Jess (jayde599) tries again

Hi
My name is Jess and this is my 10th year in the 75 group. I tend to disappear as real life interferes. I lurk more on the threads than post because I visit LT on my phone most often.
I am a Special Education teacher in Maine. I have a 7 year old son, and a 3 year old daughter who keep me busy. I did manage to read about 45 books last year, but I think I only posted 25 of them.
Let's hope I can be a bit more active this year!

Series I want to try to get to this year -
According to Fict Fact

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events - (1/13)
2. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache - (5/15)
3. Candy Holliday Mystery - (4/6)
4. Flavia de Luce Mystery (2/11)
5. Civil War Trilogy (1/3)

What I dislike about keeping track of books on Fict Fact is that it adds prequels and books that may not "really" be part of the series. For example - I thought I was all set with His Dark Materials, but I guess there are two prequels. The same for Harry Potter - It counts Harry Potter The Prequel which I think was just an internet book? Just when I think I can check them all off....

January
1. Becoming - Michelle Obama
2. The Griffin's Feather -- Cornelia Funke
3. National Parks: A Kid's Guide to America's Parks, Monuments and Landmarks - Erin McHugh
4. Nevermoor - Jessica Townsend
5. The Argument Culture - Deborah Tannen
6. The Rossetti Letter - Christi Phillips

February
7. The Devlin Diary - Christi Phillips
8. Gotcha! - Fern Michaels
9. The Enchanter Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
10. The Sorcerer Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
11. Little Bee - Chris Cleave
12. City of Shadows - Ariana Franklin
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Patterson

March
14. Educated - Tara Westover (3/3/19)
15. The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo (3/4/19)
16. The 57 Bus - Dashka Slater (3/8/19)
17. Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik (3/17/19)
18. Finding Dorothy - Elizabeth Letts (3/29/19)

April
19. Parkland - Dave Cullen (4/12/19)
20. World War Z - Max Brooks (4/18/19)
21. 84 Charing Cross Road Stage Adaption - Helene Hanff (4/19/19)
22. A Map of Days - Random Riggs (4/29/19)

May
23. The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris (5/4/19)
24. The Beantown Girls - Jane Healey (5/19/19)

June
25. Chalice - Robin McKinley
26. The Gates - John Connolly
27. Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
28. Tigana - Guy Gabriel Key

July
29. Thornhill - Pam Smy
30. The Fork, The Witch, and The Worm - Christopher Paolini
31. Ghosts Among Us - James van Praagh
32. Men and Dogs - Katie Couch
33. Book Lust - Nancy Pearl
34. When We Were Sisters - Emilie Richards
35. Under a War-Torn Sky - L.M. Elliot
36. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Jk Rowling
37. Crimes of Grindelwald - JK Rowling
38. Beartown- Fredrik Backman

August
39. Us Against You - Fredrik Backman
40. Girl With a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevallier
41. The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson
42. New Brunswick Ghosts, Demons, and Things that Go Bump in the Night - Dorothy Dearborn
43. Margel's Madness - Darcy Scott
44. Summer of ‘69 - Elin Hiderbrand
45. Snuff - Chuck Palahniuk

