Wuthering Heights

 I had not previously read Wuthering Heights somehow.  I guess it wasn't on the list of classics we read in high school and I just never picked it up.  I read it this month as our book club selection.  I must admit I understand why it is a classic and I appreciate the depth of the writing and the storytelling.  It is amazing a woman wrote this is the 1800s and I understand why it was published under a pen name.  The characters are well developed and their are some very strong willed women in the story- something I imagine was rather out of the ordinary for the time.   That being said I disliked the characters immensely.  I did not like their personalities or their morals.   I am guessing this was supposed to be the reader's reaction and it is definitely achieved.   Bronte does a wonderful job of showing the difference in the classes in the era and the frivolousness of some of the wealthy.   Modern versions of "privilege" complaints should read the classics to see the true disparity and lack of ability to rise above one's class of birth.  

The descriptions of the moors and the setting surrounding Wuthering Heights is such that it is easy to visualize the sparseness and the despair the environment can cast on the characters.   Discussion questions raise the query as to whether the moors are themselves a character in the story.   They definitely play an important role for certain.   

The aspect of the story that surprised me the most relates to observations and comments about the story as I have heard through my lifetime.  Heathcliff and Catherine are portrayed in a manner that implies this novel is a romance.   Definitely a shock if that is the reader's expectation.  Also,  I have never seen the movie but in our discussions at book club it became apparent that the original Laurence Olivier  version their are major screenplay liberties taken and characters who play a large role excluded from the plot.  It sounds as though the movie is where the misconception of the romance story originates.   

This classic definitely uses old language and reading it on kindle has many advantages as you have the built in dictionary to look up words quickly.  All in all this was a good read and I am glad to have experienced another classic but won't be running out to read those over cozy mysteries in a big hurry.  

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had never read this classic before and I must admit that from hearing about the book and references over the years I would have thought it was a romance. Heathcliff and Catherine have been glamorized and romanticized in comments and definitely in cinema. Wow reading this book could not be a bigger shock to how not a romance story it really is. I truly cannot stomach any of the characters except Nelly, the narrator. The abhorrent behaviors of many of the characters make them unlikeable. That being said I totally understand why this is a classic and the level of complexity of the novel is quite apparent. Bronte obviously writes an amazing story to draw that level of emotions out of the reader even if it is a distaste versus liking the characters. Her level of descriptions of the moors and the environment definitely creating a setting of desolation and despair. I must say though that anyone who tells you this is a story of a love affair has only watched the movie for sure. A perfect dark read for the month of October.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 86 
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 3 Friend Recommendation
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #105
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #77
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #10
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #32 A book that intimidates you
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #37. Classic You’ve Avoided
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #9 everyone has read it but you
9. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #48 Read a classic
10. Nancy Drew # 14. The Whispering Statue (1937) - read a book that has been recommended to you 
11. Pick your Poison #17 a classic novel
12. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #9 Reread a Book from High School
13. Century challenge

The Rocky Road to Ruin

 This book is perfect for ice cream lovers as well as mystery lovers.  You will be craving ice cream as you read The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen.  This is the first in a new series that definitely has the making for some interesting storytelling going forward.  Riley has a very unique past that she is bringing home to her hometown in CT.  Bits of her story get told as the mystery progresses but I envision much of her mysterious past to be part of the background dialogue in future installments.

The mystery itself is well written with several smaller mysteries contained within the principal one.  Riley's relationship with her BFF, Caroline. is a timeless story of sister/friends from childhood.  Riley's protectiveness of her friend is believable and unwavering.   The relationship with her father and stepmother is ancillary but believable in many ways.  Overall I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in the series.

