Last week I took back 4 books to the library! 4!!!!! Some unread, some partially read. Do you know how hard that is for my lil A+ student Upholder heart?! It’s hard. I have to stop my brain from running the “you’re failing” script.

How many times do I have to say/type/learn this? Several more, apparently. It’s ok to leave books unfinished. It’s ok to set them down.

The problem was Guernsey. I loved it so much. I loved every page. I loved every word. And one quote from Guernsey is just so true to what Guernsey did to me.

Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.

And honestly, I don’t think any of the other books I was reading were bad books. It’s just that flying through Guernsey was so fun and an absolute delight, so books I didn’t care about felt like trudging through quicksand. There will come another day when those books are right for me and it’s ok that it’s not right now!

Whew. Feels good to get that off my chest. Again.

My Plain Jane

Everyone thinks they know Jane Eyre’s story, but they don’t. For instance, you didn’t know she could see ghosts, did you? Rochester’s mystery will make so much more sense when you understand the true drama behind it all – going all the way up to the King of England. 

I was so excited for this after I enjoyed My Lady Jane so much. I even requested that the library purchase a copy of it! My first time doing that! I really love the style of these books and the inventive way they recycle stories. I didn’t like this one as much as My Lady Jane but it was still a fun read.

Good

• The voice of these books is just so hilarious. The way they sneak in modern day humor into the dialogue is hilarious and never feels like they’re trying too hard.
• Including the Bronte family was an interesting layer.
• It was so engaging to have the ghost dialogue and human dialogue going on synchronously without everyone being clued in.
• Like My Lady Jane, I loved that there are a few different romances and mysteries going on at once.

Less Good

• They mostly stuck to the story of Jane Eyre but there were some deviations that I didn’t love.
• The supernatural stuff was fine but the end got a little too exorcist for me.
• It just simply wasn’t as funny or good as My Lady Jane. I was disappointed.

Recommendation: If you enjoyed Jane Eyre and like YA fiction.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Juliet is looking for something more serious to write when she gets a letter from a man on the Isle of Guernsey who found a book she used to own as he read for their wartime occupation book club. She begins corresponding with the members of this book club and learns much about the war, German soldiers, community, cranial bumps, parenting, love, and the magic of reading.

There aren’t enough good things I could say. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it. It was the first pick for my neighborhood book club and I am just so happy to have finally read it. I checked it out from the library and then about halfway through determined that I would definitely reread and needed to own it so I bought it on Amazon lol.

Good

• Juliet is fantastic. She’s flawed and hilarious and lovable. I want to be Juliet.
• My very favorite is when a book makes me laugh out loud again and again. This book is hysterical!
• As a history teacher I couldn’t get over the incredible background information. I learned a lot about a part of the war that is so interesting, but not in a hugely depressing way like The Nightingale.
• Letters are such a great and intimate way to get to know characters and you just fall absolutely in love with the entire island.
• I loved that the cast included people of all ages in meaningful ways, and well-written.

Less Good

• The relationship with Mark Reynolds seemed a little contrived.
• The Netflix movie was decent but it failed to capture the warmth and connection of the book. I get that this isn’t the book’s fault – I’m just worried people will watch the movie and not read the book and they’ll just be missing out on SO MUCH.

Recommendation: Every person, everywhere, all the time, every person should read this book.

The Little Book of Hygge

Hygge (hoo-ga) is the Danish concept of coziness, comfort, safety, and enjoyment. It’s all about creating moments of peace and happiness in everyday moments. It’s a big reason behind the Danes strong culture of happiness and contentment. Wiking shares research and practical ways to create more hygge in your life with a simple, straightforward voice. 

Hygge has been trendy lately as we’ve sought to determine why the Danish are so much happier than everyone else. I absolutely believe hygge is part of it and I feel like it fits in so well with the “journey” I’ve been on with anxiety, creating our new home life, and mindfulness this year.

Good

• I thought hygge was just about hot chocolate and fires but there was quite a bit more to it – like biking, work habits, and trust.
• I didn’t know much about Danish culture but I learned a lot just from this short little book.
• It isn’t long at all! It was like 3 hours on audiobook.
• His accent is a lot of fun if you like audiobooks.
• Especially for Fall/Winter I’m excited to implement some elements of hygge into my every day. In fact I’m making it a goal every day in September! It’s simple. Taking time to curl up in a favorite blanket or wear a favorite pair of socks. Drinking warm beverages. Turning off your phone. Just being comfy and cozy and safe – and this is important – AND SAVORING IT. It’s great.
• This book promoted sweets and treats so

Less Good

• It does start to get a little repetitive over time.
• Audiobook may have been a problem because apparently I missed out on a lot of the graphics and diagrams.
• The lighting chapter was interesting for the first section and then it was like “… ok. We get it. No fluorescent lights. Move on!” Seriously I don’t need to know Danish candle consumption.

Recommendation: If you hate cold/bad weather, if you want to bring more comfort and enjoyment into your days, if you have anxiety or depression – all good reasons to start gathering hygge.

Mother’s Milk

This brief but powerful work is comprised of poems that explore Heavenly Mother through the lens of our own mothers, becoming mothers ourselves, our children, our scriptures, the Savior, and our Heavenly Father. 

I have heard approximately 1 billion great things about this book and was so excited to finally read it. I actually bought it for myself for Mother’s Day lol.

Good

• I actually loved the poetry format. Short, powerful, focused. It was awesome to be able to read one or twenty in a sitting, depending on how much time I had or how a certain poem spoke to me.
• She portrays the Mother in so many different ways and I loved it. Some really hit me, some didn’t. And I loved thinking about how the ones I didn’t ~get probably resonated deeply with someone else. We each have our own relationship with Her.
• It helped me think more deeply about my own motherhood.
• As the church is becoming more open about Heavenly Mother (which I think is fantastic, by the way) there still isn’t tons about her. This provided some structure to the ways I can think about and study her.
• When you take time to think about the Mother you better understand the Savior.
• I liked all the extra space because I took time to meditate and pray and write impressions alongside my favorite poems.

Less Good

• I really only wished for more help in seeing Her. More ideas for seeking Her. How to find Her.

Recommendation: The women in your life!!! Especially pregnant/new mom friends. Wow. So powerful.

On the schedule for September is You by Caroline Kepnes (!!!), Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Women & The Priesthood, and more! It’s a busy month so I hope I can get through my three books.