2021 February Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

This month we're going to focus on families. Your book must be about families. Whether you're reading a generational story like The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, or a picture book like How to Babysit a Grandma by local author Jean Reagan, or a memoir like The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, or even a story about found family like in Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, family is the name of the game.

Let me know when you've finished what you've read.

ALSO, this year we are having a Winter Reading Challenge! If you finish, you can pick out a free book.

Head here to sign up for Beanstack: https://slcolibrary.beanstack.org/rea...

You can register to join the Winter Reading Challenge starting on Monday, Feb. 1.

[Greg]

I read Far From the Tree by Robin Benway.

2/2 for 2021 challenges.

[Deborah]

I will be reading Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.

[Darin]

I’m reading “About Your Father” by Peggy Rowe - it’s nonfiction, and pretty funny. My wife read it, and recommended it to me. Enjoying it so far!

[JoAnn]

Deborah wrote: "I will be reading Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate."

I loved that book.

[JoAnn]

I just read Agnes's Place. It made me think of my son, who is an only child and pretty isolated due to the pandemic. He is five, like Agnes and Anna.

[Deborah]

JoAnn wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I will be reading Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate."

I loved that book."

I have heard it is a good book and I have wanted to read it for a while.

[Stephanie]

I just finished a new 5-part series of comics by Gene Luen Yang that introduce new readers to the Marvel Superhero Shang-Chi and it was fantastic. It very much had a family element to it--the arc is called "Brothers and Sisters"; the main character, Shang-Chi finds out his sister is alive and causing much mayhem. Like many folks with superhero powers, Shang-Chi wants to be "normal" but thanks to his sister causing trouble, that's not an option and he finds himself pulled back into his family history/present, and realizes that running away isn't really an option. Super action-packed, great monster/character art, and super enjoyable. Can't wait till we have it in the library system as a trade because I am probably going to recommend it to anybody with the slightest bit of interest

[Tanya]

I think I'll do Norma Klein's Family Secrets.

For those reading Before We Were Yours, I also really liked it, but it astonishes me how horrible people are willing to be to each other. And what things we feel compelled to keep secret. It's a really interesting read. Enjoy!

[Ellen]

I'm reading Fifty Words for Rain, about a young woman who is half-Black, half-Japanese, born into a wealthy family in 1940s Japan. It's a super fascinating historical fiction about a person and place I haven't read much about.

[Becky]

I read Red at the Bone. It was excellent, short, but full of emotion.

[Brittany]

I am going to read And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman

[Elizabeth]

Looks like people are finding interesting books to read. Let me know if you need any suggestions.

[Carolyn]

I just read The Last Garden in England which fits this challenge. The garden of the title is at a grand house in England that is passed down through generations of a family. Different family members appear in each of the three timelines.

Since then I have started a re-read via audiobook of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which is more along the lines of found family.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

I read Clean Getaway by Nic Stone which has some...interesting...family dynamics.

[Donna]

I read The Seven Sisters. It wasn't my favorite. I may read another.

[Elizabeth]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Clean Getaway by Nic Stone which has some...interesting...family dynamics."

Now I am intrigued!

[Elizabeth]

I am reading Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade. It's a romance novel, so a little bit about finding family, but ALSO the two protagonists have really interesting, strained relationships with their parents. I've just started, but I hope to learn more.

[Carolyn]

Finished my re-read of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society this morning.

[Darin]

I just finished listening to All the Forgivenesses by Elizabeth Hardinger. It’s a current Readers Choice book. Historical fiction, and definitely about families. I loved it!

[Deborah]

I just finished Before We Were Yours. It is an amazing book! But as another poster mentioned a tough one to read. Even though it tore me apart emotionally, I am glad that I read it.

[JoAnn]

I just read Sulwe with my son. Absolutely beautiful. We discussed accepting ourselves and others as they are because differences are what makes each of us uniquely beautiful and needed.

I'm including it because it encourages family discussion about differences. Sulwe also compares herself with her own family and eventually discusses her pain with her mother. Finally, the mythological story inside the story involves two sisters.

[JoAnn]

Elizabeth wrote: "This month we're going to focus on families. Your book must be about families. Whether you're reading a generational story like The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, or a pictur..."

I did not know the How to Babysit author was local. We have the Grandpa one, I think.

[JoAnn]

I'm reading All About ADHD: A Family Resource for Helping Your Child Succeed with ADHD. I hope to finish by month's end, but am feeling totally overwhelmed by the prospect of sending my ds to kindergarten this fall, since the district was rather dismissive about the outside professional diagnostic testing and diagnosis completed prior to preschool. They agreed with the diagnosis, but would not take any recommendations from MD or Neuropsychologist into consideration when writing the IEP. Thank goodness for Head Start, but now, I have to deal with these people all over again. Definitely feeling panicked because, based on experience, my knowledge is not just unwanted, but offensive, and I worry he will suffer consequences if I expect to be an active participant in his education.

[Elizabeth]

JoAnn wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "This month we're going to focus on families. Your book must be about families. Whether you're reading a generational story like The Namesake by [author:Jhumpa Lahiri|..."

Yes, on her website it says she lives in Salt Lake City. :D

[Linda]

I read by Jenna Evans Welch

[Em]

I read two stories about family. Pets as family in A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World and human families in All the Forgivenesses. Great topic for the monthly challenge. Thank you for choosing it.

[Alyson]

I read "We Dream of Space"--which is all about a family.

[Debbie]

I read The Log Cabin Quilt by Ellen Howard about a pioneer family that leaves Carolina in a wagon to brave the wilderness of the Michigan forests and how a log cabin quilt saves the life of the family -- but not the way you think.

[Deborah]

I also read Dicey's Song this month which is also a book about family.

[Debbie]

I loved Dicey's Song. It is the second of a seven book series called The Tillerman Saga. The first book Homecoming, is also very good so you might like it, too. I'm planning to read the other five eventually.

[Mary]

I read " Before We Were Yours." by Lisa Wingate. It was truly one of those books that hits you in all the feelings. Hauntingly beautiful.

[Lisa]

I read to all the boys I loved before by Jenny Han for the challenge which has couple family's in the story.

[Audrey]

Deborah wrote: "I also read Dicey's Song this month which is also a book about family."

That's good! I think A Solitary Blue was my favorite. I still have one or two left in the series.

I read Miracle Creek and The Bromance Book Club, about families (and Reader's Choice).

I am reading The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, which is also about families and found families.

[Brittany]

I read And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman this morning. It's one of those books that you need a box of tissues handy while reading. So good!

[Teresa]

I read Shooting Kabul, about a refugee family's efforts to reunite with all it's members.

[alisonwonderland (Alison)]

I’m slow responding, but I read The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. This historical novel, centered around the Kentucky Packhorse Library, explores a number of family dynamics, including the “found family” of a group of librarians.

[Debbie]

Sarah wrote: "I read an ARC of One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston! It is a LGBT romance but lots of the book deals with found family and a family death/mystery."

What is an ARC?

[Elizabeth]

Debbie wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I read an ARC of One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston! It is a LGBT romance but lots of the book deals with found family and a family death/mystery."

What is an ARC?"

An ARC is an Advanced Reader Copy. They're often given to people who write reviews, or who work for libraries or book sellers.

[Debbie]

Oh! Ok. Thanks!

[Elizabeth]

Congratulations to our February 2021 prize winner! Alyson read We Dream of Space to complete the challenge!