98 The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella 11/5 (print/library)
Challenges met: 50 States Delaware
This book was such a delightful read, I adored the main character Jack. This book is set in his restaurant in a beachside town in Delaware. A restaurant that has been in his family for generations that he is now contemplating selling. This was on the MMD SRG but actually our story begins the night before Thanksgiving so it felt completely appropriate for this time of year, despite the beachy cover. It's a story that makes you believe you're never too old to begin again or have the life you always wanted.
He wants to tell him there is always still a chance between them. That each person has a hundred different versions of who they can be.
"What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" -Mary Oliver
Challenges met: 50 States Iowa
Not my favorite by Jaime Jo but enjoyable. I was surprised to find it was set in Iowa though- so I got to tick off another state!
There were a few notes about anxiety that had me nodding my head but also offered hope.
Things I loved about this book- Nesta's healing journey ;) the friendships/found family/sister story here. Friendships are so important in life, in healing, in making it through. The House and how it almost becomes another character.
I cannot survive without reading.
I wish for us to have the courage to go out into the world when we are ready, but to always be able to find our way back to each other. No matter what.
For it was music between their souls. Always had been. And his voice was her favorite melody.
The world was beautiful, and she was so grateful to be in it. To be alive, to be here, to see this. She stuck out a hand over the railing, grazing a star as it shot past, and her fingers came away glowing with blue and green dust. She laughed, a sound of pure joy, and she cried more, because that joy was a miracle.
101 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis 11/15 (audio/library)
After reading The Lost Story last month I decided to listen to this one. I enjoyed it, gave me childhood nostalgia feels. Next up we are reading Once Upon a Wardrobe in my church book club, which has ties to this book as well.
My Dear Lucy,
I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.
She did not shut it properly because she knew that it is very silly to shut oneself into a wardrobe, even if it is not a magic one.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
102 All That Fills Us by Autumn Lytle 11/15 (print/library)★★★★
Challenges Met: 50 States North Dakota
I picked this book up to cross North Dakota off my list, it actually covers states from Michigan to Washington, but I'm using it for North Dakota. I wasn't sure at the beginning I was going to like it and I feel at this point I need to throw in a trigger warning. This book deals with an eating disorder. So our main character is Mel, a young woman, struggling with anorexia. On a whim she decides to set off on a hike from Grand Rapids, MI to Mount Reiner in Washington state. Instead of checking into rehab she throws some things into a back pack and sets off on a cross country trek, the whole thing seemed preposterous! But as we get to know Mel more of course I was drawn into her story, and the people she encounters along the way.
103 The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green 11/19 (print/library)
Church book club pick. I waited too long and of course ended up with a marathon read at the last minute. It was quite good though, a little slow at the beginning. We had a great book club discussion, it was an intriguing mystery. The 2nd half definitely had me turning pages fast to see what would happen. It is set in NYC in the 1920's which I adored.
Joy isn’t just in the quest of a far-off land. It’s in the coming home. It’s in being here, with the people who love you, not just for the big, exciting moments but for the small ones, too.
104 Remember (Baxter Family #2) by Karen Kingsbury, Gary Smalley 11/21 (kindle/library)
It's been awhile since I read the first book but after starting to watch the series on Prime on a whim I picked this one up and was immediately drawn back into the Baxter's world. It's funny how I see myself identifying more with the parents now than perhaps I would have in the past. I guess I am entering a new phase of life. :P I enjoyed this book and immediately upon finishing downloaded the next one on Libby- I maybe binging the Baxters for the next little bit 😆
Kari could easily find a reason to smile, to believe the best about life and love.
And God, of course. Always God.
This time he no longer felt alone. He could sense the Lord at his side, his presence as real as if the two were walking shoulder to shoulder.
105 Return (Baxter Family #3) by Karen Kingsbury, Gary Smalley 11/22 (kindle/library)
I told ya 😅 I could not put this one down and read it in every spare moment. I think Ashley is my favorite Baxter right now and I am so hoping her story has a happy ending somewhere down the line. Bear with me whilst I fall down the Baxter rabbit hole.
It's never too late and nothing too bad to keep us from God. I am thankful to know his Spirit continues to pursue prodigals and answer prayers.
God had to be real. Thomas Luke was living proof.
106 The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry 11/24 (print/own)
Challenges Met: 52 Bookclub 48. The Word "Secret" In The Title
This book was so good! My only regret I let it languish on my shelf so long. A gently unfolding mystery, I enjoyed following the twists to see where they led. Told in a dual time line mainly from the perspective of Hazel. One in the 1940's when she and her younger sister are sent to the country during WWII, during that timeline her younger sister Flora goes missing and is presumed drowned in the river. Then 20 years later in the 60's Hazel comes across a published fairy tale about a land she had created for Flora. She thought they were the only two who knew about this land...so could Flora still be alive out there somewhere?
I was surprised by some of the crass language in the book. Just wasn't expecting it.
Not very long ago and not very far away, there once was and still is an invisible place right here with us. And if you are born knowing, you will find your way through the woodlands to the shimmering doors that lead to the land made just and exactly for you.
107 Rejoice (Baxter Family #4) by Karen Kingsbury, Gary Smalley 11/26 (kindle/library)
Challenges Met: 52 Bookclub 6. Women In STEM (main character Brooke is a doctor)
Continuing my Baxter Binge. I enjoy seeing the characters faith journeys- a great reminder that growth and faith is not linear and that's ok. Also that God is always working and does not abandon us.
“I believe with all my heart the secret is in our attitude. Life’s circumstances don’t improve by being anxious or angry or upset. But God calls us to rise above our circumstances, and that starts first in our attitudes.”
108 Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell 11/27 (audio/library)
Challenges Met: 50 States Nebraska
I didn't love this book, I am not sure why I even wanted to read it. I didn't really like Shiloh the main character, there were a few political things that bugged me and her slamming the military was hard for me to swallow, as a Marine Wife myself.
Parts felt a little too open door for me, maybe because I was listening instead of reading- it was harder to gloss over those.
I was invested enough in the story to finish and it was set in Nebraska though so I did get to cross another state off my list.
DNF: The Secret Life of Church Ladies- this was the MMD book club selection for November. The first two stories left me feeling uncomfy and I stopped listening. I watched half the author talk before I got fed up and decided I am definitely not the target audience for this book. It felt like a mockery to me of what church stands for and I couldn't stomach that.
Total: 11 2024: 108
Kindle/Ebook: 4 Print: 5 Audio: 2
Library: 9 Owned: 2
Favorite: I can not pick a favorite, least fav was Slow Dance
50 States: Delaware, Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska
States still needed- Arkansas, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Hawaii, Vermont
52 Bookclub:
A-Z- I don't think I hit any new letters in November- Highly probable I will not complete this challenge