THE TBR LIST

84 Charing Cross Road. Stage Adaptation
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass (Signet Classics)
The American Revolutionaries: A History in Their Own Words, 1750-1800
Anil's Ghost: A Novel
Anna Karenina
Appalachian Trail Guide to New Hampshire-Vermont/With Maps (Appalachian Trail Guide Series)
The Attack on Pearl Harbor: An Illustrated History
Backwoods Ethics: A Guide to Low-Impact Camping and Hiking
The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America
Bleak House (Signet Classics)
The Blind Side (Movie Tie-in Edition)
Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason
The Book of Love (The Magdalene Line)
The Book of the Dead
Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar
Bunnicula : A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery (Bunnicula Ser.)
The Burgess Boys: A Novel
The Casual Vacancy
The Civil War: Strange & Fascinating Facts
The Civil War: The American Iliad As Told by Those Who Lived It
The Colors of Courage: Gettysburg's Forgotten History: Immigrants, Women, and African Americans in the Civil War's Defining Battle
The Common Law
The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus
The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13)
The Coral Thief: A Novel
The Cricket in Times Square
The Dangerous Book for Boys
The Daring Book for Girls
The Dark Tower Boxed Set (Books 1-4)
Dealing With Difficult Parents And With Parents in Difficult Situations
The Dragon's Touchstone (Dragon Nimbus History)
The Duke of Flatbush (Zebra Books)
Duma Key: A Novel
The Dwarves
Eagles At War
Ella Enchanted (Trophy Newbery)
Ex-Libris
Fables Vol. 10: The Good Prince
Fables Vol. 6: Homelands
Fables, Vol. 17: Inherit the Wind
Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
Flint and Silver: A Prequel to Treasure Island
Flirt (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 18)
Flying with the Eagle, Racing the Great Bear: Tales from Native North America
The Forest House (The Mists of Avalon: Prequel)
The Gates
The Geographer's Library
Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission
Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side
Girl in Translation
Glory, Passion, and Principle: The Story of Eight Remarkable Women at the Core of the American Revolution
The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel
The Good German: A Novel
A Great and Godly Adventure: The Pilgrims and the Myth of the First Thanksgiving
Great Expectations (Penguin Drop Caps)
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
Had Enough?: A Handbook for Fighting Back
Heartlight
Henry V (Dover Thrift Editions)
Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life
Ideas and Opinions
Jane Eyre (Penguin Drop Caps) Jane Eyre
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel
The Judas Strain
King Arthur and the Knights of His Court
The King's General
The Lacuna (P.S.)
The Last Full Measure: A Novel of the Civil War (Civil War Trilogy)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Loneliest Magician (Dragon Nimbus)
Love Thy Neighbor: A Story of War
Luncheon of the Boating Party
The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia
Men and Dogs
Middlemarch (Penguin Drop Caps)
Milestones of Aviation: Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum
Miracle Planet
Mistress of the Art of Death
A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death)
National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States
National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 5th Ed.
The Nature of the Judicial Process (The Storrs Lectures Series)
New Brunswick ghosts! demons!-- and things that go bump in the night!
O Pioneers!
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
On Bullshit
On the Road (Penguin Classics)
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
One Hundred Years of Solitude
The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete First Edition
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present
The Perfect Princess (Dragon Nimbus)
Personal Finance for Dummies, Fourth Edition
The Pillars of the Earth (Deluxe Edition) (Oprah's Book Club)
The Pilot's Wife (Oprah's Book Club)
Pirate Latitudes
Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Drop Caps)
The Reader
The Red Wolf Conspiracy
Rediscovering America: John Muir in His Time and Ours
Remembering Pearl Harbor: The Story of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial
The Return of Merlin
Rhett Butler's People
The Rose Labyrinth
Secrets of the National Parks: The Experts' Guide to the Best Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail
Shadow Divers
The Shadow of the Wind
Slumdog Millionaire: A Novel
Snuff
The Sparrow: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel
Strange Candy
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution (The Simon & Schuster America Collection)
The Sun Also Rises
The Swan Thieves: A Novel
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
The Terrible Hours: The Man Behind the Greatest Submarine Rescue in History
Three Complete Novels: The Andromeda Strain, The Terminal Man, and The Great Train Robbery
Tigana
The Tolkien Reader
Total Eclipse of the Heart
True Compass: A Memoir
Under a War-Torn Sky
Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-earth
Walden
The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic
The Wheel of Darkness (Special Agent Pendergast)
The Whole World Over: A Novel
Wild Echoes: Encounters with the Most Endangered Animals in North America
The Wizard's Treasure (Dragon Nimbus #4 )
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

Happy New Year, Jess!

Thank you, Stasia!

Happy New Year, Jess.

Happy reading in 2019, Jess!

Thank you, Beth & Anita. I hope to post more this year.

Currently reading: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Happy New Year Jess! And happy new thread!



Wishing you and your family the best for 2019.

Thank you, Nina.

Today I am home with the oldest who spent yesterday with a high fever. He seems to be doing okay today, but just wanted to be sure. I hopefully will get some more reading of Becoming in and I promised him some Mario Kart. Back to school tomorrow.

It gets better; my youngest would spend 2 or 3 days sleeping it off when he was about three years old. Nowadays, he'll spend a morning in bed - and then get up and run around playing as though he was 100% fit and I wonder why I didn't send him to school.

Welcome back! I hope your oldest bounces back quickly!

Hi Jim - thanks!

The oldest bounced back quickly and was back to school today. We had a weather delay today so he got to sleep in late, which helped. I also got some more reading in this morning. I am almost done Becoming.

I have been having difficulty trying to remember how to update a ticker and get an image to stay in post 1. I think I have it figured out now - granted the picture is about a year old. Oh well -- it was what I had on my work laptop.

Book 1. Becoming - Michelle Obama



I received this for Christmas and was looking forward to reading it. I really enjoyed this book and I think Mrs. Obama did a wonderful job of describing what it was like to become the FLOTUS and how it may have affected her girls.

