Thursdays at Eight (Debbie Macomber)

Why I have this book: I think it was probably on sale for Kindle, and I've enjoyed books by the author in the past. Seemed like a nice, light read.

So I finished this nearly a month after the last book I finished. Part of that was that we had company and I couldn't focus, but part of it was that it was so boring. Maybe it would have kept my attention better had I read it faster. I don't know. 

The other weird thing was that I bought the audio version to help me get through it faster, but didn't realize that it was an abridged version of the book. So weird! Why would a regular length, nothing-special-about-it book need to be abridged? I only figured that out after I had almost finished the abridged audio version (all the while thinking that I didn't know I was so close to finishing the book itself) with only ten minutes left. I then went to my Kindle to finish those last ten minutes, and realized I was reading stuff that hadn't been in the audio version. Anyway... that just made the whole experience even less enjoyable.

Overall, the story could have been great, but I just couldn't get into it. Was it my brain or was it the writing? Either way, I gave it one star on Goodreads.

I don't remember specifics about the moral content as I'm once again writing this weeks after the date I actually finished it. The topics include divorce, affairs, death, cancer...

The Trumpet of the Swan (E.B. White)

Why I have this book: I borrowed the ebook because (if I'm remembering correctly), Sharon McMahon said it was one of her favorite books as a kid.

I gave it two stars, and I think one of those stars was because he was the author of Charlotte's Webb, and I wanted to be nice to him.

Also, I think I always thought E.B. White was a woman for some reason.

Anyway, the book bored me to tears. Maybe I would have liked it if I had read it as a kid.

Clean.

Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now (Gordon Livingston)

Why I have this book: Someone recommended it online, I think, so I borrowed it from the ebook library. It might have been the audio version... (can't remember)...

I think it was the audio version, but I actually didn't finish this one. It was boring and not really inspiring. I don't remember how far I got into it, but I think it was a handful of chapters.

Anyway, it wasn't for me. I marked it as "did not finish" on Goodreads and didn't give it a rating. 

I don't remember if there was anything objectionable about the content.

The "Tokyo Ever After" series by Emiko Jean

Tokyo Ever After

Tokyo Dreaming

Why I have these books: My daughter borrowed the first one from her school library and loved it, so I bought both books for my Kindle. She never did read the second one... but I read both.

I gave the first one three stars and the second one four stars. To be honest, I'm once again writing this weeks after I read them... today is April 17, but as you'll see, I'm posting as if it's March 13, the day I finished the second book... so I don't remember much about why I chose those ratings.

They were cute books. They could probably be made into a movie series for teenagers. They seemed a little grown up for the teenage years (at least the teenage years I'd want my kids to live), but I realize that life outside of my conservative area is probably more like these books portray.

My previous conservative self might have been appalled that my daughter read the first one, but I'm not quite as uptight now. It's nothing she's not seeing or hearing at school.

There is profanity in the book, can't remember the level, but more than I'd want my kids to ever be saying even if they were adults. The second book has more sexuality in it (not descriptive), but both books do feel more "young adult" than "teenage" when it comes to the dating relationships. Again, I'm a month from reading these, so I might be forgetting things.

The Things We Do for Love (Kristin Hannah)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.

This one earned three stars from me. I thought it was going to be four stars, but the love scenes were a little unrealistic (not descriptive... just the vibe). I mean, I guess some readers might think they are realistic if that's how it works for them... anyway...

I also wish there had been an epilogue.

But it did keep my interest, and I liked the storyline. I would give it a 3.5 if I could, but it's not quite a four star book for me.

There is some occasional profanity. The love scenes are very mildly descriptive. The story involves unwed pregnancy, pregnancy loss, adoption, and substance abuse.

'Tis the Damn Season (Fiona Gibson)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from KU.

The book didn't turn out to be what I expected. I thought it was going to be about women who feel overwhelmed and under-appreciated (according to the summary), so they go away and have a great "girls' weekend" together.

It was kinda about that, but not exactly. 

I gave it three stars on Goodreads. It was enjoyable, but not super relatable. I did enjoy her writing style.

