April Books

It's been a slow month for reading around these parts, but the good news is that I'm 5 books ahead of schedule for my goal of reading 25 books this year.


Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A fun and funny parenting book. I also found many things quite informative. I loved the author's take on the differences between American parenting and French parenting. In truth, I think the French are doing some things WAY better, and I plan to use some of their methods when our baby arrives!


The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book! At first, I didn't like switching back and forth between Carrie's story and the story she was writing, but as the story went on, I wanted to hear more and more of both of them.


For the record, these were both audio books from Audible,  I am just so lazy at home lately that I'm lucky that I even make dinner most nights.

The Complete Book of Breastfeeding: The Classic Guide by Sally Wendkos Olds

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was given to me by a friend who breastfed both of her children. I am planning to nurse my son, and this is an AMAZING resource. While I ultimately didn't read every single page (I skipped the chapter for dads and skimmed the chapter about special circumstances), I found the information I DID read to be very helpful. I feel much more informed about my decision, and I may have also dog eared pages for quick reference later.

If you are pregnant and considering breast feeding, I would HIGHLY recommend this book!



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DNF
I borrowed an eBook from the library this month called The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes, and despite my love for all things English history, I just couldn't get into it.  I was basically forcing myself to read at least one chapter a night.  When I realized I was forcing myself to read it, I gave up.  I still wasn't halfway through the book.  I just don't think I enjoyed the author's writing style as much as I have other authors who write similar historical fiction (i.e. Philippa Gregory or Allison Weir).

What have you been reading lately?

February Books

Normally, I would have had this post ready for the first of the month, but frankly, March just came out of nowhere!  Here's what I managed to read in February:

I got my first book from Blogging for Books.

Life After by Katie Ganshert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Life After was an excellent read. I really enjoyed the characters in this story and the way that they came together. Autumn was a likable character to whom it was easy to relate. I enjoyed "watching" her grow throughout the story to overcome the tragedy that she survived.
I also liked that while the story had a Christian base to it, that it was not the sole focus of the story. The characters' faith is addressed by the narrator and the characters themselves, but it is done in a way that "regular" every day Christians can relate to.



My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I just love Sophie Kinsella. I've really been enjoying her books lately. They are fun reads with likable characters! This one did not disappoint. I loved it! I really loved Katie and it was great to follow her from start to finish.



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Books I did NOT finish this month:
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

I got this one on Audible, and I just couldn't get into it.  I was confused.  Sometimes, there is something to be said for having a copy of the book in front of you.  I think I might be able to get this one as an eBook through my local library, so I may give it another go in the future.

January Books

New year, new book goals, and I'm off to a running start!  I even got one more book finished right at the end of the month, which I wasn't expecting to do.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
3 Stars

I had two classes that chose this as their novel to read for reading class.  I always reread the books as my classes do so that I can stay on top of what I need to discuss (or not mention yet!) with them.  It helps me refresh my memory for going over their tasks.

I'm not a huge fan of this book, but the kids like it.  Either way, it counts as reading!

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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
4 Stars

One of my classes chose this one as their novel for reading class.  Despite this not being "my kind" of story, it's actually a really good book, and both girls and boys really enjoy it!

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was disappointed with this book. I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't love it. Rivers's book Redeeming Love is an amazing book, and this one just did not live up to that for me.

If you're not familiar, Rivers is a Christian author. As you can see in the synopsis, the main character, Dynah, is raped and becomes pregnant is faced with a choice. What annoyed me about this book is the lack of compassion from the Christian characters mainly Dynah's fiance and the Dean of the Christian college they attended. It also really bothered me that for the first half of the book, everyone's reaction to Dynah's options was that she needed to have an abortion or have and keep the child. Adoption wasn't even mentioned until over halfway through the book. 

While obviously no one, including Christians, is perfect, I felt like this book did not reflect Christians well. That disappointed me coming from this author. People were angry, bitter, pushy, and mean. I did really like Dynah as a character, and I also really loved the character of Joe. Dynah was a beautiful character whom I felt was realistic. She ultimately comes to terms with her situation and makes a decision, and the ending did wrap up nicely. I just wish that the story would have reflected people better overall.

Advancing Differentiation: Thinking and Learning for the 21st Century by Richard M. Cash

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


My school district chose to use this book as a book study for the first half of the school year. We finished reading it on January 16th as part of our in-service day activities. Apparently, the author is coming to our in-service in February, so that's pretty neat. But ultimately, reading texts like this just leaves me feeling overwhelmed.

