I really like January. It’s the start of a new year, and like an Etch-A-Sketch, the slate is wiped clean, ready for fresh beginnings.
No batteries needed
That’s one reason why January 1st was the day my husband and I chose to get married. We wanted a day that signified a fresh beginning together. It’s also an easy day to remember.
This year marked 43 years together. It might be one of the only we have spent apart since I was in Okinawa helping out with our new grandson. FaceTime is handy in that regard, although my January 1st was my husband’s December 31st.
Another anniversary to celebrate is my time with WordPress: 13 years, so said the little pop up sent to my inbox. Wow! Really? That’s a long time, almost more impressive than being married over four decades, since a quick AI info grab indicates most blogs last about 2 years, and first marriages last roughly 21 years.
Surpassing the odds is an excellent way to start out 2025.
January is also when I begin anew my Goodreads reading challenge. I always plunk in 101 as my base goal with hopes of squeezing in twice that amount. The best I’ve achieved is 171.
As of today I have already read 8 books so using some quick math—8 books read in 15 days means the possibility of reading 8 more books in a month of 31 days which computes to an average of reading 16 books a month times 12 equals 192 books. Hmm, this could be the year of 200.
I’d finish this post but I have get down to the library to check out more books.
I’m not sure why I think it’s automatically summer when May flips over to June on the calendar. It wasn’t the case this year. Our wet spring adamantly hung on through a major portion of June with only a scattering of sunny days. June ended with a torrential rainstorm complete with donner und blitzen (as my latent German surfaces).
Rainy days equal reading days. Here are the five star reads for June 2024.
Vendela in Venice by Christina Bjork, illustrated by Inja-Karin Eriksson
image: Amazon
The adult Swedish author recounts a trip she took to Venice with her father when she was a child presented as a picture book. Informative and charming with beautiful illustrations that capture and complement the text.
The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
image: Goodreads
Anthony Horowitz is a talented writer. He is also a cheeky one in how he can get away with writing himself in as a character in a novel, dropping names hither thither, promoting his other works, and elaborating truths into meta fictional facts to suit his purpose.
His latest foray into adult fiction involves him teaming up with the irascible Hawthorne, a former police officer, who wants Horowitz to write a book about a murder case he’s working on. The problem is that Hawthorne is unreliable and unlikable, and that Horowitz gets dragged into the investigation at the risk of his career and even his life.
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
image: Amazon
Quite an original and superb novel emphasizing how books bring people together. Though translated, it easily becomes a story that any culture which values reading can embrace. Books, eccentric characters, even a cat with idiosyncrasies—a novel that is a delightful one sitting read.
Modernity overlaps tradition as the new bookstore owner wants to phase out home delivery service, which essentially phases out Carl. His simple life becomes more complicated when precocious nine year old Schascha joins him on his rounds. Her involvement on his deliveries begins the end of life as he knows it to open a door to other possibilities.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
image: Amazon
A few years ago I read the book and have recently watched the TV series, which necessitated rereading the book. This proved the best way to thoroughly enjoy the author presentation of a Russian fairytale that deftly weaves in Russian history. Watching the TV series with Ewan McGregor playing Count Rostov is proving the old adage “the book is the book and the movie is the movie.”
Now that July has arrived the weather report indicates a hot summer is anticipated. No problem—I just bought a new hammock with an umbrella. My TBR is fully loaded.I’m looking forward to lounging and reading in the backyard.
Where’s your favorite place to read in the summer?
I would be infinitesimally poorer if it were not for the local library. Our library prints at the bottom of the check out slip how much money saved by using the library. My last receipt stated I had saved $183.50 since I chose to check out books instead of buying them. That’s a lot of chocolate I could be investing in instead. So, my thanks to the library for providing books and helping me save money.
