Money's Tight (Another Fun Fallacy to Consider)

Fallacy (noun): a mistaken belief, especially one based on an unsound argument; a failure in reasoning which renders an argument invalid; faulty reasoning; misleading or unsound argument. 

Remember when I wrote the post about the fact that claiming you have no time for things was a common fallacy that many of us are ready to believe? I've been pondering this quite a bit over the last few weeks, and I believe I have another one: "Money's really tight right now." Before you get your knickers in a knot, let me explain. 

Yes, there are times when money just cannot stretch as far. Everything has gone up in price (I mean, seriously...groceries, gas, even the cost of used books is making me roll my eyes!). And there are definitely situations when you are wondering if it's time to look under your couch cushions and on the floorboards of the car to see if you can scrape together enough to pay the electric bill. We've all experienced lean times, and some of us are still there. And based on the shape of the country at the moment, I suspect it's going to get worse before it gets better. If it does. But I digress. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Whatever the future holds, this idea of "Money's tight right now" is also a prime example of faulty reasoning. Why do I say this? Because I've heard people say it, but their choices would indicate otherwise. Does any of this sound familiar?

• Money's tight? Nice beach vacation photos on Facebook. 
• Money's tight? I see you got your nails (or hair) done last week. 
• Money's tight? I don't see you giving up your $6 cups of specialty coffee. 
• Money's tight? Interesting since we ran into you while eating out. 

Lest you think I'm self-righteously pointing fingers, I'll be the first to point back at myself. 

• Money's tight. Let's grab pizzas at Little Caesar's tonight, because I don't feel like cooking. 
• Money's tight. If I stop at McDonald's their Diet Cokes are cheaper than a stop at Starbucks. 
• Money's tight. I need a few more books for school and I couldn't find them at my local used bookshop, so I'll just click that "buy now" button on Amazon. 

These are actual examples of things I've said, thought, or acted on in the last few weeks. Yes, we are all guilty of being hypocrites from time to time, so what's my point?

Just like it was with our time, it's all about choices. 

We have time for what we make time for (vegging out on YouTube or reading a book; snacking on the couch or walking on the treadmill), and for most of us who are reading this, we also have money for what we want to have money for. Oh, maybe not everything we want (or want to do), but how and where we spend our money is still a choice for most Americans. I choose to shop discount stores and grocery clearance sales, use coupons, and eat from my freezer and I save a lot of money that way. But I also chose to eat out more often than I'm comfortable admitting - even if it's "just" $7 pizzas.

Take a look at the list below and see if anything here hits home for you (some of these I do, some of them people in my life would consider "common" and "necessary" expenditures).

• Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBOMax, Spotify, etc.)
• Amazon Prime (and Prime Channels, like Britbox, Acorn TV, or PBS Masterpiece)
• Auto-refill on apps like Starbucks, Dunkin', or McDonalds
• Pricey monthly phone plans and regular phone upgrades to the latest iPhone
• Movie tickets (plus popcorn, candy, or drinks)
• More clothes (honestly, our closets are bulging!)
• Fast-food stops or ordering "To Go"
• Expensive birthday parties for kids and over-the-top Christmas mornings
• Yearly vacations to the beach, Disney, a cruise, flying somewhere, etc.
• Food that you'll never actually eat (grocery shopping when you're hungry gets you every time!)

All of which takes me back to my original statement: We have money for what we chose to have money for. And I suspect I'm not the only one who does, so let's chose our words wisely. We need to normalize saying and thinking things like: 

• If I don't have $20 for groceries, then I don't have $20 for my streaming choices.
• If I want to take a trip next year, I don't have money for [XYZ] now. 
• I can't afford lunch out, but I can invite people in for coffee or a bowl of soup. 
• I'm choosing to save for [a car, a trip, retirement, kid's college, etc.] which means I have to say "no" to other things.
• I have a lifetime supply of books I haven't read, so I don't need to buy one more. {ahem}
• Or how about getting into the habit of saying these three things, daily...

I have enough. I am blessed. I am thankful.

