Ramblings on Books and Reading for a Better community

Yesterday, while scrolling through "My Memories" on my personal Facebook page, I came across a post I shared once, about a note left for a Little Free Library steward in New Orleans, letting them know that their LFL  was making a difference to an individual who, although middle aged, was just learning how to read. I wanted to include a link here for anyone interested, so i searched for a link that was not directed to Facebook.  I found something even better, a link to a list of notes to LFL stewards.  See it here if you are interested.

This got me to thinking about all the ways that books can make a difference in our communities.

Books create a shared experience.  I have never struck up a conversation with a stranger who had the same coffee order that I do, but I would not think twice to strike up a conversation with a stranger if I see them with a book I am familiar with. People who have positive interactions with other people will feel a stronger connection and have a greater commitment to the well being of their community.

Even reading fiction expands our knowledge base about real things.  Authors often spend a lot of time researching details to ensure that their book is realistic.  So while the story may be fictional, much of the information contained within the story is realistic/true.

There have been studies that indicate that reading fiction increases the reader's sense of empathy, even across culture and race differences. (can I just say that the whole world could benefit on that front!). You can read one article on that subject here.

The availability of books can have a huge impact on children. Ultimately for those reasons listed above, as well as the more obvious literacy  and learning aspects. Also, reading provides good, clean fun. No kid has ever gotten themselves into any real trouble reading a good book. My son knows, if we are at a store and he asks for toys or candy, there is a good chance he will be denied. If he asks for a book, he will likely get one.

Book people tend to share.  We cannot keep every book we ever bought. So we share with family and friends, donate to hospital reading carts for patients, charity thrift shops and sales (often leaving after having purchased more that we dropped off!). We bookcross, and we leave them in LFL's. Books go out, and books come in, the cycle continues, and our corner of the world gets a little bit better in the process.

Happy Reading!
Christine

Review - The Plastic Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Plastic Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg
47North
Available May 15, 2018
Book 4 in the Paper Magician series - however this book can be read as a stand alone.

A digital advance reader copy of this book was provided by 47North via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Holmberg does it again! There is definitely magic between the covers of this book!

Meet Alvie.  She is bright, intelligent, and driven! As a new graduate from her local School of Magic, she begins an adventure abroad as an apprentice in the new exciting and competitive field of Polymaking. As an apprentice Polymaker - or Plastic Magician, she has been lucky enough to be under the tutelage of Magician Marion Praff, a pioneer in the fledgling field.  Alvie quickly proves herself to be a keen and intelligent apprentice and she is soon working together with her mentor on a special project to present at the most prestigious Magic convention in the world, and to help a new friend. But someone seems intent on preventing Alvie and Marion's success - regardless of what it takes.

Despite being the fourth book in the series, it really does not demand that you have read the previous books (although I have, and I loved them! Unfortunately I was not blogging at the time). Although a few of the characters from the previous books make "cameo" appearances, it has mostly a whole new cast. It would be easy for a new reader to read "The Plastic Magician", and then read the "The Paper Magician", "The Glass Magician" and "The Master Magician".

I am hoping that this is book 1 of a "spin-off trilogy".  I would love to see more of Alvie!

In reading the "about the author" notes at the end of this book, I noted that the the first three books have already been optioned by Disney! I would SO love to see the magic of these books on the big screen.

Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advance reader's copy.

Happy Reading,
Christine

The Fabulous Flight - Robert Lawson

The Fabulous Flight - by Robert Lawson
Dover Publications
Originally Published in 1949, re-publish April 2018
Illustrated by the author

This digital copy provided by Dover publications via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A deightful, fantastical, classic tale for children.

Peter Peter Peeabody Pepperell III was a normal boy.  Then one day he stopped growing up, and started growing down. As he became smaller and smaller, his parents remove him from school for his safety, because he is just too small.  But as small as he is, he is not too small to team up with friendly seagull Gus, and depart on the most adventurous flight!

The illustrations are whimsical and wonderfully detailed.

This book would make for wonderful bedtime reading to a child who, although perhaps old enough to read to themselves, still alows someone to read to them.  I say this because having been written so long ago, some aspects of the story may need some minor interpretation. For example, I doubt many young children today would know what a "phonograph" is. This by no means detracts from the story though!  I for one, enjoy bedtime story bonding with my son, and will probably be reading him this story some time in the not so very distant future.

Happy Reading,
Teenie K 

Review - Queen of the Dark Things - by C. Robert Cargill

Queen of the Dark Tihings - By C. Robert Cargill
Audiobook - HarperAudio 2014
Narrated by Vikas Adam

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book 2 of the thrilling fanasy that started with Dreams and Shadows.

Colby is back. He has been enjoying the quiet life in Austin since banishing all of the fairies and other denziens of the limestone kingdom from the city  But once again he must fight to do what is right. Fight demons, and shadows, and other dark things.  At stake is not only himself - body and spirit, but the eternal souls of some of his dearest friends. 

I love these books, and hope that the author will grace us with another! Complex characters, in a gripping storyline, set in modern day America.  Keeping my fingers crossed for a book 3! 

I originally started with the Kindle e-book edition of the earlier book, and addied voice narration thinking i could flip back and forth from reading to narration. After starting the book in the car one day, I became captivated by Mr. Adam's voice and ended up listening to the whole thing, and now this book as well..  I can't say enough goodthings about the talent of Vikas Adam as a narrator. Excellent voice acting!