There was an extramarital affair that was a bit weird and gross... so much so that I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone. I don't remember on the swearing. 

Things You Save in a Fire (Katherine Center)

Why I have this book: My friend told me she's read all of this author's books (after I told her I was reading The Lost Husband, also by the author), and this was one of her favorites. I borrowed it from Kindle Unlimited. I really need to cancel that service for good because I already have so many books to read and I keep borrowing more.

I gave this one four stars on Goodreads. Like the other one I read, it started out deep, then had a weird lighter tone toward the middle-end, then went back to the deeper lesson learned. I'm actually reading another book by the author right now, so I'll see if this seems to be a pattern for all her books.

There's some swearing and unmarried sex (not descriptive), and part of the storyline deals with sexual assault, which might be triggering for some readers.

Tutored in Love (Barbara J. Adamson)

Why I have this book: Fun fact... I know the author. I don't know her super well, and thus I was surprised to find out from a mutual friend that she (the author) loves romance novels. I never would have guessed that.

I gave this one three stars on Goodreads. I liked it fine. Maybe I'm just not into the "young adult romance" stage anymore. As romances go, it probably had more depth than most Christian/clean romances do, so that's good. The writing was pretty good, as well. It flowed nicely.

Even though "church" played a small part in this story, it wasn't religious, per se. The characters just belonged to a young adult church group, and it never specified which church it is even though it appears to have been published by an LDS publishing company.

Clean.

The Things We Keep (Sally Hepworth)

Why I have this book: I tend to really love Sally's books, so I bought this one not too long ago when it was on sale for about $2.00.

I liked this one to the tune of three stars on Goodreads. It had such an interesting premise, and the story kept me involved. It gave me things to think about, especially how aging and diminished mental capacity affects people, and how important it is to focus on the people and not just what they are capable of as their minds begin to fail. That's a part of the story that really touched me. I also appreciated the contrast of kindness vs cruelty that we humans tend to show one another. It should go without saying that kindness is so much better.

I just finished this last night, and I'm trying to remember why I decided on three stars instead of four... 

I didn't love the parts that came from the perspective of the 7-year-old character. I didn't feel like it added much to the story.

I felt like Eve's story and character were the most developed, although I can see how it would have been difficult to develop Anna's perspective very well considering her loss of words and thought. Still, it was done well enough for me to feel a lot of compassion for her experience.

There could have been a bit more editing to clean up the writing, and once again, the book was obviously written from a UK/Australian setting or writer (I believe Sally is Australian), then placed in a US setting. Even though one of the main characters was British, there were still too many "British'isms" (or Australia'isms) to believe it was set in America. If it was originally published in Australia or GB, then just leave the setting there, please. It's totally fine. We Americans can adapt.

There was some swearing, including the F-word. There was also some sex outside of marriage, but nothing descriptive. The storyline does deal with suicide.

31 Days to a Younger You: No Surgery, No Diets, No Kidding (Arlene Pellicane)

Why I have this book: I bought the Kindle version around 8 years ago. I don't even know why, other than I had apparently bought another book by this author, too. I wonder if I read that one...

Anyway, I wasn't really interested in reading it at this point, but as I'm still working on getting through my old Kindle books, I pulled this one to the front of the line. Honestly, it was a chore to get through it. I think you're technically supposed to read one chapter a day (31 Days...), but I read about five in each sitting just to get through it faster.

I gave it two stars on Goodreads because there were a few pieces of good advice. Overall, it wasn't anything earth-shattering, and it felt a bit outdated in how women (and their interests and purpose) are characterized.

And as I write about it now, I feel like two stars might have been too generous, but I'll leave it.

Clean.

Two Women Walk into a Bar (Cheryl Strayed)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie on Amazon First Reads.

I gave this one four stars on Goodreads. It was a touching record of the last weeks of the author's mother-in-law's life. It brings to the forefront how our lives are intertwined and how we create relationships over time. 

As a short story (not really a "story" since it's true), it was a quick read, but it had a big impact.

Clean. I don't recall any swearing or anything, but it's been a few days since I actually read it, so I can't be sure.