April Bookshelf Update

Poof! And just like that, one quarter of the year is gone. Time flies, especially when you're reading a good book, and I've read a handful of them over the last thirty days, how about you? Also, does this library not make you just squeal with delight (silently, of course)? Oh the treasures to be found lurking among those shelves, eh?

Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash

1. A Fire at the Exhibition by T.E. Kinsey - ★★★★ Last month I primarily focused on books that would help me grow as a person, challenge me in some way, or give me much needed perspective. And that was good. But after all that depth, I started out the month of April with some equally enjoyable "cozy" British mysteries, including Lady Hardcastle Mysteries Book #10. Bicycles, art theft, murder, treasure hunting, and happy endings. And also...clean. Something I truly appreciate about this author. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. A Matter of Murder by Ann Granger - ★★★★ Book two followed in the footsteps of book one in April. This is another author who offers relatively "soft" murders with good character development, enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and, like the previous author, keeps it clean. This is book #7 in the "Campbell and Carter Mystery Series," and the author has two other series that I have put on my ever growing "List to Remember," but I have thoroughly enjoyed this "cozy" British mystery series. Almost like watching a BBC mystery...in a book. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link} 
3. Openness Unhindered by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield - ★★ I know. Two stars. I just really liked her other books better. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert? I had low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. The Gospel Comes with a House Key? Absolutely loved it (and probably, if you were only going to read one book of hers, this would be the one I would hand you). But this one? Meh. It was written three years before House Key, and contains stories that are told again (and better) in House Key. There were ideas in this book that just didn't click with me (despite highlighting quite a bit as I read it). Two stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan - ★★★★ I love books like this one, because I feel like there are so many events in history that are glossed over (or missed entirely) in school history books, focusing instead on the "big" events (like discovering new countries or world wars). This book covers the dirty thirties in the U.S., as a large portion of the country was affected, not only by the Great Depression, but by a decade of dust, disaster, death, and destruction, including "Black Sunday" and the realities of "dust pneumonia." Egan does a fantastic job of setting the scene and following the stories of several individuals and families in the southwestern Great Plains during the "Dust Bowl" decade. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
5. When the Astors Owned New York by Justin Kaplan - ★★★ This was a real toss-up between two and three stars. I settled on three in the end, because even though I felt the ending was lacking (why, exactly, did the Astor family lose their grip on Manhattan hotels?), and there were bits and pieces that just came out of nowhere and didn't seem to add to the story-line, I still learned quite a bit about the Astor hotel empire. And a bonus star for the smattering of Titanic trivia that I hadn't heard before when it came to the death of John Jacob Astor IV. Although not a part of the actual plot, my takeaway was an old, but still true, maxim: money doesn't make you happy. Three stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

While I didn't read as many books this month as I did the previous months, I still met my goal of (at least) four books a month, and surpassed it by one. I have several books in progress at the moment that are keeping me entertained, but I didn't finish any of them in time to include in this round-up. So tell me, what's on your nightstand these days? What are you reading? Paperback or Kindle or both? 

And for those who are keeping track, my "Books to Remember" list is up to 142 books added to the list so far this year. :) If you're curious what's on my list so far, you can see it here.

There's No Time For That (A Common Fallacy)

When I set my goals for 2024, I decided to challenge myself to read forty-eight books over the course of twelve months. Not quite one book a week. I wasn't sure if I could do it. After all, life is busy. I homeschool the four kids still living at home (three of them teenagers), and when school is done I Uber them to taekwondo, band, music lessons, babysitting, cleaning jobs, and more. When I'm not driving kids around or instructing them in the "three R's," I'm checking on my parents, helping my eldest navigate the waters of adulthood, filling a grocery cart to feed my family, making meals, hosting friends, doing laundry, supporting my husband, or squeezing in a few hours a week of proofreading to help pay for it all. A clean kitchen? What's that? 

