This year I want to make a concerted effort to volunteer more. My work for the local library Friends board takes about 4-6 hours a week on average. I don’t want to take time away from that because I love working with the donated books and book sales as well as running the Facebook page. I just want to make a little more time in my day to find new places that could use an extra hand. For the last two Fridays I’ve volunteered at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and helped Clevelanders shop for food that they need – for free! It’s rewarding and I’m happy to have met some very wonderful people and plan to continue helping out a few times a month. As the temperatures are freezing everywhere, I am constantly reminded to be thankful for our warm and cozy home that’s stocked with all the food we need and the books and puzzles that keep my heart purring like like a cat.
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith 4.5 stars, Thriller/Private Detective Mystery, 960 pages, 2023. Cormoran Strike series #7. Robin goes undercover to try and expose a cult. Cormoran deals with Charlotte, again. This series needs to be read in order. Start with Cuckoo’s Calling.
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood. 4.5 stars, YA Romance, 352 pages, 2023. I like Hazelwood’s romances and this one set in the chess world for teens was a lot of fun. The ‘couple is 18 & 20, one bisexual and one not having met anyone who has interested them in that way, and both hardwired for chess. This is her first YA romance and I appreciated the behind closed door sex scene.
The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman. 4.5 stars, Nonfiction Graphic Novel for Kids, 80 pages, 2023. What a hopeful book in such an uncertain time. This is the true life story of how 2 Israeli scientists brought the Judean Date Palm tree back to life after having been extinct for over 2000 years. (Here’s a link to a magazine article about it) Inspire the green thumb in your life with this inspiring story from Israel.
Currently Reading
Movies
Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2022. What in the world? This was a wacky, insane, and thoughtful movie about parallel universes. Jason and I agreed that we’ve never seen anything quite like it. Two hotdog thumbs up.
Plans for the Weekend
Any other Sunday my weekend would be over, but since tomorrow is MLK Jr. Day we get one more day to play. We have some friends coming over tomorrow to hang out and play games before Gage has an orthodontist appointment. I hope your three day weekend brings some good reading and fun!
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.
Since I read over 100 nonfiction picture books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts (part one is here) SO MANY fantastic books!
This little forgotten story was made great fun by the humor of the words and illustrations. The mother and her son lived in the house as it was being rolled to a different location – for a whole month!
An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrator Dare Coulter. 56 pages, 2023
It’s a beautifully illustrated book that will generate great discussion no matter how old your child is. Alexander wrote this book after a conversation with his daughter’s teacher when he asked why she was teaching about the 13 colonies without talking about slavery. It belongs on all of the shelves! The illustrations were a mix of sketches, paints, and clay figures.
We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman, Beth Krommes illustrator. 40 pages, 2023
I’m obsessed with the illustrations in this book! Perfect for early elementary nature lovers.
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.
As I pulled my 5* reads I noticed that this was my year of romance. I’ve always loved romance, but have read less over the years. This year I discovered and went on a bit of a reading binge on two of the authors on this list! I read my first three books by Ali Hazelwood and Katherine Center.
What a great modern day romance! I’m partial to historical romance, but love it when a contemporary is done well. I read People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry and liked it, but this one hit the sweet spot for me.
Literary agent Libby and book editor Charlie had a rocky start, but when they meet in an unexpected place feelings start to thaw and heat up. What reader doesn’t love a book about book lovers?
This is my first Katherine Center book and it was so much fun! In her author’s note she talks about this being a book she wrote during the first year of the pandemic and she wanted it to be full of “as much light as possible.” Mission accomplished!
Hannah was a workaholic who just lost her mother and had her boyfriend break up with her right after the funeral. She’s hired to guard Jack Stapleton, movie star and People’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive,’ after he comes back home and there’s a stalker situation. Hannah steps into the embrace of the family she never had.
This was my first book by Ali Hazelwood was so much fun! If you have a thing for smart men, are inspired by intelligent women, and love some spice then this is the romance for you! I loved this book. Stories set in academia always appeal to me. Pure escapism.
