Thursday, May 17, 2018

Throwback Thursday - Summer Reading

I'm going go be super honest - life is HECTIC right now.  We're in the final countdown to summer and between end-of-the-year activities for all three kids and all the obligations that I have as a teacher at the end of the year time is at a premium right now :)  All that to say today I'm doing a "Throwback Thursday" post and sharing what I read last summer and asking for your book recommendations as I get ready to have time to ACTUALLY read again!  

I set a goal of reading every day this summer and while there were days where I didn't manage to pick up a book I still made it through several from my stack and thought I'd share my thoughts today in case you're in the market for a good read.





The Hate U Give was not something I would have typically picked up, but I kept hearing about it being incredibly powerful and something that a lot of students were reading and so I read it and am so glad I did.  I tried to eloquently put into words how I felt about the book and this review from Goodreads was it EXACTLY (right down to the Canadian part... eerie!)

This was such a heartbreakingly honest account of what is happening in America right now. As a white reader, the experience this story affords its readers cannot be taken for granted. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this book takes you into the heart of Garden Heights after the main character has witnessed the wrongful murder of her best friend Khalil by a police officers. Being Canadian, as well as being white, I have the privilege of not having to deal with any of the things Starr deals with on a day to day basis but the experience of being alongside her as she grappled with the injustice of it all gave me a completely new understanding of what is going on in America. I obviously am not ignorant to it all, but this just felt like an honest firsthand account. It really is indescribable. This is such an important read and I highly encourage you to pick it up. 

There was a fair amount of language in it which, given the context, didn't seem gratuitous - but just be aware.  I'm so glad I picked it up and will probably read it again this Fall.




I shared about One True Loves earlier this summer, but am posting it again so these are all in one place :)


I ADORED this book!  I was torn between wanting to read every spare minute I had so that I could know how it ends and not wanting the book to end because I was going to be sad it was over.  The premise of the book is that the main character's husband is lost at sea in a helicopter accident and then years later she is engaged to someone else when HER HUSBAND IS FOUND!!!  It's a crazy situation and really made me think.  One minute I wanted her to stay with her fiance and the next I was rooting for her husband.  I thought it was really beautifully written and I absolutely loved the characters.  I didn't think it was too "cheesy" and couldn't have asked for a better ending.




I read Everything Everything on the way to Colorado and I really enjoyed it.  The main character, Maddy, has an immunodeficiency disease where she can't leave her house.... filtered air, no visitors... she pretty much lives in a bubble.  Olly moves in next door and he and Maddy strike up a friendship that turns romantic.  It felt a little bit "teen" at times, but definitely kept my attention and I didn't see the ending coming so that part was fun.





What can I even say about Wonder?!?! I ADORE THIS BOOK!!!  I feel like it should be required reading not just for kids (I would say 5th/6th grade and up) as well as the entire general population. 

Wonder is the story of a little boy, "Auggie", who has severe facial deformities and he's entering the 5th grade after being homeschooled for his entire academic career.  The book is told by multiple points of view including Auggie, his classmates, his sister, etc. and each perspective is relatable and thoughtful.

 Wonder was real and honest and heartbreaking and inspiring.  I fell in love with Auggie and found myself with a big lump in my throat multiple times while reading.  It was thought-provoking and would be a great read for kids in late-elementary and/or early-middle school. 




I think that if I could only read one book over and over again for the rest of my life I would GLADLY pick The Nightingale.  The book is the story of two sisters (and their friends, family, neighbors) living in occupied France during WWII.  It tells the stories of the women and children left behind while the men went off to fight and the unimaginable circumstances and tragedy that they lived through.  

My grandmother lived in Holland while it was occupied during WWII and although I've talked to her about it on a few occasions this gave me a whole new respect and admiration for her and an insightful perspective for what she lived through.  It was beautifully written and acutely poignant and I was sobbing poolside as I finished it.  While the book was incredibly sad at parts - the resilience, strength and courage of the women was inspiring and uplifting. 




I had heard all kinds of great things about Crazy Rich Asians and ordered it on a whim.  For some reason I was surprised that it was actually about crazy rich Asians :)  I found the book to be extremely entertaining and interesting - probably because the kind of wealth and lifestyle in the book is SOOOO not something that I'm familiar with.  It was funny and while some of the names were hard to keep up with at the beginning I liked it a lot and have the sequel in my pile of books to read next.

Speaking of that, here's what I'll be working through next (affiliate links)...



I'd love to hear what book(s) you're currently recommending!  What you've loved and what you're glad you invested your time in.

Happy reading, friends!

31 comments :

  1. My goal for myself this year is 52 books (1 per week)
    I’m recommending ( in no particular order)
    The Breakdown by B.A.Paris
    Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
    The Last Mrs.Parrish by Liv Constantine
    The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks/Sarah Pekkenan
    Orphan Tain by Christina Baker Kline
    Arthur TruLuv by Elizabeth Berg

    Happy Reading!!!