When you read a book like this the ideas are great and everything sounds wonderful, but that is in the ideal class, in the idea school district, in the ideal state....and I'm sorry, but NOWHERE is that perfect. Differentiation is important, and good teachers do it (or certainly try to!) every single day. But some days, it doesn't matter what I do as an educator, there are students who just aren't going to engage or "get" it. After awhile, the book deviated from differentiation and started discussing A LOT about teaching students how to think differently. That's nice and all, but it felt like the ways the author presented to go about it would just require time that we don't have! With the demands we have to not only teach our curriculum but to meet state requirements for testing and constantly testing students up until those tests, I just can't wrap my head around how things like this should work.

At one point during the reading of this text, I literally grabbed my pen and wrote, "Seriously? When are we supposed to do this?"

Needless to say, this wasn't the best professional development text I've ever read.


The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really liked this book! I had read Kate Morton's "The Lake House" before, and while I liked that one, this book is way better! While there were confusing parts at times, they helped to move the story along and keep me guessing until pieces started to come together at the end. I can definitely say, the ending took me completely by surprise, and I liked that!


I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sophie Kinsella never disappoints me. I borrowed this book as an eBook from my local library. I got an email that my loan was about to expire, and even though I was enjoying it, I just hadn't been putting a lot of time into reading. So I cracked down on Saturday (1/28) and finished it rather quickly! As usual, Kinsella creates a likable protagonist in Poppy. I love the craziness of the way the characters come together in this story, and it was just a light, easy read.



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In light of sneaking in an extra book this month that I didn't think I would actually finish until February, I decided to up my goal on the Goodreads challenge from 20 to 25.  If things keep going like this, I might even up it to 30.  I'm 5 books ahead of schedule right now, so I'm pretty proud of myself.  :)

What have you read so far in 2017? 

December Books

Ah, December.  The last month of the year, and the last chance to finish my goal of 40 books for 2016.  Here's how it turned out:


At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I had listened to Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants on Audible, and as I was looking for eBooks to borrow from my local public library, I came across this one. I really loved how the relationships changed and developed throughout the story, and I grew to really love Maddie the more that the story went on.


Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between by Lauren Graham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I LOVE Lauren Graham. This book was a quick and fun listen. I really enjoyed hearing her perspective about working in on Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. She tells her story with just the right amount of sarcasm and humor, and I loved it!


The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've been struggling with what I want to read. I just haven't been in the mood for most books. SO I picked up an old favorite. I LOVE this book. I'm a huge fan of time travel stories, and I love the characters of Clare and Henry. This book is always worth another read, and I'm glad I picked it up again.


Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An interesting perspective of how Brian's winter would have gone if he had remained stranded in the Canadian North Woods. I will definitely be recommending this one to my students after they've read Hatchet!



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I did it!  I read 40/40 books in 2016!

Somehow, I've also become a person who doesn't finish books.  It's possibly because of the mood I'm in where I don't know exactly what I want to be reading.  So if something doesn't capture my attention, I'm more willing to stop reading (particularly if it's an audio book from Audible, since they have a great return policy).

Books I didn't finish this month:

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella 
I will actually go back to this book.  I got it from Audible, and I could not STAND the narrator.  Her voice was bad enough as Becky (this was not the same narrator as the Shopaholic book I "read" last month), but when she altered her voice to speak for Luke, I threw in the towel.  I'll get this book in paper or eBook form.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
My local library recently connected with other libraries in my area to offer eBooks and audio books for borrowing (as I mentioned in my review about At the Water's Edge).  I thought I'd give this one a go since I loved Gone Girl, but I just couldn't get into it.  I may come back to it in the future, but with the end of the year approaching, I needed books I could get into and read pretty quickly to meet my reading goal!

I've signed up for the Goodreads challenge again for 2017.  This year, I decided it was necessary to cut my goal from 2016 in half.  My goal for 2017 is to read 20 books. I have to be realistic.  I have a baby coming.  In May, my life is going to change drastically, and I really don't know how much time I will have for reading.  I decided that 20 was pretty reasonable.  If I end up doing better than that...great!  But I'd rather play it safe and surpass than to be too ambitious and miss the mark.

What are your reading goals for 2017?  Any book recommendations from 2016?

