Show Us Your Books July 2024

July was a great reading month for me. We were away for a week, and then my kids went to Ohio for a week. All of that added up to some quality reading time.

Here are the best of the best:

Five Stars:

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - Whew, what a ride!

An excellent summer read about a brother and a sister who disappear from camp 12 years apart. I loved it- couldn’t stop reading.

My Own Country by Abraham Verghese - Verghese wrote two of my favorite works of fiction so I had to read his memoir about his time as an infectious disease specialist in Johnson City, TN during the early days of the AIDS crisis. His perspective as an immigrant was really unique, and I thought and the stories of his patients were very touching. This was another Verghese five star read for me.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver - This was a re-read for me, but it hit much differently in my 40’s than it did in my 30’s. I loved the three stories of women breaking the mold in Appalachia and how they came together at the end. I forgot how funny this book was too. Truly some laugh out loud moments.

Four Stars:

The Suspect by Alexander Kent - I heard about this book a year or two ago and I bought it the same day, but it took to Paris Olympics to actually pull it from my TBR.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It wasn’t just about Jewell although he certainly features, but also about the reporters and FBI who investigated.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali - I loved this book about two young women growing up in Tehran. A really good read about friendship and life under a totalitarian regime.

Thanks for reading!

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Show Us Your Books September 2023

August was not the greatest reading month for me. I was getting used to a new schedule and distracted. Looking back though I did have some good reads including some really memorable memoirs.

Here’s the best of the best from August.

Five Stars:

Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver - Talk about managing expectations- this book blew mine out of the water. Even if you’re like me and haven’t seen Minnie Driver since Good Will Hunting you really should read this book, and go audio if you can. It was really, really good.

Four Stars:

Mud Rocks Blazes by Heather "Anish" Anderson -- I usually really enjoy armchair hiking books and this one about setting the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail was no exception. It was surprising that Anderson could complete such a goal while doubting herself the entire time. Just goes to show!

Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond -- I have a feeling this book is only going to be read by people that already agree with Desmond, but I did appreciate the message.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros -- I didn‘t love love this like so many others, but I did like it. The twist at the end (there‘s a book two you know there‘s going to be a twist) was not what I expected.

Three Stars:

Dispatches From Pluto by Richard Grant -- An interesting book about a couple who fled New York City to seek a simpler life in the Mississippi Delta. It wasn‘t that simple after all, and I found Grant‘s treatment of the issues in the area to be nuanced. I wish there was an update.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld -- I didn’t love this book like I did some of her others, but it was a good enough read during a vacation. It’s interesting to see how authors are starting to work the pandemic into their books.

The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller -- Another plague book. I was saying “huh??” through a lot of this, but liked it well enough in the end.

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This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.

What I Read On My Summer Vacation

What a whirlwind July was! There was a lot of good, some bad, and some outright chaos. I’ve never taken two vacations in one month before, but I’m really glad I had that time away to temper real life which was honestly kind of like running in a hamster wheel.

And reading, there was a lot of reading! I read 22 books in July. Considering I also drove about 2000 miles, spent time with both sides of the family, and worked more hours than ever I’m happy with that! Thank goodness for long summer nights and audiobooks right?

Here are the highlights:

5 Star Reads:

Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah -- It’s been a long time since I’ve loved a book like I’ve loved this one. Jo is recovering from the death of her mother and her own illness while doing grad work in rural Illinois. It all seems simple until a little girl claiming to be an alien shows up. (Note: This is free with Kindle Unlimited at the time of this writing.)

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley -- Great on audio. The main character is a teenager who is flawed, but cares deeply about her community. I really loved that about this book.

Four Stars:

A Room With A View by E.M. Forster -- Yes another classic that I thought would be boring but was actually really entertaining.

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H -- This memoir was great. It was such a unique take on life and faith. I highly recommend it.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang -- Another book that really made me think. It was perfect for the Litsy reading group I discussed it with. Bonus points for being a book set in DC that wasn’t about politics. (People live here!)

Breathless by Amy McCulloch -- This book about a woman hiking in the Himalayas while a killer is on the loose was a great way to pass the time.

Looking Up by Matthew Cappucci -- Enjoyed this quick read about storm chasing (although I have mixed feelings about storm chasing as a hobby.)

