Hello All,
Our last Bookshare was held at Tessa Russell's house and although there were only a few of us there, we had a wonderful discussion of books. For those who weren't able to come, thanks for sharing your book list with Maryann. Here are the latest list of books we read:
Maryann Stevens
Bury your Dead by Louise Penny 4stars️
chief Inspector Armand Gamache is in Quebec City recovering from injuries
suffered while rescuing a kidnapped team member. A mystery there as well as one
at home in Three Pines need his full attention. Worth my time.
Murder at Merisham Lodge by Celina Grace 3️stars multiple murders
at the Earls summer home. Two servants bring clues to the inspector & one
almost becomes a victim. Light. Not high literature.
A Great Reckoning By Louise Perry 4stars️
A murder in the police academy, friendship & betrayal, value-based
leadership vs scoundrels & embezzlement.
One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul 5stars️
14 minutes. The story of a Gambian woman who gathered plastic bags & for a
year she & her friends crocheted purses from the bags. They now have a
library & a health center. Go women!!
Death With a Double Edge by Anne Perry 3stars️ A very twisted plot. multiple murders, blackmail &
kidnapping. Daniel Pitt.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See 3.5 stars️ 15th century China. I was so angry about
foot binding & the subservience of women I almost returned the book only an
hour in. Since several of you have read I finished.
Triple Jeopardy #2 by Anne Perry a Daniel Pitt Murder Mystery. 4.5stars ️an excellent Murder mystery.
Twenty one Days #1 by Anne Perry 4stars
a good Daniel Pitt Murder mystery. Several wholly unexpected twists.
The Road to Station X by Sarah Baring 3.5stars️ first-hand account of WWII in England. Sarah transitions from
a debutante to a Riveter to a code breaker at Bletchley Park where the Navy
broke the Nazi radio messages.
Everybody Fights by Kim & Penn Holderness 4stars️ A Christian couple committed to
maintaining their marriage analyzes their arguments to learn better
communication skills.
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell 4stars️ Two generations, seemingly unconnected.
Lexie raises her child on her own rather than accept a man who would be an
unsuitable husband/father. Fierce in both her love for her son & in her
independence she maintains her career & her mothering relationship. In
another generation, Ted is traumatized by Eline’s C-section which births their
son. The trauma looks to destroy Ted before it will redeem him.
Trépasses by Louise Kennedy 3.5stars️
2022 awarded one of best 5 books by female writer. Love, familial,
teacher-student, & romantic extramarital in Belfast during the 1970’s
horrific sectarian violence. The carnage on both sides, martial law &
disenfranchisement of the Catholics was depressing. Some of the sex scenes
might be too much for you…or not.
*Broken
(In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
I
can’t recommend this book because this woman has a mouth more foul than a sailor
in a storm… But, boy was it good for my perspective.
Interspersed
with hilarious and frequently inappropriate humor was a powerful, kind,
empathetic and educational view into the life of someone with serious
depression, multiple auto-immune diseases, and mental illness.
And
audio book taped in her closet during the pandemic, it plays like a
standup comedy show. Every chapter is an essay on hilarious insanity, wrapped
with a quirky coping skill.
While
poking fun at her husband, she also gloried in his patience and tolerance of -
well, her and the crazy tornado she daily creates. She blasted insurance
companies who refuse to cover essential meds while still feeling “lucky” (the
most frequent word in the book besides ‘the’ and a word I don’t use) about
every life circumstance. I tune out the nasty language quite well, having grown
up with a foul-mouthed dad. My daughter, who deals with seasonal depression and
was coping with depression and attendant medication during her engagement years
ago, last year had this book on her Year’s Best list. And she swears, though
mostly playfully. I have loved everything she recommends (she went
to BYU on a Hemingway scholarship), so I braved it to the end and I loved it.
But I can’t recommend it!
*Everybody Fights by
Kim and Penn Holderness
(Recommended
by Beth)
Such
a worthwhile listen (I don’t even know if it’s available to
read)! Kim and Penn tell their story - their stories - and give
advice, warnings, tips, and humor along the way.
Interestingly,
there were some similarities to Broken - the physical/emotional
challenges, the style of telling… These two are fun, genuine, good, and their
main point is to help people with their relationships. Loved it.
*Into
Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
The
story of three expedition groups who concurrently summited the Top of the
World. Their story ended tragically because of a surprise and lethal storm that
caught them all unprepared, near the top of the highest mountain on earth. The
story is told by journalist Jon Krakauer, who made the ascent and lived to tell
about it. Most did not.
An
important side note: in 1869, British surveyor general of British-controlled
India, Sir Andrew Waugh, ignored the local and more appropriate names of the
newly determined highest peak on the planet (formerly simply and blandly
referred to as Peak XV), and named it after his predecessor, Sir George
Everest. That’s what most of the world now knows it as. But the
Tibetans called it Jomolungma, which means “goddess mother of the
world”. Nepalis to the south of the peak called it an equally
impressive and preferable name, Deva-dhunga, “Seat of God” in our
tongue. It is called Sagarmatha in Nepal: “Goddess of the
Sky”.
I
don’t think I can refer to it as Mount Everest in good conscience
anymore…
*Winter
Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
A
rambling yet cozy, snowy yet warm tale of Elfrida, an aged actress; Oscar, a
late-to-marriage and fatherhood schoolmaster and organist; the people and
circumstances that filled their lives and brought them sadness and joy. Though
predictable and quaint, it was nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable story - a
picturesque story that put England, and more prominently, Scotland, much higher
on my bucket list!