I loved this for so many reasons, but let’s start with two. I laughed out loud many times and was brought to tears once. I loved the dry humor, the puns, and the pure escapism.
Florence is the ghost writer for a bestselling romance author in NYC about to miss an impossible deadline when’s she’s called back home to her family’s funeral home in South Carolina. There we find out that in addition to being a ghost writer Florence also sees ghosts. She’s heartbroken in more ways than one, adjusting to her family and small town once again (um, so small the mayor is a dog 😹), when a familiar face shows up on her doorstep with a shimmery aura and a body you can walk through.
Even if you think you know how it’s all going to turn out, you won’t want to miss the ride. I listened to this and loved it.
Evelyn Hugo was a force to be reckoned with. Abused by her father and determined to become a star, she used the assets she was born with to reach the highest echelons of 1950s Hollywood. She reaches out to Monique, a relatively unknown reporter to write her life story and we find out what can be hidden during a lifetime spent in the public’s eye.
This was a fast read with highs and lows, but always at its heart, a story about the price of fame. I loved it.
I didn’t really know much of anything about it and went in blind. Finding some maptastic magical realism along the way made me happy 😁
Nell was estranged from her father and her college boyfriend for 7 years because of a disagreement at the NYPL map division, where they all worked. When her dad is found dead in his office it sets off a hunt that Nell can’t quite quit even at great danger to herself.
I really liked this one. There are a lot of characters, but one storyline. I liked learning more about map making. The mystery was good and told at just the right pace to keep me hooked. If you don’t like bits of magic in your book, you might try a different title.
This was the perfect book at the perfect time. I love when that happens! It was magical, romantic, and fun.
The Estrada women are tied to their Mexican flower farm. Each one of them, for generations, has been born with special powers and the ability to help others through spells, like erasing memories or bonding to another person. Harlow didn’t have any such gift and always felt like the odd one out. When she goes home to regroup after a breakup she finds the magic she’s been looking for her whole life.
There are lots of women in this family and something tells me we might see more of these women in the future.
Broken Girls was such a haunting read that takes place at a creepy boarding school for girls. It has a 1950s storyline and a current day one, both equally good, a rarity. A found body, a missing girl, a dead sister, a corrupt police department, and old prejudices make this one a fast read.
Oh, did I mention the ghost? I’m not into ghost stories, really, but this one was good!
This is reread number 54 of my comfort historical romance novel. Okay, I don’t have an exact number, but over the years I know it’s added up. Some books from your teens don’t hold up, ESPECIALLY romances, but this one continues to please. Lady Elizabeth Cameron is ordered to choose a wealthy husband. Ian Thornton has no intention of settling down. But, as often happens in a romance novel, sparks fly.
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category. Here are the 12 nonfiction and 2 fiction middle school books that I rated 5 * on Goodreads.
What happened to Muzoon, age 14, and her family when the civil war in Syria started to hit too close to home? An escape that leaves the reality of ‘home’ a question. I think this will appeal to a lot of middle schoolers as well as teens. We need more Muzoons as role models for our kids (and even for adults like me!). Inspiring. (Amazon)
Do you have a political or current events kid? This is a visually inviting non-partisan book full of excellent information about the things Americans hold dear; freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. Told in a conversational manner with fun examples. (Amazon)
Do you have that kid that enjoys gross stories or interesting facts? This is sure to please. Full of fantastic illustrations and written with great humor and fun. It will teach them loads of history without them even realizing it! (Amazon)
A gorgeously illustrated book about the Japanese American incarceration during WWII, a terrible time in this country’s history. The photos and art make this feel like a graphic novel. While this is a middle school book, older teens would probably appreciate it more. (Amazon)
I ❤️ illustrator Jerry Pinkney and any fan of his over 100 children’s books is going to want to pick up this memoir. The copy was almost done, but only sketches of the final artwork were done before he died in 2021. The sketches were used in the book. This is for the artist in your life. (Amazon)
