Enjoyable Seasonal Reads

It's the most wonderful time to the year...to continue reading!

Following is the list of Christmas novels which I have read...thus far...:

1. The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson - Dec. 4
2. The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Dec. 19
3. The Christmas Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Dec. 20
4. The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans - Dec. 22

The Christmas Angel Project:  This one is a re-read, a book I chose for our Paper Chase Book Store Book Club.  Enjoyed it just as much the second time as it reminds me of this very book club, a group of ladies who gather to chat about books and just enjoy their time together. Then, one of the ladies passes...and life continues.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase:  A re-telling of A Christmas Carol, this young adult novel introduces the reader to Holly who has been the Ghost of Christmas Past for five years now.  Do people deserve not just a second chance...but a third chance?  Maybe?  Grace says yes.

The Christmas Secret:  A novella centered around a diary and an entry that reveals a secret, this one introduces a young bride-to-be who suddenly finds her world upside down, but one who continues to turn to the Lord.  Her Man is persistent, digging for answers, traveling to tell the story further, accepting the results.

The Noel Diary:  The first in a series of three (the next two to-be-released) reads, as the author tells us, very similar to his life as a writer.  An author, the main character's mother passes, resulting in his returning home to face what he left behind, what is there now, and what will be.  Yes, this one also centers around a diary!

Still to read this season:

1. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
2. A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Yes, 'tis the season...to read!

What are you reading good this Christmas?

ARA Book Club Reads

This year we began something new:  ARA hosted its first ever book club.  Seems fitting does it not for the state reading group to read?!

This has been the best experience for me!  If the other participants have enjoyed this as much as I, then, we have had some ecstatic readers!  AND these authors will meet with the participants at conference next week!  Fun!

AND...I have the six authors/books lined up for 2018!  More about that later!

This year, we hosted these reads:

1. Teamwork by Amanda Mayeaux and Monique Wild
2. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
3. Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen 
4. The Reading Makeover by Danny Brassell
5. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

The authors of the first four met live with the book club participants on Facebook.  Brassell met via Facebook video.  Fun.  Interesting.  

For most of the meetings, I sat right here in my chair, in the comfort of my own home, with a cup of flavored coffee nearby (tonight's drink is hot apple cider...yum!)  For some, though, I was in a different state; for another, I sat in a Sonic parking lot, for I could not arrive home in time to post the 5-7 questions every 7-10 minutes or so.

Having spent several hours with these fellow readers, I am really looking forward to meeting the book club participants...I hear their voices.  I have appreciated their input and thoughts and suggestions.  Now, I just would like to see their faces!

Won't you join us in 2018?

Grand announcement coming next week:  authors...titles...going to be fun!  Right here!

July 2017's Reads...

Only two...this makes me a bit sad...but...I attended meetings for 19 days straight  (back to back...with no overlap)...AND I am reading several others right now!

So about those two, which totals 30 books (so far) for 2017, which means I am a couple of books behind my goal to read a book a week this year...

29. Teaching Reading with YA Literature - Jennifer Buehler - NCTE Reads Bk Club - July 12
30. Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen, July 30

23-28: Several Summer Reads

23. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes - June 24

24. First Impressions by Sarah Price - June 29 

25. To the One Who Conquers by Sam Storms - July 2

26. Lowcountry Boil by Susan M. Boyer - July 4

27. A Court of Thorns and Glass by Sarah J. Maas - July 5
28. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - July 6

20-22: Broken, Death, and Blooms

My last three books have been quite the interesting mix!

20.  The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp

This one I read this spring with my bible study group called Making Choices.  Meeting bi-weekly, this book also came with enrichment materials, including a study book and a video for each meeting.  I gained some powerful nuggets from this study:  we have to be broken...not to be remade, but to be reshaped into who we are to become.  Very powerful.

21.  Death Comes to  Pemberly by P. D. James

This one I read for the Paper Chase Book Club's monthly meeting, also as re-read for me, as we had chosen this one about four years for our faculty read.  I finished it wanting to read Pride and Prejudice!

