I Kill the Mockingbird, by Paul Acampora

This was my most recent read.  I wanted something simple but good.  This was exactly that.  I believe it's a YA or even Juvenile fiction piece.  It's written from the perspective of an 8th grade girl.  Her mother has just won a scary battle with cancer, her father is the principle of her school - a Catholic school.  Her two friends are her constant companions throughout the story - her co-conspirators if you will, one of which she is realizing she has deeper feelings for than friendship.  She thinks he might feel the same but can't be sure... they innocently flirt with the idea throughout the story.

It's the end of the school year and a summer reading list has been issued, much to the chagrin of the main character, Lucy, and her classmates.  Their teacher being new since the death of their previous and favorite teacher (Fat Bob) doesn't quite get the students like their old one did. 

Fat Bob's favorite book is "To Kill a Mockingbird", as is Lucy's.  She wants people to create a sort of last tribute to Fat Bob and with the help of her two friends, comes up with a plan that gets the whole nation talking about it over the summer, and even many reading it.  I won't give away too much because that's the whole of the story, but it was the author's goal to get more people to read the book and I have to say, it worked.  It wasn't too long ago that I read it (though I can't find a post of it), but I find myself wanting to read it, again. 

It was a fun, light-hearted quick read - just what I wanted.  It's a good read for the young and old, alike. 

Two Small Footprints in Wet Sand, by Anne-Dauphine Julliand

This sweet story touched my heart.  The author takes the reader on a journey through the small but profound life of her daughter who has been diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy.  It drastically shortens her life.  But she uses the phrase, "Adding life to her days when we can't add days to her life".  And that's exactly what they did.  They tried to live every moment to the fullest.  Not by doing big things on any bucket list, but by just enjoying each and every moment.  They had a wonderful angel helper who set the greatest example of this:

     "She's amazed that we always seem to be chasing our tails, complaining when we have to be patient and cursing long lines.  Therese never feels she's wasting her time. whatever she does, she gives it her full attention.  And she feels that every moment of her life has value...
     "It's a well-known fact that in hospitals you often have to wait... and for a long time.  I'm soon muttering, getting irritable, and pacing up and down.  Therese, on the other hand, sees this time spent in the hospital as an opportunity to meet interesting people, experience a new environment, and slow the frantic pace of her everyday life.  For her, waiting isn't empty time; it's a state in its own right and can itself be a source of riches.  Therese doesn't put her life on hold when she has to wait around, she carries on living, just at a different pace."

I find it brave when someone shares their story.  I would imagine it's healing.  I'm very glad to have read this and added it to my mental library.  I loved reading about the many who stepped in to help take care of her little family when they were in such desperate need.  It made me happy to see how loved they were.  She tells how her little boy (the oldest) was so brave and older than his years.  She tells how her husband stayed by her side and how they fought the fight, together.  She tells of her newest daughter who also has the disease (it's a mix of bad genes, she says, from both her and her husband).  I did find out through the magic of the internet that her other little daughter died last year.  She had received a bone marrow transplant in hopes of at the very least lengthening her life.  I don't know her story or how long she lived but I can't imagine facing that with not one but two of my children.  She knew when she was pregnant that there was a significant chance her baby would have the disease and they chose to have the baby, anyway.  No regrets.  I admire them for that. 

This was a great story.  I highly recommend reading it. 

The Only Girl in the World, by Maude Julien

I love reading stories of survival.  This is most certainly one of those.  I finished this a couple weeks, ago but life keeps being life and taking up all my time.

This woman... You know, I have to believe that God made certain spirits super strong and wise because He knew what they would be up against when they came to this earth.  She was born into an interesting situation.  I say interesting, but really... there are no words.

Her mother was six when her father found her family.  They were struggling and he was wealthy, so he said he would take care of her.  He promised she would have the best education and be well-looked after.  He did just that.  She was in boarding schools and received the finest education.  His purpose was a twisted one, to say the least.  As soon as she was of marrying age, he married her.  He wanted to raise up a child of his own - born on a specific day with blonde hair and a girl.  Somehow he orchestrated the part of that plan he could and she was born on the day he wanted and happened to have blonde hair.  In a nutshell, he wanted to raise a superhuman who would someday rise up among the human race.

