Audrey

A short summarized depiction of St. Maximilian Kolbe's life as told in his final days in Auschwitz. Wonderful artwork and such a heartbreaking yet inspiring true story.  

When life gets busy, reading tends to be one of the first things people give up. ‘Well-Read Mom' founders Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt discuss the importance of reading and why it should be among our top priorities. What's more, they discuss the impact of taking the time to read a good book (namely literature) and the impact it can have on your life as a Catholic.

I was excited to see a book like this as I don't often hear people discussing the correlation between reading (fiction) and spirituality. Although as I read on it became evident that I'm not entirely the target reader (the book being geared toward busy mothers whereas I'm a single/childless twenty-something), I still feel like I gained insight. There are also some great resources here such as reading journal prompts and scattered book recommendations.

While there was a lot I liked about the book, I did find myself struggling through the last quarter of it. It began to feel more like an advertisement for ‘Well-Read Mom' book clubs than a reading guide. I'll also say that the audience feels too limited, not only in demographic, but also the scope of books and types of readers. The goal of this book is to encourage people to take time and read thoughtfully, but at times dismisses mediums apart from physical editions of books.

Thanks to Ave Maria Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free digital ARC of the book!

A wonderfully well-written and introspective account of the author's memories growing up. I enjoy memoirs like this because you get such a humanistic insight into the lives of others. Everyone has a story and, as the title implies, memories that shape who we are. 

The book is separated into five parts, each part representing a different time in the author's life and highlighting a particular story in that section. Each story reflects on a particular moment or memory ranging from family, illness, life, death, the world, milestones, etc. I do wish some of these stories were longer and provided more context as I'm someone very character oriented (especially when involving real people). The memories are scattered. While a realistic representation of our own collection of personal stories, I'm personally a very linear person. It took me a little while to keep everyone straight. I did eventually get into the rhythm. 

Overall, an intriguing, thought-provoking read. It was an especially fun read given Georgia Scott grew up nearby and I could relate to the New England anecdotes. 

A huge thanks to the author for sending me a signed copy to read and review!

I'm quite fond of Jacqueline Kennedy, though I admit her time as a Kennedy is the majority of what I know about her. Before becoming the First Lady of the United States and Jackie O, she was Jacqueline Bouvier. Jacqueline in Paris gives us a glimpse of Jacquline before she became the woman we know and admire today.

Starting in 1949, we follow Jacqueline during her year abroad in Paris. Happy to escape her mother's expectations for the future and enjoy the freedom of being away from constant parental scrutiny, she seeks culture and solitude. She finds this and more, taking in the realities of post-war Europe, a different outlook on politics and intermingling with people she'd be forbidden to associate with back home, and the lasting effects war has had on those who had to suffer the greatest cruelties. 

Though much of this story is speculation, it's clear there that a great deal of research went into this, especially where the Renty family was involved. I found this subplot to be the most fascinating and was the source of a lot of emotion in the story. It was also interesting getting to see a bit of romance before JFK entered the picture.

I was intrigued by the description and the Preface, but the analogies were over the top. May or may not revisit this one to see if it improves. 

St. Faustina is one of my favorite saints. One glance of the cover and I fell in love with the artwork. I hope to share this with my children, Lord willing! 

Though this book wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be, I was pleasantly surprised with the content I got instead.

Assuming this was a memoir (which it is at its core), I was initially disappointed that there was very little about Maria von Trapp and her family. There were mentions here and there, but ultimately, it was a spiritual book recounting her personal studies of the life of the Holy Family and how they correlated to events of their family's lives. Many questions were posed that I never considered and Marie von Trapp did her best to answer while also encouraging readers to do their own research and create their own conclusions. So while this turned out to be an unexpected read, it was one I ended up enjoying more than I might have had it been a traditional memoir focusing solely on the von Trapp family's story. 

Arthur Dodd was taken prisoner and sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Not willing to die at the hands of the Nazis, he begins sabotaging and orchestrating a mass breakout.    I appreciated the story and the courage, however I struggled with the style in which it was told. Being told more like a novel, I feel like I didn't retain the facts as much as I would have liked. 

Royalty and war are always interesting mixes in a book, particularly when it's based on a true story. Typically in World War II fiction, the royal focus is on the British Royal Family. In A Nurse's Tale, our hero is a Nigerian Princess.

Princess Adenrele Ademola trains in London to become a nurse. When the war breaks out, she stays behind and eventually goes on to become a midwife. Eighty years later, Ade's great-niece, Yemi, goes to England and meets a doctor who is trying to trace his roots having been born in an orphanage. The two of them start to realize the connections they have.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Nigerian culture and history, especially where the characters are based on real people. This was my biggest takeaway. I didn't find myself engaged with the story as a whole. Even still, I applaud what a standout it is. 

As a hobbyist writer myself, I instantly loved the concept of this series. A group of college students/writers competing for greatness in a sixteen-week creative writing course? I'm in.

The first in a series of sixteen novellas, we follow the nine students along with their works. Each of the characters brings their unique style and talent to the pages with some excerpts of poetry, scriptwriting, short stories, etc. The general narration connects everything together with a polished wit.

This book was a lot of fun and a great start to what promises to be an interesting and unique series. Though the humor wasn't consistently in line with my own sense, I did laugh out loud a couple of times. I'm looking forward to seeing how this series progresses. Such a fun idea!

A huge thanks to the author for sending me a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!

Food and cozy mysteries go so well together. As soon as I saw this series, I knew I needed to give it a go.

