I’m a reader. I mean, I. Am. A. Reader. I’ve been that way all my life. Books were my first friends and my close personal relationship with them is the single biggest factor for me becoming a writer.
I love to talk about books. Books I love. Books I hate. Books that changed my life. Books I’m reading. Books I’m reading with my kids. Books I want to read. Books I found at the thrift store. Books I have loaded on my Kindle.
The common thread here: books.
So, this the inaugural post in a what I hope becomes a regular series called Book Ramblings in which I get to share with you all the books things.
What I Read This Week:
Title: First They Killed My Father
Author: Loung Ung
Genre: Memoir
This a true account of Ms. Ung’s experience during the Cambodian Wars. She was just five years old when her mother, father, and five brothers and sisters were forced from their home in the city and into starvation, extreme poverty, cruelty, and work camps. Loung’s memories are vivid and brutal and heartbreaking. In all, a third of the country was killed in name of communism and ethnic cleansing. Through her own fierce spirit, Loung survives and eventually makes it to America. From the title, you can tell this is not true of her whole family.
I have to say that I think everyone should read this book although it is a difficult read and weighed heavy on me. But, if we don’t want history to repeat itself, we have to understand it. That being said, it’s not a book I could bear to read again.
Rating: 4 Stars
Title: Lady Elizabeth’s Comet
Author: Sheila Simonson
Genre: Historial Romance
Lady Elizabeth is twenty-eight, unmarried, the eldest of eight sisters, and (Gasp!) passionate about astronomy. She’s not all that interested in getting married. Well, mostly. Enter Tom Conway: her father’s heir. When her father dies, Tom comes to the family home and Elizabeth meets her match.
Their conversations are full of wit and intelligence, plus they both play a wicked (not that kind of wicked!) game of chess. But, Liz’s best friend, a man who asked to marry her five years ago is back and he’s proposing again. Somehow, she finds herself saying yes. Don’t worry! It all works out in the end. In fact, I had a grin on my face the entirety of the last chapter.
The author is a former college professor of both English and history and it shows, right down the authentic spelling. As for “heat” level, this book is written in the first person and follows the societal rules of the time period (around 1820). Think Jane Austen in terms of the romance.
I recommend this to someone who likes a good, sweet romance and enjoys historical reads.
Rating: 5 Stars
Title: A Long Walk to Water
Author: Linda Sue Park
Genre: Children’s/Middle Grade Memoir
I read this aloud with my kiddos and I have to say we all loved it. This is based on the true story of Salva Dut, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The story is told in two alternating timeline—Salva and his journey leading 1500 young boys to safety and a young Sudanese girl named Nya in the present.
Salva’s message is one of hope and perseverance. Stories like these are so important for our kids to hear—to see what life is like outside their bubble. Highly recommend. It’s an easy read and one we enjoyed reading together. Afterward, check out Salva’s TedTalks on YouTube.
Rating: 5 Stars
Thrift Store Book Finds
I got a great haul of books at the thrift store this week.
–The Narnia series by C. S. Lewis (Well, all except for book 4)
–Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (We listened to this earlier this year but the 10yo loved it and wanted a copy of his very own.)
–A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Confession: I’ve already read it and I loved it. I couldn’t pass up having a copy of my own.)
–The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (I’ve never read it!)
–Paris for One & Other Stories by Jojo Moyes
Total for my book bounty: $7.65 (SCORE!)
What books are you rambling about this week? I’d love to hear about it!
Also, be sure to come and find me on Goodreads.