Category: Books and Shows

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: September 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

With this month wrapping up, I’m sharing the book I read in September.

I feel like I’m struggling a bit getting into a reading groove lately, but I did read three books this month.

Here are the books I read this month:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Block Party:

Summary:

This summer, meet your neighbors.

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.

On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.

But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

Quick Thoughts:

It has been a long time since I’ve finished a book I didn’t enjoy, but I did finish this one since it was on my summer reading list. Anyway, for whatever reason, I struggled throughout the book. I didn’t really like the characters and couldn’t connect with the writing style or plot. Two different times, I even had two different ladies at the pool ask me about the book, and I told them I just couldn’t get into it.

Have you read The Block Party? If so, what did you think?

Rating:

Look for Me There:

Summary:

In Look for Me There , Luke Russert traverses terrain both physical and deeply personal. On his journey to some of the world’s most stunning destinations, he visits the internal places of grief, family, faith, ambition, and purpose—with intense self-reflection, honesty, and courage.”—Savannah Guthrie, coanchor of Today “Look for me there,” news legend Tim Russert would tell his son, Luke, when confirming a pickup spot at an airport, sporting event, or rock concert. After Tim died unexpectedly, Luke kept looking for his father, following in Tim’s footsteps and carving out a highly successful career at NBC News. After eight years covering politics on television, Luke realized he had no good answer as to why he was chasing his father’s legacy. As the son of two accomplished parents—his mother is journalist Maureen Orth of Vanity Fair —Luke felt the pressure of high expectations but suddenly decided to leave the familiar path behind. Instead, Luke set out on his own to find answers. What began as several open-ended months of travel to decompress and reassess morphed into a three-plus-year odyssey across six continents to discover the world and, ultimately, to find himself. Chronicling the important lessons and historical understandings Luke discovered from his travels, Look for Me There is both the vivid narrative of that journey and the emotional story of a young man taking charge of his life, reexamining his relationship with his parents, and finally grieving his larger-than-life father, who died too young. For anyone uncertain about the direction of their life or unsure of how to move forward after a loss, Look for Me There is a poignant reflection that offers encouragement to examine our choices, take risks, and discover our truest selves.

Quick Thoughts:

I really liked this book. I’d seen Luke Russert promote it when it was published, and added it to my reading list last spring.

I remember when his dad, Tim, was the host of Meet the Press, and when he passed away how that impacted the show.

Anyway, I enjoyed following Luke’s journey through many countries, recalling many amazing places and people while learning life lessons along the way . His mom joined him on a few legs of his journey and their relationship, and what he’s learned from her, was also interesting. I also enjoyed the reflective parts and memories that he shared with about his father.

Rating:

The Senator’s Wife:

Summary:

In this town, anyone is replaceable. . . .

After a tragic chain of events led to the deaths of their spouses two years ago, D.C. philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are finally starting to move on. The horrifying ordeal drew them together, and now they’re ready to settle down again—with each other.

As Sloane returns to the world of White House dinners and political small talk, this time with her new husband, she’s also preparing for an upcoming hip replacement—the latest reminder of the lupus diagnosis she’s managed since her twenties. With both of their hectic schedules, they decide that hiring a home health aide will give Sloane the support and independence she needs post-surgery. And they find the perfect fit in Athena Karras.

Seemingly a godsend, Athena tends to Sloane, and even helps her run her charitable foundation. But Sloane slowly begins to deteriorate—a complication, Athena explains, of Sloane’s lupus. As weeks go by, Sloane becomes sicker, and her uncertainty quickly turns to paranoia as she begins to suspect the worst. Why is Athena asking her so many probing questions about her foundation—about her past? And could Sloane be imagining the sultry looks between Athena and her new husband?

Quick Thoughts:

This book seems to be a popular one right now. I really love a suspenseful book, and this one is definitely a psychological thriller. It hooked me from the first few pages with the deaths of Slone and Whit’s spouses. Throughout the plot, the reader is kind of “connecting the dots” as to what happened while also wondering about motives of other characters.

The chapters are pretty short, and this was a quick read for me.

Rating:

What books have you been reading lately?

