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When I say anything goes, I mean any type of book, from anywhere, doesn't have to be a library book.

The Woman in Cabin 10 - Ruth Ware � 3***
This reminded me so much of The Girl on the Train that I’m surprised editors didn’t call Ware on certain plot points. Ware uses a mixed time frame � interspersing emails or news reports that occur AFTER the main events on board ship described by Lo’s first-person narrative. This foreshadowing should add additional suspense, but I found it confusing and not really helpful. Still, it’s a decently written thriller, with plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep the reader guessing.
LINK to my review

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club
Phillip M. Hoose
4.5/5 stars
This actually is a YA book and fairly short but nevertheless a fascinating story of a group of Danish teenagers that refused to accept Nazi occupation during WWII while most of the adults accepted the occupation and went along with it. Most of the books that I have read on WWII did not discuss Denmark so I found this very interesting.

Armstrong: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon
by Torben Kuhlmann
3/5 stars
This is a children's book about a mouse who builds a space ship to travel to the moon. I was extremely impressed with the beautiful art work but the story was just okay for me.

Just finished Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 3***s
Set in the late 1920's, the story is about a couple who are together for the wrong reasons and how their lives, especially the man's, spiral downward. I know that's not too much information, but that's kind of what I got out of it. I know it's a big classic, and is said to be autobiographical of Fitzgerald's own life. But it didn't say a lot to me except about how "that group" of Americans traveled around Europe in the '20's without much aim or goal. It wasn't very good for them, I don't think. And many of those stories tend to turn out sad.
I'm glad I read it, but it was not a favorite for me.

Settle for More by Megyn Kelly
5 stars

Like many, I did not know who Megyn Kelly was before her run-in with Donald Trump. I was hoping in the book she would address the issues she had with him and she did. Even though the public knows most of what happened, the book gives her personal take on the situation. It really is amazing how childish a 70 year old man can be, especially one that is going to lead the country.

What I enjoyed the most were the stories about her mother and grandmother. These two are hilarious and I think she should write a book about these two.

I think this would be a good book to give a young girl or woman to teach them that they can do anything if they work hard and persevere. That is the main message of the book.

When Books Went to War - Molly Guptil Manning - 4****
While Nazis were burning books in Europe, Americans were trying to get more books distributed to the men fighting in the war. Manning does a wonderful job of including the history of the times and the challenges faced by the Council, including efforts to censor the books that would be included. I was completely fascinated and engaged from beginning to end.
LINK to my review

Book Concierge wrote: "

When Books Went to War
- Molly Guptil Manning - 4****
While Nazis were burning books in Europe, Americans were trying to get more books distributed t..."

This sounds good.

Constellation of Vital Phenomena � Anthony Marra � 4****
I had considerable difficulty getting into this novel. Perhaps it was because I was listening rather than reading, but Marra’s moving back and forth in time, and changing points of view, just confused me. I did not connect to the characters at first and didn’t understand their relationships and connections. But that, I suppose, is Marra’s intention. We do not often know why someone crosses our path, what connections she or he brings, what influence he or she will have on our future. We do not know when hope and grace, courage and dignity may find their way into our lives. We can only pray that they do.
LINK to my review

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman, 5s
The story of Britt-Marie started in Fredrik Backman's "My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry." And when I found out that it was the same character from that book, I didn't think I wanted to read it. I did not like her in that book at all. But, of course, she is supposed to be unlikable. However, you can't help but like her as you get to know her better.

In this book, she is going off by herself, after some traumatic experiences in her life, trying to start anew. She goes to the unemployment office (which is such a funny scene!) and is able to get a temporary job in a local village that is economically stressed and about to go under.
As Britt-Marie is a person who needs to be needed, she, in a rather unusual way, begins to fit in and find a place for herself. There are several dramatic things that happen that really pull at your heart. And I just loved it.