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great first installment in a new series. Set in CT and cemeteries around an ice cream shop there’s a small town feel within a farming community. Characters are realistic with not perfect family dynamics that feel authentic. I enjoyed the mystery that was multi layered with several smaller mysteries built into the big one.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #59
2. What an Animal Book #39
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #70
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #47
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #69
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #64
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 4 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- barn; road; bedroom x2
• Weapon- pitchfork; car; poison; natural
• Detectives- Riley Rhodes
• Victims- Mike Spooner; Martha M; Brooke Danforth; Buzzy Spooner
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  # 42 title is an alliteration 
11. Around the Year in 52 Books #4. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list----A book where the title and author name are in two different colours

I Must Betray You

 Although I Must Betray You is a Young Adult book by Ruta Sepetys I did not feel it was too immature to enjoy as an adult.  Like Salt to the Sea ( my review) and The Fountains of Silence ( my review) which I have read previously, I found this book to be informative.  It provides some depth into a historical event I was aware of but not in much detail.  I appreciate that Sepetys builds suspense and action into historical fiction.  I hope her works inspire younger readers to enjoy history and learn more about the past of not only our country but the global world around us.  

While this book provides a bleak look at the effects of communism in Romania it is inspiring to read about how Cristian and the others find a way to have their voices heard and to bring about change in their country.   It is hard to fault the bad guys for doing what they have done to survive.   Sepetys creates a narrative that fully captures the inability to trust anyone that is created by the regime.  There is quite a build-up to figuring out who is the guilty betrayer and it is a bit of a shock.   

Be sure to read the author's notes at the end as they provide a foundation of the realities of communism and a lack of freedom of speech.  I highly recommend this book, especially in light of what is going on in Ukraine currently.  It is easy for those of us in stable Democratic countries to forget just how tough like can be elsewhere in the world.  Our struggles, though real are all relative when compared to other nations.  

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an intense story. I am old enough to remember when this revolution happened in Romania and the wall came down. This story, although fiction is an amazingly well written story that combines romance, intrigue and suspicion. The story is well written and is engaging for readers of all ages. Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #53
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Romania
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  I
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 5 YA Book
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #64
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #64
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #8
8. Bookworm #35 Read a Psychological Thriller
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #17. Set in the 1980s
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #32 superheroes/villains OR character in disguise
11. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #18 Highly anticipated read
12. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #13. A book set in the 1980s
13. Pick your Poison #60 a new release you feel guilty reading because your TBR list is so long
14. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  "You"
15. Beyond the Bookends  YA Romance
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Thriller
17. 52 books in 52 weeks  #8 hall pass

The Honeybee Emeralds

  The Honeybee Emeralds is a brand new 2022 release I happened upon at the library.  I am so glad I spotted this book and read it.  It is a fascinating historical fiction book that spans modern time and goes back through different points in history.  Amy Tector does a wonderful job of connecting various famous people in history through an emerald necklace.  While it is probably a stretch to believe this could have touched that many famous lives it was still a great plot line and well constructed.  

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect to the story line as well as the glimpses into modern history.   This is a fun historical fiction book that has characters with depth and dimensions.  While the necklace and the quest to identify its history are the main focus, there are character history and emotions that are included as well.   It was easy to view myself as a member of the Fellowship searching for information.  

Great read for anyone who likes historical fiction and especially lovers of Paris.  

The Honeybee Emeralds by Amy Tector
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an engaging historical fiction book that had a mystery at the center of the storyline. In that sense it reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing. The mystery is important to the story but the characters and their environments are just as important. The characters flaws and histories become part of the story in a slow reveal. Each character has aspects of who they are that are revealed as the story progresses. Many of their issues and concerns are very relatable to readers as I am sure many have backgrounds enable them to relate to the characters' stories. The mystery was intriguing and fascinating and the different points in the necklace's history, although a bit of a reach, were interesting.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #38
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #50
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 1  Historical Fiction
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #6
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #51
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #38 Don’t judge a book by its cover! 
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #48. Historical Novel
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #24 recommended on social media
9. OWLS 22  #15 Telescope: A book you spotted on social media
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #11. A #BookTok recommendation
11. Pick your Poison #83 a book about a lost treasure

Jackie and Maria

 Jackie and Maria was a wonderful historical fiction novel written by Gill Paul.  The Jackie in the title refers to the most famous Jackie in history- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.  The author did a wonderful job in combining story telling with facts about many famous people in this book.  I would never describe myself as a Kennedy fangirl but I definitely find the family intriguing and their appearances in history of the US fascinating.  

