2023 Reading Analysis

At the outset of 2023, I set a new goal: READ LESS, PRAY MORE!! While I certainly prayed more, thanks to my 2023 Facebook Prayer Project, I didn't significantly alter my reading habits (perhaps the cut was in housekeeping instead of in reading - 😂). Yes, I read less, but I'm quite certain I could stand to cut back even further. In 2022, I read 73 books, totaling 21,492 pages (of those pages, I listened to 343.75 hours of audio books). In 2023, I read 66 books, totaling 17,886 pages (244.25 hours of audio books). That is only 7 less books, or 3606 less pages (100 less hours listening).

In 2022, I read more fiction (43) than non-fiction (30), but this year I read more non-fiction (37) than fiction (29). I read 5 books on prayer (although several more addressed prayer in a peripheral way). As far as ratings, 2023 suffered by comparison to 2022. Last year, 37 books were ranked four thumbs up or greater. This year, only 33, with the majority of those in the 4 thumbs up ranking. Still, almost all the books (95%) were rated 3👍 or greater (with only 1 regrettable read):

👍👍👍👍👍 - 6 books

👍👍👍👍-3/4 - 1 book

👍👍👍👍-1/2 - 5 books

👍👍👍👍 - 21 books

👍👍👍-1/2 - 8 books

👍👍👍 - 21 books

👍👍-1/2 - 2 books

👎 - 1 book

I know this ranking chart only reveals the rank for 65 books, but Pilgrim's Progress threw off a lot of my analysis. I did not calculate pages, because I read several different versions of the book (thus, probably adding back every bit of the year's reduction in books and pages - ha). Plus, since I read various ones, I didn't rank Pilgrim's Progress (although this post reveals which ones I prefer of the lot).

Stay tuned for the top dozen reads of 2023!

 

2023 - Fourth 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 fourth 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):

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking by Dr. Caroline Leaf - I'm sure following these guidelines even half-heartedly would help your brain and mental function. Yet, I must admit to a bit of overwhelm. This sounds like a lot of mental work. And it sometimes smacks of "think yourself happy." 290 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

💖A Place to Land by Laura K. Denton - This tender, redemptive story will linger like a gentle kiss in your soul. Each page shimmers and taps all of the senses. I loved that it was well-written, clean, and wholesome. 337 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale - Cassandra Dankworth has just been dumped and fired. Can a bit of time-travel help her repair the damage so things will turn out better? Loved her quirkiness! 359 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton - When Mags wills her old bed and breakfast to her granddaughter Sara she stipulates that Sara must restore the house before she can dispose of it as she wishes. The restoration process reveals hidden truths and introduces love. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

💖The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh - Another unique character with deep longings despite social ineptitude. I adored this book! 353 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - When Hadley misses her flight to London for her father's wedding, she feels unlucky. After six hours on a plane next to a dashing and entertaining British boy, her estimations may change. Full of the magic of love and the mess of conflict. 256 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2 - movie beats book! - [💖👍👍👍👍👍 for the movie Love at First Sight]

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys - Set in Madrid after the Spanish Civil War, this book of historical fiction incorporates official documents (oral history, articles, and books) as it uncovers details of hidden scandal. 528 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend - Boundaries are so important. This is something I struggle with. I needed this guidance in how to find and be a safe person. 208 pages (I listened to an abridged version on Hoopla, 2-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity With the Gospel by Dean Inserra - Saved Christians are Christian by conviction rather than culture. Inserra's point is valid. Christianity with a weak understanding of Christ's role lacks the main essence. But, there is hope. Cultural Christians need to hear a clear articulation of the gospel. 208 pages, (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Sacrificial Lamb: A Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery Novella #2 by S. E. Biglow - Barnes and Noble calls it a Christian Cozy Mystery. It is neither cozy nor Christian, really. Boys murdered. Passing generic terms of faith. 102 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 1-3/4 hour), 👎

Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache by Granger Smith - If you have ever experienced trauma or loss in some form, this book will resonate. 195 pages, 👍👍👍

