2 Kids and Tired Books

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:44:00 +0000

About the book:

Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.

This was just an honest to God funny book. I read it in an evening and laughed out loud in places.

Lula Dean is a lonely woman who feels betrayed by a life that doesn't fit her idea of morality. She was your stereotypical mean girl in high school who hasn't grown up or matured at all. Always searching for relevance and attention, she grasps onto the issue of banned books. She sets up a little library full of what she believes are "good" books.

Soon though, her little free library is hacked and the wholesome books replaced with banned ones. What follows is both hysterical and captivating.

The townspeople choose books from Lula's library for different reasons and, instead, soon find that they have discovered books that speak to them, teach, and enlighten.

Some of the themes are mature, with profanity. We see racism, anti-semitism, book banning, and anti LGBTQ+ sentiment.

The book can be read as a simple story or a fantastic satire with parallels to what we are seeing in our country today.

The social commentary often seems high-handed, some of the characterizations are shallow, and many are clichéd and stereotypically Southern.

But, I loved it. I loved the boy who discovered the book Gender Queer and how it helped him understand his brother. Or the boy who found Are you there God, It's me Margaret? and how it helped him learn about what girls and women and cleared up misunderstandings about what he'd inadvertently heard about menstruation. I loved the girl who discovered The Girl's to Revolution (which unfortunately doesn't exist) and how it charged her sense of right and wrong.

I found it clichéd, but still thought-provoking. It shows the importance of books and libraries.

And the ending is perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Read 10/25

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5/5 Stars

The Vanishing Bookstore...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

‘Every story needs a happy ending. And you can’t have yours until you find the bookstore.’

1692. On the outskirts of Salem, a bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…

Present day. Stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’

Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible secret: the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.

Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.

As she pushes open the beautiful blue door hidden amongst the sharp brambles, and stands in front of rows of crumbling leatherbound books with faded pages, she has no idea of the secrets she is about to uncover. Or that her life is in more danger than ever before…

A captivating story. Witches. Family. Curses. Multiple lives lived.

The dual timelines worked. I loved how the history of Salem and the hanging of suspected witches was incorporated.

The bookstore plays a far lesser part in the story than the title and blurb suggest. I would have loved more content there.

The story kept me enthralled and I read this in an afternoon. Highly enjoyable and easily recommended.

Read 3/25

* * * *

4/5 Stars

Book 5 from My Book Jar

The Booklover's Library...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously mis-shelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

A lovely novel about friendship and family. Add a lending library, World War 2 drama and some romance and it's a captivating story. I read it in a few hours.

I enjoy the history that Madeline Martin brings to her novels and this one was no different. I was not familiar with Boot's lending libraries before reading this and it was fascinating.

Easily recommended.

Read 3/25

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4/5 Stars

Book 4 from My Book Jar

I am still that child...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

About the book:

I am still that child is a gallery of poems on grief, heartache, and love. The author is inspired by nature, faith, and the trials of life that she has faced. She speaks of love as she speaks of the changing seasons. Constant, unstoppable and with nuance each day.

Esther draws a picture with her words in a landscape of different characters mixed with personal stories and experiences. Her adoration for writing began at a young age when she confided in lyrics of her favorite songs and fell in love with the rhythm that poetry makes.

This is a beautiful book of poetry. The Doctor saw it and thought I might like it and he was absolutely correct. I marked so many pages that moved me.

The writing is simple, but often profound and very thought-provoking. This is a book I can see myself returning to.

* * * * *

5/5 Stars

I Wish I Knew...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

About the book:

In this fast-paced world, I Wish I Knew is a collection of poems to guide us through the wilderness of life, navigating body image, emotions, mental health, and personal growth.

With honest lessons learned from rock bottom, Donna Ashworth's writing helps us to find courage in chaos and rise to every challenge.

Sparking joy, surprise, and gratitude on each page, this collection will soothe your soul, strengthen your spirit, and help you find your own unique voice.

I have followed Donna Ashworth on social media for quite a while now and I always love her thoughts and poetry.

