The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another classic I haven’t read. And I definitely want to do this as a read aloud/audio book experience with my kiddos.
I switched between reading (not this edition but an old one with great color pictures I’ve owned forever) and listening to the audio. It definitely lends itself to listening.
I wasn’t so sure about reading a story about rodents. Especially the rat. I thought it was more about moles and toads. Which I guess technically a mole is a rodent. But not a rat. Rats and mice are the worst. Anyway, I digress. Let’s talk about Toad. He is so over the top. I could picture him in all of his boasting and self-importance.
Glad to have read it. Placing it now in the “to read to my kids” pile.

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Dumplin' - Julie Murphy

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I saw an ad for the movie on Netflix; and, of course, had to read the book before I'll allow myself to watch it.
Willowdean is the daughter of a former pageant winner and now coordinator. It has shaped her in ways she doesn't realize. As has her aunt's life, Dolly Parton, her best friend, and her weight.
I really liked the character of Willowdean. She was flawed and authentic and fierce. She's real.
I think because of the movie preview, I thought the book would be more pageant-centric. And it's really not. Willowdean doesn't even sign up for the pageant until about halfway through the book. And then it just pops in and out some until the end. The book itself is more about relationships. With yourself and what you want. With your dreams. With friends and family.
Didn't like the swearing (which seemed to come in random spurts) and teen sex (although not in detail definitely a character's key plot).
3.5 stars from me.
I'm not sure I'll read the sequel. I didn't know there was one until I logged this one as read on Goodreads and was looking for more books by the author. I liked how Dumplin' ends. It was satisfying. I don't necessarily feel the need for a more.
I am, however, off to watch the movie...

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Flint - Louis L'Amour

Flint by Louis L'Amour
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Flint grew up in the west but headed east as soon as he could, making a name for himself in the world of finance. Life happens, and he decides to return to the west. Flint almost immediately finds himself tangled up in a range war on the side of local rancher, Nancy Kerrigan.

I grew up visiting my grandparents each summer in Western Kansas. And I recall Louis L'Amour books my grandpa read on the built in shelf between recliners in the living room. While I read many books from those shelves over the years, I never picked up one by L'Amour. Then I had a college boyfriend who wasn't much of a reader but would rave about L'Amour. Still, I never read one. So when friends mentioned L'Amour again recently at a social gathering, I finally asked which one I should start with. They were split between Flint and another title I don't recall. Flint was available at my library, so I read it.

And enjoyed it.

Which I didn't really expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I'm not a Western movie watcher. I do like historical fiction but haven't really ever read a gun-slinging Western, to my remembrance. This was good. Predictable at times, for sure. But I was fully engaged in the story and Flint. It was interesting. I'll read more.

As a side note, I was completely distracted by the character "Nancy Kerrigan's" name, despite acknowledging the fact this was written far before the famous figure skater was born.

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Seven Days of Us - Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The Birch family is having to spend the Christmas holiday under quarantine at their country estate due to their oldest daughter’s medical career. For those seven days, they bump up each other and their various personalities and idiosyncrasies. Is a happy holiday had?
I am striking out on Christmas books this season. I found nothing to like about this book other than short chapters, that were easy to read.
I didn’t like or appreciate or care about any of the characters. Perhaps that was the point, and I missed it? They were just all so dysfunctional and self-absorbed. Every.Last.Character.
The “coincidences” where just a bit much. Seriously. Were the 6 main characters the only people on the planet to continue running into each other like that? The “surprises” weren’t surprising at all but could be spotted chapters in advance.
The plot and story telling were ponderous in the minutiae.
Summed up: I just really didn’t care.
That being said, other people in my book club (it was our December choice), enjoyed it. So perhaps it’s just me.
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Comfort & Joy - Krisitin Hannah

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Joy Candellaro is not feeling the Christmas spirit at all this year. A recent divorce and estrangement from her sister just has her wanting to avoid it all. An impromptu trip ends in disaster. Or does it?
Oh, this book. I wanted to love it. But I couldn’t. It was awful. Or perhaps the problem was me. I just expected too much out of my love for Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone. Wow. Has she come a long way as an author since this book.
I expect to have to suspend some disbelief in my Christmas book reading. It’s a magical season and the books written for the season tend to have elements of magic or at least far-fetchedness in them. But this one was just beyond. I don’t think I have the capability to suspend my disbelief to the extent this story requires.
Then there were the more technical aspects of the book that drove me batty. The timing was off several times in the book. And the inconsistencies were crazy. I realize that some of the inconsistencies were due to the belief suspension elements. But some were just there because they weren’t caught in editing.
The character of Bobby grated on my nerves in so many ways. The way he was written, he acted and talked like he was a lot younger than 8. Perhaps that was due to the trauma he experienced. But even so, that was just a couple months prior. So I can’t see it being a full explanation. And that fact no one was concerned about him not being able to read at 8. What was that all about? He was just poorly written, I felt.
Had it not been a book for book club, I probably would have quit by page 50. I have some other of Hannah’s earlier books in my TBR list and piles. I hope they’re better than this one.

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Quick Reviews

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was liking the story pretty well. I mean, it was typical Nicholas Sparks - not necessarily believable but still an enjoyable read. And then there was the author's note. And I realized I fell for a plot device. And I think I'm still kind of ticked off about that.

View all my reviews 1st to Die by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Super quick read. Definitely graphic in the crime content. But I loved the women and their connection.

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You, Your Child, School: Navigate Your Way to the Best Education - Sir Ken Robinson

You, Your Child, and School: Navigate Your Way to the Best Education by Ken Robinson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So this book wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. But perhaps (probably) my hopes were too high. I did not turn the final page with a clear answer on where to send my kiddo to kindergarten - or really even ideas on how to get an answer.
It was interesting. My background is in education, so not much new to me information. But good reminders nonetheless.
I did skim the last 50+ pages in an effort to finish before it needed to go back to the library.
Probably a 2.5 for me.

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