November Reads

The holiday season is upon us and our schedule has been packed with activities. So I'm making myself sit down and write about my November reads.  I didn't feel like it was a great month of reading, but as I write this post I am reminded I read some good books and they are diverse in genres and subject matter.  In no particular order here they are.  

The Inn by Paul Fuhrmann

4 stars.  This book was sent to me by the author to review.  It was a very quick read, and I think could be read out loud among family, friends, Sunday school class, etc.  It is the story of the inn keeper that gives Mary and Joseph shelter in his barn.  It reads like a book in verse.  I felt like the story was from present day.  My only complaint was I would have liked the story to continue after Jesus' birth.  Would have been an interesting perspective of what the inn keeper's life was like after Mary, Joseph, and Jesus left the inn keeper's barn.  A nice holiday read.  

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek 

by Kim Michele Richardson

5 stars.  This book got me out of a "reading slump".  It was an amazing read for so many reasons.  Here are just a few: historical fiction, story about the pack horse librarians during the depression era who brought books and reading to the Appalachian people, blue people (yep blue people- enjoyed this medical perspective), segregation, coal mining and unions, friendship, and love.  It was a well written story and I plowed through it.  Likely in my top 5 of this year's reads.

You Don't Know everything, Jilly P!

by Alex Gino

4 stars audiobook.  This was a great listen with my 11 year old daughter.  Jilly P is involved in an online chat community that is only open to kids who are 12 years old.  Within this community she becomes friends with Derek an African American who is deaf.  Their friendship strengthens with the birth of her baby sister who is born deaf.  Jilly learns some tough lessons about "real life" throughout this story: racism, black lives mater, deaf community, and family differences.  Both my daughter and I thought it was a great story, serious, but enjoyable.  

Being Sloane Jacobs

by Lauren Morrill

4 stars audiobook.  Sometimes I need a little pick me up and so I turn to YA for that pick me up.  This story is about two different girls coming from two different lives: one is the daughter of a high power politician, high socioeconomic status, and the other daughter of a laborer who's mother is in rehab, and is living day by day with her dad's paychecks.  The one is a figure skater and the other a hockey player.  The one thing they have in common their name.  You guessed it- Sloane Jacobs.  You can only imagine the story line and what these two Sloane's will get into.  I really liked this story- reminded me a little of The Parent Trap- Haley Mills version.  

Less

by Andrew Sean Greer

2 stars.  My least favorite book club read of the year.  This book won the Pulitzer in 2018,  I don't get this decision.  I'm not a "literary/high brow" reader. It was touted as a comedy with romance, quite unusual for Pulitzer prize winner.  However, I didn't think it was a comedy at all.  Arthur Less, the main character, is a sad soul.  I felt bad for him throughout the book and thought his life seemed pretty boring.  Arthur Less is trying to avoid attending his ex-lover's wedding by traveling around the world.  Sounds like an interesting story right?  The cities he traveled to were great places, but the writing didn't seem to highlight those places and for instance the story that occurred while Arthur was in Paris could have been read as if Arthur was in Cleveland, OH.  I experienced zero enjoyment reading this book. 

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

by Elizabeth Gilbert

4 star read.  Easy read and some good ideas/quotes were taken down when reading this book.  I thought a lot of her ideas and examples either from her own life or other creative friends and acquaintances were very applicable to the "everyday person".  My take away from this book was if you want to create, create, we all have the power.  There is no right way to go about being creative.  For instance, you don't have to have a MFA to write and publish a book.  You do have to have passion, and work ethic to see your creativity reach the limits you want your ideas/goals/dreams to reach.  

A Mango Shaped Space 

by Wendy Mass

4 stars read.  I had never heard of synesthesia before reading this book.  Synesthesia is when someone takes letters, numbers, shapes and has a sense that goes along with that letter, number or shape.  For example, a person's name would correlate with a color by a person who has synesthesia.  Why this explanation of synesthesia, well the main character has it.  Mia is her name.  She is going through some changes that all of us have experienced during junior high/middle school.  She is trying to find her way, and deal with the loss of her grandfather, and understand her being "different".  Throughout the story she is comforted by her cat Mango.  I thought it was a very good read, and it was emotional for me due to the cat Mango.  

Bury Your Dead 

by Louise Penny

5 stars audiobook.  My second time with this book.  I think, for me,  this is one of the ones at the top in the Armand Gamache series. I liked the deep honesty and the character development along with the peeling away at layers of the main character in this book.  Armand Gamache is having to deal with the aftermath of past mistakes.  This book mainly takes place in Quebec, which was a change from the normal Three Pines setting.  I was surprised that I liked this story so much the second time around.  The story takes place in the English Literary Society Library , Quebec.  Of course there is murder and of course I was surprised at the end, despite this being my second time through.  I like the humanity she shows in her stories- the good and the bad- real life stuff.  

Well that is it for November.  Despite the "reading slump" I spent some time with some good stories and ideas this past month.  

October Reads...

One of my reading goals this year was less focus on quantity of books allowing me to dive into longer reads.  Well this month gave me my longest book yet- an audiobook none the less.  It also gave me some other pretty great reads- so October was a less is more month of reading.  In no particular order...