This was one of my favorites of my recent reads as well.

Congrats on your first completion of the year.

Book 2: The Griffin's Feather - Cornelia Funke



This is the sequel to Dragon Rider, which I needed to look up when I read it -- 14 years ago!! How is that possible?
I needed to recap the first book to remember characters and the general plot. The Griffin's Feather pics up about 2 years where Dragon Rider ended. 14 year old Ben is living in Norway with his adopted family, who save Fabulous creatures. They discover a Pegasus and three eggs, but there is a problem. In order to save the Pegasus eggs, they must find a Griffin's feather. Griffin's and dragons go back as enemies, so there is some suspense. The book is written for younger readers -- upper elementary age. It is not as dark as Funke's other material and the main characters meet friends who help them on their journey.
Good book!

Happy 2019
A year full of books
A year full of friends
A year full of all your wishes realised

I look forward to keeping up with you, Jess, this year.

Hi Jess. I look forward to visiting here and seeing what you are reading. I hope 2019 is a good year for you.

>20 PaulCranswick: Thank You Paul. I hope to keep up with posting on LT this year, too!
>21 Whisper1: Thank You, Linda! I have been lurking over on your thread as well.

Book 3: National Parks: A Kid's Guide to America's Parks, Monuments and Landmarks - Erin McHugh



I picked this book up at the library to look at with O. We are a big National Parks family - trying to visit at least one park or monument every year, collecting the Eastern National Passport Stamps. I liked the artwork in the book, although O was not that interested. I liked that the book did not just describe the "Big" parks, but also some of the smaller monuments and National Forests. It does come with an insert to hold the National Park quarters, but Amazon reviews say that the slots are too small. Interesting books, but probably not one that I will purchase for our shelves.

Today is the calm before the storm! We are expected to get 18-24" of snow and possible ice mixture.

Little Miss A and I went to dance class, the library to stock up on new books and movies, and then we braved the grocery store.
We came home and made Banana Chocolate Chip muffins. Homemade chicken pot pie is for supper and now it is time for some tea and a book! Just waiting for the boys to come back from skiing and then we will hunker down.
Bring on the blizzard!!

>24 jayde1599: Your comfort foods for the blizzard sound great. Seems we're just getting rain here.

Book 4: Nevermoor - Jessica Townsend


This book has been on my wishlist for sometime since being hit by a book bullet here on LT. My library had a brand new copy ready to be borrowed! I really enjoyed the concept and storyline. Morrigan's naivety and Jupiter's aloofness was a little bothersome, but I understood why it was written that way. I hope that I can find the sequel soon too.

Book 5: The Argument Culture - Deborah Tannen



This book has been on my TBR shelf since 2009 and began reading last year. While I love Tannen's linguistic works, this one was a bit of a slog to get through for some reason. I think part of it is that it is outdated, having been published in 1999. She does talk about politics and gender and conversational aggression. The book was published just as email and the internet were becoming popular and she does reference how impersonal talking to someone through a screen can be. This was before social media and our crazy politics now, so it would be interesting to see how she would amend this book to the current age.
One quote that I found that I found meaningful:

"The rising level of public aggression in our society seems directly related to the increasing isolation in our lives, which is helped along by advances in technology. This isolation - and the technology that enhances it - is an ingredient in the argument culture. We seem to be finding ways to temper the hostility that sometimes accompanies them. We have to work harder at finding those ways. That is the challenge we now face.

So we did not get as much snow as predicted - only about 6 - 8 inches. It was COLD on Monday. We did take the kids sledding though and then friends came over and helped us shovel off our pond so that it will be ready for iceskating. We are supposed to get rain tomorrow, which will hopefully freeze on Friday and make a smoother surface.

This weekend has flown by! The little one was sick with a fever Friday into Saturday but has already bounced back to full energy. And I spent the day with the big one going to 2 Birthday parties today (laser tag and trampoline park) so we are pooped! Time to relax!
I have started a historical fiction book I have had on my TBR shelves for some time: The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips.

>28 jayde1599: Yeah, that happens. 'Mum, I really can't go to school today,' and you know (or at least you're fairly certain)(you think) that it's genuine and then by mid-afternoon they're bouncing around like they've never heard of bed rest.

Fortunately for me, these days I can just send mine off; in fact, they don't want me around and I'm never sure whether the parents of the party boy expect me to stay or not.

