Not So Different

 When I selected this book from my library I wasn't aware it was a children's book.   I picked it because I had previously read Laughing at My Nightmare (Blog review) by Shane and enjoyed it.  He definitely knows how to write frankly about his experiences in a way to help people understand his perspective.  This is a great book for sharing with children or to get a feeling for the type of books Shane Burcaw writes.  

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great perspective to share with kids

This is the second book by Shane I’ve read and his attitude is so inspiring. His struggles remind me to put difficult things in my life in perspective. They are ant hills compared to the things he deals with daily

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   99
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #121
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #90
5. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #9. Linked to a podcast
6. Humor  Book #2
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #40 A book with photographs inside
8. OWLS #22 Cheering Charm: A funny or happy book
9. Pick your Poison #52 a book wider than it is tall
10. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  non fiction
11. 52 books in 52 weeks  #10 Humor Me
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #25 biography

Where the Sidewalk Ends

 I sat down the other afternoon and reread a childhood favorite by Shel Silverstein.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the funny poems I remember well from growing up.  There were also many I didn't remember at all but found so fun.  Who will ever forget Sarah Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out.

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #15
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #151
3. Humor  Book #7
4. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #29 Childhood favorite
5. BooklistQueen   #35 Childhood favorite
6. A Pretty Mess Challenge #13 Childhood favorite
7. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #45 purchased years ago
8. Bookworm  #3 Reread a book that makes you happy  
9. Magic in the Books 
• Book 3 #5  reread a favorite
10. Pick your Poison #8-4 A children's book about body parts 
11. 52 books in 52 weeks # 3-1starship 
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #8 instant classic 

Binti

 I selected this book by Nnedi Okorafor as a read for an Afrofuturist book.  This book was definitely one that took me outside my normal genre/comfort zone.  I was pleasantly surprised by the book as I am not generally a sci fi/fantasy reader.  This book did a wonderful job of combining Earth and space species in the story.   Binti is a smart, strong willed young women who has grown up in the Namib desert.  I have had the pleasure of visiting this desert so it made it a bit easier to visualize and imagine the setting I think.  

Binti is from a people who are considered outsiders within her own country/region but are accepted as they play a large role in the functioning of the planet and the species.  Her people, the Himba, are the makers of the astrolabes which are a vital part of the society.  She is  even more special as she is further gifted in math and harmonizing.  

The story has a central theme of a war raging between two cultures as well as one of a coming of age element.  Binti wants to pursue her passion, not follow according to her family's plan for her to takeover her father's successful business.  Her boldness drops her into a community of like minded scholars but also places herself in a precarious position of belonging to neither of 2 races who are at war with each other.  

The story was an adventure and shows the compassion of living beings and how friendships can overcome differences when people give each other a chance.   There is a series of books in this tale and I may pursue reading more of them in the future since I did enjoy this one and it was a nice quick read.  

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is not my normal genre but I really enjoyed this sci fi/ fantasy novel. The description is wonderful and brings out the ability to visualize the scenes. The characters are a mix of both human and extra terrestrial. This is the first in a series and it sets up an interesting premise and characters with an intriguing relationship that will be interesting to see if it develops as the series progresses. Binti is a strong willed and determined young woman who is very intelligent and a role model in her bravery.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #103
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Namibia
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #111
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #125
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #2 An Afrofuturist book  
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #41. A book by a new-to-you BIPOC author  
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #3 The Dark: about/set in space
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #38. SET IN THE FUTURE
9. Bookworm  #43.) Read a Science Fiction
10. Spells and Spaceships #3 Space Opera Badge: Book set in space or on other planets; #2 First Contact Badge: Humanity meets extraterrestrial life for the first time
11. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Back to School
12. Monthly Book Awards #AwardReadingChallenge  Hugo 2016
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #4-6 out of this world

Icebound

I had read a preview about this book in a literary magazine.  It had intrigued me and thus I was quite happy when my book club chose to read this book in July.  I had started it much later than several members and they had indicated it was a dry read, kind of like reading a text book.  Needless to say, expectations were not high when I started it.  Turns out I liked it better than most.

