The Hangman's Daughter

By Oliver Potzsch
As far as gruesome, somewhat gross and otherwise disturbing books go...
I liked this one! It wasn't so gross that I couldn't read it, but it is about a Hangman after all. this book takes place in the mid 1600's. It was a time when anyone could be accused of being a witch. However, this time it is the midwife of all his children's births that is accused. The Hangman, being the big ol softy he is, becomes something of a detective in a quest to prove her innocence. I love the characters in this book. It does talk about witches, torture, death and a host of other somewhat adult topics. It has some language and references to sex. So, I would say it is an adult read. I couldn't put this one down.
One quote I loved:
"If you want to know who is responsible for anything, ask who benefits from it."

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I forgot how much I LOVE this book!! One of my all time favorites for sure.

It takes place in the 1940's and is a book of letters. At first it is hard to adjust to the style, but certainly worth hanging in there for. It is witty and full of humor. It is very clean and I would recommend it to anyone, however young readers may be bored by it.

So, the main character, an author named Juliet, has a little writers block when she gets a letter from man on the island of Guernsey that was captured by the Germans during the occupation. The island, now liberated, is home to a delightful bunch that send letters to Juliet as well. It's a story of finding yourself and making friends in unlikely places.

So cute. I will read it again and again.

In starting with a new tradition, here is a quote or 2:

"That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive- all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment."

"I much prefer whining to counting my blessings"

Oh, you have to read this book! So good!

Matched

OK people. Here is a good read that combines all the good stuff of "Hunger Games" and "The Giver." I liked it. No loved, but liked. This is a local (SLC) author and I am pretty sure this is her first book. There is a waiting list at the library for it and I guess it was worth the time. I am fairly certain that this is the first book of a series as it leaves you totally hanging.
This is another futuristic America book where we have managed to destroy our world. So this book takes place in a "Society" where everything is decided for you, (because we were to dumb to do it the first time around.) You don't choose your meals, your career or even your spouse in the Society. Problem? (Cause every good book has one?) The girl in this book isn't sure of the match they make for her. YIKES! DRAMA! OK so it is a young adult read obviously. So no sex, language or anything else that would keep me from recommending it to the young women.
I have got to quit reading this type of book however. They freak me out. the whole government control thing hits a little close to home sometimes. It seems they always think they know how we should live and aren't afraid to impose rules and laws to make sure we do. So, yes, these books are a little creepy that way. Warn me if you intend to recommend on to me.
I need a good old fashioned, can't pull my nose out of, my poor kids are starving kind of book!

The Last Lecture

By Randy Pausch
This book ranks right up there with the "Four Agreements" to me!
What an incredibly motivating book. This is a non-fiction book that Randy Pausch wrote after giving his "Last Lecture".
Randy was a professor at a university. The faculty there were sometimes asked to give a lecture as if you were dying. Crazy thing? Randy was dying. He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given 3-6 months to live. Randy was married and had 3 kids under 6 years old.
His lecture was not what you would think. He focused on living out your childhood dreams. And he did live his out. He was incredible! The way he lived his life before and after his diagnosis was remarkable. It left me in awe. I will buy this book. I maybe will read it daily to remember how I would like to live my life.

Ps If you have an hour and a few minutes, watch his lecture online on youtube. Fabulous!

Gathering Blue and the Messenger

I finished the series! It was good. I couldn't put it down. Clever story.
So book 2 is totally unrelated to Book 1, but book 3 ties them all together. Book 2, Gathering Blue is about a girl living in a different place with other rules while realizing she has a gift. She and her friends are special and thus, treated differently. Book 3, the Messenger, tells you what happens in the end of book 1. I know, confusing. But this series was an easy read. No language, sex or any graphic violence. I am glad Koy read it. I think it was a good book for him also. Definitely not his favorite, but he enjoyed it for sure.
So, now I have a list a mile long of books that sound great, but which to choose???
It needs to be something fantastic! An ideas?

The Giver

This was a surprising read to me! Koy read this book for English and at first he didn't really like it. However, I was intrigued because of how quickly he read the series. In the end, I think he enjoyed it.
The book is about a futuristic time when everything has become quite primitive. There are a lot of rules and no emotions. People just going through the motions of life. One boy, however is given a unique job upon turning 12 years old. He is to meet with The Giver and "receive" memories. It had sort of a "Hunger Games" feel to it but whole different story.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a youth book I believe. No language. No sex.
This book does end with you dangling from a cliff though and the second book has NOTHING to do with the first, but Koy tells me it all comes together in the end.
Good book. Enjoyed it. Almost done with the next.

Saving CeeCee Honeycut

What an absolute joy to read! This book was recommended to me by my bff Blythe. I knew it was going to be great by the way she talked about it.

This book is about a little girl that lives with her mentally ill mother after her father has left. She tries to care for her, but tragedy strikes and her great aunt swoops in to the rescue. This book has southern charm to the max. It makes you want to go live in the south with a long lost aunt and her help. The friends this little girl makes are unlikely but fantastic!

There is some language and a little risque scene, but other than that, it is clean. I would only recommend adults read because it isn't a "light" book. But it is. Tough to explain. It just has some topics, like mental illness, that younger readers may not enjoy.

Anyhow, I found it to be a quick, easy read full off surprises. Loved this book.