Only a few more days until the "ber" months begin! I am so excited. I have fall scented hand soaps and candles at the ready, and the corn stalks in my garden are browning nicely. They're in a little better shape this year than last year, but they still weren't big corn producers. Oh well! We got a few ears. Maybe next year will be better. Until then, I'll just enjoy the fact that I grew some fall decor! (Not much luck with pumpkins this year, though).
This year, I'll be doing another September Writing Challenge. I have my list of writing prompts ready to go, so that'll be posted sometime in the next few days.
With this being the last week(ish) of August, here's a look at what I've read this month:
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
96 Miles by J.L. Esplin
Source: Audiobook
Summary: Two brothers must travel 96 miles through the Nevada desert to get help after a long-term power outage.
Content: I would let my kids and my grandma read this (other than it might give my kids anxiety about emergencies).
Review: ****
Final statement: Nicky found this book and said he was going to read it before the end of summer. Guess who didn't read it? (Eyeroll). But I listened to it in anticipation of sharing a book experience with my son. I enjoyed it, and it reminded me a little of Hatchet - mostly because it's a survival story. It also made me remember to be prepared for disasters (time to check our water and food storage etc). I also have to laugh because this book is very clearly written by a member of my Church. You just know. You know? I googled stuff to find out for sure, and the only evidence I could find that she is a member of the Church is that she was nominated for a Whitney Award.
The Law of Love by Steve Young
(Christian, non-fiction)
Source: Audiobook
Summary: Former SF 49ers quarterback, Steve Young, teaches us about loving without transaction.
Content: Squeaky clean.
Review: ****
Final statement: Steve Young is great! So how is it that his book has the worst cover ever?
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb
(paranormal, gothic, clean reads)
Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
(young adult)
Source: Audiobook
Summary: Shortly after graduation, Amelia's best friend dies, and Amelia is left to face her future alone. Amelia finds healing when she meets the author of her favorite book series.
Content: One "hell" and a short instance of 18 year olds drinking wine. Mild innuendo with one use of the term "wet dream" and a sentence about boobs.
Review: ****
Final statement: I don't have too much to say about this one other than I liked it.
Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
(psychological thriller, murder mystery)
Source: Audiobook
Summary: Hen and her husband are invited to dinner by their new neighbors, and afterward, Hen suspects her neighbor is a murderer. Creepy stuff unfolds.
Content: Kind of disturbing and pervy in the way that most thrillers are. Language.
Review: ****
Final statement: This is the kind of book that I sometimes feel embarrassed to enjoy. But fine. I liked it.
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
(historical fiction, India)
Source: Audiobook
Summary: Lakshmi is a henna artist in 1950’s India, shortly after India has become an independent country. Lakshmi discovers she has a teenage sister she did not previously know about. Both women try to navigate their own independence.
Content: abortion, discussion of the pleasure district and prostitution, one sex scene
Review: ****
Final statement: My interest in this book was touch and go. I went back and forth between being bored (talk of tinctures and oils) and intrigued (moral predicaments, oh my!) Overall, it was good, but some parts lulled a bit for me.
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
(young adult, mental health)
Source: e-book
Summary: Caden is a teenager with schizophrenia. This non-linear storyline alternates between his real world where he is struggling with feelings of paranoia and ends up hospitalized and his world of mental illness where he is on a ship headed for Challenger Deep.
Content: suicidality
Review: ***
Final statement: I thought this books was brilliant, but I didn't enjoy reading it. The "ship" chapters were a struggle for me. The backstory of his novel is very interesting, and I respect what Shusterman has done. His close friend had schizophrenia and died by suicide. His son also has schizophrenia, and Shusterman incorporated his son's artwork in the book. If I hadn't known the backstory, I probably wouldn't have finished this book, but I really wanted to experience the whole book. I'm glad I read it, but I had to fight through it a bit.
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Books I read in August but didn't review here:
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