I just focused on the story and didn't worry about keeping track of characters or the overall history of expeditions to the pole that the author frequently referred to.  This was one of the issues as the book was written from the captain's logs and would be telling a narrative when suddenly the author would switch to talk about other explorers at other periods of time.  Which while interesting facts, lead to a less flowing narrative.  

All in all I enjoyed the book and could find myself visualizing the landscape and the ocean as they were described in the book.  It wasn't written quite in the voice that reads like a novel such as when I read Bad Blood.  But if you enjoy history or travel this is a fascinating non fiction read about William Barents and his polar expeditions.     

Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Andrea Pitzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting non fiction work

While there were times this NF work read like a research paper and took a bit to get into, I did like it. I read it like a story and didn’t try to keep all the names straight. It is a factual account of a historical event and as such there is not a lot of emotions expressed by people in the book. It is still possible to envision their possible emotions during their struggles but they are not explicitly written as the account is sourced from a captains log. If you like reading about risk takers and areas of the world that you haven’t visited this book will appeal to those interests


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #91
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #20 genre you never/rarely read
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #98
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #112
6. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #6. Oceanography
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #16 Set Before The 17th Century
8. Pick your Poison #16-4 A book with a map on the cover
9. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 July – Book Set On An Island
10. 52 books in 52 weeks  #26 mushing

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea

 

I selected this book by Barbara Demick from the recommended list for the Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge challenge.  I had the book escape from Camp 14 in my TBR pile and decided to read this one as well for variety on the topic.  

Demick does an amazing job of capturing the stories and perspectives of several North Koreans who ultimately escaped the country.  Their stories are amazing and the most interesting part for me was the degree to which the people of the country are completely unaware as to what is going on in the world outside North Korea.  For that matter there is minimal information and communication within the country.

Demick took an interesting approach to the work by focusing on individuals with a connection to the same locale within North Korea.  She identified people from different backgrounds which helped to highlight the caste system that exists in the country.  Many of the individuals were actually supporters of the regime and members of the Working Party.   The stories detail how their transformations and decisions to leave came about.  

There are some heartbreaking and honest depictions of the suffering that occurred especially during the famine of the 1990s.  Demick does a good job of presenting the stories of the defectors and minimizes adding political opinions to the accounts, unless they were the observations of the individuals featured in the work.  Demick also shared factual observations from her own visits to North Korea.  

All in all this is an eye opening account of just how 3rd world that nation is and the struggles the people are suffering through even still today.  

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazingly terrifying account

This account of the true experiences within N Korea is written in such a way it can be easy to forget it is non-fiction. In fact at times the horrors described made me wish it was fiction. I knew on a high level the atrocious lives much of the residents of N Korea live but this details it in the stories of those who lives it. The defectors came from various walks of life within the same region and their stories are amazing.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #51
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  North Korea
3. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #8. Indigenous Cultures
4. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #15. A book with a black-and-white cover
5. BooklistQueen   # 5. About a Pressing Social Issue
6. Spells and Spaceships Post Apocalyptic Badge  post apocalyptic or dystopian setting
7. Pick your Poison #18-3 A book by a journalist or news photographer
8. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Asia – North
9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #36  dystopian

I Feel Bad about my Neck

 

This is a humorous book by Nora Ephron.  I had not previously read any of her work.  I am happy we had picked this for a book club read as I don't know if I would have otherwise selected this.

The book itself is a series of short chapters organized by topics.  Some of the chapters are Nora's observations on life and some of the daily activities women undertake to stay youthful and stylish.  She definitely pokes fun at her own behaviors in the process.  Other chapters are more specific to episodes in her life and how they can be categorized as different observations/advice.  I enjoyed the fact it is laid out in short chapters so it was easy to start and stop as time permitted.