The story of the children put on trains by their parents to escape Nazi controlled homelands. The Kindertransport movement took almost 10,000 children to Britain at the outbreak of WWII. Most of them never see their families again. An important book. This is a picture book, but the content is best for middle schoolers. (Amazon)
A perfectly illustrated memoir about growing up in Cold War Russia. His observations on communism and his experience as a Jewish boy in Russia during the 1980s make this a compelling read. Told with great humor. (Amazon)
Timely. Important, Inspiring. Tackled big things with approachable ways to make a difference at home. Science is always evolving and it’s imperative that we all stay up to date. For that kiddo who loves science or is interested on conservation. Colorful layouts make it fun. (Amazon)
A fascinating look at the old, the new and everything in between. It’s an oversized picture book, but with lots of reading on each page with huge pictures and graphics. This covers things like mapping out a city, getting around, water, electric, food, at different points in history. (Amazon)
I loved the mix of women in this book! Most I’d heard of, but not all. I also loved the full page drawing of each. An entertaining and well laid out book sure to hold your musical middle schooler’s attention. (Amazon)
This oversized, illustrated picture book was SO MUCH FUN. The professions start with the oldest and end with a job that Jason had when he was a teen, sadly extinct now. And, no, it wasn’t a professional fartist, walking toilet, or ornamental hermit, althought those are all in here! Buy it for a kid, but make sure you read it yourself first. (Amazon)
Presents 50 quotes from Poor Richard’s Almanac with a bit of history. I loved the full page illustrations. An appealing book that has bite-sized life lessons. (Amazon)
This book was so good I didn’t even mind that it made me cry twice. Not just tears in my eyes, but having to close the book and grab some tissues.
Conor’s mom has been sick awhile and he’s having trouble at school. When a monster appears he’s scared, but nothing can be as scary as his nightly nightmare. The monster tells his stories and Conor’s life continues to get worse.
This is the illustrated version and it’s so good! This is a kids book, but it goes to dark places. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s so much to say!
This is a middle school book, but with teen issues. (Amazon)
Ann-Marie and her best friend Ellen are making the best of growing up with Nazis on every corner of their town, until one night the unthinkable happens at the local Jewish synagogue and now the Nazis have a list of Jews. Ellen’s parents leave her with Ann-Marie’s family as they flee and what happens next is so emotional and horrifying that I became attached very quickly. Ann-Marie and her family take extraordinary risks to do the right thing.
Historical fiction at it’s finest. This is was a Newbery Award Winner for a reason. (Amazon)
Finished listening to on 11-17-08, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1929
“When I saw her I was in love with her. Everything turned over inside of me. She looked toward the door, saw there was no one, then she sat on the side of the bed and leaned over and kissed me. I pulled her down and kissed her and felt her heart beating.”
Lieutenant Frederic Henry is an American serving as an ambulance driver in the Italian army during World War I. Catherine Barkley is a nurse who meets and flirts with Frederic before he is wounded on the war front. He recovers in a hospital in Milan with Catherine as his nurse and the two begin a love affair. Before Frederic is sent back into duty Catherine finds out she is pregnant. I’m not going to say more because I don’t want to give too much away.
I’ve read that this is one of the best war novels ever written and that it is one of the best love stories ever penned. I don’t agree with either of these, although I do think it does a great job of bringing the war to life and it is a grand love story. Some of the problem may be that the character of Catherine felt very flat to me. She felt like she was written by a man and, well, not all that sympathetic. Surprisingly, I did enjoy the aspects of the war Hemingway chose to share.
This is an American classic, but because it is a war story I avoided it. And somehow I earned my degree in English Education without ever having read a Hemingway novel. I decided to listen to it and was pleased with the reader, John Slattery. He did an excellent job. Some of you may know him from his current job on the tv show Mad Men.
“You have movement of one lumbrical- the ring finger of your left hand- and good shoulder and neck muscle control. You could lose some or all of that. And lose your ability to breathe spontaneously.” -Chapter 2
Lincoln Rhymes and Amelia Sachs are back in book three of this popular series.