10 Blind Dates (Ashley Elston)

Why I have this book: My friend recommended it to me, so I borrowed the audio version from the ebook library.

I thought it was okay. It was cute (like my friend said), but also an unlikely scenario within the family of the protagonist. The romantic relationships seemed a bit grown up considering the characters were still in high school. If I didn't know that, I'd have thought it made more sense for college-aged students than for kids still in high school.

I gave it two stars on Goodreads.

I don't recall any swearing (but could be wrong). I do know they used God's name as an exclamation of emotion. There is one scene that alludes to a porn movie and a related "toy" shop, but nothing is described in depth and it's handled as an inappropriate situation.

True Sisters (Sandra Dallas)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library as an audio version.

I actually had thought about reading this book years ago, but decided not to after seeing some reviews saying it wasn't a fair depiction of polygamy or Mormon women. With my new perspective, I decided to go ahead and read it.

It was interesting to find out that Sandra Dallas lived in Utah for a few years as Presbyterian teenager. Kinda cool that she decided to write a book about Mormon pioneers. She did a ton of research, including reading diaries and speaking with LDS historians, as well as visiting historical spots along the trail. 

I thought she was fair to both the faith of the pioneers and the subject of polygamy and how it affected both men and women. I doubt the struggles of the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies were as faith-promoting as the Church likes to paint it, and I'm very certain polygamy wasn't as rosy as they'd like us to think. Sandra did a great job balancing those things and didn't push one viewpoint or the other.

This is a fiction book, so the characters aren't real. The last few paragraphs of the epilogue don't describe the way it really went down for most polygamists, I don't think, but I loved the very last line. Just that line bumped the book from three stars to four for me. *insert fist bump*

I gave it four stars on Goodreads.

Clean. There is some implication of married "relations," and there are some descriptions of death and physical injuries and hardships the pioneers experienced on the trail.

This is How It Always Is (Laurie Frankel)

Why I have this book: I saw a lot of buzz about it online, plus recommendations by people I follow, so I borrowed the audio version from the online library.

I'm kind of torn on this. The book started out interesting, and I was feeling like it was going to be a four-star book. By the end, I dropped it to three stars, and honestly would have given it 2.5 stars if I had that option.

The only reason I'm giving it three stars is because it has potential to be enlightening for society in regards to trans children. I know I was hoping to gain understanding and more knowledge about this segment of the LGBTQ+ community. Sadly, I don't think this book delivered. I guess I did learn a bit about the choices that have to be made when it comes to trans children as they get close to puberty, and I appreciate better how difficult and complicated that is. I can see why there is so much debate about it. There's definitely not a simple solution. There is too much at stake for these kids to get it wrong. I don't envy anyone who has to decide the best thing to do for themselves, their children, or their patients.

But back to the book itself. So much of it felt unrealistic, especially towards the end of the book. The scene at the dance was completely unlikely. The dialogue between young kids is not at all normal or likely. The conversation between the mom and dad at the dance was so eye-rollingly ridiculous. I honestly don't know anyone who speaks like that. 

The dad and the therapist (?) guy the parents talked to on the phone were just a little too excited about Claude/Poppy's gender dysmorphia. I mean, even if one is accepting of their child, surely they'd see that it's really going to complicate their child's life. It will never be easy. So yes, be accepting and supportive and helpful, but to be excited about it seems a bit insensitive to the pain your child will likely suffer physically and/or emotionally throughout life.

And the fairy-tale that is interwoven with the story just added a layer of confusion for me. I didn't really get into that part at all and actually found it pretty boring.

I guess I don't think the book met my expectations. To be fair, maybe the author didn't intend to do anything but write a story that included a character with gender dysmorphia. Maybe I misinterpreted the intent of the author or made a bad assumption based on reviews I had read.

At the end of all of this, though, the story certainly got me thinking, and that's why it earned three stars.

There is some swearing, including the  F-word. There are a couple of sexual encounters, but none of it is described.

This is How You Overcome Depression (Mathew Baker)

Why I have this book: I bought an ebook pack of three books by this author (and/or his brother) a few years ago.