The book as a whole felt like a download from a mother/grandmother to a young woman who is going off on her own.  Sort of a playbook on the stages of life and how to not get too trapped in the little things.  There was definitely no diva aspect to her tone and stories.   I especially enjoyed her tales involving New York as I spent 4 years living there.  Anyone who has lived in Manhattan knows about the divide between West Siders and East Siders.  Her reference points about Zabars and H&H bagels were spots I can relate to, they were right by my gym when I lived there.  For the record, I never had an 8 room apartment- more like 4 if you count the bathroom :)

I found Ephron's stories to be very enjoyable and decided she is someone I wished I had known.  I can only imagine the energy a dinner with her would have.  I really knew nothing about her until I read the book and found her life fascinating when I read more about her.   I will add some of her other works onto my TBR list for sure.  If you are looking for a light enjoyable read be sure to pick this one up. 

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first work by Nora Ephron I have read. I really enjoyed the book and how it felt like an advice book from a mother/grandmother to a young woman. The organization of the different life tales into different categories made for a fun read. It is a humorous book you can read in spurts as each chapter is a unique insight.

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #46
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #56
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #66
4. Memoir  #15. Written by someone over 40
5. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #4. Essay Collection
6. Humor  Book #4
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #14 Written By An Author Over 65 (When Published)
8. BooklistQueen   #11. Recommended by a Colleague
9. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 20. Celebrity memoir
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #35. AN EMOTION IN TITLE
11. Pick your Poison #27-5 A collection of essays
12. 52 books in 52 weeks  #23 your choice

Confessions on the 7:45

 I had this book by Lisa Unger on my to read list for a bit of time while waiting for the library hold to become available.   The title caught my eye and then the summary captured my interest as well.  While waiting for the book, I read several blog reviews and online chatter that gave the book mixed reviews. It seems to be an either you love it or you don't kind of book.

Well, I found myself really liking the book.  At first I thought I was going to give in and put it aside as I had difficulty keeping the characters straight at the beginning.  There are quite a few characters and they take turns as the narrator.  In addition to the different points of view, the book also jumps around in time between present day and the past.  The timeline in the past moves forward quickly and ends up being brought forward 3 years or so.  The present day portion is only set over the course of a week or so.  This can be a bit tricky to follow at times.  That being said, I really liked the story and the suspenseful nature of the narrative.

Unger builds the characters in such a way that you feel strongly toward them.  I felt invested in their stories, particularly Selena's and wanted to see her succeed in finding a happy resolution.  There are plenty of twists and turns to the plot during the story.  Even though I thought I had figured out the big mystery, there were still surprises right up until the last chapter.   I appreciated Unger wrapping up all the different story and character threads.   You finished the book with a feeling of resolution, even if you were left wondering how on earth people could behave the way they did in the story.  The characters are far from perfect but it is easy to find empathy and some understanding in most of the characters and the relationships that evolved during the story.

If you like psychological thrillers with lots of plot twists then you should enjoy this book.  If you don't care for multiple timelines mixed with multiple point of views then you might want to steer clear of this one. 

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Intense til the end

This is a suspenseful thriller that keeps the reader on the edge til the bitter end. Once you are able to settle into the story and keep the characters straight the story flows quite well. If you don’t like books with changing points of view and timeline jumping then this is not a book for you. Under does a wonderful job of maneuvering through both. It is easy to relate to how torn Selena would feel in the circumstances and your heart aches for her little boys. The relationships between characters are well developed and there are twists and turns til the end. Even when you think you have it figured out there are more twists. I appreciate the fact Unger tues up all the loose ends and tells you where characters and relationships stand at the conclusion of the book. Great read if you like psychological thrillers

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #30
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "U"
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #38
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #43
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #30
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #25 A Book With Multiple Character POV
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #38. Gerry: about ghosts/MC is a ghost
8. BooklistQueen   # 43. Psychological Thriller
9. Bookworm  #50.) Read a book about orphans
10. Magic in the Books Book 2 #3 Includes a haunting
11. Pick your Poison #11-1 A horror story or thriller
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 55 Shot #1
14. 52 books in 52 weeks  #34 all aboard

Death in Four Courses

 This is the 2nd book in the Key West Food Critic series by Lucy Burdette.  It's a great recipe for a wonderful cozy mystery.  Take a dash of FL sunshine, the spice of Key West characters and history and a large portion of food writers and you have the recipe for an intriguing mystery.  Hayley Snow has her mother in town for the Food and Literary seminar being held in her new hometown of Key West.  The keynote speaker, Jonah, decided to stir the pot with his fellow authors and threaten to tell the truth about many of their pasts and to bring more honesty to the food writers' sphere.   Apparently someone took issue with this new found need to come clean and forthright.  

