Definitely not my favorite narrative history, I'm not sure that I liked the alternating chapters. I think I would have preferred two different books- one about the Chicago World's Fair and another about the murders. I get that they tie together in settings and influx of victims but I think they could have stood alone. Anyway, I'll definitely look at the area of Chicago differently the next time I visit The Museum of Science & Industry.

Not at all what I was expecting. Some lines really stood out, but I'd be guessing as to if I understood the real context or not.

While it isn't completely necessary to do so, it was helpful to reread The Scarlet Letter (Daniel Hawthorn) in reminding me of the cadence of that story to see the direct parallels in the true crime that inspired it. This book is written with a non-biased journalistic perspective of the author Catharine Read Arnold Williams telling of the case & trial surrounding the death of Sarah Maria Cornell.

Aside from feeling like I've read a rough version of this storyline before a few times (city hospitality finding the enjoy a family run establishment better while falling for one of the owners), I really did enjoy this one. As a closed door romance it was nice to read without pages and pages of descriptive intimate scenes throughout. The side characters are equally as lovely- hope they each get their own stories in the series as well.

Maybe it's just because I'm older, and wiser or see red flags more clearly due to my varied reading genres but the complexity of this story and all the symbolism will stick with me way more now than it did at 16. I'm eager to jump into the new true crime title that spurred on my desire to reread The Scarlet Letter. Up next:

"The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne By Kate Winkler Dawson"

I had already watched the movie before reading the book so there were no surprises but I loved the Deaf & hard of hearing representation included in this middle grade sports book.

Absolutely fascinating and the author helps readers by translating so much into a digestable information and context. The recipes are quite intriguing!

Photocopied the spines of the 158 books I read in 2024. On to 2025!

#2024SpineStack #SpineYear #MaggiesSpineStacks

December 2024
Host of Maggie's Book Bites Podcast
Goodreads.com/MaggieCarr
#2024SpineStack
#MaggiesSpineStacks

I've followed Erynn online for years and knew of her Mom's cancer returning and being called home to heaven. I was excited for a new book but once I saw the theme was centered around grief I just knew it would be authentic and heartfelt. It was just that. With a few funny moments mixed in, this book is a grief journey that reflects so much truth and questioning we find ourselves doing as Christians when we lose loved ones. Well done, Erynn.

So much truth and to know how flawed our judicial system still is is sickening. We can do better as a country.

Ending the year with bronchitis wasn't in the calendar but finishing book 156 while waiting for chest X-rays is how it went. Here's to a healthier reading year ahead.

I purposely took my time reading this book because I didn't want to be caught up on my RJG books again. I savored each chapter and I marked the heck out of my copy. Loved the Easter Eggs of a blue-eye teenage dream of her future husband (a nod to Todd, obviously, of the Christy Miller series-es) and at the end a mention of Shawna and I squealed out loud knowing it has to be the same Shawna (confirmed a few pages later) sigh, these connections...

Michael read the Drunken Mary Kay Lady story out loud to a room of (mostly) female librarians a few years back and it was my first exposure to his humor and sarcasm. I'm now three books in and keep recounting his stories to anyone who will listen to be- though I don't nearly do them justice. Can we have a do-over meeting, Michael? Share a shot and work on our bucket-list making together?

Some good advice, I'm just not the intended demographic for readership, though.

Blake is a billionaire that finds out he has a 4yr old deaf daughter (Maisy) and welcomes her without hesitation when he learns of her and that her mother has gone to rehab. There is instant attraction to Ellie (also Deaf) who ends up being his daughter's advocate leads to an open door romance. Ellie has visits and together they start learning sign language and helping Maisy adjust to her new environment and learn to communicate, something she...

I am so, so grateful for the friends that take me as I am these days.

😭❤️

In a quest to understand the human mind, Brene Brown and her team ask the hard questions. I'm captivated to see the parallels in myself and I had never noticed before about some behaviors I gravitate towards- especially regarding seeking closeness by over sharing and finding common a common foe. I need to do better. I also read the Sandy Hook section the day after yet another school schooling (time time in Wisconsin) and find myself grappling...

This one is hits close to home with navigating mental health.

Second Michael P. Branch and now I have a comparison - it's like a High Elevation Nevada setting similar to Mike Rowe. Does that make sense? Like, each chapter is separate but together they string an ongoing daily life narrative similar to a biography but also packed full of things you've never wondered about. I found the flatulence section quite intriguing and tried to read it out loud to my family. They weren't nearly as impressed as I.

I grew up with Rebecca St. James music and now my kids are huge For King and Country fans. This book overlaps a lot with the recent movie highlighting the Smallbone matriarch in their transition from Australia to America, but has lots of other reflections and words of wisdom from the mom of 7.

On par with Alan Gratz' Ban This Book comes a fictionalized yet based on a true story of the author's experience of book censorship at her school. In this book the town also has strong options of dress codes, candy, and pizza delivery among other things. Themes of parental mental health are also worth mentioning.

This book was refined and recorded some 50 years after originally being written. Listening to it is very emotional, within such a short story you come to understand each and every character and their motivations. It takes a wonderful writer to transport readers like that.