This book just spoke to my soul.
I know that it was probably supposed to be a light, funny story -- and it kind of was. But I got much more out of it, and it may be one of my favorite books! I think I identified with Britt-Marie because I am such a list-maker and rule follower, that I could see her point on a few things. But, of course, she was extreme. Also, she has no social skills or sense of humor. But as I said before, as you find out about her background, you get to know why she is the way she is. Many of the silly things she does, such as all the cleaning with baking soda(!), are self-preservation and self-defense mechanisms. And in this book she really begins to find herself and tries to learn to do things that she wants/needs to do - not just do for others which aren't always the right things for her.

Also, Fredrik Backman's style of writing in this book hit my funny bone in such a way that I just wanted to laugh and laugh (I read the first chapter aloud to my husband because I thought it was so funny!!)! I have no idea how others will feel, but already, on January 11th, I think I've just read my favorite book of the year!! :)

Terris wrote: "Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman, 5s
The story of Britt-Marie started in Fredrik Backman's "My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You..."
This is on my list. I like Backman.

The Shooting - James Boice - 3***
There is no question that America’s gun culture needs to be examined and understood, if it is ever to be changed. Boice turns a critical eye on BOTH sides of this issue; there are no easy answers here, but Boice poses some important questions. I like that he manages to give us very complex characters, who have a variety of reasons for behaving as they do. On the other hand, I was not a fan of the constant shift in point of view / voice and time frame. The message is visceral and disturbing and thought-provoking.
LINK to my review

Portrait in Sepia - Isabel Allende � 4****
This is the third book Allende has written about the Del Valle family, after The House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune. I love Allende’s writing. There is a decidedly Latin beat to the flow of her sentences. And her descriptions are full of sensory highlights. The characters are larger than life and run the gamut from a wealthy Chilean grand dame to a Chinese herbalist to an English butler and a Serbian physician. I think I need to go back to THotS and read it again.
LINK to my review

Julie wrote: "Terris wrote: "Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman, 5s
The story of Britt-Marie started in Fredrik Backman's "My Grandmother Asked..."

As you can tell, I loved it! Hope you do too :)

Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
4/5 stars
Willow Chance is a unusually smart girl who is interested in plants and medical syndromes but not so much in making friends. This all changes when tragedy befalls her and she has to rely on the few friends she has to help her get through it. Funny and smart read-not just for teenagers.

Nine Days to Christmas - Marie Hall Ets & Aurora Labastida � 4****
The subtitle is: A Story of Mexico, and this charming picture book details the preparations and festivities surrounding las posadas, a procession and celebration of Joseph and Mary seeking shelter in Bethlehem. The illustrations by Ets are wonderfully detailed, and she won the Caldecott medal for her work. Labastida’s text, and Ets’s drawings bring the streets of Mexico City alive.
LINK to my review

A Big Sky Christmas - William W Johnstone & J A Johnstone � 2**
It’s a stereotypical Western tale � cardboard characters right out of central casting, a band of “varmints� set on revenge, an actress fleeing from a rich man intent on having his way with her, and the cowboy who loves her, Indians, buffalo, and the kinds of natural disasters that plagued many a wagon train. Still, it’s a fast read, with a plot that kept me interested enough to keep turning pages. Oh, and if you’re looking for a “Christmas� book � look elsewhere. This is really just a Western romance set during early winter, with a plot that culminates on Christmas Day
LINK to my review

Julie wrote: "
Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
4/5 stars
Willow Chance is a unusually smart girl who is interested in plants and medical syn..."

I absolutely loved this one! Glad you did too :)

Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
4/5 stars
Willow Chance is a unusually smart girl who is interested in plants a..."

I wish there was a adult version of this book because it was too short for me. I also would like a sequel so I can see what happens to Willow.

Not Just Batman’s Butler: The Autobiography of Alan Napier
Alan Napier and James Bigwood
3/5 stars

Alan Napier is probably best known as Alfred the butler in Batman, the TV series but he had a very fascinating life and career outside of Batman. Born and raised in England, he was related to the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on his mother's side. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then spent his whole life acting on the stage, in movies and on TV. The book discusses his life, family and working in the entertainment field.