He is at that weird age (7) where it is confusing whether to stay or not. He doesn’t need my extra supervision but neither of the invitations implied that it was a drop off party and all of the parents stayed. They mostly huddled at the table or in the general vicinity and chatted. At O’s party this summer only one parent asked if they could leave and come back. (Shrug). I can’t wait for drop off parties, but I will probably be a nervous wreck. And I wouldn’t want to be responsible for a group of boys at a crowded trampoline park!

Today we have a 2 hour delay. I wish they just cancelled. I could have used a day off to relax. And the delays just throw my students off...
But it gives me a chance to finish The Rosetti Letter.

Book 6: The Rossetti Letter - Christi Phillips



I have had this book on my TBR shelves for some time.
The story contains two intertwined story lines. The first is about Alessandra Rossetti, a Venetian courtesan who writes a letter to the Venetian council warning of a Spanish plot to take over Venice.
In present day, Claire Donovan is trying to finish her Ph.D dissertation on the Spanish Conspiracy. She travels to Venice as an escort of a teenager, whose father funded the trip. She becomes wrapped up in the mystery of Alessandra Rossetti while there.

This story was interesting and engaging. It was a quick read that kept me up at night wanting to find out more about characters.
I found the sequel The Devlin Diary at the library that I hope to start soon.

>32 jayde1599: I think I have the second one in that series in my stash somewhere, but I haven't read that first one. That's why I put it off.

>32 jayde1599: Thanks for the BB Jess, have added The Rossetti Letter to my wishlist.

Book 7. The Devlin Diary - Christi Phillips



This is a related book to The Rossetti Letter but set in England. Claire is now a guest lecturer at Trinity College at the request of Andrew Kent. She has found an encrypted diary in the library that has spiked her curiosity and inspired her next research paper. When a colleague is found dead, she and Andrew try to find the connection to his death and that of the diary.
The intertwined storyline is that of Hannah a female practicing physik in 1672 London, who is called to the court of Charles the 2nd to help one of his mistresses. Hannah too, must also solve a mystery.

While this was an interesting read, I did not enjoy it as much as The Rossetti Letter. Hannah's story kind of dragged and there were plot turns that seemed out of place. For example, did they really need the Fleet river plot other than that was how Edward was trapped at the end?

Supposedly, Phillips was supposed to publish a third book in 2011 but that does not appear to have happened. She has seemed to disappear, and the website listed in her books is gone??? Hmmm? I wonder what happened?

Did not finish: The High Mountains of Portugal - Yann Martel

I guess magical realism is not my thing... I got about 100 pages in and I really don’t understand what is going on. This one will be donated to the library.

>36 jayde1599: I read that one a little over 2 years ago. Here's what I said: Three stories--ranging from 1904 when cars were novelties until the late 20th century--are connected to a village in the high mountains of Portugal and to a crucifix in the church there. The connection runs a bit deeper, but readers are unaware of this until the end. It's a strange story, and while I never thought about dropping the book, I'm not certain I enjoyed it. I think it's the way the novel wraps up that leaves me somewhat dissatisfied. Readers deal with death, grief, religion, and even Agatha Christie, in the pages of the book, but I'm not sure the author's intentions in his theme are fully realized. I'm not even certain I know the author's intentions. It's a strange and somewhat disturbing novel.

I guess neither one of us knew what was going on!

Lori, I began the book last summer and recently picked it up again. I was a few pages shy of finishing the first story but I couldn’t get past any more of the car talk. I wanted to finish it but I have too many more books on my TBR shelves calling me to try to struggle through something I don’t understand. I am glad I’m not the only one who did not know what was going on!

>26 jayde1599: I just put Nevermoor on hold at my local library so I am hoping to get to it soon.

>32 jayde1599: Sounds like a book I would enjoy. Into the BlackHole it goes!

Sitting in the walk in with a sore throat and fever today. There have been a lot of bugs going around school. Just this week I had students absent with viral infections, ear infections, strep, and conjunctivitis! I hope it is just a virus and goes away quickly. I brought a Fern Michaels book to keep me busy. It is an easy read but I am not sure if this is the series for me. I usually like something with a bit more substance but my mom has read her books and has recommended them.

Book 8: Gotcha! - Fern Michaels



This is book 21 in the Sisterhood series by Michaels. The Sisterhood consists of female vigilantes making right to women who have lost something important. In this book, Julie Wyatt is convinced her daughter-in-law had something to do with Julie's son's death. She contacts Myra Rutledge of the Sisterhood who is joined by fellow member Annie to bring justice to Julie.

