Summer Reading Celebration

** spoiler alert ** I liked this book. I would give it a 2.5 though, not a 3. Was it as good as the first book in the series, no. Was it still entertaining and fun, yes. The plot just wasn't there. Bella and Mina spent the first 20 pages looking for their supernatural roller derby teammates, who were forced to look for a new home. It is not a big town so not sure why they spent months doing it. The next 30 pages cleaning an asylum. They don't even have their first practice back together til 62. Then they immediately have to take part in a to the death showdown playing roller derby and they have 3 measly days to prepare. Not to mention Mina's inter turmoil over fighting with her best friend, dealing with her parents impending divorce AND still being hung up on feelings of not belonging. I'm sorry. You need more than three days to prepare for a roller derby game, human or supernatural. Also, Mina left her little brpther unattended a lot and all she had to do was make sure he had dinner. Irresponsible much amd the parents didn't even question where she was. Maybe being a parent gives me some perspective but, even being out of sorts, these parents lack of concern always concerning at best but negligent at worst. I wanted to read more about roller derby but got a lot more drama than I cared for. However, looking forward to the plot twist with the zombies for the next book

Good read with my grandson. A good introduction to learning about the Civil War.

Mr Popper’s Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater was a fun one to read to my children. The kids loved the absurdity of keeping a penguin in a refrigerator, and later loved comparing and contrasting it to the film.

3.5 stars. It was an okay and fun book.

This was a very insightful book focused on the QAnon cult and how/why people are susceptible to believing conspiracy theories. The author follows a number of individuals and their loved ones, documenting the destruction of the American family by those who've bought into QAnon and it's insane conspiracy theories.

Strong debut. I really wanted to like the characters....but they are so unlikable. And the killers reason -great- their crazy mentally unstable attitude....didn't really fit. I wanted them to be a bit more.....rational normal. The third act is a high emotion thing but I think having the killer be cool calm and collected would make it fucking CRAZY. I really did love it though. And the ending - epic loved them.

I have no words. This book was amazing!

I relistened to this book this summer. "People are starving for the awe of God." is one of the basic premises of the book. The book is divided into two parts (although you won't find a formal division in it.) The first part is all about the awe of God. Dyke uses vivid illustration to help the reader grasp God's great ess and what we are missing by allowing ourselves to to accept a shallow, domesticated version of a powerfully grand God. The second half deals with what theology calls the eminence of God. That means that he allows us to relate to him and is close to us. There are some beautiful quotes in this book, but the following sums up Dyke's message: "Our souls find satisfaction only in the God that is grand enough to worship and close enough to love. We need both, but the church today has by in large focused too much on the closeness if God and forfeited His grandness. "The tiger has been tamed. We aren't moved by God's greatness and splendor." If you want to get some of that reverence back, I recommend this book.

Cute story. Read with Grandson.

Wonderful journey through difficult relationships featuring love, forgiveness, understanding, betrayal and redemption. Kristin Hannah creates characters that seem to come alive right off the pages. She did a good job with creating Summer Island as well, so good that I have to Google it to see if these islands really exist off the Washington coast. This is a story of an estranged mother and daughter. Nora, the successful mom, hosts a radio call in show giving stellar advice and upheld as a model of morality. Her daughter, Ruby, thinks otherwise, and rightfully so. Ruby carries a huge chip on her shoulders and is unable to connect with others at any level of depth. She ends up having to spend a week caring for her mother at their childhood home on Summer Island. She is offered a huge sum to write a tell all story about her mom just before she makes the decision to go. What follows is the packed week, an old boyfriend and the untangling of many emotions, learned behaviors and walls.