May was full of variety as I am trying to get away from my mystery mode of preference. Here are the five star reads for last month.
image: Goodreads
Preston’s quiet novel is based on the findings of the Sutton Hoo archeological dig in Britain, discovered just prior to WWII. While it’s difficult to get overly enthused about the discovered artifacts through descriptions, Preston balances the historical significance of the find with well-rounded characterization, providing hints of personal conflict, even though the focus is on the dig and its ramifications. The Netflix movie with Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan, and Lily James is what prompted me to read the book. I would say seeing the movie first enriched reading the novel.
check it out on Netflix
image: Goodreads
A reader never quite knows what to expect from the talented pen of Anthony Horowitz. He tossed the murder mystery genre on its ear with Magpie Murders and gave it a sound shaking with his Hawthorne series. Mixed reviews on this fifth entry of the series indicate readers are not always pleased when a writer changes up the format. In Close to Death Horowitz again collaborates with police consultant Hawthorne, but as a writer mandated to deliver a book to the publisher. Instead of following Hawthorne’s lead, Horowitz must dig for information on his own, which is challenging since this is a five year old murder. Horowitz discovers the case takes on a different appearance when he find the ruled suicide is perhaps a murder, yet there are far too many suspects with alibis making this seem to be a suicide after all. Somewhat confusing? Yes. Very clever? Definitely.
image: Goodreads
Dickens, Twain, Homer, and a bit of Elmer Gantry comprise this epic coming-of-age tale of four orphans who dub themselves the Vagabonds as they escape injustice in hopes of finding home. The author acknowledges how he spun together the pathos of Dickens with the journey adventure of Twain to create the tale of Odie, a midwestern Odysseus of the Depression. All components of a riveting story are present: setting (the horrors of a school institution in the landscape of the Midwest Depression era); characters (evil school administrators, stoic adults, rascal children, precious little girls, morally ambiguous women); conflict (spoilers!). The prose complements the sincerity of the narrator’s voice, as he loses his naïveté and develops a more realistic perspective of what life is all about.
image: Goodreads
What would it be like to live in an alternate reality, one that is nearly perfect? People must wonder because films such as The Lake House and novels like Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse continue to remain popular. For Kitty, whose double life as Katharyn, her two worlds are both so real she can no longer tell which she is dreaming and which one she is living. A compelling debut by Cynthia Swanson, that is addictive and a storyline that leaves one pondering the different ways of coping with loss, change, and what constitutes the perfect life.
image: Goodreads
A middle grade debut that deservedly earned the Coretta Scott King award for its sensitive portrayal of a young boy who migrates from Alabama to Chicago when the mother passes. Cline-Ransome captures the sorrow, confusion, and sense of loss as Langston tries to adjust to moving to the city. Bullied and lonely, Langston finds solace in the words of his namesake, Langston Hughes.
Do you find yourself returning to the same author or the same genre? I wonder if that is a problem or is it more of an indication of being content with a choice that is satisfying. Thoughts?
It’s here. The day you have been waiting for. Yes! It’s Talk Like Shakespeare Day, which happens to coincide with the day historians figure to be both William’s day of birth and day of death: April 23.
As an English teacher I had zero background in Shakespeare as somehow his works were never taught, presented, or discussed in my school days. And this took place in a modern school district!
This meant I came to the classroom on the same playing field as my students: zero knowledge and lacking comprehension. I dove right in and learned as much as I could in order to sound like I knew what I was talking about.
Something clicked because I am a professed Bardinator today and even attended Folger Library’s Hamlet Academy back in 2015. I am also adapting Shakespeare plays into reader’s theatre scripts and they are regular sellers on my Teachers Pays Teachers website.
All in all I’m quite pleased to have traveled the journey, transforming from Shakespeare zilch to Shakespeare rich over the years.
However, to talk like Shakespeare is a talent I am not quite conversant in yet. I did find this nifty website which takes randomly generated sentences and turns them into Shakespearean speech. I am having fun playing with it. Here are some examples:
Crouch before you jump or miss the mark. Our plans right now are hazy.
Becomes—
Crouch bef’re thee jumpeth ‘r misseth the marketh. Our plans even but now art hazy.
Or—
It was done before the boy could see it. Hop over the fence and plunge in.
Becomes—
T wast done bef’re the knave couldst seeth t. Hopeth ov’r the fenceth and plunge in.
Nifty Beans! My yearly challenge is designated as 101 books, which I have been surpassing, especially now that I’m retired. I hit 171 this year. Woo Hoo! Maybe I should readch for165 or even 175. Then again, I really like the sound of 101, even more so when I pass it up big time.
