Tag: reading

13th Annual First Book Of The Year

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

Are you ready?

First Book is a long tradition that I have had long before I started sharing it with others to join in.

For me, there was always something fun about choosing the first book I would read in the New Year. It could be an old favorite I have been hoping to re-read, it could be a long awaited read that has been on my shelf or on my radar for far too long…. it could be just released…. or hundreds of years old…

You may ask – “Why is that a big deal, Sheila? I mean, it’s just another book. It’s just another day.”

Is it?
IS IT?

The why is… I like traditions. I like having something special to look forward to and over the holiday weeks – even more so because, honestly, it keeps my mind busy during what for many of us can be harder days.
And ( yes, there is more…) I enjoy seeing what others choose for their first book, and from what I hear, a lot of you like to see the books as well. For some, this becomes a reading list of sorts… it may remind you of a book you meant to read, and forgot about, or introduce you to a new book you were unaware of.
I enjoy seeing the variety as well if there is a title or two that many have on their list to kick off 2026.

Does it mean you are reading through the night, crossing over from 2025 to 2026? Cool – but no… only if you want to 🙂 It means that you are reading this between the years, or it is the first book you are picking up in 2026. Refer to the rules above.

Here is how to participate:

  1. Choose your book
  2. 2) Send me the pic of you with the book
  3. You have many choices of how to send:

a) Fill out the form

b) email me ( Put 1st Book in the subject line so I don’t miss it)

c) Text me if you have my number

d) Private Message me on Facebook

And – please, when you send in, send a picture of you with the book. It’s fun, and it makes for a great collage of readers all over the world 🙂
Here are some (not all) from last year to give you the idea:

Hope to see what YOU are planning for your first book of 2026 😀

Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Hannah Martin’s twenty-nine years have not been without bumps. After living in many cities (and many jobs), Hannah moves back to her hometown to stay in her best friend Gabby’s guest room.
In celebration of Hannah’s return, a fun evening out leads to an encounter with her ex-boyfriend Ethan. When Gabby says it is time to go, minutes later, Ethan offers to drive Hannah home as well…
And…


I’m sure you know the name Taylor Jenkins Reid…I mean, she’s like another great Taylor – like Taylor Swift- hit after hit after hit. Her books, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto is Back, and of course, the newest one, Atmosphere, have been some heavy hitters… and as I have said before – I started reading her when her books were more chick lit… so this makes this review interesting…

First, I must have had some sort of brain malfunction, as for some reason, when looking for my next listen, this popped on my radar, and I thought it was a new book by Reid. Fun, I thought it looked like she was going back to her writing roots….And… honestly did not catch it was an older title until I went on Goodreads this morning and see that I had already marked this as read in 2015.
*sigh*
In my defense… I’m sure I do not recall a lot from 2015, so let’s just call this a new read to me, as I recall nothing.
That true confession of a forgetful reader out of the way, listening to this book was unique and interesting. In alternating chapters, Hannah’s story continues with her going home with Gabby AND – going home with Ethan. The books split into two very different story lines, continuing what would have happened in both choices.

Do you recall those old choose-your-adventure books where you decided what choice was made before you turned the page and then followed that outcome? Kinda like that.

Honestly, it’s hard to explain how I felt about this book other than agreeing a little less than my 4-star review of 2015. While definite points for uniqueness, on audio, some of the chapters felt a little repetitive… and admittedly, as there are big outcomes due to each choice, I found that at times I was a bit confused (could have been audio vs book).
In the end, I liked it.

Rated: 3 out of 5
Read Author Before: yes
Read Author Again: Yes she has quite a few of the newer titles that I have not read yet

Book Club Worthy – mmm… I think so. A big discussion could be about choices we make and paths not taken ( we enjoyed this very much in Summer House) … and of course… There would be cinnamon rolls 🙂

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Hana lives a quiet life in Minnesota and likes it that way.

Yet when she becomes aware that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows her past has come to pay an unwanted visit.

Thirty years ago, Hana was someone completely different. She was a teenager growing up in war-torn Bosnia, and her name was Nura Divjak. When her entire family was murdered before her eyes, Nura was thrown into a war she did not want, and a side of her emerged in ways no one could foresee.
Now her past is coming, and the only way to survive is to bring Nura back. No matter what the cost.

A long-time fan of Allen’s books, I was excited to get my hands on this book and purchased it this past May at the Words by the Water author event I helped the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library with.
Of course, as it often happens, the book went to my TBR stack and hung out there until this past month when the Bookies Book Club chose it for their November read. I have to say, I am glad I waited – reading this with a group of 17 ladies made for a much richer experience.