I enjoyed how Paul intertwined much of the Kennedy political/policy legacy into the story without dwelling on those facts too much.  It made me think about the Kennedy Center and how it probably evolved from Jackie's passion for the arts which is woven into this story to tie her storyline to Marie Callas in a manner other than Ari Onassis.   

I'm sure Kennedy purists won't like this book and several reviews confirm that, but I thought the author did a wonderful job of using facts to create a well woven story.  This is actually the second story I read in 2022 that involves the  Kennedy; the other being The Kennedy Debutante about Kick Kennedy who has a brief mention in this story.  

 I have always been intrigued by the Kennedys but had only read Clint Hill's account of life as Mrs. Kennedy's Secret Service Agent and his perspectives on the couple who changed much of America's political story.  I also have Jackie, Janet and Lee on my TBR list this year coincidentally as it is a book from TBR list that was selected for my Randomizer challenge.  I am curious to see  how much of the biography confirms the story line content in this novel.   

Coincidentally if you are doing a challenge where the prompt for a book by a different title is included this book will work as it is also titled the Second Marriage.  

Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is very good historical fiction account of Jackie Kennedy and her relationship with JFK and Onassis. It is Interesting to me to learn about parts of her relationships that lead to possible interactions with other famous people in history. The author is very clear in her note on what is based on fact vs her fictional accounts. I didn’t really know much about Onassis except rich Greek shipping magnate that was Jackie’s 2nd husband. I knew nothing about Maria Callas but I am intrigued to learn more. A good read if you like fictionalizes accounts about real historical figures

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #45
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Greece
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  J
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  #2  Controversial 
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #55
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #45
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #7
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #19 A book that has an alternate title
9. Around the Year in 52 Books # 48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022 
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #20. Literary Fiction
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #31 features royalty
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #30 Read a book that has the friend's to lover's trope
13. Nancy Drew #41. The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes (1964) - read a book where the mc plays a musical instrument
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #51 multiple perspectives
15. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #48. A book with two POVs
16. Pick your Poison #82 a book about a legendary hero
17. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #
18. What's in a Name   #
19. While I was Reading  #
20. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  
21. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO
22. Reading Randomizer
23. Beyond the Bookends  
24. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge
25. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  May: History & Biography
26. Lifetime of Reading
27. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022 
28. Unruly Reader Bingo  #

Artificial Condition

 This is the 2nd novella in the Murderbot Diaries Series by Martha Wells.   I am not normally a science fiction reader but I really enjoy this series so far.  They are definitely a thriller/suspense style book and I found this one to be a page turner.  The sci fi aspect of the story was fascinating and I found the dynamics between the different bots and characters to be interesting and unique.   If you are looking for a quick suspense read this series is a great choice.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

intriguing series

Not usually a sci fi reader but read the first In The series last year and enjoyed this one a lot. The different entities are intriguing and I found their ability to be compassionate even if they don’t really have emotions fascinating. The book has a bit of a mystery to it and I’m curious to see how the story unravels

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 23 Book #1
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 17 Award Winning
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #45
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #36
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #28 Award-winning book from your country
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #28. A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards
7. Bookworm #10 Read a book from NPR's top 50 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the past decade
8. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #13. Genre You Don’t Usually Read
9. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #16 YA or SciFi
10. OWLS 22  #11 Astronomy: A book set in outer space
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #27. A Hugo Award winner
12. Pick your Poison #26 a space opera
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #7 Space Opera

   

Cookie Dough or Die

 Cookie Dough or Die is the first book in the Cookie Cutter Shop series by Virginia Lowell.   This was an interesting story set in Maryland.  There is a mixed focused on retail management and baking as the underlying story points in this book.  I did find the book a bit clunky at times but did enjoy the story overall.  The mystery was well written and the guilty party was definitely a surprise.  I look forward to reading more in the series to see how it develops.