This is a beautiful collection of poems for someone who is grieving, searching, or rebuilding. As one who is 6 years into a post-religious deconstruction, many of these resonated with me.

This is a book to pick up time and time again and each time I do, something new stands out.

* * * * *

5/5 Stars

Book 3 from My Book Jar.

The Year I Stopped to Notice...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 18:47:00 +0000

About the book:

January: A man walking along Caledonian Road falls over onto the huge roll of bubble wrap he is hugging, perhaps for just this sort of situation.

Inspired by her popular Twitter account, The Year I Stopped to Notice brings together Miranda Keeling's observations of the magic, humour, strangeness and beauty in ordinary life. Through the changing seasons, on city streets and on buses, in parks and cafes, Miranda notices things: moments between friends, the interactions of strangers, children delighting in the world around them, the quiet melancholy of lost items on the pavement.

Accompanied by stunning watercolour illustrations from Luci Power, Miranda's poetic vignettes take us on journeys of discovery and share with us the joy of stopping to notice.

September: On a sweltering, packed rush-hour train, my arm suddenly feels lovely and cool, and I look down to see a shopping bag held by the woman beside me - full of just-bought cartons of milk.

I picked up this little gem of a book on a whim at the bookstore. It's small and easily fits in a purse or pocket.

It's a collection of short, little vignettes that the author has observed in her movements around London. Many of which were probably tweets. But, all of them are experiences that someone noticed. How many of us long to be seen? How many of us move through our lives at a brisk pace, always on a mission to get to a destination.

When is the last time you stopped to notice anything? The clouds A flower A family walking. A child playing.

In the introduction, the author ends with:

"The people, animals, places and inanimate objects in this book are here to make you laugh, wince, smile, agree, think again, see the familiar, raise your eyebrows in surprise, pause and exhale. Read it in any order, at any time. Themes bind the moments together--I know what I see, but you will find your own patterns. May you remember to stop and notice."

The snapshots in this book do just that. Remind us to notice. Since reading it .I started making note of things I noticed.

"The pretty spider that we scooped up off the office floor and took back outside."

"The line of cars that stopped to let the ducks cross the road."

This is a sweet book that is perfect when you need an uplift.

Read 10/24

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5/5 Stars

The London Séance Society...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves…

Lenna Wickes wants to learn who murdered her sister, so she becomes an apprentice to Vaudeline D'Allaire, a spiritualist who conducts séances to help families find those who killed their loved ones. Lenna's sister, Evie, also once learned from Vaudeline.

Lenna accompanies Vaudeline to England when she is summoned by Mr. Morley, to hold a séance to try and find out who murdered Mr. Volckmann, the powerful leader of London's exclusive men-only Séance Society.

Once in London, the women discover a much deeper secret about the society, Evie, and Volckmann.

I loved the author's debut novel, The Lost Apothecary, and looked forward to this one. And, overall, it did not disappoint. I didn't love the dual historical/modern timelines in The Lost Apothecary, and I am so glad Sarah Penner did not do the same thing here. This is two narratives in the same timeline: Lenna's third person and Mr. Morley's first person. I'm never a fan of first person, but the duality worked here and fit the story.

The author does her research and I definitely recommend the author's notes at the end. And as with her first novel, the history comes alive and here the reader finds themselves immersed in Victorian London.

The story captured my attention from the beginning. I'm not normally a murder mystery person, but this was fun. I hadn't predicted the ending at all and I thought the reveal was well executed.

I will continue to look forward to novels by Sarah Penner.

Read 9/24

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4/5

Book 2 from My Book Jar.

Bad Mormon: A Memoir...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

Straight off the slopes and into the spotlight, Heather Gay is famous for speaking the gospel truth. Whether as a businesswoman, mother, or television personality, she is unafraid to blaze a new trail, even if it means losing family, friends, and her community.

Born and bred to be devout, Heather based her life around her faith. She attended Brigham Young University, served a mission in France, and married into Mormon royalty in the temple. But her life as a good Mormon abruptly ended when she lost the marriage and faith that she had once believed would last forever.

