Welcome back to SGL, friends. How this month has flown by! I’m surprised by how much I was able to read, let’s get to it, shall we?
The Powder (Tales of a Revolution: Bermuda) by Lars D.H. Hedbor – Hal is unexpectedly thrust into the middle of the revolution in colonial Bermuda when Molly’s father asks for his help in a daring plot that will aid the mainland rebels. Hal’s caught between his own more immediate concern of where his next meal will come from, and the seriousness of this cause.
~ I found this story engaging and very easy to read – I’d say younger readers could grasp what was occurring without trouble. I loved Molly’s spirit and the adults’ drive to do what was right, as well as give Hal a second chance. I got to meet Lars at a few book events these past months and enjoyed getting to talk to him about his stories and writing process. He’s a pacific northwest author, check his website out if you’re interested in his books!
In the Reeds: A Short Story Anthology by Tim Maddox – Maddox shares eleven short stories (and a few extras!) of his completed short stories for Reedsy.com weekly challenges. These cover fantasy, sci fi, espionage, snapshot of life and more.
~If you’ve been around a while, you’ll know that I don’t read many short stories/novellas because I always want them to be longer. And, while that is still true with these short stories, I still enjoyed them. A few stood out more than others of course, but I liked reading one or two before turning my light out at night, and not have quite so much pull to read ‘one more chapter’ like happens with a full length book. He’s another pacific northwest author, here’s his website, if you’re interested!
The Tales of Teltra by D.H. McCormack- I recently shared a separate blog post on this story, click the title to go check it out!
Little Women by Lousia May Alcott – Follow the March sisters as the family lives through the Civil War. Their home in New England is a haven against the world for all four of them – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. While Marmee and Hannah help them in their day to day, their father is away at war.
~dramatic reading, Spotify. I hadn’t read this in several years, somehow, so it was a delight to listen to it again. Although, it did take me far too long to finish since I couldn’t find my physical copy… The dramatic reading was great, although I wondered at the southern-sound of Hannah’s voice – is that something I forgot was there in the book, or was it just a choice for the dramatic reading? Anyway, I also liked how Alcott steps away from the story to tell the reader certain things and started wondering how that would go over in a book written nowadays or if it would be more of an irritant to modern readers without that nostalgia to smooth over the ‘preachy’ aspect of some of it. I digress. I was reminded why
Hope When It Hurts: Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God’s Purpose in Your Suffering by Kristen Wetherell and Sarah Walton – Both the authors have lived through difficult times- and still are. They’ve share thirty biblical reflections that, while they don’t shy away from the real pain that often accompanies life, they are full of hope in God.
~This is the second time my sister in law and I have gone through this book and we found it just as encouraging this time. The lessons are a good length with insightful questions at the end of each. Highly recommend this book whether your suffering is physical, emotional or psychological, chronic or not.
Ten Days in a Mad House and Other Stories by Nellie Bly – the first of the stories, ’10 days in a mad house’ was written in 1887 after Bly went undercover at a woman’s insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. The assignment was given to her by Joseph Pulitzer. Other stories follow, giving more insight into the living conditions of the time.
~I thoroughly enjoy Bly’s writing style. That aside, it was further interesting, knowing that they were newspaper articles when they were first read. And that, if people were so moved, things could have changed for those she wrote about. Definitely recommend.
Currently Reading:
The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1) by Brandon Sanderson
Leave It To Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse (audiobook, Librivox) – I’ve just recently started listening to this again
Upon Waking by Jackie Hill Perry
Upcoming Hopefuls:
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
The Oath by Lars D.H. Hedbor
the start of a good life 