Book Journey

Hey all. Yes, I have an accent now.
Spending this week on vacation in Alabama with friends, a little beach, some tasty food, and great reads. At this time I am about half way through the new Kristen Hannah book, The Four Winds.
It is sooooooo good.
If you have read Kristen Hannah before ( The Nightingale, Firefly Lane, Winter Garden, True Colors…) I would say this is in her top books. If you have not read her before, this would be a great place to start.

The Four Winds takes readers to the Dust Bowl, where Elsa Martinelli lives with her in-laws, drunk husband, and two young children. Struggling to survive in every way—physically, mentally, and emotionally—Elsa must make hard choices for the sake and well-being of her children. Should her family stay and try to survive the drought or head west to California, where word of work, sun, and prosperity seem like the Promiseland? Spanning two decades, The Four Winds is a portrait of the grit, courage and sacrifices made by ordinary people trying to achieve the American Dream.

As seen on bookofthemonth.com/

The weather has been cooler but nice. Low 60’s a little cooler than we are used to when we vacation, however time with friends… and we are out of the snow… no complaints here. I do not get a lot of time to just sit and enjoy a good book when I am home so this is a time to sit in a deck chair and do just that – and that… is where I am going now.

If you have read Kristen Hannan, what have you read? Have you watched Firefly Lane on Netflix? When the Nightingale Movie comes out do you plan to see it?

Kya Clark only knows the cove where she was raised. She doesn’t attend school, her family rarely goes to town. Her entire life is within the marsh around her. Her knowledge of the plants and the life within her surroundings is vast, yet she knows little of society and acceptance. She is known as the wild Marsh Girl.
As she grows into a young woman her curiosity about other kids her age and the outside world she catches the attention of two very different boys, Tate and Chase. When the unthinkable happens, everyone turns towards Kya.


This is one of those books I first read a couple of years ago, March of 2019 to be exact, and somehow neglected to review it. Now that it is in the works to become a movie it hits my radar again and I pulled it off my shelf to refresh myself on the world of Kya, the marsh, her father, and her world.

I really enjoyed Where The Crawdads Sing, both times. It is a book that felt different to me, outside the norm. Kya character is raw and oh so real… not caught up in prestige or pretense, her world is more about the beauty within and basic survival. I initially read this with my Book Club and we almost unanimously agreed that this book was a diamond.

I highly encourage if you have not read Crawdads to definitely give it a go. It’s a book you will continue to think about beyond the last page.

My Book Club loves to make food associated with the book and Crawdads is filled with delicious things to try. The pictures below are from our March 2019 discussion of this book. We enjoyed Mussels, Fried Fish, Cheesy Grits, Chicken “Wild Girl” Soup, with Blackberry and Blueberry Cobblers.

This is a great discussion book as well as a darn good read. I hope you enjoy this book. If you have already read it, let me know what you thought. Do you plan to see the movie?

It’s 1936 and Cussy takes her appointed position as part of the Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky very seriously. Her designated route brings her upon all sorts of characters along the way – some she is in time able to call friends. Cussy, is also known as Bluet due to her bluish skin, part of the last of the rare blue people ancestry. Part of her mission becomes for people to see beyond her color – a lesson that she needs to learn for herself as well.

Inspired by the true and historical blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek showcases a bold and unique tale of the Packhorse Librarians in literary novels—a story of fierce strength and one woman’s belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home. 

There are quite a few books out at this time surrounding the story line of the Pack Horse Women of Kentucky.
The Giver Of Stars by Jo JO Moyes
Down Cut Shin Creek by Kathi Appelt
That Book Woman by Heaver Hensen

The only one I have read on the subject was this one and I found it fascinating. Admittedly I knew little of the Pack Horse Women and even less about the blue people. I cheered Cussy on as she took her job importantly even when others did not see what the big deal was. I admired her dedication to get the books ot the people and help them with their reading. A passion after my own heart.

Honestly, this is not a book I would normally pick up. I am however glad I read it and feel like I now know some pretty cool history surrounding the library. We will be discussing this book on ZOOM on Monday, Febtruary15th at 6:00 pm Central time. If you care to join us you are welcome too – find out full information as well as the ZOOM registration link here. Books Burgers and Brews.

(I may have dressed the era recently for a promo on our Books Burgers and Brews Facebook page and then went on to do a mini photo shoot in the dress because I thought it was funny.)

Catherine and her partner Melissa, Catherine details the challenges associated with farming sheep that you do not necessarily think about when you decide to have a sheep farm. You know… such as, making them go where you want them to go and the occasional escape. And the fact that Sheep should be sheered. And the opportunities come when their birthing schedule timing does not coincide with your plans and they do this in the middle of a cold Minnesota winter.
You know… stuff like that.
Catherine Friend writes an adventure of a book with great humor as she and Melissa work through the ins and outs of sheep farming (as well as her love/hate relationship with wool).

