The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine
In November 2019, we sailed the British Virgin Islands on the Cuan Law. The diving was wonderful, although there was particulate in the water that made photography more challenging. But with my new camera (an Olympus TG-5), I still ended up with quite a few photos, enough that I’ll be dividing the photos into a few posts. Here are some of my photos from British Islands diving–specifically the photos of the dolphins!
This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book this year. This is my March 2020 Reading List, which includes my trip to Egypt, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.
Miracles Happen
Already owned physical book. Legal/Business/Politics pick for 2020 Reading Plan (swapped March and August books).
I decided to switch some books around because the one that I’d originally picked for March was quite long and not something that I had time to read this month (since it was a physical book and I was traveling for half the month). I’ve used Mary Kay products since I was old enough to need facial cleansers and moisturizers. The woman who created the brand, Mary Kay Ash, is fascinating, and as a result this has been on my TBR list for such a long time. The book details how she started the company, and her philosophy of business. An interesting and not terribly long book.
I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti: A Memoir of Good Food and Bad Boyfriends
Already owned physical book. March Nonfiction/Memoir pick for 2020 Reading Plan.
This is part memoir on love and loss, and part cookbook. It was a quick and enjoyable read about the author’s experiences, even though I had a hard time relating to or understanding some of them. I didn’t try any of the recipes, although some of them looked quite tasty, and not difficult to make.
The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria, and Hubris
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
I’d had this on hold on my Libby app for a while, and my hold came up right as coronavirus was really starting to spread worldwide. The timing was sort of strange. This book goes through several epidemics or pandemics in the last 100 years or so. Learning about how each of these pandemics spread, how they were investigated, and how the cause of the pandemic was discovered was enlightening. I think that when you learn about something, some of the fear of it goes away, so I recommend this book as a primer to understanding some of the basics of pandemics in recent history.
When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
I picked this book as a primer to the history of Egypt. It examined the queens (and sometimes female kings) of ancient Egypt, how they rose to power and what happened after their reign. The author tried to draw some parallels to leaders in the modern era, which I didn’t always agree with and didn’t find useful. I picked the book due to the advertised subject matter, and didn’t really want to read the author’s thoughts on the American political system. So I skimmed through those sections to get back to the main topic at hand, which was fascinating.
Orphan 8
Already owned physical book. Fiction pick for 2020 Reading Plan.
This novel tells the story of a Jewish orphan who is experimented on in her orphanage in New York. The story is told from the timeline of her youth, and from her adulthood. It was not entirely what I expected, and not my favorite book. But it was kept me engaged to the end, and the plot did payoff at the end.
The Book of M
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
This novel is dystopian fiction. People lose their shadows, and then slowly lose their memories. The story is told from the perspectives of a few different characters, some of whom have lost their shadows and some who have not. The book is fairly long, but does keep moving along. And after a little while, it becomes clear that the players are marching toward a common goal and it’s just a question of how things will turn out.
Summer of ’69
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
I really liked this book. It follows three sisters, their mother, and their grandmother through the summer of 1969 and the changes in their lives and the broader world during this time. I really loved this story, and found the characters so relatable. I recommend this book.
One of Ours
Already owned Kindle e-book.
Cather regularly referred to this novel as ‘Clyde’ in her letters, and after reading what she said about the novel, I wanted to read it. Willa Cather is a masterful writer, and I really love everything of hers that I’ve read so far. This novel is no exception. It takes place before and during World War I, and follows a young man trying to find his way in the world and to a future.
Next Year in Havana
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
The stories of a grandmother during her youth in Cuba prior to and during the revolution, and her granddaughter returning to the country after her grandmother’s death. This novel includes love, hate, fear, politics, and love of country. I liked this book.
The Toll
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
This is the third and final book in the Scythe series,a book about a future where death has been conquered and a nearly omniscient computer system runs the world. Scythes are tasked with ending lives. This series is fantastic, and I found this final book to be a solid ending. I was engaged in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.
Another Love
Already owned Kindle e-book.