22.  When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti

This one I read for the Women's Bible Cafe Online Book Club...just a few days late...as it was May's book!  Loved this book...when I finally got into it.  For several years, I have planted morning glories (have some sprouting now!) and will plant now with a new focus...and will attempt to harvest the seeds this fall.  Loved the intertwining stories of Becky, Ivy, and Anna.  Really good.

What have you been reading good so far this summer?  My pile is huge and my commitment to book clubs almost daunting...but exciting.  More to come!

16-19: Four More Reads!

This spring has been so very busy:  my daughter graduated high school, completed many events for various organizations, and finished Year 26 of teaching high school English.

BUT...during that I read four books.  Always just a bit of time can be found to read!

16.  Lessons I Learned in the Dark by Jennifer Rothschild:  I purchased this book at Women of Joy in April when I heard the author speak...learning then about her blindness, learning more about her life as I read her book.  Inspiring.  Very.

17.  The Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen:  May's book for Paper Chase Book Club was mine, so I chose this one, one that had rested on my book shelves for some time.  Loved it!  The ladies also gave it great reviews, appreciating the pull of the bonds of family members and places, questioning the fantasy of the alligator,  loving a good romance.  :)

18.  Long Way Gone by Charles Martin:  This one I finished in May...for April's reading for the Women's Bible Cafe Online Book Club.  For the first time, I wanted...and want still...so much so to learn to play the guitar.  Really!  For this book, one might should begin with the author's afterward, for I would have more appreciated the retelling of the story of the prodigal's son.  Powerful.

19.  Teamwork by Amanda Mayeaux and Monique Wild:  This was the first read for Arkansas Reading Association's first ever book club that we hosted online in a Facebook group.  Fun, exciting, and a time of learning.  I went into this study...and having nearly finished 26 years of teaching...thinking I knew much about teamwork, but...I learned much!  Always a good thing.

Summer is here.  School is out...and the pile of books for book clubs is increasing.  Read here about my summer reading commitments.  Yay!

Happy reading!

15: The Women of Easter

For the first time ever, I endeavored to participate in Lent...in my own personal way...and one also encouraged by a group of ladies across the nation, as we read Liz Curtis Higgs' The Women of Easter.  This has been the most amazing 39 days...just an increased awareness as I walked the paths, observed the relationships, listened to the conversations of all the many Mary's...and others...as their relationships with Jesus Christ came ever more alive for me.

Part of the book study involved journaling at the end of each chapter.  This I enjoyed also, for through writing, I reflect and learn more about myself.  I hear various authors encourage this, and as an English teacher, I get it (encourage...okay, make...my students write daily, even multiple times).  Just seems as if time evades me, though, being used up by other tasks or seemingly more pressing deadlines.  Yes, I know...one makes time for what one wants the most.  (That was a bit hard to type!) 

Challenge to self:  keep that journal close and reflect as I read the Bible, adding further to those reflections here on this blog!  Yay!  Good plan!  Now, Time...be my friend!

ALSO...very excited to say...I saw and heard Liz Curtis Higgs during this read when I attended (and was sooooo blessed) Women of Joy in Branson.  Listen!  I tweeted out that I had just seen her...and was starstruck!  Then, she tweeted me back!  How cool is that!?  I went by her booth a few times but never caught her there. 

Then, she spoke. To me...and 3,999 other women.  :)  The woman is amazing...humble, loving, inspiring...and, oh, so funny!

Now, if I type here that I hope to hear her again in November in Springfield, MO, will that make this a bit too much?  Well, I am...and so do some of the other ladies who attended Women of Joy with me.  Yay!  Going to get our worship on with Liz Curtis Higgs who directs all worship to Him.

Now....back to The Women of Easter...