This is my first Fern Michaels book. And while I might not be rushing out to buy more books, I may take a peek at the first Sisterhood book Weekend Warriors to see how it all started. The one thing I disliked about the book is the over-the top feel. I get the point of the Sisterhood being wealthy, but some of Julie's storyline seemed kind of pointless. She got a cooking show for Oprah, won the lottery, and was bequeathed a billion dollar pharmaceutical company by a man she only knew for 2 months! For example, I am not sure the point of her interactions with Mace Carlisle other than what I mentioned in the spoiler.
I don't know... it was entertaining, but I am not ready to invest the time into a 26 book series because of it.

Book 9: The Enchanter Heir - Cinda Williams Chima



This is book 4 in the Heir Chronicles
The book takes a different turn and follows Jonah, a survivor from the Thorn Hill Massacre. He is now living in Ohio and is a Shadeslayer, someone who frees shades (other undead Massacre survivors) from undead bodies (think zombies).
The story also follows Emma Lee Greenwood, a savant luthier who was protected from Thorn Hill and has no knowledge of the Magical Guilds or Shadeslayers.

This book is a big set up for the final book of the series The Sorcerer Heir. Other than a description of the massacre int he beginning, there is not much action. There is definitely angst amongst the teenage characters - and a lot of secret keeping. I wish some of the secrets were revealed to help move the plot forward faster. On to book 5 right now.

Book 10: The Sorcerer Heir - Cinda Williams Chima



This is the 5th and final book in the Heir Chronicles. It picks up right where book 4 left off. Emma and Jonah continue to figure out their relationship. The Interguild Council looks into the anaweir murders and targets the Savants and the school. Emma finds out more about the Thorn Hill Massacre.
This book was a bit of a disappointment. It was just as slow as the Enchanter Heir and the characters were frustrating. They spent much of the book bickering and acting angry with each other. Had they just teamed up, they still could have found the answers they needed without the relationship drags that the characters had. The big reveal wrapped up the mysteries, but did not feel satisfying.
The first three books were great and entertaining, and while books 4 and 5 had much potential, they just fizzled in my opinion.

Book 11: Little Bee Chris Cleave



This book has been on my TBR shelves for awhile. I remember quite a hype about it, but did not know exactly what it was about when I began it. I did look at the LT reviews, and I have to agree with most of them. While the book held my attention, it was awfully depressing. There was no happy ending for Little Bee or Sarah. And I must agree with disliking the open ending. Why???
While it is a great book for bringing the horrors of immigration and asylum to the reader's attention, it is a sad read.

Book 12: City of Shadows - Ariana Franklin



This book is set in Berlin 1922-1933, through the rise of the Nazi party. Esterh Solomonova is a Russian Jew who has escaped her country during the revolution. She works as a secretary for "Prince" Nick, a scheming club owner. He hatches a scheme to reveal that Grand Duchess Anastasia is alive and is a ward in a psychiatric hospital under the name Anna Anderson. Anna is being hunted by a mysterious murderer, as people close to Anna and Esther are found dead. Esther teams up with a German police officer named, Schmidt to try to solve the murders and figure out who Anna truly is.

The book is dense and slow at times, but keeps the reader engaged. Franklin brings the tumultuous period of German history alive. IT is heartbreaking to see the characters react to the growing frenzy of Hitler, the Nazi party, and the SS, knowing what is to soon follow. Good read!

Book 13: Bridge to Terabithia -



I can't believe I have never read this book until now. I thought I had, but I do not recall reading it at all. A sad and moving story about the friendship between Jess and Leslie. They create their own kingdom named Terabithia.

Book 14: Educated - Tara Westover



I have seen this book all over LT and Goodreads, but I had avoided looking into it until I found it at my library.
I really wanted to like this one more than I did, as I usually enjoy memoirs and I am an educator. However, it did not grab me. Westover definitely has an interesting background and story. It is impressive that she rose up from what she experienced in childhood. It seems after she got to BYU, she made the right connections and worked hard to move away from all that she experienced.

Book 15: The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo



This is another title that has been popping up around LT that my library had. A YA novel that is written in verse that follows high school student Xio Batista who is trying to navigate teenage life in Harlem. She is struggling to balance her wants and needs front that of her religious mother. I found this to be a great book!

Book 16. The 57 Bus - Dashka Slater



This is the story of two teenagers whose lives intersect on an 8 minute bus ride home from their schools.

Sasha is a 16 year old agender student who enjoys wearing skirts, Russian literature, and inventing languages. Sasha prefers to be referred to by the pronoun "they." Sasha attends a private high school that encourages the students to be creative and open.

Richard is a 16 year old African American boy who attends Oakland High School. This current school year he returned from a year away at an juvenile incarceration facility for being part of a fight. He is a friendly student who likes to joke around. He really wants to get on the "right" track and improve his grades and attendance. He joined a program run by the resource officer on his own.

