December Books

It's the 15th, and I am just now finishing up this post!  My final set of 2015 books.  I ended up reading about 100 books this year.  I hate that I didn't do these posts from the very beginning, because I now love keeping track of what I have read (and my thoughts on the book!).  I did just start bullet journalling, so I will have complete lists from now on.

The Long Way Home

This was a reread, but one of only a few rereads from 2016.  This book came out right before Gil was born, and I loved it then. But I hadn't picked it up again, and I wanted to close out the year with it.  Louise Penny is one of my favorites.  I actually finished this book on the 31st, which was a perfect ending to the year.

I think this is book 10 in a 12 book (for now) series.  I can't really say much about it, because you have to read the books before it.  But, oh, so good!  One of my favorites.

The Doldrums

Another middle level book.  There will be lots of these this coming year as I try to stay on top of recent releases and figure out what I want to teach from.

I enjoyed The Doldrums a lot.  I think if you liked A Series of Unfortunate Events or The Mysterious Benedict Society, this would be a fun book to read.  This book is on some awards lists, and I think there will be a follow up as well.  Archer, the main character, is the grandson of famous explorer who are presumed dead.  His parents are terrified of anything outside of the norm, but Archer is dying to be an explorer and find his grandparents.

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

Another middle level award winner.  Not the best middle level book I've read this year, but a page turner.  If you know a middle level reader who likes suspense, this would be a good recommendation.    Victoria is a student in a picture perfect world.  She likes to be the best, always.  But she starts noticing that people are going missing and decides to figure out what is happening to them.  Lots of "march to the beat of your own drum" messages here.

Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor

I have always been a fan of Rick Riordan.  I think he does a great job at getting kids excited about history and mythology!  Magnus Chase is his newest demigod hero, a son of the Norse god Frey.   In this book, Magnus Chase is searching to find the lost hammer of Thor.

Warning to parents, as Riordan's characters grow older, they deal with more complex issues.  If you have a younger reader who really wants to read the Magnus Chase books, I would read it alongside them, so that you can talk about any themes with them.

What She Knew

This book is being compared to Girl on a Train, which I suppose is a far comparison.  But that comparison made me doubt the narrator a lot, and that is far from the case with this book.  What She Knew is about the kidnapping of an 8 year old son and the mom's search to find him.  I thought it was really good and definitely a page turner.  But I didn't think that unnecessary elements were added just for the sake of suspense, which is the case with a lot of other similar books.  I liked this book a lot.

The Accidental Tourist

My (in my dreams) best friend, Ann Bogel, recommended this book on one of her podcasts.  It's about a marriage that is falling apart after the death of a child.  I've mentioned before that I don't need an intense or fast paced plot.  I really enjoy more beautiful writing or good character development.  This book delivered in the character department.  I really enjoyed reading it.

That being said, I don't feel the need to read more Anne Tyler, so maybe I didn't love it that much?  Any Anne Tyler fans out there?

The Reader's of Broken Wheel Recommend

This was a fun and quirky read.  Sara travels from Sweden to a SUPER small town in Iowa to visit her pen pal, who died right before she came there.  She ends up opening a little book shop and trying to make readers out of all of the residents of Broken Wheel, Iowa.  The town falls in love with her and create an elaborate plan to get her to stay.  Not the best book I've read this year, but not too bad.

Rebecca

After hearing this talked about my Ann Bogel multiple times, I finally gave it a try.  And goodness was it good.  Imagine Great Gatsby meets Jane Eyre.  I could not put this book down.  It's a chillingly beautiful story.  I am sure I will reread this at some point in the future.

Alright, that's the last of my 2015 books.  This month is already looking like it will be a little slower.  I am doing the 2017 Reading Challenge, and I am upping my classics so that will mean a little less reading (because they often take longer to read).