Monday, July 5, 2021
Little Free Library Construction Update
Shawn and I got up early this morning to put a final coat of paint on my Little Free Library. All we have left to do now is buy the glass for the door and put some shingles on the top. I hope we can finally get it in the ground next week.
Friday, June 25, 2021
Review - Dear Edward
AUTHOR: Ann Napolitano
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them is a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured vet returning from Afghanistan, a septuagenarian business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. And then, tragically, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor.
Edward's story captures the attention of the nation, but he struggles to find a place for himself in a world without his family. He continues to feel that a piece of him has been left in the sky, forever tied to the plane and all of his fellow passengers. But then he makes an unexpected discovery--one that will lead him to the answers of some of life's most profound questions: When you've lost everything, how do find yourself? How do you discover your purpose? What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live?
REVIEW: This was such a beautiful and heartfelt story. I loved Edward, and I can't count the number of times I wanted to reach through the book and give him a great big hug. This 12-year-old child went through SO much in his young life, but he came through it stronger and wiser, which was very admirable. The ending brought the biggest smile to my face. This was my first time reading this author's work, and I look forward to reading more.
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Review - Midnight Sun
AUTHOR: Stephenie Meyer
RATING: ★★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.
This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?
REVIEW: I’ve always been a huge fan of Stephenie Meyer, and her newest book didn’t disappoint. I loved reading the story from Edward’s point of view. (I actually prefer it over Bella’s. Anyone else?) I really enjoyed the angst and emotion from Edward’s side of the story as he fell in love with Bella. (*SWOON*) I think it would be awesome if Stephenie retold every book in the series from his viewpoint. I would buy them in a heartbeat! If you’re a fan of the Twilight series, then you will adore this new addition.
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Review - A Man Called Ove
AUTHOR: Fredrik Backman
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.
REVIEW: Such a great story! I think it’s safe to assume that all of us have an Ove in our lives. (Mine greatly resembles my husband...but I digress). Still, there’s something about those aggravating curmudgeon’s that tugs on my heartstrings, and reading Ove’s story was no different. I knew he would be a beloved character from the very first chapter. I will admit it took me awhile before I felt truly drawn into the story, but once it grabbed hold of me I finished the remainder of the book in one afternoon. I encourage everyone to read A Man Called Ove, and if you enjoy Backman’s writing style then you should definitely read his newest book, Anxious People. (My 2020 favorite!) P.S. The movie, A Man Called Ove, is wonderful too...but read the book first!
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Review - The Nightingale
AUTHOR: Kristin Hannah
RATING: ★★★★★
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Summary (from Goodreads): In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are.
FRANCE, 1939
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says good-bye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gaëtan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.
REVIEW: True to Kristin Hannah’s storytelling, I was sobbing by the time I finished this book. She has an unparalleled way of pulling her readers into her stories and leading them through every possible emotion. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m always left in awe of her talent. The Nightingale is a heartbreaking tale of love, war, family, sorrow, strength, and survival. If you aren’t deeply touched in some way by what Vianne and Isabelle go through, then you should seriously check your pulse. I highly recommend this book to everyone - just make sure you keep the Kleenex within reach.
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