Cookie Dough or Die by Virginia Lowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable first in a series. Quite a complex motive with a well structured crime. The investigation was well conceived and plausible. Look forward to reading more and seeing the characters develop

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #33
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  PA
3. What an Animal Book #24
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #44
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #35
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #28
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #46
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #44
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-den
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Olivia Greyson
• Victims- Clarisse Chamberlain
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #81  Shot #1

Mirror Girls

 Mirror Girls is a horror  YA novel by Kelly McWilliams.  This is definitely a book from outside my norm reading selections.  I don't even remember the last time I read a horror book if ever.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book- which I selected purely because the cover intrigued me.  

The author does a wonderful job of centering a book around a difficult topic- Jim Crow in the South without being too preachy about the topic.  There were some references to General Lee that reflected a modern lens being applied to history but for the most part the storyline stuck to the actions of a small town in GA during the 1950s.  It truly demonstrated how far the nation has come even though there are clearly areas we can still learn and improve upon.   

The actual plot of the story was well written and descriptive.  The paranormal aspects were well done and quite interesting.  The existence of spirits and how they came to haunt the area are explained and intriguing.  The book is a nice balance of plot and deeper themes and ideas to reflect upon.  Overall I really enjoyed this book and am glad I read it.  

Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. The cover captured me when reading a book publication. I am definitely not a normal horror reader. This book was a wonderful read. The story and plot are very good and intriguing but the deeper themes and ideas are amazing. For the most part the book refrains from preaching and guilting about the past wrongs that occurred in this country. I think the stories and the demonstrations of the pervasiveness of Jim Crow laws is much more effective in explaining the past horrors. The symbolism of the mirrors and coming to see herself for who she is and is capable of being adds such depth to Magnolia. I appreciate that this book isn’t all happily ever after but there is hope which is what the world needs to move forward through difficult times and to affect change in a healthy and pervasive way.
This book is a wonderful read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #31
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   GA
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 14 Horror
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #42
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #5
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #50 A person of color as the main character
7. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #43. Spooky Read
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #23 book written for an age group you don't belong to
9. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #28 Read a YA book
10. Nancy Drew #38. The Mystery of the Fire Dragon (1961) - read a fantasy book
11. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #52 bipoc author
12. OWLS 22  #57 Animagus: Includes a shapeshifter
13. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge # 12  A book about the afterlife
14. Pick your Poison #74 a book about a ghost
15. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Mar  Fantasy
16. 52 books in 52 weeks  #6 Haunted

Boyfriend Material

 Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is a book that captured my eye based on its cover.  I ended up selecting it as an audiobook which if you love accents is a great listen.  After a slow start, I almost DNF'd it, I really started to enjoy the book.  The characters Luc O'Donnel and Oliver Blackwood are polar opposites each with relationship issues and each in need of a "fake" boyfriend to attend an event with them.  As much as the storyline is a bit predictable, the personalities and insecurities of both gentlemen make for a deeper read than just a light comedic romance.  They are flawed characters and the origin of their flaws became apparent as the book progressed.  There are definitely laugh-out-loud moments and an appreciation for dry British humor (snarkiness at high levels) definitely enhances the experience.  The reader is hard-pressed to not feel the emotional roller coaster the characters experience.    Be aware there is definitely graphic details that will make the reader blush and makes this book unsuitable for younger audiences.  I am looking forward to the next installment in the series due out some time this year.  

