75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2021 GR Challenge)
>
Donna's 2021 Reading Challenge
message 1:
by
Donna (weegraydog)
(new)
Jan 04, 2021 01:35AM
With a new grandson set to arrive in April, I'm setting a low goal this year of only 40 books! Some of you read so many books during the year, I feel kind of embarrassed! I'm hoping to finish out a couple of mystery series this year, and also throw in some reading from a progressive theology group I've joined. Hope everyone has fun reading and stays healthy!
reply
|
flag
Mod
1.
4/5This is number 19 of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The mystery in the story involves who has run down Dr. Marang from Mma Ramotswe's home town of Mochudi in a hit-and-run accident, with the only clue being that the car was blue. This mystery is overshadowed by Mma Ramotswe's decision to run for a local political office against the evil Violet Sephotho to halt the building of the Big Fun Hotel right across from a cemetery. Mma Makutsi's shoes start giving her advice again. Great fun!
2.
4/5This is the third book in the Mas Arai series. Mas is a 72-year-old curmudgeonly Japanese gardener working in the Pasadena area of Southern California, a survivor of Hiroshima, who has fallen into the role of being a reluctant detective. He goes to a party given by a friend for someone who has won $500,000 in a lottery, and the lottery winner winds up dead in the parking lot with his throat cut, and a broken shamisen (Okinawan musical instrument) near him. The story is a bit complicated at times and a bit frustrating to follow, but I just kind of like Mas, so I think I'll stick with the series.
3.
5/5This is the best book I have read that explains in historical detail how the evangelical community ended up devolving to the point of electing and supporting someone who seemingly flaunts and defies all that the evangelical community should stand for. It explains how the evangelical community (which I used to be a part of) has become, in many ways, a cult of patriarchy, White supremacy, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, conspiracy theories, and Christian nationalism rather than a community that follows Jesus and his teachings. Chapter 16, Evangelical Mulligans: A History, was especially depressing, detailing the destructive behavior of numerous evangelical cult leaders whose behavior has been excused and gone unchecked over the years because of their trump-like grip on their followers and enablers. The take-away from the book was that this problem posts a threat to a democratic way of life, and is not going to go away anytime soon.
4.
4/5This book tells the story over time of people on an Indian reservation and small town in North Dakota, where four members of a white family are murdered and only the baby is left alive. A terrible injustice occurs as a result of this incident, and the unsolved murders haunt the town and reservation, and ripple through the lives of many people over the years. Justice and closure seem elusive.
5.
4/5This was my book choice for February for Black History Month. The author describes her picture-perfect childhood, growing up in a White, middle-class suburb of Boston, and her gradual realization, as an arts administrator and teacher, that her efforts to engage Black students and their families was not working, despite her good intentions. The book outlines the historical roots of systemic racism in our culture that White people may not be aware of, but some of the author's actions and comments seemed, at times, to be a bit ingenuous, although still helpful. The back of the book contains helpful suggestions about what to do to continue the journey of becoming an anti-racist ally. The most helpful takeaway was this: "Prepare yourself to adopt an 'I don't know what I don't know' attitude. The sooner you can become comfortable with seeking what you don't know, as opposed to proving what you do, the more you will learn and the more effective you'll become as a racial justice advocate."
6.
4/5This novella is number 12.5 in the Molly Murphy mystery series, and takes place after Molly has her baby Liam, and observes events in her neighborhood through her window during her confinement. Molly is approached by a young neighbor who confides to Molly about her unhappiness in her marriage to a controlling older man. The young woman disappears, and Molly and Daniel work together to find out what has happened to her.
7.
4/5This is number 20 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Mma Ramotswe finds herself with two mysteries to solve involving old friends. One is a woman who is devastated because her daughter, who works as a diamond sorter, has dropped all communication with her mother. Through this old friend, Precious learns the story of another old friend who has lost much of her money because of a questionable gift to a charismatic preacher. Mma Ramotswe's kindness compels her to try to help out both old friends.
8.
5/5This was such a great book to read for someone who has doubts or is going through a deconstruction of their faith, as I'm doing. It outlines the four stages of spiritual development, and explains how many churches/individuals never get past the first two stages, and that doubt is, in fact, the key to growth into the third and fourth stages. A central part of McLaren's conclusions about the Christian life come from Galatians 5:6, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love." He ends the book by stating: "Doubt need not be the death of faith. It can be, instead, the birth of a new kind of faith, a faith beyond beliefs, a faith that expresses itself in love, a deepening and expanding faith that can save your life and save the world."