Originally written by Napier, James Bigwood took over finishing the book and adding comments to the sections written by Napier. At times this was hard to put down especially when discussing his family and growing up in England. Some of the discussion of his roles was a little overwhelming since most of his career he had small roles and a lot of them. But overall I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about him.

Julie wrote: "Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
4/5 stars
Willow Chance is a unusually smart girl who is interes..."

Yes, I agree! I would definitely read an adult version or a sequel :)

I just finished One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez! I'm so proud of myself for finishing it!
Now I'm listening to The Sleepwalker , Chris Bohjalian's new one,
and reading Don't Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne DuMaurier and
The Four Million and Other Stories by O. Henry.

The Wedding Dress: Stories From the Dakota Plains - Carrie Young � 4****
This is a collection of short stories set primarily during the early part of the 20th century to shortly after World War II. Young explores the lives of the people of Little Butte, North Dakota, who are mostly Norweigian immigrants (or descended from them). All of the stories feature characters that fairly leap off the page, they are so real. The landscape is cold and bleak, especially during the Dust Bowl years, but the kitchens are warm and inviting. This is the first work by Young that I’ve read; it will not be the last.
LINK to my review

Julie wrote: "
Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
4/5 stars
Willow Chance is a unusually smart girl who is interested in plants and medical syn..."

I liked this as well.

Snippet from My full review

Sloan has written a novel that explores what it feels like to be an outsider, the struggle to overcome grief, and the true meaning of family. The situations described are far-fetched and even unrealistic, but the underlying truth of the story warms my heart

Book Concierge wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
4/5 stars
Willow Chance is a unusually smart girl who is interested in plants a..."
Yes, you must be able to suspend disbelief with this story but I loved the main character, Willow and felt for her.

A Place Called Hope - Philip Gulley � 3***
I love Gulley’s series; I welcome a gentle read now and again, where I can visit with old friends. He has a gift for writing humorous stories about small-town life, but instilling a message of tolerance, peace and love. Here’s hoping that Sam Gardner’s adventures in Hope will continue to entertain and inspire for years to come.
LINK to my review

Book Concierge wrote: "

A Place Called Hope
- Philip Gulley � 3***
I love Gulley’s series; I welcome a gentle read now and again, where I can visit with old friends. He has a g..."

The way the general tone of the country is going right now, I hope he publishes 5 more like that in the next couple of years.

Jan 21 - Currently Reading

TEXT - Breathing Lessons / Anne Tyler
AUDIO in the car - The Husband / Dean Koontz
MP3 Player AUDIO - Maisie Dobbs / Jacqueline Winspear

Fishface wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "..."

"The way the general tone of the country is going right now, I hope he publishes 5 more like that in the next couple of years. ..."

I hear you. My husband is really depressed.

He's not alone!!!

Mrs Lincoln’s Dressmaker � Jennifer Chiaverini � 3***
This was an interesting look at an era in history that we already know much about. I enjoyed the historical references and Elizabeth’s point of view of many of the events. It was an engaging story that held my interest. But � I wish Chiaverini had given us more of Elizabeth in the novel and less of Mrs Lincoln.
LINK to my review

Book Concierge wrote: "

Mrs Lincoln’s Dressmaker
� Jennifer Chiaverini � 3***
This was an interesting look at an era in history that we already know much about. I enjoyed..."

Thanks for posting this.

Julie wrote: "
Not Just Batman’s Butler: The Autobiography of Alan Napier
Alan Napier and James Bi..."

Thanks for posting this.

