Books for Breakfast

I think I rather prefer recapping my thoughts on multiple books instead of doing individual reviews. I tend to review books in a unique way: instead of summarizing the book, I get right down to the nitty-gritty. Truth be told, I've never been confident in summarizing the books I read. I either tend to give away the whole plot or end up with a really vague paraphrase that doesn't do it justice. I'll leave it to the people who write the blurbs that go on the dust jackets :)  The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim was introduced to me by my reading-buddy friend. We discussed this one after I finished it and agreed that this title was one we would not have appreciated as younger readers. I think if I had read this even a year ago I would either have abandoned it after the first chapter or trudged my way through it, bored the whole time. Arnim is one of those authors that writes the scenery in such a way you feel you are literally standing there as one of the characters. Ita

So... I've been slacking on my blog posts. May was a bummer month for me in terms of reading and so I chose to not do a wrap-up. As always, I keep a running list of what I read so if you are curious as to what titles I completed during May, feel free to check out the page at the top of my blog.  Instead of doing individual reviews for the books I've read since I last blogged, I thought I would do a kind of conglomerate post summing them up and any thoughts I had.  Matilda by Roald Dahl was my last read in May. This was a re-read for me; Goodreads says I've read it twice, but I know I read it over and over again as a child. Dahl is one of my favorite children's authors; the way he incorporates measures of fantasy and whimsy into his stories is uncanny. He has such a special place in my heart that I wrote a lesson plan around his novel, The BFG , for my summer course.  Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot was my first read of June. I purchased this book for myself nearl

Read It And Weep is the fifth installment in the Library Lover's Series by Jenn McKinlay. They are cozy mysteries set in a small town on the east coast. I love reading these kinds of books because they are the ones I don't have to pay too much attention to. The plot is simple and engaging, very much a whodunnit type of setting, and they are just fast-paced enough to keep my attention but not so fast that my heart pounds in my chest :) I tend to use these books as palate cleansers when I find myself in a bit of a book slump or have just finished reading a more intense story. I can get done with them fairly quickly and move on to the next title in my TBR pile... something that is ever-growing. I will say that I did not enjoy this one as much as its predecessors. The author inserted a love triangle into the mix, a trope that I will never feel drawn to. Plus, I found myself irritated through the majority of the book because the main characters refused to communicate. I kept thi

I've had Eight Perfect Murders on my TBR shelf for a few months now; the synopsis instantly intrigued me because it evoked images of Agatha Christie. The idea of someone committing murders based on a list of "perfect" fictional murders was unique and intriguing. The novel itself, however, ended up falling flat for me. The whole plot ended up feeling like one convoluted story; I was constantly tripping up on names and the various fictional stories mentioned throughout. The main plot regarding the murders intermingled with past histories in a way that ultimately left me feeling confused and lost. Had the information been delivered in a more systematic way, I think the interconnected lives would have made more sense and come across in a creepier way, as I assume it was intended to. The narrator, Malcom Kershaw, was of the unreliable nature. I don't generally enjoy those, but I'm told it makes for more entertaining twists and turns :) There were certain aspects th

Amish fiction is a niche genre that I enjoy reading very much. The Amish way of life is something of a fascination for me; years ago when I first started reading it, I often wished that I had been born into it. There's just something about the simplicity. I can't quite explain it, but with every book I read, I find myself drawn more and more to it. Someday I would love to go to Pennsylvania and visit the Amish townships there, and pick up an authentic quilt :) The benefits of this genre are that it inspires and convicts me. How can I serve my family better? How can I draw closer to the Lord, simply and sweetly? How can I practice forgiveness more? Usually, the Amish fiction novel contains some kind of romance and that's the kind I enjoy; clean, sweet, and endearing.  The Amish Outsider was a random find on Libby. After a quick perusal, I discovered that unfortunately, I won't be able to feed my habit much without the benefits of a library hold on physical books.

I promptly texted my friend "what the crap!" after finishing The Hand on The Wall . The journey through the Truly Devious series has been quite the ride. No doubt if COVID had not happened, I would have devoured the whole trilogy in the span of 2 weeks. Kindle holds are a thing, though, so I had to wait like a peasant (and practice patience) and instead finished the series in a span of several months... no big deal, I guess. It made the enjoyment last longer :) The series surprised me in so many ways and gave me some hope for the ever-expanding YA genre. The Hand on The Wall  was probably my least favorite in the trilogy, a-la Mockingjay style (if you know, you know). I genuinely feel like this last installment could have been parcelled out in such a way that the series could have been a duology. The first half trudged a little because it was basically a litany of Stevie's thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I like getting inside her mind because she is a fascinating char