I enjoyed One Day in December, and The Flatshare was my favorite rom-com read of 2019 so this one seemed liked a mix of the two. It‘s okay but I just didn‘t think there was enough story there.

I journeyed through this book in audio format. I haven‘t listened to this many continuous hours of 9/11 coverage since following live in 2001. This is an incredibly important history book as it preserves the emotions on the day of so many people forever impacted by this tragedy. Its not an easy read but what brought me to tears time and again was not the horrors that must be remembered but the inherent goodness of those on the ground.

I suppose I should give this book a pick based on the storyline of a famous writer making peace with a past where he was essentially abandoned by his mother. But nooo~~ I‘m giving it a pick because as the MC drove from Coeur D‘Alene to Salt Lake City to confront that past, he stopped in my hometown for lunch! I sure hope he had a John‘s Porkchop!

Perhaps it is my age, that I love to walk, that I love big cities. Or that one of my favorite people is an octogenarian who speaks with such eloquence that I stop and listen to anything she has to say.
...I loved this book!

#DearDecember @Eggs I‘m a day late for #AgingCharacters but this current read also matches today‘s #BlackGoldCovers

I read Friday Night knitting club years ago as a break from technology books and certification tests. Back then I loved the book and enjoyed the sequel. I came upon this book last winter and saved it for this month. Funny how the characters came back to me as each was reintroduced. The actual story though, meh.

This is not my grid of highest rating, but I‘m having fun reading the rather tall stack of holiday inspired books I‘ve thrifted this year. It‘s also apparent I should introduce more nonfiction into my reading! Tagged the 5 star I will physically own when next I visit my local indie. (Lowish rating on Station Eleven is on me for reading it at the wrong time.)

This book deserved better from me. I was determined to read it in 2019 and time was getting short so I went in. When my head is in the right place a dystopian story can rank among my favorite reads. I liked the concept of the Georgian Flu, the location, and the writing but didn‘t connect with the characters. I hope to revisit later.

FourJasmine Guillory books ago, my original was a 3-star, meh read. I just didn‘t think the writing was all that good. I still don‘t, but now I‘m all in and I‘m completely caught up in her characters. This was my favorite of the four. In ‘The Bachelor‘ fashion, I find myself paying attention to her supporting characters in hopes of calling the MC for her next book.

A while back I made a forgotten library purchase request for the tagged audiobook. It seems I was awaiting the American release as it showed up in my loans yesterday and 16,887 steps later I finished the book without giving thought to my distance! It‘s so good and pulled at all my emotions - funny, sad, frustrating, informative, and ‘oh-no-they-didn‘t!‘ all in one book. Also recommend as a nonfiction for #ReadingEurope2020.

1. As a kid, I loved the Little Drummer Boy. I can never pick anew because that memory is so sweet. BTW, My life long least favorite is Oh Christmas Tree - just torture for 8 yr old choir practice!
2. I walked by these ?Reindeer pigs? today. I want to know these people!
3. Well, my new hit seems to be Chrissy Tiegen‘s smashed potatoes.
4. Not anymore, and my ever-lovin-livin‘ husband (rip) even worked for Hallmark!
#WondrousWednesday

Those who rose together to begin the culture change that is #MeToo have fought the good fight - I‘m so proud of them. They could not have done it with united fists alone. It took the investigative journalistic intestinal fortitude of Jodi Kantor, her peers, and her investigative competitors (thank you Rowan) to provide the gloves for the knockout. Everyone should read this book.

Fannie Flagg writing a Christmas story is akin to dipping a sugar cookie into hot chocolate with marshmallows all while wrapped in your favorite old blanket and wearing a brand new pair of fuzzy socks. It‘s rather irresistible.

I have a collection of Richard Paul Evans books to read this month so I‘m down for some short stories of love through trial. This one worked for me mostly. But darn, the little life of Andrea read more tragic than the story necessitated. Still a pick because he tells his stories beautifully.

My favorite post of the month is showing you my Nov wrap-up through my indexed card bullet journaled format. I‘ll finish up Timepiece today and that will mean the month was 50% fiction to nonfiction. ...Tagging The Downstairs Girl because those letters were so fun to create - even after erroneously writing girls in plural and deciding oh well.

#NovemberWrapUp #NovemberStats #NamasteNovember. #bujo

This book was barely hanging onto to a so-so status from me because the reimagined ill-gotten gains of Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge were just too egregious. But it‘s very well-written and I started liking the book at the 2/3 mark. So why a pick? Well, in retrospect I clearly understand the homage to A Christmas Carol - when we know better we do better.

It was time for me to get myself in the holiday spirit with this gem Since it‘s been awhile since I‘ve read it. Sometimes it‘s fun to remember each paragraph right before you hit the last sentence.
Happy Thanksgivings to American Littens! Safe travels to those traveling over the river and through the woods to break bread with loved ones. And we raise a turkey leg of thanks to all the International Littens in this wonderful virtual family!

