Sweet readers, thank you for joining me for this rare edition of Title Talk 10.2024. My last Title Talk post was exactly a year ago, here. I promise I’ve been reading. Met my Goodreads goal last year and everything. I love books and reading!! In fact, this retired librarian thought she would be publishing book reviews and library lesson plans as the mainstay of this blog. Sadly, I have done very few book talk posts especially over the last couple of years. Would like to change that but girls, I can’t remember what I have read the minute I close the book for the last time. It is really bad.
I have a reading journal and need to get it back out and make little 2-3 word notes that will help me remember what I thought about, questioned as I was reading. Going to do that this week as I will be beginning some new titles. Maybe just maybe I can do more of these Title Talk posts if I get in the habit of writing down my thoughts about the books as I read them.
Title Talk 10.2024
In this post, I will share what I am reading now, what I have just finished – if I can remember!! – and the books on my radar for my next great read.
Just a reminder: Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links which are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
And you can find where I link-up on this page.
Currently Reading
What am I reading right now? I have a couple of books I am trying to finish up.
“The Missing Peace” by Jared Nieman
My thoughts: Jared Nieman is one of the pastors at our church. He has done some teachings from this book so PC and I both decided to buy a copy. We started out reading it together before bed but Paul was less interested in continuing than I. So, I have been reading it on my own. In a nutshell, I would say Nieman is encouraging readers to turn to prayer and turn to God more often in their lives. Something I struggle with doing. I can be hot then cold. And I am ashamed to say that I have found doing my quiet time to be harder, physically and spiritually, since I broke my heel. Interspersed with some of the experiences from the author’s own life with Biblical teachings, it is an enjoyable, insightful read.
“Swimming to Lundy” by Amanda Prowse
Synopsis: Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She’s spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie’s dad at sea. Desperate for a change, she challenges herself to take up wild swimming—every morning, no excuses, from March till September. Daring to take the plunge with the ‘Peacock Swimmers’, Tawrie feels alive in a way she’s never known. Suddenly it seems she might be able to step outside her comfort zone after all and let life surprise her—perhaps even dream of a future beyond the shores of Ilfracombe? Especially when, one day, she spots a man in a pink linen shirt who seems as eager for a new start as she does.
But it turns out taking risks on land is a little different from wading into the sea. Can Tawrie face her fears head-on and find her way to happiness? She knows it’s never too late to pursue your hopes and dreams, but it might be easier said than done… (source)
My thoughts: I am reading this on Kindle, and almost always at the end of my day when I can barely keep my eyes open. Am about 60% in and feel like parts of the story have been predictable. The man in the pink shirt first seems to be Mr. Wonderful but I think most readers would pick up on the author’s subtle hints that maybe things aren’t all that they seem. I don’t yet feel a real connection to Tawrie, either. She is nice enough but kind of like vanilla ice cream that doesn’t really aspire to be anything more than vanilla.
Just Finished
These are the books I just finished reading in the last week or two.
“Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books” by Kristen Miller
4.40 out of 5 stars on Amazon, buy here
4.15 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
Synopsis: The provocative and hilarious summer read that will have book lovers cheering and everyone talking! Kirsten Miller, author of “The Change,” brings us a bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything.
Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.
But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. “The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution” is wrapped in the cover of “The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette.” A jacket that belongs to “Our Confederate Heroes” ends up on “Beloved.” One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.
That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town…and change it forever.
My thoughts: 🌟🌟🌟 The title of this book caught my eye so I put it on a consideration list my book club voted from early in the summer for our book of the month. It wasn’t chosen by the club but I decided to read it on my own. Banned books are getting a lot of attention this (election) year. And I am always interested in stories about book stores and libraries, public or Little Free Libraries!! Read this book on Kindle. Not sure even today how I feel about it. The political undercurrent running through the book bothered me, the book/the author has very clear liberal leanings and some of the characters reflect that. As I am neither ultra liberal or conservative I found this theme in the book to be a little extreme. As a former librarian, I have been involved on the fringes of book challenges in my library and in my school district. While I don’t believe in banning books, I do believe some books are better suited to public libraries than to school libraries; some books are better suited to a particular age group or audience, and I believe that has to be taken into consideration when placing books on library shelves.
Anyway, Lula Dean is quite a personality as are a number of the minor characters in this book. There are several themes secondary to the banned book issue the citizens of Troy, Georgia are working through. And from those struggles, I highlighted 2 passages that spoke to me.