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell -- Whew. What a ride! I loved it. Great ending.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.

REVIEW: And Poison Fell From the Sky by Marie Therese Martin

Earth Day is this month, although I think we are all figuring out every day should be Earth Day by now right? Either way I was happy to have a copy of Marie Therese Martin’s And Poison Fell From the Sky from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program to read this month.

This memoir by Marie Therese Martin detailed her life growing up and raising a family in Maine’s Cancer Valley. She really drives home the fact that our tendency is to ignore the truth when it will impact our paycheck.

I think this book is successful because it’s not preachy. Martin understands what it’s like to live in a mill town dependent on polluting wages. She has lived through controlling relationships of all types, and brings a unique perspective to he pollution poisoning her town and many others.

Show Us Your Books March 2023

February was a short month, but I fit in a lot of good books. I’m dreaming of outdoor reading season starting soon. I’m starting to get tired of reading under a blanket season. It’s on my to-do list to start fixing up my reading porch this week.
Here’s what I read last month.

Five Stars

What The Moon Saw by Laura Resau -- I loved this book so much. I just finished and have a big case of the warm and fuzzies.

This book is about fourteen year old Clara discovering herself when she leaves her suburban Maryland home to visit her grandparents in rural Mexico. I wish they had it on audiobook so I could listen to it with my kids in the car.

Four Stars

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo -- This was an excellent audiobook read by the author. In just a few hours she covers religion, immigration, first generation Americans, romance, parent child relationships, and so much more.

The Puma Years by Laura Coleman -- I enjoyed these memoirs of a woman working at a nature preserve in Bolivia. I like cats of all sizes and I learned about the issues facing the jungle and animals that live in it. I got this free at some point from Amazon First Reads, and I noticed it‘s still free on Kindle Unlimited.

Murder in the High Himalaya by Jonathan Green -- A heartbreaking but fascinating story contrasting the lives of high priced adventure tourists and Tibetan refugees in the Himalayas around the time of the Beijing Olympics.

Ivona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley -- What a fun book. Strangers on a Train if Maeve Binchy wrote it.

Three Stars

All Roads Lead To Austen by Amy Elizabeth Smith -- This is a memoir by a woman who spent a year holding Jane Austen book clubs in various Central and South American cities. I enjoyed the insights into how different cultures reacted to some of my favorite books more than the details about the author‘s love life, but overall this was a good read.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.

Show Us Your Books February 2023

I’ve had a good start to my reading year, and even made some progress on clearing some space on my to be read shelf.

Here are the best of the best from last month.

Five Stars

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue - My first five star read of the year. I absolutely loved this historical fiction set in Dublin‘s Maternity/Fever ward during the worst days of the Spanish flu. It was written in 2019, but so much of it rang true given our recent experiences since then.

Four Stars

The Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera - This little book about Sri Lanka’s civil war packed a mighty punch. I was a little confused by the characters at first, but I went with it and this book swept me away.

Annapurna: A Woman's Place by Arlene Blum - I was stranded without books and started listening to this just because it was on my phone. To my surprise it was really good! I read a lot of mountaineering books, and this one was so interesting. It was written by a woman expedition leader and she focused on logistics and leadership in a way that others usually don’t. Highly recommend (and I‘m pretty sure I got it for free on audible.)

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng - Sad and hopeful at the same time. Celeste Ng is so good.

The Huntress by Kate Quinn - Kate Quinn is so good at these historical novels. I really enjoyed this one about post WWII war criminals. My only complaint was I thought she could have ended it a bit sooner.

Three Stars

Braver Than You Think by Maggie Downs - It’s always weird rating someone’s memoirs because it’s hard to unravel the person’s life decisions from the writing. The writing here is really good- it will make you want to sell all your belongings and travel the world.

A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro - This was a fun mystery featuring the descendants of Watson and Holmes solving mysteries at a Connecticut boarding school.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.

Non-Fiction November Wrap Up

What is Nonfiction November? It’s a challenge to read as much nonfiction as possible in the month of November. I track my challenge results on Litsy, but I’m sure it’s done elsewhere as well.

Non-fiction November was really successful for me this year. After not really liking anything I read in October (I didn’t even bother with a reading wrap up), November showed up in a big way.

