Author: Andi

I have been reading a lot. This is a book I came across for my Kindle. I found a website where they list a bunch of free books every day and I came across this one. I really liked it. I had a hard time putting this book down. I just wanted to know what happened next. Even though I figured out what the ending was going to be, it was really well written and kept me entertained the whole time.

In the summer of 1909, Solomon Mayfield awoke to find his mother and sister had disappeared. Left with his alcoholic and abusive father, Sol lived his life believing the story he’d been told, the story all the people of Varner Creek believed about what happened that summer. But in a plot of twists and family secrets that will leave the reader reaching for their jaw upon the floor, Sol is taken back to his childhood by the spirits he knew in life when he passes away so many years later . . . it is only then he learns what secrets The Ghosts of Varner Creek have been keeping so many years.

I would definitely recommend this book. I even downloaded another book by the author to read since I enjoyed this one so much.

Happy reading!

I mentioned a little while back that I started a book club in the neighborhood with a few friends. I am happy to find more reasons to read! We read this book for our first get together. It sparked some pretty good conversation from the ladies!

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11. This seemingly impossible task will bring Oskar into contact with survivors of all sorts on an exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and ultimately healing journey.

I liked the book. I thought it was a little strange and hard to read and get into at first, but overall was a very interesting story. I don’t think it would be the first book I would recommend to people, but I certainly wouldn’t tell people not to read it (if that makes sense.)

I found that I didn’t really analyze the book as much as my friends did, though. I think I need to try harder on the next book. (Which is “My Year With Eleanor: A Memoir” in case you are curious.) This book definitely provoked some feelings, both good and bad, from my friends. But I don’t want to sway you one way or the other with that. I know….I’m so mean!

I am curious to see the movie someday. I wonder how it is in relation to the books. Usually books are better, but I am not sure that would be the case for this one. Someday I might watch the movie, and if I remember, I will report back on my thoughts on the two.  

Are any of you in a book club? What type books do you stay away from or flock to when you are reading for a book club? Or for yourself?

I came across this book when I was looking for new books to read on my Kindle. (And I absolutely love my Kindle, in case you were wondering!) It was a fast read. A little bit of a strange title, but it was pretty good. Here’s a description:

Freddie Nutter is a rookie cop with the Michigummee City Police Department in the wilds of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, riding desk during the last weeks of her unplanned pregnancy. When her partner Doyle, and her baby’s daddy Mick send her on an innocent errand to pilfer some leftover spaghetti and meatballs from her mother’s refrigerator, Freddie’s life takes a horrifying turn. In her mother’s living room, Freddie discovers a blood soaked crime scene, but no body.

Hidden deep in the woods, psychopath Sammy’s obsession with Betsy Nutter’s corpse intensifies while his relationship with his own mother strains to its final thread, and he pursues his next victim. All the while, Freddie’s grief is compounded by the tense kinship with her alcoholic, philandering father, and a convoluted affection for her addicted brother—and the histories of Freddie Nutter and Sammy Gunn intertwine not for the first time, and certainly not for the last.

I thought it was pretty good. There were a few times I had my hand over my mouth with some of the horrifying details. If you don’t like bloody/gory books, this wouldn’t be for you. But overall, it was a pretty interesting story with a couple plot twists.

I also set a goal for myself to read 30 books this year. GoodReads is helping me keep track and I am apparently two books ahead of schedule. I was excited to fly through this book and add another book to my 30 books!

What are you reading these days? Anything worth recommending? Or anything worth advising to stay away from?

Happy reading.

A friend of mine posted yesterday on her blog about Lent. I am not Catholic, so I don’t usually give something up for Lent. But Laura (see previous link) had a great idea to read the New Testament of the Bible during Lent. Below is a 40 day plan for reading. I started yesterday and you can easily catch up if you want to join along. It seemed like a good thing to do since I have never read through the New Testament fully.

This image shown above is from HERE. I like the idea of having something structured so I read a little a day. Maybe after I finish the New Testament, I will find something to help me read through the Old Testament. can’t believe in 31 years, I haven’t read the whole bible front to back. But I am looking forward to giving it a try!

Happy reading! And I would love to know if you are planning to read along with me….and Laura!