There
are many tender conversations, making it much like a screenplay; certainly a
book that would adapt well to be a Hallmark Christmas movie (though it’s too
wandering - they would have to tighten and cut some of the sweetest parts to
fit it to movie length). Maybe it already IS one!
My
favorite quote from this book is a moment when a clergyman and friend has
listened to the co-protagonist, Oscar, tell his sorrowful story; Oscar says a
simple thanks, then the clergyman says “I wish I could have given you so much
more.” Oscar replies, “No, don’t wish that. You have given me…enough.“
I
may have seemed disparaging of this story, but I only wanted to be honest. The
same tale could be told in 100 pages; but this storyteller weaves carefully and
with tender detail, so that when the story is done, you miss your friends
already.
*Sacred
Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance by Melissa
Inouye
The
following is just one powerful quote from an intellectually powerful woman who
wrote a spiritually powerful book during a time when she felt weak in every
way, but especially physically as she suffered from cancer and went through its
agonizing treatment.
“Satan
was the first perfectionist. And he wants us all to suffer as he does. “
(~Melissa
Inouye, in Sacred Struggle)
A
close friend of Kate Holbrook, the other church historian who died from ocular
-turned-metastatic cancer, Inouye is similarly gifted with the ability to cut
to the heart of a tradition, circumstance, or issue, dissect it, and raise the
truth to the light, whole and gleaming. To say more would be to say too much;
read this book. Learn and grow in the light that’s here.
Can
I give it 6 stars out of 5?!
Hamnet by
Maggie O’Farrell
This
is a haunted and haunting story on so many levels. It is the story of William
Shakespeare, though his name is never used in the entire story. It is the story
of his wife, known as Anne Hathaway, but whose given name was Agnes. It is the
story of their children, and the son they lost. And it is the story of life in
the 16th century, told in present tense so you have the sensation of standing
beside the characters, hearing their thoughts as well as words (though words
are often rendered unimportant); and you feel what they feel.
Shakespeare
lived through the period of the Bubonic plague, a pestilence that reappeared
almost yearly; yet he never mentioned it in any of his writings. The author
creates a believable notion that it is absent because it was so all-consuming,
so ever-present, so stiflingly overwhelming. And she creates the notion that
the plague is what stole the only son of William and Agnes Shakespeare.
A
completely fictional story, Hamnet is nevertheless based on the few
obtainable facts. There is even a section that explains how the bubos, the
pestilence that decimated Europe and much of the world, may have spread; and
for the purposes of the story, from a single encounter with a small monkey to
an 11-year old boy through his loving “take me” prayer in behalf of his dying
twin sister.
Hamnet
and Hamlet are one and the same name in old England - much like Sara and Sarah,
or Stephen and Steven. The author, Maggie O’Farrell, chose to use the form of
Shakespeare’s son, not his play character; but they may have been, to the
tormented William, the same word.
Heart
of the Matter: What I have learned in 100 years of living by Pres Russell
M. Nelson
This
book is everything you would expect from a prophet of God: inspiring,
uplifting, specifically and generally encouraging… But to put it simply,
someone has mainly compiled various messages over the years, with his current
words interspersed. It’s an easy and re-defining read.
The
Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
“I
believe that, much like books, gardens are organic, unpredictable things,
revealing their beauty how and when they choose. It is up to us to remember to
pause and enjoy that beauty every day.”
This
is the story of — a garden. And the women who were part of it, while it was a
part of them. The story is told from the various perspectives of the
1900s landscape artist, the 2021 restoration artist, the 1940s “land
girl”, the 1940s cook at the grand mansion where the garden grew, and the
grand lady who owned the house and gardens during WWII.
So
it’s an epic story, a varied love story, and a story of heartbreak and
recovery. A fabulous read, though the pace is sometimes a bit slow. I loved it.
But I seldom meet a book I don’t love. If ratings are relevant, I give it
a 4.75.
______________________________________________________________________________
Beth Hedengren
The Golden Spoon, by Jessa Maxwell
A fun mystery set at a “British Baking Show” type
show. Very clever.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Clear provides ways to improve your life by developing
small but important habits. Remember the conference talks about the British
Biking Team becoming champions through implementation of small habits? That
story is in here. Good, practical procedures for improving.
Lesson 1: Small habits make a
big difference (1% rule)
Lesson 2: Forget about setting
goals. Focus on your system instead. (Part of a whole)
Lesson 3: Build identity-based
habits (See yourself as a person who does these good things)
How to create a good habit:
·
The 1st law (Cue): Make it obvious.
·
The 2nd law (Craving): Make it attractive.
·
The 3rd law (Response): Make it easy.
·
The 4th law (Reward): Make it satisfying.
How to break a bad habit:
·
Inversion of the 1st law (Cue): Make it
invisible.
·
Inversion of the 2nd law (Craving): Make it
unattractive.
·
Inversion of the 3rd law (Response): Make it difficult.
·
Inversion of the 4th law (Reward): Make it
unsatisfying.
Seven Signs of Life by Dr. Aoife Abbey
A young Irish doctor shares her experiences working in
Intensive Care Units, with patients confronting death. In her work, she must
look for the signs of death, but in her book, she focuses on emotions as signs
of life, including: fear, grief, joy, distraction, anger, disgust, and hope. The stories
she shares teach about how to be grateful for life while understanding the
proximity of death. Very moving.
Be Useful: Seven Rules for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Best to listen to this in audio, where Arnold’s
no-nonsense, German-accented narration underscores his simple advice, for “only
you can create the life you want for yourself.”
1. Have a Clear Vision
2. Never Think Small
3. Work Your Ass Off
4. Sell, Sell, Sell
5. Shift Gears (If you begin to feel like a victim, change the
narrative)
6. Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind
7. Break Your Mirrors (Be Selfless)
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Very good WWII book about British women who enter a
cooking contest to make the best food in spite of strict rationing. The women’s
stories intertwine as they learn to manage under difficulties even more
daunting than rationing.