As the title suggests, cinnamon buns are the culprit in this book. But how and why, and who was behind them? When Liddy Lou is named the prime suspect, it's up to her granddaughter Q'Bita to solve the murder of Macie Dixon. She's not alone, however, having her boyfriend (who happens to be a sheriff) and friends by her side.

This book has a great bunch of characters, a twisty mystery, family drama, and of course food. Charming and quirky, it's a fun read. I also love seeing recipes in the back of a book like this! A great touch.

I was disappointed that this wasn't more focused on Martin Luther King Jr. I expected there to be talk about the repercussions of his assassination and the Civil Rights movement as a whole but was surprised the parts about MLK just skimmed the surface. I learned a couple of new things about him though not to any great extent. Given the length of the book, I didn't anticipate this to be a deep account of anything, but there was a lot of content supplied and the brevity made so many things get lost in the jumble. At the same time, there were many repetitive passages. I tried to take it for what it was, but the speculation of the epilogue lost me. I don't like that kind of narrative in history books. I prefer the facts. 

I love the Lady Astronaut universe, but I didn't feel this added much to the main series. Might have made more sense if I'd read the first three books more recently.

Out of all of the space race books I've read, this one has been the most unique. It offers a look beyond the general facts that have become prevalent in the media/the typical narrative of the story.    One Giant Leap is a play-by-play look at the Apollo program politically, logistically, and scientifically. It's less focused on the science that propelled the rocket to the moon, rather the human side. What was the driving force behind President Kennedy's ‘We choose to go to the moon' speech?    I almost wish I'd taken notes or purchased a physical copy of the book to tab along the way. I found it thought-provoking and it makes me want to research some of the topics further. 

One of the more intimate accounts from the Space Race I've read. This book tells the story of the Apollo 8 mission to the moon (my favorite!). Rather than focusing solely on the science involved, we follow the story of the men flying as well as their families. Even though I've heard many of the stories told in other books, there's always something different/new to discover as well as being reminded of bits and pieces I've forgotten over time. Very enjoyable and I would recommend this over others if you're more interested in the human aspect of the mission rather than the technicalities.

Mathias Freese's writing is intelligent and thought-provoking. This compilation of speculative stories and essays touches upon matters of life, death, art, and events past and present. Though I didn't always agree with some passages, I enjoyed the book's concept immensely. I don't think I've read anything quite like this before. Not in book form, anyway. I initially set out to pace my reading up ended up finishing the book in one sitting. Interesting from start to finish. It's also the kind of book you can pick up and start reading from a random chapter. 

A huge thanks to the author for sending me a copy of the book to read and review. 

A wonderful collection of photographs from Vn. Fulton Sheen and his nephew's pilgrimage to Rome. The accompanying text was more of a general history rather than the pilgrimage itself which was disappointing, but still enjoyable. 

A bittersweet story of two kids escaping a Nazi-enforced Jewish ghetto during World War II. There is a lot of action as well as heart. 

Though I didn't dislike this book, I wanted to like it more than I did. I read Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb earlier this year and it was one of my favorite reads of 2022.

Over the course of World War I, Evie Elliot exchanges letters with various relatives and friends, mainly Thomas (a family friend), Will (her brother), and her mother. The war unfolds play-by-play through these letters, and relationships strengthen in unimaginable ways. 

Typically, I enjoy reading letters between characters because it gives them such intimate voices to one another. I guess I also like some descriptions and action thrown into the mix. Had it just been two people back and forth I think it would have made a difference for me. I started losing track of the storylines between the minor characters due to there being so many to follow. Thankfully the characters were darling enough to keep me reading on.

I usually enjoy travel memoirs like this but I struggled so much with this one. I only pushed through it because it was short. All hope was lost for a worthwhile confusion when the author compared gutting a chicken to sex (and this wasn't the only metaphor thrown out there). More pretension than heart. 

This entire book felt like an existential crisis. I have no idea what I walked away with other than confusion. 

Yunho and Myunghee are kids living in North Korea. Every day is a fight for survival, be it avoiding soldiers, bartering and scavenging for food, etc. They know their only hope for their futures is to sneak across the border to China, but even there they run the risk of being captured. Still, a chance at freedom outweighs the risks involved. The kids start off on different paths but are reunited after a chance meeting at the beginning of their escape.

I knew this was going to be a difficult read going in. It's hard to grasp that the events in this book aren't far off history or works of dystopian fiction. The book is set in 2013, but the situation is still relevant. The story and the illustrations portray this in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. Despite the horrific things the characters face, this is a story filled with hope.

Thanks to HarperCollins/HarperAlley and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book!

Mistletoe Kisses is a new contemporary/sweet romance from Jessica Baker. Though it's a venture into a new genre, it has the same charm and feel as her previous books, particularly An Invitation to Tea.    Zoe Bennett is getting married and her childhood best friend Holly anticipates the role of maid of honor. To her disappointment, she instead finds herself on the staff.    Instead of facing a wedding laced with complete misery, Holly reconnects with her long-distance pal Zach (Zoe's brother and Holly's childhood crush). The two of them come up with a fake relationship plan to get through it all.    I am such a sucker for the fake dating trope and it's done wonderfully here. Holly and Zach are charming characters. The entire book has that cozy Hallmark Christmas movie feel to it. It's a perfect Christmas in July treat! 

Initially I only bought this book to see if there were any rare pictures from Annie 2 (yes!) but I ended up reading the book from start to finish and it was super cute. 

Informative

I found this book to be a helpful and detailed timeline of the Japanese side of WWII, namely, the different battles. It's a quick read but covers quite a bit without going into excessive detail. Recommend!