She faced grueling tasks in order to shape her into the person he believed she was and would become.  Grueling by definition means extremely tiring and demanding.  That's putting it lightly.  As a child, she only got maybe six hours of sleep a night, had to endure ridiculous "tests", and was never loved either verbally or physically.  But by age 10, she started to see through her father's... I want to say psychotic-ness.  Nothing else can describe this man.  He was delusional in every sense of the word.  She was blessed with a strong mind and was able to finally see her way out of his grasp.  Her mother was brainwashed by him and showed her no love or affection.  In fact, she believed her mother both feared and was in awe of her father. 

The story ends well.  She grows up, is saved by a music instructor who sees quite clearly the situation she was in and how she needed an escape.  He cleverly provided that escape and she was finally able to leave the prison that was her home.  Her survival tactics amaze me.  The things she did to stay sane amaze me.  She is a remarkable woman whose strength was necessary to be able to withstand her childhood and her parents. 

It's definitely a good read.  Shocking and flabbergasting; this woman is amazing.

The Invisible Girls, by Sarah Thebarge

This book.  This is why I love memoirs.  To read these stories of real people feels like I'm adding them to my own life.  By reading them, I feel like they're becoming a part of my life, adding color and character and depth and sweetness.  I love these people.  I wish I could embrace them and tell them I know their story.  I wish I could thank them in person for sharing their lives with me.

I learned about this book at a job interview.  I never got the job, which I'm quite ok with - it would've been a move of desperation on my part to accept it, anyway.  But, this book...  I am so very glad I went to that interview.  The person I interviewed with and I were somehow on the topic of religion or people or something.  I can't remember exactly how this came up but she mentioned a woman speaking to the congregation at the church where she attends and how she wrote a book about her experiences.  I told her those are my favorite kind of books and made a note to see if my library had it.  They did and I am so glad.  What a sweet story of strength, courage, and survival.  But mostly about love.

I finished this book over a week, ago - I've been making notes as I read because it was something I had to digest a little at a time while trying to take it in all at once.

It's a brave woman's story of her unusual upbringing, followed by a change in her parents and their ways of doing things, which led to her well-educated future.  She alternately tells two stories - one of her battle with breast cancer at age 27 and the other of falling in love with a Somali refugee family. 

As I read of her battle, my heart just broke.  (This book made me cry almost every time I picked it up to read it.)  That she could not only feel so alone but BE so alone... I sincerely hope her "friends" read this and feel the guilt they deserve to feel and then some.  The people who were supposed to bring her meals and didn't, my gosh.  How could they? How could they? The visits stopped, communication stopped.  Her fiance left her.  It's incredible the way she made it through her lowest points.  She questioned God the whole time, wondering where He was or if He even cared and how could He let this happen to her?

But then - oh, then - she meets the sweetest family on the bus.  She cares for them, clothes them, feeds them, loves them... and in turn, they help her heal.  They help her find her purpose, they help her find God.  More, they help her see that He was there the whole time.  She likened her trial to a mother who happened to be a doctor she worked with.  Her daughter was sick.  The nurses had to hold her down to get an IV started and her daughter just cried for her, pleading with her to help her.  Yet, she stood by the wall and let the nurses do their thing.  When they were done with this traumatic event, the mother scooped her little girl up and reassured her that she was there.  She felt like God had done the same thing.  He had to let the trial do its thing.  But He was there, hurting along with her.  And when she finally got through it, He was there to scoop her up.  I can't put into words her testimony at the end (mostly because I don't have the book to reference and she put it so gracefully), but it was so great and so profound. 

This is definitely a book I would highly recommend.  It was so well-written and touched my soul.

Mata Hari's Last Dance, by Michelle Moran

Another excellent book by Michelle Moran.  I have read them all and I've loved every single one.  She writes so very well.  It's obvious as you read her work that she does her research.  She writes historical fiction and certainly has great talent. 