She Prays: A 31-day Journey to Confident Conversation with God

by Debbie Lindell

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  I had previously posted about this book if interested in reading the review in full:  http://imchattynatty.blogspot.com/2019/10/she-prays.html.  I can tell you that doing this 31 day devotional/prayer journal has made me realize how we can incorporate conversation with God into our every day lives.

Paris 

by Edward Rutherfurd

5 stars.  Audiobook.  I borrowed this book for the max 21 days audio/listening from Overdrive (library APP to borrow audibooks).  I needed 22 days of listening.  So when it automatically returned to the library Overdrive  I quickly checked it out again  so I could finish the last day of listening.  809 pages, 30 hours of listening and I came away from this book so glad I have visited Paris and so ready to go back again.  I can't really fully describe what was so magical about this book.  It is historical fiction (a major love of mine) and is an epic story (another reading love of mine) spanning 1261-1968. That is a lot of history to use as the backdrop and sometimes I felt like character in this story which was also epic as it involved so many different characters.  At first I was a little confused and thought I wouldn't last long due to the multiple story lines and the various characters, some which were interwoven due to their stories colliding.  However, as the book went on I just really enjoyed the visual pictures that came to my mind when listening.  I loved how it made me want to return to a city I've only been to for 9 days out of my 43 years of living on this earth.  I am looking forward to reading New York by Rutherfurd in the near future as I think that book, as well, will make me want to return to NYC, just as this one has made me want to return to Paris. 

The Gifts of Imperfection 

by Brene Brown

4 stars.  I'm traveling right now so don't have my "quote book" on me- a book I've kept for years where I write down quotes that spoke to me during the reading of books.  This book I wrote several pages of quotes, but alas I don't have the "quote book" with me so I will just state that I love Brene's honesty, genuine writing style and words that demonstrate to me she gets what real life is like.  She has some great ideas on how all of us can get to where we want to be- my favorite self-help book- becoming who you were meant to be and want to be combined.  

The Secrets We Kept 

by Lara Prescott

4 stars.  Growing up I watched Doctor Zhivago.  I remembered it being a love story.  I remembered it involving a married man and his mistress (Lara).  I remembered some parts of the movie showing a revolt by groups of people in Russia against the government and of course I remembered Lara's song.  So when I heard that this book was going to be about how the book by Pasternak- Doctor Zhivago- was used by CIA to "infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia" via women spies (typists working undercover for CIA) I was all in.  This book also highlighted the injustice and physical pain an heartache that came to the mistress of Pasternak- Olga Ivinskaya.  I struggled a little keeping all the different stories/characters straight and point of view/voice of character changed from chapter to chapter along with different settings: US, Milan, Paris, the Gulag camp, and Moscow/outside Moscow. However, this didn't taint what a good read it was.   Another great historical fiction read for me this month.

The Brutal Telling 

by Louise Penny

4 stars.  The fifth in the Armand Gamache mystery series.  Second time reading this book- this time an audiobook listen.  I think I liked it better the second time around.  Another murder has occurred in Three Pines, this time a little too close to home, with multiple main characters/community members of Three Pines being suspects.  I had totally forgotten how this one ended and so was caught off guard with the ending.  I feel like this series gets better as it goes along.  

That is all for October- 5 books total: 2 audio and 3 hard copy.  A great book of reading in my book.

She Prays

She Prays: A 31-Day Journey to Confident Conversations With God

Debbie Lindell

4 stars. Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to review. I really liked this daily devotional/prayer journal. I’ve never been great about making prayer a part of my daily practice. This book was a great combo of looking at Bible verses/themes from the Bible and tying it to some questions or writing prompts to give a focus on that day’s prayer/journaling. I liked how the end of each day’s reflection left space to write thoughts, prayers, and conversation points with God. I might not agree with all her ideas, but that allowed me to write down thoughts/questions and have a conversation about my own Christian beliefs. 

The Art of Top Performance Review

Top Performance: How To Develop Excellence In Yourself and Others

by Zig Ziglar

I have a Zig Ziglar quote hanging up in my office area at home. I find some of his ideas full of truth and very motivating. This book fell short for me. It fell so short for me that I read 100 pages and couldn't go any further. I was not engaged in the "story telling" in the book. I found the book to have a somewhat heavy "male" voice- very patriarchal. The part of the chapters that most spoke to me were at the end- The Performance Principles. These were accurate and spot on in regard to leadership and actual life skills. For instance, the chapter "Choosing to Be a Top Performer" the performance principles read (pg 35-36):1. Regardless of your past, tomorrow is a clean slate.2. Every obnoxious act is a cry for help.3. Don't waste time placing blame; fix the cause!4. The choices you make today will determine what you will be, do, and have in the tomorrows of your life.5. Top Performers learn to make the proper choices.6. Top Performers know that when they continuously add new concepts and ideas into their minds, they are burying some of the archaic ideas already in place.Great points and life lessons right here in these 6. The words in between these principles just didn't do anything for me. Two Stars. This book was sent to review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing.

Living Lies

Living Lies by Natalie Walters

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell for sending me this book to review.  I apologize to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, that this review is coming in SOOOOO Late!  I found this book at the bottom of my physical "to be read" pile on my nightstand.  I think a sign I definitely have too many books to read- a good problem I realize- but I do apologize for this book review delay. No idea when it was due.  