“Once Jesus arrived on the scene, all those Old Testament laws no longer applied. The New Testament tells us we’re supposed to follow Christ, not the old ways. And as far as I know, Jesus never said a damn thing about gay folks or barbecue. But he sure did talk a lot about love.”
Miller, Kirsten. Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books: A Novel (p. 140). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
And…
When you’re very old, people want to know—what’s the secret to a good, long life? Bernice would tell them: live and let live. Be true to yourself and let others do the same.
Miller, Kirsten. Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books: A Novel (p. 160). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
“None of this is True” by Lisa Jewell
4.30 out of 5 stars on Amazon, buy here
4.12 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
Synopsis: Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?
My thoughts: 🌟🌟🌟 This book grabbed and kept my attention to the end. But I didn’t feel a connection to either of the main characters. And about a third of the way through, I started wondering how plausible the story was. Josie finagles her way into Alix’s world and then moves into her home. Alix’s family find Josie creepy and her husband just flat doesn’t like Josie at all. There is no way PC wouldn’t speak up if I opened our home to a total stranger, no matter how ostensibly needy she was. Most of my book club members and I were left with more questions than we had answered by the book’s end.
I listened to the book on Audible. Rather than one narrator telling the story, there were several narrators which helped me to keep the characters straight. And the story was told alternatingly between Alix’s and Josie’s points of view with audio clips from Alix’s podcasts interspersed throughout. This book kept me going but also left me with lots of questions.
“Secrets of a Charmed Life” by Susan Meissner
My thoughts: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book was my book club’s second place choice for our September read. I listened to this title on Audible, too. The story is told through the voice of Isabel as she recounts with a young woman interviewing her the details and secrets of her long life. Most of the story unfolds during WWII England but occasionally the reader is returned to present day and the afternoon of the interview. While there were a few events that I found doubtful – young sisters Emmy and Julia heading out alone in the middle of the night for war-torn London from the safety of the home where they had been evacuated in the Cotswold – I understood the desperation that drove Emmy to do so. And I remember that teenagers are nothing if not unpredictable and risk-takers. Emmy’s driving determination to make a life for herself, although admirable seems almost over the top for someone so young. But as the layers of her story are revealed, we come to understand more about the reasons and relationships that have fueled her ambition. The story concludes with a believable, satisfying ending for these relatable, real characters.
On My Radar for November
I am about to share with the members of Come Read with Me the consideration list from which they will vote for our November book of the month. Will probably email it out to them tonight so we can get the voting started. These are the books on my radar that I have added to that list.
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
A Single Act of Kindness by Samantha Tonge
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Stout
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
The Last Chapter
If you are looking for a no-pressure online book club to join, come read with me. Our group is Facebook based so that is where we discuss our books, and share other book-related ideas and activities. We vote at the end of each month for the book we will read in the coming month. And I giveaway at least 1 copy of the winning title to a club member each month. We would eagerly welcome YOU to the group.
Your Turn
Read anything good lately? If so, please share in a comment below. Joining all the girls for the “What’s on Your Bookshelf?” this month: Deb from Deb’s World, Sue from Women Living Well After 50, Donna from Retirement Reflections and Jo from And Anyways. But as per my usual, coming in fashionably late with my post.
Hugs and kisses,
Oooh, this was good timing as I need something new to read.
XOOX
Jodie
Hope you found a title that picqued your interest. I am enjoying The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern and we are just about to start How to Read a Book in my book club. It sounds very good.
Hi sweet friend 🙂 The past couple months I have been slowly making my way through William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series- listening on Audible- now on book 7 of 20 😳 but am loving them! Also just finished Middle of the Night by Riley Sager and started Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda. It’s October, so I am feeling like I need to be reading thrillers 😉. On my TBR pile next is The Women by Kristin Hannah- excited to read that one too! Always like to see what everyone is reading and loving, so all suggestions are greatly appreciated! 🙂
Hey friend!! Thank you for coming by.
Oh I really, really enjoyed The Women. Hope you will, too. Need to check out Such a Quiet Place. I like the title!!
I am reading The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern and enjoying it. Listened to the first couple of chapters of our book of
the month – How to Read a Book, and I think it is going to be very good.
I can have that same problem with books so I often start writing my monthly wrap up posts real early– I start with the title and author of the books I’m opening up then about 1/2 way through the book I’ll open that post back up and write a quick summary (so I can reference the book with character names and key plot points) then the day I finish I write a last sentence or two about if I like it and why or why not. I’ve been in a reading slump for nearly a month now; I find I am able to listen to audiobooks but unable to just sit quietly with a book and read and I don’t know if it’s the books I’m picking or just my mind not being able to settle on one thing but it’s starting to frustrate me.