Goodreads provides a colorful graphic off all the books I read in 2023. It’s fun to revisit all those books read throughout the year. Here are the highlights:
Book with most pages:
626 pages–read it again for a book club–twice is enough
I really enjoyed Doerr’s first book, All the Light We Cannot See, reading that one twice as well, since I devoured it in one sitting and after a student presented it as her author spotlight I reread it and was glad I did. However, even after a second reading of his second book, Cloud Cuckoo Land, which I read for the library book club, I am still not a huge fan. One reason is that it is vastly different in theme and style. While it is still well-written, it did not resonate with me quite like his first. I watched the film adaptation of AtLWCS on Netflix, and as they say, “The book is the book and the movie is the movie.”
I look forward to his next book. He is a writer worth waiting for.
Book with fewest pages:
a quick book at 21 pages
This is for those who enjoy fables/parables like Animal Farm and animal dramas like Watership Down. A quick read and one read is enough.
Average book length in 2023: 299 pages (not a fan of super long books, unless the writing is amazing)
My average rating for 2023: 4.3 (check out my Reader Roundup posts for those fabulous five star books)
Highest rated on Goodreads: 4.40
rated a solid 5 with me
First review of 2023:
started off with a 5 star
Last review of 2023:
And ended with a five star revisit to a childhood classic
Going through my personal book collection I came across Marguerite Henry’s Wagging Tails. Published in 1955, my brother owned this book first and also first owned our collie mix, Toby. My brother being nine years older than me, passed on the book and the dog when he got busy being a teenager. This is the one book I have leftover from my childhood. I’m not sure why I’ve kept it all these years, especially since I am definitely a cat person. It might be because Toby was an exceptional dog, and I thought it a very big deal him giving me this book. I think I drove him a little crazy with how I always got into his stuff. He finally gave me his marble collection after years of messing with it. Little sisters must be pain for older brothers.
Feeling nostalgic on 123123 I reread these twenty-three stories and once again appreciated Marguerite Henry’s affinity for telling a story. Although she is best known for her horse stories, like Misty of Chincoteague, her love of animals comes through with each dog story presented.
I’m ever so glad I found Goodreads. Not only does it help in discovering books to read, it more importantly keeps track of the books I have read. Lately I am reading books I have read previously. Goodreads confirms this. I’m contemplating the implications of this reading overlap.
Never mind deep contemplations on my reading habits. Here are the brass facts: according to Goodreads I read 155 books by December 30th. I don’t log books that are DNF (did not finish), which are more than I want to acknowledge this year. Apparently I am becoming more discerning in my book selections.
Instead of the usual how many pages, most popular, least popular factums I thought I would give 746 books activity a try. Using this year’s book list I answered posed suppositions:
In high school I was Here and Now and Then (Mike Chen)
People might be surprised by The Ethan I Was Before (Ali Standish)
I will never be Maisie Dobbs (Jacqueline Winspear)
My life post-lockdown was Little Broken Things (Nicole Baart)
My fantasy job is The Finder of Forgotten Things (Sarah Loudin Thomas)
At the end of a long day I need The Maid (Nita Prose)
I hate being The Accused (John Grisham)
Wish Ihad The Cat Who Saved Books (Sosuke Natsukawa)
My family reunions areTo Disguise the Truth (Jen Turano)
At a party you’d find me with Birds of a Feather (Jacqueline Winspear)
I’ve never been toThe Last Bookshop in London (Madeline Martin)
A happy day includes The Ingredients of Love (Nicolas Barresu)
Motto I live by: The Art of Holding On and Letting Go (Kristin Lenz)
On my bucket list is The Island (Gary Paulsen)
Next year I want to have What the Fireflies Knew (Kai Harris)
That was fun and enlightening. Maybe my book choices reveal more about myself than I am aware of. Hope your year of books was enjoyable and here is to next year!
Some lovely late autumn days provided moments of sitting in the sun to enjoy my remaining days of reading outside for the season. Reluctantly the hammocks are packed away and I am now reading books in the garage protected from the chill breeze of fall, where just enough sun lands to keep me mollified, provided I bundle up. I have been known to read cocooned in winter clothing and a thick blanket in my quest of al fresco reading time.