Like last year, I set a goal of reading 40 books this year, and I’m up to 31/40 books. I’ve kind of abandoned my “ABC Reading Challenge”…this is also why I fail at book clubs…I just want to read what I want to read. haha

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows

TV Tuesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

WordPress shares daily writing prompts, and they often catch my attention.

A few weeks ago, the prompt was “What TV shows did you watch as a kid?”

When I saw this prompt, literally the flood gates of my childhood opened up immediately.

Here are a few tv shows I remember watching through the years…

Most mornings when we would get ready for school, The Mickey Mouse Club and Kids, Inc. were on the Disney Channel.

TGIF Friday nights on ABC included Full House and Family Matters. I also loved Growing Pains and The Hogan Family. I don’t remember if they were on Friday nights or not.

I have fond memories of Saturday mornings watching Saved by the Bell and California Dreams.

My first crushes were definitely Kirk Cameron, Jason Bateman, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Other shows I remember watching include: Alf, Hey Dude, Kate & Allie, and Clarissa Explains it All.

Late middle school into high school, like most teens in America, I watched Party of Five, 90210, and Melrose Place. I guess I watched those shows into my college years.

I’m not sure when I started watching Golden Girls, but they are still my favorite to this day. Designing Women is another top tier show for me. I still watch those reruns on Hulu too.

I even remember watching reruns of I Love Lucy, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the Dick Van Dyke show and loving those shows. I think I’m an “old soul” when it comes to my tv shows.

A show I’d forgotten about but rediscovered this summer is 227. As soon as I heard the opening song, I remembered every word. I loved watching some of those episodes on Hulu this summer.

I sent my brother a text asking him what shows he remembers from our childhood, and he said, “Where do I begin?” haha

My brother is three years younger than me, and he remembers the most random things from when we were younger. I wondered if we’d have any of the same favorite shows, and the two he said that I said as well were Hey Dude and Clarissa.

He also said: Salute Your Shorts, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Muppet Babies, Dark Wing Duck and Duck Tales.

I just knew he’d say Duck Tales.

Anyway, this was a fun stroll down memory lane.

What about you… What are some tv shows you remember watching from your childhood?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: August 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I can’t believe that August is almost over…and with that, “summer reading” is just about over for me. Today, I’m sharing the books I read this month.

I started off strong with reading while I was in California. I finished one book on the plane, read another book in 24 hours while there, started a book, and then read a novella while on the plane. Then, I finished a book right around the time school started. Since school has started, I just haven’t had as much time…and can barely keep my eyes open at night.

I had a really good month of reading though…poolside, oceanside, and in the car!

Here are the books I read this month:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Five-Star Weekend:

Summary:

After tragedy strikes, Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket.

Hollis Shaw’s life seems picture-perfect. She’s the creator of the popular food blog Hungry with Hollis and is married to Matthew, a dreamy heart surgeon. But after she and Matthew get into a heated argument one snowy morning, he leaves for the airport and is killed in a car accident. The cracks in Hollis’s perfect life—her strained marriage and her complicated relationship with her daughter, Caroline—grow deeper.

So when Hollis hears about something called a “Five-Star Weekend”—one woman organizes a trip for her best friend from each phase of her life: her teenage years, her twenties, her thirties, and midlife—she decides to host her own Five-Star Weekend on Nantucket. But the weekend doesn’t turn out to be a joyful Hallmark movie.

The husband of Hollis’s childhood friend Tatum arranges for Hollis’s first love, Jack Finigan, to spend time with them, stirring up old feelings. Meanwhile, Tatum is forced to play nice with abrasive and elitist Dru-Ann, Hollis’s best friend from UNC Chapel Hill. Dru-Ann’s career as a prominent Chicago sports agent is on the line after her comments about a client’s mental health issues are misconstrued online. Brooke, Hollis’s friend from their thirties, has just discovered that her husband is having an inappropriate relationship with a woman at work. Again! And then there’s Gigi, a stranger to everyone (including Hollis) who reached out to Hollis through her blog. Gigi embodies an unusual grace and, as it hap- pens, has many secrets.

Quick Thoughts:

I think this is my fave EH book to date. This was the book I read in Cali in 24 hours! I loved the premise, the different friendships and of course the Nantucket setting. It was the perfect summer book to read.