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

So when I decided to aim for almost one book a week this year, I was a bit skeptical about the reality of that happening. But what I found was that I actually had quite a bit of dead space in my day between all those events. Waiting for kids? I've got time to read if I'm not running to the grocery. Everyone busy with their studies? I pull out my book at the teacher's desk, pausing to answer questions when they come. Rather than wasting time on social media first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, I now open a book or my Kindle app and "scroll" through the pages before starting the day or falling asleep. 

The point is...we have time for the things we want to have time for. 

Last month I made the decision to limit my scrolling on Instagram to one hour on Saturdays. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference, but the results have been stunning. Not only am I on my phone less, but I'm more productive in general, in addition to knocking my monthly reading goals out of the park. So before you say "I don't have time to do that," take an honest look at your day, track your phone time, and pay attention to how you spend your hours. You may be busy - in fact, you probably are - but make sure you're busy with the right things, the things that will help you meet and exceed your goals, simple or otherwise. 

Books from My Nightstand - March Edition

It took me the first five days of the month to finish my first book, but it was well worthwhile. I enjoy non-fiction, and I enjoy the occasional fiction book as well (as you'll see below), but I also enjoy books that challenge me to change, push me to think differently about things, and help me to grow as a person. March was full of such books, and others, that kept me on track with and even well ahead of my 2024 reading goals. 

And with the weather warming up, I'm already looking forward to some nice spring days, sitting under the newly budded trees, book in hand, to continue working towards the simple goal of getting back to my bookworm roots. What are you looking forward to as spring begins? What simple goals are keeping you active? What books are making you think and grow, much like the plants and grass and trees all around us? Hit me up in the comments with your book recommendations and spring dreams!