I have found that my eyes no longer track words well for any length of time. They flit all over the page. And I have trouble focusing on what I am seeing/trying to read. Probably because I just don’t read with my eyes like I used to. Now days we have other options for ‘reading’. I love listening to books on Audible!!
Just got my book journal out again. Thought I might have thrown it away. But it was where it should have been since I didn’t give it the boot. Now to use it to remind myself of what I have read.
thanks for all the book reviews. I’m not a book reader so I don’t have any books to share. The liberals aren’t being truthful about ‘banned books’. Many parents of all faiths just don’t want their children exposed to so much sexuality that is in their books. I have heard excerpts of those “banned books” read at school board meetings, and they are just horrifying. An adult shouldn’t be reading those books imo, much less children. Parents should be allowed to have a say in what the schools are exposing their children to. It’s not wonder why homeschooling is exploding!
I agree, there are some books that just don’t need to be in a school setting. But a public library setting is somewhat different because it serves patrons of all ages, walks of life, demographics, etc. I liked the policy my school district had that librarians had to provide 2 positive reviews (from notable sources, professional journals, etc.) for each item we ordered. That way I couldn’t build a school library collection of just any books. I find it frustrating that so many books are liberally peppered with curse words and much violence. Just like TV and movies these days. Not that I am beyond cursing myself at times!! But it is not always easy to find a heartwarmingly good story that isn’t also riddled with some controversial issue.
Just finished The Husbands—recommend for anyone who thinks a marriage reset is needed.
Listened to The Fury which was interesting.
Loved Lula Dean.
How to age Dsigracefully was very sweet and funny
The Book of Doors was intriguing and scary
Demon Copperhead is fantastic retelling of David Copperfield
HEY!! Thanks for coming by!!
Paul has just started Demon Copperhead. It has wonderful reviews. Might need to read it, too. I thought the Book of Doors was very interesting. Loved How to Age Disgracefully. I have just started listening to The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. It is very good. Lula Dean was not exactly my cup of tea but I am glad I read it. Will check out The Husbands.
I can’t wait to read Lula’s book. I feel very strongly about parents inserting their opinions into what is being placed in school libraries. Like you, I believe there is a place for all books…some in schools, and some not. But, parents who haven’t even read them or have had parts (taken out of context) read to them should not be making those decisions. If they’re all that concerned, they should do what I did: Read the book first, then decide if YOUR child can read it or not. I 100% don’t believe people who aren’t a part of the school community should be making those decisions. It truly makes my blood boil! It makes me so angry when books are banned by a few people…I’m speaking more about public libraries now…who feel the books are inappropriate. If you don’t want to read it, fine. Don’t read it. But, it is not your right to prevent me from reading it. There are many books my very conservative friends have read (in particular ones that mention the color gray) that I have chosen not to read. I made that decision after a few reviews. But, i would never keep someone else from reading them. I’m now getting off my soapbox, Leslie!
I’m reading a couple of different books right now and struggling to stay interested. I know, when I’m done, I’ll like the books, but it’s the getting there!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I like your idea of the parents reading the book first before they object, and before they decide if it is appropriate. Public libraries are PUBLIC libraries. They serve everyone and need to have materials of interest to the people in their community. I know public schools are PUBLIC, too, but as you said, there are some things I don’t think belong in school. As a public school librarian, my dsitrict required that we provide a positive review from 2 sources for every item we ordered. I felt that was a good policy. We couldn’t just order something at face value.
I find myself saying at least once a month about some book I am wading through, ‘will this book ever end?’ But I almost never regret having read any of those books!!
I have been reading the past months all the books by a Dutch writer! I love it when I get totally lost in reading!
Isn’t reading just a wonderful escape? Glad you have found an author who is enchanting you!!
Sorry you did not love Lula Dean. It is one of my favorites for this year.
While I didn’t LOVE Lula Dean, it did make me pause and think!! Always a good thing. And I am glad to have read it.
That’s a nice variety of books you got.
Thank you. Hope maybe you found something you might like to try!!
I was left with so many questions after listening to None Of This Is True. So many… but I did enjoy it. I’m a massive Nicola Walker fan and she did Alix so well. Secrets of a Charmed Life sounds good & I’ve just reserved it at the library.
Yay, hope you enjoy Secrets of a Charmed Life like I did. Yes, None of this is True was a puzzle. I really didn’t get the whole daughter-gaming-father-gaming-baby food stuff. Crazy. That would never fly in my house!!