On the fateful bus ride, Sasha ends being severely burned when their skirt is lit on fire. Richard is arrested and faces being tried as an adult which could leave him incarcerated for the rest of his life.

This is a great true story that can lead discussion on gender identification, empathy, and the American justice system. The author does a great job at researching the incident and portraying both student's lives equally. Both Sasha and Richard led challenging but very different lives that somehow got intersected on that fateful bus ride and will impact both of them for years to come.

Recommended.

Book 17. Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik



This was a great, loose adaption of Rumplestiltskin. I found some of the parts slow and repetitive. I did love how the females became stronger as they became empowered by overcoming the demons.

Adding a Did Not Finish to the list: Autism in Heels was just too choppy and preachy for me to get past page 65. I really wanted it to be more like a memoir of Jennifer O’Toole’s late autism diagnosis. Instead she makes the book have an “us” and “them” vibe that really put me off. She mentions she has autism a million times within the first few chapters to the point where it sounds like she is saying she is better than most people because of it. I would maybe be inclined to think that this is due to her Aspergers but she had a co-writer! Being in the autism field I know how rare it is for women to be diagnosed with ASD and the struggle many women go through to get that diagnosis and understanding. I really wanted to like this book but it just did not sit well with me.

Book 18: Finding Dorothy - Elizabeth Letts



I enjoyed this fiction book following the life of Maude Baum, the wife of L. Frank Baum. It appeared as though Letts did her research. I found it interesting the Maude's mother was a part of the women's suffrage movement. A good book!

>52 jayde1599: I haven't seen that one before, Jess. Looks worth seeking out.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>53 PaulCranswick:: Hi Paul! Yes, it was worth seeking out. I believe I found it on Linda's thread.

Book 19: Parkland - Dave Cullen



I saw this on someone else's thread recently. I had found Columbine informative, and my library had this so I thought I would give it a try. I really liked how Cullen did not even mention the shooter's name. This book is really about the survivors and their movement. Cullen was able to follow the kids and give a first hand account. It is amazing the drive that the students have for gun control.

Book 20: World War Z - Max Brooks


This book has been on my wishlist and TBR pile for ages. I am glad I finally got around to it and wish I hadn't waited so long! I loved how the book was more about personal experiences rather than gore and that Brooks kept the zombies more or less in the background of the novel.

Book 21: 84 Charing Cross Road Stage Adaption - Helene Hanff, James Roose-Evans


This is another book that I have had on my TBR shelf for almost 5 years (the receipt was tucked in the book dated 5/21/14). I was looking for the original book, but came across the play in a used bookshop. The play was fantastic and now I must seek out Hanff's books.

I became derailed from my TBR bookshelf by some library books.

22: The Map of Days - Ransom Riggs
The latest in Miss Perigrine's Pecular Children series. The war is over and the peculiars show up at Jacob's home. He longs to be with them and jumps at an opportunity to find out more about his grandfather's past. While I have enjoyed this series, Jacob comes across as whiny and arrogant in this book. Not my favorite one...

23: The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris
This one had a lot of hype with my friends on Goodreads. While I enjoyed the story, something was a little off.

24. The Beantown Girls - Jane Healey
This book is about the red cross girls who went to WWII to serve donuts and offer support to the troops. Again, I wanted to like it more than I did. There is a lot of dialogue and not much plot building.

I guess I should have stayed with my TBR shelves! I am in a little slump because my attention is on work and winding down the school year. I hope to pick it back up in a few weeks!

Book 25: Chalice - Robin McKinley



As with many McKinley books, this one is slow to warm up and rich in language. I was not a huge fan of this one compared to her other works. I honestly did not fully understand everything that went on. The general plot was that Mirasol, a beekeeper becomes the Chalice of the demense. The previous Chalice and Master have died in an unexpected way. The previous Master's brother is called from the Priesthood of Fire and is no longer truly human. Together they are part of the Circle that is in charge of the demense. However, the Overlord made a non-blood heir who threatens the Master for role.

McKinley formed a complex fantasy world that while interesting, was not quite for me.

Book 26: The Gates - John Connolly


Book 27: Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine


Now that school is out for break, I may have more time to get some better reading in! I did enjoy Ella Enchanted quite a bit. The Gates was okay -- I liked Connolly's other work better.

I just finished Tigana. It was long but it was a good book. I will get to writing a review soon.

Some interesting books there; should my reading ever pick up, I might check them out. I have McKinley's The Blue Sword down from my shelves although I haven't cracked it open yet.

