Family | Book Chatter

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

We made it. A new year. What it brings will be interesting but let’s stay positive and be the best people we can be and it will all work out.

Evan and Emm’s short trip to see us was really nice. We had a lot of good food, time by the fire pit and we learned that our declining Otter Pup LOVES a good fire so we got more wood and will be out there tonight with her, barring wind.

Right Now:

I have a break from student ministry as the students are on winter break, but I am hosting the online service this morning from home! PJs, coffee, maybe some toast.

I am also writing a message on the topic of forgiveness. What does forgiveness mean to you? Anyone care to share?

This Week:

I am still off from work this week. The campus is back but I took an extra week, which seemed excessive but not so now. I’ve read some good books, cooked some stuff, taken walks, and still haven’t cleaned out the garage. Maybe this week?

Reading:

2025 kicked off with my first book, The Brothers Karamazov. I’ve been gently warned that it’s a heavy book to kick off the year but you know what? I am loving it! It’s surprising me like Of Human Bondage did. The characters are so interesting and the way the story is laid out, even more so. I am into Book 2 and am reading it two ways, on Hoopla via my phone, late at night, under the covers and by day, with my physical book.

I am also reading Bright Young Women for club. REALLY good so far. Immediately grabbed me.

Also listening to The God of the Woods.

One night, at the end of the year I was waiting for the new year to start my first book but was without reading material in bed so picked up Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst. It’s non-fiction, Christian and so, so good. If you’ve ever felt left out of something, or lonely, oh my goodness, this is a book for you. I have highlighted so many passages.

Watching:

Squid Game, season 2. This season is so different than the first season. More playful with a lot of young characters. I am enjoying it but on the last episode now. Season 3 will be its final season and will hit this year.

Grateful for:

That the Otter Pup is still with us. Every day is a blessing. She is not in pain but we are taking it day by day. She loved seeing Evan and Emma. Really enjoyed them being here.
Books in many different formats. I have never in my life utilized so many different formats but I am loving them all, ebooks on my Kindle, my phone, physical copies and audiobooks.
That my hair is now looking more normal after I chopped it! I cut off all the long, dangly transparent pieces and now have a cute bob. But my hair is curly now post brain surgery.
This last week of vacation.

Happy New Year, you all. Let me know what you’re up to.

The Reading List
By Sara Nisha Adams
William Morrow & Company, 9780063025295, August 2022, 400pp.

The Short of It:

Sweet and charming. Wholesome, even.

The Rest of It:

This is another winner. A book about books and reading. I’ve been loving these this year.

Mukesh is a widow. He lost his dear Naina but his three adult daughters keep him on his toes, as well as his young granddaughter, Priya. They are all a bit chatty over him. “Get out more, Papa. Eat better, Papa. Make more friends, Papa.” They mean well.

Aleisha is a young teen, only seventeen and a librarian at the local library. She lives at home with her older brother Aiden, whom she adores, and her mother who is suffering from an unnamed mental break that causes her to have fits, remain inside a buttoned up house, and requires constant care. Between Aleisha and Aiden, they do the best they can for her, but what she needs is professional care and she refuses it.

To get Aleisha out of the house, Aiden encourages her to take a librarian job. Aleisha doesn’t read and really isn’t an example of customer service because what Aleisha wants is to be left alone.

In walks Mukesh. He asks Aleisha for a book recommendation. His wife used to read so much, he’d like to see what all the fuss is about. Aleisha is initially very rude to him. Sarcastic even. Mukesh is confused by this but goes on his way.

But then a list is left behind at the library. A list with books on it. She’s curious who left the list but thinks that maybe these can be the books she can recommend in the future. Books like To Kill a Mockingbird, Rebecca, Beloved, Little Women.

Aleisha uses this list and a friendship is born between Mr. P (Mukesh) and Aleisha. Down the line, this friendship becomes very important as they learn about themselves through books.

This was a wonderful read. Full of reading goodness but also dealing with some heavy topics. Love, loss, mental illness. Woven between these bookish interactions is a lot of pain and trial but in the end, there is hope.

Highly recommend. It’s an older title, came out in 2022 but I missed it when it first came out and it was readily available from the library! Lovers of libraries, grab a copy and enjoy.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

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