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

1. 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam - ★★★★ This book had been sitting on my shelf for eleven years because I hadn't "had time" to read it. Ironic, eh? I wouldn't say there was anything mind blowing in this, but it was a good nudge to really look at the ways in which you spend your time. Are you filling your 168 hours with mediocre projects or activities, leaving no room for the things that really matter? Could you cut out TV (a suggestion she gives time and again, much to my delight) in order to make more room for reading, spending quality time with your kids, or finally writing that book you've always said you wanted to write? Whether you fill out her forms and follow the process, or simply take another look at the hours in your day, I think there's something for everyone in here. Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
2. The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse by Alexander McCall Smith - ★★★ I wanted to like this. I love most of the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books by the same author, though I did walk away from the "Isabel Dalhousie" series, and lost interest several books into the "44 Scotland Street" set. So maybe it shouldn't have come as a big surprise to have some disappointments here. The premise was interesting, and the writing flowed so easily (as all his books do), but there were some aspects of the story (while historically accurate) that I could have done without (the pre-marital kind, but in no way graphic). However, if these things are not a hangup for you, the book was a quick, enjoyable read. Three stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
3. Delay, Don't Deny by Gin Stephens - ★★★★ I purchased this book back in 2020, when the weight first started to pack on. It sat on a shelf for the last four years until this month, when I was hunting for my next reads and stumbled across it. I'm giving it four stars, not because it's so well written (the author clearly states at the beginning that she was embracing a casual writing style - and she did!), but because of the encouragement I received from reading it. She isn't a medical doctor, but she shares her personal story with dieting and intermittent fasting, and she shares book recommendations by physicians who back up her experience. The timing of this book was perfect, as just two days prior I decided it was time to try fasting again, and then this confirmed it and gave me new steps to include. Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
4. The No Spend Year by Michelle McGagh - ★★★★ Read this book in two days. McGagh shares her "no spend year" experience, what that looked like for her, what she learned from it, and then gives ideas that the reader can try (or not). She is British, so all the money is in £ rather than $, and the advice regarding home mortgages and retirement and saving plans are all pertinent to the U.K., but it would be easy enough to translate that advice and make it make sense for your location. Plus, since living in the U.K. at some point in my life is still on my bucket list, I appreciated the U.K.-specific insight. Not sure I can get my family on board for a "no spend" year, but maybe a "no spend" week or a month...we shall see. Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link) 
5. Clearing the Fog by James C. Jackson, PsyD - ★★ The full title of this book is Clearing the Fog: From Surviving to Thriving with Long Covid—A Practical Guide. I first heard about it on Instagram from a woman who is living the nightmare of Long Covid. I don't doubt her story for a minute, nor the fact that she felt seen by this book. I, however, was looking for more medical research and outcomes, and less of the mental health aspects, so I think this is another case of misplaced expectations. Chapters 1-3 were more along the lines of what I was expecting, and chapters 4-10 were primarily mental health focused. Two stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
6. Death Beside the Seaside by T.E. Kinsey - ★★★★ This is the sixth book in the "Lady Hardcastle" mystery series. Like the rest of the series, this was a quick, easy read, and an entertaining story with well developed characters. In this particular book (filled with spies, government cover-ups, and intrigue), we get some additional background on Lady Hardcastle and Miss Armstrong (explaining why Flo is so adept at physical combat). With the bonus of finding out how Ellie and Skins first meet (which you'd appreciate if you read the companion series "The Dizzy Heights Mysteries" - about a group of musicians who solve murders on the side). Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
7. Square Peg by Todd Rose and Katherine Ellison - ★★★ This was Todd's story, and my impression is that Katherine was the non-ghost ghostwriter. I could have gone with two stars as it didn't really follow through on the second half of the subtitle (My Story and What It Means for Raising Innovators, Visionaries, and Out-of-the-Box Thinkers). Oh, it did cover his story (which is actually why I could also have given it four stars), but not so much the insight for raising innovators, visionaries, and out-of-the-box thinkers. As a mother and teacher of children who struggle with many of the things he discusses, I was encouraged to hear it from his side. As a second generation homeschooler, I was unimpressed that his only option was to "fix" the public school system using technology. Three stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
8. Irena's Children: Young Readers Edition by Mary Cronk Farrell/Tilar J. Mazzeo - ★★★★★ My first "five star" book of the month, but man was this one heavy. I had wanted to read this for a while (although I still haven't read the original, adult version), specifically before I had my kids read it for school. Despite believing I had a decent grasp of WWII history, I was still stunned by the numbers in this book, covering the events in just one country. Over six million Poles (both Jews and Gentiles) were murdered during the Nazi invasion of Poland and ensuing holocaust. The torture, although toned down for the YRE, is almost more than my mind could grasp. I feel these are such important stories to tell, read, and remember, because forgetting will only take us back to that same place in the future. Five stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
9. An Act of Foul Play by T.E. Kinsey - ★★★★ This was officially my half-way book, taking me half-way to my goal of 48 books for the year. Feeling pretty good about that, if I'm being honest. And feeling pretty good about this fun little mystery as well. I always appreciate a book that surprises me with plot twist at the end, as this one did. I loved the addition of Flo's twin sister, Gwin, and the mixture of simple village puzzles and big city murders. Lady Hardcastle and Miss Armstrong don't disappoint in this 9th installment, and if you're looking for a quick, easy read on a quiet Sunday afternoon, I would recommend any of the books in this series, including this one (I've read them all on Kindle). Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)

So that's my nine books for March. I was hoping to finish up one of the two I have going right now to make it an even ten, but life got busy and with Easter weekend, that didn't happen. But in case you were curious about how many books are on my ever-growing "Books to Remember in 2025" list...drum roll please...the current total is: 88. Yes, I have a problem. 

See you next month, and happy reading!

Simple Goals: Month Three

Time for a check in! How are you doing with your goals? Has the year gotten away from you? Are you falling back into old patterns and feeling discouraged? Sometimes the best laid plans can get waylaid by life and laziness. I've had several conversations about this with my eldest daughter recently, as she turns twenty this year and is trying to figure out adulthood, while I settle further into my forties and try to figure out middle-age. In many ways, we're not that different, even if we're miles apart in other aspects. 

Every season brings new challenges and changes. The real question is, how will we meet them? 

