best books – Peaceful Reader

Winter Reading

Oh, the weekend has been beautiful, the sun was bright and warm. It felt like Spring weather was here for a few days. I’m craving that so we can get outside more, take walks, hang out on patios, and see friends. During the cold spell of January and February I did fit in a ton of reading. My top 5 books were:

1. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (2020) : Della and her older sister Suki are taken in to foster care after escaping from their incarcerated mother’s boyfriend. Della has always been able to count on her sister as protector but Suki is fighting her own demons and tries to commit suicide. The two sisters along with their caretaker learn to look out for each other through all the trauma they’ve experienced. This book is graphic about tough topics but Bradley does it with grace. I read this is two days so riveted was I by the characters and their resilience.

2. The boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse by Charlie Mackesy (2019) : A delightful tale reminiscent of Christopher Robin and his stuffed animal friends. Filled with whimsical drawings and lovely poetic conversations between the charming characters. I go back to this on days when I need a little happiness.

3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) : This book blew my mind like The Overstory. I read a recommendation about this book and put it on hold at our local library. Nora Seed faces her own mortality and finds herself in the Midnight Library with her favorite high school librarian as her guide. She is offered the opportunity to try out different paths her life might have taken and through each one she learns a little bit more about herself and the people around her. This made me think about my own experiences and other paths I might have taken. In the long run Nora and her readers learn the ultimate lesson about life. You’ll have to read it to find out.

4. When all is said by Anne Griffin (2019) : This is the story of cantankerous old Maurice Hannigan told in one night through stories about his life as he reflects back on his five favorite people. Over drinks at the pub inside the Rainford House Hotel he toasts and ruminates over mistakes and memories explaining to us in perfect detail all that life has offered him and taken from his as well. As a reader I connected with Maurice and found this to be an amazing debut novel. Her next book is scheduled to be out this Spring.

I know March won’t be all sunshine and warmth yet I know spring is still close at hand. Enjoy.

Top Ten Tuesday; I am thankful for these authors…

The Broke and the Bookish host this weekly meme. Today we celebrate at the proverbial table to give thanks to those whom we love and those that keep us reading. This was an easy list to create and if you’d like to play along or just read other lists click to their site and find many more authors and books.

I’m thankful for:

1. Barbara Kingsolver-I’ve read nearly all of her books and loved them all. We could be friends.

2. J.K. Rowling-She brought magic back to reading and I will always be grateful to her for that. I loved the anticipation of getting a new one in the mail from Amazon and cracking open the cover, not letting go until it was finished.

3. Jodi Piccoult-I’ve enjoyed her books and her willingness to bring unique topics to light.

4. Kate DiCamillo; Love all of her books especially The Tale of Desperaux, Winn-Dixie, and Edward Tulane.

5. Mildred D. Taylor- As I read about Cassie Logan and her family’s struggles I fell in love with historical fiction.

6. Stephen King-In college I read a lot of his books and spent one freezing weekend in a cabin on the outskirts of Duluth and the main source of entertainment was me reading some of his short stories aloud to several friends. It was perfectly creepy.

7. Maya Angelou-Phenomenal Woman.

8. David Leviathan-Love his humor and and his memorable characters.

9. Rick Riordan-Like J.K. Rowling I will always be thankful that Mr. Riordan keeps boys (and girls) reading and hungering for more.

10. Suzanne Collins-Before The Hunger Games there was Gregor and I cheered for him.

11. Cornelia Funke-Just for Inkheart. I heart this book so much.

I know I could have come up with more and I’m sure throughout my day I might think of others but off the top of my head this is my list. Enjoy. What ten authors are you thankful for?

January Recap

Not a blowout month of reading but I’m good with it (seven total books) but several were breathtakingly beautiful. I started and ended the month off with fantastic books. I’ve only reviewed three of my Jan. books and I have to work on this. I don’t have to write about every book I read~I really only want to share the amazing book-the books I want you to read or the books to stay away from.

I do plan to write reviews still for Sing You Home (Dec.), The Book of Three (great fantasy) and Claire Marvel, which was as amazing as The History of Love.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. 312 pages. 2011.
emma and me by Elizabeth Flock. 292 pages. 2004.
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. 466 pages. 2011
Bigger Than a Bread Basket by Laurel Snyder.
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. 1964.
The Geranium Farm Cookbook by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton
Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz. 2002.

One book, emma and me, counted for my TBR Pile Challenge hosted by Roof Beam Reader and of course, the cookbook, counts toward my 2012 Foodie Challenge hosted by Joyfully Retired.

Exciting News Flash: I was asked by Lisa and Margo to participate in Kidlit Celebrates Women’s History Month for March. I am writing about one of the very first feminist, Joan of Arc, for a March 17th post. I was honored and thrilled to be asked to participate in this jubilee of special women!

My laptop is on it’s last leg but as long as I stay plugged in I seem to be okay. I started off January blogging every day and couldn’t continue when a bug crept in damaging major parts of my only 3-year-old laptop. Sad how things don’t last even a medium amount of time. We truly are a “throw-away” society, which makes me want to throw up a little.

