Hello friends, I meant to put this post together at the end of February but that didn’t happen. Life got in the way again. I did read several books that I enjoyed and I wanted to share them with you. These are in the order that I read them starting in January. I read a total of 10 books, well 2 of them were audio books and a lot of them were very short reads. As far as reading goes March has started slow. I haven’t finished an entire book. yet. Oh well that’s just the way it happens sometimes. Here is my list:

All That Glitters by Danielle Steel. I know that a lot of Danielle Steel’s books are a lot alike. You can sometimes predict what is going to happen. But I love them anyway. It is great reading that is uncomplicated and mostly happy. Danielle Steele, All That Glitters, This is a story of a young girl who loses her parents at a young age. This leaves her all alone in the world at a young and vulnerable age. this leads to some bad decisions. All she has is her trusty best friend Sam who stands beside her no matter what. Unfortunately she makes some bad choices and decisions along the way. But as most Danielle Steel books turn out she will come out ahead in the end. I give this one a 4 out of 5.

Abigail Thomas, What Comes Next And How To Like It: I have recently discovered Abigail Adams. Well I can’t say I haven’t read her books. I read “A Three Dog Life” and loved it, even though this book was the devastating loss of her husband. This book is different. It is, again, happenings from her true life. She tells about changes that age brings about to all of us. She always wonders, what comes next? This is a great and honest book. I loved it. It was real. I give it a 4 out of 5. I am currently reading Safekeeping by Abigail Thomas and it is good so far. I just ordered her book, Still Life At Eighty.

Ann Patchett, These Precious Days: Oh my goodness I loved this book. I had read a couple of Ann Patchett’s books but this book made me fall in love all over again. Another writer telling about her life experiences. A lot of this book is about Patchett’s close friendship with Tom Hanks’ personal assistant, Sooki. You will just have to read it to understand it. Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki becomes a dear friend to Ann. She also painted the cover for the book. This is a portrait of Ann’s dog. Just read it. You will love it. This one I am giving a 5 out of 5. It was one of those books that you didn’t want to finish because you knew you were going to miss the characters. And the characters were real.

Mary Oliver, Dog Songs: This was a short book. I think I read it in one sitting. Being a dog lover myself I could identify with all of the stories and poems within this book. I may have shed a tear remembering my dear doggo friends. It is a great short read. This was really good and I give it a 4 out of 5.

Danielle Steel, The Challenge: Another Danielle Steele book. This is a story of a group of young people living in Montana. Several teenagers and an even younger boy are stranded on the side of a mountain. The story revolves around the parents, the teens and the local people of the town. It was so good. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Danielle Steel, Royal: This is three Danielle Steel books in the last two months. The Danielle Steel books are usually available on my online Libby service and they are free. I just can’t pass that up. This book is a doozy. I give it a 4 out of 5. It has such a great storyline. Both royalty and common folk and everyone in between. You have to read this when you get a chance.

Ann Patchett, Commonwealth: I had this book for a long time. I started it and stopped reading it a few times. Then I read These Precious Days by Ann and I decided I needed to explore this book a little more. It may have had a slow beginning but man did it finish on top. This story explores five decades of four parents and the lives of their six children. Read it. That is all. I give this one a 5 out of 5.

Ted Kooser, Delights and Shadows: I read most of this book of poetry waiting for my cat to have two enemas at the vet. I was waiting in my car most of the time and I happened to have this book in the car with me. These poems by Ted Kooser are different but they will touch you in a very profound way. I challenge you to read this book and not feel the stirrings of familiarity in your own life, in one way or another. It is great. I give it a 5 out of 5. It is a short but rewarding read.

Ann Patchett, What Now? This was the shortest of audio books. Only about an hour of play time. This was based on Ann’s commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College. This commencement speech has something for everyone no matter the occupation you might have or might be seeking. I know!!! I know!!! It’s another Ann Patchett you might be saying. But so what? When you find good reading or listening you cherish it. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Reading People by Anne Bogel This was a book that came recommended on the top books list of 2023. I bought it in December and finished it in February. It was a good book. A lot of new understandings about people and their personalities. I even discovered a couple of new things about myself. I know that I am an HSP, a highly sensitive person and an empath so I feel a lot of things just by being around other people. This one was very interesting a fairly slow read. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Well that is it for January and February reading. I guess you can see I have a pattern when I find a favorite author. Ann Patchett and Abigail Adams have become favorites for me. However, I am open to suggestions for new reads. That is all for the first two months of this year. I hope you enjoyed this review and it might inspire you to check out some of these books. What are you reading?

Always remember

Lover your day your way!!!!