November Books

I had a really hard time reading this month.  I feel like November flew by so quickly, and while I still do have a few actual physical books on my shelf to read, I just wasn't in the mood to pick up a book.  (Shame on the reading teacher...)

BUT I did manage to get in a few reads, and I'm still on track to read 40 books for the year!

Here's what I read:

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It's been awhile since I read a Sophie Kinsella book. I've been having a hard time figuring out what books I want to listen to on Audible, and I decided I just needed a light, fun read. This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed hearing the story from both Felicity and Charlotte's perspectives.


Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I forgot how much I love Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood). I've been needing a break from most of the books I've been reading, and Sophie Kinsella has been just the author I needed. Lots of twists and turns and the usual frustration with some of Becky's decisions, and in the end, a satisfying ending!


The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read this book in middle school, and I'm not sure I totally "got" it then. Rereading it as an adult made much more sense. It's a good mystery that isn't really easy to solve until the end. I might use this book with my students some day!


When You're Ready by J.L. Berg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received this audio book for free from Audible to listen and review. They are testing new versions of audio books with music and sound effects to enhance the listening experience.

This is a romance novel, which isn't my typical genre of choice. It actually had a really sweet story line, and I liked the characters. I also like when they have multiple readers to tell the story. So Clare's portions of the book were read by a female and Logan's were read by a male. But I didn't love the voice of the man who read for Logan. His voice didn't seem to "fit" Logan.

I didn't mind the music in the background of portions of the book, but the sound effects felt fake and unnatural. Sometimes, they just didn't make any sense at all. There's one section of the book where Logan is in Clare's house for the first time. He's looking around at the pictures on display, and there are birds chirping. Birds. There are no birds in Clare's house.

There were times I just wasn't "in" to the story, but I wanted to squeeze in one more book for November, so I pushed on to meet that goal!!



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October Books

*sigh*

That about sums up this month of reading.

Working gets in the way of my reading goals.

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am a sucker for all things Tudor. Philippa Gregory tells another great tale in English history. I particularly enjoyed, though, that the main character in this novel was Henry VIII's sister, Margaret, Queen of Scotland.

It was a great story that intertwined with the insanity that was the Tudor court, of which I am very familiar. I enjoyed piecing together my previous knowledge with how Margaret was experiencing it across the border in Scotland.

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So That Happened: My Unexpected Life in Hollywood by Jon Cryer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoy celebrity memoirs. I would not say that I am a Jon Cryer fan, but I've watched "Two and a Half Men" from time to time, and I enjoy that he is hosting the Undisclosed Addendum podcast this season. So I decided to listen to his book on Audible. It was definitely an enjoyable listen with a lot of humor.

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I actually started, did not finish, and returned an audio book this month.  *insert gasp*

If you've been around here for awhile, you know that it is an extreme rarity for me to not see a book through to its end and then give it an honest rating.  But I've been feeling guilty since I don't have a lot of time to read an actual book lately.  Therefore, audio books are my only source of literary entertainment.  I also have a TON of podcasts that are backing up, and I can't listen to them while I'm also listening to an audio book.

Actually, the book I returned came as a recommendation from the "Stuff You Missed in History" podcast.

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Started listening to this on Audible. Didn't even finish it.  Maybe it would've gotten better when I actually got to the part about the author and his brother traveling the Oregon Trail.  But I just couldn't get that far.  I gave up during a chapter in which he was rambling on about horses.... I have better things to "read."

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Shaken Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was selected to receive an advance copy of this book to read and review.

This book wasn't what I expected. I expected it to be autobiographical, and that's not what it is.

While I'm not a fan of Tim Tebow's in regards to sports, I do very much admire that he is a man of great faith and is not afraid to share that faith. That was an aspect of this book that I really enjoyed. Tim shares his heart and his faith. He has great words of wisdom that even when things are tough, God is there. He knows what he's doing, and He has a plan. I really liked reading about Tim's background in his faith and how he continues to grow in his relationship with Christ.

I wish that I we more excited to read the book, though. I had to push myself to pick it up and read because it was part of my commitment to do so. I didn't like that the book seemed to jump around and wasn't very organized. I almost think I might have liked this more as an audio book since it read like someone might speak at a public event. (If that makes sense.) I also didn't like how Tim would state that he would talk about something more in another chapter. For example, he would make a statement about something and follow it up (usually in parentheses) by saying that he would talk about that more in another chapter. As an avid reader, I don't need a warning about what's to come. Foreshadowing is one thing, but I'm going to keep reading your book. So I'll read about it when I get there.

