For the Love of Reading......What's On Your Bookshelf..#WOYBS

Welcome to my What's On Your BookShelf post. The #WOYB link party is hosted by Deb, Jo and Sue....all gals I follow on a few other link parties. I love their blogs. Go check them out. #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge

It's another month and I'm doing pretty good with my reading, though I'm a bit worried about my good read challenge which is 64 books this year...I have 18 more books to go, which is 6 a month...that seems like a lot. Though audiobooks really help. I definitely need to focus. I'm also late posting...sheesh. 

My rating system:

⭐ DNF (which there's a reason), story lacking any depth, grammatical or spelling errors (too many), just did not enjoy it and enough to it that I wouldn't recommend. Don't bother reading

⭐⭐ Story line is a bit all over the place, struggle to read it but maybe it had some redeeming parts. Characters  or story line weren't believable or too unrealistic. I wouldn't want to read it again. Too many storylines going on at the same time. Read it or don't read it.

⭐⭐⭐ Solid story line and characters. I liked it but didn't necessarily LOVE it, but I didn't HATE it either. I may have felt that it dragged on, or had parts that weren't necessary to the story. Maybe was a little hard to follow. Probably wouldn't recommend but it wasn't a total disaster.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A really great read that I enjoyed picking up each time. I enjoyed it from front to back. The characters and storyline were really good.  As someone said "a truly good book, but missing the cherry on top".  Go ahead and read it

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book knocked it out of the park and I couldn't put it down. OR it was a book that really opened my eyes to something or taught me something about someones life. One I have bookmarked and even taken notes. It left me wanting to read more by the author or more in the series. Definitely go read. 

August Reads: 

Take Back Your Time by Christy Wright ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this one. I listened to it on audiobook and it had a lot of great thoughts. A few reviews were negative, but they stemmed around her being a "white, christian woman and therefore privileged". I think anytime we read a book that revolves around becoming a better version of ourselves, taking control of our lives, it can be easy to compare ourselves or our lives to the authors. The book focuses on feeling like you are using your time in a way that serves you best..we aren't meant to live life so busy that we burn out, stress out and just aren't happy. One of her thoughts on balance is "doing the right things at the right time, not equal division of time for each activity"..some things might be right, but not the right time, etc. Lots of good nuggets throughout it. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a book club read and I wasn't sure I'd like it, but WOW! Clover is a death doula (yes, there is such a thing). A death doula is one who provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support to people who are dying and their loved ones. Clover has faced a lot of loss. Her parents when she was very young and from that point on raised by her grandfather. After he passes away alone while she was traveling, she dedicates her life to making sure people don't die alone. She has no life of her own and is afraid of getting close to anyone. Throughout the book she is stretched and pushed out of her comfort zones and isolation by a new neighbor and a new client. I felt like it was beautifully written and while it's a novel, I collected several quotes from it. One of my favorite quotes was "the secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life". 

Animal Farm by George Orwell ⭐⭐⭐

This was one that I decided to listen to because I remember reading it in Jr. High and just wanted to revisit it. I had heard it referenced a few times over the last handful of years. For those not familiar it was originally written in 1945 by George Orwell and was meant to represent the Russian Revolution. As I was searching for ways to best describe it, there are so many thoughts on the meaning behind it. The setting is a farm in which the animals stage a coup and run the farmer off and take over, however, it backfires when the pig who originally got the animals on board, basically turns against them creating a life that isn't much different than what they were living..it's a desire for power, and while equality was first promised, it is quickly evident that isn't the intention. It was interesting to read it again. It was quick, and there were a few times I went "hmmm interesting". 

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a historical fiction and on my 12/12 list. I listened to this one as well. Set in WWII it is a dual timeline and VERY captivating. Set in 1942 and centers around Alina Dziak and her family and the love of her life. It weaves a tale of how the nazi invasion affected those in her village and altered the course of her life. In the current timeline a woman lying in a hospital desperately commissions her granddaughter to travel abroad and solve a great mystery that is heartbreaking and beautiful. The struggle of family life, secrets and so much more are woven throughout the book. I felt like it was beautifully written and I highly recommend listening to it. 

