What I Read December and My Favorite Book Picks of the Year

Once again we have reached the end of the year.  During Thanksgiving, I had a chance to read a couple of books.

The Nightingale by Kirstin Hannah

Why or Why does every Kristin Hannah book make me ugly cry.  I admit the end of this book made me cry.  The setting is WWII and secret ops in France by the resistance. It is a tale of  two sisters. I really enjoyed this quick read.



The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

It took me a bit to get into the dysfunction of the Plumb family and their inheritance they call the NEST.  I thought it was an interesting read.  I could see where some people could be put off by this book.

Top Picks From My Reading Year

No Baggage by Clara Bensen - You all know I simply can't resist a travel story. This one was unique.

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and  Laura Kamole

Ranger Confidential by Andrea Lankford

I am linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone is reading.

What I Read November

I read Lab Girl by Hope Jahern

I believe this was recommended by someone on Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit Link Up. I found this a fascinating read. I don't know any female scientists nor have I ever think of the challenges that gender might cause in he scientific exploration. I loved how frank Hope was about her challenges both professional and personal.

An illuminating debut memoir of a woman in science; a moving portrait of a longtime friendship; and a stunningly fresh look at plants that will forever change how you see the natural world

Lab Girl is a book about work, love, and the mountains that can be moved when those two things come together. It is told through Jahren’s remarkable stories: about her childhood in rural Minnesota with an uncompromising mother and a father who encouraged hours of play in his classroom’s labs; about how she found a sanctuary in science, and learned to perform lab work done “with both the heart and the hands”; and about the inevitable disappointments, but also the triumphs and exhilarating discoveries, of scientific work.

Yet at the core of this book is the story of a relationship Jahren forged with a brilliant, wounded man named Bill, who becomes her lab partner and best friend. Their sometimes rogue adventures in science take them from the Midwest across the United States and back again, over the Atlantic to the ever-light skies of the North Pole and to tropical Hawaii, where she and her lab currently make their home.  (AMAZON)


WHAT IS UP WITH AUTOBIOGRAPHIES WRITTEN LATELY?  Tell me my YOUR story.  I don't want to be educated about the tools you used if it doesn't enhance the story.  I don't want to be educated about plants unless it increases my understanding of YOUR story.   I will say as it was used in Lab Girl it wasn't quite as clunky as it was used in Dirt Work and  Hammer Head. I do not like this used as a literary device.  I found myself wanting to skip those chapters and get back to the real story.  I want to tell editors that I picked this book BECAUSE I was interested in the author's personal story.

7 by Jen Hatmaker

Our bible study finally finished this. Jen Hatmaker has a lot of controversy.  Some of her personal views were a bit much for a number of our members of her bible study. Jen Hatmaker has been dropped from the Lifeway brand due to her views. We lengthen this study by doing the study homework together during our meetings.  I thought it was an interesting thoughtful study about excess in our lives and how to manage things that might become idols to us - social media etc.. We as a group thought her last two lessons were perhaps the strongest in the whole study.

Anyone else watching The Crown on Netflix.  Prince Philip - The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II would be a good companion read to The Crown.I had previously done on a post on books and movies that I felt complimented The Crown.  I admit I didn't know anything about Prince Philip.  What an interesting life he had before marrying Queen Elizabeth or Princess Elizabeth at the time.

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit

What I Read October

My reading has been on the lighter side this month.  I am participating in writing 31 days and that has seriously cut into my reading time. I am linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling was one of my reads.  This is a play in book format and much like others I quickly forgot that I was reading a play.  My 8th grader consumed this book in one sitting practically.

Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is another book I completed.  This was one I believe recommended by other readers on Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. I liked it but it jumped around a bit .  The story is told through grandmother, daughter , and granddaughter. So this novel is about 3 generations and the choices that each make that impact the next generation.  I am intrigued about Indian culture so this was an interesting and moving read.

The daughter of a poor baker in rural Bengal, India, Sabitri yearns to get an education, but her family’s situation means college is an impossible dream. Then an influential woman from Kolkata takes Sabitri under her wing, but her generosity soon proves dangerous after the girl makes a single, unforgiveable misstep. Years later, Sabitri’s own daughter, Bela, haunted by her mother’s choices, flees abroad with her political refugee lover—but the America she finds is vastly different from the country she’d imagined. As the marriage crumbles and Bela is forced to forge her own path, she unwittingly imprints her own child, Tara - Amazon

I have been messing around with Chalk Lettering.  So I checked out from the library The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering by Valerie Mckeehan.  Wow, this is a really cool and inspiring book.  I spent several nights messing around with chalk.  Post here on my results. I need a lot more practice but it really brought out my creative side.  Valerie Mckeehan also has a really cool Instagram as well. Valerie blogs and Lily & Val Living

Notes of a Mediocre Homemaker - Arm Chair Adventuring Updated

I am a big time arm chair adventurer.  I think I have a bad case of wanderlust.  