I've seen a documentary of sorts on Mata Hari - I knew she was a dancer for "social events" and that she was thought to be a spy.  She wasn't just a dancer... she was an exotic dancer.  Yeah, she danced in the nude.  Quite a shock and sensation for the time period.  "She earned her title on her back" is a line from this book, speaking of another character, but I think the same could be said for Mata Hari.  She was never at a loss for lovers.  Sugar daddies, really.  haha  They paid for her places of residence, clothing, jewelry, etc.  Her love was for one man, though.  Well, three... She was a spy, but for whom? Her side of the story says France.  She was executed (shot in the chest by 12 men) because she was tried and convicted as a spy for Germany, which she was not.  This isn't proved until after her death, of course.  She had children with an abusive man, lost her parents at a young age, and had a rough go of it, at first.  She made a lot of money through her shows and lovers.  She died with as much dignity as she could muster.  She was a teller of tales so the author notes knowing her real story might never be possible. 

Very entertaining - I read it in one day.  I would definitely recommend it, as I do all of this author's books. 

Half Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls

Another excellent story told by this woman. 

It says "a true life novel" on the cover because it's the stories of her grandmother, her mother's mother, as she remembers them and her own memories of her, told in first person point of view.  She said she wanted to do it this way so grandmother's personality could really be felt.  And it was. 

After reading this, I can see where her (the author) mother gets her "unique" way of looking at and living life.  The Glass Castle had me wanting to slap her (the author's mother).  Seeing how she was as a child and teenager kind of puts things into perspective.  This book starts with her grandmother as a little girl and continues up through her own (the author's) birth.  Her grandmother was a sensible woman with a strong personality, her mother was kind of a flake, in my opinion, but not wholly because of her upbringing.  I think she was just one of those apples that fell a little far from the tree.  The author brings sensibility back to the family because of her upbringing (in spite of, really), and I think she definitely has a lot of her grandmother in her.  They're both smart, strong women who had it in them to survive what life handed to them.

If you're going to read this or The Glass Castle, read this one, first.  It's not necessary, but the chronology would fit nicely.  And you might have more kindness in your heart towards the author's mother instead of the utter disbelief and pretty much disgust that I had for her. 

Definitely a book I would recommend.  It's a good one.  I love the way this author writes - I hope she puts out more stories as I've now read them all. 

The Noel Diary, by Richard Paul Evans

My turn came up for the newest RPE book... I started it last night at about 8pm - and finished it this morning at 1:30am.  It was good.  haha

He said in his emails leading up to the release of this book (if I remember, correctly) that this story has more of his personal life experience than any of his other books.  It's his wife's new favorite of his.  So, naturally, I had to read it.  I just didn't plan on reading it in one night.  haha

Like his others, it was very well-written.  I think that's why they're such quick reads - they just flow.  He certainly has a way with words.  The more books of his I read (I've read them all... except his science fiction series - which are still written well, I just don't dig that sort of storyline.  I read the first one, which I loved.  But mostly through the second one, I decided it just wasn't my thing.), the more I feel like I can see a lot of who he is through his writing.  I wonder how much of his stories come from real life experiences and people he's met.  He kind of hints at things like that in some of his recent books I've read.  It's almost like he's sneaking in small confessions or something.  haha

This is a story about a boy-turned-man, still hurting and trying to heal the pain of his childhood.  He finds someone along his journey who is attempting the same thing, only to find their lives are more intertwined than they knew upon meeting.  Of course, there's the love story - not too sappy.  They never are.  I love that about his books.  Clean and nice - not too much gush.  And there are always additions to the story that make them not sticky sweet.  I like that.  These things could happen in real life... One can hope, anyway.

I would highly recommend this book, too.  I recommend all of his books.  He has a flair for the written word.  I'm certainly glad he didn't hide his talent under a bush and instead shared it with the world.  He's my fave.

The Mistletoe Inn, by Richard Paul Evans

This! This is the perfect example of why I love RPE's books! Oh, how I love them!!

He writes so incredibly well! In this book, he inconspicuously gives tips on writing and publishing and becoming an author, in general.  He has a writer's retreat, just like in this book, he even uses his agent's name as a character - a literary agent, actually.  It's about a woman who's ready to give up on love and her writing aspirations when she comes across a writers workshop - for romance writers, of all things.  Her father pays for her to go but she's reluctant because of some not good news he just gave her... but that's all I'm going to say.  You'll have to read it to find out how wonderful it is.  ;)

I love his way of weaving a story; of creating the characters and plot line and all the details in between.  I love that I got to read this before Christmas (I had been on a waiting list).  I'm still on a waiting list for his newest holiday book, which I would imagine will still be a few weeks before my turn comes up.  Won't stop me from reading it, though. 