I gave it three stars on Goodreads. While I do think it has good and helpful information, it was really difficult to stay engaged due to the writing style. I think it could have been way shorter (even though it's not that long of a book to begin with) and the info more easily organized.

Clean. I don't recall anything offensive.

Thriving in Relationships When You Have OCD: How to Keep Obsessions and Compulsions from Sabotaging Love, Friendship, and Family Connections (Amy Mariaskin)

Why I have this book: I bought the Audible version (well, I used a credit) after seeing it recommended by someone I follow on IG.

I gave this book five stars on Goodreads. If I had a choice of using decimals, I'd have gone with a 4.6 or so, but I rounded up since whole stars are the only option.

The narrator did a great job, and the tone of the book was positive and hopeful. There were lots of good suggestions and things to think about. There is access to worksheets and such to help implement the ideas the author recommends.

Clean. There is one section on sexuality, but obviously it is clinical in nature.

Truth Seeking (Hans Mattsson and Christina Hanke)

The subtitle reads:

THE STORY OF HIGH-RANKING MORMON LEADER HANS MATTSSON SEEKING SINCERE ANSWERS FROM HIS CHURCH BUT INSTEAD FINDING CONTEMPT, FEAR, AND DOUBT... AND EVENTUALLY PEACE.

Yes, that's a very long subtitle, and it pretty much sums up what the book is about. Hans was actually an Area Seventy in Sweden, and is (at the time of this writing) the highest-ranked Church official to openly express doubts about the LDS Church (and eventually revoke his membership).

Why I have this book: I heard the author speak on a podcast about a topic that I am currently studying, so I bought his book.

I gave this book four stars on Goodreads. It's been translated from Swedish to English, and they probably could have had an English editor clean it up a bit. Since I knew it was translated, I was more relaxed about the errors than I am with American-published books that were originally written in English. ;) The writing is pretty matter-of-fact in tone, but that could be because of the translation. Maybe it has a different feel in the original Swedish.

I felt a lot of compassion and empathy for the journey Hans took with his faith, and I appreciate all he's done to share his story about choosing to walk away from the church his family had embraced for generations.

Clean.

Three Months More (Sarah Echavarre)

Why I have this book: It was a Prime First Reads, so it was free.

I gave this three stars on Goodreads. I enjoyed it. It was an interesting but unlikely scenario, and the story was sad, sweet, and hopeful. I think it ended in probably the best way it could considering the storyline.

There is one couple who have a pregnancy outside of marriage, but that's just life these days. There were a few swear words... I think maybe a couple of F-words and some instances of using the name of God as an exclamation of emotion.

Turtles All the Way Down (John Green)

Why I have this book: My friend recommended it, so I borrowed it from the ebook library.

I liked it. I mean, I gave it three stars on Goodreads, and that is defined as "I liked it." 

I thought it was super clever, but also a little unlikely in some regards.  

There was way too much profanity, especially since it's written for the teenage/young adult crowd.

I did like the OCD theme, and I liked the idea that if we can make a B+ life out of the C- issues we have, then we can be proud of that:

"You're a solid B-plus. If you can build a B-plus city with a C-minus geography, that's pretty great." (They were comparing people to their city that was built around some pretty unimpressive geographical characteristics.)

All in all, it was a good chance to read something by John Green. Just because of the profanity, I don't know if I'd read his stuff again unless it was something highly recommended by a trusted friend.

Lots of profanity (mostly from one character). Some talk about sex. An implied suicide.

These Shallow Graves (Jennifer Donnelly)

Why I have this book: My friend recommended it, so I borrowed both the audio version for while I was sewing and then the ebook version so I could read when I was in bed.

This is a creepy book, and it also has a very clever storyline. While I called one part, another part totally threw me. 

I gave it four stars on Goodreads, although if I could be more specific, I'd probably have gone with 3.7.

There is some swearing in this book (no F-bombs that I can remember). There is talk about brothels and what happens there (but not graphic), and there's lots of murders and attacks and dead body stuff. It's kinda creepy, but as someone who is pretty queasy about that kind of thing, I still did okay with it.