This is a murder mystery that is perfect for October reads.  Lane, the main character, has come back to her hometown after losing her husband. She is a single mom and trying to take care of herself, her son Noah, and figure out how to combat her own demons and personal baggage.  I liked how the author withheld details of how Lane's husband died until the end.    Lane is not the only one new to town.  Charlie, new deputy in the police department, is helping run the missing person case with his uncle Sheriff Huggins. He too has his own demons and baggage.  He has left the marines and again the author does a great job leaving you hanging to find out the back story of why he left the marines.  The missing person is actually a body that has been found in the woods by Lane.  That is how Lane and Charlie meet. Of course a nice addition to the story is the relationship that is created between Lane and Charlie through the investigation.  I enjoyed that side story of this book. 

I found the book to be enjoyable and easy reading.  A little abrupt closure to the story, but alas sometimes it is tough to wrap up a story easily.    

Christmas in Winter Hill

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carson

4 stars. When I saw this book was a possible review book I signed up right away. I love Christmas stories. Although we aren’t in the Christmas season yet I’m always ready for a holiday book. I’m one of those people, that if allowed by my family- which I’m not, I would listen to Christmas songs year round. This book is a definite Christmas songs/background music kind of book. 

Emily and her mother Krista move from Phoenix, AZ to a small town- Winter Hill in Washington. Krista has been hired as the new city manager. She was so eager to start a new life and leave Phoenix that she might have skipped some vital information gathering on her new job. For instance, the town hosts a Christmasville celebration every year. What’s the problem with that? Well Krista doesn’t like Christmas. You’ll have to read to get the rest of the story. There is a little relationship and mystery tossed in to make this story believable  

I enjoyed this fast read and am grateful to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to review. Overall read like a Hallmark movie but a little abrupt finish at the end didn’t get it the 5 star review. I will be checking out her other titles which many have a Christmas theme in the title. If they are anything like this book they’d make for great Christmas/Holiday reading. 

September Reads

We are in one of my favorite times of the year "fall".  It is also one of the busiest times of the year.  Despite the busy days I'm still enjoying some great reads.  Here is what I read in September.  Excited for the next 3 months of reading to round out this decade and 2019.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

4 star read.  First off this cover is one I won't forget for quite awhile.  Theo Faber is a psychotherapist who comes to "The Grove" a psychiatric hospital/prison focused on becoming Alicia Berenson's therapist.  Alicia has not spoken a word since she murdered her husband. She was a famous painter and her husband was a fashion photographer.  Through Theo's quest to help his patient talk again the story and murder begins to unfold.  It was a FAST read- I wanted to find out the why/how/who.  Will make for some interesting book club discussion this month.

A Life of Lovely: The Young Women's Guide to Collecting the Moments that Matter

by Annie F. Downs

4 star read.  Annie F. Downs was a recent guest on my favorite podcast "What Should I Read Next" with Anne Bogel.  I really liked her voice and presence on the podcast and when I found out she was an author herself I went to the library to check out what books were available.  This was the only one there.  So although the title indicates this book is for "younger women" and I'm in my early 40's I took the plunge, because I do feel "young at heart".  I found this book an easy read with some great life quotes and stories interwoven with Bible Stories and Christian songs that remind me of the life I would like to lead.  Here are a few of my favorite quotes/thoughts from the book.

pg 5 "Grace reminds me less of who I am and more of who I want to be."

pg 140 "We need real life, flesh-and-blood friends, to keep reminding us WE ARE NOT ALONE."

The Forgiving Kind by Donna Everhart

4 stars. This cover too is just beautiful- I think.  This book was sent to me by a book friend and I really appreciate the gift.  It was a tough read for me because I was frustrated, angry, and sad with the events occurring in the book.  I thought the author did a great job of writing about all the tough topics while not being judgmental.  The leading lady in this book is 12 year old "Sonny" (real name Martha) who is faced with tragedy when her father dies and leaves her, her mother and two brothers. Her family relies on cotton crops and has land they plant each year.  With her father gone their future is up in the air, until a neighbor, Mr. Fowler, arrives to help the family out. Right from the entrance of him onto the page I had a really bad feeling about him.  Sonny's best friend, Daniel, also has the same "feeling".  The story unravels with the trials this family has to face.  Sonny has further personal trials to face in regard to her relationship with Daniel.  I thought the author did a great job exploring Daniel's own struggles with coming to terms with his own life- fatherless, mother is the town "slut" and a sister who is following in their mother's footsteps, while he is trying to figure out who he is.  This too was a fast read as I wanted to see how the story would end.  Sonny was a great leading lady.  

Cottage by the Sea by Debbie Macomber

4 stars audiobook.  Loved the relationship building throughout this love story.  Really appreciated that the main character is a physician assistant, highlighting advanced practice providers.  Annie, the protagonist, has gone back to the beach cottage her family enjoyed on summer vacations.  However, she's now alone- no family left.  Keaton sees Annie walking along the beach and knows she is the girl, that girl, from his childhood's summers.  Keaton is obsessed with her but he is a big man of little words.  Other relationships interweave with Keaton and Annie's.  Debbie Macomber always seems to draw in some tough topics with her story telling.  This one is no different: domestic abuse, animal abuse, teen pregnancy. Another easy read that went by fast.  

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

3 stars. Audibook.  First off this book is a reminder that I have too many books on my physical and digital "to be read" bookshelf.  As I was listening to this book I decided to do some organizing of my physical reading room shelves and found this book in hardback on my shelf- note to self I have too many books TBR. 