Happy Reading,
Teenie K

Review - What Blooms from Dust - by James Markert

What Blooms from Dust – by James Markert

Thomas Nelson Fiction – Available June 2018

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What Blooms from Dust is a hauntingly beautiful tale of forgiveness, hope, and healing, amidst life’s darkest times. Sprinkled with subtle symbolism and delicate nuances, it is a well-crafted story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading.

Jeremiah Goodbye – known as the Coin Flip Killer, was in the electric chair about to pay for four murders, when a tornado rips through the prison and sets him free.  But the jolt he received in the chair before that tornado came changed something deep within him.  

With his new found freedom, he starts walking, flipping a coin to make decisions on the way.  A flip of the coin sends him on his way to Nowhere Oklahoma - his hometown, to confront his brother who turned him in to the law. Along the way his adopts an unusual young boy.  Arriving in his home town, he finds the land and the people ravaged by the “dusters” - what the locals called the sometimes deadly dust storms.   Can he and the unusual boy he adopted along the way save the town?

Historical fiction is not one of my usual reading genres, but something about this book’s description called to me to read it.  I am so glad I did! Markert writes scenes and descriptions that create emotions.  I felt hopelessness and despair as the dusters blew through town again and again, and I felt a sense of hopefulness as the town found reason to hope.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

     I hope you read something to make you smile today,

         Teenie K

Review: The Breakdown - By B.A. Paris

The Breakdown - By B. A. Paris
Audiobook
MacMillan Audio - 2017
Narrated by Georgia Maguire

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another thrilling book by B.A. Paris.

Cass is heading home in a storm one night. She takes the shortcut that she promised her husband she wouldn't, and sees a car parked along the way.  The next day, the news reports that a woman was found brutally murdered in her car on that stretch of road.  Cass is already consumed with guilt for not exiting her car to check on the woman parked, when she finds out that she knew the victim. Wracked by guilt, and worried as her memory seems to fail her at every turn, she struggles to hold it all together, when she starts getting "silent calls".  Is the murderer sending her a warning? Does she know more than she thought she did?  Will her loss of memory cause her husband to leave her alone and isolated, or will she the next murder victim?

Georgia Maguire once again provides voice to Paris' work. Excellent performance!

I am looking forward to the next B.A. Paris book coming soon!

Review: Whistle in the Dark - By Emma Healey

Whistle in the Dark - By Emma Healey
Penguin Random House
Expected for release July 2018

This advance reading digital copy provided by the publisher via Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A touching and raw story of a mother trying to connect with her teenage daughter battling depression.

Lana is a teenager struggling with depression and self harming tendencies.  When on a family art retreat vacation, she goes missing for four days.  Lana is unable or unwilling to disclose what happened during that time.  Jen, her mother, who booked the vacation in hopes of bonding with her depressed and distant daughter, is desperate to understand what happened.  But if communication with her daughter was difficult before, it seems near impossible now. The harder she tries to connect with Lana, the further away Lana seems to get.

I loved the raw reality of Jen's attempts to connect with Lana. As parents, we want to connect with our children, and to know them as individuals. Who among us (who are parents) have not felt like they were floundering at times?  How much harder is it when the young person is struggling with mental health issues?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance reading copy for review. 

Review: Flat Broke With Two Goat's A Memoir - By Jennifer McGaha

Flat Broke With Two Goat's, A Memoir
By Jennifer McGaha
Audiobook - Tantor Audio 2018
Performed by Pam Ward
An Overdrive "Big Library Read" selection

My Rating (Out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A well written memoir about losing it all, and in the process connecting to what is really important.

Jennifer McGaha and her husband used to live in middle-class suburb. She went on vacations, her children attended private schools, there were two cars in the driveway. When the recession hit, she knew things were a little tight, but left financial details to her husband (an accountant) to sort out. Ultimately Jennifer learns that not only are they struggling to meet their monthly obligations, they have not paid their taxes in four years. Out of money, and out of options, their house being foreclosed on, and deeply in debt to the IRS, they find themselves living in a century old cabin in the woods.

I found the writing itself to be very good - As she was an adjunct writing professor I would not expect less - but it seemed to me that during this entire story, she really does grow and change as a person. No longer the short sighted, breezy suburban housewife who was happy to leave the managing of money to her husband; she became strong, able to seek out answers for problems,  a responsible homesteader.  During this process, she discovers deep, forgotten connections to her husband, her animals, the land, and her family. To me it was a story of perseverance, and self discovery. About surviving what so many of us fear in the economic climate we live in.

The narrator, Pam Ward, had a warm voice well suited to this piece. You really felt like you could sit and sip iced tea while she told you this story.

As an Overdrive Big Library Read, there was an online discussion forum. It seemed to me that most people either loved or hated this book. I personally fell on the side of loving it.

Happy Reading!
Teenie

Review: Behind Closed Doors - By B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors - By B.A. Paris
Audiobook
Macmillan Audio 2016
Narrated by Georgia Maguire

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A solid debut in the psychological thriller genre.

For all outward appearances, Jack and Grace have the perfect fairy tale marriage. But things are not always as they seem, and what goes on behind closed doors can be a different thing all together.

In this book you are drawn in, not so much to the destination, but to the journey.  As you start reading you are fairly comfortable in your knowledge of what the eventual outcome will be, but the author seduces us with the details along the way. She grabs your attention and leads you along holding your emotions hostage to the very end - never letting you turn away.

The audio narration was very well performed. There has been talk of a movie based on this book, but I am unable to find mention of a release date at this time.

I am looking forward to reading and/or listening to other titles by this author. As of this writing she has two more books; "The Breakdown" and  "Bring Me Back"

Happy Reading!