Overall, though, I did appreciate Tim's words of faith. I think this book would be great for people who are fans of his, people looking to strengthen their faith, sports fans, Christians, or someone who is going through a struggle.

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The good news is that, despite what I saw as a lack of reading this month, I'm actually 1 book ahead for my goal of reading 40 books this year.  (And NO, I didn't count the Oregon Trail book.)  Technically, I finished Three Sisters, Three Queens on October 1st.  I was very busy on September 30th, or I would've been able to sneak it into September's books.  But, alas, it makes my October look better. :)

June Books

Have I mentioned how much I love summer vacation?

I'm sure I have.

I get so much more accomplished during summer vacation than I do while school is in session.  My house starts to come to order, and I actually have time to curl up with a good book, and read.  I need to make up for some lost time in order to meet my 40 book Goodreads Reading Challenge goal!  The good news is that after this month, I am back to being ahead of schedule, and I've hit the 50% mark!

Here's what I read in June:

In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book took me forever to read.  You can see my full review in my special Blogging for Books post.



The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I listened to this book on Audible, and at first, I thought I was going to be returning it and getting my credit back for another book. BUT I stuck with it, as I usually do, and I actually really ended up enjoying this book.

It's definitely great WWII historical fiction, and it's worth a read (or listen) if you like both historical fiction OR stories about WWII. The Nightingale shares some of the awful aspects of living in France during the Nazi occupation. The characters are well developed, and I found myself wanting to know how everything worked out in the end.


Winter by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After reading my last book (The Story of Autism), which was incredibly tedious, it was wonderful to read the conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles!

Melissa Meyer wraps up the series with an exciting and satisfying conclusion. I loved it!


Fairest: Levana’s Story by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As a good prequel should, Fairest certainly makes clearer the story of Levana, Queen of Luna.

It wraps the entire Lunar Chronicles series up by providing more background on the Queen and how she became the villain of the series.


How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had SO many thoughts on this book, that I reviewed it in a separate post, which you can see here.



Dropped Third Strike: A Portland Pioneers Novel by Micah K. Chaplin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I also wrote a separate review of this book and included an interview with the author herself!  Be sure to check it out!




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May Books

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I was in college, the professor of my Children's Lit class read Love that Dog to us. I really thought it was a cute book. My first year of teaching 6th grade, I actually read that book to my class as part of our poetry unit.

When I saw this in a recent Scholastic book order, I had to nab it for my classroom library, and of course I had to read it! Love that Cat is just as charming as the original! Jack is an adorable, likable character! I definitely enjoyed this book as much as the first!

The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As always, Philippa Gregory sucks me into the drama that was the court of Henry VIII. I really loved reading (well, listening since I purchased this on Audible) more about Katherine Parr, since, as King Henry's last wife, I feel I've read the least about her!

Katherine was different from Henry's other wives in so many ways, but I really admire her bravery in entering into a marriage with a many who was essentially a wife killer!

If you enjoy Historical Fiction and especially books about the Tudor court, I definitely recommend this one!


I am currently one book behind schedule for this year's Goodreads challenge.  I'm bummed because last year I was always ahead!  Alas, summer is coming, and I will make up for it then!!

April Books

I seriously can't believe that April is over already.  It really flew by so quickly.  Does anyone feel the same way?

At least I managed to get a book finished this month, but I really need to step up my game because now, rather than being ahead of schedule in the Goodreads challenge, I am "on track."  I'm an overachiever.  I prefer to be ahead of the game.  ;o)

This month, I read the next installment in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It took me forever to get through this book, but this was in large part due to lack of time. I went back and forth between giving this 3 or 4 stars, but I settled on 4 after reading the final chapters.

There were parts of this book that dragged on, and parts that I felt were unnecessary or boring. One particular example is the small sections that were excerpts from Governor Tyron's journal. While his actions in this books were of importance, I don't care about him as a character. I want to read about Jamie, Claire, Brianna, and Roger!

I did find it a little strange that this book has other excerpts like that: Brianna's dream journal, Claire reading information in Dr. Rawlings' medical journal. It sometimes seemed to interrupt the story with a different style.

Overall, I went with 4 stars because some of those seemingly unnecessary parts resolved themselves or carried the story further. And the book ended by leaving me ready to move on to the next installment!



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