WHAT TO DO WITH SHORT DAYS AND LONG COLD NIGHTS: READ AND READ AND READ!

On these short days and long cold winter nights I find myself spending most my time curled up with a good book.

I know, I’m kind of boring according to my kids and husband, but they should be use to this habit after all these years. I love to turn on the fire (yes, not light but turn on one of those gas ones), light some candles, grab a soft blanket and immerse myself in a new adventure, or world or friends all inside a book.

I find it amusing when I’m at a gathering and people begin discussing all the different sitcoms or tv shows they watch and I’m seriously clueless (oops), but I just never bother to turn on the TV, expect to watch The Crown 0r This is Us, that’s it, well and the news which I basically read most of. I do attend movies at the theatre on most weekends so I’m at least up to date on that.  But if and when friends and family want to discuss literature, well they certaintly know who to turn to.

So with that being said, here’s my winter reading list in case any of you are craving a comfy chair, warm blanket and wonderful winter entertainment.

“Faithful” by Alice Hoffman.  

I would have to give this a 4 star just because she’s one of my favorite authors and she never disappoints. I call her reads my dessert books because they’re usually pure entertainment.  Don’t expect any history lessons with Alice Hoffman but do expect to be entertained.  I almost skipped on this becuase the reviews were saying it was a ‘coming of age’ book and I really wasn’t interested in another of those, but it’s so much more than that. I came away with a new Heroine in Shelby (the main character), seriously she’s amazing!  I want to be her friend.  I do need to add, it’s a little slow and somewhat depressing at first but please, please keep on reading just a few more chapters, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

“Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead

Definite 5 star!  UNPUTDOWNABLE!!! What more can I say?  It’s so much more than a history lesson.  It’s a life lesson on empathy which we all can use a little of. I’m sure most of you have read many reviews on this book already so I won’t bore you with mine, just read it!

 

“The Pecan Man” by Cassi Dandridge Selleck

I give this a 4 1/2 stars.  When I first read the review which said, “This novel has been described to ‘Kill a Moockingbird’ meets ‘The Help’, I was sold.  I’m just wondering why I hadn’t got my hands on this treasure long ago.  You will immediately fall in love with the characters, in fact I still think of Miss Ora quite often and its been a few months since I finished this book.  Basically this is a story about an unlikely friendship between a white middle age Southern woman and her black maid.  It always saddens me to think of the racial prejudism that went on and for that matter is still going on.  I’m so grateful I was raised to lobe all people equally.

By the way, this sweet treasure of a book can easily be read in one sitting.

“The Mountain Story” by Lori Lansens

Another 5 star for me.

I picked this novel up for two reasons, first Lori Lansens another favorite author of mine, and second I needed an adventure to go on. And Lansens took me on one amazing adventure, that’s for sure,  I seriously can’t stop thinking of this story. It was adventurous and so much more. The three women you meet in this novel will become your heroes! Definitely put this at the top of your reading list.

“Orphans of the Carnival” by Carol Birch

I give this a 4 1/2 star.

This was one of my favorites becuase it was based on a real person and I simply just felt for her. At first I had no idea Julia Pastrana, the main character was a real, as in actually lived, performed in the circus, and had this challenge of a life. The novel is about her life set in the mid to late 1800’s and the history of the carnivals when it was mainly a time for patrons to look at what they considered “freak shows”.  Be ready to feel sad at times and flabbergasted that people actually behaved this way. Carol Birch did an amazing job of writing a historical fiction.  Some reviews say to not google Julia Pastrana before you read it because it gives away some of the book, but I found myself reading about her true history along the way and wasn’t at all disappointed.

 

And on another note, I do get asked if I purchase most my books and if so, are they actual books or kindle reads.  Well, I do all three. Since my bookshelves at home are overflowing I try to be choose carefully the books I purchase and usually they are the ones for my book club because I like to have it in hand and keeps notes on different parts for the club. I also enjoy the library, I love the atmosphere and the tradition of going (stay tuned for my next Monday’s with Molly), being in a place with shelves full of books is definitely a happy place for me (even better than a shoe store, haha).  But, I also have a kindle which I still load books onto monthly, its the only way to travel with books as far as I’m concerned.

*I would love to hear what you’re reading, I’m ready to begin my next adventure.

I think I might just try a fun mystery . . . has anyone read, “Moral Defense” by Marcia Clark?