Man, I love his books.  This one renewed my desire for more - it almost has me wanting to go back and read every single one of them.  He's clean, funny, real, and just so knowledgeable about what he writes.  It's apparent he pulls from his own life in many cases... or at least I would imagine he does.

He just knows women so well and writes them so well and knows how to pull at their heartstrings.  His romances are never cheesy and always just right.  I love them, for sure.  (Not that I haven't made that clear, yet.)

As always, I would definitely recommend reading this if you want something light, quick and enjoyable.  I just saw that it was made into a movie just this year - of the Hallmark sort, of course - and I want to see it! I wish I had cable! Maybe Netflix will pick it up for next year... One can hope.  :)

The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck

I found this book at Goodwill and am very glad I bought it.  I normally don't buy books till after I've read them and will likely read them, again.  I'll be reading this, again.  It was a sweet book.

It's a work of fiction but based on his true life experiences.  It's heart-breaking at some parts and uplifting at others... he wrote it very well.  It's a story of redemption and forgiveness and spiritual growth.  Very good for this time of year.  Again, I'm unsure of how much to say about it because I don't want to give the story away.  It's about a boy who learns one of life's hardest lessons and experiences the opportunity to make things better.  There's an unexpected twist at the end - one I wasn't sure I was in favor of, but I decided I do like it.  The emotions portrayed had to have been felt by the author to be woven into words the way they were.  My heart goes out to the author and am glad for the happiness he was able to find in spite of his own battles.

I do recommend reading this and am always willing to lend it out.

Rebel Queen, by Michelle Moran

I love Michelle Moran's novels! They're all historical fiction and so extremely well-written.  I read this many moons, ago, but realized there were a great many books I read in the three years I didn't post anything (2014-2017) that I want to log.  This is one that came to my mind, today. 

Moran does her research.  If you visit her website, that becomes clear.  She doesn't just rehash things she's read, she travels and learns and absorbs the information, then she uses her literary magic to twirl it into stories that engross the reader.  She makes it quite hard to put her books down.

So far, I've read every one of her books.  I used to follow her journey through the creating of her next... then life happened and I forgot all about them.  Something plucked that brain string in my mind, today, and here we are. 

The Silver Star, by Jeannette Walls

I finished this a bit, ago.  It was excellent.  I had to keep reminding myself it was a work of fiction.

Having read her memoir first, though, I can see how much of this book was inspired by her life story. 

She's good, that's for sure.  I truly enjoy her writing style.  I have her other book on hold at the library, right now, and can't wait to get it!

The Broken Road, by Richard Paul Evans

I almost feel like a bit of a traitor... I used to make sure I bought every RPE book that came out.  He's my favorite {living} author! I haven't read, let alone purchased, one of his books in *gasp* years! (Shame on me! haha)

I saw this one at a bookstore and decided to check it out from the library since I'm on this not-spending-money-on-unnecessary-items kick and will not be purchasing any books anytime, soon.  Even if they're purchase-worthy... It truly pains me to do this because, like all of his books, this one fits into that category.

I'm always in awe at how "flowy" his books are.  He certainly has a way with words.  And he does his research... I had to some of my own research to verify this was a work of fiction because he wrote it so well.

Now, I say work of fiction, but at the end, there's an author's note that this is based on a true life - the real story of a real person.  He's changed the name and such.  The prologue is what had me doing some Googling because of how he tells it. 

This is the first book in a new series.  It tells of a man who went from an abusive childhood, dumpster-diving and living in poverty, to finding the love of his life and an amazing opportunity for financial success, which is something he craves.  It ends with a sad and significant change for his future.  It ends with a new beginning... and I cannot wait until next Spring when the next addition in the series will be complete!

I'm always a little wary of putting too much... I don't like spoilers.  I guess I used to do that, but I've moved on to more of, "This is what I read... you'll like it... or you won't... Check it out!".

