The Heathens by Mia McKenzie

 Listened to this audiobook in 24 hours.

Apparently, I had added it to my Libby list 6-7 months ago.  I have no idea how I heard about it.

Love it.

Review

from the publisher labeled as Historical Fiction

LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL AND THE ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE • A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Dear Lord, please forgive me for the sins I’ve committed. And for the one I’m still planning to commit tomorrow. Amen.

Where do you get an abortion in 1960 Georgia, especially if your small town’s midwife goes to the same church as your parents? For seventeen-year-old Doris Steele, the answer is Atlanta, where her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, calls upon her brash, wealthy childhood best friend, Sylvia, for help. While waiting to hear from the doctor who has agreed to do the procedure, Doris spends the weekend scandalized by, but drawn to, the people who move in and out of Sylvia’s orbit: celebrities whom Doris has seen in the pages of Jet and Ebony, civil rights leaders such as Coretta Scott King and Diane Nash, women who dance close together, boys who flirt too hard and talk too much, atheists! And even more shocking? Mrs. Lucas seems right at home.

From the guests at a queer kickback to the student activists at a SNCC conference, Doris suddenly finds herself surrounded by so many people who seem to know exactly who or what they want. Doris knows she doesn’t want a baby, but what does she want? Will this trip help her find out?

These Heathens is a funny, poignant story about Black women’s obligations and ambitions, what we owe to ourselves, and the transformative power of leaving your bubble, even for just one chaotic weekend.

Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe

I finished listening to the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis on audio - it was just four hours.

lovely...

Love the book dedication:

My Dear Lucy,  

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result, you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say but I shall still be, 

 your affectionate Godfather, 

C. S. Lewis

Mutts and Mistletoe

 I found this book while traveling across the country in October. I figured I would try the Christmasy-Hallmark movie kinda book for a change.

It is fluff but also very easy  - Natalie  Cox writes romantic comedies and has several Christmas books.

Mutts and Mistletoe is pretty good - and passing it to a friend in SA - no need to make the transatlantic trip home.

She also owns a small independent bookstore in London Ink84 bookshop.co.uk

lion and predator camp

 

The Zebra frolicing and vary gassy.

for the birds

Uncanny circumstances,

We grabbed a suet feeder for the birds and in hast I cut off the string to hang it.

I literally looked at the string in the plastic and snipped it with confidence almost ruining the experience.

We rigged up this workaround and all is well.

laughter for sure and now I will enjoy peeping out the window while I am here to see who is feasting.

Advent Week One: The Light of Hope

Kindle reading

 I finished two books on the my Kindle

Julia Sheehan - Hiking is the Easy Part

About the book

Sarah Barnes-Humphrey - I buried her in a French press

Her website

Both had a common theme of overcoming difficulties and finding resilience.

I appreciate finding books on the kindle that  I would not normally stumble on in other ways.

The long list continues and I will keep reading!

I love this small press...She Writes Press

Wreck - A Novel

I scooped up Wreck A Novel by Catherine Newman from the independent bookstore Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

It was the second book with the same characters from Sandwich.  Turning the pages and listening to the chatter from Rocky felt very comfortable and I am curious if a third book will come about.

The book hits topics like aging, sickness, growing families, mental health, and oddly train safety regulations. 

Sandwich post

Sister Wife

I knew that I would love this audiobook and I did. 

At the end of the book she speaks about Janelle's son Garrison - her son too - an Army National Guard Soldier that died by suicide. She advocates for awareness and is very transparent. Well done, Christine!

Book Review

The Invisible Contract – Human Trafficking in Singapore

Elizabeth Gilbert and Jen Hatmaker - 2 memoirs

For the last two weeks I read two memoirs- I love supporting Independent bookstores and loved grabbing them.  However, the idea that a hardcover new book is $30 - I am not I am ok with.

Elizabeth Gilbert writes a memoir about walking through grief and finding freedom.

Makes sense to me. Life is hard and sometimes harder for others. I hope she stays in sobriety for life.

But I will say that some of the story is a lot!

Book and Film Blog

I am not a huge reddit reader - but very candid feedback

Reddit

Awake by Jen Hatmaker

Tells about her journey through divorce and how she still loves God but not the church.

Jen Hatmaker