Beth MacDonald on Unsplash

As a quick reminder, these were some of the 24 #simplegoals I decided to work towards this year. Nothing earth shattering, but all things that I believed would add some value to my daily life and help me grow as a person (or shrink, in the case of trying to walk more and eat more fresh/less processed). 

Let's look at the failures first. 

By calling them "failures" I only mean that these are not things that I have chosen to prioritize. I recognize that I could be successful in all of these things if I had the self-discipline, willpower, or "want to" to make them happen. They are not, in and of themselves, things that are too difficult to achieve. They are, however, things that I have spent some time trying (or thinking about trying, in the case of the last item) in 2024, and have not successfully built a habit of doing on a regular basis...yet.

👎 Use the treadmill. I started strong. Twenty to thirty minutes, at least three days a week, usually over lunchtime. But then I had a week where I didn't feel good. And then a week where I just didn't feel like it. And then a week with another boatload of excuses. And the next thing I knew...it had been a month. This isn't something I'm giving up on, in fact, I started back again last week, 5 minutes here, 20 minutes there, but up until now it's not been something I've prioritized as I should.

👎 Create a repertoire of simple meals. I haven't honestly put a lot of effort into this. I've continued to make the same mix of meals that I've been making for months now. I've switched a few things up here and there, but, again, this is not something I have made a priority in my daily life.

👎 Use cash for certain expenditures. Much like the treadmill, I started out strong in January on this. I happened to have cash on hand, which made it easier to divvy up into envelops and when the envelopes were empty, that was it. This worked really well for eating out, until I ran out of money. I do like to use cash, but the fact of the matter is, I would rather use a card (that we pay off each month), because it's easier. I'm not giving up on this one, I'm just trying to figure out a good balance.

👎 Participate in teaching my newest driver how to drive. This is something that has crossed my mind, but there's never a good time. We're in a hurry, other kids are with us, she still needs to learn some of the basics (with the Hubs), it's raining, it's nighttime, we're in my car, etc. Let's be honest, as a recovering control enthusiast, I know this is something I should do (for my own practice), but it's definitely going to take some effort and planning (and more willingness on my part). 

And now let's take a look at some of the successes so far this year! 

These are goals that apparently hit a sweet spot. They just seemed to click, for whatever reason, and didn't really take that much work to turn into habits. It just took finding the "want to" as my husband likes to say.

👍 Read 48 books from my own shelves. This is probably the goal that I have made the most progress towards. Once I decided that it was something I wanted to be intentional about, it meant I was carrying a book with me everywhere. I read while waiting for the kids at their various activities, I read at night (rather than vegging out on YouTube), I read during the quiet moments of school - between questions. Because of that, I've read twenty books so far, and counting. 

👍 Save for a rainy day. Towards the end of January I made a digital checklist of things I wanted to do (e.g. read four books a month) or save for (e.g. a vacation). I broke down how much we needed to save each month to pay the taxes and insurance on our own home, a rental we own, our car insurance, our health insurance, plus savings for Christmas, vacation, and a "rainy day fund" for the unexpected. Once I broke that down, I separated our savings accounts into specific categories. Having a checklist (complete with cute emojis) has helped keep me on track with this. As soon as money comes in, it has a home to go to, and that helps keep the spending in check as well. 

👍 Eat the food we already have. This has been another big win. After the cash idea petered out, I fell back into old patterns of grabbing takeout when I didn't feel like cooking. This went on for a couple of weeks and I quickly realized this wasn't going to work, as takeout for six adds up quickly in 2024. With renewed focus (and building in allowed cheats - such as picking up Little Caesar's pizzas on Friday nights after all-day kid activities), I made a nice dent in our freezer and pantry stash, with plenty left to keep going, and hopefully encourage that creatively simple meal repertoire that has failed so far. 

👍 Put the phone down. I would call this one a work in progress. I have definitely become more mindful of the number of times a day I pick up my phone. It's not good. And I have set timers on my phone for social media apps, that I all too often switch up, when the time just isn't enough. I'd like to say I have more self discipline than my aforementioned nearly 20-year old when it comes to my phone, but it's just as easy an addiction for me as it is for her. However, I'm including it in the successes because it's something I'm constantly mindful of now (and wasn't before) and something I'm actively working on. 