Rating:

FIVE stars for the Five-Star Weekend.

Hello Beautiful:

Summary:

An emotionally layered and engrossing story of a family that asks: Can love make a broken person whole?

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. So it’s a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her appreciation of his quiet steadiness. With Julia comes her family; she is inseparable from her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book and imagines a future different from the expected path of wife and mother; Cecelia, the family’s artist; and Emeline, who patiently takes care of all of them. Happily, the Padavanos fold Julia’s new boyfriend into their loving, chaotic household.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable loyalty to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

Quick Thoughts:

Wow! This book hooked me from the first page. It might be a top contender for the books I read this year. There are complicated relationships with many layers – sisters and marriage, love, death and everything in between. This is a story I think that I will always remember.

Rating:

The Sixth Wedding:

Summary:

A sequel to 28 Summers – Jake McCloud returns to Nantucket for Labor Day weekend 2023, this time without Mallory.

Quick Thoughts:

This short novella is a postscript to 28 Summers which is one of my favorite EH books. As I read it, I realized that it was in Endless Summer that I read in July. Now, I’m not sure if it was all in Endless Summer, but I knew that major parts of it sounded familiar. That being said, it was the perfect quick read on the plane, and I loved reading about these friends being reunited for Labor Day weekend.

Rating:

Hotel Laguna:

Summary:

In 1942, Hazel Francis left Wichita, Kansas for California, determined to do her part for the war effort. At Douglas Aircraft, she became one of many “Rosie the Riveters,” helping construct bombers for the U. S. military. But now the war is over, men have returned to their factory jobs, and women like Hazel have been dismissed, expected to return home to become wives and mothers.

Unwilling to be forced into a traditional woman’s role in the Midwest, Hazel remains on the west coast, and finds herself in the bohemian town of Laguna Beach. Desperate for work, she accepts a job as an assistant to famous artist Hanson Radcliff. Beloved by the locals for his contributions to the art scene and respected by the critics, Radcliff lives under the shadow of a decades old scandal that haunts him.

Working hard to stay on her cantankerous employer’s good side, Hazel becomes a valued member of the community. She never expected to fall in love with the rhythms of life in Laguna, nor did she expect to find a kindred spirit in Jimmy, the hotel bartender whose friendship promises something more. But Hazel still wants to work with airplanes—maybe even learn to fly one someday. Torn between pursuing her dream and the dream life she has been granted, she is unsure if giving herself over to Laguna is what her heart truly wants.

Quick Thoughts:

While we weren’t in Laguna Beach, I still thought it would be fun to start this book while in California. I love historical fiction, and this one didn’t disappoint! Hazel was such an amazing central character, and I loved the beach town setting. This is another favorite book of thesummer.

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars

Summer Reading Update:

I had such a great summer of reading.

  • Read: All the Days of Summer, Endless Summer, Meet Me at the Lake, Summer Stage, The Five-Star Weekend, Hotel Laguna
  • Currently Reading: The Block Party
  • Picked up from the library: The Summer of Songbirds

I’m enjoying The Block Party, and I will definitely finish it. I just haven’t had tons of time to do much of anything lately besides school and shuttling the kids everywhere they need to go. I’m not sure if I will go ahead and read The Summer of Songbirds or not. I definitely wan to, but I might save it for next summer?

What’s the best book you read this summer?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: July 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Did you catch my Share 4 Somethings post on Saturday? I love that fun link up.

*sigh* This time next week, I’ll be reporting to school. That escalated quickly!

Anyway, it’s the last day of July (how is that possible?!), so I better share the books I read this month before turning the calendar page to August.

This month, I read four books which I guess is my average. I would have thought I would have read more, but like I’ve said before, I’m also really good at watching tv in the summer too.

Again this month I’m using one of @dariabookstagram’s templates. Cute, right?

Here are the books I read this month:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Meet Me at the Lake:

Summary:

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort–something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan–a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

Quick Thoughts:

I loved Every Summer After which I read last summer, and I felt like this had a similar vibe….love, hope, heartbreak and more. It was a good summer read!