Currently Reading:

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I'm listening to this one and WOW! This was made into a movie (I'm debating watching it). Based on the story of the Walls family; mother, father and 3 children.  The story chronicles their life of severe dysfunction. With both parents, while smart but extremely self absorbed failing to care and provide for their children adequately the Walls siblings are forced to take care of themselves, use creativity and whatever means they can to survive. I'm about 85% of the way done.

Over My Dead Blog (Book Blogger Mysteries #1) by Sarah E. Burr

This is a cozy mystery that I just had to read because well, I have a blog. Plus I've joined a few mystery facebook pages with various authors and this gal is one of them. I just started it so I'm not too far in..Winnie is our protagonist and book review blogger. She has a movie star brother who visits her in her small town in Massachusetts, and when a local reporter is found murdered, he becomes the prime suspect. Of course she has to take on investigating to clear her brothers name.  

Exes Don't: A Second Chance Romantic Comedy (Fall in Love Series) by Leah Dobrinska

I received this one as an ARC. It is the third in the Fall In Love series. It follows Rose Kasper as she works as an undercover security specialist. Her latest assignment? Anton Bates who she protected years ago and then had to dump him after they fell in love...it's a book about second chances. Anton is not only a pro football player but a prince. It's cute, humorous, and an all around feel good read. I'm enjoying it. It can be pre-ordered right now and has a release date of Oct. 8th. 

Someone Elses Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews

This is our current book club read, and I've just started it...it's going a bit slow. Jodie Boyds sister was an outgoing and highly successful influencer who faces an untimely death. Jodie is the opposite, introverted, shy and anxious. But her sisters dying wish is that Jodie finish her bucket list. I'm just starting this and so far it's okay, but I'm having a hard time following how it's written...I think it's written in the third person, though at times it seems otherwise..It made me wonder if there was another sister, and was one of them a half or step sister because a few times it was referred to as Brees mom, and other times as mom...speaking of the same woman. I'm only about 5% in haha, so I suppose it'll work itself out, but it really isn't that easy to follow. it's also about 434 pages..yikes. I really need to get on the ball with this one. 

Continuing Reads: 

One of these months I'll have new books to share...haha. until then, it's the same books as last month, except for one, which I finished at the beginning of this month but won't share til next month. Like I said last month, it is just slow going. 

My Father's List: How Living My Dad's Dreams Set Me Free by Laura Carney

I can't remember where I saw this book recommended. I'm over halfway done with it. I've had to renew it a few times because it's taking me longer. 
After finding a list of "Things I want to do in my lifetime", years after her father dies tragically, the author sets out to complete them. It's been an interesting read. 

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

It is rumored to possibly be true, but it's not confirmed as it happened a long time ago. It takes place in 1900, in Melbourne Australia at an all girls school. After setting off on a picnic, 3 girls and a schoolmistress go missing after walking into the heavy bushes. It has been a bit of a slow start for me but I'm hoping it picks up. My aunt really liked it. 

Take My Hands: Mary Vashere by Dorothy Clarke Wilson

I don't know that I ever shared about this one...This is taking me FOREVER, but it's one of the 12/12 books for the year so I'm pushing through it. I had the hardest time even finding it because it was published in 1967. I finally got it used online. It. follows the life of a young Indian woman who overcame a devastating handicap to become a well known surgeon. She was born in 1925 and lived until 1986. 

The Book of Joy by Dallai Lama XIV

This one is really good, but also really long so it's taking time, and there are so many good thoughts, that I find myself reading it slower than normal and thinking about what is being said. I mean, here are two prominent men who have been tested in their lives and yet speak a beautiful message of joy and care for others. It's serious and it's funny all at the same time. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin