Thursday, September 28, 2023

2023 - Third 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, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the third quarter of 2023 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2023, found through the search bar at the right):

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash - A sweeping, enchanting tale of the temporary displacement of a young girl sent from England to America during WWII. Loved the main character and exploring her dilemmas. 348 pages, 👍👍👍👍-3/4

The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows - Not nearly as satisfying as The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, yet I stuck with it for the lengthy audio book. 512 pages (I listened in audio form, 15 CDs, 19 hours), 👍👍-1/2

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel - Enjoyed more than her much-raved-about Station Eleven because of the clever play on time travel and its ramifications. 272 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 6 hours), 👍👍👍

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - Klara is a solar-powered artificial friend who hopes the sun will heal her owner, Josie. To what lengths would you go, in order to retain a loved one? My large print version had 403 pages, 👍👍👍

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann - Two separate factions return from a harrowing adventure at sea. Whose story should be believed? Gruesome, but fascinating. 257 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott - Two teens with Cystic Fibrosis fall in love despite the limiting restriction of remaining five feet apart for their own safety and health. 304 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 7 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese - Tag line: Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript. Christian fiction where the story drives the message - my favorite kind. 384 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Please Sorry Thanks by Mark Batterson - With his trademark well-crafted phrasing, Batterson writes of three magic words that can change the world. 140 pages, 👍👍👍👍

All My Knotted-up Life by Beth Moore - A vulnerable, honest look into the life of a woman celebrated for her ministry focusing women on the Word. 289 pages, 👍👍👍👍

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson - One of my favorite travel writers hilariously recounts his hike with a friend along the Appalachian Trail. 397 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 10-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte - Laconte outlines how their experiences in the Great War influenced Lewis and Tolkien's writing. 196 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. - Discussing the causes and consequences of trauma, Dr. van der Kolk suggests ways to heal after trauma has reshaped your brain and body. 356 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley - As Chandler Baker writes in her endorsement, "With wit, sass, and real emotion, Tanner and Louise, two unlikely fugitives, find connection, common ground, and true friendship across generations." 337 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

The Lost Airman: A True Story of Escape from Nazi-Occupied France by Seth Meyerowitz with Peter F. Stevens - Many men who return from war never speak of what transpired. Thankfully, Arthur Meyerowitz's tale was preserved through the research of his grandson. 320 pages (I listened in audio form, 8 CDs, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

💖On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble - Get out of bed and give God the glory with each day He gives, no matter how much mental affliction you battle. Do it for Him. Do it for others who watch. 84 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why it Matters by Kate Murphy - Listening is a lost art. In this digital age, our attention spans have shrunk and our ability to wait for what the other person is trying to communicate has suffered. Murphy hopes to improve your abilities and make the world a kinder place. 288 pages (I listened - truly - in audio form, 6 CDs, 6-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Sand Bucket List: Lessons for Living Life and Facing Death by Brad Fischer -  After a terminal cancer diagnosis, the author shares some of his life stories and the lessons his daughters can glean from them. 216 pages, 👍👍👍👍

To Be Told: God Invites You to Coauthor Your Future by Dan B. Allender, PhD - As someone who thinks in story all the time, this was a welcome reminder that our stories are important and God writes even the tragic bits to a purpose and plan. What does your story reveal about God? 215 pages, 👍👍👍

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - It was interesting to revisit this classic. I read it as a senior in high school and had no recollection of the promiscuity. Still, it was a great read. 392 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12 hours), 👍👍👍👍



1 comment:

Gretchen said...



Since I can't keep us with your list of books, these reviews are helpful! Thank you!