Romney by McKay Coppins
Fascinating biography of Mitt Romney. The author was
given full access to Mitt’s detailed journals as well as many interviews. Mitt,
at the end of his political career, was very honest and forthcoming as he
analyzed others and himself in the complicated world of politics. Coppins also
interviews countless others who know Mitt, both fans and enemies, to provide a
more balanced account than you usually get in political biographies. Mitt comes
across as well meaning, a person who honestly wanted to help the world through
politics.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
Another Santa Claus origin story by the author who
wrote the adult book some of us have read, The Midnight Library. It’s a little dark, sort of like Roald Dahl, but very good. People
who you want to be good are not. The child is disappointed and hurt, but learns
he has the strength to go on and do good despite being the victim of others. It
is a good lesson. You can see the movie based on the book on Netflix. It’s very
good—in some ways I like it better than the book. In the movie, the story is
told by a mysterious aunt. My favorite part is when something terrible happens
in the story and one of the children says, “No! That can’t happen! I can’t bear
it!” The aunt says, “Of course you can bear it. You bear hard things all the
time.”
________________________________________________________________
Sue DeMartini
Of Time and
Turtles by Sy Montgomery. I really enjoyed this book about an organization and
group of people in Maine who rescue and rehabilitate injured turtles and do all
they can to protect their nesting habitats, their eggs, and their hatchlings.
Turtles can live over 100 years and are one of the most endangered animals on
the planet. Good read.
Sonia Sotomayor;
From the Bronx to the US Supreme Court by Liz Sonneborn. A biography of
Chief Justice Sotomayor. Informative and interesting but somewhat superficial.
The author provides facts but I would have enjoyed more insights from Sotomayor
herself.
Maryann Stevens
Bury your Dead by Louise Penny 4stars️
chief Inspector Armand Gamache is in Quebec City recovering from injuries
suffered while rescuing a kidnapped team member. A mystery there as well as one
at home in Three Pines need his full attention. Worth my time.
Murder at Merisham Lodge by Celina Grace 3️stars multiple murders
at the Earls summer home. Two servants bring clues to the inspector & one
almost becomes a victim. Light. Not high literature.
A Great Reckoning By Louise Perry 4stars️
A murder in the police academy, friendship & betrayal, value-based
leadership vs scoundrels & embezzlement.
One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul 5stars️
14 minutes. The story of a Gambian woman who gathered plastic bags & for a
year she & her friends crocheted purses from the bags. They now have a
library & a health center. Go women!!
Death With a Double Edge by Anne Perry 3stars️ A very twisted plot. multiple murders, blackmail &
kidnapping. Daniel Pitt.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See 3.5 stars️ 15th century China. I was so angry about
foot binding & the subservience of women I almost returned the book only an
hour in. Since several of you have read I finished.
Triple Jeopardy #2 by Anne Perry a Daniel Pitt Murder Mystery. 4.5stars ️an excellent Murder mystery.
Twenty one Days #1 by Anne Perry 4stars
a good Daniel Pitt Murder mystery. Several wholly unexpected twists.
The Road to Station X by Sarah Baring 3.5stars️ first-hand account of WWII in England. Sarah transitions from
a debutante to a Riveter to a code breaker at Bletchley Park where the Navy
broke the Nazi radio messages.
Everybody Fights by Kim & Penn Holderness 4stars️ A Christian couple committed to
maintaining their marriage analyzes their arguments to learn better
communication skills.
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell 4stars️ Two generations, seemingly unconnected.
Lexie raises her child on her own rather than accept a man who would be an
unsuitable husband/father. Fierce in both her love for her son & in her
independence she maintains her career & her mothering relationship. In
another generation, Ted is traumatized by Eline’s C-section which births their
son. The trauma looks to destroy Ted before it will redeem him.
Trépasses by Louise Kennedy 3.5stars️
2022 awarded one of best 5 books by female writer. Love, familial,
teacher-student, & romantic extramarital in Belfast during the 1970’s
horrific sectarian violence. The carnage on both sides, martial law &
disenfranchisement of the Catholics was depressing. Some of the sex scenes
might be too much for you…or not.
*Broken
(In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
I
can’t recommend this book because this woman has a mouth more foul than a sailor
in a storm… But, boy was it good for my perspective.
Interspersed
with hilarious and frequently inappropriate humor was a powerful, kind,
empathetic and educational view into the life of someone with serious
depression, multiple auto-immune diseases, and mental illness.
And
audio book taped in her closet during the pandemic, it plays like a
standup comedy show. Every chapter is an essay on hilarious insanity, wrapped
with a quirky coping skill.
While
poking fun at her husband, she also gloried in his patience and tolerance of -
well, her and the crazy tornado she daily creates. She blasted insurance
companies who refuse to cover essential meds while still feeling “lucky” (the
most frequent word in the book besides ‘the’ and a word I don’t use) about
every life circumstance. I tune out the nasty language quite well, having grown
up with a foul-mouthed dad. My daughter, who deals with seasonal depression and
was coping with depression and attendant medication during her engagement years
ago, last year had this book on her Year’s Best list. And she swears, though
mostly playfully. I have loved everything she recommends (she went
to BYU on a Hemingway scholarship), so I braved it to the end and I loved it.
But I can’t recommend it!
*Everybody Fights by
Kim and Penn Holderness
(Recommended
by Beth)
Such
a worthwhile listen (I don’t even know if it’s available to
read)! Kim and Penn tell their story - their stories - and give
advice, warnings, tips, and humor along the way.
