Tag Archives: young adult

March 2024 Book Reviews

23 Jul

It’s time for book reviews again! I’ve been missing doing these monthly write-ups so I’m going to do my best to keep up with them. I’m actually surprised how many books I’ve read already this year – but I know that audiobooks have had a large role in that! I do try and share with you when I read it via audiobook – and I want to start sharing more about that edition (whether I liked it or not) because the narrator can really make or break it!

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly – As a journalist stunt in 1889, Nellie Bly traveled around the world to beat the fictional record of Phineas Fogg. She even made a stop in France to meet Jules Verne.

~I’ve been a fan of Nellie Bly for years now, so reading a book that’s based off the newspaper articles from 1890 was so fascinating. It was fun to read her record of her experiences, and the fact that she was able to meet Verne! I think anyone with a love of Fogg’s journey would enjoy this short read.

Strong Poison (Lord Peter Wimsey, #6) by Dorothy L. Sayers- When a man mysteriously dies from poison, it is his former lover that is investigated. Harriet Vane, mystery writer with a knowledge of poisons, is about to be charged with murder, because the man’s death is eerily similar to a death in one of her books. But Lord Peter Wimsey is determined to prove her innocence.

~I am absolutely loving these Wimsey books. This was the first one with a bit more romance in it but, with a twist than one would expect. Which, I’m coming to realize is very much in line with how Sayers wrote. I feel like this one left me confused a bit more than the others, but as always, I loved Peter and Bunter. I listened to this as audiobook, I believe it was Ian Carmichael narrating.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3) by J.K. Rowling – After a long summer with the terrible Dursley’s, Harry can’t wait to start his third year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron and Hermione. But when they arrive, things aren’t the same. There’s a mass murderer on the loose and the guards from Azkaban are called to the school.

~Listening to this series slowly has been fun these past months. Jim Dale is the narrator. This book is the one where it really felt like we’ve started to leave the ‘little kid happy’ feel of the previous two books and started feeling the darkness of He Who Must Not Be Named. I did like the puzzle of learning more about Harry’s past and meeting Sirius Black. The Azkaban guards though- messed up for sure. Rowling knew what she was doing when she wrote them. All in all, a fun read with several favorite parts. (honestly, many of those having to do with Sirius).

Easy to Kill by Agatha Christie – Luke Fitzwilliam, retired officer, puts Miss Pinkerton’s story that there’s a murderer on the loose in her small town of Wychwood, and that the local doctor is next, down as fanciful. But when he reads in the paper that both Miss Pinkerton and Dr. Humbleby are dead, he decides there just might be something to it and goes to the small town to investigate.

~This one was a bit off for me in pacing, but I was able to still enjoy the who-dun-it of it all. And I definitely hadn’t guessed it correctly. I did have to turn back a few pages because it so completely caught me off guard. Not a favorite, but still fun.

Padawan by Kiersten White- Obi-Wan Kenobi feels as if his goal of being the best Padawan is almost impossible with his new master, Qui-Gon Jinn. While his friends are going with their masters on missions, he’s stuck researching or sitting in silent contemplation. When Qui-Gon agrees to take him on a mission, but then doesn’t show up the next morning, Obi-Wan impulsively sets off without him. But, arriving at the planet, Kenobi finds a group of teenagers who all seemingly have a connection to the Force. He enjoys the freedom the group offers but not all is as it seems. And danger is getting closer.

~It was fun to read more about when Kenobi was a Padawan and see his interactions with Qui-Gon. The lessons Kenobi goes through in this story were… relatable. Even taking out the Force parts of it. And that is what makes a story one that you keep turning the pages and engaging with the characters. Recommend for Star Wars fans for sure.

Master and Apprentice– Claudia Gray- Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been master and apprentice for some time now but they both still struggle in their respective roles. Qui-Gon’s greatest fear is that he will fail his padawan. Obi-Wan respects his master but wonders at the secrets that the man holds. Like why he hadn’t shared that the Jedi Council had asked him to join them? They are assigned a mission to Pijal, on what might be their last one together, and Obi-Wan’s faith in Qui-Gon is tested. Qui-Gon starts to have visions of violent disaster and becomes fully convinced in their truth. But a threat arises that master and apprentice must rise to face together.

~Ahh, Kenobi and Qui-Gon. I enjoyed this one more than the previous s.w. book, perhaps because Obi Wan is older now and he goes on a mission with Qui-Gon. The plot on Pijal was intriguing and seemed to pull the two men in opposite directions. I’d recommend this one even more than Padawan but they were fun to read one right after the other.