Rating:

Endless Summer

Summary:

In SUMMER DAYS AGAIN, Elin Hilderbrand offers nine delectable stories—prequels, sequels, and “missing chapters” from her cherished books—some of which have never been published, until now.

With a foreword by Elin Hilderbrand about the writer’s reluctance to leave treasured characters behind and a prefatory, “behind-the-scenes” note included with each story, this book answers the prayers of both new and seasoned readers everywhere who, like the Kirkus reviewer, “would rather be living in an Elin Hilderbrand novel.”

Quick Thoughts:

I guess it would probably only make sense to read this book if you’ve read most of her books? She includes additions to The Matchmaker, Summer of 79, Summer of 69, 28 Summers and more. I think I had read all of the books except for the Summers of 69 and 79.

I love that Hilderbrand has an intro for each short story with notes and explanation as to why she wrote it, why it was left out, and other general thoughts and ideas.

The 28 Summers sequel was my favorite. I honestly really loved that book, and it was fun catching up with the characters and seeing how their lives turned out.

Rating:

Lessons in Chemistry

Summary:

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

Quick Thoughts:

I feel like this is a popular book right now. I’ve seen quite a few people share it, and my Gma mentioned it to me a few months ago.

Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship reminded me of Sheldon and Amy’s on The Big Bang Theory tv show….innocent, clunky, clueless but sweet.

I loved following along on Elizabeth’s journey of her cooking show and all that she has to offer for her female audience.

Of course this book has some twists and turns, heartache, a “girl power” message and more…and I loved it. It might be one of my favorite books of 2023.

Fave Quotes:

“Every day she found parenthood like taking a test for which she had not studied.” (**I do not know that I’ve ever related more to quote than this one! haha)

“Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.”

Rating:

Summer Stage:

Summary:

Bestselling Author of  The Wedding Veil Amy Trevino, a former aspiring playwright, has stayed close to her Rhode Island hometown while her famous brother, Timothy Fleming, pursued and achieved his Hollywood dreams. Now a high school English teacher and occasional drama director, Amy takes on the production manager role for her brother’s play in an effort to mend rifting family relationships. 

Sam, Amy’s daughter, was a Disney child star who continued her pursuit for fame in a Manhattan TikTok house. Now she’s returned home unexpectedly. Her sudden arrival is shrouded in secrets, and Sam refuses to open up to her mother, deciding instead to join her uncle on Block Island for the summer.  

Timothy, a successful and well-loved actor, is directing a summer production at a storied Block Island theater–and his famous ex-wife has the lead role.

As they work together to ensure the production is a success, Amy, Sam, and Timothy are forced to grapple with their desires for recognition and fortune, stand up for what they believe art and fame actually mean, and discover what they really want out of life.

Quick Thoughts:

This book was on my summer reading list. I don’t think I’ve read any other books by Meg Mitchell Moore, but I know she wrote Vacationland which has been on my want to read list for a while.

Anyway, this was a perfect little summer read with Block Island setting. I loved the mix of characters – uncle, mom, daughter and more along with the idea of a summer play. This was a fun and easy read.

Rating:

Summer Reading Update:

  • Read: All the Days of Summer, Endless Summer, Meet Me at the Lake, and Summer Stage
  • Picked up from the library: Hotel Laguna
  • Bought: The Five-Star Weekend…I wasn’t sure when it would ever be my turn to read this, so I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon.
  • Still waiting on…The Summer of Songbirds and The Block Party (I’m second in line on the library wait list for both, so maybe I can read those in August too!)

Anyway, how’s your summer reading going?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: June 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Before the month wraps up, I want to share the books I read in June.

I only read three books which is hard for me to believe. I thought for sure I’d read more once school was out, but June ended up being an extra busy month. I also found that when I had some downtime, I ended up watching TV a bit more than I usually do. Apparently when I have less structure, I read less…same goes with working out too. haha

One day I was scrolling Instagram, and saw these cute templates by @dariasbookstagram

It’s kind of killing me that I didn’t get four books read for the four spots! Oh well…maybe next month!

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Even though I only read three books, I enjoyed them all…

The Soulmate:

Summary:

There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.

When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral…Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?

