Gather 'round…
I have long been a devotee of J.I. Rodale’s Synonym Finder, the Colossus of the thesaurus world, a reference mutant juiced up on creative steroids. Rodale, known more for his organic living evangelism, was apparently also a lover of words and the palaces that are built on them, and for that we should all be... Continue Reading →
Winterdance Gary Paulsen My Goodreads rating: 5/5 Stars Oh, Gary Paulsen is a gem. I laughed so hard. It took me back a handful of years to the several times I read Paulsen's Harris and Me to my kiddos. Rip-snortin' funny. And wonderful. Paulsen regales with stories of his journey to and through the Iditarod, and doesn't... Continue Reading →
The School of Essential Ingredients Erica Bauermeister My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars Well, I dunno. I was reading along, and I will definitely admit Essential Ingredients made me hungry, but about midway through all I could think of was: Where is the plot? I was growing increasingly suspicious that I was stuck in a book... Continue Reading →
Perfect by Rachel Joyce My rating: 2 of 5 stars I loved Harold Fry. I loved Queenie Hennessey even more. Perfect is not Harold and it is not Queenie. This Fourth of July weekend I was asked why I only write positive book reviews. I've said it before, but I'll say it again; I'm not... Continue Reading →
Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace by Anne Lamott My rating: 5 of 5 stars My first Anne Lamott. I know. But it is. I loved most of it. I love her brokenness shining forth unapologetically, unabashed vulnerability, and snarky humor. Thus, Anne Lamott is a hit. But I do have to say that... Continue Reading →
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple My rating: 4 of 5 stars I wish I could go four-and-a-half. But until Goodreads brings in a 100-point rating system, I'll never really be able to drop the stars I'm looking for. (Except maybe My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She's Sorry. That one would still... Continue Reading →
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer My rating: 5 of 5 stars So I was subjected to Artemis Fowl second hand, through closed bedroom doors and across tents with no doors whatsoever. I caught chunks and snippets here and there without really listening long before I finally decided to dive in for myself. My oldest (18)... Continue Reading →
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another homerun from Fredrik Backman. Wow. Britt-Marie Was Here follows Britt-Marie of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry fame through the next stage of her life, and it does so with deep compassion and beauty. If you've read about Elsa... Continue Reading →
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman My rating: 5 of 5 stars This one was so good I couldn't wait until I was done. I wrote a little preview a few days ago. If you haven't read that, go here first: Book PREview: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell... Continue Reading →
I don't know if I've ever caressed a book so much. Rainy days rock 🙂 KJ
I don't know if I've ever written a book review before I've finished the book, and I certainly don't intend to start now. But I feel strongly enough about this particular book that it deserves some sort of a mention, right now, even though I'm smack dab in the middle of it. Fredrik Backman owns... Continue Reading →
I've been slowly making my way through Sig Olson's wilderness essays, Wilderness Days. They're gorgeous. I sent the kid up to the outfitting job with a copy, because where better to work through essays on the Boundary Waters than on the edge of the Boundary Waters? I don't know if she's had the time or energy... Continue Reading →
Tales From the Nexus 