In Honor’s Defense (Hanger’s Horsemen, #3) by Karen Witemeyer- Luke Davenport has always been a fighter – for respect, for his country and those who cannot fight. But with his Horsemen friends settled down and married, he looks to tame the wildness within by accepting a job on his own. Damaris Baxter must step out of her comfort zone of invisibility when her brother dies suddenly and leaves her care of his son. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, eager to create a different life for herself and to give her nephew the family he needs. But when questions arise about her brother’s death, and Nathaniel finds himself in deep trouble, Luke is there to help, along with the Horsemen.

~I haven’t read any of other books of this series but I still was able to enjoy it. Luke has a wandering, hurt soul but his faith is a vital part of him even still. I appreciated the internal struggles we saw him go through, and the growth he had. I always love it when a character is named Damaris (I think this is only the second time I’ve seen it actually. The other one is A Woman Named Damaris by Janette Oke). I felt that she acted a bit too far out of her personality at times, even if she is trying to reinvent herself in a new environment, you know? But, on the whole, this was a sweet read. I am intrigued by the rest of the series as well. I got this from the library, always a nice choice for a new read!

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen – Marly’s father is a recovering prisoner-of-war. So to help him heal, she and her family move from the loud city to the farmhouse on Maple Hill. They share so many adventures in the small town that all help them recover and bond more closely as a family.

~This book won the Newbery Medal in 1957 and I’m not surprised at all. It was a sweet, cute kids book that showed the beauty of nature, family and friends. One also learns a whole lot about harvesting syrup. My niece gave me this book and I’m so glad, because it’s a treasure. This is a middle grade classic.

And that’s it! Come back soon for April’s book reviews!

Have you read any of these books? Did any intrigue you enough to add to your TBR?

~Laura

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Book Reviews for March 2019

12 Apr

This has been sitting in my drafts folder for at least two weeks. Yikes! So much for getting it written early and scheduling it for spring break, eh? But, all well, ce la vie.

I hope you find something to add to your To-Read pile! And as always, I want to remind you that: while covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

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Levi’s Will by W. Dale Cramer- When Will runs away from his Amish community at nineteen, he leaves behind his faith, family, and a pregnant girlfriend. Years later, he returns – with a wife and two sons, and with a very different world view. What he won’t realize for many years is that his new family and life are tainted by sins of the past. And if he ever wants to reconcile with his father, or himself, he must face those head-on.

~I have had this on my shelf for quite a few months (sorry mom) and despite having picked it up several times, I never read it. I’m pleased that I finally did though- it was a different Amish story than I normally read. Part of that was that the main character was a man, and well, just the story itself. I don’t want to spoil anything for you here, but looking back on Levi’s life with him, and seeing the present consequences of it, was heartbreaking and encouraging and just…tinged with sorrow. Cramer really pulls you in with his descriptions of the locations – the Amish countryside, the mobile home the young family lives in, the war, etc. Along with that the characters were well formed – and useful. (I have this thing about useless characters in a novel). All in all, I really enjoyed this story. I don’t know how young of an audience I would recommend for it though as it does deal with some pretty heavy stuff. As always, I suggest you read it yourself before passing it on to someone younger. A book I definitely recommend!

Amish Peace : Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World by Suzanne Woods Fisher – Peace is something that we all strive for – each in our own way. Fisher shares the way that the Amish have found it – by focusing on five different themes of their faith, she shares stories, proverbs and interesting facts about their life. She’s also included questions and thoughts to help you find peace in your own life.

~Thanks to Beverly Lewis (and some other historical fiction authors), I have a mini love for the Amish. While I don’t agree with all of the tenets of their faith, I was still drawn in by this book. Their focus on community, forgiveness and faith is incredible. Fisher shares some great stories to move her point along. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to slow down for a few minutes and think about how they are living their lives.

The Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke  – A separate review of this series will be coming – once I finish the last two books! Suffice it to say, right now, that I adore this series.

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Praying Through Lyme Disease by Rebecca Vandemark – A compilation of prayers and verses that focus on topics that Lyme disease patients deal with daily. A daily reminder that you are not alone.

~First off, I received this book free for my honest review. I wasn’t compensated in any way. I have been following Vandemark for years now. (I’ve also reviewed December Caravan) I greatly appreciated these heartfelt prayers and corresponding scriptures touching on so many of the struggles/emotions that I, as someone who struggles with chronic Lyme, deal with on a daily basis. If you know someone, or are yourself, struggling with Lyme, don’t hesitate, get this book! I anticipate going through it again and again. Did I mention that there are pages to take notes for each prayer? Love it. 