Here are my top 5 2022 Nonfiction November reads:
(In no particular order…)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - Wow, why did I wait so long to read this book? I have so many feelings after reading this. I‘m sure there has been a lot written about this amazing book so I won‘t even try, but I am so glad this book is now in my life.

Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith - In this travel memoir couple Matt and Karen write about the time they quit their jobs to visit all of the National Parks. At first they upset me because they didn‘t properly appreciate Cuyahoga National Park (a favorite) but they eventually grew on me. Their travel was interesting but approachable, and I liked that they seemed to keep a budget in mind most of the time.

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan - I loved what she had to say about grief and parenthood. This book was well worth reading.

Agatha Christie An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - I absolutely loved this book. Lucy Worsley did an excellent job of making Agatha Christie come to life. I‘ve only read a few Christie books, and liked not loved them so don‘t let that hold you back from reading this biography!

We Had A Little Real Estate Problem by Kliph Nesteroff - This history of Native American comedians was so interesting. I meant to read this last year, and am so glad I finally got to it this year. This was heavier than you might expect a book about comedy to be, but so informative.

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On My Nightstand November 27, 2022

Physical Books i pulled out to read in december

Good morning! Did we all survive Thanksgiving? We had a good day. I was feeling really overwhelmed by everything that had to get done, but it all came together. Since then I’ve had some time off, and I’ve been organizing, catching up on letters, and getting ready for December. This has been a much needed rest. Back to work tomorrow!

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Long Life by Mary Oliver - I meant to read this last week, but was in more of a fiction mood. I do hope to finish this by the end of the month though.

The Next Everest by Jim Davidson - This just came in from the library. I started it, but am not sure I’ll finish it. Would love to know if anyone has read and enjoyed it.

Africa Is Not A Country by Dipo Faloyin - This might be the last book set in Africa I read this year, and what a way to go. This is such a great overview of the continent.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - I started this years ago, and it’s really time I finish it. It’s a good story. I’m not sure why I keep putting it down before finishing it.

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand November 20, 2022

Good morning readers! Somehow it’s November 20th. Where do these months go?

I had a good week last week, but I never got around to posting here. Maybe this week I will get my act together.

No big Thanksgiving plans here. We’re hosting a small get together, but I don’t have to cook that much for it. I’m hoping to get a bunch of reading done, and of course the kids want to go shopping on Friday.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Long Life by Mary Oliver - Another book I had on my Kindle that I forgot about. I love Mary Oliver and am looking forward to this.

America for Beginners by Leah Franqui - This is for a book club. It looks like a quick and easy read, perfect for a long lazy weekend.

Green Mountain Academy by Frances Greenslade - This middle grade book is from the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. I’m hoping to finish and review it this week.

We Had A Little Real Estate Problem by Kliph Nesteroff - This was on my list to read last year. I’m finally getting to it now!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand November 13, 2022

Good morning and happy weekend! How are you all today? It’s cold enough here to turn on the heat and I’m loving it.

I almost don’t want to say it, but if all goes well this will be the first “normal” week we’ve had since September. At least one of my kids has had a day off at least one day each week for some reason, and the lack of consistency in our schedules is kind of killing us. I’ve been having trouble concentrating recently, and I think this week of calm and routine will help a lot.

This week I wrote about what I think you should read in November.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Agatha Christie An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - Never got to this last week. Hoping to dive in later this week!

The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor - This was billed as a romantic comedy, but I’m finding it deeper than the billing implied.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - I have to return this to the library by the end of the week. That shouldn’t be a problem since I’m loving it!

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand November 6, 2022

November sunsets make this dark month bearable.

I decided to participate in #NonFictionNovember this month, and I’m loving what I’ve been reading so far. My October reading was kind of blah, so I’m happy to really be enjoying my books again.

I’ve also been having fun signing up for and choosing books for all sorts of challenges next year. This week I should have some time to write about them here. I miss writing more about books!

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan - I’ve always really enjoyed Corrigan’s books, and am looking forward to starting this one. This was on my list last week too, so I’m really hoping this is the week and I don’t have to return this to the library before I get to it.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - I heard about this on the What Should I Read Next podcast and immediately downloaded it. I’m really enjoying it so far, and it doesn’t hurt that it fits a prompt for one of my 2022 reading challenges.