I adored this book. I absolutely loved the entire book and laughed throughout many of the happenings as Catherine and Melissa figured out their roles as sheep farmers, and of course I rooted for the little sheep that had rough starts. I love d this book so much that I passed it immediately on to a friend who is a veterinarian and a big time animal lover and she loved it too.
Highly recommended.

Now I need to dig into Catherine’s other books:
Hit By A Farm
Compassionate Carnivore Minnesota Book Award in General Nonfiction, 2009

Good morning! I hope you are having a great start to your Valentines day morning. I have completed a little work, finished my workout and now I am writing this (while having my second cup of coffee) while warming up my car and then heading to town to grab a few things for a later this afternoon project (yes, in Minnesota we have to warm up our car this time of year). I recommend keeping an eye on the Books Burgers and Brews Facebook page – some fun things are happening there as Laurel and I are planning to discuss The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek VIA ZOOM tomorrow evening at 6 pm Central time. And yes, everyone is welcome to join in that discussion.

I want to explain the picture I posted here. If you are Facebook friends with me, you may already have read about this. At the Friends of the Library Book Sale, one of our older volunteers would come with her two adult daughters to volunteer at the sales. They would stay with their mom during that week and drive her to and from the sale each day. They also would stay the entire day volunteering so I was able to get to know them both pretty well. June in particular.

June and I for many years would be straightening up the books at the sale and find the funniest titles while doing so. We would capture these titles and hide them until the appropriate time when the other was not aware, and hide these books among their purchases. This was always in the hope (and usually worked) that the new owner of said title would not notice the book mixed in with their other books until days after the sale when they are unpacking their new treasures back at home.

This is how through the years I came home with titles such as:
Everybody Poops
My First Rectal Exam
Stop Being a B****
I wish I could remember some of the titles I sent home with her. If busted trying to sneak the book into the others mix of books, we would laugh so hard we cried. It was a fun tradition.

Now that we have not had a real book sale since September of 2019, I am left to take drastic measures. While browsing a book catalog on line last week I came across this title and instantly new it was for June. It is about to be mailed to her, letting her know how much I miss and her sister at the sales as well as the sales themselves.

Yes, I am that good of a friend. LOL
Happy Sunday all, do something spectacular!

~Sheila

When I sat down at my computer this morning, COFFEE hot and mind ready to rock and roll…. the plan was to work.

Then I remembered that last night I had heard of a book I was interested in listening to …

Then I went to Audible to see if was available…

Then I noticed they were having their February $5 audio sale…

Then time lost all meaning…

On a SUPER CHILLY day in Minnesota… I fell into the online version of a book store and came out of book-coma with 20 new books….

So here is what I picked up for my upcoming vacation -cooking – cleaning – drive time listening…

The Fifth Ave, Story Society by Rachel Hauck (hoping for essence of The Summerhouse)
Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz (I read this forever ago …. feeling nostalgic)

The Half Sister by Sadie Jones ( sounds creepy good)
Troubles In Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (not sure how I missed this one)
A willing Murder by Jude Devereaux (Jude has been a one-hit-wonder for me, hoping to change that)

Forget You Ethan by Whitney G. (I listened to a snippet, it made me laugh)
The Family Journal by Carolyn Brown (sounds good)
The Things They Carried by Tim Obrien (I’m almost embarrassed that I have not read this yet)

The Sometimes Sisters by Carolyn Brown (sounds about perfect)

The Office: The Untold Story by Andy Greene I love to read about things like this)

The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner (in a mood for a good mystery)

All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner ( Feel like I am missing out by not having read this)

Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend (heard it is like Harry Potter – purchased first book as well)

MAID by Stephanie Land (I have been planning to read this like Fo-Ev-Ah)

Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins (It sounds fun. I like fun.)

Robin by Dave Itzkoff (no explanation needed. It’s Robin.)

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (oops…just went on Goodreads – I guess I have read this)

Cake by J Bengtsson (not on Good Reads… WHOA!… but it sounds good.)

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood (I have yet to read Atwood. I know, I know…)

Blue Heaven by CJ Box (sounds good and an author I am just starting to check out)

And now… I must do what I really am supposed to be doing this morning. Have great day all. Have you read/listened to any of these? Do you like audio books?

Blythe Conner grew up in a home where she was unnurtured and uncertain what her own mothers feelings were for her. She was determined that when she had children of her own this would not be the case.