A wonderful follow-up to The Swedish Art of Death Cleaning. A small portion of overlap in content but purposely placed among stories of her past, worries over the pandemic (written in the thick of C-19), and the realities of being 86 with some medical scares but otherwise healthy. This series is motivating to readers of all ages.

I will read anything Ann Clare LeZotte writes; this one is a modern story. Her Martha's Vineyard trilogy left me feeling so educated as a reader. I'm not obtuse to what it's like for deaf children to be born to hearing parents who don't desire to learn sign language. This book, written in verse gave me Matilda vibes (minus the magic).

Really good, just felt like I had already read it because it was so similar to Hatchet but in a different setting. The end is wide open for a follow up- wonder if that was the intent but Mr. Paulsen died before it happened.

Not what I was expecting (a mermaid graphic novel). Owell.

Short stories with a running narrative that gives voice to the places I've visited but from the perspective of being local instead of just passing through. Naming their first daughter may have been my favorite in this book.

Couldn't find title but these were all cute short stories.

First attempt at Manga. The sign language being what drew me to it. I've read many books with sign from different cultures: Martha's Vineyard Sign, Aslan, Black sign, ASL, and now Japanese Sign. I find it absolutely fascinating. Attraction being a major theme in this series it's easy to see how facial expressions aren't just for communicating but also big "tells" in terms of holding back words/signs and still presenting as confident and curious.

Granted I was in 8th grade when the tragedy of September 11, 2001 happened and was sheltered from much of the news but I had never heard of Gander, Newfoundland in any other historical context even as an adult let alone the hospitality the community shared with so many when American Air Space was shut down grounding flights for days.

Couldn't begin to tell you how many times I've shelved this while working in the library and had never read it. Regretting waiting so long. I love dual stories that twist together like this, told in alternating pictures and traditional chapters, that weave together for a full picture. It also has deaf/Deaf representation which I continue to seek out. The author has a wonderful section at the back about education and additional resources.

What a downer. I don't think I want to ever see a memory care unit nor be faced with the possibility of placing a loved one or being placed in one ever. Don't read for a good time, but to induce thought provoking tears over the loss of a pool/lifestyle, and mind.

Written in snippets before and after WW1 we learn of a young mother's need to give her baby to her parents to raise as her brother due to societal expectations. The author's note at the back shed much light on a time frame I rarely read in historical fiction- WW2 is much more common, in my opinion.

November 2024
Host of Maggie's Book Bites Podcast
Goodreads.com/MaggieCarr
#2024SpineStack
#MaggiesSpineStacks

Lots of audio for the month and aiming to tackle the shortest books on my TBR list in attempt to hit end of year goals.

1 ARC
1 Dystopian
1 Graphic Novel
5 Historical Fiction
1 Thriller
1 Biography
2 Poetry/Free Verse
6 NonFiction

It's A Wonderful Life × Before We Were Yours (Lisa Wingate). Heartbreaking, reality for far too many and how the actions of one can redirect the future for another.

Perfectly satirical sequel.

I long for the days of my childhood and that of Brunswick. When you weren't expected home until the streetlights came in and neighbors were our best friends and even closer than family. As a parent, it's just different now- but maybe not- and we are just hyper aware of who we permit with our kids.

Verse paired with art for a more complete visual experience of being black and the Covid pandemic.

This is intended to be read over the course of 100 days, but I listened to this as a straight audiobook and found it motivating to keep myself in check so that finding fun and enjoying fun is easier. I loved listening to Annie F. Downstairs podcast so letting her narrate her own book was just like a big ol' hug. I especially loved her parts about book club and reading being a source of enjoyment, learning, and community.

There is still so much work to do.

I, like Lauren, find a lot of my value in what I can do for others. Trouble is I often give (or promise) too much of myself and then cycle in self-loathing as I struggle to build back up my inner-well.

Miscommunication trope
Snowed in
Audio Novella

Two women of the night track down the man killing them when nobody else seems to care. Vigilantes are motivated to protect their own and themselves when it comes down to it.

Parts felt very out of place for the 1800s setting but don't care enough to fact check to see if some mentions are known or even invented yet.

I'm not obtuse to the statistics surrounding missing indigenous women. Based on what became viral request for police to actively search for the letter writer should she go missing if effort to not become a statistic herself is powerful! This is a very quick read with a glossary for additional resources and information.

In an effort to create the perfect race we know a lot of what Germany went through in WW2 but often only focus on the Jewish people. Being disabled also puts you at risk and being Deaf one of those. Going into hiding or on the run to remain out of the institutions- holding cells for those yet to be euthanized. Others were sterilized. This is a free form poetry book written through the eyes of a young deaf teen during this period in our history...

Loved the concept: Parent Trap meets Freaky Friday but there were a lot of tough issues and just bad, bad parenting in this that took it from being a fun storyline to feeling like you are ease dropping on maybe the author (or someone she knows) very real family drama. I honestly might hate the mom in this book more than the mom in Nicola Yoon's Everything Everything.

Wow.

A very cute second chance romance.