Books Read in October

Books I read in October 2020 

Hellen L Taylor took John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and simplified the vocabulary and concepts for young readers, while keeping the story line intact. The result was a classic in itself.

It's both a simple adventure story and a profound allegory of the Christian journey through life, a delightful read with a message kids ages 6 to 12 can understand and remember. A new look and fresh illustrations for today's children enlivens the journey to the Celestial city.

I have yet to read the original version of Pilgrim's Progress whoever, both Riley and I enjoyed this story so much. When I finished reading it Riley said he didn't want the story to be over. That says it all.

According to my Goodreads rating I gave this book five stars and yet I don't remember anything about it. How awful is that?! When this happens, I'm so tempted to re-read the book but then I look at all my books on my TBR list and I realize I do not have time to waste on a book I have already read even if I don't remember what it was about. But here's the blurb:

In this neighborhood, danger lies close to home. A domestic thriller packed full of secrets, and a twisty story that never stops.

He looks at her, concerned. "How do you feel?" She wants to say, terrified. Instead, she says, with a faint smile, "Glad to be home."

Karen and Tom Krupp are happy - they've got a lovely home in upstate New York, they're practically newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. But one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished - her car's gone and it seems she left in a rush. She even left her purse - complete with phone and ID - behind.

There's a knock on the door - the police are there to take Tom to the hospital where his wife has been admitted. She had a car accident, and lost control as she sped through the worst part of town.

The accident has left Karen with a concussion and a few scrapes. Still, she's mostly okay - except that she can't remember what she was doing or where she was when she crashed. The cops think her memory loss is highly convenient, and they suspect she was up to no good.

Karen returns home with Tom, determined to heal and move one with her life. Then she realizes something's been moved. Something's not quite right. Someone's been in her house. And the police won't stop asking questions.

Because in this house, everyone's a stranger. Everyone has something they'd rather keep hidden. Something they might even kill to keep quiet.

Another five star review that I gave on Goodreads. I enjoyed this one. It's a cozy thriller.

Spunky librarian Karen Nash is back in London and planning to open a bookstore with her beau, Caldwell Perkins, who owns a B & B. Unexpectedly, Sally, Caldwell's tall, gorgeous, and blonde ex-girlfriend shows up - possibly to reclaim the B & B - and just maybe Caldwell, too. Sally's current boyfriend, Alfredo, joins her, and they take a room.

That night, Karen is awakened by a horrible crash. Caldwell isn't in bed with her. She rushes out to the hall to find him standing in the doorway of the inn's library with a look of horror on his face. Inside the room all Karen can see is a woman's hand sticking out from under a massive pile of pages and wood. While Sally's death appears an accident, Karen finds it hard to believe. How did the heavy oak bookshelf topple over? Karen fears Sally has been murdered. The detective on the case come to the same conclusion and decides Caldwell is the most likely suspect.

In order to save her boyfriend, Karen must figure out what Sally was looking for in the library and what Caldwell was doing up in the middle of the night. A story of intrigue and revenge. Death Overdue is a page-turning mystery featuring a loveable heroine who loves books almost as much as she loves her man. 

Another great children's book. Five stars!

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sister, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection - he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

Five Stars

At any Cost by Mike & Hayley Jones

When Mike and Hayley set out to adopt a child from Sierra Leone, Africa, never in their wildest imaginations did they dream this venture would lead to the "Jones Dozen." This dramatically moving story will amaze and insire any reader. Their stunning observation: "It was the least we could do!"

Five Stars

American History in Black & White by David Barton

Setting the Record Straight is a unique view of the religious and moral heritage of black Americans, with an emphasis on the untold yet significant stories from our rich political history. The material presented is ground-breaking and revolutionary, leaving viewers amazed and inspired. 

I remember reading this book in 2020 and thinking that if every American read the truths in this book that they will see how Republicans have been the party of right since its inception. People will discover that it was the Democrats who were behind white supremacy, and the KKK. 

If the black population truly knew the true history of their past and the origins of the Democratic party they wouldn't continue to vote Democrat.

This book should be in every classroom.

Five stars

Another Quest for Celeste by Henry Cole

Celebrated author and illustrator Henry Cole uses stunningly detailed black-and-white artwork to illuminate a tale of friendship between an adventurous mouse and a boy who would become one of America's greatest presidents.

In this sequel to A Nest for Celeste, Celeste is hundreds of miles from home following an unexpected journey aboard a Mississippi steamboat. After mishaps and disasters, she finds herself on the frontier in southern Indiana. It's 1822, and Celeste meets a tall, lanky boy wielding a young Abraham Lincoln. The journey reveals the harsh realities of frontier life for the Lincoln family. But with the help of Celeste's new woodland animal friends and some creativity, she may just prove that even the littlest creatures can make a big difference. And it's in losing her way that Celeste finds herself in a place she never expected - home, finally.

I surprised myself for having read seven books in one month. That's pretty neat. 

I am so thankful to God for the gift of sight and smell. Sight - to be able to read and see beauty and smell - to be able to put an old book up to my nose and smell its wonderful old musty scent.

Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper

to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.

- Joseph Addison-