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl - I took copious notes from this informative book on arguing for the faith. 284 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

12 Days at Bleakly Manor: Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep - Danger lurks when an odd assortment of individuals all visit a manor in hopes of staying the 12 days of Christmas to win a final prize. Sure to appeal if you want a Christian, inspirational, Victorian holiday mystery. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍 

The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear - The 16th book in the (apparently well-known and well-regarded) Maisie Dobbs Series, opens with a murder and ends with a marriage and a massive assault. Interesting, but perhaps not enough to lure me in for the series. 352 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 10-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

A Christmas Prayer by Kimberla Lawson Roby - Alexis Fletcher is engaged, but can the joy of the prospect of marriage cancel out her grief, her struggles with her sister, and her challenges with her future mother-in-law? 209 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4 hours), 👍👍👍

A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep - Thinking deception will help his case, a law clerk asks an inn waitress to pose as his wife in order to attempt to secure an inheritance. Delightful references to the works of Charles Dickens and insightful comments about truth and faith. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Old Lace Shop by Michelle Griep - This is book 3 in Griep's lovely Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Another story of second chances, love lost and found, and God's provision. 192 pages? (I listened on Hoopla but only available in the full series set so guessing it was around 6 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Christmas Greetings 2023

(I found this beautiful image on Facebook, but no idea of attribution)

This will be an unusual Christmas for us, our first without all of our children gathered together under our wing. Bryce and his fiancée will be in California visiting her sister. It will feel quite strange without him. In an effort to lighten my mood, I decided to post some Christmas shirts I'd happily wear, some shopping signs, and two Christmas cards my sons gave to me when they were much younger. Hope this makes you smile, as well.

From the Piper and Ivy website, I noticed these three holiday t-shirts:

We cut back on our Christmas spending this year. I didn't send cards (nor did I receive many - a tradition that is passé). In light of that, here are two hilarious signs (one I found on Facebook; one I took myself when visiting Nashville, IN):

And for your holiday pleasure, the cards my sons lovingly presented back in the day:

The one from Bryce is impressive because he declared the extent of his affection - ha! The one from Sean makes me laugh because it reflects their sibling bond back then.

May you and your loved ones gather together and enjoy happy, fun, and funny times together, perhaps bedecked in your favorite holiday attire. May you recognize the significance of the season as we celebrate the birth of the Son of God who came in human form to walk a path to the cross to atone for our sin and reconcile us to the Father. May whatever grief this year has brought, be eclipsed by gratitude for what God has given.

==============

Additional bonus - here's a beautiful Christmas letter and photo I saw on a Facebook post from Alexander McCall Smith (author of The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency books) - well worth sharing:

A Christmas message from Alexander:

Dear Readers,

Here we are, once again on the very doorstep of Christmas. And in the room beyond that doorstep, is the New Year, ready to declare itself with soaring rockets and the linking of hands in song. The song that we sing in Scotland to mark the end of one year and the beginning of another is, of course, Auld Lang Syne, the words of which are attributed to Robert Burns. He certainly wrote a version, explaining that he had taken the words from an “old man’s singing”. Many songs are composed that way: inspiration comes from a snatch of song heard on the lips of another, and this is then worked up into a polished version.

Most of know the first verse or so, and then fade away a bit. But the later verses are very moving. I always find myself choking up a bit when I hear the words of this song, in particular the verse that runs: “We twa ha paidl’d i’ the burn/Frae mornin’ sun til dine/But seas between us braid hae roared/sin auld lang sine.” That means, more or less: we two have paddled in the burn together all day in the past, but since those days broad seas have separated us. That strikes me as being so poignant: time may separate us from old friends, as may distance, but we don’t forget our old friends and what they mean to us …

Sentimental? Of course it is, but there is nothing wrong in feeling sentimental about friendship, and love, and the simple cherishing of others. We need not apologise for wanting an end to acrimony and division; we should not have to explain why we yearn so desperately for people to love on another rather than shower invective on those with whom they may disagree; rather than to fight with one another; rather than to spend more and more money on working out new ways of killing one another. Oh, how we long for the moment when those who are currently sworn enemies take a deep breath and say that they want to be friends rather than enemies. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but until people start taking the first step and acknowledging the humanity of their enemies, there is no way out. Our poor planet will otherwise be condemned to endless arguments over territory and its control.