Agatha Christie An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - I think Agatha’s books are just so so, but I am completely fascinated by her life. I can’t wait to dive into this biography.

The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor - The Food and Lit group is reading and eating from India this year. The book I originally picked was really dense and I read the first two pages three times. I decided to bail, and found this romantic comedy on my kindle instead. Sometimes life is too short, you know?

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

Show Us Your Books June 2022

The Book Barn in Niantic, CT

May was a cold month here so I decided to start my summer reading early. I have a whole list of books I want to read, but for me summer reading really means just reading what makes me feel good - usually mysteries, thrillers, and sweeping family dramas set in hot climates. Summer reading is all about ignoring my reading goals and having fun.

Here are my favorites from the month of May!

Five Stars:

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya - When she was six Clemantine fled her parent‘s house with her sister and just a few belongings. Until she was twelve they lived as refugees. Then they were awarded a visa to live in the US. This book shows that what looks like the happily ever after ending that you might see on the outside isn‘t always reality.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel - I‘m not even sure what to say about this other than it was amazing and the less you know about it going in the better off you‘ll probably be.

Four Stars:

(Just realized these are all non-fiction- not normal for me!)

Broken (In The Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson - This book made me laugh and cry and gave me a lot to think about.

Walking The Nile by Lev Wood - I enjoyed this travelogue about walking through Africa along the Nile. I truly knew very little about the path of the Nile, and since I had two small children in 2013-2014 when he walked I also appreciated the refresher on what was happening in Africa during those years.

No Good Men Among The Living by Anand Gopal - A non-fiction account of the everyday lives of three people living in Afghanistan after 9/11. This book changed what I thought I knew. It was a hard read, but a really good one.

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

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Show Us Your Books April 2021

Unread books…

April was a prolific reading month for me, but I ended up with a lot of dark titles. I’m hoping for lighter reads in May. Here are my stats:

Beginning TBR: 852 Ending TBR: 839
20 books read in total, 8 audio 12 print
#AuthorAMonth2021 1 book
#ReadingAsia2021 3 countries: Nepal, Israel, Palestine
#FoodAndLit Isreal 1 book read, much pita bread eating
#BookspinBingo 1 real bingo, 2 if you count bails
#ChunksterChallenge 65% done with Les Miserables

(Hashtags are from Litsy.)

Favorite of The Month

Salvage The Bones by Jesmyn Ward - The content of this book was heartbreaking and hard to read, but that doesn‘t stop it from being a masterpiece. Wow. I will hold this family in my heart for a long time.

Memorable Memoirs

Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson - Interesting insight into what it takes to become a master chef.

After The Wind by Lou Kasischke - There have been so many books about the 1996 Everest disaster, but I‘ll never get tired of them. This one is a worthwhile addition to my collection.

The Honey Bus by Meredith May - I have mixed feelings about this one. The writing was beautiful, and the parts about bees were fascinating. However the parts about her childhood were frustrating and hard to read. Also I felt like she totally absolved her father. It was the times I guess.

Non-Fiction That Left My Brain Spinning (In A Good Way)

A World Without Email by Cal Newport - A World Without Email is a catchy title, but I feel like the real take away here is to figure out what‘s sucking up your time. If that‘s email then you should figure out a way to make it less painful. If you‘re good at your job you can get away with doing what it takes to control your time. Poor Cal Newport. I feel like some of this will already be dated in a post Covid workplace.

The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan - A history of Israel and Palestine from the 1940‘s on with vignettes of the lives of Bashir and Dalia throughout. This book gave me a lot to think about.

Shakespeare In A Divided America by James Shapiro - This book explored Shakespeare as a canary in a coal mine for American politics. I loved it as an audiobook, and plan on buying a paper copy so I can underline.

Fabulous Fiction

She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore - This book was sad and depressing so I can‘t say I liked it, but it was so well written it is a pick. I have so much to think about after reading this book, and I will definitely be reading more about the history of Liberia. I ended this book with a similar feeling to the one I had when I read Salvage The Bones even though the subject matter was much different.

Murder At Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd - This was a fun retelling of Mansfield Park as a murder mystery. It worked since the characters in Mansfield Park weren‘t particularly likable. Shepherd could do what she wanted without ruining the memories of any beloved characters.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - A really good book that tells some of the stories from the Book of Genesis from a woman‘s perspective. I’m probably the last one on Earth to read this, but I’m including it anyway.