Admittedly, for myself, it was a heavier read than I was planning on. I’m used to a different style from Author Allen Eskens, and at first, I personally struggled engaging with the book. Let’s just say – Bookies to the rescue. After talking with a few of our members over the past few weeks and hearing things such as “I can’t put it down,” “I can’t wait to get back to it!_, “Usually when a book goes back and forth, I like one storyline better than the other, but in this case – I love both!”, as well as “The book is making me think of my own life and where I was at in the early to mid 1990’s and how different my life was…” And a personal favorite comment,
“This is why I joined this book club. To read books like this that I would have never picked up on my own.”

Last night (November 11th, 2025), 15 of us sat in the front room of my house to enjoy a glass or two of wine, delicious food ( we had both Sarma ( a Bosnian dish of cabbage leaves stuffed with beef and spices in a tomato sauce) and Burek ( Hana’s favorite dish – a dough filled patry with beef, potato, onion and spices) as well as so mnay other delicious dishes. The Burek was my attempt, and while it says to roll it in a pastry in a tube shape and then roll up, my dough did not bend well, so tube Burek it was 🙂

Overall – great discussion – very high ratings from the group – on a scale of 1 to 5, the average rating out of the 15 present was 4.75. A crazy high overall rating, and it honestly speaks volumes of positivity about this book. It’s nice to have an engaging read that is not necessarily the easiest, but is definitely a book to consider.
And yes, eventually, I too fell into the rhythm of the read and ended with a personal rating of a 3.75… it was very different than what I was expecting and took me a bit to get into (busy time of year for me too, and I know that contributes) – I am glad I read it.

Rated: 3.75 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes, and I recommend!
Read Author Again: Yes
Book Club Worthy: Yes! This is an excellent discussion book. Most of us were alive during the Bosnia war ( I was a young mom at the time) – it hits a little different when it is during your lifetime and you can recall where you were during that period of your life, as well as admittedly how little ( we anyway) knew about this war or how little we followed it.

Like Eskens? Be sure to check out The Life We Bury

House of The Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Thank Goodness for Book Club ~Sheila

A Curse. A mysterious Death…or two. A Haunting. The sins of one generation layer upon the Pyncheon family as they navigate the legacy of the family’s and a home, violent past.
The grand house ( which does exist) is built on a piece of cursed land – cursed by the previous owner when he refused to sell to Colonel Pyncheon.

The Colonel has his ways and scoops up the property to make a grand home, but it seems the curse may have landed correctly as the Colonel dies the day the home is finished. And so it continues – curses, greed, sins, and secrets …

Where will it all end?

This was selected as our October Classic read for the Bookies Book Club. Admittedly curious about the book, as a few friends and I toured this estate in 2022 while in Salem, and always a fan of a good mystery, I was ready to dig in.

Then I opened the book…

Oofta. It read like a textbook. Between the book and I downloaded the audio as well, I slugged my way through this heavy read of lofty descriptions of the house and the colors …
And well… I was so curious about where the book club would land on this.


As we neared the book club date, I was hearing from some of the members that they had given up on it, one opted for the movie instead, and some never got a hold of the book… so I was really wondering what the book club would be like.
Well, we met last night, and actually, it was a nice discussion. For those who finished it, while admittedly a windy read of over detailing, they were able to pick out the story and get to the heart of the book, bringing my flat rating of a zero ( seriously… nothing in this book stuck with me) to a 1 rating, and an appreciation of what makes this book work.
A few of the Bookies had read The Scarlett Letter (also by this author), stating that the writing of that book was easier to digest.

Overall Bookies rating from those who finished was 2.25 – now bad when you consider an average read is a 3. The review definitely gave me more of an appreciation for the book. And as always – the Bookies bring a little something something to the discussion, including a few that dressed the era ( well played!), the gingerbread men cookies as sold in Hepzibah’s shop, fruits and fresh bread, cold cuts, cheeses, and crackers, and more. If this group knows one thing to be true, we can pretty much make a good time out of anything. 😀

And for those interested, a few pics from the House of Seven Gables Tour in 2022:

Have you read this book?

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

I found this one… relatable ~Sheila

Tova Sullivan, now in her 70s, has been the evening cleaning woman at Sowell Bay Aquarium for the past two years. A widow as well as having lost her 18-year-old son thirty years ago when he disappeared from his boat, Tova’s coping mechanism of choice is to keep her mind busy.
While the aquarium at night is not all that exciting, Tova finds herself becoming more and more interested in Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus, whom she has caught more than once attempting (and succeeding) to get out of his tank during the night hours.