Interestingly,
there were some similarities to Broken - the physical/emotional
challenges, the style of telling… These two are fun, genuine, good, and their
main point is to help people with their relationships. Loved it.
*Into
Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
The
story of three expedition groups who concurrently summited the Top of the
World. Their story ended tragically because of a surprise and lethal storm that
caught them all unprepared, near the top of the highest mountain on earth. The
story is told by journalist Jon Krakauer, who made the ascent and lived to tell
about it. Most did not.
An
important side note: in 1869, British surveyor general of British-controlled
India, Sir Andrew Waugh, ignored the local and more appropriate names of the
newly determined highest peak on the planet (formerly simply and blandly
referred to as Peak XV), and named it after his predecessor, Sir George
Everest. That’s what most of the world now knows it as. But the
Tibetans called it Jomolungma, which means “goddess mother of the
world”. Nepalis to the south of the peak called it an equally
impressive and preferable name, Deva-dhunga, “Seat of God” in our
tongue. It is called Sagarmatha in Nepal: “Goddess of the
Sky”.
I
don’t think I can refer to it as Mount Everest in good conscience
anymore…
*Winter
Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
A
rambling yet cozy, snowy yet warm tale of Elfrida, an aged actress; Oscar, a
late-to-marriage and fatherhood schoolmaster and organist; the people and
circumstances that filled their lives and brought them sadness and joy. Though
predictable and quaint, it was nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable story - a
picturesque story that put England, and more prominently, Scotland, much higher
on my bucket list!
There
are many tender conversations, making it much like a screenplay; certainly a
book that would adapt well to be a Hallmark Christmas movie (though it’s too
wandering - they would have to tighten and cut some of the sweetest parts to
fit it to movie length). Maybe it already IS one!
My
favorite quote from this book is a moment when a clergyman and friend has
listened to the co-protagonist, Oscar, tell his sorrowful story; Oscar says a
simple thanks, then the clergyman says “I wish I could have given you so much
more.” Oscar replies, “No, don’t wish that. You have given me…enough.“
I
may have seemed disparaging of this story, but I only wanted to be honest. The
same tale could be told in 100 pages; but this storyteller weaves carefully and
with tender detail, so that when the story is done, you miss your friends
already.
*Sacred
Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance by Melissa
Inouye
The
following is just one powerful quote from an intellectually powerful woman who
wrote a spiritually powerful book during a time when she felt weak in every
way, but especially physically as she suffered from cancer and went through its
agonizing treatment.
“Satan
was the first perfectionist. And he wants us all to suffer as he does. “
(~Melissa
Inouye, in Sacred Struggle)
A
close friend of Kate Holbrook, the other church historian who died from ocular
-turned-metastatic cancer, Inouye is similarly gifted with the ability to cut
to the heart of a tradition, circumstance, or issue, dissect it, and raise the
truth to the light, whole and gleaming. To say more would be to say too much;
read this book. Learn and grow in the light that’s here.
Can
I give it 6 stars out of 5?!
Hamnet by
Maggie O’Farrell
This
is a haunted and haunting story on so many levels. It is the story of William
Shakespeare, though his name is never used in the entire story. It is the story
of his wife, known as Anne Hathaway, but whose given name was Agnes. It is the
story of their children, and the son they lost. And it is the story of life in
the 16th century, told in present tense so you have the sensation of standing
beside the characters, hearing their thoughts as well as words (though words
are often rendered unimportant); and you feel what they feel.
Shakespeare
lived through the period of the Bubonic plague, a pestilence that reappeared
almost yearly; yet he never mentioned it in any of his writings. The author
creates a believable notion that it is absent because it was so all-consuming,
so ever-present, so stiflingly overwhelming. And she creates the notion that
the plague is what stole the only son of William and Agnes Shakespeare.
A
completely fictional story, Hamnet is nevertheless based on the few
obtainable facts. There is even a section that explains how the bubos, the
pestilence that decimated Europe and much of the world, may have spread; and
for the purposes of the story, from a single encounter with a small monkey to
an 11-year old boy through his loving “take me” prayer in behalf of his dying
twin sister.
Hamnet
and Hamlet are one and the same name in old England - much like Sara and Sarah,
or Stephen and Steven. The author, Maggie O’Farrell, chose to use the form of
Shakespeare’s son, not his play character; but they may have been, to the
tormented William, the same word.
Heart
of the Matter: What I have learned in 100 years of living by Pres Russell
M. Nelson
This
book is everything you would expect from a prophet of God: inspiring,
uplifting, specifically and generally encouraging… But to put it simply,
someone has mainly compiled various messages over the years, with his current
words interspersed. It’s an easy and re-defining read.
The
Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
“I
believe that, much like books, gardens are organic, unpredictable things,
revealing their beauty how and when they choose. It is up to us to remember to
pause and enjoy that beauty every day.”
This
is the story of — a garden. And the women who were part of it, while it was a
part of them. The story is told from the various perspectives of the
1900s landscape artist, the 2021 restoration artist, the 1940s “land
girl”, the 1940s cook at the grand mansion where the garden grew, and the
grand lady who owned the house and gardens during WWII.
So
it’s an epic story, a varied love story, and a story of heartbreak and
recovery. A fabulous read, though the pace is sometimes a bit slow. I loved it.
But I seldom meet a book I don’t love. If ratings are relevant, I give it
a 4.75.
______________________________________________________________________________
Beth Hedengren
The Golden Spoon, by Jessa Maxwell
A fun mystery set at a “British Baking Show” type
show. Very clever.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Clear provides ways to improve your life by developing
small but important habits. Remember the conference talks about the British
Biking Team becoming champions through implementation of small habits? That
story is in here. Good, practical procedures for improving.
