nell and her first trip to Paris.   It is a wonderful little love story.   I did not care for the “other stories.”  I give this book ***/5 stars.  

 It was time for a classic and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was next on my list.  First of all I just bought this book with the beautiful cover for under $100 bucks.  I had to wait a long time for the price to come down.   Second it was a PBS series this month.   The story is about four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March who are very close to each other. The story follows the sisters as they develop from young girls into adulthood. The story begins during the American civil war, and their father is away at war.  The girls and their mother must endure great hardships, often times going hungry. Despite the daily challenges the girls must also overcome their personal flaws.  For Meg it is vanity; Jo, temper; Beth, shyness; and Amy, selfishness.  Throughout the story Alcott writes many trials for the girls to overcome their flaws and turn into beautiful, caring young women.  This classic book is a *****/5 star book.  I think my favorite character is Jo, because she tries so hard to be there for her entire family.  She is not perfect but she continues to strive to do better. 

I’ve had A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L’Engle on my TBR list for a long time.  I was really excited when I had a moment to read it.  I was thinking I really need a relaxing book right now that will help me focus my priorities.  This was not that kind of book.  The book was all about Madeline’s life and ups and downs as she submitted and received rejection letters fromA Wrinkle In Time.  I was so disappointed.  She just rambled on about her this that in her life.   I would give this book **/5 stars. 

Believe it or not I was on the waiting list for A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle for several months and I finally got it at the same time I was reading A Circle of Quiet.  I was looking forward to this book because I had read so many good reviews about it on Bookstagram and it just came out as a movie as well, so a lot of hype around this story.  A Wrinkle in Time won the Newberry Medal in 1963.  This unique book is about  Meg, her younger brother Charles Wallace and Calvin O’Keefe who travel in time and space to find Meg’s father.   He is a scientist working for the government and he disappeared while working on a secret project.   It is up to the kids with the help of some unlikely characters to save him and bring them all home.  To be honest this was not my genre, to much fantasy with some sci-fi mixed in   I would give this book ***/5 stars. 

#Newberry Winner  #middlegrades

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles was a great book.  I listened to the audio version and I am glad I did because there was no way I could pronounce the Russian names correctly.  In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin for writing a poem. Rostov is moved from his suite in the hotel to an attic room.  He accepts his fate with dignity and continues each day with purpose.  He makes friends with everyone in the hotel.  He goes out of his way to be polite and kind, even to a little girl named Nina.  Years later Nina returns and asks Rostov to watch her daughter, Sophia, for a few weeks while she finds her husband.  What I like the most about this book is how Rostov finds ways to be useful to everyone in the hotel.  He learns how to sew, he helps with the wine list, he becomes a waiter.  He engages in conversation with everyone.  He is definitely a role model of someone who makes the most of the hand he is dealt.  I 

The last book I read this month was Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch.  This book was absolutely adorable.  It makes me want to run out and book tickets to Italy now.  The story is about a young girl Lina, whose mother passes away and wants her to go live with Howard in Italy.  Lina has never met Howard and she assumes he is her father, whom she has never met.   Upon arriving in Italy she receives her mother’s diary and suddenly has Lina’s discovering Italy through her mom’s eyes.   She seeks out art, and a hidden bakery that her mom went to.  She meets a cute Italian boy named Ren, who helps her on her adventure.  . After reading this book I went out and purchased different flavors of Gelato for the first time.  It is delicious.   I think Mango is my favorite.  I would give this book ****/5 stars. 

June has been a super busy month, lots of babysitting.  I love spending time with our little grandchildren.  I didn't get done the reading I wanted too.  I only was able to read one middle grade book.  So next month I will try to read my middle grade books first.  

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich was the first book and only book I read this month for the Battle of the Books.  Wow! It was a good historical fiction book about a little girl named Omakayas who lives with her family on an Island of  the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker, somewhere near Lake Superior. Her family tries its best to live as it has always lived before the “white” people came.  They build a birchbark house in the summer and during the fall they go to the ricing camp for a big harvest and feast. During the winter months they move to a cedar log home at the Maple Sugar camps.  Omakayas has a typical Native American childhood, she fights with her brother, she adores the new baby and she tries to be like her big sister. However as she is growing she is learning about her calling, however one day a stranger comes to camp and changes everything for Omakayas’ family.  #middlegrades #battleofthebooks2018

A House Without Window by Nadia Hashimi was a powerful story.  I picked this story as one of my Modern Mrs Darcy Challenge books (a book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own) Wow did I learn a lot about another culture.   The main character, Zeba has been a loving, devoted, and more than patient wife and mother.  However her life is suddenly changed one day when her husband, Kamai, is found murdered in their courtyard.  Zeba is in shock and unable to speak about her whereabouts during the day. Zeba is arrested for the crime and put in a jail for women.