Happy Reading.

Blog Love

Book Lung is hosting a fantastic giveaway with lots of fun ARC’s and other book bling. Go check it out, admire and enter!
I don’t really need any new books on my stacks but they all just look so interesting!

And here’s what’s happening in my world:

My son is struggling with school work. It is very difficult to help your children through the rough spots other than just love and patience. I could run out of patience any day though…

My daughter, after watching The Little Princess, has decided to be our maid. She is now upstairs cleaning her room-as the maid-not as herself. She refuses to clean her room as herself except now somehow it is fun as a maid. This is me, throwing my arms up in confusion.

On Friday I have a reading conference to go to and I’m pretty excited as thee Marc Brown is the guest speaker. My kids love, love, love the Arthur books. No kidding. The college teenager would have like to have been home for this event. She would have stood in line to shake his hand. Brown meets with several school groups at my son’s school tomorrow so my husband and Groovy Girl are going so we will have lots of signed Arthur books. Imagine when college student girl opens up a package from us and a Marc Brown book falls out.!

Now I have to finish typing so I can read another hundred pages in The Glass Castle-my book club book, which needs to be finished by Sunday night. I can’t spend the weekend reading though because I have to CLEAN my house-which is close to a pig sty!

Oh, and I went to yoga tonight so I was feeling centered until Chemistry problems clashed with my son’s brain:(

Hope your day is blissful~

Friday Feature-Book Lover's Books

Today I have three books about one of my favorite subjects…books. Books about books! Two are new finds and one is a favorite. I would love to hear your favorites!

1. Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile (2011) by Gloria Houston; ill. by Susan Condie Lamb

This hardcover just came in my Scholastic order and I knew from the cover I was going to like it. Miss Dorothy loves books and people at a young age and she decides to become a librarian. Her dream is to be the librarian at the “fine brick library just like the one where she checked out books in the center of the town square in her hometown in Massachusetts.” She goes to library school at Radcliffe, graduates and gets married. Her husband wants to live on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mts, far away from her hometown. Her dream changes but she still becomes a librarian, sharing books with lots of mountain people. The illustrations are beautiful, capturing the Appalachian countryside with great color. I read it aloud to one class and they were quiet and thoughtful by the end. It is based on a true story from the author’s recollections of Miss Dorothy’s bookmobile.

2. The Wonderful Book (2010) by Leonid Gore

I love many of Gore’s books-they are quirky. This one is no exception. Several animals find a book in the forest and invent ways to use the object. Rabbit makes it into a house, bear makes it into a hat and the mice use it for table. When a boy comes upon the book and begins to read it the animals find out the true purpose of the book. As the animals nestle down to listen to the story it reminds me how many children automatically tuck into your side as you begin to read. Very charming!

3. Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook (2003) by Michael Garland

If you haven’t experience Miss Smith’s fabulous storybook you need to find it at your library. She is a funky brand new teacher and she takes the boredom out of any day by reading from her amazing book. While she reads (and students eyes get big as saucers) the stories come alive and suddenly the characters are next to the kid’s in class. A perfect way to illustrate how our imaginations work as we read! When I read this aloud last week one student said “Mrs. Holt, you need to get a book like THAT!”

What new treasures have come alive for you this week?
Happy April Fool’s Day! I played one great trick on a class and was delighted to pop back in to their classroom and say “April Fool’s”-they laughed and laughed!!

Guest Post

My funky Groovy Girl who has a Kerouac name.

Sarah at Desirous of Everything (such a cool quote from Jack Kerouac) asked me to write a guest post several weeks ago. It was about the only thing I accomplished over Spring Break…other than relaxing, having fun and reading. Go check her spunky blog out today and then again tomorrow to see what I came up with…

I’ve been reading her blog for a few months now and am always happily entertained. She lives in Manhattan (so fantastic!) and is a K-8 librarian and a writer. One of the things I love about Sarah’s posts is her willingness to share her life, put herself out there. She writes about books but also her bathroom and the perfumes she loves. She likes Kerouac and Jane Eyre, together. I love Kerouac-my daughter is named after one of his characters, really! Thank you Sarah for thinking of me when you went looking for March sponsors.

February Recap

It was a good reading month for me. I’m off to a better start on all my reading challenges. I had promised to fulfill last year’s 100+ challenge before I started anew and I accomplished that this month. I’m feeling pretty happy about that

1. The Reluctant Tuscan by Phil Doran; old ARC from my favorite deceased bookstore in Little Rock, made the move with me here. I finally read it and need to pass it on. Anyone interested? Good story about trying to settle in, well, Tuscany. Reading from my own shelves project challenge.

2. Sophie the Hero by Lara Berger (elementary fiction)cute story about a young girl trying to find her own special talent. Read it with Groovy Girl.

3. Milo; Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg-best middle grade fiction book I’ve read in a long time, so innovative and personal. Everyone should experience Milo!! Library Project Challenge. Click here for my review.

4. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters-book club read for Feb., spooky but filled me with questions. Waters is an exceptional writer who I plan to read more of. Click here for my review.

5. Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella-bought this at our local used bookstore when Tina suggested I read it. I surprised myself by enjoying the heck out of it. Plan to read more of them. Perfect summer sitting-by-the-pool-read. Last year’s Reading from my own shelves project. Need to review.

6. Clara’s Kitchen by Clara Cannucciari– great Depression-era memoir cookbook. Food and Library Project Challenge. Click here for my post.

7. Come to the Table; The Slow Food Way of Cooking ed. by Katrina Heron-Lovely California farm stories withe recipes. Food and Library Projects Challenge. Click here for my review.

8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison-I bought this one when it first came up, my mom borrowed it and “lost” it. I rebought it at the used bookstore one day and decided this was the book to read from Reading from my own shelves project for this month. Reading from my own shelves project. Need to review.

P.S. While I was feeling all spunky about reading 8 books this month my reading/blogging/librarian friend, TINA, commented that she had a good reading month with like 16 books!! How does she do it??

I also had a great month of Rodale Plastic-Free thinking. While I am already neurotically earthy this challenge did make me consider packaging more…I couldn’t buy a few favorite items and well, I lived through the month so I guess I don’t need my fancy orange juice, every month. Perhaps it will make it a rare and delicious treat. I did point out to my husband that I at least reuse the plastic orange juice jug time after time.

I do have a large collection of ball jars and Pyrex dishes for food storage. This challenge did make me think creatively outside the box, digging deeper for solutions.

I hope February was filled with innovative solutions, good cooking and lots of reading.

Top Ten-2010

I’ve checked out a few top ten lists around the blogosphere so I thought I needed to add my ten cents worth. I’ve divided them into three categories: Adult Fiction, YA Fiction and elementary fiction as these are the areas I do the most reading. I’ve grouped several series titles together as you’ll notice. For example, I loved Stieg Larsson’s Millenium series but can’t give it three spots on my list. Also they are not in any particular order as to how much I enjoyed them-too difficult to pick an absolute winner. Links added are to my own review of each book.How many of these titles have you read? Tell me your thoughts. Enjoy!

Adult Fiction

1. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson-mystery, never reviewed it because so many others had but I’m a big fan of Lisbeth Salander, a kickin’ heroine from Sweden.

2. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford-Historical Fiction, alternating between 1942 and 1986, Asian-American, Internment Camps during WWII.
3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack-Historical Fiction, Nazi Germany, narrated by Death. Brilliant!
4. Serena by Ron Rash-Historical Fiction-North Carolina Mountains, environmental destruction amisdst ruthlessness.
5. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley-1950, England, 11-year-old star heroine, Flavia solves great mystery.
6. The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow-interracial story of Rachel’s family, told in alternating chapters, 1980’s.
7. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender-present day quirky family, Rose can taste her mother’s feelings through her cooking.
8. Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young-Diverse, mystery, loved the layers and interconnecting of many characters.
9. Still Alice by Lisa Genova-Harvard professor with Alzheimer’s disease, amazing in-depth story, had me in tears.
10. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver Historical Fiction-just finishing this but am amazed by the research and layered history of this tale.

YA Fiction

1. Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye-Emigration tale from America to Palestine.
2. The $66 Summer by JohnArmistead- Historical Fiction, Alabama, 1950’s.
3. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier-Fantasy,beautiful fairy tale with shades of the 12 Dancing Princesses.
4. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony-Dystopian world, Canada and U.S., 2031, Anthony creates a unique world of the future.
5. Shiver/Linger by Maggie Stiefvater-Fantasy, werewolves, love story, excellent writing.
6. Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson-Historical Fiction, Revolutionary War and Slavery.
7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen-Realistic Fiction, smart girl meets beach boy=complicated romance.
8. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen-Realistic Fiction, Owen helps Annabel understand the complicated parts of her life.

9. Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan-September 9, 2001, teens deal with fall-out before, during and after the towers fall. Heavy, timely and funny.

10. Devil on my Heels by Joyce McDonald-Historical Fiction, 1950’s, racial strife in Florida, great rabble rousing.

Elementary/Middle Fiction

1. Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman-Historical fiction, Civil Rights Strife, tear-jerker.
2. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur-Realistic Fiction involving death of sibling and parent, fantastic writing.
3. Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder-Fantasy, children in Iowa small town discover a magic wall which makes for great adventure over the summer while the rest of us are just out riding our bikes.
4. Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull-Fantasy, amazing world surrounding grandparent’s house.
5. One Crazy Summer by Rita William- Garcia-1968 Historical Fiction, Black Panthers.
6. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead-A Wrinkle in Time mixed with realistic fiction, NYC drama.

7. Clementine; Friend of the Week by Sarah Pennypacker-You can make a mess of things and your friends will stand be there for you.
8. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin-Fable/Asian tales, girl and dragon change their destiny.
9. The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz-Fantasy, night fairy battles elements in human backyard after bat chews her wings.

10. Star in the Forest by Laura Resau-Realistic Fiction, Mexican family deals with deportation, difficulties as daughter takes care of abandoned dog to ease pain.

I hope each and everyone of you had a very Happy New Year! Cheers to 2011.