See my travel bucket list Pinterest board. Unfortunately I really don't have the budget to jaunt off to some exotic locale. Books and movies about adventure are totally within my budget. I also totally live vicariously thru other people who get to jaunt off. I love love a good adventure read.

Book Riot had a list of 20 of Your Favorite Adventure Memoirs.

I realized I haven't updated my favorite adventure read list. Below are some of my favorites

52 Loaves by William Alexander
A Blistered Kind of Love by Angela and Duffy Ballard
Turn Right at Machu Picchu By Mark Adams
Southbound By Lucy and Susan Letcher
Miles from Nowhere By Barbara Savage
No Baggage by Clara Bensen

Fiction Pick
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Need More Travel Inspiration
Travel Bloggers Reveal Their Ultimate Bucket Lists

Check out my entire Series - Notes of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up with  Write 31 Days.

What I Read September

I am once again linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit linky.  IF you need to find some new reads, check out what everyone else is reading. (Doesn't everyone need a few new reads) I am always on the lookout for some good reads.  

This year our National Parks celebrate a 100 years of service.  So in the spirit of that, I read Ranger Confidential.by Andrea Lankford. I think when we think of Park Rangers we think of all the work they do as naturalists.  The gritty reality is the law enforcement aspect of their jobs.  This book I believe does a good job of looking beyond the hat to share the rescue operations and other unique characteristics of their job. Being a ranger is a dangerous job.  Crime doesn't stop at the borders of parks.

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. This book is about Patsy Jefferson daughter of Thomas Jefferson.  I wasn't sure what to think about this book at first.  This is a fictional account of Patsy's life but I liked how the authors tried to use their words whenever possible. This book explores what Patsy contributed to her father's career and the presidency.  What Patsy had to give up as a daughter of political figure.  I like how Sally Hemmings relationship was explored and how Patsy may or may not felt about it. I enjoyed this book immensely and I really learned some new things about Thomas Jefferson and his family without this feeling like a boring history book.

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison is our county's read for 2017 - Whatcom Reads - One Book. Jonathan Evison is a Pacific Northwest writer and the book is set in Washington State. This book was OK for me. I think there is some interesting discussion material here. The main character is Benjamin Benjamin a man forced to take a caregiving job for Trev who suffers from MD.  This also a book about fathers and the often complicated relationship they have with their kids.

Ben Benjamin, all has been lost--his wife, his family, his home, his livelihood. Hoping to find a new direction, he enrolls in a night class called The Fundamentals of Caregiving, where he will learn to take care of people with disabilities. He is instructed about professionalism, about how to keep an emotional distance between client and provider, and about the art of inserting catheters while avoiding liability. But when Ben is assigned his first client--a tyrannical nineteen-year-old boy named Trevor, who is in the advanced stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy--he soon discovers that the endless service checklists have done nothing to prepare him for the reality of caring for a fiercely stubborn, sexually frustrated teenager who has an ax to grind with the whole world. (excerpt from Whatcom Reads)

What I Read August

Summer brings many things.  I like to read a bit lighter during the summer. Check out what everyone is reading at Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit Link Up.

My parents left me two David Baldacci books.  I read The Simple Truth on a road trip.  It was the perfect book for that kind of adventure.  This legal thriller involves the highest court land, the Supreme Court and a death row inmate.

This book has a few miles on it after
traveling with my parents and then me.

Hammer Head: A Making of a Carpenter by Nina MacLaughlin  I picked up on a whim.  It is about a journalist that changes careers to become employed as a carpenters assistant.

Nina decided she was tired of clicking on things for a living. By clicking things, I mean computer work. I can relate to that.  I have this need to create something physical. Overall, this started out a bit clunky to me.  It was written in a similar style as Dirt Work.  They both broke down the chapters based on the tools they used. I am not sure I like this as a literary device.  I am of the camp just tell me the story and less about educating me on the different tools. Nina has an interesting woman mentor, Mary, and I loved when she talked about all the different jobs they did.  So if you want to indulge your inner Nicole Curtis or hammer holding blog goddess Ana White, check this one out.

What I Read July

It appears that most of my reading lately has been non-fiction.  I linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone is reading.

Getting  Life by Michael Morton

This book is about Michael who was wrongfully convicted in his wife's death. He spent 25 years in jail for a crime he did not commit. Michael writes eloquently about his travels through the criminal justice system.  I read Just Mercy last year about justice and how it is served.  This book reminded me a lot of that book.

Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods by Christine Byl

This book was a slower go at the beginning.  You will never look at a trail in a National Park the same way again.  Christine worked on trail crews in Glacier and Cordova and  Denali.  She talks quite a bit how being a woman in this line of work.  You can't but help but feel Christine's love of the outdoors and trail work. Make no doubt about it, trail work is back breaking sometimes thankless work.