As Zeba waits to see the judge, she meets lots of women who are in jail as well.  I was surprised at the reasons for some of the women’s incarcerations. . We also learn more about Zeba and her life in her community and her family.  Zeba’s lawyer is Yusuf, an Afghan-born, American-raised young man. He is commitment to helping his homeland develop into a country with fair laws. This book has many unexpected twists and turns and a really good opportunity to see into the world the Afghan women live.  This is a *****/5 star book. I will put this on my tentative list for top ten books of the year. #MMDbookchallenge2018

Perfectly Yourself by Matthew Kelly  These are my highlighted notes from the book.  I hope to go back to them and reflect on the questions in my journal.   What is the one thing about yourself that would most radically improve your life if you changed it?  Lesson One:  Celebrate Your Progress  Lesson Two:  Just Do the Right Thing Lesson Three:  Put Character First  Lesson Four:  Find What You Love and Do It   Lesson Five:  Live What You Believe   Lesson Six:  Be Disciplined   Lesson Seven:  Simplify    Lesson Eight:  Focus on What You are Here to Give   Lesson Nine:  Patiently Seek the Good in Everyone and Everyone and Everything   #unreadshelfproject2018

Beartown by Fredrik Backman is about  a tiny hockey community.  The actual community is slowly falling apart but the hockey team holds it together.   Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of the town rest on the teenage boys.  The boys are treated the superstars in the community. They feel they can do no wrong, especially the star of the team, Kevin. After the semi-final win there is a big party for the team and Kevin commits a violent act that will forever leave a young girl, the president of the hockey team’s daughter, scarred.  Now sides and alliances are made and friendships are torn apart. Who will be honest and stand up for what is right? This story is a *****/5 star book.

I read The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, because it was highly recommended by other readers on Instagram and by Modern Mrs. Darcy.  She had it on her list of 25 Classic Books Women Should Read. I found the book to be very depressing and I often lost interest in the story.  I guess this book was not for me. #classicbooks

As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner is a beautiful story about a family that moves to Philadelphia in 1918.  This was my first book of the month club pick for my birthday gift from Andrew and Caitlin.  It has been sitting on my tbr pile since January. I finally got around to it and it was a wonderful story.  This couple and their young girls move to the city in hopes of a better life. They do have a good life but it was not what they were expecting.  One of the girls breaks out with the Spanish Flu while Pauline’s husband is away at training for the war. Pauline (the mother) does so much to help out her girls, the uncle and the neighboring families, she forgets about herself.  While visiting a sick family, one of the girls finds an orphaned baby boy. As the Bright family loses a member of their family they hold on to the baby and raise him as their own. This is an amazing story of sacrificing for others.  This is high on my tentative list for top ten stories of the year. *****/5 stars #unreadshelfproject2018

This is my Paris book of the month, Letters from Paris, by Juliet Blackwell.  This is the story of Claire, who honors her grandmother’s wish to go to Paris and discover the secret of the artwork, “L’Inconnue”—or The Unknown Woman, that Claire has always admired in the attic.  She finds a letter in the box and Claire is determined to find out the secret. She goes to Paris where she stumbles upon a job at an art shop as an translator. Of course she falls in love the the sculptor at the shop and together they piece together the secret.  The is a fun little romance book that I give ***/5 stars to. #unreadshelfproject2018

Alright, I’ll be honest, I purchased this book based on the adorable cover and because it said book club in the title.  Lucy’s Little Village Book Club, by Emma Davis, turned out to be a charming little romance story.  Lucy works at the library in a little English village called, Tilley Morton.  Lucy begins a book club and meets some new people. She really wants to help them, especially Callum.  The story is about the how the members of the book club overcome their obstacles in their life with the help of their new friends.  I give this book ***/5 stars. It is a delightful read.

I am trying to find a new mystery series to read because I am almost done with the Three Pines series.  I believe it was @theloudlibrarylady who suggested Joanne Fluke books so I tried the first one, The Chocolate Chip Murder.  It is about a young girl named Hannah who runs, The Cookie Jar, in the town of Lake Eden.  When there are two murders in the town Hannah gets involved with her brother-in-law (a police officer) and her sister (a real-estate agent) to solve the crimes.   As Hannah goes to talk to potential suspects she always takes cookies. The author includes the recipes in the story. There is some humor in the book as Hannah’s mom is always trying to redo Hannah’s image and set her up with the men in town.  I give this story ***/stars.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

July Reading Log 2018

Wow what an amazing month for reading!!!!! I read some really good books that will definitely be in my top ten of the year. What I am most proud of is that I finally accomplished my goal of reading five middle grade books this month for Battle of the Books. Now on to August....Happy Reading!