And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate…lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve read many of Hepworth’s books, and I always enjoy them. I liked this one too. This was my mystery/thriller book for the month, and Hepworth did a good job making me question if Gabe was lying or not. Of course, there were some twists and turns, and I thought it all wrapped up nicely.

Rating:

All the Days of Summer

Summary:

Heather Willette has a good life in Concord, Massachusetts–complete with a husband who runs his own business and a son to take up his mantle one day. But now that her marriage has fizzled out and Ross, her only child, is graduating from college and getting serious with his girlfriend, Heather wonders if that life is the one she really wants. Ready to seek out her own happiness and discover herself again, Heather decides to leave her husband and rent a cottage on Nantucket. And her plan is going perfectly–until Ross announces he’s moving to Nantucket to work at his girlfriend’s family’s construction business instead of going back home to work with his own father, like he’d promised. Worst of all for Heather, this means having to get along with her.

Kailee Essex is thrilled that Ross is willing to move to her hometown. She has big hopes for their happily ever after, especially now that her parents are finally showing interest in her career. She’s less thrilled, however, about his mother living nearby. Kailee has clashed with Heather since the day they met. But anything is possible in the summer sun and sea breezes of Nantucket–even reconciliation. And when change comes sooner than either Heather or Kailee expect, they must learn to overcome their differences to fight for the future they want.

Quick Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read on my “summer reading list,” and it was a good one to start with. I always enjoy Thayer’s books, and I love the Nantucket setting. Some parts were a little cheesy, and Kailee was a pretty unlikeable character. That being said, it’s an easy breezy summer reader.

Rating:

Double Decker Dreams

Summary:

American consultant Kat is staffed on a six-month project in London and has two very small, very reasonable ambitions before returning home: get promoted to partner and fall in love with a handsome English aristocrat. No problem, right?

But work is a grind, and the British men she meets are a far cry from her royal ideal. Then one morning, she sees a man on a double-decker bus and just knows that he’s her person. But when Kat finally musters the courage to board the bus and introduce herself, he turns out to be very different from the Prince Charming she expected.

Can Kat open herself up to a love that’s not like the movies, or is she too imprisoned by her rom-com expectations? And just as importantly, will she be able to see that success isn’t about landing a C-suite job, but rather living a life that’s aligned with her soul?

Quick Thoughts:

This book wasn’t on my radar, but someone shared it, and I thought it seemed right up my alley. I guess it was my “chick lit” book of the month, and I loved this cute love story. I also always love a book set in London, and this one had lots of cute England details and sayings. It was fun reading as Kat and “Prince Charming’s” relationship developed.

Rating:

Summer Reading Update:

  • Read: All the Days of Summer
  • Currently Reading: Meet Me at the Lake
  • Kindle: I have Endless Summer downloaded on my Kindle and hope to get to it soon.
  • On the wait list: Hotel Laguna, The Block Party, Summer Stage, The Summer of Songbirds, and The Five-star Weekend (*Some of these books aren’t even out yet…)

I looked back to last year, and I only read three books in June and then more in July…so we’ll see!

Have you read any great books so far this summer?

Posted in Books and Shows, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Last month, when I shared the books I read, one of them was The Paris Library. While reading it, there was a quote that stuck out to me and got me thinking…

“We all have books that changed us forever…one that let us know that we’re not alone. What’s yours?”

Recently, WordPress also had a suggested writing prompt: Three books that have had an impact on you.

So, I’m combining those idea’s for today’s Thursday Thoughts post.

Honestly, there are many books that have impacted me or changed the way I think about things or view others.

The list is probably longer than this, but ones that immediately came to mind were:

  • Long Way Home
  • Where the Crawdads Sing
  • A Woman is No Man
  • Little Fires Everywhere
  • American Dirt
  • A Quiet Life
  • The Things We Cannot Say
  • This Tender Land
  • The Rent Collector
  • The Four Winds
  • The Girls in the Stilt House
  • The Giver of Stars
  • We Were the Lucky Ones
  • A Hope More Powerful than the Sea
  • The Paris Library