What I Read June

It is summer and the reading should be easy or least interesting.  I am participating in my library's summer reading program for adults for the summer.  Ours is book bingo.  I managed to get a couple squares filled in.

Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

Why did I wait so long to read this one? Wow this was a hard one to put down. If you like twisty and not seeing what is coming, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS ONE! I am bummed that I couldn't count this in my summer reading bingo card but I read it prior to June 4th. 

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

I seem to be on a Kate Morton kick.  This was recommended to me because I am a fan of Downton Abbey. The main character Grace Bradley was a servant at Riverton House .  Years later a film director comes to ask Grace about her time at Riverton, Grace starts remembering what that she knows a secret about a death of a young poet at Riverton House.  I didn't enjoy this Kate Morton book as much as The Lake House but it was a good read about aristocrats and privilege.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This is a take off of the Cinderella story but involves Cyborgs, Androids, and Lunars. Cinder is a mechanic who meets a prince and attends a ball.  Oh and she is a cyborg as well. There is even an evil step mother. According to my library's online book app, I read this in 3 hours and 30 minutes.  I didn't think I would like it but I was wrong. The book was interesting though not in a genre I usually read.  I enjoyed it a lot.

Check out what everyone else is reading over at Modern Mrs Darcy.

What I read May

Oh, I have been reading.  When things get stressful, the stressful read. Well they do in my case. Below are my reads for the month. I also got a chance to attend a preview some coming releases with a Book Buzz from Random House. 

The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith - Ahh, I struggled a bit with this one.  I had to renew and incurred a late fee as well. I really love the main characters Strike and his assistant Robin but this story took a bit to unfold and a lot more graphic than the first book.  I guess I had trouble with the pace of this book but the characters kept me reading. This is the second book in the series.

No Baggage by Clara Bensen
Would you go on a trip with no baggage such as an European adventure with only the clothes on your back, passport, and bank card?  The tag line for the book is -3 Weeks, Eight Countries - Zero Baggage. Well, that is what Clara did with her new boyfriend, Jeff.  Evidently Jeff did this type of travel frequently but it was new to Clara.   I found this a refreshing interesting read. Clara describes how this all came to pass and how freeing this type of travel was for her.  There are a lot of great insights in this book.  I found myself marking them with post it notes.

The crucial caveat that never makes it into the inspirational "follow your dreams" prints is simple: Follow your dreams, but let go of the outcomes. - Clara Bensen

I can't get away from that wonder is inextricably married to risk. - Clara Bensen

I am a firm believer that the books you need to read show up.  This is one that I needed to read. The video below reminded me a lot of the book. The book was about risk taking.



Lastly but not least, The Lake House by Kate Morton.

This has been on my to read list FOREVER. I loved it.  I could not put this down.  Definitely lived up to the hype. This was a twisty mystery of the best kind.  This would make a fabulous summer/vacation read.

Check out what everyone is reading over at Modern Mrs Darcy's quick lit link up.

What I Read April

Spring Break brought some extra reading time for me as our family life slowed down a bit. I am linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone is reading.

Paper Towns By John Green

My 17 year old brought this young adult book home from the library so I asked him if I could read it too.  It was interesting.  I love the concept of Paper Towns.  The book explains that so I won't spoil it for you.  At first, I was a little incredulous that teenagers would set off to find their friend on a wild road trip then I remember my friends high school escapades. It was a thing to drive to the Colorado/Nebraska line back in my day.  I have not watched the movie. There is an old linky about John Green on YA Fiction - Too Old For YA  I also thought one of the abandoned buildings the teens explored reminded me of the American Life Podcast - House on Loon Lake

By George R. R. Martin

I totally got sucked into the Game of Thrones hype and read the first book. I don't think fantasy is my genre but I really got into this.  I was sometimes annoyed that he left me hanging right when I got into a character's story and had to wait several chapters to get the rest of the story.  I don't think I have any desire to watch the series but maybe.  I do desire to read more in the series. This is like Outlander in that respect.

* This post contains amazon affiliate links

What I Read March

If you are feeling like a little mystery The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling did not disappoint.

I might be in a little love with Cormoran Strike the private detective and main character. Strike is investigating the death or supposed suicide of Lula Landry a model superstar.  This story takes you on many twists and turns.  Like the best mysteries, I didn't see the ending coming.

I also read  In a Different Key - The Story of Autism.  I actually did a whole post on this book itself. (my review)  This book is receiving a lot of press this tome clocks in  at 552 pages of just text that doesn't include timelines and notes.  This is the exhaustive history of autism .

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading.