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry is a book that I read for Battle of the Books.  
I’m not a fan of horse books, but this book has a little history to it as well.  The book is about two children
Paul and Maureen Beebe who plan to own a pony of their own.  And not just any pony, they want the Phantom,
the wildest mare on Assateague Island. Paul plans on buying her after he captures her at the round up.  

On Pony Penning Day Paul surprised the town by bringing home the Phantom and her newborn colt.  
Paul and Maureen need to figure out how to buy them both. But before they get a chance to bid,
someone has already bought the Phantom and the colt.  But fate has other plans and all works out for Paul
and Maureen.

#middlegrades  #battleofthebooks2018   #newberryhonorbook

Reading the Fountain by Katie Klise is another book for the Battle of the Books.  
To me it was somewhat strange and humorous.
The whole story was written in letter form between students, teacher, principal, artist, and
school board president.  Add a bit of a mystery and it is somewhat interesting.
The middle school needs a new drinking fountain. The character Florence has a very different idea in mind
when you say fountain.  #battleofthebooks2018 #middlegradebooks

The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett, is my final book for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge.
(a classic you’ve been meaning to read)  I’ve always wanted a garden that was fancy with little benches to sit in.
The story of Mary and Colin who are left on their own and revive a deserted garden as they form a
wonderful friendship.  I know there are some stereotypes in the book but the story is amazing.

#unreadshelfproject2018   #mmdreadingchallenge2018 #readingtheclassics

My dream secret garden.  

Image from:  The Cottage Marke

I used to love watching Veronica Mars with my daughter on TV each week.  
I have a fondness of fun mysteries that don’t get to gory or creepy.
So when I saw this book at the bookstore last year I had to pick it up.  
Veronica Mars The Thousand Dollar Tan Line was just that.  A fun mystery to read.  
It had several twists and turns in the story to keep it interesting.  I will definitely look for the second book.
I give this book ***/5 stars.  #unreadshelfproject2018

Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff is my third book for the Battle of the Books this month.   
This is a wonderful historical fiction story about a young girl living in the US during with WWII.  
The story deals with how the war affects Lily and her Grandmother, her best friend Margaret,
and her neighbors the Orbans and their nephew, Albert.  It tackles wartime through
the emotions of a ten year old. This is a wonderful, thoughtful book. #battleofthebooks2018

Hooray for me!  I read four middle grade books so far this month.  
My goal is five and the last three months I only read one.   
So I am happy to get over that hump. Enough about me, The One and Only Ivan is an adorable book
for all ages.  It is based on a true story but you will figure out real quick it is fiction when the animals start talking.  
What a great story about friendship and courage. It has a lot of humor as well.

#battleofthebooks2018    #middlegrades

Make It Happen by Lara Casey was my quiet meditation book this month.    I have read her other book
Cultivate this year and was so inspired by it I had to get this one as well.  This book speaks to my desire
to live my life on purpose instead of autopilot.  Which I feel I have been doing the last thirty years don’t
get me wrong I have a wonderful life however my husband and I have always operating on what do we
need to get done to get through this week.  The weekends are generally go something like this family stuff
and then what do we need to do to prepare for another busy week. Although I have step back in life and
started working part-time many thanks to my husband for that.  Unfortunately he is still working a lot of hours.
These are my highlighted quotes that I wish to get back to and spend more time journaling and reflecting on.

What are you really chasing?

I needed a heart change.  What would your life look like if you had balance and success in it?  I
f you want change, choose it.  Step into the hard stuff in order to get to the good stuff.
 “Please, God, show me the way.”  Am I waiting to make change because I fear failure or hard work?  
Lean in, be honest, and know God is God.  He will guide you through this. What would happen
if you were capable of doing the very thing you think you cannot do?  
How would you be able to thrive--and help others? List the possibilities.
Our failures are gifts, allowing us to learn, grow, redirect, and take new -- and potentially better--paths.  
Life doesn’t have to be perfect for you to take a leap of faith. Work Hard for What Matters!

My Life + God’s Way = Living On Purpose

• God’s way is the way of purpose.  Of living intentional in order to love others.
• God’s way is the way of rest coupled with meaningful work.
• God’s way is the way of true balance and lasting success.  
• God’s way means less of us and more of Him.  
• God’s way brings freedom, joy, and contentment.  

Commit to not working on Sunday  A life of purpose created boundaries.  
Boundaries help you raise the bar. Set office hours, this will change your life.  
The fruit of following him: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”

He makes our lives into gardens that our meant to be shared --inspiring others,
nourishing them, and equipping them to live on purpose too.  

Create a Life of Purpose!!  Make Intentional decisions!

1. Evaluate your life.
2. Clear the clutter.

• No Social Media on Sundays
• Clear the clutter on your computer
• Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe
• Turn off all alerts and give family members a special ringtone.  
• Simplify and question everything
• Fast from buying clothes, home decor, and other things you do not need -- school stuff!

3. Set purposeful goals.  

• Every hour of your life holds the possibility to change someone’s for the better.  
• What long-term goals will help me live a life on purpose.?
• What short term goals would help me live a life on purpose?

4. Take Action.

• Keep your daily lists small, realistic and actionable
• How we spend our time is how we live our lives
• Commit and follow through and complete each task

5. Encourage others..

• Be A Blessings for Others

Have clear boundaries, but make sure they are purposeful, allowing for relationships to grow.  
Sometimes the most lasting things in our lives are those that grow slowly over time,
with great care and patience.  If you want to live on purpose you will make time and it does
not cost any money!

I have been hiding in the air conditioning as much as possible now that it is fixed.
 I read the book, Young Jane Young, and I thought it was somewhat funny.  
I could relate to the mother/daughter relationship.  I could see my own daughter rolling her eyes at me as I talk.  
I cannot imagine not talking to my daughter for years. It’s hard to go a week without hearing from her.
 This book is fun and easy to read. The characters are interesting and the story is told from different perspectives.  
I give the book ****/5 stars. #bookstagram #booklove #ilovereading #instabooks #mothersanddaughters

Hooray! I met my goal of reading five battle of the books this month.  
This book was a great look into a child’s life of someone who has to deal with being different at
school and struggles with not understanding why her mother is not there to raise her.
 I love throughout the book as Naomi becomes aware of the significance of the others around her
and the meaning of some of the customs from the town where she was born.
(The flowers in this picture are from by garden.)  #battleofthebooks2018 #middlegradebooks

Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel was by Paris book for the month.  The book was a typical Danielle Steel book,
no surprises, just a cute love story in France.  I give this book ***/5 stars.

I know I am a little late reading This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel, but I am so glad that I did.  This is a ***** star book without a doubt.
As a mother of three boys this book left me thinking how would I handle the situation
if it were presented to me.  How open would I be to my young child wanted to be something
different that he already is. The parents in this book seemed so calm and thoughtful and enlightened.
 I don’t know if I/we would have handled it in such a reasonable way.
The book leaves you with some thinking points even days after finishing it.

I’ve read some good reviews about this book so I thought I would give it a try.  I was expecting a light fun romance like most of Jojo Moyes books. This one had a bit more of a historical vibe going on.  It was really good with some predictable outcomes. I will give this book ***/5 stars.

August 2018 Reading Log

       

In August, Augie and I started going to Baby and Me time at our local library.  
The time is real close to his morning nap time but he hangs in there.  
His favorite part of the program is the peek-a-boo scarves.
He loves playing with the colorful scarves.  We can only go once a month in the
Fall because of my work schedule but we love it.

A Simplified Life by Emily Ley, was my bedtime read this month.  I love reading something relaxing in the evening that I can easily step away from.  I also love to read something that can add a little bit to my life as well.

Quotes I want to remember from the book:  

• “I want a life that is rich, sweet, and uncomplicated.  I don’t want to be weighed down by day-to-day responsibilities."  
• "I want to be able to enjoy Saturdays, making memories with my family instead of folding mountains of laundry. "
•  I want dinner to be a calm time to reconnect and enjoy good food with the people I love…...I want to be able to sit with my kids or with a friend and wholeheartedly listen…...I want to be able to enjoy this beautiful life, not be constantly overwhelmed by it.”  
•   “Our home held only absolute necessities and cherished treasures.”
•  “Give yourself the time and grace to go little by little.”  
• "Finding ways to serve your spouse, giving without expectation of return, exemplify a strong union to your children, speak softly, demonstrate healthy love to your children, make your marriage a priority Date Nights, show affection."
•  “Crafting intentional, shared family memories and spending individual, quality time with each child.   #unreadshelfproject2018

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is one of those books that catches you out of nowhere.  
It is so captivating it is hard to put down. There is a typical rich family,
The Richersons, who rent a home to the poorer family, Mia and Pearl Warren.  
While Pearl is captivated with the rich lifestyle of the Richerson’s and the steadiness of the family.
The Richersons are captivated with Mia’s cooking and photography.
The lives and beliefs overlap and influence one another and their decisions.  
At the end of the story I still wanted to know more…..I give this book ****/5 stars. #unreadshelfproject2018

My Endless Summer is part 2 to the A Cafe by the Sea both by Jenny Colgan.  
It was a nice way to finish up my summer break now that school is back in session.  
The book is about Flora and Noel’s struggle with a long distance romance. It is a cute little book.
 I give it ***/5 stars.

