Bout of Books 33 Sign Up

I haven't participated in Bout of Books for a couple years now, but I'm excited to join this time.

Bout of Books Blurb:

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 3rd and runs through Sunday, January 9th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 33 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I love this event because it is low pressure. You just read when you can.

I also love connecting with other bookish people.

Top Ten Tuesday

        

Created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and moved to The Artsy Reader Girl in Jan 2018

Best Books I Read in 2021

I read some fun things this year. These aren't in any particular order, but I will say that Anxious People was my favorite of the year.

The covers are linked to my thoughts on that book (if there is a post).

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas friends!

I hope Santa brings each of you a big stack of books!

I love this magical time of year, and I am so grateful that we get to celebrate our Savior's birth. I am grateful for Christ's perfect example, for everything he taught and continues to teach me, for his comfort and love, and I am so grateful for his atoning sacrifice. He led the way so that I can live forever in happiness and with my family.

For my non-Christian friends, I hope you enjoy your holiday, and I hope you have a wonderful day. For my friends who don't celebrate, I hope you have a beautiful day as well. 

I love you all! 

You are beautiful! 

You are needed!

Happy reading!

Starry Night

Title:  Starry Night

Author:  Debbie Macomber

Publisher:  Ballantine Books

Date Published:  October 8, 2013

Genre:  Christmas, Romance, Contemporary

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    This was my very first Debbie Macomber book. I don't know why I chose this one out of all of her Christmas books, but it has been on my TBR for a while.

-    Carrie is tired of writing for the society column in her local magazine? newspaper? whatever. She makes a deal with her boss that if she can score an interview with the very famous and very elusive author, Finn Dalton, she can have her pick of assignments. Carrie is determined to succeed where other reporters have failed. After some convenient things happen, she gets stuck with Finn in his secluded cabin for a couple days. Obviously the two fall for each other, and Carrie has to decide whether she is going to publish her article or not. 

-    I am not the biggest romance fan. I found the script to be very convenient and predictable. There were some cute and funny moments though. I did enjoy the time they were snowed in and were forced to talk to each other, but I got a little bored with everything that came after. 

-    My favorite part about the book was the setting in Alaska. The frigid yet beautiful landscape was delightful. I want to visit Alaska some day and see the northern lights. 

-    Overall, I did enjoy the book while I was reading it. . .mostly. It was a light and fluffy story that suited the Christmas time spirit. If you are a Hallmark movie junky, you will probably love this book.

-    Out of curiosity, how many Debbie Macomber books have you read? Are her books a Christmas time tradition for you?

Top Ten Tuesday

       

Created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and moved to The Artsy Reader Girl in Jan 2018

Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes

How do I limit this to 10!?

Abby in Wonderland

Title:  Abby in Wonderland

Author:  Sarah Mlynowski

Series:  Whatever After #10.5

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Date Published:  September 17, 2017

Genre:  Middle Grade, Fairy Tale Retelling

Rating:  ★★★★☆

My Thoughts: 

-    Abby usually visits fairy tales through the magic mirror in her basement, but this time she falls into a giant hole on a golf course, and instead of her brother and dog accompanying her, her two best friends and sort of enemy falls into the hole with her. Abby and her friends have to wander through Wonderland and figure out how to get back home. Abby also has to deal with Penny, who isn't her most favorite person. 

-    I like that Abby and Penny learn that they have more in common than they think. I also really like that Abby learns why Penny acts the way she does. It is a good lesson to learn. Often times, the mean kids at school are struggling in some way, and they are just acting out because they don't know how else to behave. 

-    I loved all the Wonderland characters. I am a sucker for Wonderland stories. It's whimsical setting and characters are delightful. 

-    Gnome and I enjoyed reading this together. We laughed and had a lot of fun. 

Previous Whatever After Books

(covers are linked to my thoughts on each book)

  
  
  

Top Ten Tuesday

      

Created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and moved to The Artsy Reader Girl in Jan 2018

Books on My Winter 2021 To-Read List

I love sharing my to-read lists. It is an easy and fun TTT.

Are you planning on reading any of these or have you read them?

Happy reading everyone!

Mr. Dickens and His Carol

Title:  Mr. Dickens and His Carol

Author:  Samantha Silva

Publisher:  Flatiron Books

Date Published:  October 31, 2017

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Christmas

Rating:  ★★★★☆

My Thoughts: 

-    After writing highly successful novels like Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, the famous Charles Dickens has fallen on hard times. His current writings, Chuzzlewit, aren't doing so well, and his finances are taking a hit. Dickens publisher is demanding that he write a Christmas book, but he only has six short weeks to complete it. Dickens is very reluctant to write the book, and to top it all off, he is being a grinch about all the Christmas celebrations his family expects. Inspiration for his little Christmas book is everywhere, and while Dickens is finding his Christmas spirit, his book starts reflecting his journey. 

-    I really enjoyed this book. The Christmas Carol is a classic and one of my favorite Christmas time reads. I loved how Dickens ran across little bits and pieces of people and events that became part of his book.

-    Most of the book is fictional, but I did learn a lot about the back story of The Christmas Carol. The author's note at the end was especially helpful.

-    The middle is a little slow, but it begins well and ends well. 

-    If, like me, you are sucker for all things Christmas Carol around this time of year, then I highly recommend this book. It was humorous, hopeful, and full of Christmas spirit. 

Trigger Warning:  Grief

Starfish

Title:  Starfish

Author:  Lisa Fipps

Publisher:  Penguin Young Readers

Date Published:  March 9, 2021

Genre:  Contemporary, Middle Grade, Books In Verse

Rating:  ★★★★★

My Thoughts: 

-    Starfish is getting a lot of buzz this year, and it deserves all the praise. It is such an important message about bullying and body image. I think everyone should read this, and it should be in all the schools. 

-    Ellie is bigger than most of the kids in her school, so she is teased and bullied relentlessly. What is even worse, is her mother is also fat shaming her relentlessly. Ellie doesn't care about her weight, she just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is. She has let her weight define her, but she is so much more.

-    I loved Ellie's journey. She was able to overcome her outside influences and negative inner voice. It was such a beautiful journey to self-love.

-    I love books in verse. I know they aren't for everyone, but I think books in verse are so poignant and beautiful. 

-    I think this book could teach a lot of people to be kinder to others and ourselves. 

November Recap

Books Read:  8

Pages Read:  2,541

1 Star:  1

2 Stars:  0

3 Stars:  1

4 Stars:  4

5 Stars:  2

I had another good reading month. I read the same about of books as the previous month, but my page number is higher for November, so that is cool. I didn't read as much as I would have liked. I'm sure all of you can relate. Cheers to a new month! Happy reading!

Goal Progress:

Goodreads Challenge - I am 6 books behind schedule. Yikes! I hope I can make it to my goal. I only have one more month. Christmas books are quick reads right? If not, I have a backup plan on how to catch up. (103/120)

Newbery Winners - I did not finish one in November, but I started one. The goal is progressing a little slower now because Gnome wants to read the Newbery books with me, so we are trying to fit them in with the other series we are reading. (30/99)

If you'd like to see my thoughts on the books I read in November, the covers are linked, except for the last two. I haven't posted my thoughts for those yet.