***This post contains affiliate links

In a DIfferent Key

This book In a Different Key is HUGE.  This book clocks in at 552 pages of text which doesn't include the timeline, notes, or bibliography. I was a little daunted when I received it from the library.

I am interested in Autism because my son has  high functioning autism. My son was not diagnosed until age 14.

In a Different Key is written in a friendly approachable style so while large in size the reading is not terribly difficult.  The movement to understand Autism is largely because parents have pushed for more understanding, research, acceptance. 

What I learned:

Who to include in the spectrum has been complicated from the very beginning.  The definition and the criteria has changed numerous times.  Not all researchers agree on the diagnostic checklist.  So consequently some people have been included under one DSM to then been excluded under another version.

"Autism was, and would long remain, a diagnosis in the eye of the beholder." (In a Different Key)

Parents have been vital to autism being researched.  They were the first to form groups and fund raise for research in Autism.

Autism Speaks was founded by grandparents of an autistic child.  Critics of Autism Speaks has often cited that there are no Autistic people on their board.  Without a doubt Autism Speaks is the largest fundraising and information center on Autism.

I already knew but in case anyone out there is in the dark VACCINES DON'T CAUSE AUTISM!!!

I thought I knew a lot about the history of autism but I really learned a lot through this book.  This deepened my understanding of autism.  I think the quote sums things up nicely.

Indeed, the fact is that even with all the contentiousness attached to the word "autism," the momentum pushing all the argument has also, over time, pushed all the societies that have tried to deal with autism in the most commendable direction, which is toward ever greater recognition of the dignity of individuals who are different by virtue of fitting the label in some way. It is this interpretation of autism that has that having autism-being autistic- represents but one more wrinkle in the fabric of humanity, and that no one among us is living a life "unwrinkled." (In a Different Key)

The errors - revelations- in 2 major books about Autism - Interesting perspective on the two newly released books on Autism - In a Different Key and NeuroTribes.  I haven't had a chance to read NeuroTribes.

In a Different Key Traces History and Politics of Autism (NPR)

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit

***This post contains affiliate links

What I read February

Do you ever end up with something on your "To Be Read" list and have no idea why.  Well, that happens to me a lot. I found this suggested read on the back of my to do list.  Someone, somewhere recommend this young adult book - Graceling by Kristin Cashore. This fantasy young adult book isn't normally something I read.  I found myself reading this in short spurts.  The main character is a girl, Katsa, that definitely demonstrates girl power. Graced with special fighting/killing skills she is employed by her Uncle.  This book has action, mystery, and a bit of romance.

Another book on my "To Be Read" list was The Circle by David Eggers.  This another type of book I don't usually read.  The book was completely thought provoking social commentary about the Internet and how interconnected we need to be.  The circle is a company that is controlling all the Internet and trying to make everything interconnected.  The book is through the eyes of  Mae. The ending made me sad. (No Spoiler Here) Modern Mrs Darcy Review .  This book also scared the heck out of me because the reality is we already pretty connected in not a very healthy way.

 

Those who know me know I love a good adventure read.  I love reading about other's adventures on long distance trails.  I myself will probably never hike a long distance trail.  I totally binge read this book. Southbound is about two sisters who tackle the Appalachian trail starting at the northern end and traveling south.  I have read a few books such as Bill Bryson's Walk in the Woods book where most hikers start in Georgia.  These two sisters with the trail names of Isis and Jack Rabbit do most of the trail barefoot.  This was a great read.  I wish at the end of the book it would of followed up with what the sisters ended up doing after the trail.  There were also a couple of hikers they were traveling with which I would of liked to know what happen to as well.  Maybe their follow up book Walking Home can shed some light on that. Bummer that this book is not available at my local library. This was an engrossing and entertaining true story.

Need more adventure reads check out my post Arm Chair Adventures

Check out what everyone else is reading at Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.

*This post contains amazon affiliate links

What I read January

***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.

Well technically I didn't read this in January but at the end of  December but I thought this deserved a mention.

The Woman who Heard Color by Kelly Jones

The book is about a woman, Hanna who lives in Germany and hears color.  That is called sysnesthia. I had never heard of that before.  She marries who employer a Jewish gallery owner who specialized in modern art works. She then starts to work in his gallery.  One of her favorite artists was Kandinsky who also heard in color. When WWII starts she is eventually has to sell gallery and the Germans draft her into catalogue all the works of art.  Later an art detective, Lauren comes to find out what happened to all the works of art in hopes of returning the artwork to their rightful owners.

Recently, there has been lots of books/movies about the theft of art by the Nazi. While "The Woman Who Heard Color" is a work a fiction.  It rings true to the real life account about what happened to art during World War II. This fictional work was a hard to put down read.

Below I have listed some companion works books and movies.


Monuments Men ( Book/Movie} My review of the book.


Woman in Gold  (Movie)