With writing that is beautiful, sad, funny, and true, Heather recounts the difficult discovery of the darkness and damage that often exists behind a picture-perfect life, while examining the nuanced relationship between duty to self and duty to God. “An eye-opening firsthand account of religious indoctrination told with candor and sincerity” (Interview magazine), Bad Mormon is an unfiltered look at the religion that broke her heart.

I have never watched a Real Housewives show. I knew absolutely nothing about Heather Gay, but I'd seen the book when it was first published. And in all honesty, I completely dismissed her as some dumb, self-absorbed Hollywood celebrity. It wasn't until I heard her on a Mormon Stories podcast that I realized I could relate to some of her story.

As a former Mormon, much of Heather's Mormon experience resonated with me. The role and expectation of women, especially. The use of guilt and coercion; the disappointment in your family and friends when you leave; and the joy you discover outside the faith bubble. I was surprised that some of the writing managed to convey bits of depth and introspection when she talked about Mormonism.

But that's where it ended.

Self-absorption, though, is present throughout it and one could argue, why did this woman feel like she could write a memoir? Is she really that well known outside the Real Housewives audience? Is this just an excuse to further her 15 minutes of fame? Maybe. I certainly didn't know who she was. But, the sensationalism of the Ex-Mormon aspect is certainly attention-grabbing.

She name drops so many people with the assumption that the reader will know them. Perhaps Real Houswives fans do. I didn't. Outside the Mormon aspect, I related to very little in this book. I have never lived an affluent life with spa visits, lip plumping, and botox. I do my own nails.

Once Heather reached the part of her story that talked about her post-Mormon, post-divorce life and Real Housewives, she lost me. So much superficial artifice that seemed important to her new life.

The subject matter is mature and active LDS members will find offense at her descriptions of those things that Mormons believe to be sacred. But, I don't see active LDS members seeking out this story.

I much preferred the actual Mormon Stories podcast over the book. Heather presents far better there, than she does here.

Read 9/24

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2/5 Stars

Book 1 from My Book Jar.

My Book Jar

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I have stacks of books in my TBR and choosing one to read is often a daunting task. So, enter my book jar. On each little piece of paper is a book that I have in my possession or I have marked on Spotify. I am not including ebooks, because there are too many in my Kindle and I don't love reading ebooks anyway. I much prefer print.

They are not color-coded, but they cover fiction, non-fiction, politics, and autobiography.

There are 68 in this jar right now.

Shall we see what happens next?

I will mark future reviews that come from this little jar of motivation!

Credit to Books Rock My World on Facebook for the idea.

The Keeper of Lost Things...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

Lime green plastic flower-shaped hair bobbles—Found, on the playing field, Derrywood Park, 2nd September.

Bone china cup and saucer—Found, on a bench in Riviera Public Gardens, 31st October.

Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind—and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners. As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost.

Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.

Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made.

As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest?

A charming, clever, and quietly moving novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us.

The premise of this novel intrigued me, so much. Anthony lost a cherished keepsake the day he lost his fiancée. And after that experience, he began collecting lost things. A teacup, an umbrella, a tin of ashes. A glove, a puzzle piece. So many items and trinkets, lost or left behind. Their owners moving on.

He spends his life collecting and writing about these lost items; creating stories. When he knows he is dying, he leaves his house and collection to his housekeeper, Laura, with the caveat that she try and return as many items as she can.

Laura is lost, herself. And with the help of a charming gardener and her new friend, Sunshine, she embarks on a journey of discovery.

The story is two stories in one: Anthony's and Eunice. Eunice herself once found a lost object and how her path entwines with Anthony's is a heartwarming story.

People long for home, for a place of refuge, for peace. Sometimes lost things have ways of returning to that comfort.

The pacing is sometimes off, but the story is whimsical with a touch of magical realism, and some truly laugh out loud moments.

An overall enjoyable read.

Read 9/24

* * *

3/5 Stars

Yes Please...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book full of words to live by.

