The Light at Tern Rock, by Julia L Sauer
17/60 | Started 03.07.24 • Finished 03.20.24 | 4 stars
This Newbery Honor book was new to our repertoire this year. A great little story about the importance of family and perseverance in the face of undesired circumstances. Some fantastic illustrations to boot.
How to Stay Married, by Harrison Scott Key
16/60 | Started 03.08.24 • Finished 03.17.24 | 4.5 stars
This'll have to be short and sweet as I'm behind on reviews. This one is the honest retelling of the demise and restoration of Key's marriage. Sometimes funny, often painful, Key's exploration of what it means to love in the midst of betrayal pulls no punches.
It would take me years to understand this, but the understanding began in that church hallway, that a good person is a temporary and imaginary creature, as make-believe as unicorns and fire-breathing cows, because the best of us are often the worst, full of proud and viperous snakes, believing ourselves gods. The dragons did not just live in history and myth. They lived inside me.
As odd as it sounds, I really did enjoy it. I took off a little because I felt like there were moments when he let go of some of the sanctity of marriage, and the seriousness of the situation with his humor - which is probably his defense mechanism, but even so, it was a little over the top at times. Beware that it's full of language, which doesn't bother me, but might bother some of you.
This is the joke and the surprise of marriage. You promise the impossible and then have the audacity to attempt it.
Mouse Tales, by Arnold Lobel
15/60 | Started 02.29.24 • Finished 03.07.24 | 5 stars
“It was so funny, I loved this book.” Carolyn's favorite story was Clouds.