Lincoln is in North Carolina for a risky spinal cord surgery and he’s brought Amelia and his aide, Thom, with him. Lincoln is hoping for any small improvement and Amelia is discouraging him from taking the risk. The local sheriff, a cousin of a NY friend, asks Lincoln to help with a kidnapping case in the few days he has before he goes under the knife. Garrett, Insect Boy to locals, has kidnapped two girls and Lincoln and Amelia work with local authorities to track him down. Once in jail, Amelia is drawn to Garrett’s vulnerability and becomes convinced of his innocence. She makes a decision that will change her life forever and pit her against Lincoln.
I cannot say enough good things about this series and this one was a nice change of pace. It focused more on the relationship between Lincoln and Amelia and the southern locale offered a colorful backdrop to the story. That said, this was my least favorite of the three so far. There were too many people involved in excessive twists and turns. I still recommend, but start with the first one, The Bone Collector.
Nathan Zuckerman, the narrator from American Pastoral, is back and this time he is tackling the McCarthy era. Nathan reconnects with his high school English teacher, Murray Ringold, after many years and the two reminisce about that turbulent time in their lives. Murray’s brother, Ira, was a famous radio actor back in the day and took Nathan under his wing. Now that Ira is dead Nathan gets to find out everything he had not known about his mentor when he was younger.
Ira was a Jewish communist and marries a beautiful actress in hopes of living the American dream. He had money, a beautiful wife, an expensive home, fans who loved him, and hopes for a child one day. Instead he was thrust into an unsatisfying marriage that came with a troubled and spiteful step daughter. When the marriage went south, his wife fingered him as a communist.
I really didn’t like this book much. It lacked a story I cared about it. I wasn’t drawn to the characters. It made some fine points about that period in American history, but I found myself skimming paragraphs at a time. I much preferred American Pastoral. The next book for the class is The Human Stain.
“I can’t think of anything more interesting than being a private investigator. But it also has hour after hour of sheer tedium.” Chapter 1
Are you thinking of hiring a private investigator? Are you considering a career in the field? Do you think your spouse is cheating on you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the book for you.
This book covers a wide range of topics and handles each with ease and humor. The first section of the book details what you need to do if you are interested in a career. How do you break into a field where there are many more applicants than jobs? Details such as firearms training, salary, licensing, camera and computer needs, and desired skills are all covered.
The book then moves into the do-it-yourself section. The basics of how to find someone, how the courthouse works, and how to beat the telephone company are all covered. I must admit that I spent a few hours checking out some of the free databases online that the book suggested and had fun until I put my own name in and realized how easy it was for someone to get information about me!
The next section they call on-the-job training. It covers the interview, the neighborhood investigations, and surveillance (including tips on tailing someone). It gives intruction and ideas for pretexting, which basically means what lie to tell to get the most information. It offers six ways to get around caller id and also offers a whole chapter (16) on how to tell if your spouse is cheating.
The books was interesting, useful and full of stories of the author’s own investigations. I was amazed at how much information was covered. If you are ever in need of a private investigator I would recommend buying this book first. You will save yourself a lot of money.
“It’s lucky no one else knows what our most secret thoughts are. We’d all be seen for the cunning, self-aggrandizing fools we are.” Chapter 15
This was a great mystery. A killer was mutilating bodies after he killed them and then once a detective became obsessed with the case the detective was killed too. This went undiscovered for many years because the detective’s deaths were ruled suicides. But reporter Jack McEvoy just lost his twin brother and doesn’t want to believe it was suicide so he sets out to prove it wasn’t.
Once Jack convinces his brother’s partner he sets out to see if he can prove it had been done before. Jack flies to Washington DC to investigate and inadvertantly opens a FBI task force before he can go public with his own story. Jack then must force his way into the story and begins his whirlwind journey with the FBI.
This book has it all: grief, revenge, love, murder, guilt, and the chase. If you love mysteries you cannot go wrong with this one. This will keep you guessing til the end. I know Connelly has a current mystery series and I bet when I find the time to read one it will be good too!
Finished 5-13-08, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 1996
Stacy's Books 