June is peak rose month. I went to the patio garden to read for a bit before dinner this evening. This was my view.
Bliss!
Tag Archives: Reading
Books Read-March 2020
I’m a little late in publishing my list for March, but here it is. And don’t worry, I’m still reading lots and will have a list ready for next month.
1. Hero Dogs-Wilma Melville (Audio Book)
Story told by the founder of the Search Dog Rescue group. Tells of working various tragedies with the dogs. Also, the story of finding the dogs for the program, as well as the story behind the dogs.
2. Wrapped Up In You-Jill Shalvis
A romance, as only Jill Shalvis can tell it. Ivy overcomes her rough childhood to establish her own business, overcoming her past and finding someone to share her new life with.
3. The Art of Racing In the Rain-Garth Stein
This is a good book, especially if you like a tearjerker with a happy ending. I found the book to be rather painful, as it deals with brain cancer and a custody fight. Definitely well written. It tells things from the dog’s point of view.
4. No Judgments-Meg Cabot
Bree escaped to a Florida island to escape a past relationship. She ends up taking care of the animals that people left behind after a Category 5 hurricane and finds a new relationship along the way. It was actually a light-hearted read.
5. The Girl Who Lived Twice-David Lagercrantz
This is a book in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. You must pay attention to the details. It is another intriguing story with lots of action. Definitely not a light-hearted read.
6. The Dog I Loved-Susan Wilson
Rosie trains service dogs while in prison. She and the person for her first service dog become friends. Rosie is released and we follow the two on the journey through a part of their lives.
7. The Book of Gutsy Women-Hillary & Chelsea Clinton (Non-fiction)
Kind of like a history book about brave women who have the world a better place for women, as well as the rest of humanity.
Magazines:
Yankee-January/February 2020
Yankee-March/April 2020
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite from this list. They all offer something different. If I went with my gut, I would recommend #6. It covers subject matter close to my heart- the power of dogs to change our world for the better.
Books I Read in February 2020
1. Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop-Jenny Colgan
Rosie & the village of Lipton have many adventures and discoveries over the holiday season.
2. How To Give Up Plastic-Will McCallum (Non-Fiction)
The many ways that plastic affects our planet, particularly our oceans, and ways to lessen its impact.
3. So You Want To Start a Podcast-Kristen Meinzer (Non-Fiction)
After reading this, I know that I do not want to start a podcast. So, worth the read.
4. Window On The Bay-Debbie Macomber
Friends Jenna & Maureen are life-time best friends. Single women who support each other over the years and each finds a new love.
5. The Guest Book-Sarah Blake
A saga of three generations of the Milton family in New York & summering in Maine. This book was a little hard for me to follow. I found it to be more trouble than it was worth. Not a bad book if you’re up for a challenge.
6. Dying for Devil’s Food-Jenn McKinley
Cupcake shop owners Mel & Angie have to figure who killed the mean girl at their class reunion.
7. Winter at the Beach-Sheila Roberts
Jenna, manager of the Driftwood Inn, is in charge of the winter festival by the sea. Mayhem ensues as a winter storm hits at the time of the festival.
Magazines-
- Issue of Woman’s Day-Fall 2019
- Bark-Summer 2019
- Bark-Spring 2019
If you needed to pick only one of these books to read, I would recommend #2 How To Give Up Plastic. I learned so much from this book, and I think I am fairly environmentally conscious. Did you know that micro plastics that cause harm are not just microbeads and plastics that are small to start with? Larger plastics can break down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming micro plastics. I also learned that people with certain disabilities require straws to be able to drink. They need straws that are more environmentally friendly.
Check back at the beginning of April to see what my March reads were
Books Read in January
I enjoy seeing what other people are reading so thought I would start my own reading list for 2020. I will comment on what I have read at the end of each month this year. Below is my list of books and magazines read for January 2020. I will also share with you a recommendation of which book was my favorite and why.
Books Read January 2020:
1. Noel Street-Richard Paul Evans
A struggling young mother of a biracial child helps a Vietnam Veteran overcome his emotional troubles after the war.
2. Everybody Has a Book Inside of Them-Ann Marie Sabth (Non-fiction)
The author coaches you through deciding what your book is and gives inspiration and advice to write it.
3. Midnight at The Blackbird Café-Heather Webber
A young woman inherits her grandmother’s café and learns about her family, herself, and the legend of the blackbirds.
4. The Oysterville Sewing Circle-Susan Wiggs
The main character takes in her friend’s two orphaned children. This book is only peripherally about sewing. The scope covers a much larger issue.
5. The Enlightenment of Bees-Rachel Linden
The main character breaks up with her boyfriend and travels to foreign lands as a volunteer, having many adventures along the way.
6. Aussie Rules-Jill Shalvis
Love and a mystery with an Australian sidekick.
7. The Second Worst Restaurant in France-Alexander McCall Smith
The main character goes to a small town in the French countryside and has numerous unlikely adventures.
Magazines
- O Magazine (Oprah)- December 2019
- Magnolia Journal-Fall 2018
- National Geographic December 2019
And the winner is…The Oysterville Sewing Circle-Susan Wiggs! I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable book. It has a social message and awareness for us all to benefit from. The characters were also realistic and I found myself rooting for them. The main theme of the book took me by surprise and was much more than I expected.
In the spirit of brevity, I did not give in depth descriptions or summaries of the books. If this is something that you would like to hear about, leave me a comment and I will offer more details in the future. Thanks for reading!
Literacy Rocks!
I found this picture of Shelby on the United Way website today. It is from a couple years ago when we were reading books to kindergartens at a local school.
Shelby says Literacy Rocks!
Sanctuary Acres 