This novel was really good, but also really hard to read. It is about a woman with a family and a wonderful career, who loses everything because of her addiction to alcohol. It is beautiful and emotional and heart-wrenching. I’m so thankful that my sister-in-law turned me on to Amanda Prowse.
Spy
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
Danielle Steel writes some good books, even though she doesn’t get the credit that she probably deserves. This novel is historical fiction set during World War II. The main character comes from a British aristocratic family, and volunteers to serve. Because of her language skills, she is recruited as a spy and operative and serves throughout the war. Then after the war, she continues serving as a spy while her husband works as a diplomat. I would have liked to have had a little more action in the story, but it was still a very enjoyable book.
I Survived!: 5 Bible Characters Who Survived Disasters
Already owned Kindle e-book. March Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Plan.
This book was okay. It had a few bible stories, and talked about how they can help us to deal with disasters in our own lives. The book repeatedly referenced another book that I hadn’t read previously, and didn’t realize that I should read before this one, so that was kind of frustrating. But the subject matter is overall good, and can be helpful to people going through hard things.
John
Already owned Kindle e-book. February Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Challenge.
I’ve been working my way through this book for two weeks. It was fantastic, but I didn’t want to rush through it. The book is a commentary that goes through every story and line in the book of John. It was so illuminating, and I just savored it.
Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word
Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day
Courageously Uncomfortable
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The St. Nicholas Anthology
The Psychopath Test
None.
This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book new this year. This is my February 2020 Reading List, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.
The Power of a Positive No
Already owned physical book. Legal/Business/Politics pick for 2020 Reading Plan.
I’d previously read Getting to Yes
The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship
Already owned physical book. Nonfiction/Memoir pick for 2020 Reading Plan.
This book documents the lifelong friendship of 11! girls from Ames, Iowa. Some of the girls are covered in much more detail than others (one in particular, I felt like was covered too much). But their stories, and the overarching examination of female friendship was fascinating.
Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World
Audible Original book, so new but free.
This book examines the history of coffee and tea, and our addiction to caffeine. We don’t often think about it, but caffeine is addictive, and our entire society operates under its influence. A fascinating short listen.
The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing up in Communist Russia
Purchased using Audible credit.
This was recommended for those who had enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century
Purchased using Audible credit.
Mike wanted to read this book, after I found it in BookPage magazine. It’s the incredible true story of an extremely prolific serial killer, a true predator, Israel Keyes. He hunted throughout the United States, left kits for torturing and murdering people; and we still don’t know how many deaths he’s responsible for. This book was fascinating, terrifying, and was well written. I can’t recommend it enough.
The Selected Letters of Willa Cather
Already owned physical book.
I’ve taken my time working through book, as a series of letters aren’t the kind of thing one flies through. I’m a fan of Willa Cather’s books; and living near her hometown of Red Cloud, Nebraska makes me appreciate her life and this book even more. It was a wonderful experience learning about her life through her own words.
Climbing with Mollie
Audible Original book, so new but free.
Climbing with Mollie
Rock Needs River
Already owned Kindle e-book.
This is a memoir about the author’s open adoption of her daughter. And when I say open adoption, I mean very open. The birth parents lived with the author and her daughter for a period of time. The biological parents reminded me very much of clients that I’ve had, or parents that I’ve worked with in some of my juvenile cases, so I could relate to the hope and frustrations experienced by the author in trying to help them. An interesting book.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock’s Greatest Supergroup
Borrowed from library.
I’m such a sucker for rock biographies, so this book was just right up my alley and I had to check it out when I saw it at the library. And after I started reading, I realized that the author also wrote another book that I’d previously read–So Many Roads
High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict’s Double Life
Purchased using Audible credit.
This memoir is subtitled “The Shocking True Story of One Addict’s Double Life,” and it is exactly that. The voice in this book is strong, and it’s especially good on audio, as the author narrates the book herself. At times, her story is gutting and painful, at other times it is embarrassing. But in the end, there is hope and redemption. I loved this book.
Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You’re Taking, The Sleep You’re Missing, The Sex You’re Not Having, and What’s Really Making You Crazy
Purchased using Audible credit.