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

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Show Us Your Books January 2021

Goofball cats

December feels like a million years ago, but here are my favorite books from the month of December 2020.

Best of the Month

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — I loved this book. I stayed up half the night and read it just to see what happened. I thought it would be a fluffy December romance, but it turned out to be about friendship and the cost of perfection.

Five Star Christmas Reads

Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson -- I absolutely loved this book of short stories, recipes, and essays. It’s really hard to explain, but it’s worth reading.

How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny -- My favorite book from my favorite series. It takes place around Christmas time, which adds to my annual December re-read.

Four More Worth Reading

Two Old Women by Velma Wallis -- I read about this thanks to the Show Us Your Books link up! This is the Alaskan legend of how two elder women survived after they were abandoned by their people. Old ladies for the win- you should read this one!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo -- I feel like I’m the last person on Earth to have read this, but I’ll add to the chorus that it was really good.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan -- A wonderful memoir about motherhood and life in the 90’s. I read this before, but it’s totally different now that my kids are a little older.

Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon -- Based on the true story of Nancy Wake aka WWII‘s Socialite Spy. I really enjoyed this book, and was inspired by Nancy. I‘ll have to add more by Ariel Lawhon to my TBR.

Linked to: Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit

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Memoirs Make Me Feel Icky

This week I read my latest Early Reviewers book from LibraryThing, Malnourished by Cinthia Ritchie. I had a lot of trouble with it, and I finished it with an overwhelming feeling of why. Why do people write with such detail about their lives? Am I the only one who jut feels icky about reading about a person’s really intimate history?

I was really happy to see an article in National Review that expressed a lot of my feelings better than I could. If you’re feeling icky about memoirs give it a read: Educated - Tara Westover Shares Too Much Too Soon.

Show Us Your Books July

Summer reading season is officially here! I’ve been spending many hours on the porch drinking tea and reading books (and maybe eating a burger or two.)

When I first went to tally up my books, in my mind I hadn’t read much in June. But then I looked at the numbers, and I had actually read twelve books — 6 were paper and 6 were audio.

Favorite

Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl — This was a glorious audiobook read by the author. I thought I was signing up for tempting descriptions of food when I bought this, but there were so many other nuggets about working motherhood, corporate politics, and recovering from mistakes that I loved. I ended up taking many long walks the weekend I listened to this just so I could finish.

****

Great Beach Reads

Daisy Jones And The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid — This was excellent brain candy. It was reminiscent of a VH1 documentary, and I read it all in one sitting. I read the print book, but I heard the audio version is amazing.

****

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser — A thriller about a missing mom, and the aftermath of her disappearance. Did she flee on her own, or did someone take her? Was it the husband? What about the missing money? This was perfect for laying on the beach while my kids built sandcastles.

***

Moody Reads To Dwell On

Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella — This is the book that Field of Dreams was based on, and I’ve been meaning to read it for years. It’s different from the movie, but it has that same dreamy and hopeful feeling.

***

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent — I read this for a book club, and it was perfect pick for that. I appreciated that the love affair I thought the author was building towards never happened.

****

The Guineveres by Sarah Domet — This book was without place or time, and it worked. I enjoyed the characters.

***

The Near and Distant Past

The Boat People by Sharon Bala — An important read considering what we’re facing in our country these days. This book gives a face to the refugee crisis. Wish I could make this required reading for all of America.

****

Tear Down This Wall by Romesh Ratnesar — A non-fiction audiobook that I downloaded from Audiobook Sync. I’m of the age where I can remember when the Berlin Wall fell, but had no real idea of what that meant at the time. I appreciate books that help fill in the gaps now. I’m going to recommend this one to my 11 year old as well.

***

The Future

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen and Owen King — This book went on a little too long for my tastes, but the afterward at the end of the audiobook by the authors made up for it. I love getting a glimpse of what goes into writing books.

***

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins — This was a re-read for me. I’m not a huge fan of this book, but I really liked the ending.

***

Audiobooks to Take Your Mind Off Things When You’re Home Alone and Cleaning For HOURS

(Or Maybe That’s Just Me)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling — My favorite of the series. I could listen to this audiobook again and again.

