The phone booth at the edge of the world by Laura Imai Messina
Absolutely beautiful and moving story inspired by Japan’s real-life wind phone. I enjoyed getting to know the characters as they moved through grief, forming solid friendships along the way. I am deeply moved by the idea of the wind phone, and how folks have chosen to use it to help process loss and grief. Incredibly heartwarming.
I was so excited when I won this book! I had it on hold at the library, with a pretty long wait ahead of me.
I could not stop reading this book; drinking in every last comforting word, letting it soak into my mind, body, heart, and soul. Deeply meaningful to and for me. I marked one page, holding this Walt Whitman quote, “Re-examine all you have been told in school or church or in any book, and dismiss whatever insults your soul.”
This Walt Whitman quote has always been a powerful one for me. I grew up in the Deep South (of the U.S.), and have had to unlearn much that insults my soul and knowing. There’s much that permeates the culture due to beliefs, discounting the knowing of our hearts. On the flip side, there’s much I love about the culture, having grown up there, with my ancestors being from there.
I love this book, for being about the truth of having lost our spark, being numb to life, for standing up for not discounting what we feel from our knowing, for putting words to our wild, for declaring, “I am a goddamn cheetah!”
Another I stepped out of my comfort zone to read. I’ve not read in the steampunk genre. I found the story incredibly interesting, enjoying the element of mystery. It was an action-packed journey getting to know the characters and The Orphan Detectives, following them as they keep Norlandia safe. Enjoyed it!!
My son wanted me to read this. In the past I just didn’t feel the time or urge to read books he or his sister suggested. I’ve shifted now and have a growing collection of books they suggest. I can see why he likes this book so much. He’s read and reread it many times. I can’t remember if I read it when I was his age. I read many Beverly Clearly books, just can’t remember them all. I enjoyed learning about Leigh and experiencing the emotions he had throughout the book. I really like how the book is written as a collection of letters. Thanks, Thomas. I surely enjoyed it.
I loved this beautiful story of a twelve-year-old who comes to know that home is not what she always thought it to be. I enjoyed learning about Mai’s roots along with her. Heartwarming and sweet. Just lovely.
This was a random find while volunteering at the library. The cover, the short description pulled me in, and I’m glad it did. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author time hops between the past and current time as the story progresses. I enjoyed learning a great deal about the history of libraries, specifically this particular library in Los Angeles, along with a bit of history regarding librarians. A non-fiction book at its best!
The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick
I don’t typically read the romance genre. However, I’ve read Phaedra’s previous 3 books and since I enjoyed them, I wanted to give this one a go. I absolutely enjoyed reading this one. It’s so much more than a romance story. In my opinion, that just happens to be part of the story. Phaedra’s books seem to always have an element of mystery to them, and this was no exception. Mystery, friendships, forgiveness, redemption, grief, and romance …. all rolled into one perfect story!
I interviewed Phaedra on MTA in June 2019. Go here to read the interview:
Stepped out of my usual genre to read this one. The title and the cover hooked me, as well as the root of the story. A grieving man seeks solace in collecting items he finds in daily life, during walks, and travels. He labels each time with a date and location of where he found it. I became immersed in learning about him, those connected with him, and the lives of those who lost the items.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
I dove in and spent days getting to know the characters, being a part of the adventure, the mystery, the magic. Every time I picked this up to read it, I did not want to put it down!! My tastes in book genres has changed drastically from a few years ago. This one and a few other sci-fi books I’ve read lately really grip me. Other worlds, different times, and magical ways in which to travel between the two … Yes!! That’s my jam currently. Give me more!! Loved this one times ten thousand!
What We Talk About When We Talk About Books by Leah Price
Incredibly interesting book that skims the history of books, including shifting opinions of books throughout the years. My favorite sections of the book were the last two chapters, covering “prescribed reading”, bibliotherapy, and the many uses of books in group settings. Bibliophiles will most likely enjoy this book!