I grew up in the era of soap operas so Demi Moore has been on my radar ever since General Hospital hoped she‘d be the actress to soothe our Genie Francis broken hearts. This story is powerful and it‘s obvious Demi has considered her life and accepts responsibility for her decisions . I felt she was remarkably respectful of the people in her orbit. #NFNov

Me before you
Before I go to sleep
Before and again
Before she knew him
Before we were yours
The summer before the war
Before the fall -
I was Anastasia.

#NamasteNovember Day26 #SpinePoem3

I‘m so happy with this 3x3 grid! I am 2:1 for #NFNov and even my fiction was historical in genre! I believe this is also my highest rated grid where every book garnered a B+ (4.25) or above. Tagged this gorgeous 5 star!

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Oh sure, you might wonder - Didn‘t she recently post a similar #NFNov pic after reading, I Remember Nothing? No wonder she followed up with this book.

Well, there is that. But also, I was looking in the mirror this week while getting all dolled up for a dinner. I gotta tell ya, I feel bad about my neck :(

My sister and I have been casting Daisy Jones since we read the book last March. We didn‘t consider the granddaughter of Elvis Presley for the part. But yeah!

I walked by this book and B&N the other day and it had to be my next #NFNov read. Great history read, and yes I‘m biased. I recently spent 5 years living on the SA Riverwalk, working at Fort Sam Houston, and running/walking by the Alamo nearly everyday. I have many appropriately beautiful pics of the Alamo, but this... my son always dresses in celebration of occasions so he really wanted to take PeeWee to the basement of the Alamo.

Every child deserves to know they belong in the home in which they reside and it is their right to feel, and indeed be, safe in that home. My first thought upon finishing this #NFNov story was gratitude that Alan Cumming was able to rise above the muck that was his father. I was then overcome with sadness realizing that it is every single day he must continue to rise above that failure to love.

This #NFNov book would have fit October challenges, as well, because oh geez, it is frightening. From perspectives human, political and environmental - just scary.

So last night the branch of my pub library discussed THT. I was well prepared because since August I binged-watched all 3 seasons of the series, read the graphic novel, and then read the original just in time to read The Testaments along with the audiobook. My lib made this Claire Daines reading available to me. I had to go there. It‘s been years since I‘ve listened to an audiobook via CD and surround sound rather than phone. It was great!

I suspended my library hold until I could give this story my full attention. It is beautifully written and Ta-Nehisi Coates paints the emotional abuse of slavery into a masterpiece that I believe will be read for years to come.

Next up on the eeny-meeny-miney-moe of my physical #NFNov reads is this little beauty. I loved how this was written - alternating chapters between a father and his grown son reflecting on the same or similar events. I‘m a fan of both Bill and Willie Geist. As I read, I couldn‘t help but think of what a treasure (grandfather/father) this published book will be for Willie‘s children when grown.

I like this book quite a bit and why I didn‘t love it is really my problem. I‘m discovering this about myself inside fiction wrapped in fascinating history to which I know little... I‘m often less engaged in the love interests of the characters than I am in those characters negotiating the history to which I am reading. So my minor disappointment was more about me than the quality of the book.

Week6 #BFCr4
I loved this round - working toward a Fitbit-free day was a success, and I earned a free Saturday for 6 consecutive weeks by reaching my goal by Friday night, walking over 233 miles and finishing 29 books.

Fitness weekly Goal 35 miles: 40.03 miles/93,455 steps.
Book total goal of 27 books with the priority of 18:9 (2:1) library:personally owned. I finished at 29, 19:11.

Thank you @Wanderinglynn. Card is on the way!

I‘m randomly picking older #NFNov books from my shelves in between library drops, and I‘m so glad I eeny-meeny-miney-moed this title. I really enjoyed reading Nora‘s take on life and aging. I was even entertained by her thoughts on what is now dated technology - email. I sure wish she was still walking in this world with us.

I‘m grateful for authors who research history and teach us a truth using fiction because, well, sometimes I can‘t handle the full truth in all its messy we-did-this, we-do-this reality. Fiction is often the initial step for me to learn more. ...At times I wanted more character development of Elwood and Turner, but it may have been deliberate to leave us wanting more - and research for ourselves this horrible truth.

My final 3x3 grid completed for #BFCr4. 4.5 and above falls in my A range and it‘s a big success when I have a 5* in my grid. The tagged book is so important. I‘m so grateful for the persistence of Ronan Farrow.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Having read Bear Town a couple months ago, I wanted to anticipate this book for a while. Although I preferred the storyline in the first book, It was still nice to curl up with these much loved characters to read their lives continue. ...I wouldn‘t recommend this book to those who haven‘t read the first because the character development in the original is so important to the sequel.

Oh the thrill of thrifting a book, reading it, and loving it. The relationship of Eleanor and Park is beautiful- I hope Rainbow Rowell continues their journey. While reading, I never once gave thought to the story as YA, and that‘s my favorite kind of YA to read.

#NamasteNovember Day9 #SpinePoem2
Lean in, Love Warrior.
This is Where I Leave You.