No one would ever imagine exactly how smart Marcellus is, but Marcellus knows things… he knows how to read people. He may be old, but he is whip smart and picks up on Tova’s heartache and the chapters in her life she can not quite close with so many unanswered questions. As Marcellus pieces together what happened to Tova’s son, he must use every skill he has to unearth the truth before it is too late.

“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.” – Remarkably Bright Creatures”
— Shelby Van Pelt

Honestly, I dragged my feet on this one.
While fellow readers shared over the past few years how amazing this book was, I could not wrap my head around a talking octopus… and was not sure how much suspended belief I could pour into a book like this.

I know I know… me? The Queen of Imagination and What Ifs, struggling with what I thought the book was going to be like. Believe me – I’m disappointed in myself too.

FINALLY… while looking for that next read/fix, I decided to give it a try. So glad I did…. for naysayers such as myself in this particular instance – knock it off. It’s not so much that Marcellus is talking; it’s that we know his thoughts. It’s actually a brilliant idea by the author to write a book from this perspective.

While Marcellus is who we get to know first in the book, rightfully so, as you have to know Marcellus and his capabilities for the rest to fall into place, the book is also about Tova, and some of the other people we meet who work at the Aquarium.

I don’t want to say too much as this story unfolds beautifully in ways that are best discovered on your own. This book is worth all the praise you may have heard – READ IT or LISTEN to it ( the voice of Marcellus is fantastic!)
Netflix will have a film adaptation of this book coming in 2026 – but do not miss the experience of the book.

Rated: 4.75 out of 5
Read Author Before: No – this was her first book
Read Author Again: She is writing a second book around the same topic with other creatures, and I am interested
Who Should Read This: YOU! Anyone and everyone… It’s a beautiful story that I think touches us all a little differently, as there is so much in this book to reflect on
Book Club Worthy: Yes! Great topics, on love and loss, doors that open where we did not know doors existed, so so much….


Bookies Bookclub – Hail Mary Review

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

On September 9th, our Bookies Book Club met at a lovely location to discuss our book selection, “Hail Mary” by Andy Weir.

This was a different selection for us, as, other than a few of us having read The Martian (also by Andy Weir), sci-fi would not typically be considered a go-to genre.
What came out of this discussion was what I had hoped for -while yes, the scientific formulas could be skip-worthy for those who read the book, and a little “spacing out” (pun intended) for those of us who went the audio route when the formulas were discussed, we came out of this discussion with an average rating of 4 out of 5 overall.. Some of us a higher and a few lower out of the 15 os us in attendance.
It was a fun evening of talking about Ryland, our protagonist, and his encounter with Rocky, our space buddy, and all the happenings before, after, and in between.

As always, we love to pull things from the book to enhance our discussion/experience. A great spread of a tasty fruit pizza, lasagna, dried pineapple (space worthy!), salad, and more – we also had a few things pulled from the pages of the book:

Day 1 Meal 1 package ( the space meals Ryland had each day) – Squeeze Yogurt Packets
Breakfast Burritos – Ryland’s last earth meal
Me Burgers – (LOL) – spoiler alert for those who have not read the book, so I will leave this one be
Space Suckers – cuz. Why not?

If discussing this book with a group, here are some questions that we enjoyed:

1) Stratt had a hard role to play – did you agree with how she did things? Did she have a choice?
2) Ryland’s career as a teacher serves him well. What are some of the skills he was able to bring to the mission due to his past?
3) The book is Sci-fi, but also more. What other genres could this be labeled as?
4) What lessons do Ryland and Rocky’s friendship teach us
5) With the back and forths in the book, present time, and memories of the past as Ryland pieces together how he got to where he is – did that flow well? Was it a good way to write this book?
6) There is a lot of HUMOR in the book and great quotes – are there any that made you laugh out loud, and if so, which ones?
7) Why did they name the ship Hail Mary?
8) Did the book grab you right away, or did it take a while?
9) What did you think of Ryland’s final choice? What would you have done?
10) Would you recommend this book to a friend?
11) If you enjoyed this book and have not read The Martian, would you do so now?
12) The Movie is coming in March 2026 – is this something you would go to?

My review: Hail Mary
My review: The Martian
My review: Artemis


Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Second time through this one and still – so so good and laugh out loud worthy ~Sheila

When Ryland Grace awakens, he has no idea where he is and, for that matter, who he is. All he knows is that he has been asleep for a long, long time.

As memories begin to return, he realizes he is on a spaceship, millions of miles from Earth… and in the company of two corpses – his flight mates that did not fare as well as he did.

