Summer Reading Celebration

I ordered this book for my husband and me too listen to together. We both enjoy history and it sounded like an interesting story. I should have been forewarned by the almost opening page which described two survivors of the wreck found engaging in an act which could only be described as cannabilism. Philbeook doesn't spare any detail in this book. From that opening scene to the blood spurting out of a harpooned whale's spout he almost seems to revel in bringing the grotesque to light, and he spates no detail. I actually think that there was not enough of a story here and Philbeook had to add every detail and side excursion into other related and unrelated incidents to flesh it out. I much preferred the story of Shackleton and the Endurance to this book.

I have no words. This book was amazing!

Pirates of the Caribbean meets Chronicles of Narnia. Privateers, Navy, fauns, minotaurs, humans and elves with plenty of magic oh my! There were parts that were slow or dragged too much for my liking but, for the most part it was well placed. I did not like the MFC but she grew on me. Honor Renn, Navy blue mage, is left adrift until she is picked up by the notorious Ship of Spells. On-board is an eclectic crew of misfits amd a charismatic captain. There battles on land and sea, treachery, loathing, love and a ton of magic. Thoroughly enjoyed all of the tension on board the ship between Honor Renn, the crewand the enigmatic captain Thanavar!

These novellas should be made into larger stories. Especially water and earth, they are my favorite.

4.5 I liked that. Interesting but it didn't dwell on boring things. It knew exactly what we were in for. I needed a book about dinosaurs and got a manifest destiny, stupid boy goes on a ride of a life time for some dinosaur bones and I ate it up!

It was a great book and one of the first to actually surprise me!

This is considered an Young Adult book, but I enjoyed it. It is a dual memoir written by the 2 penpals. The letters change both their lives. It also gives an insight how different life is in other countiries, in this case Zimbabwe. I am sure that this book will have an impact for the better on anyone who reads it.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking, all at the same time. The aftermath of Ben coming out is what every queer person fears and what happens to so many people. The story handles it in a good way, however; it doesn't feel like suffering for suffering's sake. Even after being kicked out of their house for who they are, Ben is able to find happiness, love, and acceptance. This is a story of heartache, but also a story of hope.

This was a amazing book. I enjoyed reading about the "sea women" and went further to find videos about these amazing women. This is a way of life that I never knew existed!! I have read other books by Lisa See and this is definitely my favorite.

When I have a task of drudgery to do, I make light work of it by simultaneously listening to an audiobook. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning audiobook filled that need well as I tackled some kitchen cupboards. Author Margareta Magnusson makes quick work of explaining the blunt, practical premise of “death cleaning” then devotes most of the book to describing how to implement it as a gentle art. Death cleaning is simply weeding out and organizing your personal stuff in such a way that it won’t pose an undue burden to someone after your death. Very pragmatic! The gentle art is what makes it a pleasure: admittedly, most death cleaners are older people and sometimes their friends and relations are dwindling. One can build new ties in the gentle ways they pass along possessions such as photo collections, hand tools, and all manner of things. The gentle art may include giving away curated collections of photos at family gatherings, or passing along furniture to young people just starting out. Through her chapters readers also catch glimpses of the aged author’s well lived life. It was not a long book, and I highly recommend it.