The premise of this book is that women are naturally moody due to hormone fluctuations, and instead of understanding our own bodies, cycles, and the lifetime evolution of our bodies. It was interesting, and I definitely learned something. But I didn’t agree with all of her conclusions about everything.
Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike
Borrowed from library using Libby.
I ride both a Peloton and a rode bike, and decided that I should learn a little more about cycling as a sport, and tips for riding better, so I picked this up on Libby. Pieces of this book were useful, but overwhelmingly the book irritated me. The author basically criticizes anyone who wants nice equipment, and implies we should all ride junk. I wasn’t impressed.
The Minuteman
Audible Original book, so new but free.
This is the true story of Nazis in America, and the Jewish mob’s efforts to stop them. I’d never heard anything about the topic at all, so this was completely new to me. The audiobook is fairly short, and kept me engaged throughout.
The Dispatcher
Already owned on Audible. Fiction pick (substituted for The Lacuna
This audiobook was fantastic! I really loved it, and have been telling everyone about it. The premise is that out of the blue, people can’t be murdered, and if they are, they come back to life in their own homes. Dispatchers help make this happen. But one has gone missing, and his friend has to help find him and figure out what happened. This is a great book, and I recommend reading it.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Borrowed from library.
I’m steadily working my way through everything that Neil Gaiman has written, and picked this up at the library recently. The story is told from the perspective of a man who returns to his hometown for a funeral, as well as the man as a little boy living through a crazy and traumatic time. This story is wonderful, but definitely for adult only readers, as the book can be really difficult in terms of subject matter, at times.
Peter Pan
Audible Original book, so new but free.
Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan. But I’d never read it before. This production of Peter Pan, complete with cast narration, was very good. I enjoyed the book.
Eve in Hollywood by Amor Towles
Already owned physical book.
This book is out of print, and only available from Shakespeare and Company New York’s online store. But I just love Amor Towles’s books and purchased it at the tail end of 2019. And the copy that I bought is even autographed! This is a novella that follows Rules of Civility
You Have Arrived at Your Destination
Purchased using Audible credit.
I purchased this thinking it was a stand alone audiobook, and I suppose it probably is. However, what I was really looking for was Forward: Stories of Tomorrow by Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N.K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, and Andy Weir. So I’m going to decline to write further about this short story until I’ve read the whole collection that it’s a part of.
The Tenth Gift
Borrowed from library.
This book is part adventure story, part mystery, part ghost story. It is written in dual timelines, one in the present day and one in the 1600s. The characters were relatable and engaging. The two timelines wove together in a wonderful plot. I enjoyed this book.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Already owned Audible.
I’ve had this book on my Audible account for a few years now, and finally took the plunge to listen to it. I found it very slow going, and difficult to get through, even with the narrator that I enjoyed so much in The Hobbit
The Crossing Places
Won by my book club.
My book club won this book, and discussed it at our February book club meeting. It’s a mystery/detective type story, but with a professor of archaeology as the protagonist. She gets brought into the case, as she’s an expert on bones. I appreciated that she was not a skinny, beautiful, perfect type of character, but instead seemed real and had her flaws. I didn’t appreciate the Christianity bashing in the book. But overall, I really enjoyed the book, and found it to be a quick and entertaining read.
The Janus Stone
Borrowed from library using Libby app.
After finishing The Crossing Places
Snow, Glass, Apples
Won from library giveaway.
This is a short graphic novel. The story is a new take on the fairy tale of Snow White, from the perspective of the Queen. In this take, Snow White is a vampire. The story is a bit terrifying. The artwork is beautiful, but also quite graphic in nature. It was an interesting one for sure!
The Story of a Soul
Already owned Kindle e-book.
I picked this up in 2019 after scrolling through my wish list and downloading free and low-cost books. I think I heard about it on a podcast from some ladies that I know. The book is the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, her childhood and entry into the church as a nun, and then about her life in the convent. It is an autobiography, so it’s in her own words. I didn’t agree with all of her thoughts, which makes sense since I’m not Catholic, but I never mind reading about another perspective.
Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word
Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day
Courageously Uncomfortable
John
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The St. Nicholas Anthology
Malcolm and Me
The Power of Self-Compassion