I enjoyed The Blue Sword when I read it last year. It is a slow moving story but rich in language and imagery. I was in a bit of a slump as the school year wound down, but now that it is summer break, I am picking back up again.

Book 28: Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay


This was an epic fantasy that I first heard about ages ago on LT. It has been on my TBR shelves for just as long and I finally dove into it. I am glad that I did. Tigana is a land caught between two tyrant sorcerers. One of them, Brandin, erased the name Tigana from the minds of everyone who did not live there. This is the story of how its people try to get Tigana back.
This is one of those slow fantasy novels that draws you in with the characters and imagery. It is not action packed, but that is okay.

Book 29. Thornhill - Pam Smy

This is a YA graphic novel that covers topics such as bullying and loneliness. It is in two parts - One part is set in 1982 at Thornhill - an orphanage for girls. The orphanage has been bought and is in the process of closing down. Mary is a quiet girl who enjoys making puppets. She is bullied by the other girls, led by one in particular. The staff attempt to help, but she is branded as "awkward" and not friendly. In present day, Ella moves into the house next to Thornhill which has been boarded up after a past tragedy. Being new, Ella is lonely and goes on to discover the mystery of Thornhill after spotting what appears to be a ghost in the window. Good book

Book 30: The Fork, The Witch, and The Worm - Christopher Paolini

A companion book to the Inheritance series shows the reader what Eragon in now up to in three short stories. While interesting, I was not as impressed with this as I was the others. The last story in the book seemed to drag on, even though it was supposed to be a great tale of the Urgals.

For some reason I have accidentally bought two books that are second in series recently:
Crimes of Grindelwald - JK Rowling -- For some reason I thought that I had read Fantastic Beasts but apparently I did not. It was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. So it looks like I need to get Fantastic Beasts.

Us Against You - Fredrik Backman -- I got this not realizing it was the sequel to Beartown which I have been wanting to read, so I am now on the waitlist for that at the library.

My brain has been a little scattered. Even though it is summer break -- there has been much to do.

So now I am currently reading Men and Dogs - meh. It has been on the TBR stacks for awhile and was the first one I grabbed.
And when I go on vacation next week Where the Crawdads Sing for my RL book club.
And I am still tackling the TBR shelves -- making some progress but not as fast as I want.

Book 31: Ghosts Among Us - James Van Praagh


I enjoyed this book and the views on spirituality and the other side. I may look further into Van Praagh's other books

Book 32: Men and Dogs - Katie Crouch


This book was not what I expected! It did not have anything to do with dogs! I did not really like the characters, so this one was just meh.

Book 33: Book Lust - Nancy Pearl

Well I forgot to review this book back in June. While Pearl gives some great recommendations, some of it seemed outdated.


Book 34: When We Were Sisters - Emilie Richards


My mom passed this one on to me as an interesting summer read. Two foster sister become each others lifelines. CeCe grows up to be a superstar singer while Robin - a photographer has a wonderful family. A car accident forces Robin to rethink her life goals and she joins CeCe to make a documentary of the Foster Care system.

Book 35: Under a War-Torn Sky - LM Elliot


A YA book that follows pilot Henry who is shot down behind enemy lines in WWII. His admiration for the French people who bravely risked their lives to save him and other pilots grows as he travels to freedom.

Book 36: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - JK Rowling


I am not sure if I enjoy reading screenplays. The story is great -- now it is time to watch the movie and hopefully it transfers well onto the big screen.

Book 31: Ghosts Among Us - James Van Praagh


I enjoyed this book and the views on spirituality and the other side. I may look further into Van Praagh's other books

Book 32: Men and Dogs - Katie Crouch


This book was not what I expected! It did not have anything to do with dogs! I did not really like the characters, so this one was just meh.

Book 33: Book Lust - Nancy Pearl

Well I forgot to review this book back in June. While Pearl gives some great recommendations, some of it seemed outdated.


Book 34: When We Were Sisters - Emilie Richards

My mom passed this one on to me as an interesting summer read. Two foster sister become each others lifelines. CeCe grows up to be a superstar singer while Robin - a photographer has a wonderful family. A car accident forces Robin to rethink her life goals and she joins CeCe to make a documentary of the Foster Care system.

Book 35: Under a War-Torn Sky - LM Elliot


A YA book that follows pilot Henry who is shot down behind enemy lines in WWII. His admiration for the French people who bravely risked their lives to save him and other pilots grows as he travels to freedom.

Book 36: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - JK Rowling


I am not sure if I enjoy reading screenplays. The story is great -- now it is time to watch the movie and hopefully it transfers well onto the big screen.