9.
4/5Mma Ramotswe is approached by a distant relative who asks for financial help for a sick cousin, but there are things about her story that don't seem to add up. Also, Charlie takes on the care of a baby elephant, but is he up to the task? Mma Ramotswe asks an expert in caring for orphan elephants, "Is it hard to raise an elephant?" The answer: "It was some minutes before anybody answered. But then Debra said, 'I don't think so, Mma. It's not hard to do anything if you do it with love.'"
Mod
4/5Mma Ramotswe is approached by a distant relative who asks for financial help for a sick cousin, but there are t..."
This sounds like such a fun read!
10.
5/5I read this book over Lent, and found it very helpful. The book guides the reader through the Lenten period, encouraging the reader to draw closer to God, and to recognize that our walk with God is an invitation to make small surrenders of our selves and our time along the way.
11.
4/5This short story is a prequel to "Small Great Things," and introduces us to the main character, a young Black girl, Ruth, when she is starting third grade. The story showcases Ruth's hopes, dreams and challenges as she is accepted as a student at a prestigious school, while her mother works as a domestic, taking care of the home of one of the White students of privilege at the school. An interesting glimpse at the back story of the woman who becomes a nurse involved in a racially charged hospital death in "Small Great Things."
12.
3/5This is the ninth mystery in the Needlecraft Mysteries series. Betsy is drawn into solving another murder when her store manager, Godwin, is accused of murdering his lawyer partner after a nasty break-up. Poor Godwin!
13.
4/5I was craving a sweet, uncomplicated story, and this fit my mood completely. I'm pretty sure I read this many years ago, although I couldn't remember much of the story. Anne is a young orphan who comes to live with a middle-aged brother and sister on Prince Edward Island in Canada. She proves to be an exuberant, exasperating, smart and endearing new member of their family, who manages to get herself into a number of scrapes. Loved this, and also loved the Little House books--will probably finish out the series this year.
Our new grandson is here--what a sweetie--happy grandma dance!
Mod
4/5I was craving a sweet, uncomplicated story, and this fit my mood completely. I'm pretty sure I read this many years ago, although I couldn't remember ..."
I have not read Anne yet and haven't watched an adaptation since I was a child, PBS maybe? lol.
Congrats on the new grandson!!
14.
3/5This is the first book in the John Lloyd Branson series, and I haven't decided whether I'll continue the series. Branson is a pompous, crackerjack Texas lawyer who hires a young female student to be his assistant. Branson's client is a writer/rancher whose wife died in a fiery automobile crash. The crash is suspicious, and the rancher marries a young woman he is infatuated with shortly afterwards. The constant bickering/"sexual tension" between Branson and his attractive assistant seemed a bit contrived at times.
15.
3/5This is the first in the Detective Trigger series. I received signed (!) copies of the first two books in the series as a gift. I'm not usually a fan of books with anthropomorphic characters, but I did enjoy this book about a tough Chihuahua private detective who is hired by a kitty client to find her stolen ruby heirloom collar. Trigger's investigation draws him into the seedy underworld of crime-ridden Arc City, and he goes up against the City's notorious mob boss. The characters and story could have been about people rather than animals, and it was written in an appealing noir style. I'll probably continue with the series.
Mod
3/5This is the first in the Detective Trigger series. I received signed (!) copies of the first two books in the series as a gift. I..."
That sounds a bit strange and silly, lol, but oooh signed copies!
It's really more of a young adult series. My son and his wife apparently live near the author, and the animal hospital they go to was selling signed copies!
18.
5/5This is a wonderful book for children that talks about the invisible strings of love that attach us to the important people in our lives. Great book for children in general, or especially children who are dealing with a death in the family for the first time. The invisible string reaches across miles, and even to heaven. My husband just passed away, and I was really glad I had gotten this book for my grandson a while back.
25.
5/5Excellent book on grief.
Mod
Juli wrote: "Only 2 more books and you've reached this year's goal!"Yes, it has been a really horrible year. Reading has helped somewhat.
Donna (weegraydog) wrote: "38. 
4/5"I enjoyed this one. Just saw the Will Smith movie... even though it had little to do with the book except the Three Laws.
Donna, You have such an international, eclectic taste. Love it & keep on posting!
75 Books...More or Less!
Books mentioned in this topic
Reflections for Ragamuffins: Daily Devotions from the Writings of Brennan Manning (other topics)Catalogue of Death (other topics)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (other topics)
Bookmarked to Die (other topics)
Miss Zukas Shelves the Evidence (other topics)
More...