Hayley had the misfortune of becoming involved in his death when she stumbled upon him.    Her mother's curiosity is as piqued as her own and the two find themselves looking into the mystery.  Another death, a friend acting strangely, and a disappearance all round out this cozy mystery.  The mystery is well written and the resolution quite a surprise.

The development of Hayley's relationships and her history is well done.  It is easy to feel a part of her social circle and to feel her frustrations and love for family and friends.  This aspect of the book establishes a connection that has the reader cheering for Hayley and wanting to read more about her life in tropical Key West.  Fortunately there is more to the series to achieve just that.

Death in Four Courses by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Foodie lover mystery

Burdette captures the charm of Key West and reveals the behind the scenes machinations of a food writers convention as told by Hayley Snow. This second book besides having to deaths to solve, reveals a lot about Hayley and develops her as a character. We see a glimpse of her relationships with her mother and love interest both the good and bad. The mystery definitely was not an obvious solution but was plausible and believable. I look forward to reading more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  book 2 in Key West Food Critic series 
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #4
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #37
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cozy Mysteries   #9 item of clothing on cover
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 8
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #26
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #22
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2
10. Magic in the Books Book 2 #7 A book with clothing on the cover
11. Pick your Poison #11-2 A book with an insect on the cover
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
13. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean
• Alley or mews
• Lawn
• Basement
• Attic

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant
Cliff, roof, high place
Row 5

Garden, park, gazebo

• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Hayley
• Victims- Jonah/
14. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 8  Shot #2
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #10 number in title

Topped Chef

 This 3rd installment in the Key West Food Critic series is another charming cozy set in the tropical clime of Key West.   What better location to read about when it's winter at home.  This book finds Hayley embroiled in another mystery when her job at Key Zest finds her judging a food contest.  The mystery itself is well constructed and I didn't predict the guilty party until the reveal at the end.  The story also does a wonderful job of continuing to develop Hayley's relationships with friends, family and romantic interests.  The fun quirky interactions make her seem very realistic.

It is kind of funny that I read two different books back to back that centered around cooking programs.  Of course Ree's program was just part of the story she tells in her memoir, Frontier Follies, but the cooking show contest is the focus of this cozy mystery.  It gives a glimpse into the world of "reality" tv shows and how they are still scripted even when they are supposed to be live reality shows.  The cutthroat nature of the shows is revealed as part of the plot line for sure.  

The story does a wonderful job mixing in the culture and uniqueness of Key West.  It is always fun to read about the crowds at sunset in Mallory Square.  This is a flashback to the first family vacation we took when my son was just 6 months old.  I know it sounds strange but it really was a great get away as people are so laid back that they don't mind a kid sleeping in a stroller at the bars on Duval street happy hour or in the restaurants on the beach.  We even met Captain Tony. 
We had a wonderful and relaxing time and I cannot wait to revisit there- perhaps for his 21st birthday :)

I look forward to continuing to read the series and seeing what delicious foodie adventures Hayley has as she continues to find her roots in Key West.

Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fun mystery set in tropical Key West. Hayley manages to stumble upon another murder in the course of doing her job as a food critic for Key Zest magazine. The book has some definite foodie moments as well as the drama of a reality cooking show. This book continues to develop Hayley’s personal relationships and the reader continues to feel like they are in the friendsphere of Hayley As always the charms and culture of Key West shone through in this cozy

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #27
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 book #3 in series
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice #10
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #28
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #24
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #41 An Endorsement By A Famous Author On The Cover
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #51 Mikaele: involves pirates 
11. Pick your Poison #16-3 A book about pirates
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Rock, brick, blunt object
• Detectives- Hayley
• Victims- Sam Rizzoli
14. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #8  Shot #3
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #14 swashbuckler

