Scottsboro Public Library discussion

not sure what to read for January to kick off your challenge?
Then how about picking one of the following reading challenge suggestions:

1. Read a book with only one word as the title
or
2. Read a book that takes place in your birth state.

Share what you read with us here.

I just finished The Hideaway that takes place in Alabama. Off to pick out something new to read.

I have finished 8 so far this year, but only 1 that qualifies towards the Scottsboro Library challenge. I am currently reading a few more that will qualify though once I am finished with them.

For anyone looking for book recommendations, I recently finished two books that were EXCEPTIONALLY good. One is NOT available at the library, however, and I'm not sure about the other.

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Morris is not available in the library or online, but I highly suggest you find a way to read it anyway. It is an amazing retelling of the story of Achilles from the point of view of Patroclus. It does paint the two of them in a romantic light, so if that kind of thing bothers you, then this is not the book for you, but if it doesn't, you should most definitely read it. It is absolutely AMAZING. I pretty much wanted to read it again immediately after finishing it.

The other book that I read recently (at the end of 2017) that I really enjoyed was "Tell the Wolves I'm Home" by Carol Rifka Brunt. It is lovely and sad and heart-warming and heart-breaking all in the same package. I loved it. It was probably the best book I read of 2017.

Also, other ALL-TIME favorites of mine include "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman, "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness, The "Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin (better known as "Game of Thrones"), the Sandman graphic novels by Neil Gaiman (if you like comics), "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett, the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" series by Laini Taylor, the Seamus Heany translation of "Beowulf," anything by Shakespeare, etc. etc. :-)

I am also currently reading "Half Way Home" by Hugh Howey (though so far, I haven't been much impressed by it), "The Iliad" by Homer (another all-time favorite that I decided to re-read after reading Morris' "The Song of Achilles"), and "When Mockingbirds Sing" by Billy Coffey, which so far, I am really enjoying. About to start "Lincoln in the Bardo" when I finish one of these other three.

(Just throwing out some ideas for those of you stuck on what to read. :-p)

Madeline Miller! Not Morris. My mistake.

So, I just finished "When Mockingbirds Sing" by Billy Coffey. I was very impressed with it. I'm actually going to drop by the library and see if there is a physical copy of the book that I can check out for my grandmother, who I think will really enjoy it (but does not like to check out her books digitally). It's the story of a young girl who sees a mysterious figure she calls the Rainbow Man. He sings to her and tells her things, but very few people -- including her own parents -- believe her about the things she says the Rainbow Man has told her. It is a story about love and family and faith, and it is beautifully written. It also has some really sweet dialogues between the children, and it made me smile and even laugh out loud on many occasions.

My favorite quotation from the book (not a spoiler, just an ADORABLY PERFECT line) was delivered from the point of view of a little boy of about 10 years old who is responding to a little girl who has just asked him to kiss her for the first time:

"Zach had balked at the idea at first, saying that kissing girls was gross and he was too young to be entertaining thoughts of holy matrimony. And then he'd added that just because a girl could kick a ball and chuck a rock didn't mean she'd grow up to be pretty and make a good supper."

Haha. It was so cute and sweet and honest that I just laughed right out loud.

If anyone else reads this one, let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

I just finished Her Royal Spyness. After a slow start, it was pretty good :)