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A romance with dry British humor that lead to laughing out loud on more than one occasion. I appreciated the honesty the characters exhibited and the fact the book was not a formulaic happily ever after story. These characters had real flaws and real anxiety- not the over-exaggerated confidence that so many characters in romance books seem to have. Cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #25
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  England
3. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge  #1
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 17 Award Winning
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #30
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #20
7. Humor  Book #2
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #48 Re-do one of this year’s prompts but with a different genre-  "25- A wealthy character"
9. Bookworm #18 Read a book by an author named Alex, Alexander, Alexandra (or variant)
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 40. By a British Author
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #17 discovered via social media
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #3 A romance book with enemies to lover's trope
13. Nancy Drew #23. The Mystery of the Tolling Bell (1946) - listen to an audio book
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #37 #booktok recommendation
15. OWLS 22  #42 Harry Potter: A book that mentions Harry Potter
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #49. Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (1)  
17. Pick your Poison #21  a book with a clock on the cover
18. Lifetime of Reading  28 year old
19. 52 books in 52 weeks  #3 14 things

Antique Auctions are Murder

 Antique Auctions are Murder is Poppy MacAllister #7 by Libby Klein.  If you enjoy cozy mysteries that have you laughing at the antics of the characters then this is a must-read series for you.   The relationship between Poppy and her Aunt Ginny is a riot and the stunts Ginny pulls with the Biddies is comical to say the least.  The actual mysteries in this series are well written as well.  This book is loaded with details relating to Antiques and auctions as the name implies.  You will also learn much about prize-winning gardens and the competition they dredge up amongst neighbors.  All in all this is a great fun read

Antique Auctions Are Murder by Libby Klein
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Another great installment in the Poppy McAllister series. Aunt Ginny and the biddies are in the middle of a mess this time and Poppy cannot seem to stay out of the investigation despite her best efforts. The characters provide lots of humor and there is a building relationship with Gia that you definitely want to see succeed. The solution to the murder is quite unexpected and well written

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #22
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  A
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:12  Book #2 Caught up on Series
4. What an Animal Book #14
5. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 13 Book Published in 2022
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #24
7. Cozy Mysteries   #3 Sleuth who is over 60
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #9
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #23
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #22
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-beach/store room
• Weapon- macrame hanger/vampire stake
• Detectives- Poppy MacCallister
• Victims- Auggie Whipple
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #52 Published in 2022
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #33. The next book in a series
15. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #49. A 2022 New Release
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #44 A funny book
17. Nancy Drew # 21. The Secret in the Old Attic (1944) - read a book with antiques in the story  
18. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #17 released in Feb 2022
19. OWLS 22  #52 Amortentia: A book that includes a romance
20. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #1. A book published in 2022
21. Pick your Poison #13 a book about memory loss
22. 52 books in 52 weeks  #26 Little grey cells

Next Year in Havana

 Next Year in Havana is an astounding read by Chanel Cleeton. I admit my knowledge of the Cuban Revolution was cursory at best.  This novel does an amazing job of capturing the people and the culture that were impacted when Fidel Castro overthrew the government of Batista in 1959.  Her descriptions of the country and the people were wonderfully written.  I appreciated that she approached the book as an open minded approach by Marisol Ferrera during her first visit to the country she considers her home.  The love of the Cuban people for their country is captured in the characters in the book.  It is hard not to feel the emotions and the struggles the Perez family felt in the late 50s and those that Marisol faces in the modern era.

Cleeton tries to reflect both sides of the situation from the perspective of the exiled and those who remained and live there in current times.  She acknowledges that change does not always come about as planned nor is the opening of the country to mass tourism the answer to the Cubans problems.  They are a proud people and just want to be able to be free and make an honest living in their own country.   The book highlights a feeling that the citizens of Cuba feel as though they are tourists in their own country and cannot enjoy the country and the culture as much as a visitor is able.  She talks of the laws that prohibited citizens from staying in hotels and the fear of speaking out against the government still today.  This is something that we as Americans do not have to struggle with and we should remember that although things may not be perfect here in our nation, they are far worse elsewhere in the world.  