During October I read a bit of everything from historical fiction to romance adventure (reading for the adventure aspect), to murder mysteries and children’s fare. Out of sixteen books only three rated a five star read and that would be:
Brian’s Hunt by Gary Paulsen
Brian’s Hunt, the fifth and last installment of the Brian books, is Gary Paulsen’s tribute to both Brian of Hatchet fame and Paulsen’s love and respect for the ebb and flow of the wilderness. While two thirds of the book is deceptively calm, almost transcendental in describing Brian’s canoe sojourn on the river, the last third Paulsen kicks into “Hatchet Mode” and beguiles the reader by creating a memorable adventure tale. Thoroughly detailed and thought-provoking, Brian’s Hunt is a complement to the Hatchet series, yet it can very much be read as a standalone.
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
A Newberry Honor Award that is an older read, one that falls in with Narnia with its medieval world setting and threads of magical realism. A story that starts with Queen Mary on the throne, it centers on young Kate Sutton who is sent away to live at a remote, mysterious castle due to displeasing the queen. Kate is a spunky heroine and she is out to find the truth about the supposed Fairy Folk who reside in the hills. For those who enjoy Mary Stewart’s King Arthur series, this is a consideration, even if it found in the juvenile section.
SIDE NOTE: some of my favorite reads are found in the kids section–have you noticed that as well?
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld
An unexpected fun read that is also from long ago. Translated from German, this tale transfers well the humor of how a group of Roman schoolboys attempt to solve the mystery of the painted words Caius Adonis Est or loosely translated Caius is a dumbbell. These words get one of the boys thrown into prison (Roman was a tough place, even on kids). His buddies try to get his name cleared in order to free him from the fate of wasting away in the dungeons. An entertaining story that combines laughs and Roman history, an unlikely combination. Some violence, such as cruel imprisonment and a man falling to his death might be a consideration for younger readers. Having taught Julius Caesar for a number of years it’s with regret I found this gem after I retired from teaching sophomore English.
Stay tuned for my post on what makes a book a five star read. Otherwise you might think me a finicky reader.
Any reads that you care to share? Please leave in the comments, as I’m always willing to add to my TBR list.
Ah, August. Usually it’s my last chance for leisurely reading since it marks the end of summer and the start of school.
Not this year.
The loveliest bit about retirement is that summer continues on through and past September. This means that big bag of books from the library will not languish because I will not be planning, grading, or worrying about classroom lessons.
I read in the morning. I read in the afternoon. I read before going to sleep. In between I do stuff like clean, cook, balance Mom’s checkbook, yardwork, write. I play too much Angry Birds Bubble Pop. Hey, no judgment, there are worse time wasters out there. Dr. Who reruns don’t count, either.
Dr Who binging is mindful, right?
I am almost embarrassed when people ask me what I am doing in retirement because my first response is: “reading books.”
It’s more than a retirement activity. It’s absolute sustenance. I fear I might wither without a book in hand.
Here are August’s highlights:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Great and Terrible Quest by Margaret Lovett
A fine read that has all the hallmarks of a beloved classic: Medieval setting, regency betrayal, a pipping hero or two, lovable secondary characters. An amazing fight scene and a thrilling, hold-your-breath ending. The three-legged trickster dog clenches the deal.
The biggest question is why is this book not as well known as other adventure tales like The Man in the Iron Mask?
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lives of the Pirates by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
Krull bio books deftly combine fact, along with some speculations, with a fun factor. Hewitt’s caricatures complement the text well. Krull’s pirate book provides a wide range of famous, infamous, and not so famous pirates. I read this because my mother did a stint as a pirate and I needed inspiration to write her story.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Lenz
Lenz provides a YA novel about competition rock climbing with authentic characters and laces the plot with issues ranging from family relationships to dating to introspective self-discovery. The additional literary and music references definitely add to the story.
Only three, you wonder?
August was an interesting month in that I read nine books. That part isn’t so interesting. What I found interesting, perplexing is the better word, is that I started nine books that I didn’t finish. Nine! Am I getting picky or choosing the wrong books?
Do you stick with a book once started or is there a definite standard for a DNF (did not finish)?
Though school had a smidge more to go, I was already in vacation mode. And this June marked the beginning of an endless vacation as I shut the door to my 20 years of teaching and embarked on retirement.