Lesson 1: Small habits make a
big difference (1% rule)
Lesson 2: Forget about setting
goals. Focus on your system instead. (Part of a whole)
Lesson 3: Build identity-based
habits (See yourself as a person who does these good things)
How to create a good habit:
·
The 1st law (Cue): Make it obvious.
·
The 2nd law (Craving): Make it attractive.
·
The 3rd law (Response): Make it easy.
·
The 4th law (Reward): Make it satisfying.
How to break a bad habit:
·
Inversion of the 1st law (Cue): Make it
invisible.
·
Inversion of the 2nd law (Craving): Make it
unattractive.
·
Inversion of the 3rd law (Response): Make it difficult.
·
Inversion of the 4th law (Reward): Make it
unsatisfying.
Seven Signs of Life by Dr. Aoife Abbey
A young Irish doctor shares her experiences working in
Intensive Care Units, with patients confronting death. In her work, she must
look for the signs of death, but in her book, she focuses on emotions as signs
of life, including: fear, grief, joy, distraction, anger, disgust, and hope. The stories
she shares teach about how to be grateful for life while understanding the
proximity of death. Very moving.
Be Useful: Seven Rules for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Best to listen to this in audio, where Arnold’s
no-nonsense, German-accented narration underscores his simple advice, for “only
you can create the life you want for yourself.”
1. Have a Clear Vision
2. Never Think Small
3. Work Your Ass Off
4. Sell, Sell, Sell
5. Shift Gears (If you begin to feel like a victim, change the
narrative)
6. Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind
7. Break Your Mirrors (Be Selfless)
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Very good WWII book about British women who enter a
cooking contest to make the best food in spite of strict rationing. The women’s
stories intertwine as they learn to manage under difficulties even more
daunting than rationing.
Romney by McKay Coppins
Fascinating biography of Mitt Romney. The author was
given full access to Mitt’s detailed journals as well as many interviews. Mitt,
at the end of his political career, was very honest and forthcoming as he
analyzed others and himself in the complicated world of politics. Coppins also
interviews countless others who know Mitt, both fans and enemies, to provide a
more balanced account than you usually get in political biographies. Mitt comes
across as well meaning, a person who honestly wanted to help the world through
politics.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
Another Santa Claus origin story by the author who
wrote the adult book some of us have read, The Midnight Library. It’s a little dark, sort of like Roald Dahl, but very good. People
who you want to be good are not. The child is disappointed and hurt, but learns
he has the strength to go on and do good despite being the victim of others. It
is a good lesson. You can see the movie based on the book on Netflix. It’s very
good—in some ways I like it better than the book. In the movie, the story is
told by a mysterious aunt. My favorite part is when something terrible happens
in the story and one of the children says, “No! That can’t happen! I can’t bear
it!” The aunt says, “Of course you can bear it. You bear hard things all the
time.”
________________________________________________________________
Sue DeMartini
Of Time and
Turtles by Sy Montgomery. I really enjoyed this book about an organization and
group of people in Maine who rescue and rehabilitate injured turtles and do all
they can to protect their nesting habitats, their eggs, and their hatchlings.
Turtles can live over 100 years and are one of the most endangered animals on
the planet. Good read.
Sonia Sotomayor;
From the Bronx to the US Supreme Court by Liz Sonneborn. A biography of
Chief JustMaryann Stevens
Bury your Dead by Louise Penny 4stars️
chief Inspector Armand Gamache is in Quebec City recovering from injuries
suffered while rescuing a kidnapped team member. A mystery there as well as one
at home in Three Pines need his full attention. Worth my time.
Murder at Merisham Lodge by Celina Grace 3️stars multiple murders
at the Earls summer home. Two servants bring clues to the inspector & one
almost becomes a victim. Light. Not high literature.
A Great Reckoning By Louise Perry 4stars️
A murder in the police academy, friendship & betrayal, value-based
leadership vs scoundrels & embezzlement.
One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul 5stars️
14 minutes. The story of a Gambian woman who gathered plastic bags & for a
year she & her friends crocheted purses from the bags. They now have a
library & a health center. Go women!!
Death With a Double Edge by Anne Perry 3stars️ A very twisted plot. multiple murders, blackmail &
kidnapping. Daniel Pitt.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See 3.5 stars️ 15th century China. I was so angry about
foot binding & the subservience of women I almost returned the book only an
hour in. Since several of you have read I finished.
Triple Jeopardy #2 by Anne Perry a Daniel Pitt Murder Mystery. 4.5stars ️an excellent Murder mystery.
Twenty one Days #1 by Anne Perry 4stars
a good Daniel Pitt Murder mystery. Several wholly unexpected twists.
The Road to Station X by Sarah Baring 3.5stars️ first-hand account of WWII in England. Sarah transitions from
a debutante to a Riveter to a code breaker at Bletchley Park where the Navy
broke the Nazi radio messages.
Everybody Fights by Kim & Penn Holderness 4stars️ A Christian couple committed to
maintaining their marriage analyzes their arguments to learn better
communication skills.
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell 4stars️ Two generations, seemingly unconnected.
Lexie raises her child on her own rather than accept a man who would be an
unsuitable husband/father. Fierce in both her love for her son & in her
independence she maintains her career & her mothering relationship. In
another generation, Ted is traumatized by Eline’s C-section which births their
son. The trauma looks to destroy Ted before it will redeem him.
Trépasses by Louise Kennedy 3.5stars️
2022 awarded one of best 5 books by female writer. Love, familial,
teacher-student, & romantic extramarital in Belfast during the 1970’s
horrific sectarian violence. The carnage on both sides, martial law &
disenfranchisement of the Catholics was depressing. Some of the sex scenes
might be too much for you…or not.
*Broken
(In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
I
can’t recommend this book because this woman has a mouth more foul than a sailor
in a storm… But, boy was it good for my perspective.
Interspersed
with hilarious and frequently inappropriate humor was a powerful, kind,
empathetic and educational view into the life of someone with serious
depression, multiple auto-immune diseases, and mental illness.
And
audio book taped in her closet during the pandemic, it plays like a
standup comedy show. Every chapter is an essay on hilarious insanity, wrapped
with a quirky coping skill.
While
poking fun at her husband, she also gloried in his patience and tolerance of -
well, her and the crazy tornado she daily creates. She blasted insurance
companies who refuse to cover essential meds while still feeling “lucky” (the
most frequent word in the book besides ‘the’ and a word I don’t use) about
every life circumstance. I tune out the nasty language quite well, having grown
up with a foul-mouthed dad. My daughter, who deals with seasonal depression and
was coping with depression and attendant medication during her engagement years
ago, last year had this book on her Year’s Best list. And she swears, though
mostly playfully. I have loved everything she recommends (she went
to BYU on a Hemingway scholarship), so I braved it to the end and I loved it.
But I can’t recommend it!
*Everybody Fights by
Kim and Penn Holderness
(Recommended
by Beth)
Such
a worthwhile listen (I don’t even know if it’s available to
read)! Kim and Penn tell their story - their stories - and give
advice, warnings, tips, and humor along the way.
Interestingly,
there were some similarities to Broken - the physical/emotional
challenges, the style of telling… These two are fun, genuine, good, and their
main point is to help people with their relationships. Loved it.
*Into
Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
The
story of three expedition groups who concurrently summited the Top of the
World. Their story ended tragically because of a surprise and lethal storm that
caught them all unprepared, near the top of the highest mountain on earth. The
story is told by journalist Jon Krakauer, who made the ascent and lived to tell
about it. Most did not.
An
important side note: in 1869, British surveyor general of British-controlled
India, Sir Andrew Waugh, ignored the local and more appropriate names of the
newly determined highest peak on the planet (formerly simply and blandly
referred to as Peak XV), and named it after his predecessor, Sir George
Everest. That’s what most of the world now knows it as. But the
Tibetans called it Jomolungma, which means “goddess mother of the
world”. Nepalis to the south of the peak called it an equally
impressive and preferable name, Deva-dhunga, “Seat of God” in our
tongue. It is called Sagarmatha in Nepal: “Goddess of the
Sky”.
I
don’t think I can refer to it as Mount Everest in good conscience
anymore…
*Winter
Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
A
rambling yet cozy, snowy yet warm tale of Elfrida, an aged actress; Oscar, a
late-to-marriage and fatherhood schoolmaster and organist; the people and
circumstances that filled their lives and brought them sadness and joy. Though
predictable and quaint, it was nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable story - a
picturesque story that put England, and more prominently, Scotland, much higher
on my bucket list!
There
are many tender conversations, making it much like a screenplay; certainly a
book that would adapt well to be a Hallmark Christmas movie (though it’s too
wandering - they would have to tighten and cut some of the sweetest parts to
fit it to movie length). Maybe it already IS one!
My
favorite quote from this book is a moment when a clergyman and friend has
listened to the co-protagonist, Oscar, tell his sorrowful story; Oscar says a
simple thanks, then the clergyman says “I wish I could have given you so much
more.” Oscar replies, “No, don’t wish that. You have given me…enough.“
I
may have seemed disparaging of this story, but I only wanted to be honest. The
same tale could be told in 100 pages; but this storyteller weaves carefully and
with tender detail, so that when the story is done, you miss your friends
already.
*Sacred
Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance by Melissa
Inouye
The
following is just one powerful quote from an intellectually powerful woman who
wrote a spiritually powerful book during a time when she felt weak in every
way, but especially physically as she suffered from cancer and went through its
agonizing treatment.
“Satan
was the first perfectionist. And he wants us all to suffer as he does. “
(~Melissa
Inouye, in Sacred Struggle)
A
close friend of Kate Holbrook, the other church historian who died from ocular
-turned-metastatic cancer, Inouye is similarly gifted with the ability to cut
to the heart of a tradition, circumstance, or issue, dissect it, and raise the
truth to the light, whole and gleaming. To say more would be to say too much;
read this book. Learn and grow in the light that’s here.
Can
I give it 6 stars out of 5?!
Hamnet by
Maggie O’Farrell
This
is a haunted and haunting story on so many levels. It is the story of William
Shakespeare, though his name is never used in the entire story. It is the story
of his wife, known as Anne Hathaway, but whose given name was Agnes. It is the
story of their children, and the son they lost. And it is the story of life in
the 16th century, told in present tense so you have the sensation of standing
beside the characters, hearing their thoughts as well as words (though words
are often rendered unimportant); and you feel what they feel.
Shakespeare
lived through the period of the Bubonic plague, a pestilence that reappeared
almost yearly; yet he never mentioned it in any of his writings. The author
creates a believable notion that it is absent because it was so all-consuming,
so ever-present, so stiflingly overwhelming. And she creates the notion that
the plague is what stole the only son of William and Agnes Shakespeare.
A
completely fictional story, Hamnet is nevertheless based on the few
obtainable facts. There is even a section that explains how the bubos, the
pestilence that decimated Europe and much of the world, may have spread; and
for the purposes of the story, from a single encounter with a small monkey to
an 11-year old boy through his loving “take me” prayer in behalf of his dying
twin sister.