I feel as though I was invested in this book even more because my son is considering attending the University of Miami for college and we have recently spent time there on a visit.  I look forward to more Cuban culture exposure if he should go there.  I hope to someday have the opportunity to visit the country of Cuba and see the wonderful beauty of the country and its people- my parents were fortunate to visit on a cruise when things first opened and Americans were allowed to visit briefly.  Hopefully that will come back sooner than later.  I am looking forward to reading When We Left Cuba as it focuses on Beatriz Perez and her life in exile.  

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

stunning portrait of being a Cuban

This book is an amazing portrayal of the conflict many Cuban exile families must feel having left their country. I appreciate the story also reflects the perspective of those who remained. The novel balances history with romantic relationships and love as well as loss. I look forward to reading her other works


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #21
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Cuba
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  N
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge   #8 Book Set in a Country you'd Love to Visit
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #23
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #14
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #4
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #24 Addresses a specific topic
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #52. A book with a time-related word in the title
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #46. Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #19 picked by a celebrity book club
12. Bookworm #42 Read a Dystopian
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #2 A Reese Witherspoon BOTM pick 
14. Nancy Drew #37. The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (1960) - read a historical book
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #2 debut author
16. OWLS 22  #10 Mad Eye Moody: A book with multiple points of view
17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #6. A book by a Latinx author
18. Pick your Poison #99 a book about a social movement
19. Beyond the Bookends  Historical Fiction
20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #11 Myths, Monsters, and Imagination
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #19 time capsule

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

 I ended up reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney to meet several challenges on my list this year.  Obviously, it is not a typical read of mine.  Indirectly, I ended up covering a prompt about nostalgia too since this was a favorite series of my son throughout elementary and even middle school.  I think he might even be known to go back and reread them for fun even now.  I must say I also thoroughly enjoy the movies made based on the series which I had scene before ever reading this book.  

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

fun book that brings back memories of my son's childhood.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge K
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 18 Book that makes you Nostalgic
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #2
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #12
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #39 you watched the show or movie first
6. Humor  Book #1
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #9 A book that sparks joy
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #47. A book with handwriting on the cover
9. Bookworm #44 Read a book that a movie/show you've watched is based on but have yet to read
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #47. Makes You Laugh
11. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #34  A book that is written in text messages, emails, or different forms of text. 
12. Nancy Drew #7. The Clue in the Diary (1932) - read an epistolary book
13. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #10 recommended by family/friend
14. OWLS 22  #48 Hogwarts: A book set in a school 
15. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #24. A book you can read in one sitting
16. Pick your Poison #16 a diary
17. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #1 A Graphic Novel
18. While I was Reading  #10 A middle grade novel.
19. Beyond the Bookends  feel good book
20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #30 Epistolary
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #12 coming of age

The Kennedy Debutante

 The Kennedy Debutante is a historical fiction novel by Kerri Maher based around the life of Katherine, Kick, Kennedy.  It focuses on the years she lives in England during her coming out season and subsequent ones.  The shadow of WWII is looming heavily on the English as she falls for a Duke.   To make matters worse, he is a Protestant and will not convert so this is a great strain on her relationship with her very Catholic Mother.  The book is an interesting read about that era and how the wealthy attempted to maintain a semblance of normal even with a war raging around them.  The book definitely takes a look at what it means to be a Kennedy and all the weight that comes with that.  It is an interesting read to see Jack as well as Teddy and Bobby in the roles of brother rather than the stars of the story.  The book is an interesting fictional interpretation of the life of Kick supported by letters and other documents that have been preserved by the Kennedy family.   A great read for those who are at all interested in a glimpse inside the Camelot story.  

