Quick Lit: Mini Reviews of Some Recent Reads - January Edition

I'm trying to read more books that I choose for my own reading enjoyment. Not for review, but because I've been wanting to read them or they caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don't really need a full review. But, I'd still like to give them some space here on the blog.

I'll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link up. Be sure to head over to see others link up their Quick Lit posts. 

I'm finally back into a reading groove and I've got SO MANY books that I can't wait to dig into. I've got some full reviews coming up soon and below, I'm sharing some mini-reviews from books I read in the last month. 

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR HOME WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND

Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets

By: Dana K. White

Published: November 8, 2016

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: eBook

I've been a fan of Dana's blog and podcast for a while. Her blog A SLOB COMES CLEAN is funny yet she tells it like it is. She doesn't have the perfect house or the perfect life. Nor does she make everything look like the perfect Pinterest or Instagram picture. She is just like you and me, trying to stay ahead of the mess and maybe, be able to have people over without hiding all the mess in a closet at the last minute. 

Her book talks you through the basic steps of handling the daily care and upkeep of your home, starting with doing the dishes...every day. Waking up with no dishes on the counter or a dishwasher of clean dishes makes a huge difference. Her book is hilarious yet spot on. "Methods don't clean your house. You have to clean your house." She also tackles the clutter and helps you get rid of all the stuff that makes cleaning your home harder. The end of the book offers a 28 Day step-by-step process for tackling your mess. 

It's practical, it's funny, and it's straightforward. A good read and motivator for getting stuff done.  

HELLO MORNINGS

How to Build a Grace-Filled Life, Life-Giving Morning Routine

By: Kat Lee

Published: December 5, 2017

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: Audiobook

I remember several years ago, finding Kat Lee's blog and following her simple action plan for handling a morning routine. My life was much different then. I was a stay-at-home mom and had young children. Then I saw this book recommended by Sheila at The Deliberate Reader and it piqued my interest. I didn't realize the author was the same person until I went to her website. 

Lee approaches her morning with a three-minute process of God - Plan - Move. Obviously, this approach will eventually take more than 3 minutes, but it starts with building a habit of these three things, every morning. 

Lee reads her own audiobook and I found her voice calming and reassuring during my morning listens. I wish I had a physical copy of the book but her website has several printables and tips that are from the book. I haven't necessarily put her whole plan into place, but I have started every morning with a glass of water since I listened to her book. It's a good read if you are looking to create a new structure or routine for your morning. 

THE DEAL OF A LIFETIME

By: Fredrik Backman

Published: October 31, 2017

Publisher: Atria Books

Format: Hardcover

A quick read (under an hour) to remind you that every life is a gift. Backman wrote this in one evening while reflecting on his own life and family. Since it is set on Christmas Eve, it felt like a great choice to read during the Christmas season. 

It's a novella and is read quite quickly, but it packs a powerful punch to the gut. A young girl is suffering on a hospital floor from cancer. A man has survived a car crash. Can one life be exchanged for another? The woman in the grey sweater with the file folder says no....or can it? Is one life more valuable than another? Can you redeem your life choices by saving another? 

It was a thought-provoking read, but I wouldn't recommend purchasing the hardcover version unless you are adding it to your Backman collection. It wasn't worth the $12 or maybe not the $4.99 Kindle either. I think it is more a $1.99 Kindle Deal. 

GATHER 'ROUND THE SOUND

By: Paulo Coelho

Published: December 8, 2017

Publisher: Audible Studios

Format: Audiobook

This was a free download from Audible. I like choosing books to read around the Christmas season that involve a Christmas story. Unfortunately, the only enjoyable story from this collection was Zip Code 12345. It was the type of story I was hoping to hear during the Christmas season. This story involved a group of employees at GE that give of themselves to make sure they bring the spirit of Christmas to children all over the world. The rest of the stories, I lost interest pretty quickly. 

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Quick Lit: Mini Reviews of Some Recent Reads - October Edition

I'm trying to read more books that I choose for my own reading enjoyment. Not for review, but because I've been wanting to read them or they caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don't really need a full review. But, I'd still like to give them some space here on the blog.

I'll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link up. Be sure to head over to see others link up their Quick Lit posts. 

I'm finishing up my third week of subbing and it has been quite an adjustment to be working every day for someone who hasn't done that in a very long time. I am awed by all the women who work full-time, make it to every single one of their kids' events and still find time to shower and sweep their floor. Most of my free-read time has been spent grading papers and doing other things that I need to catch up with at home. But, I did read some books and short stories for my classes and listened to an audiobook. I'm feeling accomplished!

A MAN CALLED OVE

By: Fredrik Backman

Published: July 15, 2014

Publisher: Atria Books

Format: Audiobook

After reading BEARTOWN this summer, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. It had been on my list for quite awhile. The audio version came up on my Bridges library account and I flew through it. Since I'm not driving around as much, I listened to it while I got ready for school every morning. It's only nine hours long and once I started I found ways to listen to while washing dishes and cleaning the house. Then when I was done, I missed Ove, Parvaneh, Rune and wanted to keep hearing about Ove's day. 

Ove is a crotchety man who still has a lot of life to live. But sadly, he doesn't feel like he can go on any longer after his wife's death. So, he starts each day, planning to kill himself, and each day, something gets in the way of that. His new neighbors with a baby on the way and his long-time neighbors keep needing him to help them and slowly, Ove is brought out of his shell. 

A MAN CALLED OVE is another favorite book for me this year and I would highly recommend reading or listening to it. 