This book was a disappointment to me as I always love a good story that takes place in a book shop or library.  The bookshop had some presence, but wasn't a main character and I felt that was a disappointment.  This story really revolves around a mystery- why did Miranda's Uncle Billy leave her the bookstore.  Uncle Billy always had the best birthday surprisesfor Miranda.  He would take her on scavenger hunts for her birthday and make her solve puzzles before getting her gift.  However, on Miranda's 12th birthday Billy and her mother have a falling-out and he disappears from her life.  Now as a young adult she is teaching school on the east coast and gets a letter notifying her of her Uncle's death and her being given ownership of the bookshop via his will.  Along with the bookshop he has left her one more scavenger hunt. I just wasn't captured by this story line or the characters.

A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

3.5 stars audiobook.  I'm making my way through the series a second time by listening to the story on audio.  I found this book more enjoyable the second time.  I find the stories that don't physically take place in Three Pines less enjoyable.  This story takes place at a resort in the Canadian woods.  Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife are celebrating their anniversary at the resort. They come every year to celebrate their anniversary at the resort and therefore know many of the staff very well.  They become involved when a murder takes place on the resort's grounds This murder does have some connection to Three Pines as two of the main characters and possible suspects are their friends from Three Pines- Peter and Clara Morrow.  I found Louise Penny's idea for how the person was murdered one of the most intriguing parts of this story.  Louise always knows how to write about the hardest part of humanity within the pages of her books- family conflict, lies, deception, loneliness, and desire to belong. 

Forged Through Fire by Mark D. McDonough, MD

4.5 stars.  This book was previously reviewed and you can access the full review here:

http://imchattynatty.blogspot.com/2019/09/forged-through-firebook-review.html

I want to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  

Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in a World Full of Fake

by Micah Berteau

2 stars.  This book was previously reviewed and you can access the full review here:

http://imchattynatty.blogspot.com/2019/09/love-changes-everything-book-review.html

Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  

You Belong With Me by Tari Faris

4 stars.  This book was previously reviewed and you can access the full review here:

https://imchattynatty.blogspot.com/2019/09/you-belong-with-me.html

Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.

Approval Junkie by Faith Salie

3 stars Audiobook.  I too am an approval junkie so this book intrigued me.  I appreciated her honesty and comical relief throughout the pages.  I didn't always follow all chapters as some of them had name dropping of actors/comedians that I don't know.  I don't listen to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, a NPR program she is involved with, so much of that topic was lost on me.  Her most heart felt topics were: the wasband (what she so wisely calls her ex), her trials with trying to become a mother, her body image issues, her children and her husband.  

Well that ends September.  It was good month with a couple of the books hitting high ratings and a frequent word I used to describe many of these books... "a FAST read" which normally means some good stuff.  Happy Fall Reading!  

You Belong With Me

You Belong With Me

By Tari Faris

4 stars. Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review. 

I need to preference this review by being honest... I love Hallmark movies. They make me smile, laugh, feel all warm and fuzzy and sometimes shed some tears. Why am I sharing this with you? This book read like a Hallmark movie. Plus I’m a sucker for a story line with reuniting past loves. 

Hannah is the main character in this book. She is a realtor who is trying to keep her little town of Heritage a float. She has grand ideas for town improvements, but no collateral to make her dreams come true. Besides her Heritage City dreams she also has dreams of a long lost love, her best friend from high school- Luke. 

Luke has his own dreams- renovating his foster mother’s home, becoming a leader on the fire department, and finding a way to make it right with his best friend Hannah.

Thomas, Hannah’s brother, is also struggling with love and his past when his high school sweetheart returns from her last year in Paris studying as a pastry chef- Janie. Janie doesn’t know what turned Thomas away from her. They thought she would marry him and build a family together but he dumped her with no explanation.

An easy/ beach read that was really enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book by Tari Faris in the “Heritage” series.

Love Changes Everything... Book Review

Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in World Full of Fake 

by Micah Berteau

2 stars.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  

I believe in honesty when reviewing books and I also strongly believe not every book "speaks" to every reader.  This book was disappointing to me.  I really have been struggling since 2016 with understanding the ways of the world and the fear and hatred that we read, see and watch every day.  I try to stay positive and am always searching for answers- I was hoping the title of the book was going to address my question on where to go, what to do, and how to navigate a hatred filled world.  I was hoping the answer was going to be Love.  I think the answer is Love and I believe Micah tried to give his own view on this subject, but I really struggled to understand and follow the outline of this book.  The biblical story of Hosea and Gomer is used as an example to portray different types of love and how love works in this hard world, but the tangents I just couldn't follow.  

Just not a chattynatty read.  I'm sure one day when I write a book and publish it readers will feel the very same way about my book.  No hurt feelings Micah! 