Hamnet
and Hamlet are one and the same name in old England - much like Sara and Sarah,
or Stephen and Steven. The author, Maggie O’Farrell, chose to use the form of
Shakespeare’s son, not his play character; but they may have been, to the
tormented William, the same word.
Heart
of the Matter: What I have learned in 100 years of living by Pres Russell
M. Nelson
This
book is everything you would expect from a prophet of God: inspiring,
uplifting, specifically and generally encouraging… But to put it simply,
someone has mainly compiled various messages over the years, with his current
words interspersed. It’s an easy and re-defining read.
The
Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
“I
believe that, much like books, gardens are organic, unpredictable things,
revealing their beauty how and when they choose. It is up to us to remember to
pause and enjoy that beauty every day.”
This
is the story of — a garden. And the women who were part of it, while it was a
part of them. The story is told from the various perspectives of the
1900s landscape artist, the 2021 restoration artist, the 1940s “land
girl”, the 1940s cook at the grand mansion where the garden grew, and the
grand lady who owned the house and gardens during WWII.
So
it’s an epic story, a varied love story, and a story of heartbreak and
recovery. A fabulous read, though the pace is sometimes a bit slow. I loved it.
But I seldom meet a book I don’t love. If ratings are relevant, I give it
a 4.75.
______________________________________________________________________________
Beth Hedengren
The Golden Spoon, by Jessa Maxwell
A fun mystery set at a “British Baking Show” type
show. Very clever.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Clear provides ways to improve your life by developing
small but important habits. Remember the conference talks about the British
Biking Team becoming champions through implementation of small habits? That
story is in here. Good, practical procedures for improving.
Lesson 1: Small habits make a
big difference (1% rule)
Lesson 2: Forget about setting
goals. Focus on your system instead. (Part of a whole)
Lesson 3: Build identity-based
habits (See yourself as a person who does these good things)
How to create a good habit:
·
The 1st law (Cue): Make it obvious.
·
The 2nd law (Craving): Make it attractive.
·
The 3rd law (Response): Make it easy.
·
The 4th law (Reward): Make it satisfying.
How to break a bad habit:
·
Inversion of the 1st law (Cue): Make it
invisible.
·
Inversion of the 2nd law (Craving): Make it
unattractive.
·
Inversion of the 3rd law (Response): Make it difficult.
·
Inversion of the 4th law (Reward): Make it
unsatisfying.
Seven Signs of Life by Dr. Aoife Abbey
A young Irish doctor shares her experiences working in
Intensive Care Units, with patients confronting death. In her work, she must
look for the signs of death, but in her book, she focuses on emotions as signs
of life, including: fear, grief, joy, distraction, anger, disgust, and hope. The stories
she shares teach about how to be grateful for life while understanding the
proximity of death. Very moving.
Be Useful: Seven Rules for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Best to listen to this in audio, where Arnold’s
no-nonsense, German-accented narration underscores his simple advice, for “only
you can create the life you want for yourself.”
1. Have a Clear Vision
2. Never Think Small
3. Work Your Ass Off
4. Sell, Sell, Sell
5. Shift Gears (If you begin to feel like a victim, change the
narrative)
6. Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind
7. Break Your Mirrors (Be Selfless)
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Very good WWII book about British women who enter a
cooking contest to make the best food in spite of strict rationing. The women’s
stories intertwine as they learn to manage under difficulties even more
daunting than rationing.
Romney by McKay Coppins
Fascinating biography of Mitt Romney. The author was
given full access to Mitt’s detailed journals as well as many interviews. Mitt,
at the end of his political career, was very honest and forthcoming as he
analyzed others and himself in the complicated world of politics. Coppins also
interviews countless others who know Mitt, both fans and enemies, to provide a
more balanced account than you usually get in political biographies. Mitt comes
across as well meaning, a person who honestly wanted to help the world through
politics.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
Another Santa Claus origin story by the author who
wrote the adult book some of us have read, The Midnight Library. It’s a little dark, sort of like Roald Dahl, but very good. People
who you want to be good are not. The child is disappointed and hurt, but learns
he has the strength to go on and do good despite being the victim of others. It
is a good lesson. You can see the movie based on the book on Netflix. It’s very
good—in some ways I like it better than the book. In the movie, the story is
told by a mysterious aunt. My favorite part is when something terrible happens
in the story and one of the children says, “No! That can’t happen! I can’t bear
it!” The aunt says, “Of course you can bear it. You bear hard things all the
time.”
________________________________________________________________
Sue DeMartini
Of Time and
Turtles by Sy Montgomery. I really enjoyed this book about an organization and
group of people in Maine who rescue and rehabilitate injured turtles and do all
they can to protect their nesting habitats, their eggs, and their hatchlings.
Turtles can live over 100 years and are one of the most endangered animals on
the planet. Good read.
Sonia Sotomayor;
From the Bronx to the US Supreme Court by Liz Sonneborn. A biography of
Chief Justice Sotomayor. Informative and interesting but somewhat superficial.
The author provides facts but I would have enjoyed more insights from Sotomayor
herself.
The Whole Town's
Talking by Fannie Flagg who also wrote Fried Green Tomatoes. A quick read of
fluff. I don't recommend this author.
The Fifth Witness
by Michael Connelly. A crime novel. I like to read these from time to time.
The Reading List
by Sara Nisha Adams. Some of you may have read this already. About a young
woman with a mentally ill mother who works in a library but has never been a
reader. She encounters a recent widower whose wife loved to read. They connect as
they read books from a list a patron left in the library. ice Sotomayor. Informative and interesting but somewhat superficial.