52 books in 52 weeks

 This is a straightforward challenge to read 52 books over the course of 2021 hosted at read52booksin52weeks.com .   There are side challenges and other perpetual challenges they tie into this challenge but they are totally optional.  These include a bingo card that you can use to chose selections.   If you want to sign up for a straight reading tally challenge this might be the perfect choice for you.  Sign up here

My Selections:

Progress: 41/45 Books

√ Row 1 √

• √ this is the way

• READ Laughing at my Nightmare by Shane Burcaw
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/30/21

• √ amnesia 

• READ The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/25/21

• √ 12 things 

• READ  Dry by Augusten Burroughs
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/23/21

• √ illusion 

• READ The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/27/21
• √ silence 
• READ A Burning by Megha Majumdar
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/16/21

√ Row 2 √

• √ spelunking 
• A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/17/21
• √ different century 
• READ The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie  
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/5/21

• √ paradox 
• American Royals by Katherine McGee
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review  3/7/21

• √ anithero 
• READ The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/20/21

• √ number in title 
• READ  Death in Four Courses by Lucy Burdette
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/11/21
• √ alternate reality 
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/20/21
• √ skin diving
• Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/15/21

√ Row 3√ 

• √ starship 
• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review  11/18/21
• √ swashbuckler 

• Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/13/21
• √ different culture
• READ Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/14/21

• √ steampunk 
• READ Steampunk Poe by Edgar Allen Poe  DNF
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 10/5/21
• √ ice or snow bound
• READ  The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/10/21
• √ detective 
• READ Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliot
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 2/6/21

• √ robot 
• READ Ms. Marvel, Vol 2   Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson
• Blog Post and Good  Reads Review 2/12/21 

√ Row 4 √

• √ tip toe through the tulips

• READ Frontier Follies by Ree Drummond
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/12/21
• √ cunning capers
• READ Misalignment and Murder by Cathy Tully 
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review  1/26/21

• √fantasy creatures  
• READ Z Rex by Steve Cole
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 8/1/21

• √ your choice 
• READ I Feel Bad about My Neck by Nora Ephron
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/20/21
• √ alpha males and strong heroines
• READ The Sinister Superyacht by Ana T. Drew  
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review  1/4/21

• √ out of this world 
• Binti by Nnedi Okorafor 
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 9/3/21
• √ mushing 
• READ Icebound by Andrea Pitzer
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 7/21/21

Row 5

• √ diary
• READ The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/13/21
• √ maps 
• READ South Pole Station by Ashley Shelby
• Blog Post and GoodReads Review 1/18/21

• √ librarians 
• READ By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 5/6/21
• gods and goddesses IDEA: The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #1)

• √ translated 
• READ  The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 9/20/21
• √ cloistered life 
• READ  A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 11/11/21
• √ lace 
• READ Death of an Irish Diva by Mollie Cox Bryan
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/18/21

√  Row 6 √ 

• √  all aboard 
• READ Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/17/21
• √ swords and sorcerers 
• READ  Carry On Simon Snow by Rainbow Rowell
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review  11/16/21
• √ dystopian 

• READ Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/30/21
• √ military  
• READ  Olive Bright Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/7/21

• √ utopian 
• READ Forests, Fishing & Forgery by Tonya Kappes
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 2/2/21

• √ high adventure 
• READ The Murder Mystery Cruise by Lizzie Josephson
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/13/21
• √ come sail away 
• READ Peril Through the Panama Canal by Lizzie Josephson
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/12/21

Row 7

• √ hide in place 
• READ  The Three Mrs. Wrights by Linda Keir
• Blog  Post and Good Reads Review 1/29/21

• √ cozy 
• READ Deserts, Driving, & Derelicts by Tonya Kappes
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/26/21

• √ on the run  
• READ  Choppy Water by Stuart Woods
• Blog Post and Good Reads Review 1/21/21

• √ flufferton 

• READ Finished off in Fondant by Rosemarie Ross
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 3/1/21

• reread IDEA: The Secret Garden