2020 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (5 thumbs up - Highly Recommend, 4 thumbs up - Enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - Good, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped, 2 thumbs up - Meh, and 1 thumb down - Regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the first quarter of 2020 (for my full review, click on title):

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict - A fictional feminist account of the influence Albert Einstein's wife may have had in leading him to the theory of relativity. - 304 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 8-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck - Tenley Roth has a deadline for a follow-up to her acclaimed debut, but cannot write until she sits at an antique desk in her mother's home, a desk that once belonged to Birdie Shehorn, another writer. The two stories intertwine and present a view of the Gilded Age. - 352 pages, 👍👍-1/2

The Painted Word by Phil Cousineau - A follow-up to Word Catcher, with more delightful word origins and definitions. 336 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson - Jumping to the time before Peter Pan, the authors create a believable world and story for how Peter and the Lost Boys ended up in Neverland. - 480 pages (I listened in audio form to Jim Dale's narration, 7 CDs, 9 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - "A richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go." (back cover blurb) - 352 pages (I listened in audio form to Tom Hanks' narration, 8 CDs, 10 hours), 👍👍👍

Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good by Jan Karon - Another Mitford series novel, following Father Tim and his delightful wife as they return to Mitford after an extended sabbatical in Ireland and are swept into the chaos of many other characters' lives. - 510 pages, 👍👍-1/2

An Ocean, An Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses by Maria A. Novajosky - A brief memoir, by a blogging friend, about her Italian grandmother, her love of Italy, and years full of God's rich blessings. - 90 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson - A fascinating compendium of facts and features of the human body, albeit written by a humanist. - 464 pages, 👍👍👍👍

A Theory of Everything (That Matters): A Brief Guide to Einstein, Relativity, and His Surprising Thoughts on God by Alister McGrath - Although Albert Einstein was not a Christian, he sought the "big picture" and believed in a "superior mind," making his thoughts worthy of consideration by those who believe in God. - 240 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff - Inspired by true events, this tale of women working behind enemy lines to send radio transmissions to London affirmed female bravery but fell slightly flat. - 385 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 12 hours), 👍👍👍