This had been on my reading list for a long time and I discovered that Spotify has audio books. Isn't that cool? I haven't done a lot of audio books, but this was fun to listen to and I could listen while I worked. Amy reads it and she's hysterical.

The narration is a bit manic and not completely chronological, but it worked. Amy just takes you through her experiences, in her education experiences, her early days in improv and how she ended up at Saturday Night Live and Parks and Rec.

Bits of advice are dropped in amongst the story telling and I found myself wishing I had a hard copy to make some notes.

It could have sounded self-serving, but it was quite refreshing. Sure, she name drops a ton of celebrity names, but it's all in the context of how she worked with them, how they influenced her, and it didn't seem gratuitous.

Amy's voice rings true and there is an undertone of gratitude and appreciation for her success and the people who helped her get there.

The last chapter is read as part of a live show, and I could have done without the laughing/audience responses. They were distracting. The print version would have been better for that last chapter.

Loved the guest voices of Carol Burnett, Kathleen Turner, and Patrick Stewart.

There is mature language and content, so if that's not your thing, you might want to pass.

Read 8/24

* * * *

4/5 Stars

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!

This is one of those books where I ask myself, "Why did it take me so long to read it?" Oh my goodness. I laughed. I laughed so much.

The Boy and I share what we're reading with each other and I received a text from him that said, "This is my current read. I know it's one of Dad's favorites. It's definitely a funky book but it's very fun." And then a few minutes later, "Ok, I'm halfway through, what in the LSD fever dream is this book? It's funny, but it's whack!"

So, having finished my last book, I decided to read along with him. I finished this book in a couple of hours.

It was fun to finally understand the context of many pop culture references I recognized. It was even more fun to realize where so many references and comments The Doctor has made over the years come from. I now understand who Slartibartfast and Zaphod Beeblebrox are.

The story is whack. Mad. Quirky. Absurd. Off-the-wall and random. So British. And yet, if you choose, you can draw parallels to politics and people and life. Or you can just simply roll with it, which is probably best. You might crash into some walls, or pop out of an airlock into space and hope you get picked up within 30 seconds. But you'll have a hell of a good time.

As we were discussing the book, The Doctor told me that he sees Adams as kind of like Pratchett in that there is a narrow percentage of people that it absolutely hits. If you're in that percentage, it's incredible. If not, the most you'll think is, "that was funny, but I don't understand all the hype". And I can see his point. The Boy got it, too. He loved the book as well.

It's easy to see how Douglas Adams really influenced a generation of science fiction writers and creators.

I can see why people reread this book. I know I will. I loved it. I loved it so much I ordered the next two books.

Do you know where your towel is? We gave The Boy a towel that said 42 and Don't Panic! on it for his birthday. Because, a towel, "is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have."

And Don't Panic!

Read 7/24

* * * * *

5/5 Stars

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 16:31:00 +0000

About the book:

What holds more secrets in the library: the ancient books shelved in the stacks or the people who preserve them? Liesl Weiss has been (mostly) happy working in the rare books department of a large university, managing details and working behind the scenes to make the head of the department look good. But when her boss has a stroke and she's left to run things, she discovers that the library's most prized manuscript is missing.

Liesl tries to sound the alarm and inform the police about the missing priceless book but is told repeatedly to keep quiet to keep the doors open and the donors happy. But then a librarian goes missing as well. Liesl must investigate both disappearances, unspooling her colleagues' pasts like the threads of a rare book binding as it becomes clear that someone in the department must be responsible for the theft. What Liesl discovers about the dusty manuscripts she has worked among for so long—and about the people who preserve and revere them—shakes the very foundation on which she has built her life.

Where to start. I think the premise is fantastic. A university library and rare books. Cool. A mature, mid-life, female main character? Awesome. There is such a shortage of 50+ main characters and especially women. I so wanted to love Liesl.

Liesl who has spent her career as an assistant librarian to a stereotypical misogynist. When she must take over after he has a stroke, she is still dismissed by the other men in the department, still treated with condescension. Liesl who has a vast understanding of the books and her job, but who moves through the story with absolute morose resignation.