*   *   *   *   *

We're halfway through the third month of the year. If you've set goals and stalled, start again! It's never the wrong time to try something new, to do something differently, or to simply restart a habit you paused for a season. And don't be afraid to make an entirely new list if you so choose! There are no goal police who are going to come knocking on your door because you said you would train for a marathon only to realize that walking your neighborhood fulfills your goal of becoming less sedentary. And maybe next year you'll walk a 5k, and the next year you'll run a 5k, and five years from now you might find yourself signed up for your first marathon. The point is, break it down into smaller goals, and celebrate the successes along the way. Goals are personal, so get out there and find your sweet spot this month! 

February Books: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

I received a number of recommendations from several of you after last month's post. Thanks so much for adding to my "Books to Remember" list - I'm currently up to forty-nine books...and counting. 

This month was a bit rough when it comes to books (you'll notice several one and two star reviews). I finished several that I started reading, literally, years ago, and I was reminded (on many of them) why I put them down. And even though I am not a quitter when it comes to books (even if I'm really not enjoying it), I've almost doubled the number of books I've quit in my entire life, just in the first two months of the year - one last month, one this month. 

While I'm all about sharing the good stuff, I feel it's equally important to share the not-so-good reviews, and you can make up your own mind about whether you will try them or not. In some cases, the things that bothered me (say, the language in book #3) might not be an issue for you. Or perhaps you're just really, really interested in the politics of trains in Great Britain (book #2), in which case you might be intrigued to read more, even though it only received one star from me. 

For all of those reasons, if you skim to the bottom of the post this month. I'm sharing my thoughts about the book/series I didn't finish, just in case it's something you've been considering. I always think it's good to hear all points of view and various reviews, because we readers are a diverse lot! 

Photo by Claudia Wolff on Unsplash

February 2024 Book Reviews

1. Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language by Patricia T. O'Conner and Stewart Kellerman - ★★★★ I first started this book ten years ago, lost interest, set it aside, picked it up again at the beginning of the month and finished it in two days. I don't know what caused me to pause a decade ago, but I giggled my way through the last third of the book. Highly recommended for those who don't want to lose the original meaning of a word, English majors, editors, and general word nerds. Don't wait ten years to give this one a shot! Four stars. (Amazon Affiliate Link)
2. Eleven Minutes Late by Matthew Engel - ★ I wanted to love it. When I first heard about it, it was described as a "Bill Bryson-esque" book about train travel in Britain. There were small sections where Engel attempted to share stories about the rides he took, but he doesn't have the Bryson-like humor to capture the reader's attention. Bottom line: if you are super interested in the politics behind the train system in the U.K. this is the book for you. But I am not the correct audience. One star. (Amazon Affiliate Link)
3. The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald - ★★ If you've watched the 1947 film of the same name, you might assume, like me, that the book would be even better. Spoiler: it wasn't. In this instance, the movie was superior. Don't let the 1945 copyright fool you - I was surprised by the amount of vulgar language, misuse of the name of Christ, and other slack morals allowed in print at that time. All of that aside, the author is good at bringing stories to life and reminding us of - if not a simpler time, at least a more physically challenging one. Two stars. (Amazon Affiliate Link)
4. Prodigals and Those Who Love Them by Ruth Bell Graham - ★★ This one was all about expectations. I expected it to be a memoir of Ruth's experience as a mother of prodigals. It wasn't. Five brief stories about prodigals in history, and several sections containing hymns, poems, parental thoughts, prayers, and scripture. In the valley experiences with our own prodigal, I've found that God gives us what we need and it's very personal, not something found in a book. It's a song on the radio at the right time, a verse in the middle of your daily reading, the cry of your own heart when words are not enough. Some might be encouraged by this book, but it was not for me. Two stars. (Amazon Affiliate Link).
5. The Appeal by Janice Hallett - ★★★★ You might recall that I read the Christmas Appeal last month, and gave it three stars due to the writing style (entirely made up of emails, texts, letters, and WhatsApp messages). But as I had already purchased this book - in fact, it was my last book purchase of 2023, I went ahead and gave it a shot. I think it helped knowing, ahead of time, what the writing style would be like, because I found myself sucked into the story and finished it in a matter of a few days. Right to the end I didn't suspect the guilty party, so props to the author! Give it a shot. Four stars. (Amazon Affiliate Link)
6. The Plague and I by Betty MacDonald - ★★★ Since I already had the series on my shelf, I figured I'd give book #2 a try since I *thought* I knew about The Egg and I, but it turns out...the movie was better. With low expectations, I will say that the second book, covering MacDonald's nine-month stay in a TB sanitarium in the 1930s, was much more interesting. Be aware that she does misuse Jesus's name several times (quoting herself and others), but otherwise the book is clean. Although it's her personal story (told with flair and humor), I also enjoyed it from a historical perspective. Three stars. (Amazon Affiliate Link) 
7. Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser - ★★★☆ I'm really not sure how to review or rate this one, because if you just take it on the writing and research alone, it's a solid four star book. But I have to take the subject into consideration, and honestly, while well written (and long at 515 pages of book copy - the rest is all notes), it tainted a series I have loved since I was reading my first "big girl" book in Kindergarten. I knew the stories were fiction based on fact, but that didn't make reading the real story any easier. And...Rose Wilder Lane was four-plus crazy. The Ingalls/Wilder families had hard lives, beyond the hard we see in Laura's series for children. If you're looking for the real story, from before her birth until well beyond her death, I would recommend this as a starting point. Three and a half/four stars. (Amazon Affiliate Link)

