Book Review: Orphan Train

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Young Adult (FYI if you're going to share this with a young person--there is some strong language from Molly. It fits her character, but you may want to discuss it with your friend/student/child in accordance with your values about profanity.)
Story-within-a-story, historical fiction, contemporary
I listened to the Audible audiobook narrated by Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren
You might like this book if you are interested in the Orphan Trains that ran from large East Coast cities to the Midwest from the 1850s to the 1920s. You may also be interested if you enjoy stories of overcoming, redemption, the importance of family or are sympathetic to the realities faced by foster children and orphans.

read more

The Social Media Split

There's a song the children sing at church: 

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I know who I am.  

I know God's plan. 

I'll follow him in Faith. 

I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. 

I'll honor his name. 

I'll do what is right; I'll follow His Light.  

His truth I will proclaim! 

I love that it is a series of simple declarations; nothing complicated. It perfectly encapsulates how I feel about my faith. 

read more

On and Off the Road Again

I had a great week at my sister's house. I meant to post as soon as I got home so I wouldn't get behind YET again, but you know how that goes sometimes. I'm making a stab now at least. I am slow doing a lot of things because I can't do it the way I think I should, but as I get older and ostensibly wiser, I realize that the forward progress is usually the best option of all.

read more

This Is Not Becoming a Book Blog

Even though the last three posts were book reviews, I'm still writing here about everything. Well almost everything. I am trying to catch up on recording books I've read, though. I have a tendency to forget details or even that I've read a book, so it's feeling important to me to make my list more complete. There are so many books that have never made it into this blog and while I'm not going to try and catch up fully, I am going to try and fill in some of the blanks.

read more

Book Review: The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project
Author: Gretchen Rubin
Genres: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Lifestyle, Happiness Research
I listened to the audiobook read by the author.
You might like this book if you like self-help books, authors on quests, bloggers who write books, or are genuinely interested in the study of happiness and how to have more of it in your life.

read more

Book Review: William Shakespeare's Star Wars, The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Return

Author: Ian Doescher
Genre: Fantasy Reimagined
For: All ages who will take the time to understand Shakespeare-like language.
You might like these books if you loved the original Star Wars trilogy AND love Shakespeare, if you think there is room in this world for The Bard to have a little fun, or if you're just curious.
I listened to the audiobooks, which had a cast of voices playing the different characters.

read more