The story itself is rather depressing. Everyone is miserable, even without the mystery of the missing books. The character development is non-existent. There is none. So many characters and none that we really ever learn about in any significant way. There are so many issues: marital infidelity/conflicts, mental health struggles, LGBTQ+ discrimination, theft, misogyny.

While the mystery gets solved, the story never really redeems itself.

I enjoyed the parts about the care and treatment of old books, and the workings of a university library that depends on the donations of rich patronizing people.

I love stories about books and bookstores and libraries. I started the book in June and then set it down. It was nearly a DNF, but I was so hopeful that it would start to shine and redeem itself. This one should have been captivating, but instead the actual execution fell far short.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Read 7/24

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2/5 Stars

Tress of the Emerald Sea...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

About the book:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us deeper into the Cosmere universe with a rollicking, riveting tale that will appeal to fans of The Princess Bride.

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Fantasy and YA are not my genres of choice. I so often struggle with understanding world building in unknown fantasy novels and I don't often relate to YA characters.

But, The Boy loves Brandon Sanderson and suggested I read this book. So because he asked, I did.

And it was delightful. I read it in a day.

Tress is a teenage girl living on a rock in the middle of the Emerald Sea. Life is difficult, but she has a good family and a best friend in Charlie, the Duke's son. People are not allowed to leave the island, but the Duke takes Charlie away, hoping to find him a bride. When the Duke returns without Charlie, having given him up to the Sorceress in the Midnight Sea, Tress decides to find him herself.

What follows is a charming and whimsical story about adventure.

It was as much a story about found family and personal growth. Tress goes through some challenges in her quest to find Charlie. She finds herself in the company of pirates who at first would love to kill her, but soon come to appreciate her. She learns and grows and gains confidence as she figures out not only how to find Charlie, but her own path along the way.

“If you ask these heroes why they risked their lives, don't do it on a stand in front of a crowd while you give them their medal. Because the truth is, they likely didn't do it for their country, or even for the ideals. Consistently, across cultures, eras, and ideologies, war heroes report the same simple motivation. They did it for their friends.”

The world building was vivid and descriptive. The richly colored oceans: Emerald, Sapphire, Crimson, Midnight. The oddly charming pirates: among them, Fort, Salay and Ulaam.

Tress was so clever and resourceful. The language was lyrical and Hoid, the narrator, snarky enough to make me laugh out loud at times:

“Men often described the girl as having hair the color of wheat. Others called it the color of caramel, or occasionally the color of honey. The girl wondered why men so often used food to describe women’s features. There was a hunger to such men that was best avoided.”

I borrowed The Boy's copy, but I want to get my own so I can mark it. There was so much wisdom and many passages that were thought-provoking.

One of my favorite passages is about memory:

“I love memories. They are our ballads, our personal foundation myths. But I must acknowledge that memory can be cruel if left unchallenged. Memory is often our only connection to who we used to be. Memories are fossils, the bones left by dead versions of ourselves. More potently, our minds are a hungry audience, craving only the peaks and valleys of experience. The bland erodes, leaving behind the distinctive bits to be remembered again and again. Painful or passionate, surreal or sublime, we cherish those little rocks of peak experience, polishing them with the ever-smoothing touch of recycled proxy living. In so doing— like pagans praying to a sculpted mud figure— we make of our memories the gods which judge our current lives. I love this. Memory may not be the heart of what makes us human, but it’s at least a vital organ. Nevertheless, we must take care not to let the bliss of the present fade when compared to supposedly better days. We’re happy, sure, but were we more happy then? If we let it, memory can make shadows of the now, as nothing can match the buttressed legends of our past… Do not let memory chase you. Take the advice of one who has dissected the beast, then rebuilt it with a more fearsome face— which I then used to charm a few extra coins out of an inebriated audience. Enjoy memories, yes, but don’t be a slave to who you wish you once had been. Those memories aren’t alive. You are.”