The author provides facts but I would have enjoyed more insights from Sotomayor
herself.
The Whole Town's
Talking by Fannie Flagg who also wrote Fried Green Tomatoes. A quick read of
fluff. I don't recommend this author.
The Fifth Witness
by Michael Connelly. A crime novel. I like to read these from time to time.
The Reading List
by Sara Nisha Adams. Some of you may have read this already. About a young
woman with a mentally ill mother who works in a library but has never been a
reader. She encounters a recent widower whose wife loved to read. They connect as
they read books from a list a patron left in the library.
The Whole Town's
Talking by Fannie Flagg who also wrote Fried Green Tomatoes. A quick read of
fluff. I don't recommend this author.
The Fifth Witness
by Michael Connelly. A crime novel. I like to read these from time to time.
The Reading List
by Sara Nisha Adams. Some of you may have read this already. About a young
woman with a mentally ill mother who works in a library but has never been a
reader. She encounters a recent widower whose wife loved to read. They connect as
they read books from a list a patron left in the library.
GERI CHRISTENSEN
The Fourth Enemy
By Anne Perry
Daniel Pitt prosecutes a beloved philanthropist whose good deeds may hide dark—and dangerous—secrets in this gripping mystery from New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.
Working his way up at London law firm fford Croft and Gibson, Daniel Pitt is named junior counsel on a fraud case with the potential to make or break his—and the firm’s—reputation. The trouble is, Malcolm Vayne, the man on trial, has deep pockets, and even deeper connections. Vayne’s philanthropic efforts paint him a hero in the eyes of the public, but Daniel’s friend Ian, a police officer, has evidence to suggest otherwise. Nervously working alongside Gideon Hunter, the new head of his firm, Daniel is under pressure to prove that Vayne is guilty.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s new bride, forensic scientist Miriam fford Croft, befriends Rose, Hunter’s wife, and the two become engrossed in the women’s suffrage movement. Miriam finds herself among women who are brave and determined enough to undergo hunger strikes and prison sentences. And though Malcolm Vayne’s image is improved by his support of their cause, Miriam is not deceived.
The trial of Vayne reveals his outsize political ambitions, and heats up further when a crucial witness is found dead. During the medical examination, Miriam discovers evidence that will influence the case against Vayne but is kidnapped by one of his crazed supporters before she can reveal it. Daniel leaves the trial and, in a desperate midnight drive, attempts to rescue her from a dangerous, sea-swept dungeon, putting their lives—and the case against Vayne—in peril. Slow starting, but very exciting at the ending. 4.5 stars.Thief of Hearts
Tess Gerritson
Reformed cat burglar Clea Rice has witnessed enough crime to put her on the straight and narrow. But little does she suspect that her search for justice will land her in the arms of a wealthy English gentleman.
As her attraction to Jordan Tavistock grows, so does the danger. Now her biggest concern isn’t whether a cat burglar and a proper gentleman can find happiness…it’s whether they’ll survive long enough to find out.
It was okay, but not one of her best. 3 stars.
When You Find My Body
By D. Dauphinee
When Geraldine “Gerry” Largay (AT trail name, Inchworm) first went missing on the Appalachian Trail in remote western Maine in 2013, the people of Maine were wrought with concern. When she was not found, the family, the wardens, and the Navy personnel who searched for her were devastated. The Maine Warden Service continued to follow leads for more than a year. They never completely gave up the search. Two years after her disappearance, her bones and scattered possessions were found by chance by two surveyors. She was on the U.S. Navy’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) School land, about 2,100 feet from the Appalachian Trail.
This book tells the story of events preceding Geraldine Largay’s vanishing in July 2013, while hiking the Appalachian Trail in Maine, what caused her to go astray, and the massive search and rescue operation that followed. Her disappearance sparked the largest lost-person search in Maine history, which culminated in her being presumed dead. She was never again seen alive. The author was one of the hundreds of volunteers who searched for her. Gerry’s story is one of heartbreak, most assuredly, but is also one of perseverance, determination, and faith. For her family and the searchers, especially the Maine Warden Service, it is also a story of grave sorrow.
Marrying the joys and hardship of life in the outdoors, as well as exploring the search & rescue community, When You Find My Body examines dying with grace and dignity. There are lessons in the story, both large and small. Lessons that may well save lives in the future.
This book was haunting and disturbing on many levels, but impossible to stop reading. Unforgettable. 5 stars.
The Lost Apothecary
By Sarah Penner
A secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time. A really fun read. 4 stars.
Mrs POLIFAX and the Whirling Dervish
By Dorothy Gilman
Always delightful reading, Mrs Pollifax is on hand in Morocco to back up an inept CIA agent, and it's a good thing...
All she has to do is to masquerade as his aunt while he confirms the identities of seven undercover agents in Morocco - and keep him from making an unpleasant ass of himself. But things quickly go wrong. Their first informant is killed, and Mrs Pollifax begins to get the idea that her colleague is not who he says he is.
Still, she forges ahead, checking out suspicious informants, and coming to the conclusion that someone is an impostor and someone wants her dead.
Armed with only an open mind and a little karate, Mrs Pollifax is the most unlikely and lovable of international spies. 3.5 stars,
And I
contemplated about how hard it would be to marry a widower; I think I would
also feel the childish insecurities of the role. Also, the descriptive passages
about aging, about childhood, about the landscapes. It made the story
fascinating. I was also impressed with the elaborate characterizations - Mrs
Danvers with her skull face and sunken eyes; Beatrice Lacey with her masculine,
no-nonsense similarity to Maxim; Mr. Crawley, quiet, deliberate, faithful. What
a fun book to cast for a movie! 