@Eggs

And since it‘s #NFNov I finally read the tagged after 6 years on my TBR. The information remains meaningful - even though the author (and come to think of it, me too) has a life now she couldn‘t have anticipated then. Come to think of it, Glennon Doyle has had significant life changes since she authored her book, as well!

Week5 @wanderinglynn #BFCr4
Here,s a unique privacy fence I walk past. The flowers change with the seasons. I don‘t know why I‘m obsessed with the two missing gourds.

Fitness Goal 35 miles per week with incentive of Fitbit-Free Saturdays: 40.03 miles/93,455 steps.
Book goal is now 27 books with the priority of 18:9 (2:1) library:personally owned. I‘m at 17:8.

I couldn‘t resist participating in the #BigLibraryRead because it‘s just such a great idea. It definitely had a YA feel and can lead to important discussion. I‘d recommend it for fans of The Hate You Give. It‘s a quick read so character development isn‘t as thorough as THUG. However, it‘s meaningful to read two girls of different ethnicity move together through a traumatic event where each brings to it their own perspectives.

I‘m giving this a pick because it is thorough in capturing how part-time minimum wage work sans benefits is not a living wage - especially for a parent raising a child with little family support. (And as a Western Montana girl myself, I get the Missoula thing!) ...But there‘s a miss for me in a memoir when the author lacks any introspection and onus to their current life situation. #NFNov

I‘m hard on HF particularly when it‘s YA. I want an interesting, well-researched stetting, characters fitting seamlessly in the history and not encumbered with events too many to realistically endure. I want characters created with the mindset and mores of the day vice the book‘s publishing date. ...I took issue with a couple things here, but overall it‘s a pick.

This is a quick #NFNov pick to read in the week where darkens rises an hour earlier providing more time to hunker down with a cuddly blanket, warm socks, a hot drink, and candles. That‘s my newfound Hyyge approach to this time change thing ;)

#TIL It‘s said Hygge is to Denmark what Freedom is to America. Hey Denmark, I just read Catch and Kill and I‘m awaiting She Said and Blowout... Please hang tight to your Hygge!

I thought I knew this story but reading it hurts my soul. I am careful to ever apply the word shame. But the corrupt actions of the powerful and the depths we are willing to go to protect the men (it is men in this story) holding that power is shameful. #TIL In this world, right now, investigative journalists and whistle blowers are my heroes and my North Star.

#NFNov

I liked the historical setting in this story and I was content with how the journeys resolved for the three main characters, But my journey in this book couldn‘t find a way out of so-so status. I found the dialogue corney, and the cliff-hanging pivots from one POV to another made me want to skip pages to stay with the current storyline.

Second 3x3 grid completed for #BFCr4. 4.5 and above falls in my A range and the tagged 5* toppled my Top6Reads of 2019.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

#NamasteNovember Day3 #SpinePoem1

Once upon a more enchanted time when breath becomes air - under the banner of heaven, cage of stars, into thin air... I let you go, Teacher Man.

Gone with the wind.

Watch me disappear, Evvie Drake starts over.

I met my reading goal so I‘ll up it by another grid of 9 books. I barely met my fitness goal but it was an unseasonably cold, snow-touched Halloween so look at the candy I‘m left with. I fear I will dip-in and void my hard-earned Fitbit-free Saturday ;(

Fitness Goal 35 miles per week with incentive of Fitbit-Free Saturdays: 36.7 miles/85,682 steps.
Book goal is now 27 books with priority of 18:9 (2:1) library:personally owned. I‘m at 13:6

What a treat! I can only hope that when I‘m in my 80s I have the grace and humility to look back at the people and events of my adulting life with the wisdom exampled by Julie Andrews.

Here‘s my October wrap up. I forgot to include the first two cards in my September pic but I liked my font for Bear Town so I sneaked them in here. Currently I have my card collection sorted by my assigned stars but maybe I should brush up on the dewey decimal system from my work-study college years stacking books at the library!

#OctoberWrapup #Spooktober @Eggs
#Wrapup

#Spooktober Day29 #Graveyard
@Eggs

I‘ve had this set of books for nearly 25 years. You might be able to see that the pages are separating from the cover from its many reads. ... Years ago I saw Walter Wick at a children‘s book tour, and it was fascinating to see how the photos were taken.

I loved this story so much that my #Top6Reads for 2019 needs adjusting. Based on Litsy input I experienced the Tom Hanks narration. This sibling relationship is beautifully written, and I completely understand how a house, the good and the bad of it, is a living breathing member of a family. ...You know how judges on singing competitions describe a vocalist by their ability to sing a phone book? Well, Tom Hanks can narrate a phone book!

Oohhhh, if you could put hot chocolate, a warm cookie, fuzzy socks, and a cozy blanket in a book, this would be it. It‘s a wonderful cast of customers at Nightingale Books. ...I would recommend this for anyone who loved the setting for the Bookish Life of Nina Hill.