News and Updates
Oh the waiting game! We have officially entered the “is it Halloween yet?” phase at our home. But we have also entered the cooler evenings perfect for outdoor activities. Our youngest is autistic and has struggled with gross motor skills so things like riding a bike weren’t really for him until recently. We’ve been enjoying some after school adventures in the driveway – him riding his bike and talking to our goats, me walking and listening to an audiobook. Don’t let anyone tell you audiobooks aren’t reading! Just like glasses are adaptive tools to help some people read, audiobooks are an adaptive tool that helps me read when I need to be physically present and visually aware of my surroundings! What are you reading this week?
This Week
True crime has developed a huge following over the past decade. From podcasts to Netflix shows, true crime seems to be everywhere these days! I wanted us to dig into some of the books that opened the doors to these newer creators and go back to the genre’s roots.
Reading Challenge: True Crime
When I started searching for a true crime book this year, I had a hard time deciding which one to read. There are some really great ones out there, several of which we already enjoyed over the past few years. But who can pass up the opportunity to read Grisham’s very first non-fiction work?
Set in a small town, this book is all drama and very little justice for anyone involved. For readers who enjoy shows like Law & Order or CSI, you will be screaming the entire time as Grisham recounts the botched evidence collection, horrible suspect interviews and more!
If you’re looking for other great books for this prompt, try one of these:
- Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann (review here)
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
- Mind Hunter, John E Douglas
- Murder in Coweta County, Margaret Anne Barnes (review here)
New This week
None of our pre-release reviews are hitting shelves this week, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great books coming out! Here’s a few in our pre-order cart:
- Fight Oligarchy, Bernie Sanders
- Finding My Way, Malala Yousafzai
- The Land of Sweet Forever, Harper Lee
- A Place Called Yellowstone, Randall K Wilson
- The Proving Ground, Michael Connelly
In Case You Missed It
Last Week’s Prompt
When TJ Klune first introduced us to the residents of Marsyas Island, I had no idea how profound the impact would be on me. Magical young beings – all orphans – brought to the island by one Arthur Parnassus, a magical being himself. I was struck by the sense of duty Arthur has to protect the children, but also his own secrets. Above all else, I was struck by the undertone throughout the book – different isn’t bad. When I discovered a sequel was in the works, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
Somewhere Beyond The Sea receives a 5.0 rating from us! I could not put this book down as I read and cried saying goodbye for now to these characters at the end of the story. It is not often I can say a book broke me, but this did. In the span of just a few chapters, I experienced all the emotions and shed all the tears. As a mom to an LGBTQ+ youth, I know how much representation matters and TJ Klune knows how to do it the right way. The transgender and gay characters in this book are not thrown in to check a box – they are the book, the plot, and the heart of the story. Watching Lucy come into their own in this story broke me – I am simultaneously proud of a fictional character and upset they had to experience the events that served as the catalyst to get them there.
Last Week’s Article
The best part of attending author events is hearing the inspiration and creative process behind some of my favorite reads. William Kent Krueger gave us that and so much more at the event a few weeks back at the Forsyth County Library in Cumming, GA! I gave a full run down on my favorite moments from the discussion on both his life and his newest release Apostle’s Cove in last week’s article here.
October Nonfiction Review
As a student, you always hear about the frontier states voting for admission, but not the political battles leading up to that. I’m not certain I ever learned the real story behind the annexation of Texas into the Union. Starting with last month’s nonfiction around President Tyler, I was introduced to the idea that the drive to take over Texas was really the battle around slavery in the western US. In Storm Over Texas, Joel H. Silbey introduced me to the idea that, without the Texas annexation, the Civil War may never have occurred. Following the political fighting both prior to Tyler’s influence and after, Silbey shows readers how that fighting continued to develop and the animosity grew between north and south.
This fast-paced, entertaining book receives 4.1 out of 5 stars from me. Covering a wide variety of topics and characters, this book is a great starting point for readers interested in the history of Texas or looking to learn more about the precipitous events culminating in the Civil War. If you have enjoyed books by Ron Chernow or Joseph J Ellis, you will enjoy Silbey’s works as well!
Last Week’s Preview
Robert F Smith leads readers on a journey to apply the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to leadership beyond the Civil Rights movement and find surprising ways his theories on nonviolent change will help your organization thrive. I give Lead Boldly by Robert F Smith 4.3 out of 5 stars. This book helped me view discussions with my team in new ways and understand the motivations of different team members, showing how King’s legacy is more than just as a Civil Rights pioneer or religious leader, but as a leader of people. Read the full review here.
Reading Challenge Prompts
Are you reading along with us for October? Here’s the full list of our upcoming weekly prompts. Not up for reading a book every week? That’s ok – we have a once-a-month prompt, too! Our monthly theme for October is Black – look for a book with a black cover or black in the name.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Clear and Present Danger, Tom Clancy
- Current audio book: Nightswimming, Melanie Anagnos
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Streets of Laredo, Larry McMurtry
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