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Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery – When his younger brother is stolen from them, Dym Ingleford promises his dying mother that he’ll never stop looking for him. That promise hasn’t been forgotten when, years later, he rather stumbles upon young Max Eckermann, a German prisoner.  Dym is convinced he’s Anthony. But the years of Nazi ideology have not been lost on the young boy, and convincing him that he’s now home, and safe, is quite the task. (first published 1944)

~Another book that I haven’t read in a few years, although now it will probably get moved to the ‘read-yearly’ list. Savery delivers a delightful, heart rending tale set WWII, which she wrote during the war. DURING THE WAR. That, for me, really made this tale come alive.  But the story itself is so good that I had a hard time putting it down. Max’s flight(s) from the White Priory (the family home), the patience of Dym and the danger of the war all join in a wonderful story. A five star book for me! 

Princess Aline by Richard Harding Davis – Falling for a picture of a Princess, a young American artist sets out across Europe to meet her. When they are finally close enough to speak, to touch, he stands, propriety-bound and too scared to offend such a creature. He does all he can to meet her properly, but will it be enough? (first published 1895)

~ I hadn’t pulled this off of my classic shelves in so many years, I only vaguely remembered it. It was delightful. It’s a light-hearted story that you just don’t want to end. It was fun to follow Carlton as he traveled across Europe, always one step behind Aline. I highly recommend this classic!

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Dear Theo by Vincent Van Gogh, edited by Irving Stone – Vincent and his brother Theo, kept up regular correspondence for years. This collection of Vincent’s letters shows how close they were; his feelings on everyday life, his family and art. (first published 1914)

~I cannot believe it took me eight months to read this book. While on the other hand, I do. It is a hard one to read in a way because he did lead such a difficult life and you already know how it ends… and in such a tragic way. (spoiler: he commits suicide). But reading in his own letters the descriptions of the places he saw – the way he saw his own art – the way he saw colors – it keeps you reaching for it again. Will I ever read it again? I don’t know. But I’m glad that I read it at least once. 

Joyful: the Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee — as I didn’t finish this book before it had to go back to the library, I’m just going to quickly say that what I did read was interesting and I have plans to one day request it again. What I didn’t like was the talk of evolution (how that has any real bearing on the talk of color and how it affects us, is beyond me – I thought the author could have handled that differently. Overall, what I read (the first 1/4 of it?) was interesting.

 

Currently Reading:

Sons And Soldiers by Bruce Henderson

At the Back of the North Wind by George Macdonald

Eliza by Patricia Campbell

 

To Read:

The Fires of Heaven (book 5 of the Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King

Love Finds a Home (#8 of Love Comes Softly series) by Janette Oke

The Painter’s Daughter by Julie Klassen

 

Coming up in April’s book review: 

Love Takes Wing (book 7 of Love Comes Softly series) by Janette Oke

The Blue Sword by Robin Mckinley

A Gown of Spanish Lace by Janette Oke

A Falcon For a Queen by Catherine Gaskin

~I am going to say that I’ve got a few trilogy’s to read but I’m waiting until I finish at least one of the series that I’m currently in. Anyone else have this problem?! The nice side effect of that is, that I’m reaching for books that I haven’t read in quite a while (that are mainly quick-reads).

~Laura

What have you been reading?

If you missed it, go check out the Michelli Family Series Review. Also, the City of Tranquil Light Book Review  is a must read as well!

 

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Book Review – July 2015

3 Aug

Hello again!

I am so very excited about the new look and direction for SGL! As I, even with the best of intentions, rarely posted crafts or recipes, I am going to focus on books, writing (what I’m working on and tips and encouragements), chronic pain management and will be continuing the Virtue Series until the end of the year. So far, these seem to be the topics that you, my lovely readers, are interested in. You will undoubtedly see other changes coming along over the next few months (me being an Amazon associate hopefully will be the first one!). I hope you like this new look and direction – but for today, we have the book review for July.

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I picked up a few books while at an antique store in Cali on vacation, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Mayor of Casterbridge. The former I read way back in high school and enjoyed it so I am interested in reading it again with a different perspective. The latter ,well, you’ll have to keep reading to hear what I think of it!

And yes, I am very excited about Harper Lee’s new book, Go Set a Watchman, but am far too cheap to pay full price for a book. Plus while in Ca, my mom and I got given two bags of novels from my aunt that I have never read any of! Who needs to buy books when you’ve got such family and friends??

The Mayor of Casterbridge – Thomas Hardy – While intoxicated, Michael Henchard sells his wife and young daughter. Upon realizing what he has done, he makes a vow to never drink again. Years pass and he rises up in wealth until he is the Mayor. Unexpectedly reunited with his wife and daughter, the shame that he has always had of his past is now put to right….or is it?

