Rip Van Winkle

Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving

Started 03.15.21 • Finished 03.17.21

"It is a short story of a man who hated working, helped others, gave the outside of the house to a henpecked wife, and had a dog named Wolf. One day they went out to hunt. It was evening and Rip knew he wouldn't make it home on time. Then somebody came and offered refuge trying to play a trick on him. Rip took it and with him he drank merrily and became drunk. When he woke up he found it was a trick, and that his gun and dog were gone. Surprisingly, he had woken up some 20 years later at the place he met the man. Rip went into town to find his home in shambles and that the colonies were now a country."

Timothy, age 12

Anxious People

Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman

9/25 | Started 02.25.21 • Finished 03.12.21 | 4.5 stars

Another book club selection, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed! I was not expecting the hilarious drama that proceeded from its pages. The dialog could not have been more perfect. The characters were quirky yet relatable and oh-so well developed. If you're looking for an easy read with a lighthearted bent and a moving ending, look no further. I'll definitely be picking up another Backman in the future.

This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it's always very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being a human is.

A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck

Started 03.05.21 • Finished 03.12.21

"Mary Alice has gone down to Grandma's for a year due to not enough room in their home in Chicago. Her brother was out west with the Army. She enrolled in the town's high school which had more girls than boys. She almost gets clobbered by a Burdick A lot of things happen in the book: a crazy Halloween, a ruined Christmas play, a visitor, and a tornado. In the end, Mary Alice gets married during the final year of WWII."

Timothy, age 12