Summer has always been my read, read, read season. No lesson plans, no assignments to grade, no researching to add sparkle and sizzle to standards and their expectations, and of course, there is the lounging in bed early and late with a good book. *
Summer is a great big “Aah!”
Any hammock aficionados out there?
Starting out strong with nine books, I bogged down in the middle of June when I took on Lorna Doone, which took the rest of June and into July—but it was worth all 700+ pages.
Two ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ reads:
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
5 star read
Sharon Creech’s novels continually provide riveting portraits of family dynamics. The Wanderer is another exploration into a family mystery. Like Walk Two Moons, a young girl is a captive narrator with family members delving into her past while journeying towards her future. In this story, Sophie is part of a crew sailing to England to visit with her grandfather “Bompie.” Although adopted, she sees herself immersed with the lives of her two cousins and three uncles, yet the closer they sail to England the more she realizes she has a past family that must be acknowledged. Sophie’s lyrical journaling is intertwined with her cousin Cody’s off-the-cuff observations creating a unique journey story.
Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear
5 star read
The third book in the Maisie Dobbs series finds Maisie taking on three cases that push her to her limits of emotional, physical, and personal belief capabilities. Two of the cases lead her back to her war years, causing her to revisit France, forcing her to face past “dragons.” She relies on Billy, her valued assistant, to sleuth the London case as her investigations take her deeper into her own past while searching the past of two former soldiers. A layered plot, surprise twists, and full characterization create a more than satisfying read.
Four star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ reads of note:
The Clearing by Heather Davis
4 star read
For fans of Tuck Everlasting and The Time Traveler’s Wife. A book that flirts with the possibilities and impossibilities of time pockets. Amy moves in with her great aunt Mae in order to restart her life. Moving from Seattle to a small town takes adjusting, especially when there is mist in the clearing beyond her aunt’s house that divides the time between the 21st century and 1944. An interesting premise that works fairly well, although the ending is a bit muddled.
The Worst Night Ever by Dave Barry
4 star read
If Dave Barry wrote a book for the juvie crowd it would be funny, right? It would be implausibly plotted, right? Hyperbolic humor, right? That is exactly what is found in The Worst Night Ever. Although the second in his “Worst” series it reads as a standalone. It begins with Wyatt becoming a target for the menacing Blevin twins and moves toward an espionage recon rescue of a ferret to thwarting an evil plot involving killer critters. At times darn right silly, often times snortfully funny, Barry writes a fun story for the middle school set.
The Fallen Architect by Charles Belfoure
4 star read
This murder mystery comes from the angle of a architectural point of view. A prominent architect is blamed for the collapse of a theatre’s balcony which kills over a dozen people. After serving a prison term of five years he tries to rebuild his life after everything has been taken from him: status, family, home. Plus, he is reviled by the public causing him to change his name, appearance and occupation. A unique and somewhat refreshing approach to the murder mystery genre. A bit heavy on the emphasis of the variety theatre history, which slowed the plot down at times; however, plenty of colorful characterization and plot twists make for a satisfying enough read to seek out the other titles.
The Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbitt
4 star read
With magical realism leaning towards a fairy tale, Babbitt creates a thoughtful story of everlasting love. When the Amaryllis disappears mysteriously during a storm, the young captain’s wife and son grieve differently. The son runs from his grief to live inland while his mother grows old in her seaside cottage watching for a sign from her beloved captain. Enter in a visit from the granddaughter who is pulled into the grandmother’s need to know whether her true love, her lost-at-sea captain-husband still thinks of her. The grandmother believes nothing is impossible, and once again Babbitt spins a story that makes readers willing to believe the unbelievable, just as she did in her classic children’s tale, Tuck Everlasting.
*This feeling usually lasts through July, until Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and the consumer world decides its time to get ready for school–while it’s still clearly summer vacation for most of America. Minor panic begins to set in as I align and adjust and realign and readjust my curriculum, class website, and start diving into district emails. August sees a big dip in reading.**
**Not this year. The <delete> button is a marvelous coping mechanism for retired school teachers. I look forward to bypassing back-to-school frenzy and continuing on in my Book Bingo adventure.
Pam Webb 