****

The Lost City of Z by David Grann — I liked this armchair adventure story, minus the description of all of the snakes and other creepy things that can kill you in the Amazon.

***

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Books that are saving my life right now...

I've been in a funk since December. Nothing major has happened to me personally, but there has been a churning persistence of drama that seems to follow me wherever I go.  I got robbed, I've been sick for weeks, too many nice people in my life have died, and then there is the news. Thank goodness I have books to keep me going.

I've been incapable of sticking to any sort of reading list. Instead I have been turning to some old favorites for escape.

The Martian by Andy Weir - I've been embracing the spirit of Mark Watney lately when faced with tasks that seem impossible. If he could get off Mars, I can get my work projects done.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - This is, of course, a pretty grim book. But McCourt tells it with a sense of humor, something I've lost, but am trying to get back right now.

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani - I really like Ave Maria, the main character in this book. My favorite thing about her is that she doesn't see her life set in stone. She considers herself an old maid, but is willing to change it all. The audiobook read by the author added another layer of greatness to this book.

Any books saving your life lately?

Note: This post is linked to Modern Mrs. Darcy's mid-winter list of things that are saving her life.

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REVIEW: Braving It by James Campbell

I tossed this book into my work bag at the last minute, then almost missed my metro stop because I was so engrossed.

Braving It by James Campell bills itself as "a powerful and affirming story of a father's journey with his teenage daughter to the far reaches of Alaska.". I really appreciated that Campell focused more on the journeys that make up the story than the father/daughter stuff. By making the story about the adventure, and by not trying too hard to make this a memoir about father daughter relationships the relationship stuff shone through naturally. He didn't force it down your throat. He told a really thrilling story made all the better because it was shared by a father and a daughter.

I have a touch of wanderlust in me, and Campbell's vivid descriptions of Alaska turned an itch to visit into something I must scratch soon. The descriptions of the rivers, animals, and mountains were glorious. I also enjoyed that he often used quotes from literature to help tell his story.

I highly recommend this one if you love a good armchair hiking story. It would also be great if you're looking to get your own dear Dad a gift for Father's Day.

Note: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a honest review.

May 2016 Quick Lit

Each month I link with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit as a way to talk about the books I liked, but didn't review.

I finally got around to reading Northanger Abbey, and liked it a lot. The ending was kind of meh, but the character of Catherine was crazy in an awesome way. I loved all of her wacky scenarios.

I'm still on my travel writing kick, hence, my impulsive use of an audiobook credit on Albert Podell's Around the World In 50 Years. This one grew on me. I didn't agree with all of "Big Al's" opinions, but I was fascinated by the logistics of traveling to every country in the world. I also appreciated that he seemed to spend a fair bit of time in every country. He wasn't just traveling to check things off his list; he really seemed to take time with each country.

Ever wondered what it's like to be Mormon in New York City? The New York Regional Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker was an interesting account of what seems to be a pretty big struggle. It was sometimes shallow, but also very sincere, and seemed very honest. I recommend it, but don't expect to find any life altering truths here.

I finally finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, and now I finally know what everyone was talking about last year. This method is not really for me, but it did make me think about all the stuff we have. Some spring cleaning may be in order.

I listened The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury in my car. It was perfect for that. I found it entertaining enough to listen to, but didn't feel that I had to shut it off the second I picked up my kids. In fact my 8 year old even enjoyed a few of the stories while we waited for his bus. These are all short stories that are about the same things. It's kind of hard to explain, but very enjoyable, light science fiction. The only depressing thing was the astronauts from the future were born in 1986 - a full 9 years after me. I don't know when I got so old.

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Books that make me want to read other books

Everything I've read about Mary Karr's The Art of Memoir has been positive, but I've put off reading it because someone said it would cause me to add dozens more books to my TBR. Since my list usually hovers around 400 books, I'm a little scared to read a book that will add to it. So, I'm putting that one off until I can get my list down to 375 or so.

It wouldn't be the first time a book forced me to add to my TBR. It was Kelly Corrigan's Glitter and Glue that got me to try My Antonia, and Katherine Reay's books always have me tempted to spend my whole paycheck on Barnes & Noble Classics. So, it's not a bad thing that a book will cause me to read other books. I just need to put it off for a while. For the sake of my family. And my future employment prospects.

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