Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein, is my first finished WWII book. Because this was already on my reading list, it didn’t take much encouragement to read it. Really fast. Much faster than the histories. Overview: This story follows two girls, one of whom is a special operator (aka spy) and the other a pilot,…
Category: Read the World
The Perilous Gard | Book Club
I completely forgot about the December book club because, you know, the madness of the holidays. As we did a book exchange instead of reading a book, I’m going to review the book I chose to give in the exchange: The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope. This is one of my all-time favorite books—probably because…
Read the World (January) | Germany
I decided that with the whole World War II thing, Germany should be my first country in my Read the World journey. Because I’m just kind of making this up as I go along with a vague idea of what I want—to explore one country per month—I’m going to read a fictional novel based in Germany…
WWII Update: Thoughts on Hitler
I’ve been faithfully plugging along on my WWII reading, though I’d be remiss in making you think that it’s a trial; “plugging along” has such a negative connotation, like something you have to do. I enjoy history and learning about such a critical war in American—and human—history. Currently, I’m listening to The Rise and Fall of…
World War II
I’ve been jotting down World War II books that I want to read and have upwards of 20. I’ve decided to read across genres on this subject as each gives you a new look into that world. At this rate, I’ll have to read several a month to really do the Great War justice. Here’s…
2017 Reading Goals
One of the best parts about a new year are the bright, shiny goals that you set for yourself (not that all those goals come to fruition—they become less bright and shiny around February time when the thrill of trying to change yourself wears thin). However, reading goals are much easier to achieve because it’s…
Twelve Days of Christmas | Book Review
As promised, here’s my review of Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber. I thought that I should really pound out this review before the New Year because, as far as I’m concerned, Christmas doesn’t really end until January 1st. The front of my book informs me that Debbie Macomber is a New York Times bestselling…
Top 10 Christmas Books
If you’re like me, you’re thinking, “Hm, Christmas on Sunday equals a long weekend equals plenty of reading time! Score.” If you’re not like me and have kids, you’re thinking, “I can spend post-present opening time sleeping, or I can read a good Christmas book to ensure that the kids don’t burn down the house during…
The Mistletoe Secret: Book Review
I’m a huge, nerdy fan of Richard Paul Evan’s Christmas books. Ironically, it began with the Sunflower, which wasn’t a Christmas book. Maybe it’s that the books always come out around Christmas time or they’re usually Christmas themed or even that they’re super-adorable with the small sizes and rough-edged pages. Whatever it is, I love his books. That…
The Arabian Nights: Book Review
Reading the Arabian Nights (or One Thousand and One Nights) was a long time coming. I mean, a loooooooong time. You can’t see it, but that expression on Lizzy’s face is relief. I started this book last summer and just couldn’t make myself read it at my normal clip. It became THAT book I looked sideways at on…
The Catcher in the Rye: Book Review
Do you ever read a book where your like, “Okay, so…?” while waiting the entire time for the whole point? Like the shining moment of realization or the great tragedy or even the alien invasion. Something to make you say, “Okay. This is why I read the book.” That was like The Catcher in the Rye for me….
A Monster Calls: Book Club
A Monster Calls was the perfect book for an October book club. A little bit supernatural, a little bit strange, and—in the end—100 percent human. Even Lizzy gives it two paws up. Basically, the book follows a boy, Connor, as he struggles with the reality of his mother’s cancer. Yes, there is a monster, a monster who…
Tyger Tyger 