Stoner

Stoner, by John Williams

12/60 | Started 02.17.26 • Finished 02.25.26 | 4 stars

I literally just finished this book, and it is difficult to explain exactly why I liked it so much. It's not a hopeful story, and I imagine that some might have found it downright boring, being about a rather mediocre life. Or is it? The reader meets William Stoner just as he is entering college in 1910. And then he is led on the journey through college, to marriage, to graduate work, to the death of his parents, to the birth of his daughter, to an extramarital affair, and into later life. As is the case of any human, Stoner's story has many bumps and stumbles, but sadly it does not produce many lasting highs. Stoner is plagued by loneliness, a troublesome department head, an unwanted distance from his daughter, and his dramatic, eccentric wife. The writing is gorgeous - desperate and compassionate. It's not an uplifting work of literature, but it hit all the beauty spots for me.

The Little Riders

The Little Riders, by Margaretha Shemin

11/60 | Started 02.11.26 • Finished 02.19.26 | 5 stars

This story is about a girl named Johanna who is living with her grandparents in Holland when world war breaks out. She loves watching the little riders, which were figures on horseback holding swords, come out of the church steeple each hour. Because the riders were made of lead, the Germans planned to take them and melt them down and use them for weapons. So Johanna and her grandfather decided to hide the little riders on Dirk's farm outside of town. Instead, they end up hiding them under Johanna's bed until they could move them in a cubby hole in her old closet. While she's hiding them, Captain Braun, a German soldier boarding in her room, unexpectedly helps her. Soon after the Germans surrendered and the town was freed. While she and her grandfather are returning the little riders to the church steeple, Johanna's father comes back. My favorite part was when Captain Braun helped Johanna hide the little riders.

Carolyn, age 9

Try Softer

Try Softer, by Aundi Kolber

10/60 | Started 09.12.25 • Finished 02.18.26 | 3.5 stars

This book came highly recommended from a few friends, and I've also seen it touted as impactful on various review pages in various circles. The premise is that instead of white-knuckling our way through life, we need to "try softer," a phrase Kolber picked up from a former mentor-type person.

The book is divided into two sections, the first of which has to do with the scientifics of the brain, attachment, and something called the window of tolerance. In the second section, chapters are divided into a "try softer with ___________" format. So more of a practical application, or how to apply the principles learned in the first section.

In some chapters I underlined extensively. Others not at all. There were some really poignant statements and there were some pretty woo-woo ones. So this book was kind of hit or miss for me. I think if you're more into the therapeutic world, this might be more up your alley than it was mine.