DNF: His Majesty's Hope (A Maggie Hope Mystery) by Susan Elia MacNeal. The premise of this book (and the entire series) was interesting. A young woman during WWII, drafted into MI-5, trained to use her skills as a spy in Germany. You should know, first, that I generally stay away from historical fiction. I don't mind fiction books, but I want my history to be real. Give me books like The Watchmaker's Daughter, The Monument's Men, or Boys in the Boat any day, with real people, who did real things, and made a real difference in the real world. History is interesting enough, I don't think we need to dramatize and fictionalize it. That being said, I was sucked into this series by the subtitle...a Maggie Hope MYSTERY. Personally, based on the 85 pages I read of the third book in the series, I would not classify this as a mystery. It's just historical fiction. I quit on page 85 after the third sexual encounter (two heterosexual, one homosexual). While not graphically described, they just don't add anything to the story for me. Additionally, I felt the writing was lacking depth. The premise was interesting, and it held my attention long enough to get 85 pages into it, but there are definitely better books out there. Which means it has the distinction of being one of a handful of books I have ever walked away from without completing. 

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Hit me up in the comments or find me on Goodreads or Instagram and let me know what you've been reading this month, what you loved, what you disliked, or share what makes you walk away from a book. After seeing my IG posts, one friend shared that if a book doesn't grab her within the first five pages, she walks! What about you? Five pages or eighty-five? 

The Bookshelf: January

One of my goals for 2024, in addition to not buying any new books (no matter how sorely I'm tempted), was to read four books a month. Because one of my other goals was to scroll less and put the phone down, by January 11th, I'd already reached my "four books" for the month...and so I kept going. I'm sure other months will be less cozy and less "reading-friendly," so I shall make hay while the sun shines...or rather, I shall snuggle up while the sky is overcast and it's cold outside. 

Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash

I've kept track of my reading progress on Goodreads (feel free to friend me there if you are so inclined) as well as giving little reviews on both my personal Facebook account and Instagram. And for those who might stumble across this little piece of online real estate, I've done a brief overview below. If you make it through, I'd love to hear from you in the comments about the best book you've read this month. I might have to add it to my "Books to Remember" list on Amazon. We're up to thirty-two after month one. This is not looking promising for 2025's book budget.