Three books that had an impact on me…

  • Tuesday with Morrie– My dad gave me this book right as I entered college. I remember reading it in only a few days. Then, through the years, I’d occasionally read some parts (or all) of it again. I even used it during student teaching and my first few years of teaching. I’d read a chapter aloud, and students would write their thoughts. I guess, with this book, it was the first time I realized why someone would read a book or parts of a book over and over/when needed.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird – Believe it or not, I never read this book in high school. It’s such a classic 9th grade text, but I hadn’t read it until I was about to teach this unit during my first year teaching. From the first page, I loved it. I taught it for many years, and loved it so much that I wanted to use the name Harper if we had a girl…obviously, Travis didn’t feel the same way. We even named one of our dogs Scout. The students I’ve helped with English 1 the past few years have been reading the graphic novel version of the text, and it’s actually really good. This shorter version holds their attention better, the pictures are great, and the main points of the plot are still there. Anyway, I guess this text felt like a “rite of passage” as a teacher. It will always be the first book I remember teaching.

Scout (left) Shiloh (right)

  • The Dinner List – I read this book in 2018, and I remember sharing that I read it and loved it in my Instagram stories. Quite a few friends had asked what books I’d been reading, and I shared that one as one of my favorites in 2018. In 2019, when I started my blog, I was excited to start sharing more of what I’d been reading. In a way, I guess having a few people tell me I should share what I read helped push me to finally start my blog.

So, these three books were pivotal or meaningful to me in some way.

What about you? What is a book that’s impacted your life?

See you back here tomorrow…I’m excited to finally share the details of our trip to Julep Farm last week.

Posted in Books and Shows

Summer Reading 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy June 1st!

Well, my first official day of summer was spent taking Hadley to the dentist at 9am and then shuttling the kids to the pool (Hadley) and basketball camp (Hayden) followed by graduation.

The kids are busy today too, but I think tomorrow I won’t have to set an alarm.

Anyway, it’s my most favorite time of the year…summer reading! There’s nothing better than reading a book while lounging by the pool or sitting in the shade on the patio.

I started making summer reading lists two years ago. I don’t want to be tied to a list, so I will read other things, but it’s nice to be intentional about what I want to read when I have more downtime to do it.

This was my list in 2021…

That summer, I didn’t end up reading either of the books by Jennifer Weiner.

I had eight books on my list last summer…

I never read The Boardwalk Bookshop or Out of the Clear Blue Sky. I did just place a hold for the The Boardwalk Bookshop, so maybe I will get it read this summer.

Here’s my 2023 list:

While last summer I had eight books on my list, but only read six, I decided to go with eight again since you just never know when some books will be available and some books aren’t out until later in the summer.

  • Endless Summer by Elin Hilderbrand (I can’t let a summer go by without reading one (or two) of her books.
  • Meet Me at the Lake. I loved Every Summer After by Fortune, so I’m hoping to love this one too.
  • All the Days of Summer. Nancy Thayer is another one of my summer reading authors.
  • Hotel Laguna. I’ve come to enjoy historical fiction, so I thought this one might be a good one. (Available June 20th)
  • Summer Stage. I’ve been wanting to read a book by Meg Mitchell Moore, so I thought I’d start with this one.
  • The Summer of Songbirds. I’ve read six books by KWH, so I can’t wait to read this one. (Available July 11th)
  • The Five-Star Weekend. Another Hilderbrand book. I hope to get to Nantucket one day. (Available June 13th)
  • The Block Party. Now I can’t remember whose blog I saw this one, but it caught my attention. I love a good mystery, so I’m going to give this one a try mid-summer. (Available July 18th)

Reading Challenge

I feel like I’ve made decent progress in my reading challenge. I’m not sure how much progress I will make this summer because some of the titles above I’ve already read books starting with the same letter.

That being said, since the end of June will be the halfway point, do you have any suggestions on books I should read…especially U and then V, X, Z anywhere in the title and color in the title. Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.

What books are on your “to be read” list this summer?

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: May 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Since it’s the end of the month, I’m sharing the books I read in May.

I had a really great month of reading which has me excited to have a bit more time to read this summer.

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Finlay Donovan is Killing It:

Summary:

Finlay Donovan is killing it…except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her; and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

Quick Thoughts:

This book was on my “to read” list for a while. It was a quick and fun read that included humor, motherhood, and suspense. I hope to read the other books in the series too.