And it’s not without precedent. It happened in Northern Ireland, where old enemies set aside ancient resentments and agreed to stop trying to settle scores. It happened in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela, that most gracious of men, urged people to put aside the past and embrace one another. It can be done, even if at the moment the talk all goes the other way.

What would Mma Ramotswe say about the times in which we live? She is the wisest of people: what would she say this particular Christmas if one stopped her in the street in Gaborone and said, ‘What do you think, Mma, about what’s going on in our poor world right now?”

She would look up at the sky, I think, and say, “It is very bad – yes, it is very bad at the moment.” But she would not leave it at that: Mma Ramotswe has never been one for moaning, complaining, or shaking her head in disapproval. So she would go on to say, “We must remember that you do not change people by shouting at them.” And we would listen to this, and realise that she is absolutely right. You do not change people by shouting at them, you change them by telling them that you love them. That works. It just works. Mma Ramotswe is right.

Years ago I wrote a poem that included a line that I once used in the title of one of the Scotland Street books. The original said: “But what can I wish for you? Wish for love over Scotland, like tears of rain – that is enough”. We took part of that line and has it engraved in coloured glass in a window in our house in Edinburgh. Here is a picture of it.

I see that inscription every morning when I walk downstairs. And I stand by it, I think, although I might broaden it a bit to include a wish for love over other places too – where you live, where you are reading this right now; where people who are frightened and bereft live; where people who are unhappy for any of the many reasons why people are unhappy live; for all those places.

May I wish you all joy and happiness this Christmas and New Year.

With love,

Alexander McCall Smith

Book Review: The Old Lace Shop

The Old Lace Shop is the third book in Michelle Griep's Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. I could not find it apart from the 3 book set, available on Hoopla in audio form. It is worth finding. I simply brought up the chapter selections and advanced to The Old Lace Shop. I liked this one as well as the second one.

The novel blurb on the Amazon website presents the premise like this, Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.

I enjoyed the setting, plot, and characters in this installment. Once again, the second chance coin makes an appearance and drives the story line. Realistic problems and a quick appearance from Dickens made this another gem. While the faith aspect is slightly pushed, I appreciated the message immensely. I needed to hear the wisdom of "Either your faith will move mountains or your doubt will create them." May my faith move mountains instead of making them in the coming year. 

Book Review: A Tale of Two Hearts

A Tale of Two Hearts is the second book in Michelle Griep's Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first. It satisfied my itch for Dickens at Christmas as it contained many more Dickens references and quotes. The characters were endearing. I eagerly rooted for their story to end well.

Mina Scott tends her father's inn while longing to spend her days reading books. If she has to be working, at least she gets to serve the dashing law clerk, William Barlow. Barlow's uncle is due to name an heir and leans toward one who is married. Thus, William convinces Mina to pretend to be his wife to convince Uncle Barlow of his suitability for the position. But, as the saying goes, "What a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive." Will their deception foil William's chances? Can Mina settle for pretending to be his wife, when she wants to be so in truth?

This novel is all about second chances. The second chance coin, that appeared in the first installment, appears again. Uncle Barlow and Mina's friendship is delightful. William comes to see his way to the truth. Charles Dickens even makes a brief cameo appearance, much like Alfred Hitchcock in his films. I agree with author Cynthia Ruchti's endorsement, "Charles Dickens would be delighted with the way [Griep] tucked into this story's pockets truths and observations he penned long ago." I think Michelle Griep and I would get along well.