1. My Favorite Mary:  Mary of Magdeline.  As I noted in my journal, maybe she is my favorite because I learned the most about her?  She was there...everywhere.  The Lord had done amazing things for her.  Cast out demons.  Delivered her.  Liberated her.  Loved her.  Then, that one-way street became a two-way.  She loved Him back, always wanting to learn more.  There, I am.  I always tell people who are a bit discouraged or disgruntled:  when you go to church, plan for Him to meet you there...in song, in fellowship, in message, for He has told us...where two or three are gathered, He's there.  (Sidenote:  just imagine how much of Him was there when 4000 gathered at Women of Joy!  Answer:  the same amount as when two or three are gathered.  Powerful He is!
2. The Scriptures:  LCH slows the Bible down...reading, studying, analyzing verse by verse...sometimes, word by word.  "Woman!"  Again, there I am!  Right there, in the scriptures, He's speaking to me.  This method is powerful, for often in our speed to read, we miss the nuggets gleaned from a word study.  Sometimes, we miss the lessons learned between the verses themselves, as we slow down and consider what happened between the time spans of the words and verses.

I plan to study/read Higgs' The Women of Christmas this way this year...just a few pages each morning.  Looking forward to it!

Tomorrow, is Day 40.  Easter.  Then, I will land in His Word, in His House, with His People...for He will be there, too.

Books 8-13: Catching UP!

This week has been Spring Break, and I accomplished my mission:  to read!  So far, I have finished three books I had started and read two others...in this order.

1. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - Mar. 20 - This one was Paper Chase Book Club's March's title, one I had read a few years ago and had forgotten enough to enjoy reading again as I became reacquainted with the intertwining lives of several families centered around Nell, who had been left along, abandoned after a ride across the ocean.  Author Kate Morton must be a master at planning plot lines before the first line is ever written!
2. The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin - Mar. 22 - This one I read for Women's Online Bible Cafe Book Club.  The first in a series of four, in this one, the reader meets Griselda and Agnes, sisters, who befriend a homeless man whose past catches up when his prayer that he has asked Agnes to pray seemingly is not answered...or is it, as noted by Griselda, the town's librarian and caretaker of her 700+-pound sister.  I look forward to reading Griselda's story...in book three.  :)
3. The Hammett Hex by  Victoria Abbott - Mar. 24 - I am ahead...for once!  Yay!  This one is our April book for the Paper Chase Book Club.  An adventure of two who vacation in California, this novel (the beginning of another series!) introduces the reader to two opposites...book collector Jordan and policeman Smiley, two who live on opposite sides of the law...sorta...kinda...at times.  A fun read.  I am certainly now glad that I went ahead at the last book club meeting and bought the next three in this series.  For my mother-in-law.  Of course.  :)
4. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - Mar. 24 - Another twister.  Of the soul, the mind, the heart.  Picoult introduces the reader to Ruth, a nurse who is told to no longer take care of a white baby...because she is black.  Then, the baby dies.  Then, she is charged.  A novel about race, differences, privileges, this one will make you think. 
5. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - Mar. 25 - Remember 1984 and Big Brother?  Bring that concept into the 21st Century following a terrorist attack on Califorinia and meet Marcus (aka Little Brother) who leads movement via the use of the Internet.  This one, I read with a group of senior boys in hopes of inspiring them to read.  Then, of course, I discovered this one, too, is a series; this shared by another senior who I had encouraged to read this one.  Which I bought.  Which she is now reading.  Of course!
6. H20 by Virginia Bergin - Mar. 26 - Warning!  I was not impressed as much by this one as I had thought.  Maybe I have watched too much Walking Dead and read too many other apocalyptic happenings?  Main character Ruby, one of the remaining 27% who survived, just does not react as I had hoped she would.  Would love to hear your comments on this...just too much make-up and hair and clothes...and the world is dying because of life-threatening rain, rain that devours, kills.  (Unfortunately, I looked at the clouds just a bit differently yesterday as I was driving home!)

What have you been reading lately?

6-8: Grin, Olive, and Garden...

From my postings, it would appear that I have not been reading, yet, often, appearances are deceiving!  I have been reading...just a few too many books at one time, thereby completing too few.