I do always highly recommend any RPE book.  They're clean and so very well-written.  He knows his stuff.  If you read this one, you won't be disappointed.  In fact, you'll likely be hooked and in the same boat as I am... waiting somewhat patiently for Spring.  ;)

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

I finished this a little while, ago, just haven't had the time to post about it.  I saw something on social media about the movie that's coming out and saw that it was based on a book.  A memoir, no less.  So, naturally, I had to check it out. I waited for over 100 people who had the same thoughts to take their turn before I got mine.

It was quite the emotional book.  This woman... I'm amazed at what she survived.  I also think she survived because of what she survived.  Her upbringing and childhood circumstances made her strong... she had to be.  Her brother and sisters, too.

I wanted to slap her parents.  At times I wanted to downright kick them in the head.  I was at times outraged at what they allowed their children to experience and their reaction (or lack thereof) to things they faced.  Unbelievable.  That was the word I often found myself vocally uttering while closing the book to digest what I just read.  Simply unbelievable.  I couldn't believe that this really happened, that it happened when it did, and that it likely still happens for others.  It seems unfathomable, to me.

I want to write to this author and tell her my heart was with her on her journey, though I knew nothing about it at the time.

It helped me see the things we often take for granted.  I complain about my big house being too hard to keep clean.  I complain about having to spend hours meal planning, list making, grocery shopping, cooking.  I complain about neverending laundry.  I complain about having to make my kids' lunches every morning.  I complain about having to pay for water or electricity or gas prices.  This book makes one grateful for all of those things.  Every time my kids complain about what I make for dinner, I'm reading them this book.

I highly recommend it.  It's quite good.

Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent

If you liked Fireproof, Courageous, Flywheel or Facing the Giants, you'll love this book.  I saw the movie trailer and couldn't get through it without tearing up.  If the trailer was so touching, I imagined the book would be just as great or even better.

It was.  It didn't take me long to read it - it was hard to put down.  It was incredibly touching and made me want to be a better person, showing God's love to any and all I meet.

The two men who wrote this book are real and their story is real.  Their lives were changed by Ron's wife, Deborah, who not only blessed their lives but the lives of so many.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, but this is definitely worth the read.  But only if you like true life inspiring stories and own some tissues.  Tissues are surely needed when reading this book.

I'm excited to see the movie.  I consider myself blessed to have made this story a part of my life.  I'm grateful to the authors for sharing it.

Here's a sneak-peak.  ;)

The 5 Second Rule, by Mel Robbins

I read this book in one day.

I love her simple concept that could so profoundly change a person's life.  I don't buy books unless I'm going to read them more than once... I'm buying this book.  I consider it a wise investment.  Plus, I want my own copy so I can mark it up, make notes, and highlight sections for reference.

I've begun to implement the 5 Second Rule in my life and it has been cool to feel so empowered.  We all too often talk ourselves out of something great, simply because it lies outside of our comfort zone.  This book teaches you how to stop doing that.  It really is pretty great.  She provides the tools needed, the testimonials to back it up and examples of the many areas in your life that could benefit from using this powerful method of making lasting changes and accomplishing goals.  She even provides research to back up how and why it works.  And it's easy.

I would highly recommend adding this book to your virtual, literal, or mental collection.  It's just dang awesome.  I can't wait to read it, again, and this time fully digest it.  (The first time I practically devoured it - it was due that same day with no renewals.  How's that for motivation? Ha!)

Here's a sneak-peak.  ;)

You Don't Sweat Much For a Fat Girl, by Celia Rivenbark

I like this woman.  She says it like it is.  She's irreverent.  She's real.

And, yet, I couldn't finish the book.  What's up with that?? I love these kinds of books! Or so I thought.  I prefer non-fiction to fiction, any day.  I love a good romantic comedy in pretty much any form, but I love people even more.  I love their stories, the raw and real.  The true life experiences of anyone.  I love it.

I yearn for a page-turner, one I can't put down.  I miss that! I need that!

I just had an idea... I need to go on a fast, of sorts.  I need to delete Netflix and all things visual from my life for a time... maybe a month.

And I need to spend some time at the library without my impatient family.

I would recommend this book, though, to those who aren't afraid of reality.