Forged Through Fire...Book Review

Forged Through Fire: A Reconstructive Surgeon's Story of Survival, Faith and Healing

by Mark D. McDonough, MD

4.5 star read.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  Mark did an amazing job sharing his story with the reader.  His story starts August 13, 1976 with a house fire, in which Mark, his brothers and mother are engulfed in flames at their family home.  His father was away on business. Mark being the oldest of boys was left in charge while his father was gone for business.  I wondered if this "charge" put Mark in the position to undergo the severity of burns he experienced due to his responsibility to ensure all were safe.  This story is truly honest, raw, and does not hold back.  Mark's experience post fire is pretty graphic at times and I wonder if some readers would be turned off by the details or if they or a loved one had experienced past trauma, like Mark, would it turn them away from reading.  I luckily have never experienced this horrific of an event in my life.  I so appreciated Mark's trusting the reader with his story which didn't hold back.  He talks about his road to recovery, the pain and suffering he endured post fire, the dysfunction and challenges of his family and self.  I was amazed with Mark's perseverance and resilience despite many challenges throughout his life.  I also appreciated his ability to weave in his "faith journey" and relationship with God throughout the pages of this book.  His words made me want to talk to God more- if that makes sense.  Lastly, I have always wondered where God is in times of trial, tribulations and utmost suffering and pain.  Mark's answer to this question I have wanted was really helpful in moving me in my own "faith journey". Thank you Mark for the answer to this hard question.  Here is his answer in paragraph form...

page 254-255  "In the wake of a horrific event..., it's common to feel dumbstruck in confusion and anger, or to be left questioning our faith.  Given the magnitude of our pain and the senseless loss of life, we feel spiritually bankrupt.  At such times, I believe the best and only recourse is to surrender.  We surrender to win, bolstering our faith that God will see us through the storms of life and ultimately cultivating light and goodness from darkness and evil.  Though we live in a fallen world, he has not abandoned us.  ... While we may not be privy to his complete plan and will, there are signs and evidence of his omnipresence and omnipotence."

Lastly this is one of my other favorite lines from the end of Mark's story...

pg 263 "Contrary to the beliefs of many, nowhere in the Bible does it say that God won't give us more than we can handle.  But much is written about how God will provide the strength we need to survive those things we fear handling.  All things are possible in his world."  

August Reads...

I've been feeling like my book reviews are getting a little stale.  I'm in awe of all the reviews I read on line an am motivated and inspired by fellow readers to "clean up" my review process- brainstorming in process to come up with how I'm going to accomplish that.  I also have been thinking a lot about how it must feel to be an author and see 1, and 2, maybe even 3 star read reviews for works you poured your heart and soul into. 

So I need to share how I rate books on the 5 star rating scale.  I'm not an analytical reader.  I'm not looking at writing style or plot development.  I'm looking at whether a book gives me a great reading experience.  I'm an emotional reader- big surprise for those who know me. 

The kind of experience that ranks a 5 star read: a book that makes me want to share it with friends, families and strangers, a book that I can't stop thinking about or talking about, a book that makes me happy to the core of my heart/being, and even books that make me feel emotions such as fear, anger, and utter sadness.  The characters in a book also really affect my book ratings.  If I connect with a character and feel like I'm part of that person's world I'm more likely to feel invested in the story.  If a character annoys the sh*t out of me, or I'm so upset with the character's actions and "being" then I'm less likely to rank that book high. 

A four star read is a book that just doesn't quite reach the top of my "reading mountain" of happiness.  However, it is enjoyable, good characters, great moving story or plot and likely one I think about off an on or would suggest to friends to read.  It doesn't hit the "jack pot" of 5 stars as it just doesn't have the extra "hump" to get it to the top of the mountain.  For instance, a little long winded or slow reading style in places.  A character or two I don't understand their purpose in the story or again they make me angry or annoyed. 

A three star read is just a "meh" book.  One that I finished.  One that had an OK story line, but no fireworks with story, characters, or emotions during the reading process.  Sometimes these are the books I wonder that if I had a different "reader's eye" would I rate them higher?  They are not books I normally suggest to others.

A two star read is a book I have likely finished, but painfully finished.  The characters are a big part of me liking a book and so these two star books are normally filled with characters I really don't enjoy at all.  Also two star books have story lines that I just don't get or can't follow.  These books I have no problem not talking about or recommending to anyone. 

A one star read is a book I likely haven't even finished.  They are books that I think are a waste of my time as I don't understand the story or I don't like the story because of the character's demeanor, and presence in the story. I have no problem vocally proclaiming my disdain for these books.  I'm sorry for these authors and mean no hurtful harm to them personally, but their book/story was not one for me.

I'm a quote person and have been keeping notebooks filled with book quotes for quite some time.  I know a good book for me is one that I'm marking pages or underlining words, phrases or full paragraphs.  I don't have a great memory.  I can't recite quotes like some of my "bookies" can. I have this dream that one day I will write my own book about reading and include many of my favorite quotes from stories I've experienced during my reading life as a way to further honor authors and my favorite "reads". 

All that said here are the books I read this past month.  I hope these reviews entice some of you to pick them up and I hope that my reviews are seen as my reviews with no strings attached- meaning no hurt feelings to the author's whose book I didn't enjoy./didn't give high stars.  One day when I write a book I will be in the same boat of judgment and will remember we write for ourselves only, not for others approval. 

Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

by Dani Shapiro

4 stars.  Audiobook.  High praise for Dani Shapiro's honest memoir about the quest to find who her father is/was.  Her writing reads like a journalist's clean, cut writing style with added bonus of emotion as she is writing about her own life.  She reads this book on audio and I think that is almost always a bonus when listening to a memoir or biography because hearing the author's voice reading their story adds to the reading experience.  This book brings to light what many may be experiencing with the boom of all the DNA testing now available to anyone who can order on line.  These tests bring out the desire for answers like "Where are you from?" and create a more in depth question and answer with their findings -"Where are you really from?".  This was one of the final books on my Modern Mrs Darcy Summer reading list and I was happy to finish my summer reading listening to this book.  