Rating:

Love and Other Words:

Summary:

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

Quick Thoughts:

I really liked this book. It reminded me a bit of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. I loved that the plot moved back and forth between the past the present. Elliot and Macy’s relationship was interesting to follow through the years. I did feel like the ending seemed a bit unrealistic. This book had some suggestive/R rated scenes…just FYI.

Rating:

The Paris Library:

Summary:

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

Quick Thoughts:

I LOVED this book. I enjoy books that share different point of views. This book is based on the true story of librarians at the American Library in Paris during WW2. There were literary quotes/references sprinkled in as well as Dewey decimal references too. (I know–I’m such an English teacher nerd!) I was so intrigued by Odile’s story. Odile and Lily both had so much heartache to overcome and I enjoyed reading as their relationship blossomed and how they ended up being there for each other.

This book had it all– history, love, family and friend relationships. You should definitely read the author’s note at the end. I’m sure this will be a top read for me in 2023.

Favorite quotes:

You know I love a book if I share a few favorite quotes.

  • “People are awkward, they don’t always know what to do or say. Don’t hold it against them. You never know what’s in their hearts.”
  • “We all have books that changed us forever…one that let us know that we’re not alone. What’s yours?”
  • “Libraries are lungs…books are fresh air breathed in to keep the heart beating, to keep the brain imagining, to keep hope alive.”

Favorite quote from author’s note:

  • “Language is a gate that we can open and close on people. The words we use shape perception, as do the books we read, the stories we tell one another, and the stories we tell ourselves.”

Rating:

Daisy Jones & The Six:

Summary:

Daisy Jones & the Six follows “a rock band in the 1970s from their rise in the LA music scene to becoming one of the most famous bands in the world and explores the reason behind their split at the height of their success.

Quick Thoughts:

This book had also been on my “to read” list for a while. Even though I’ve loved the five books I’ve read by Taylor Reid Jenkins in the past, I think since I’m not really a music/band person, I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. Well, once I saw that it was a series on Amazon Prime, I figured I should read it before watching.

I loved the interview style and how it was organized album by album. Of course, this book at musical references, love, and drama. I could really visualize what these characters looked like, and it was a quick read that I enjoyed.

Yesterday, I came home from school and decided to start the series. I’m one episode in, and I like it so far too.

Rating:

Tomorrow, I will share the books I hope to read this summer. I’m excited for days reading by the pool.

Posted in Books and Shows, Gift Ideas

Bookstore Love

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Speaking of “happy,” besides a library, a bookstore is one of my “happy places.” We are so lucky to have an awesome bookstore in town…Joseph Beth. Besides Lexington, there is a location in Cincinnati as well.

At Joseph Beth, you can get coffee, sit in a cozy chair and read, and enjoy the food at Bronte Bistro. Of course, they have books, but you can also find various things like clothes, purses, seasonal items (like Derby decorations), bath/body items, candles, sweets, and more.

My mom’s birthday is coming up. Since she was visiting, we had a birthday dinner and dessert over the weekend. We decided to get her a gift card to Joseph Beth for her birthday, and she could use it before she left town.

Whenever I go, I love to walk around and see what they have on display.

Here’s a peek at a few of the favorite things I saw:

  • Banned book puzzle
  • The Bookstore Lover’s Birthday Book -This seems to be a “diary” of sorts where you can write each day, but also make note of what you’ve read.
  • Wristlet purse – super cute!!
  • Bogg bags -perfect for the pool
  • Book bag
  • Tea mug (and various teas): I actually got my mom this mug to put the gift card in. She likes tea, and I thought this mug was cute because it has a little holder on the side for the tea bag.
  • CUTE! colander and shaker
  • Recipe box and cards
  • Sweets!
  • Volcano candle -so good!
  • Journals
  • Herb garden markers: I thought these were super cute!

My mom ended up picking up some books on Ireland because she’s going there with friends later this year.

While she probably would have liked any of the above, I did want her to choose something she would really want and use.

Do you love a bookstore as much as I do?

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: April 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I had a busy month of reading…and actually finished four books! I read quite the mix, and they range from three stars to five! Today I’m sharing about them…

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Husbands:

Summary:

Nora Spangler is a successful attorney but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too… but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder?