January 2024 Booklist  

1. Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose - ★★★★★ American missionary serving in Papua New Guinea during WWII, captured and interned for the duration of the war by the Japanese, endured incredible hardship, remained focused on the fact that God put her there for a purpose. It's well-written, but not a light book, definitely what I would call "heavy" reading, but certainly worthwhile. I just had my 13-year-old read it for a school assignment and she loved it as well. Five stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
2. Winter in Thrush Green by Miss Read - ★★★★ After the last book, I was looking for something a little lighter to fill the evenings, and picked up the second book in the Thrush Green series. It did the trick, transporting me to a 1950s English village, where a cup of tea and a cozy fire can fix just about anything. In some ways, it was harder to read this directly after book #1 because it felt so flippant after something so serious; however, that says nothing about the book itself, just my reading choices. Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
3. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett - ★★★ I saw someone on Instagram recommend the first book from this author (The Appeal - which is also on my "to read" shelf), so they were two of my last books purchased in 2023, before the ban on book buying. Cons: I dislike the writing style. The whole book is written as emails, text messages, and interview transcripts, which I didn't realize before buying. Pros: It was a fast-moving plot line, with enough twists and turns to hold my interest. Three stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
4. The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis - ★★★★★ This book wasn't even on my list to read (or my bookshelf), but I stopped by my parent's house to drop off books #1 and #2 for my mom to read, and she thrust this into my hand and said I had to read it. Two days later, I closed the back cover. I could not put it down. This is a fantastic historical account, not only of the life of Corrie ten Boom but also of her family and friends' involvement in the Dutch Resistance and those who found refuge in the secret Hiding Place. Heavy stuff, but absolutely worth your time. Five stars. (Amazon Associates Link) 
5. The Nineties: A Novel by Chuck Klosterman - ★★ The author and I come at events from very different viewpoints (not a deal breaker, just not as enjoyable), and his writing style jumped from topic to unrelated topic, though by the end, I noticed the pattern and was more prepared for the switch. I slogged through the first two-thirds, but the last third was better when he started talking about how 90s television affected cultural changes, the Clinton/Bush political climate, and how 9/11 officially ended a decade and a whole era of American life. Two stars. (Amazon Associates Link) 
6. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport - ★★★★ If you can overlook the fact that Newport focuses on Twitter/X in the final chapter, and the statistics he shares being five years out of date now, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book (go for paper over digital!). Screentime is taking over our life and our kid's lives, and we're not the better for it. If you've been feeling like something's off or if you've been around the next generations at all (glued to their phones), Newport would say you're on to something. Includes helpful ideas to help us regain control of this tool before it fully controls us. Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
7. Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants by Lee Goldberg - ★★★ If this were going up against other books in the same genre (cozy mystery-esque) I might have given it five stars, but not compared to all other books in the world. If you enjoyed the television show, Monk, then you should try one of the books in this series. Pros: Written by the same guy who wrote the show, so he knows his characters. Cons: I dislike what he's done with Natalie (more whiny, more annoying, more sexual). Quick, easy read. Good for a "no deep thinking required" refresh between deeper books. Three stars. (Amazon Associates Link)
8. Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood - ★★★★ This is book #2 of 3 in the "Marlow Murder Club" series from Thorogood (who was also the writer behind the BBC mystery series, Death in Paradise, and subsequent follow-up books featuring DI Richard Poole). As I thoroughly enjoyed both the television show and the books, I decided to give this series a shot when he came out with the first book and was hooked. If you're a fan of the show, or of the DI Poole books, or if you enjoy a clean, cozy mystery (think Agatha Christie), I would recommend giving this a go. Four stars. (Amazon Associates Link)

And that's a wrap on January. Eight books is one-third of the number of books I read in all of 2023, so I'm pleased with the way 2024 is starting. My screen time is still higher than I'd like, but there's been a definite downturn in my mindless scrolling, and an uptick in my focused reading time, so win-win. Remember, if you've read any thing worth recommending this month, leave a note in the comments or come find me on IG and add to my "Books to Remember" list.