Remember at the start of this year when I set my goals for the year and one of them was to read more, with a goal of 25 books for the year....well, I haven't done very well in that goal. I've only finished six books this year, not sure how that happened...but it did and that's where we are. I am guessing that I won't make my goal for the end of the year, but you never know, if I buckle down and read a book each week, I could do it.
Even with a small number of books, my reading has been excellent so far this year - here's the six I've read.
Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton - Knighton is a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning and I really enjoyed his segments on the National Parks a few years ago. His book went right onto my list at the library but had a long waiting list for a long time. I lucked out early in the year and was able to get it with no wait. The book has a short chapter for each park and I absolutely loved it. We really enjoy traveling to National Parks and I added several to the must-see list after reading this. It also surprised me by being a personal story about him as well. If you are a fan of him, CBS Sunday Morning, or National Parks, I recommend it.
The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan - I received this book as a Christmas gift and it's from one of my favorite romance writers and podcasters. This story is about a couple whose kids are in college and who have plans to do a big trip together in Patagonia. The wife decides the trip really isn't what she wants to do and suggests a one-year marriage sabbatical to her husband with each of them going different directions. This was such an interesting concept and the book followed them both through their year apart. It was a fun read and a fun "what if" book. It would be a great summer/beach read. Warning, it will also have you planning a vacation (or your own sabbatical) to Santa Fe.
The Promise by Ann Weisgarber - while I was waiting for another book from the library hold list, I read this one which had been in my online wish list for a while. It's the story of a woman who heads to Galveston, TX in the early 1900's to meet and marry a man she went to high school with and become mother to his young child. I grew up in Houston and knew about the great hurricane in Galveston which is a major plot point in this book. It was a fascinating read for someone who went to the island so many times as a kid. I can't really imagine living there without electricity and air conditioning, nor can I imagine going through that hurricane. I was on the edge of my seat reading this, wondering how it would all turn out. I am really glad I finally read it, and actually really enjoyed reading off my phone/iPad.
Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde - this one was in my Kindle app and after the last one, I decided to read another e-book. I think I got it as an Amazon free book of the week ages ago and it was so charming. This is at least my second book by this author so I knew I was in for a heartwarming tale and I was right. It's the story of found family in an apartment building who takes care of a little girl while her mom is struggling. The neighbors go from reluctant helpers to deep friends who want the best for everyone. I really enjoyed this, such a sweet story of how friends can become family.
Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash - Set mostly during WWII, this book tells the story of a girl who was sent from England to live in New England with a family during the war in hopes of keeping her safe. It jumps back and forth between the 1940s and 1960s/early 1970s as you learn about the experience Bea has traveling across the ocean and living with another family. I could imagine myself in their New England home and at the shore in the summer, and could feel the guilt she had when having fun knowing her parents were in the middle of the bombings. When the story started to jump back and forth, I was riveted wondering how it would end. I enjoyed this book so much that I found myself only reading a few chapters a night as I didn't want it to end. It was such a lovely story and I think I cried three separate times while reading it, the last time being when (and probably because) it was over. If you haven't read this one yet and you enjoy historical fiction about women during WWII, put this one at the top of your list!
My last book of the first half of the year started with meeting the author! If you've read my reviews for a while, you know I've enjoyed Lian Dolan's books and podcasts for years. In fact, I bought my first iPod when my son was a baby and found Satellite Sisters shortly after that. They are the "friends in my ears" (and my car) and I've enjoyed listening to them and reading Lian's books for several years. Amazingly, her book tour brought her to central Indiana this year and I had the chance to meet her, talk with her, and have her sign my book. She is just as funny and charming in person as she is on air and in her books.
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So that's the first half of the year. Hope you see something to add to your list. I'm off to read!
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