Apparently while it can stand alone, there are many easter eggs that tie into other Sanderson novels. I didn't get any of those and didn't need to. The story is amazing on its own.

Read 1/24

* * * * *

5/5 Stars

2023 Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

I did the Goodreads Challenge last year and decided to read 24 books. I figured that was two a month. The Boy did it as well.

It was nice to have a goal to get back into regular reading. I read 4 books in 2022 and 0 in 2021.

I did count rereads: Winter Solstice, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (the film is fantastic), and All the Light We Cannot See (the series on Netflix is absolutely stunning). As well as the children's books I reviewed: Pigs Can't Look Up, The Sparkly Bun, Diwali in My New Home, and Under the Barnyard Light.

Favorites included:

Lessons in Chemistry, and the Apple TV adaptation is fantastic.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Book Woman's Daughter.

Being Henry.

Project Hail Mary

Disappointments included:

Back to the Prairie and One Day in December.

This year, I've set the same goal of 24 books and I want to read them from my TBR. I'll still purchase books, because, hello, it's me. But, I want to make a dent in the stack next to my bed!

Puzzles...Hygge: Cozy Fireplace

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

This was a pleasant puzzle to assemble.

The picture is lovely. It's my ideal setting!

And it comes with a candle. I wasn't aware of that.

Hygge: Cozy Fireplace

500 pieces

kipuzzles

Whimsy Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Source.

Puzzles...Gift Basket

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Christmas puppies. That is all.

This was more challenging than I anticipated. But oh so cute.

Gift Basket

550 pieces

SunsOut

The Book Woman's Daughter...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

About the book:

Bestselling historical fiction author Kim Michele Richardson is back with the perfect book club read following Honey Mary Angeline Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.

In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.

Picking up her mother’s old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn’t need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren’t as keen to let a woman pave her own way.

If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she’s going to have to fight for her place, and along the way, learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.

Wow. Where to start. I read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek in a day and loved it so much that I immediately picked up the sequel and pretty much read it in a day as well. So good.

This story picks up ten or so years after the previous book ends. It could be read as a stand alone, but don't. Read the first one before you read this.

Honey is Cussy Mary's daughter and the story starts with her parents being arrested for miscegenation. Her mother is Blue and her father is White and at the time, the law forbade their marriage. They'd hidden for years in another area of Kentucky, but Cussy Mary and Jackson are finally arrested. Honey is sent back to Troublesome to live with old Retta, who becomes her guardian, and she fights to become emancipated rather than sent to a work house. But the jealousy and prejudice of others intervenes.

We see familiar faces return in this novel and welcome new ones in Pearl and Wrenna (and Tommie!) among others. And, as Honey returns to Troublesome, it becomes so apparent that Cussy Mary left a deep impression on the people there and most of them welcome Honey back with open arms.

She becomes a librarian, just like her mother and rides her mother's former packhorse route with their old mule, Junia. And like Cussy Mary, Honey is kind and compassionate, and fights against injustice.

And in rural, 1950s Appalachia, injustice is alive and well.

The people are still dirt poor, and fear stokes anger. Domestic violence is rampant as is general abuse of women. Honey experiences this as she tries to help a new friend and the story does not sugar-coat the heartache that comes because of abusive men.

But courage comes in many forms and thirst for knowledge and the power of books is immeasurable. Honey experiences frustration and fear, but also finds friendship and compassion as she hopes to be emancipated and be with her family again.

This was a fantastic sequel and I do hope that there is one more book to wrap up the Lovett's story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. You can find my review for The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek here.

* * * *

4/5 Stars

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything—everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.

Cussy's not only a book woman, however, she's also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she's going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere — even back home.

The people of rural 1930s Kentucky are the poorest of the poor, but crave knowledge. They have no means of transportation out of their little communities and the Pack Horse Library Project brings them books and news of the world. The women librarians who brought this treasure were called Book Women.