Today, on the first day of spring...and the first day of Spring Break, I completed #8 for 2017 and, hopefully, the first of several partially read books...and, here, I will offer a few thoughts on my previous three reads:

1. The Devil's Grin (Sherlock) by Annelie Wendeberg - ebook - Jan. 29:  This mystery I enjoyed, especially the merging of historical character Sherlock Holmes.  Very interesting.  We have enjoyed the fairly recent Sherlock Holmes movies and the television series Elementary; thus, this continued my journey into meeting the famous (or would that be infamous?) Sherlock Holmes.  Main character Dr. Anton...aka a female in disguise as a male doctor...crosses paths with Sherlock and together they work to, of course, solve the current crime.  The first in a series of four, this is a series I would continue...as time allows, of course.
2. Sweet Olive by Judy Christie - ebook - Feb. 3:  This one was Women's Bible Cafe's February read...and was one I purchased on Kindle (maybe in hopes to curtail my growing stacks of novels?)  Main character Camille struggles to reach her uncle's goal of obtaining rights to land as she begins to know the inhabitants of this Louisiana community, one full of artists and works of art.  This one, too, is part of a series, the first of two; the second, of which, I have already purchased on Kindle.  Of course.
3. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - Mar. 20:  This was the March read for the Paper Chase Book Club, one I had read some time ago, one I enjoyed again for its many intertwining plots which revolve around the arrival of an unattended four-year-old by boat.  Spanning a hundred years, the reasons and secrets behind this little girl Nell unfold as the reader travels back and forth and through the thoughts of various characters.

Now, to complete another book I have begun...:)

5: Passengers

Passengers, January's book selection for our faculty book club, hooked me, intrigued me, so much so that I have purchased already the second and final book in this series...because author Alexandra Bracken leaves the reader, not just hanging, but dangling off the page, just hoping for a hint of what is to come.  What a cliffhanger!

Main character Etta learns quite unexpectedly that she can time travel, is being held hostage, and that life has norms for every time period and geographical area.  Thus, the reader moves...and learns...and moves...and learns..quickly with the zap of each shift in time as she begins a journey to save her mother from death.

Not sure the category for this novel...the main characters are 17 and 20...so not necessarily young adult, yet older young adults would enjoy this novel, I am sure.  Lots of action, romance, suspense, science fiction...all adding up to an enjoyable read.

Another teacher friend asked if I liked the writer's style.  I replied, "Yesssss," wondering where this was leading and concerned, even preparing myself to already disagree!

Then, she replied, "Then, you will want to read her other series, for I purchased Passengers because I enjoyed The Darkest Minds series so much."

As a treat and a marker of memories, this second book Wayfarer I purchased on an outing with my mother-in-law, also a lover of books.  How fitting.

Happy reading!

4: The Rise of the Wolf

This series I began last year, reading with my student book club, enjoying the excitement of a new series.  Then, I loaned the second novel in the series to a student...and waited and waited for its return...now taking back to school to share with a waiting line of those wanting to journey further into this world of Julius Caesar.

Upon completion, I told my husband, "You should read this series.  Lots of action.  AND this one is based on Julius Caesar.  Did I mention LOTS of action?"

Main character Nic is full of it...magic and power, that is, that he is compelled to use for the good of family, mankind, and the gods. Other characters encourage him, challenge him, irritate him.

The third novel comes out the end of this month.  Yay!  LOVE when reading an entire series is a reality!

3: A Man Called Ove by Fredik Backman

I know Ove.  I have met him.  I have watched him on TV.  This was the first time that I read about him, though.

What a cantankerous man he is! A grump.  Or is he? Ove is the 59-year-old main character of A Man Called Ove, one who sees life as he sees it and has no intention of changing...until the neighbors move in...and become the family he does not know he needs.  Then, he's still ill-tempered, negative, and slowly falling in love with all who begin to invade his home, resulting in complications to fulfil his desire to leave it to be with Sonja.

A book choice for one of my book clubs, this one I was not too sure that I really wanted to read, wishing it would end, wishing it were not so long, wishing, after the first 150 pages, that I had read it some time ago, for I did enjoy getting to know Ove...through reading about him.

The author allows glimpses into Ove's live, flashing back...and then forward, revealing sneak peaks into his life, until the canvas begins to fill and the picture of his life is revealed.  Not always a fan of this method, I would avidly claim that this author has mastered this technique.  Very well written.  Very.