Memories of earth and what got him here, as well as investigating the vessel that has been his home for 4 years, the fuzzy thoughts just out of reach start to clear… he is on a mission to find the answers to save earth from certain destruction… but he wasn’t meant to do it alone… and he is alone.

Or is he?



Holy all things giddy – I am so thrilled to have a chance to talk about this amazing book (in my case, audio). When this was selected last month as our Bookies Book Club read for September, I was looking forward to a review of this one that I had listened to years ago. While I remember I enjoyed it – I had forgotten how much.

The audio – the narration – the loads of funny moments and snarky comments…. absolutely a joy. Instead of feeling this was a do-over, it felt new… so much I had forgotten.

“Knock-knock-knock
No, that’s not creepy at all. Being in a spaceship twelve light-years from home and having someone knock on the door is totally normal.”
― Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

“I pull the sheet off the bed and wrap it around my torso a couple of times. I pull one corner over my shoulder from behind my back and tie it to another from the front. Instant toga.

“Self-ambulation detected,” says the computer. “What’s your name?”
“I am Emperor Comatose. Kneel before me.”
“Incorrect.”
― Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

You don’t need to be a fan of science fiction to enjoy this one – you bet there are scientific terms, but if I say science can be fun, believe me. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much listening to a book.

Hail Mary is set to be a movie coming March 2026. Ryan Gosling is playing Ryland, and I think that is a perfect choice. I will definitely be going to see this. Our Book Club is reviewing this tonight, and I will have another post of the fun food (I have some ideas!) and the discussion as well as their overall rating – stay tuned. 🙂

I recommend Hail Mary for everyone – an absolute delight, and if you are an audio person, I highly recommend that. AMAZE!!!!

Rated: 5 out of 5 – I was going to rate a little lower, but dang… I really enjoyed this
Read Author Before: Yes (The Martian – also a 5 out ot 5)
Read Author Again: I would! Bring it on, space boy!
Who Should Read This: Honestly, everyone… It’s refreshingly different, it’s fun and ummmm Ryan Gosling 😉

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

A fun and plausible read! ~ Sheila

Frick Island is a tiny town in the middle of Chesapeake Bay with residents who like to keep their business to themselves. Piper Parrish among them.
When Piper’s husband, Tom’s crab boat capsizes, and his body is not found, the young “maybe” widow goes right about life as though Tom is still there… making his breakfast, walking him to the dock in the mornings, meeting him in the evening, and of course their standard Friday night date at The One Eyed-Crab.

When Anders Caldwell, want-to-be podcaster with an actual audience, is given an assignment on Frick Island to cover the annual Cake Walk Fundraiser, he is less than pleased. How are assignments like this going to put him on the map? But Anders finds that he has stumbled onto a much more interesting story, not only about Piper’s eccentric behavior of talking to a husband who is not there, but also watching all the residents of Frick Island pretending Tom is there as well for Piper’s sake. Business owners waving and saying good morning to Tom, acknowledging him right alongside Piper…. well… to Anders… this may be the story that will give him a name.


This is one of those books that has been in my peripheral vision… but for whatever reason, I did not pick up. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean… I’m sure you do it too 😀 As much as we may want to read ALL THE BOOKS. You can’t… and I know… It’s heartbreaking.


So many books… so little time….

So… looking for my next listen this summer as I go about my weekly cooking, cleaning, gardening… I chose TIHOFI. And… not disappointed.

My time on Frick Island was enjoyable! Piper is interesting and likable, and the book allows you to explore many outcomes….
Is Tom alive?
Do the residents of Frick Island know something I do not?
Does Piper know something that no one else does?
Is Piper crazy … or crazy in grief?
OR… Or… is something much bigger going on?

Well… I’m not telling. I will tell you, it’s worth a pick up. This is a pleasant, easy, and fun read. And this seems ( at least from my experience) to be Coleen Oakley’s pattern as an author – good books with a touch of fun… as I experienced when I read The Mostly True Story of Tanenr and Louise

Rated: 3 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes
Read Author Again: Most likely
Who Should Read This: Anyone who enjoys a fun, interesting read that’s not heavy. This is the perfect time of year for Frick Island.

Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Bookies Book Club Pick)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Based on a true story, this retelling of another remarkable woman pulled from history is well worth your time and attention. We have come a long, long way. ~Sheila

It is Maine, 1789, and Martha Ballard, a Midwife, is requested to examine a body found in the icy waters of the Kennebec River. As a Midwife, she knows much about her community and what goes on behind closed doors, recording in her diary every birth, every stillborn, as well as deaths and debacles, and every detail surrounding the circumstances.
Now, as Martha examines the dead man, she recognises him to be one of two respected gentlemen that had been allegedly involved in a rape a few months back. She also sees this death as not an accidental drowning, but murder.
As Martha lives in a time when women should know their place, and their voice is not always respected, when you could instead get an opinion from a man, her battle for justice is an uphill one When her son, Cyrus, is identified as having been in a fight with this man the same night as his death, Cyrus is accused of the murder. Martha knows she has to find a way to justice, no matter what the cost.