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    1. Put Orphan Train on your list - you won’t be sorry!

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  2. I just ordered The Hate U Give for my 14 year old. Thanks for the recommendation! Any of other books for 8-9th grade boys you can recommend? Thanks!

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    1. All American Boys has similar themes to the The Hate U Give and is really good.

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  3. I just finished The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks/Sarah Pekkenan last night. It was really good. The Last Mrs. Parrish is also great.

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  4. Wonder is an amazing book. My daughter's 2nd grade teacher read them the book this year. She loved it so much she had to have the book. The movie was fantastic also.

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  5. I just found out that they're making Crazy Rich Asians into a movie! I believe it comes out in August.

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  6. Great choices! I try to read every day, too, but with the end of the school year activities and preparing for two family weddings, it just isn't happening! I have The Nightingale on my bookshelf, but haven't read it yet. Everybody raves about it!

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  7. I just finished The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks/Sarah Pekkenan last night - a definite must read! I felt like you did with your book regarding not wanting to put it down, but also not wanting it to end.

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  8. I've been wanting to read The Nightingale..have to get a copy. I like th eoccasional beach read, but I'm more of a history buff,so I enjoy non fiction, especially about WWII because my dad was a paratrooper during that war. If you've never read Unbroken,The Louis Zamperini story, it is a great read..talk about resilience!! Right now I am finishing up The Girl with Seven Names..then onto Empire of the Summer Moon, a story about the Comanche tribe. Happy Reading!

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  9. If you liked One True Loves then you NEED to read Maybe in Another Life by the same author. It was so, so good. I've read both and think I like Maybe in Another Life even more than One True Loves. I also recently loved The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick. I thought it was just the sweetest thing.

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    1. I read One True Loves this year based on your recommendation - LOVED it. Two others that rank up there with that title: “It Ends With Us” and “November 9” by Colleen Hoover. The first one will BREAK you but an absolute must-read (and then read the author’s commentary at the end”....the latter was just a fun read. Guess I’m going to go find Maybe in Another Life now :)

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    2. I read those two last year and couldn’t agree more!!! Excellent reads!

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  10. The great alone by Kristin Hannah is a MUST READ if you enjoyed Nightengale (who wouldn’t) you will fall in love with her latest.

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  11. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - YES, MUST READ! I also recently read Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and it was FANTASTIC!!! What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan has been my favorite recent thriller. Happy Reading :)

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    1. I just put “Before We Were Yours” on hold at the library....I am #182 on the list - must be a good one!

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    2. It’s excellent! Broke my heart

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  12. Have you read Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah? Although I have loved all of her books (can’t wait to read her newest book), I think winter garden is my absolute favorite.

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  13. Go check out the Modern Mrs. Darcy blog. She released her printable summer reading list for 2018 today and there are some GREAT recommendations.

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  14. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah-so good!

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  15. I read The Hate U Give last year because of your post and it was hands down one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I loved it. If you like non-fiction, I highly recommend Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. It's about a guy who feels called to test and live out his faith by experiencing homelessness for a time. He writes about his experience and it is powerful. I have read it probably 3 times and am ready for another read through of it!

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  16. I have loved reading the trilogy of "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han! They are the quintessential summer read :) Enjoy!

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  17. I have loved reading the trilogy of "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han. They are the quintessential summer read!! Enjoy :)

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  18. I haven't read this yet but EVERYONE has recommended it and when I start summer at the end of next week, I am starting it. It is called "Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be". Longest title ever but since I teach high school students, I think it will have some valuable lessons in it.

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  19. I love these posts and reading through the comments :). Enjoy these last days of May and then get a stack of books and enjoy summer!!

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    1. Here is my post with the books I am most looking forward to:
      https://sunshineandbooksblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/summer-beach-books/
      I'd also add these to your list: Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon, The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner
      I am adding the Husband Hour by Jamie Brenner and Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey to my to read list.
      Happy Reading!

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  20. The Light We Lost is so good and I think you would like it based on your reviews above. If you're looking for a challenging read that makes you think When Breath Becomes Air is powerful and thought-provoking, but it's definitely not a easy summer read.

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  21. The Lilac Girls was amazing. The character development in this novel made it so difficult to put down. I felt like I knew the women and what they were experiencing, but it also made it hard to see it end.

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  22. The Lilac Girls was amazing. The character development in this novel made it so difficult to put down. I felt like I knew the women and what they were experiencing, but it also made it hard to see it end.

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  23. I just read the entire Unwind series and loved it! Not usually my style of books but the story was great. Also loved Out of My Mind, which I would put in the realm of Wonder.

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