A Little Thing Called Life: From Elvis's Graceland to Bruce Jenner's Caitlyn & Songs in Between by Linda Thompson
4 stars

I was not really familiar with Linda Thompson. I'm sure I've heard her name before, after all she was a girlfriend of Elvis, married to Bruce Jenner and David Foster. I was most interested in her life with Jenner and Foster. Her time with Elvis takes up almost half the book but I really wasn't all that much into it. Really, if you've read Elvis Bios before there is not a lot new here. I think I could have done without the graphic sex parts, which really were only a couple of paragraphs, but really, do we want to know??? At times she does get a little too intimate but if she didn't we would think she was holding back, so I guess she probably cant win on that one. So, in the book she comes across as very kind and caring to all her husbands. Maybe a little too perfect although at times she will admit she has her drawbacks too. I was interested to find out she wrote one of my favorite songs, To Where You Are, made famous by Josh Groban, and the one I picked out to play at my mother's funeral. The rest of her songs that have lyrics in the book I don't think I know. If you are interested in any of the above people I think this book would be worth your while.

Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
4/5 stars
Set in 2044, the world is a dark and horrible place to live in for most people. People rarely go out now but live, go to school and work on the internet and in OASIS, a virtual world. When a challenge is announced that someone will win millions of dollars in a game set up by the now deceased creator of OASIS, James Halliday, the world goes berserk in trying to find the prize. The book follows Wade Watts and a few of his online friends as the take up the challenge to be the first to find the prize.
This was a fast, hard to put down book. Looking forward to seeing the film.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil � John Berendt � 4****
Berendt was a free-lance journalist when curiosity took him to Savannah and he began to write about the particularly insular culture of that Southern city. Then a murder happened, and his story really took off. I first read this sometime in the mid to late 1990s, and on re-reading it I’m not so keen about it. The murder doesn’t happen until half-way through the book, and that was really the most interesting part. I’m still giving it 4 stars because I believe that was closer to my original reaction to the book.
LINK to my review

Cinnamon Girl: Letters Found Inside a Cereal Box - Juan Felipe Herrera � 3***
This slim volume is told entirely in free verse. The poems are visceral and disturbing, emotional and moving. And yet, I felt somehow removed from Yolanda and her pain. I think part of that was because Herrera does not give us a linear timeline. Nevertheless, from the typical teen lament of “no one understands me� to the joy and freedom of a new friendship, to the very real fear of having lost someone in a tragic accident, Herrera’s Cinnamon Girl will resonate with many readers.
LINK to my review

How To Win Friends And Influence People - Dale Carnegie - 3***
This classic self-help / self-improvement book was first published in the 1930s. Given the decades over which this book has been read, and the hordes of people who have done so, I’d be surprised if most of us hadn’t already heard most of this before. I admit that some of the principles certainly bear repeating, and that it is easier to agree with them than it is to practice them consistently. Still, had it not fulfilled a particular challenge, I would have abandoned it long before I finished it.
LINK to my review

The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian, 4****s
This is the 16th book that I've read by this author and always enjoy them!
This one is about a woman (a mother & wife) who sleepwalks and one night just disappears. The oldest daughter, 21-years-old, tells the tale of trying to discover what has happened to her mother and why. It was very interesting -- I learned some new things about sleepwalking! And it was mysterious, even to the last sentence! I like that! And I would recommend this book :)

Cruising by Gerald Walker
3 stars

This slasher novel was (quite loosely) based on a real series of leather-bar murders in NYC, but the author focused entirely on the internal mental states of the fictional killer and the fictional investigators. Well-written, with a lot of densely-layered metaphors that might remind you of Jack Torrance wrestling with his demons in The Shining or the characters in Carrie. Some of the twists in this story were so clever they made me laugh out loud. Long out of print but well worth seeking out.

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between by Lauren Graham
3 stars

I wanted to read this book because I loved Lauren Graham on Parenthood. I miss that show so much. I have not really been able to get into Gilmore Girls so much so that is probably why the book was a disappointment to me. But, I should have expected the book would be more about Gilmore Girls, as that is in the title. I would have liked to have read more about Parenthood, and of course, her brother on the show and partner in real life, Peter Krause. This book moves along rather fast and you feel like she is talking to you the way she does on the show...fast and at times rambling. If you love Gilmore Girls you will love this book.