When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women–a tech CEO, a neurosurgeon, an award-winning therapist, a bestselling author–with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. She finds the air is different in Dynasty Ranch. The women aren’t hanging on by a thread.

But as the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having-it-all. One that’s worth killing for. Calling to mind a Stepford Wives gender-swap, The Husbands imagines a world where the burden of the “second shift” is equally shared–and what it may take to get there.

Quick Thoughts:

This wasn’t necessarily “my type” of book to read…which is probably why I thought it was just ok. I guess it’s a “thriller/mystery,” and I thought the plot was interesting, but the “Stepford Wives” angle and some of those details made me lose interest. Also, I felt like some parts were predictable.

Rating:

A Quiet Life:

Summary:

Set in a close-knit suburb in the grip of winter, A Quiet Life follows three people grappling with loss and finding a tender wisdom in their grief.

Chuck Ayers used to look forward to nothing so much as his annual trip to Hilton Head with his wife, Cat—that yearly taste of relaxation they’d become accustomed to after a lifetime of working and raising two children. Now, just months after Cat’s death, Chuck finds that he can’t let go of her belongings—her favorite towel, the sketchbooks in her desk drawer—as he struggles to pack for a trip he can’t imagine taking without her.

Ella Burke delivers morning newspapers and works at a bridal shop to fill her days while she anxiously awaits news—any piece of information—about her missing daughter. Ella adjusts to life in a new apartment and answers every call on her phone, hoping her daughter will reach out.

After the sudden death of her father, Kirsten Bonato set aside her veterinary school aspirations, finding comfort in the steady routine of working at an animal shelter. But as time passes, old dreams and new romantic interests begin to surface—and Kirsten finds herself at another crossroads.

Quick Thoughts:

This was a beautiful and simple read. The powerful stories of Chuck, Ella, and Kirsten had me rooting for each one of them. As their stories intertwined, I really wanted to keep reading. Each character was brave in their own way, and I loved following along on their journeys. I think this could be in my top 5 this year.

Rating:

Night:

Summary:

Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel’s memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. This new translation by his wife and most frequent translator, Marion Wiesel, corrects important details and presents the most accurate rendering in English of Elie Wiesel’s testimony to what happened in the camps and of his unforgettable message that this horror must simply never be allowed to happen again.

Quick Thoughts:

I’d read most of this book in March of 2020 while helping some students, but then school transitioned to virtual, and I never finished it.

I was helping a group of students read this book for their English 1 class last week. They came to see me every day, we read a chapter, discussed and completed the questions. This memoir really is a powerful read. The kids had so many questions, and I had to continue to remind them that Wiesel was sharing his experience in the concentration camps.

Obviously, this isn’t a light read, but is it a pretty “classic” high school text, but I’d never taught it (or read it). I feel like students are always invested in this book and have lots of questions. I’m glad that I got to read and discuss it with my two reading groups.

Rating:

The Secret Bridesmaid:

Summary:

Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she’s made it her full-time job.

As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is hired by London brides to be their right-hand woman, posing as a friend but working behind the scenes to help plan the perfect wedding and ensure their big day goes off without a hitch. When she’s hired by Lady Victoria Swann––a former model and “It Girl” of 1970’s London; now the Marchioness of Meade––for the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is.

Of course, it’s not ideal that the bride, Lady Victoria’s daughter, Cordelia, is an absolute diva and determined to make Sophie’s life a nightmare. It’s also a bit inconvenient that Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia’s posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. But when a rival society wedding is announced for the very same day, things start to get…well, complicated.

Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career––execute a high-profile gala for four hundred and fifty guests in record time, win over a reluctant bride, and catch the eye of handsome Lord Swann––all while keeping her true identity a secret, and her dignity intact?

Quick Thoughts:

This was a “lighter” read for me this month. It was predictable but cute. I liked the secret bridesmaid aspect of the plot…it’s fun twist on the topic of weddings. This book has friendship, romance, and even a bit of drama. The email exchanges from clients for the wedding plans are funny too. It was a quick and easy read.

Rating:

It’s crazy to think that next month, I will share a few books I hope to read this summer! Do you have any suggestions?

What have you read lately?