Mid-month Mention: Holiday Hilarity and Hits

 

As the holiday season crawls into full gear, I offer this compilation of past posts that make me smile:

That time I unwittingly went out blinking (ha!) - a post from my early days of anonymous blogging

The curious Christmas gift Trevor received and consumed one year

Amazing snow art

A Christmas with many big hit gifts

My favorite Christmas decorations

Fun and funny Christmas ideas

Book Review: A Christmas Prayer

I searched Hoopla for another Christmas novel to pass my time on the treadmill/exercycle. If I had visited its Amazon page, I might not have selected this book. Several endorsements for Kimberla Lawson Roby's other books contained words like "juicy read," "full of sassy sensuality," and "liberal dashes of sexual satisfaction." I'm glad I went in blind. Other words from the endorsements ring more true for my experience of this book: "She pushes her characters hard, spotlighting their flaws." (USA Today) "Roby [deals] with real issues... that are important to women today." "Roby has a talent for underscoring the universal challenges of people of faith." This African-American Christian novel takes genuine struggles and brings them to a point of redemption.

Alexis Fletcher still reels from the death of her mother. The prospect of a new family would console her if only her fiancé's mother loved and accepted her. Instead, her future mother-in-law seems determined to break up their relationship. What drives this intense animosity? How can Alexis celebrate the holidays despite her grief and struggles? Her heartfelt Christmas prayer may be the answer to her deepest needs.

Although it may not have made the list in my previous post of Christmas book recommendations, A Christmas Prayer offers realistic dilemmas delivered into the hands of our gracious God. You don't have to be African-American to relate to the characters and issues presented in this Christmas novel. In a season of hope and joy, Christ brings our pain and conflict into His sphere of redeeming love. While the characters are flawed (like all of us), God's intervention brings healing and peace.

Book Review: The Consequences of Fear

I dashed into the library, landed on this audio book, The Consequences of Fear, and within minutes was driving away with the first CD playing in my car. It never even dawned on me, until attempting to write this review, that this is the 16th book in The Maisie Dobbs Series. I'm only bummed that this seems to be the only physical audio book in the series that my library has on offer. It was a pleasant, wholesome, and entertaining adventure.

It is 1941 and young Freddie Hackett, a delivery boy in London, has witnessed a murder. Since he cannot get the police to believe him (where is the body?), he seeks the talented Maisie Dobbs. Maisie believes the boy, but can she prove his story? The clues showing it was an installment in a series should have been obvious. All the backstory swept past me. I was oblivious, delighting in London descriptions, deciphering Freddie's state of mind, and discovering Maisie Dobbs' identity. But does her character lure me in enough to seek them out in paper form, from the beginning of a lengthy series? Have I foiled it by learning things already late in the game? If I were solely interested in clean historical fiction, I might. But, I'm betting I pass.

Book Review: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor

For a very long time, Charles Dickens was my favorite author. I seldom read Dickens anymore, but still have a fascination with Victorian novels and non-fiction. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor is the 1st book in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series by Michelle Griep. The plot is a standard manor house mechanism. A hodge-podge of people receive invitations to come to Bleakly Manor to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. Each hopes to be the sole visitor remaining on Twelfth Night, January 5th, so they will receive their promised prize.

In December 1851, Clara Chapman receives a bizarre invitation to stay at an English manor house called Bleakly Manor. Normally, she wouldn't even consider leaving her ill aunt behind. But the 500 pound prize offered if she endures the full 12 days of Christmas may provide her only way out of impending poverty. Clara wonders what God is up to. She had wondered something similar when she stood at the altar awaiting her wedding, only to be jilted by her betrothed, Benjamin Lane. Someone stole her family estate and left her dependent upon her aunt. Was it Benjamin Lane?

She arrives at Bleakly Manor and meets several of the other individuals promised a prize. But who is the host and what is this odd game? Why are the rations so limited? And, finally, why is Benjamin Lane included in the invitation list? Can she ever forgive him? Moreover, who holds ill-intent against the assembled guests?

You will enjoy this book if you love any of the following things: Victorian England or Dickens, mysteries with a touch of romantic intrigue or stories that illustrate truths about religious experience, cozy holiday tales or atmospheric whodunits. Since I adore Victorian stories, I enjoyed this romp of a tale. It put me in the holiday spirit. The well-timed plot and structure kept me listening while attempting to whittle away the pounds on the treadmill.