Years later, blissfully married and having her first child, Blythe is no longer sure of anything. Blythe feels that her daughter Violet does not act like other children. There is something dark behind her eyes, something calculating – yet Blythe seems to be the only one to see it. Her husband Fox, believes it is all in her head, and Blythe wonders this as well, after all, what would she know about being a good mother? Yet, when a horrifying incident happens… Blythe can’t shake what she believes she witnessed.
And when the most unimaginable horrifying thing happens again, Blythe can’t so easily think it was an accident. Even if she is the only one who feels this way.

I listened to this book on audio narrated by Marin Ireland (incredible narration!).

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think about this book. It is no secret I have a love hate relationship with unreliable narrations. Gone Girl (LOVED IT!!!!), Girl on the Train and pretty much every other unreliable narrator type book I have read – not so much. So when this book started to give me that heeby jeeby feel of I didn’t know what was true, I proceeded with cautionary interest, ready to once again end this type of book with a meh.

Admittedly, I am still kind of wondering where I land with it all. There is so much packed into this story that for a while I felt this could have been a series of books. Between Blythe’s childhood recollections, the marriage beginning, Violet, and then Sam… there is so much… Definitely an essence of We Need To Talk About Kevin.

and it works.

This is a book where I don’t want to say too much because I feel it is a book one much fully experience for themselves. I quested myself all the way through it wondering which way it would all go in the end – and impressed that Author Ashley Audrain creates such a twisted phycological drama that up until then every end… the VERY end… I was unsure what to believe.
And then…
I ended the book crying.

Emotions throughout the book left me at times in disbelief, curious, wondering, horrified, angry, and broken. I say this – in a good way.

In the end… I went back and listened to a couple parts again. And then, I passed it to a friend as this is a book that you WANT to share because you WANT to have someone to talk to about it. And I sit here now… wanting to talk about it.

If you have read this book – I would love to know what you thought. If there are those who wish to discuss I can bring out the old Spoiler page add on so we can.

I love me my weekends. Lingering in sleep pants. Hot coffee in a favorite cup. Usually some sort of down time (or- abbreviated down time), choices to make (or not), adventures to have.

What you are seeing in the above picture is my work space this morning. I will be mixing it up between work and play today – heading in to do wedding tastings late morning, walking a venue early afternoon and then home. Now however is all mine and after a morning working workout… I am itching to write about life, and about books.

So far, 2021 has been good. I have snowshoed, spent time with friends, had a great girls weekend, made it through the Friends of the Library Annual Meeting, read a few books. spoke to what feels like hundreds of people about upcoming events AND…
we welcomed baby Kylie Jade to the world on January 25th.

Yup. Brad and Brittany are parents to this gorgeous little girl and I am a Grandma. I can’t get enough of her and I am so thrilled for both of them.

In book news, now a whole lot to share… my busy has limited my reading and that is ok. I finished Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall, The Push by Ashley Audrain (whoa…) and am now listening to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson. As I write this… I see I am a little behind on reviews. ;P

Did I mention there is a baby in the family?

Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is for Books Burgers and Brews that will take place on Monday February 15th via ZOOM at 6:00 pm central time. Anyone is welcome to join in the discussion so follow the link to find out more and register for the ZOOM convo. It’s always a lot of fun!

That’s it for now. I’m going to write some reviews this weekend and catch up on a few non profit projects.

Have a great weekend!

~Sheila

Good morning! I hope you all had an AMAZING weekend – I mostly worked but had a chance to hang out with friends in a Fish House for a pretty cool experience and Saturday we had dinner with friends we have not had a chance to hang out with for quite a while. I also spent some time reading The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore for tonight’s Books, Burgers and Brews Discussion – 6 pm Central time.

The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.

Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence? Wes Moore, the author of this fascinating book, sets out to answer this profound question. In alternating narratives that take readers from heart-wrenching losses to moments of surprising redemption, The Other Wes Moore tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostile world.

This has been an enlightening read that I will be reviewing in the next few days. In the meantime, feel free to join us for this discussion. You can register here.

Laurel Hall from our local library and myself Co-Host this monthly books discussion, now on it’s 4th year. We used to meet in a local restaurant with anyone that wanted to join in the discussion we averaged around 40 people per discussion, at time have counts as high as 80. We hope to get back to the restaurant at some point, for now we are making it work by ZOOM. The cool thing about OZOM is, we can offer the discussion beyond our community. We would love to have you!

Happy Monday!

~Sheila

My friend Angie shared this link with our book club recently. Books To Films coming in 2021. I love stuff like this! I like to go through and make lists as to what I want to definitely see!

Here is my list and thoughts:

That’s what I have for starters. There a re a few more on the list I would like to read. What books are you excited to see as movies?