The Husband - Dean Koontz � 3.5***
Mitch Rafferty runs a two-man landscaping business, so he’s sure there’s a mistake when a kidnapper calls and says that if he “loves his wife enough� he’ll find a way to pay the exorbitant ransom. This is the first book by Koontz that I’ve read. It’s not great literature, but it sure held my attention and I’ll definitely read more from him. Especially when I’m in the mood for a fast-paced, entertaining thriller.
LINK to my review

Once a Mouse - Marcia Brown � 2**
This is a retelling of a traditional Indian fable. It’s an interesting fable, and I think the story has appeal for children (and their parents), much as Aesop’s fables do. However, I am not a great fan of Brown’s illustrations in this case.
LINK to my review

Flaubert's Parrot, by Julian Barnes
4 stars

This was a remarkably exhausting read, considering it was well under 200 pages. Dense, multilayered imagery and ideas address everything from the value of literature and the impermanence of love to the meaning of life, all folded into a story about a retired doctor who is nominally trying to determine which of two stuffed parrots is the one Gustave Flaubert used as a character in one of his short stories. Don't tackle this book if you're looking for brain candy; it's going to make you think.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler, 4****s
I really enjoyed this story of Zelda Fitzgerald, told in first person. It is the telling of her life as the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald during the 1920's and '30's. She was also known as "The First Flapper." It tells of how they met, fell in love, and lived an exciting life moving all around the world, partying, and rubbing shoulders with many famous celebrities of the time. But it all took a toll on her and on Scott. It is a sad but very interesting story. I recommend it, especially if you enjoy the era of the "Roaring Twenties"!

Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, 4****s
This is the original Peter Pan story written in 1911. It is so funny, and I really enjoyed it! After seeing all the movies and stories over the years, it was interesting to read the original author's words. I would recommend this one!

Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer � 4****
The subtitle says it all: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster . This is Krakauer’s first-person account of the Everest expedition in May 1996 that resulted in the death of six climbers, and severe injuries to several others. I’ve read two of Krakauer’s other books and enjoy his writing. He has a gift for putting the reader in the situation, and I think he works hard to present a balanced story. The result is a book that is compelling and interesting, even when the reader knows the outcome.
LINK to my review

Celtic Cable Crochet by Bonnie Barker - 5*
A friend gave me this book because I have been teaching crochet at my Library. The patterns in this book are lovely and I would love to make them all. One lady I teach crochet saw the pink hat and scarf and wants to make this so I'll be guiding her along with the pattern. I like that they have graph along with the written pattern since sometimes the graph can make the instructions easier to understand. I have even used YouTube instructions that have been recommended in the patterns and that has help with the patterns. If you are a good crocheter and have been doing this for a considerable time and like a challenge then this book is for you. They are definitely for an intermediate crocheter and not really for a beginner. I definitely recommend this book, it is wonderful.

Maisie Dobbs � Jacqueline Winspear � 2**
This is the first in a series featuring a former housemaid and Army Nurse. The book begins in 1929, and Maisie Dobbs has opened her own private investigation agency. I like Maisie and the supporting characters, but this first book spent way too much time in the past, and not nearly enough time on the actual mystery. Still, although I was disappointed in this book, I’d be willing to try another because of the characters, setting and period.
LINK to my review

Breathing Lessons � Anne Tyler � 4****
I’ve had this on my TBR for ages, and just never got to it. I wish I hadn’t waited so long, but then again, maybe my own years of marriage help me better understand Maggie and Ira’s relationship. I love the way Tyler reveals her characters to the reader. Their actions � small and large � and statements show the reader who these people are. Their hopes, dreams, frustrations, and regrets become evident over the course of the novel. Their lives may be ordinary; the novel is anything but.
LINK to my review

The Night Bookmobile � Audrey Niffenegger � 1*
A lonely young woman stumbles upon a Winnebago on a street one night when out walking. It’s the Night Bookmobile, and what she discovers within is magical and inspiring � and disturbing. The illustrations are wonderfully drawn, and I found there was a good ratio of text to art. But I did not like this story at all. 1* for the art.
LINK to my review