Cussy Mary Carter is a woman who loves books and reading and knowledge. She loves her library route and the joy of bringing words to people who have little joy and happiness in their lives. But, Cussy Mary is also a Blue. Born with a genetic anomaly that causes her skin to appear blue, she is treated as a colored person and in 1930s Appalachia, racism is strong and fear stokes cruelty.

But Cussy Mary is kind, despite how others treat her and with her mule Junia, she travels the hills and hollows each week delivering books, and kindness, and hope to the people in her community. She is the one who knows who is sick, and hungry, and pregnant. She reads to them and listens as they read to her. She is the one they confide in and share their hopes and fears.

This storytelling is fantastic. The author doesn't shy away from portraying the poverty and how lack of education and resources affects everything about life. The men risk life working in the coal mines and the women must feed and care for their families with nearly nothing. The scarcity of medical facilities and inability to communicate or travel meant that too many died in childbirth or from starvation and the story doesn't minimize that.

I'm late to the party for this book, but wow. Worth the wait. Such a fascinating story that set me off down a rabbit hole of learning about the Pack Horse Library Project and the blue people of Kentucky.

Truly a remarkable story that highlights the power of literacy, kindness, and courage.

I found the following video about the Pack Horse Library Project fascinating.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. You can find my review for the sequel, The Book Woman's Daughter, here.

* * * *

4 Stars

Puzzles...Christmas Books

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

My mom gave me this darling puzzle last year. And it was perfect for me. I love books and I love Christmas books. I have collected them for years because we read stories as a family on Christmas Eve.

Tile puzzles are my favorites, because I enjoy doing sections. This was so fun. Great quality and a pleasure to assemble.

Christmas Books

1000 pieces

whitemountainpuzzles

Diwali in my New Home...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

About the book:

Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday.

Priya misses the traditions in India. But as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, Priya introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. And even though the celebration is different this year, it's still Diwali.

A heartwarming story of celebrating in a new place and sharing the Hindu festival of lights with those unfamiliar with the holiday.

Priya is missing the familiar traditions of Diwali that she celebrated in India. Now that she lives in America, it is different. Diwali isn't a traditional American holiday.

But as Priya's family brought their traditions with them and as they prepare to celebrate Diwali, Priya realizes that it doesn't matter where she is. Diwali is the same. And when the neighbors are curious about the lights and art, they are able to share the holiday and show them the magic of Diwali.

This is an absolutely beautiful story of light, love, and inclusion. I learned more about Diwali in this little book than I had ever known previously.

The illustrations are vibrant and gorgeous. The message is beautiful. I appreciated the glossary and note at the end explaining what Diwali is and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world.

Thank you to the author, Shachi Kaushik, for the opportunity to review this lovely story. It will make a wonderful addition to any child's bookshelf.

Read 11/23

* * * * *

5/5 Stars

From the Archive (2016): All the Light We Cannot See...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

From the Archive highlights reviews of the past.
Today's review is from January of 2016.

You can find the original post here.

-----------------------------------------------------------

About the book:
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.

I really should write my reviews immediately after having read a book. It's so much harder to go back and remember thoughts and insights. I've contemplated taking notes while I read, but just never get around to it.

World War 2 as a literary setting just fascinates me. Especially coming from an American perspective. Our perspective is so different because the war never physically touched our country. Pearl Harbor, yes, but Pearl Harbor was so far away from the mainland. It affected our country because of our men and women who fought in that war and we had coastal blackouts and rationing, etc., but America as a whole wasn't bombed and we never felt those actual, physical effects. Our first real registered attacks came with 9/11. So reading about the European war experiences is compelling.

We ask ourselves what would we have done? How would bombings and occupations affected us? Would we resist because it was right by choice or by pressure? And the answer is that we don't know.

In reading this book, similar questions come to mind. Should I help with the resistance? Should I simply go into hiding? Do I help this person when this war says they're my enemy?

The narration of the story moves between the perspectives of Marie-Laure and Werner as well as jumping back and forth between time lines. We get peeks into the future, but it's not until the story wraps up that we see how it all comes together. Normally that might frustrate me, but it worked here.