My Book Club, The Bookies, chose this as our read for June. I had this book already downloaded and for the life of me, was under the impression I had never finished it and wasn’t sure why… turns out – I just have a poor memory- not only did I read it, I also reviewed it here, as well as on Goodreads in March of 2024 – both I discovered this morning when I went to write this review. Good grief… I think that is a new one for me.

That all said – without reading what I previously wrote – here are my 2025 thoughts (and yes while listening to this one over the past week, I did recognize that I had some knowledge of this book, so there is hope for me yet… ;P
Martha’s story is compelling – not only is the book well written, it is based on an actual person and facts (historical fiction – the author admittedly fills in blanks and takes liberty to make the story flow). The book and the struggles of women having a voice are timely. I recently finished the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, while certainly not apples to apples – this book gave me some of that same vibe of women struggling for respect and rights.
Often I find some of the more recent books are going for the big shocking “WOW” with nothing to stand behind it but poor writing, loose ends, and a confused reader – this is not one of those books… everything flows well, every storyline comes full circle.
It’s definitely worth the hype surrounding it, and I would absolutely recommend you give this a read.

Bookies Book Club:
The Bookies enjoyed this book very much – there was much to discuss, and women’s rights were definitely part of the discussion. Overall, the rating was a solid 4.5 out of 5. One of our members even stated that when she read this last year, it was her favorite book of the year.
If you are reading this as a book discussion, here are some fun things to include:

Food suggestions – there is not a lot of food talked about in the book, but if you look at the times, here are some thoughts:
Hearty Crusty Bread
A Chowder or Stew (think things you can get from a garden or from animals you raise, like cows, chickens, pigs)
Whole chicken (I went with the rotisserie style I could get from Walmart – already cooked)
Small potatoes, Carrots, Rosemary
Salad
Fruits
And an add-on for us with the Frozen River title – I made frozen Margaritas

Topics to pull for discussion –
Women’s rights ( we had a list of when laws were passed – see below), actually frightening to see how much of this has happened in our lifetime.
Midwifery
Relationships

Rated: 4.25 out of 5
Read Author Before: well, the same book so yes 🙂
Read Author Again: I would- she has a certain style I enjoy
Where Read: Listened on audio between house, car and yard work 🙂

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

Eleven years ago, Attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, from the murder charges of his mistress – unsuccessfully. To Sarah, that was another life as she has moved on from that dreadful past and has started a family with her second husband, Bob Miller. If there is a sense of normalcy, this is it.
Right?

But when Bob has a one-night stand, Sarah immediately files for divorce. Amid this news and navigating the end of a relationship when a child is involved, Sarag also learns that new evidence has been uncovered in the case against Adam and maybe – things were not so cut and dried after all – in fact, new evidence shows that that there was tampering of evidence and the fingers were definitely pointed in the wrong direction, and the wrong person. Unfortunately, this places Sarah back in the spotlight – exactly where she doesn’t want to be during this time of turbulence in her personal life.

Now the woman that Bob had slept with is missing – and Sarah is fearful that life… does indeed seem to be repeating itself…

When I read The Perfect Marriage, I was impressed with this new author (to me). When I learned that the Perfect Divorce was being released shortly after I finished the first book, I was momentarily excited, followed quickly by cautiously making a decision if I wished to read it. How often have we LOVE LOVED a first book only to find the second to be a close repeat of the first and while fun to try to continue the story…. often we find it is not as strong and well-loved as we had hoped…

Have we learned nothing from Frieda McFadden’s Housemaid, the series slowly went from my 5-star rating, to a 3.5 for The Housemaid’s Secret, to my 3 average for The Housemaid Is Watching.

I get it – it’s hard if you have a winning story to not try again, but sadly, I am trying to remember the last time in a book like this that the sequel lived up to its potential.

That all said, The Perfect Divorce was interesting, I love the narration in both books, but in the end… I could have done without this one. The whole time I am making guesses at how and who is involved based on what happened in the first book. And while I did not have all the details, I was correct in my initial guesses.

IMO – read The Perfect Marriage. Skip the Perfect Divorce.

Rated: 3 out of 5
Read Author Before: yes
Read Author Again: yes – in fact, I have another book waiting, and I am excited to see what else she writes
Where Read: Listened to on audio – mostly at home