Upon researching the author, I note this novel will be coming to the big screen.  As I was reading, I kept picturing Clint Eastwood as Ove...the Clint Eastwood in Grand Torino.  Yes, that Clint is Ove.

When I mentioned this novel to a sister-in-law, she gushed, "I loved it so much that I bought more of his books."  That is high praise...from any reader.

Happy reading!

2. Rebecca

Yesterday, we had a Snow Day...the first this year...and this school year.  What better way to spend it than by reading a book.  As I stood gazing at my stacks to be read, I pulled Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier from the shelf, one I purchased some time ago after hearing a colleague go on about what a favorite it was of hers.

I made myself read the first 50 pages, then 75; after that, I decided I should finish because I had already committed that much time.  Then about page 150ish, I was hooked, then reading the full 391 pages to completion.

Now...I need to gather some co-readers of this novel so we may chat about how this one ends!

The cover says this:  "The Unsurpassed Modern Masterpiece of Romantic Suspense."

• Unsurpassed - this word I would argue, although I did enjoy this one quite much.
• Modern - Written in 1938 would classify this as modern.  The writing style might not.  Much detail.  Vivid detail  Detailed details.
• Masterpiece - Yes, I would agree.  Now, that I have read it...and glad I did...again, I would love to gather some who have also read and discuss character development (Rebecca is NOT the main character...or is she?!), plot development, writing style...
• Romantic - Yes, girl meets man (yes, a young girl (whose given name we never learn) falls for older man and soon becomes Mrs. Maxim de Winters.  A former Mrs. de Winters lived...but no longer; she, the reader soon meets...and meets...and meets.
• Suspense - this one will surprise you right to the very last page.  Do NOT read the end first!  Please!

I would give the first 150 pages - 2 stars.

The remaining pages - 4.5 stars.

Upon completion and now considering the novel as a whole, I would give the first 150 pages - 4 stars.

Please read and let me know if you agree! 

Happy reading!

1: Island of Glass

This has been a fun series.  The third in this trilogy, Island of Glass tells of the search by six for the third star.  Spoiler Alert:  yes, the six main characters find the star!

This novel focuses on characters five and six:  Doyle and Riley, as the other four characters' relationships continue to grow and develop.  Spoiler Alert:  well, you probably already know how these relationships end in the happily ever after!

In this series, author Nora Roberts creates a fantastical world of witches, seers, shift-changers, and other such gifts.  Just an enjoyable place to journey when a few hours of relaxation is needed.

This is the fourth such trilogy of hers I have read, others including...

1. Key Trilogy
2. In the Garden Trilogy
3. The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy
4. The Guardians Trilogy

I may now consider the Circle Trilogy or the Sign of Seven Trilogy.  As some of the titles within these sound familiar, I need to check my shelves to determine if I might be able save some money, read them, and add these titles to my Mount to Be Read Challenge.

Thus, obviously, I recommend these...just as a fun read!

2017's Reading Goals

This year, I will read.

This year,  I will read more.

This year, I will read more than 40 books.

So far, I have chosen the following challenges:

1. Read for Fun!:  This is my own personal challenge.   As noted above, last year I read 40 books, ten of those within the last two weeks of the year, and I so enjoyed just reading for fun!  That I want more of!
2. Book Club Commitments:  to BHS Reads, to Paper Chase book Club, to Women's Bible Cafe (as I choose to read).  I enjoy book clubs, getting together, talking books.  Fun!
3. Mount to Be Read:  This year, I am planning to read 24 books already sitting on my shelves.  More would be great...but, at least, 24.  Yes, two a month.  Doable.  Surely.  OR I should quit buying books.  NO!  
4. Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge/Read for Fun:  I chose this category because, yes, see #1!  This one requires 12 reads, some of which should fall in the above categories.  Yay!
5. Growth - Personal and Professional:  Hoping to read one a month...in either category.  This is a another personal challenge, for as noted in #3, I have quite the stack of books I need to read.  More than enough to easily meet this goal!  Again...yay!

I am off to a good start, for in Week 1, I have read two books...and have begun the third!

Sooooo...to what challenges have you committed?  Or what are you reading good now?

Happy reading!