The prose is gorgeous. The writing lyrical. Marie-Laure was a remarkable character; so strong and resourceful. The history of the Brittany occupation was previously unfamiliar to me.

One main question remains unanswered and that was frustrating although the discussion and speculation that decision promotes was good. But, just as the book's title infers, we don't see the whole story at once or even at all. There are still secrets and knowledge unknown.

Our book club read All the Light We Cannot See for our December gathering. It was universally recommended.

Thanks to my local library for having a copy I could borrow. You can purchase your own copy here.

The Netflix Limited Series is a wonderfully vivid adaptation.

Read 12/15

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

About the book:

From Emmy-award winning actor, author, comedian, producer, and director Henry Winkler, a deeply thoughtful memoir of the lifelong effects of stardom and the struggle to become whole.

Henry Winkler, launched into prominence by his role as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.

Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s revealed himself as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work.

Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.

As many children of the 70s, I grew up watching Happy Days each week and loving it. I had a Fonzie t-shirt. I don't watch much television though, so I wasn't aware of most of Henry's career post-Happy Days. I have, however, seen him in things over the years and I always thought him to be a kind person. His Twitter (X) account is delightful. I adore seeing his joy when he is here in Idaho fishing.

His book was a delight to read. It arrived Thursday afternoon and I read it Thursday night. I have another book in progress and it simply got set aside for Henry.

Henry talks of his life growing up: his parents fled Berlin just as the war was starting and his childhood was difficult. He had difficulty reading and didn't learn about his dyslexia until he was in his mid-thirties. But growing up and being called dumb and stupid does a number on your self-esteem and Henry is candid about always feeling inferior.

Happy Days is central in the beginning, but Henry's story is so much more than that. He shares his frustrations at being typecast, at struggling to find work. Like many celebrity biographies there is a lot of name dropping as to who he worked with and so forth. But he is gracious and complimentary to most of those he has worked with over the years and he shares what he learned from them.

I appreciated his honesty about discovering a good therapist when he was older and figuring out who he was and improving his relationships.

He and his wife have been married for 47 years and he includes paragraphs in Stacey's words which enriches the narrative.

While he is open about his life and frustrations and vulnerability, Henry's story is largely positive. You can feel his joy radiate off the pages. I highlighted some passages and have tagged so many pages.

My favorite? When Henry talks about never finishing a negative sentence.

"When you finish a negative sentence, it grows immediately into a paragraph, and then into a thesis, into so many words that grab your ankles and hold you in place....Release the negative thought before you put a period on the end of it."

Henry is grateful for his life and it shows.

This was a pleasure to read.

Read 11/23

* * * * *

5/5 Stars

The Chaos of Stars...#BookReview

noreply@blogger.com (Holly (2 Kids and Tired)) — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

About the book:

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

I picked up this book solely because I love the quote from it that I have seen floating around social media.

"...I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you."

So, I wanted to find the story and the context behind it.

I wasn't aware going into it that The Chaos of Stars was YA. Which usually isn't a problem for me, but I don't normally read it as I often have difficulty relating to the teenage protagonists. But this was an easy, and quick read.

The idea of Egyptian and Greek gods living among mortals isn't new and it works here. The relationships in mythology are so absolutely bonkers, but Isadora's snarky commentary about them is delightful.

And when your parents are gods, but they made you mortal, it's hard to accept. So, frustrated with her mother and scared of her older brother Anubis, Isadora leaves Egypt to live in America with her another brother Sirius, who had left the family home years earlier.

The supporting characters are fantastic and they all work well together. The story flows quickly and for all its moments of depth, is still mildly shallow, but entertaining. And in spite of her experience of living among gods, Isadora is a teenage girl struggling to understand her family; particularly her mother.

And yes, I discovered the full quote.

"I didn't fall in love with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way. I do believe in fate and destiny, but I also believe we are fated to do the things that we'd choose anyway. And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you."

I love that sentiment and it absolutely encompasses how I feel about my husband.

Read 10/23

* * *

3/5 Stars