~This was such a great book!  Henchard is a tragic hero,  always seeming to get in his own way.  As I read more of the story, the harder it was to put down! The twists weren’t what I had expected and even the satisfying conclusion followed that pattern.  There is a moral lesson being taught throughout,  but I won’t spoil it for you – go read it for yourself!

Courting Morrow Little – Laura Frantz –Returning home to Kentucky,  Morrow Little’s memories of the day Shawnee warriors destroyed her family come back full force. Will dealing with them while taking care of her ailing father, who has befriended two Shawnee, and the chaos of the war between the whites and ‘savages’ , be too much? Will she choose to marry a man she doesn’t love instead of letting go of her bitterness – and betraying the memory of those she loved – and pursue a life with a man of contradictions?

~This Book! Ah, this book. I have never read a book with this setting and story line – the struggle during the war raging in the 1760’s. I got sucked in the first page and was sad when it was over. I will admit to getting upset about 3/4 of the way through that something else had gone wrong. But it was still a great historical-romance-fiction-i’ll-be-reading-it-again-book!

The Secret – Charlotte Bronte –  A collection of short stories by Charlotte and her siblings are in this light read. Each are set in the imagined world of Verdopolis and are full of intrigue, lies and love.

~It has been fun reading through these again – being full of the beautiful maiden, heroic duke and crafty villian. If you are a fan of the Bronte’s, you must read these as they were written when they were young and still learning their own style of writing.

Elantris – Brandon Sanderson – I know, only last month I gave a review on it,  but I really hadn’t read it since March/April and it was the PERFECT book to read while on vacation! I loved it just as much the second time, picking up on different things said and referenced, which made it fun.

The Sherwood Ring – Elizabeth Marie Pope – After her father dies, Peggy Grahame Is sent to his ancestral home,  Rest-and-be-thankful.  She meets Pat Thorne, a British scholar , who is promptly tossed out by her Uncle Enos. As she is left to herself, and wondering when she’ll see Pat again,  Peggy learns the family’s history, and that the mansion really is haunted!

~This was such a fun read, and due to the fact that I read it while traveling, it was also a quick one! The storyline was unique and the characters – in both modern time and historical – were engaging.  I always enjoy a book that can pull off 2 different times. It would be great even for preteens. It is absolutely a book I’m going to be reading again.

The Problem of Pain- C.S. Lewis – ” How human suffering raises almost intolerable intellectual problems”- Lewis addresses one of man’s most frustrating questions, why do we suffer if there is a loving God?

~I haven’t finished this book but it has been very good so far.  His way of wording things is different enough that I’ve had to go back sometimes and read a section again but that’s not a negative for me. It’s been nice to read about a question that I have struggled with off and on, I’m sure most of us have! Very enlightening and I’m only on the fourth chapter.

~If you purchase a book from Amazon by following a link here on SGL, I will get a percentage of the sale =) ~

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Camp NANOWRIMO update

10 Jul

Hello friends! 

I thought for today I’d share a snippet of what I’ve been working on for Camp nanowrimo, although I haven’t gotten near as far on it as I want. I have 3,199 words so far and 22 days left til camp ends. The unofficial word goal is 50,000 but I’ve never been too set on that number, focusing more on writing more often and getting a story down. Enjoy.

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“I had grown up reading about heroines. Those women who were confident, beautiful and strong.  To say any of those things about me, you would have to be lying. I knew who I was, and who I wanted to be, it was just how to get there that I was…struggling with.

I had almost reached my sixteenth year without anything extraordinary happening to me. I was gangly with a bush of red hair that had recently gone from smooth and straight to frizzy and curly. My dreams of being as beautiful as Elizabeth Bennett or Anne Shirley seemed doomed.  My eyes were a plain brown instead of the dazzling blue I had always longed for. I also had the unfortunate habit of preferring to stay in and reading novels to going out with the other girls in my class.  My parents were glad of it in a way, I think. It meant I wasn’t getting into any trouble like my brothers had a habit of doing. That’s another thing I had always envied in my novels, the large families of beloved sisters. I was stuck with three brothers. All were older, dim-witted and content with their status in life.  Father took it upon himself to name his sons – Cedric, Horace and Leopold. I’d heard it said in whispers that it was no wonder my brothers were no good, just look at the names they had to bear. When I came along, my mother picked my name. I always thought that was a good choice or I would have ended up with something like Bertha. I knew a Bertha once – a nasty girl. I can never like that name now. My mother likes to tell me that she pored over baby names  for just the right name. And although my father wasn’t too keen on it in the beginning, it being too ‘common’ of a name, he now says that it suits me quite well.

Let me introduce myself properly, my name is Amelia Lynn. I am fifteen years old and waiting for adventure to find me.”

 

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