Book 37: The Crimes of Grindelwald - JK Rowling


Again, I wish this was not a screenplay, but I still enjoyed it. Next up will be to watch the movie.

Book 38: Beartown - Fredrick Backman


I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Set in a rural Swedish town where hockey is life, the town unravels when a tragic incident occurs.

>67 jayde1599: Love the cover of Bear Town.

I do too, Lori. Which is why I think I was drawn to it despite not being a huge hockey fan. I love the shades of blues and the landscape and I missed the hockey on the cover the first time I saw it.

>67 jayde1599: I have Bear Town on the shelves and have seen nothing but praise for it thus far. Must read it soon.

Beartown was a good read, Paul. I just finished the sequel, Us Against You and while it was slow to start, the last 100 pages were decent. Backman has such a unique writing style. You either enjoy it, or it begins to wear on you.

Book 39: Us Against You - Fredrik Backman


The sequel to Beartown picks up immediately where the first book ended. The towns of Beartown and Hed must come to grips with what happened and the aftermath of most of the hockey team playing for Hed. New people come to town, secrets are spilled, and there is dysfunction amongst the residents - but what else would one expect in Beartown?
I found this book slow to get going. However, the last 100 pages or so made up for the beginning.

Book 40: Girl with the Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier


This book has been on my Wishlist and TBR shelves for a long time. I finally got around to it and really enjoyed it. I liked the author's take on a famous painting and the historical fiction story behind it.

Book 41: The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson

This is another book that has been on my wishlist since 2009! In fact, I think I read Linda's review way back when and put it there. I recently acquired it at a library book sale and finally got around to seeing what it was all about. Jenna Fox was in a serious accident and just woke up from a coma. As she regains memories, she begins to find out who she truly is.
This story tests how far parents will go for the love of a child. Is their decision morally right? Good book!

Book 32 - that's disappointing. I was drawn to the cover, because that looks like our dog.

Do you think The Adoration of Jenna Fox would appeal to a 15 year old boy (who doesn't read much)?

Hi Nina

Yes book 32 was a bit of a let down. I liked the dog on the cover too!
As for Jenna Fox, if he is not a sci-fi reader, I am not sure if it would appeal to him. There is a big question of bio-ethics and how far a parent would go to save a child. It was more introspective than exciting. Does that make sense?

I hit the Back To School Disappearance again.
Now that Trimester One is just about finished, I am making an appearance. Luckily, we had a snow day today and I may be able to get caught up. Or at least dust the cobwebs off this thread.

Books Read since my disappearance:

42. Margel's Madness - Darcy Scott - picked up at the Maine Lobster Festival and signed by the author. Set in Maine, it is a mystery involving complicated family webs.

43. New Brunswick Ghosts - Dorothy Dearborn - picked up at a library sale. Fairly old and local ghost stories.

44. Summer of '69 - Elin Hilderbrand - read for book club. Eh chic-lit set on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

45. Snuff - Chuck Palahniuk - interesting take on the porn industry

46. Jessica's Guide to Dating the Dark Side - an LT recommendation from 2009! Another spin on the teen vampire drama.

47. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King - I really enjoyed this one.

48. Little Fires Everywhere - Celeste Ng - Book club read that did not have interesting characters for me.

49. Weekend Warriors - Fern Michaels - Since I read a book out of order earlier in the year, I figured I would start at the beginning. I am not sure that this series is my cup of tea.

50. The Hounds and the Fury - Rita Mae Brown - I had read some of her cat mysteries and this was given to me by my MIL. I learned a great deal about fox hunting. If I come across other books in the series, I will give them a shot, but will not actively look for them.

51. The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah - Book club read. I think Hannah is the Queen of Depressing situations. One thing after another. Just when you think things will be ok - wham! Nope. Engaging storytelling though.

52. Packing for Mars - Mary Roach - A book on my TBR shelf that I am finally getting to - not as interesting as her other books.

53. The Blind Side - Michael Lewis - Another TBR shelf book - I did like this one. The movie was a little grating though.

54. Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens - Book Club book - I found this very similar to The Great Alone - or maybe because I read them so close together that I was able to make the connections. I liked WtCS better though.

55. The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah - Again Kristin Hannah with the pull at your heartstrings.

Hmmm now I need to figure out why my LT reading challenge and Goodreads challenge are not matching up for # of books read this year!

Nice batch of books! I have the same trouble tracking my book totals - usually because I forgot to enter a book somewhere. 😀

Thank you for keeping me company in 2019.......onward to 2020.