I just finished Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery and tobe honest I don’t think I am reading the books in order so I am getting a bit confused on the timeline of things.  
However I find the stories of Polly and her pet puffin cute and whimsical. I give this book ***/5 stars.

I have to be honest, I had a hard time with this book, A Barrel of Laughs A Vale of Tears.  
It’s target audience is 4th and 5th graders and the humor is for them.  
I know kids will find this book hilarious but I wasn’t in that place this weekend.  
It was just to bizarre for me. #battleofthebooks2018

Well I’m all caught up with the L. Penny books.  I just finished Glass Houses and once again this is a wonderful mystery series.  Once again there is a mystery brewing in Three Pines, there is a mysterious figure standing in the center park area of Three Pines, all day long, the figure does not move it just stands there looking ahead.  The Three Pines community in creeped out by this figure standing there and wants Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, to arrest him or something just get him out of the area.  However Superintendent Gamache does not have a reason or a cause to arrest the dark figure. Just because he is creepy is not a crime. Then one night the figure disappears and a young girl is dead in the basement of the town’s church and Mrs. Gamache find her.  Some months later in July, the trial has begun and it seems like Chief Superintendent Gamache is on trial but is it all a set up to catch the real murder. #unreadshelfproject2018

Big Little Lies has been out for a while but I finally got around to reading it.  
It was a fun book about murder/friendship/ and acceptance.
I just loved how the characters bonded together and how their lives overlapped.  
It is amazing how women can be the best of friends and your worst enemy at the same time.
I have read several Liane Moriarty books and this was my favorite one.  I enjoyed reading this book,
it was hard to put down. I give it ****/5 stars.

Abel’s Island by William Steig was a cute book about love, courage and friendship.  
It was about a mouse that is caught up in a storm and taken from his wife and friends.  
He has to make due on an island by himself until he can find a way to escape.

#battleofthebooks2018

Baseball Fever is a cute book for baseball lovers.
It was an endearing story about a father and son trying to find a way to relate to each other.  

It is a quick and easy read.   #battleofthebooks2018

All-of-a-Kind Family is a adorable book about a Jewish family living in New York City in the early 1900’s.  I really liked the connection the children feel toward the local librarian. The book focused mainly on the family life and their traditions.  #battleofthebooks2018

Charlie Pippin was my fifth children’s book and WOW was it ever thought provoking and realistic.  
The story follows Charlie a little girl in sixth grade struggling to get along with her father.  
All of Charlie’s good intentions don’t seem to work out and she gets in more trouble at home and at school.  
When Charlie does her report on the Vietnam War, a war her father fought in, somehow she gets in more trouble.  
She doesn't know what else to do. #battleofthebooks2018

My Oxford Year is a wonderful story about a young girl, Ella, who is off to Oxford for one year.  
She is a very independent person. However on her first day there she runs into a handsome man, Jamie,
who happens to be her professor.  They decide to have a “no strings” relationship.
However life and feelings get in the way of this plan. This is the perfect “Chick Flick” book.  I give it ****/5 stars.

I read Rebecca when I was a teenager but honestly I didn’t remember a thing.  I am so glad I reread Rebecca. There are so many layers to this story there is no way I could have understood it at such a young age. #unreadshelfproject2018  #classics

OMG!!! A Fall of Marigolds is a beautiful story.  It centers around an antique scarf and how is came to
America in 1911 to Clara Wood’s life.  Then somehow ends up in Taryn Michaels’ life on Sept. 11 in
New York City. Clara’s and Taryn’s stories are so enchanting and heart breaking.  This is truly an amazing story.
I loved it and give it *****/5 stars.

#unreadshelfproject2018

The Glass Castle is another book that I read this month that left me speechless.  
WOW! This is an eye opening story. It made me think about why people make the choices they make.  
When I see a homeless person I make a lot of assumptions, but this book reminded me that everyone
had a story and reasons for what they do.  It reminded me that I need to listen to people first instead of
judging and asking if and how I can help. This is a *****/5 star book. #unreadshelfproject2018