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting book about the war years in England and the life of Kathleen Kennedy. The book examines here choices and decisions as they conflicted with her family wishes and her Catholic faith. She appears to have been a strong willed woman who fought for what she believed in despite the consequences and disappointments it may have caused. The book is uses letters and other family documents to create a story based on the years beginning with Kick's coming out in England when her father was the US Ambassador in the years leading up to the war and the subsequent years she spent living abroad away from her family. Their are brief glimpses of the family life while at Hyannis Port and other aspects of the lives of the Kennedy clan. The book is a great read for historical fiction readers especially those interested in some insight into America's royal family and their famous friends.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #18
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  England
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 19 Family Saga
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #20
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #11
6. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #16 about or inspired by a historical event
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #3
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #10 A book based on a real person
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #20. A fiction or nonfiction book that is set during 1900 -1951
10. Bookworm #32 Read a book that takes place on an island
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #45. A Book About Life
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO  #35 A book that has mental health aspects to it
13. Nancy Drew #11. The Clue of the Broken Locket (1934) - read a book where the mc receives jewelry
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #26 standalone
15. OWLS 22  #43 Hogwarts, A History: A historical fiction
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #9. A book about a "found family"
17. Pick your Poison # 75 a book that crosses two genres
18. What's in a Name   #3 person and their description
19. While I was Reading  #12 A book that’s a combination of genres.
20. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Strong women
21. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Western Europe
22. 52 books in 52 weeks  #38 Different Culture
23. Unruly Reader Bingo  #3 news

Cloud Cuckoo Land

 My book club selected Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr as our Feb book.  I truly had no idea what to expect and was worried this would be an over hyped book.   I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book.   I only gave it 4 stars rather than 5 only because I felt there could have been a bit more resolution with the why behind Konstance's storyline as well as a little more resolution with some items in Seymour's story.  These are minor items in the scheme of this novel.  There are multiple interweaving storylines that span many years with a common plot element in each of the time eras that connects each of the stories.    The level of detail and story structure is very well done and although this is a book over 600 pages long it reads very quickly and is hard to put down once you have begun.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book does a wonderful job of intertwining 4 stories set at distinct times in history but all having a common thread. Doerr does a wonderful job of combining description with plot. There is not a ton of action such as a thriller would have but there is plenty of occurrences in the characters' lives. One thing I enjoyed was the characters personalities were described and you got a feel for who they were, but you never really had a huge description of their appearance. Each character had a defining characteristic that was made clear, but there wasn't necessarily a he had brown hair, she had blond level of detail which made the reader's imagination take the center stage on how they envisioned the characters. I appreciated the way the storylines were completed but I would have liked a bit of the why behind some of the stories, particularly Konstance's-this is why it is a 4 and not a 5 star book for me. The book had a definite layered approach to it, where different readers seeking different levels of entertainment and satisfaction would all be appeased. The storyline is well written and complete, but then there is definitely philosophical and deeper meaning in the stories. Additionally, lovers of history or ancient texts would be able to read and enjoy these features and research more about those aspects if desired. All in all a very good book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Greenland
2. Color Coded white
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  #5 Over 500 Pages
4. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #1
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #3 longer than 500 pages
6. What an Animal Book #10
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #2
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #19. A book that involves alternate reality, alternate worlds, or alternate history
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #29 Over 500 pages long
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #24. Pulitzer Prize Winner
11. Bookworm #8 Read a book that takes place in the future
12. Nancy Drew #36. The Secret of the Golden Pavilion (1959) - read a best seller
13. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #49 bought on holidays
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #12  Goodread's 2021 Winner or Nominee
15. OWLS 22  #31 Divination: A book set in the future
16. Pick your Poison #88 an alternate history
17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #47. A book featuring a parallel reality  
18. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #2  A Booktok rec
19. Lifetime of Reading   January – Adult Fiction with a Child Protagonist (Under 12)
20. 52 books in 52 weeks  # 12 Vatican Secret
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #20 a play