ANTIGONE

By: Sophocles

Format: Textbook

I read this along with the sophomore honors class at school. When Antigone decides to go against Creon's law and properly bury her brother Polyneices, she starts a firestorm among the people of Thebes, the gods, and Creon. Creon is unable to see past his stubborn pride and what follows is what makes the story of Antigone a true tragedy. 

We had numerous great discussions about pride, about family values, and about doing what is right even if it is against what someone else expects you to do. 

THE SCARLET IBIS

By: James Hurst

Format: Textbook

This short story tells the story of a young boy who is frustrated by his brother's disabilities. So, he takes in on himself to help him learn to walk, swim, and other activities. The story is full of symbolism and is a great teaching tool.

THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET

By: Sandra Cisneros

Format: PDF

In looking for a short story that I could have students read, another teacher recommend this book because the chapters are all kind of a story in and of themselves. Some of the chapters are just a couple paragraphs so it made it easy for me to assign just a few of them to a group of students, yet they could still have enough to read and talk about the content. 

I found a lot of the students could relate to THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET. The characters are forced to move around a lot and finally, this house on Mango Street belongs to them. But it isn't exactly how Esperanza, a latino girl, pictured a home to be.

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So, even though I'm not reading the typical books on my shelves, I'm still reading....every day. With the students, I'm currently reading OF MICE AND MEN, OEDIPUS REX, and JULIUS CAESAR. That will be enough to keep me busy this month!

Hope you have found something good to read this month!

Quick Lit: Mini Reviews of Some Recent Reads - September Edition

I'm trying to read more books that I choose for my own reading enjoyment. Not for review, but because I've been wanting to read them or they caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don't really need a full review. But, I'd still like to give them some space here on the blog.

I'll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link up. Be sure to head over to see others link up their Quick Lit posts. 

Right now audio books are a great way for me to read the books I've been wanting to read. I either get them through the Bridges account through my library or I purchase them on Audible. It's a great way to always have a book on hand! I frequently have more than one book going at a time. That way I always have something that sounds interesting and when I get bored with one, I can move onto another one. This month I'm featuring mostly audio books because that seems to be how I can read (listen) to books that I want to read for my own enjoyment rather than for review. 

BEARTOWN

By: Fredrick Backman

Published: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Atria Books

Format: Audiobook

Narrated by: Marin Ireland

This is my first Backman novel and now I want to read them all immediately. I began this book on audio but since my time expired on my library account, I had to finish the last 15 chapters by checking out the physical book from my library. (Thank goodness it was available!) This riveting story of the town of Beartown in Finland (I think) is centered on its inhabitants whose lives are consumed with hockey. But, it isn't just a hockey story, but a story of coming of age, perseverance, and so much more. Gosh, I really loved this book. Read it. Listen to it. It doesn't matter. 

The book starts with a teenager holding a gun to someone's head and then takes you through the previous year to find out how the teen got to that point. There is tension and heartbreak and friendship and hatred. But, most of all there is love....love shown many different ways by people who maybe weren't loved much themselves and others who love so much they would put their own lives in jeopardy. 

"Sometimes life doesn't let you choose your battles. Just the company you keep."

THE BRIGHT HOUR

A Memoir of Living and Dying

By: Nina Riggs

Narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Kirby Heyborne

Published: June 6, 2017

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Format: Audiobook

I'm not sure how I heard about this book, but I knew it was something I wanted to read. It reminded me of some of my latest non-fiction reads including THE MIDDLE PLACE, WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR, and WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN. I listened to it on audio and it was quite beautiful. If I would have read a physical copy I am quite sure I would have highlighted several passages.

Riggs is a direct descendent of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a poet in her own right. Throughout her memoir Riggs shares lines from poems that exquisitely portray her thoughts and emotions while struggling through her mother's cancer as well as her own.

Riggs is told she has "one small spot" on her breast and she tells herself, "no one dies from one small spot". But as you can tell from the title, this does not have a happy ending. As a daughter, sister, wife, and mother of two young boys she explores living with the diagnosis for herself and watching her mother struggle through her own diagnosis. It really is brilliant, emotional, and full of prose worthy of reading.

OPTION B

By: Sheryl Sandberg

Narrated by: Elisa Donovan

Published: April 24, 2017

Publisher: Random House Audio and Knopf

Format: Audiobook

This was recommended to me by several people and it came up quite quickly in my library holds. I listened to the audio version which was read by Elisa Donovan and very well done. She has an easy voice to listen to and surprisingly, didn't get caught up in the emotions of the book. 

Sandberg is an author and Facebook COO and while on vacation with friends, her husband dies suddenly. She is faced with returning home without her husband and telling her young children about his death. She is faced with starting over and learning to live as a single parent.  But, I want to tell you that this book is about more than her grieving process.  It's about how she chooses to live again. Her advice is good for anyone that is recovering from a traumatic event (death, loss of job, move, health crisis) as well as those of us who know someone recovering. She helps us understand the process, tells us what to say, and not say. What to do, and not do. She offers research and most definitely, hope. 

I took away many tips from Sandberg (3 joys from each day, do one turn, then another, then another) and am very glad I listened to it. I plan to keep it in my "back pocket" for recommendations and future gifts. At the very least, you will have a new resolve for living each day to its fullest as we never know how much longer we have on this Earth.

YOUR MORNING MANUAL

By: Emily @ MorningMotivatedMom.com 

A short eBook that offers tips and downloadable resources for getting your mornings under control. Do you want to build in quiet time in the morning? Or maybe start getting up to workout early before everyone else is up? Whatever you want your mornings to look like, Emily can guide you to down the path. By walking through her steps and using her printable resources, you can map out what you want your mornings to look like and then work your way back to starting your morning. It isn't a full-proof system but offers a starting point and gives you tips for prioritizing.

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