Kitchens of the Great Midwest 

by J.Ryan Stradal

4 stars.  Audiobook.  This is our September book club pick.  I couldn't get the book in hard copy so I went with the audiobook and I really enjoyed it.  I liked hearing the Minnesota and Midwest accents throughout the reading.  Eva Thorvald has a rough start to her life.  Book reviews are sometimes hard to write because I really don't want to give away too much of the story.  So I can't really tell you why Eva's life starts rough. Nor do I want to ruin the story of how her life continues onward and despite it's beginning she comes out in the end being much more than I, the reader, ever expected.  What I so enjoyed about the book were the people.  There are many side stories occurring throughout the book.  Towards the end I was a little frustrated and just wanted to get back to Eva, so that is ultimately why I couldn't give this book a 5 star review.  I wanted more of Eva and her metamorphosis.  The Midwest towns, accents, culture, and food were an added bonus to this read.  Can't wait to heart what the "bookies" think.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

5 stars.  This book blew me away and messed with my mind for days.  I was so impressed with the story line and the creativity in the author's writing style.  If the mystery doesn't hold your interest the steamy bedroom scenes will.  Verity is an author of a popular series of books.  She has an unfortunate car accident that puts her out of commission to finish writing the series.  So her agent, along with her husband decide to bring in an author to finish the series.  Lowen Ashleigh is that author.  I just felt so many emotions for Lowen throughout the book.  She was an aspiring author who had been given the opportunity of a lifetime.  This project could bring her financial stability and even more importantly could allow her to believe in her writing and become the writer she wanted to be.  The road she takes in completing this project is where the story gets interesting.  Again- this book messed with my mind- a page turner that kept me up at night.  Read it!

The Cruelest Month 

by Louise Penny

4 stars. Audiobook.  I'm really enjoying going back and listening to all of the books in the Armand Gamache series.  I have a lot of books on my "to be read" list so some may think why are you wasting time re-reading books.  Well this series is so good I think I could every several years revisit the people and the places that make Louise Penny's writing come to life.  I really think there is a real Three Pines, Quebec Canada.  I really think there is a man named Armand Gamache, head of homicide for the Quebec police force, "Surete Du Quebec".  Her writing reads like real life to me. This is the third book in the series and it shows Three Pines in a new light as the book doesn't take place in the harsh Canadian winter, but instead at Easter.  There is mystery, deception, secrets, revenge, and the village and villagers of Three Pines.  

I Know This Much Is True 

by Wally Lamb

4 1/2 star read.  This was my "big" read of the summer.  At 897 pages this book kept me quite preoccupied for most of August.  An epic family story revolving around some tough topics: mental health, race/bigotry, abuse (physical and mental), lies/deception, and death.  Dominick and Thomas are identical twins who look identical but are not wired identically.  The story revolves around their relationship and also Dominick's search for their father's identity.  This book reminded me of Middlesex, one of my all time favorites.  It is a story within a story for part of the story takes place through the eyes of Dominick and Thomas's maternal grandfather's eyes.  Dominick reads his grandfather's autobiography and by going back in time learns about his grandfather and his mother. He ultimately has to come to terms with the present and his relationship with his brother, step-father, and himself.  

Side note- I found it interesting that this book's main story line was the quest to find out who their father was.  This is the same main story line of Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany".  I didn't enjoy "Owen Meany" but I did enjoy this book.  I think it all came down to the characters for me.  Owen Meany grated on my nerves and Dominick I felt compassion, pain, and understanding for.  So sometimes the "Star rating" is really all about the characters.  

May It Be So: Forty Days with the Lord's Prayer

by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson

3 stars.  Thanks to WaterBrook for sending me this book to review.  @WaterbrookMultnomah#Partner.  I enjoyed the "Before You Begin" part of this book and underlined/highlighted quite a bit.  I appreciated the different types of prayer they highlighted in this book- all based around the Lord's Prayer: Guided Prayer, Contemplative Imagery, Meditations.  This book could be read in one sitting or used as a daily devotional for 40 days.  Themes/Chapters in this book are based on each line from the Lord's Prayer.

The daily prayers/reflections and the artwork that mirrored each prayer/reflection did nothing for me.  They didn't speak to me.  The reflections/prayers were fine, but the artwork I didn't get and found distracting from the reflection/prayer.  Art is very "subjective" so I think it just wasn't for me.  

Some of my favorite lines from the book... Before You Begin... "Prayer, at its heart, is about the love of God.  May it be that nothing, including prayer, stands in the way of your knowing that love."

"In countless moments throughout the course of my life and growth, the words of others have given me ways to hear myself, know myself, and see what is going on inside myself."  

"each phrase of the Lord's Prayer touches on a different aspect of life and relationship, eliciting a distinctive mental and emotional response; that's part of the prayer's richness."

"The essence of prayer is the love of God, not our ability to pray."- A good reminder for all of us.  

I Miss You When I Blink

by Mary Laura Philpott

5 stars.  Audiobooks.  I loved this read.  It was real and spoke to some of my own thoughts/experiences.  Bonus points as the author reads her own book- which although it says "Essays" read like a memoir to me.  One negative to listening to books is I can't highlight, underline, or mark up pages when I read a great quote.  This book was full of quotes/thoughts that I wanted to capture in my "book of quotes" book.  So I likely will go back and read this one in hardcover form.  

It is another book from the Modern Mrs Darcy Summer reading list and I'm so grateful for being introduced to Mary Laura Philpott's writing.  This book is about real life, even when you "check all the boxes" and you think you have every duck in a row.  Anxiety, identity crises midlife, motherhood, marriage and finding one self are themes in this reading.

A Fatal Grace 

by Louise Penny

4 stars. Audiobook.  The second in the Armand Gamche series.  The story line of this mystery is a death occurs right at Christmas.  A season of joy and celebration is halted by this death and the villagers of Three Pines are wrapped up within the murder mystery, whether they want to be or not.  Armand Gamache and his team are not only dealing with the murder, but also dealing with enemies of Gamache who want him out of a job within the Surete Du Quebec.  I always appreciate the way Louise has the ability to surprise me with twists and turns I don't see coming- even the second time reading.  

Still Life 

by Louise Penny

3 stars. Audiobook.  The first in the Armand Gamache series.  I was first introduced to Louise Penny's series by one of my dearest "bookies".  I read this book for the first time almost 7 years ago (October 2012).  I was hooked from the start.  Doesn't hurt that the characters who grace the pages of her stories are so full of depth, and interest.  Three Pines, the quaint little village, I want to visit one day.  I'm not sure there is a real Three Pines, but I can dream.  This mystery was not my favorite and I do feel her books that followed were more to my liking, however, it is an easy read with the hallmarks of every mystery: death/murder, deception, lies, and emotions tied to the kill.  

Well that is it for August.  Onto September and my current nightstand holds many "books to review" so I'm hoping to breeze through them and head back to some "lengthy" books on my TBR shelf in keeping with my goal to get some "quality not quantity reading" done in 2019.  

July Reads

One of my goals this summer was to read a lot.  Also to read books picked off Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer reading list (https://modernmrsdarcy.com/summer-reading-guide-2019/).  I accomplished both this past month of reading.  I read a total of 11 books (5 audiobooks and 6 hard copy).

Some have asked me how I listen to so many audiobooks in a month.  My answer I listen whenever I can: my morning walks (45 minutes 5 days a week), on my commute into work (even though 15 minutes in length driving and then 10 minutes walking to my office- the time adds up), when I'm doing "household chores", and when driving long distance if the rest of the car's occupants are listening to their own music, books, and movies.

Due to the amount of books this month I will try and shorten my comments and give brief thoughts on each book.  There were some goods ones.  There was one over the top "steamy/X-Rated" audiobook.  A five star read graces this list - so good I took four pages of notes and already shared some comments on instagram/facebook.  Hope you are enjoying summer reading as much as I am.

Everything Happens For a Reason and other lies I've loved

 by Kate Bowler

4 stars.  Audiobook read by the author. This is the author's living story of her life as a Duke divinity professor, wife, mom to 4 year old son, and fighting for her life from stage 4 cancer- abdominal tumor that metastasized.  This book highlights some of the stupid things people say when someone is going through a stressful, heart wrenching, life altering experience.  I appreciated her honesty about how religion can not always have the answer to questions like "Why is this happening?", "Where is God during times of horrible life events?", etc.  A good listen, but a little tough to listen to as I have a friend who is fighting stage 4 cancer currently.  Tough stuff this life we live. 

Maybe In Another Life 

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

4 stars.  I first was introduced to the author through her book "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo", then I met her again through reading "Daisy Jones and the Six".  I will continue to pick up her books and I'm thinking I will continue to really enjoy them and meet a different author each time. All three of her books have read so differently for me.  I can't say much without giving this story away.  It reminded me of a present day "It's a Wonderful Life" or the 1990's movie "Sliding Doors"- a look at how one woman's life could be different based on a decision or an event.  Easy, quick, and enjoyable read.

The Kiss Quotient 

by Helen Hoang

4 stars.  This is the steamy, x-rated audiobook I listened to this past month.  Stella Lane is smart (mathematician) who is struggling to know how to have a relationship (both physical and emotional) due to her Asperger's.  She is logical and so hires an escort hoping he can show her how it is done (both the physical and emotional).  The escort is Michael.  He comes to the book with his own baggage and "outside story".  I enjoyed the story, just felt like the bedroom scenes were a little too descriptive for me to listen to out loud around anyone else's ears. Not sure that will deter me from reading the next one in the series "The Bride Test". 

Maybe you Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist and Our Lives Revealed

by Lori Gottlieb

5 stars.  This book just really spoke to me in so many ways.  Memoir, honest/real life writing/story sharing, fun characters, and made me cry.  Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and advice columnist who is a  New York Times best selling author.  Sounds great right? Well as she shares in this book life is not always going great and she finds herself needing the services of a therapist, for herself.  She also shares stories from her own client's as she interweaves  those stories with her own.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book.

pg 6 "that change and loss travel together. We can't have change without loss, which is why so often people say they want change but nonetheless stay exactly the same."

pg 8 "No matter how open we as a society are about formerly private matters, the stigma around our emotional struggles remain formidable.  We'll talk with almost anyone about our physical health... even our sex lives, but bring up anxiety or depression or an intractable sense of grief, and the expression on the face looking back at you will probably read, Get me out of this conversation, pronto."

pg 336 "But Wendell told me that by diminishing problems, I was judging myself and everyone else whose problems I had placed lower down on the hierarchy of pain.  You can't get through your pain by diminishing it, he reminded me.  You get through your pain by accepting it and figuring out what to do with it... And, of course, often what seems like trivial worries are manifestation of deeper ones."

Read this book!!!

Light From Distant Stars 

by Shawn Smucker

4.5 stars.  I previously posted on this book.  Go to: http://imchattynatty.blogspot.com/2019/07/light-from-distant-stars.html for the full review.  It is a fascinating story and had some "fantasy" aspects which is not my normal MO, but I enjoyed.  Thanks again to Revell for sending me this book to review.  

Transcription

by Kate Atkinson

3 stars.  Audiobook listen.  Julie Armstrong, the protagonist, is a MI5 transcriptionist during WWII.  She gets involved with some double agent story lines.  This story drug on for me and I just lost interest after awhile.  I enjoyed some of her other books much better.

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin

4 stars.  A family story with grief and challenges at the heart of it.  The book starts way in the future, in an apocalyptic type atmosphere.  I struggled a little with why the author chose to begin the book in 2079.  This family has deals with quite a bit of change, challenge and heart ache throughout the book.  A father who dies leaving a mother with 4 children.  The mom takes "the pause" which bothered me and yet intrigued me to read on.  You'll have to read the book to see what I mean about "the pause".  I enjoyed the different characters who make up this family: Renee- the oldest and the matriarch type sister who is the responsible, organized and mother figure for the younger three children.  Then Caroline who marries young and raises her own brood of children and then has a "come to Jesus"/mid life moment.  Followed by the only boy in the family, Joe.  Joe's character development, now looking back, is foreshadowed by his actions during his father's funeral at the beginning of the story. Fiona rounds out the siblings as the youngest sister, poet, and blogger with a very INTERESTING blog topic.  Lastly, the mother Noni who I really disliked.  A great family saga.

Only Ever Her

by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

4 stars.  An interesting mystery begins with a murder of a mother.  The three year old daughter identifies her mother's murderer and he is sent to prison.   Flash forward years later and it is a few days before the 3 year old, now all grown up, named Annie, is going to get married.  Annie however has disappeared. Ironic that at the same time she disappears the man she identified as her mother's murderer had been released from prison due to DNA that was found exonerating him of the murder.   I liked the side stories and character development in this book.  I was nervous to find out where Annie would be found.  

The Great Treehouse War

by Lisa Graff

 4 star.  Audiobook with my daughter.  A daughter, Winnie,  is being pulled apart by her parents who have divorced. Each parent has chosen days/nights that Winnie will spend with them and her father bought a house that abuts her mother's back yard.  Between the two yards is a tree house.   This tree house is the only saving grace. One night a week she gets to stay in the tree house as a night just to herself.  However, this grace is going away as her father is traveling abroad this summer for his teaching position and wants Annie to come with him.  To make up for the days that she will not be with her mother this summer her parents decide the only thing they can do is take away her "free night" by taking away her "tree house night".  Her friends come to her aide and they "hole" themselves up in the tree house.  A great story with diversity of characters (race/ethnicity/personalities).  

Dear Mrs. Bird

by AJ Pearce

4 stars.  Book club read for July.  I enjoyed this book.  I love historical fiction that takes place during WWII. This story had a different representation of WWII- a view from London during the war.  Emmy Lake wants to be a war correspondent.  Her dreams take her to the offices of the London Evening Chronicle where she awakes to reality as a "worker bee" for "Dear Mrs. Bird" and advice columnist who is mean and not empathetic to any of the readers who write in to get her advice.  Emmy is in charge of going through Mrs Bird's mail and assigned the job of picking out "appropriate" reader's questions/concerns that Mrs. Bird will take time to respond to.  When Emmy isn't doing her day job she is volunteering her time as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services in London.  The war, her dreams, and friend's losses during this hard time in London push her to take action.  

My Favorite Half-Night Stand

by Christina Lauren

5 stars.  Audiobook- enjoyed listening to this on a long car ride by myself- not for "younger ears".

4 friends, three boys and one girl, all in their late 20's/early 30's, all professors at UC Santa Barbara.  They find out Barack Obama is coming for a black tie dinner at their college and they all decided they need dates.  So they do what millennials do... they sign up on a on-line dating site.  From the start of their entry into this dating service there begins the story - a romantic comedy.  I would love to see this book on the big screen.  

11 great reads in July...

Then I discovered that I missed a June book- so here is a bonus.

Time After Time

by Lisa Grunwald

4 stars.  This book is a mix of mystery, history, fiction and fantasy.  I'm not a fantasy person and that part of the book made this book even more special and intriguing- a sign of a great book if I'm singing praises of the "fantasy" part.  Joe works at Grand Central Terminal- NYC.  He meets Nora Lansing who has a flare for the 1920's flapper era- however, it is the late 1930's not the 20's. Nora is strange and yet Joe and her hit it off.   Joe and Nora's relationship seems typical, but there is a twist.